THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
Today is the Solemnity of the Lord’s Epiphany - the feast of the revelation about the mystery of the Word-made-flesh. Today we see the Wise Men, who followed the star to Bethlehem to worship the Baby Jesus, come to the crib. Tomorrow (Monday) is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and the end of the Christmas season. The Feast of the Lord’s Presentation (Candlemas) will be celebrated on Friday 2nd February.
FR DAVID WRITES
Thank you everyone for all the hard work, preparation and celebration that has gone into Christmas and New Year here at Our Lady of Lourdes. Many thanks also for the many gifts, message and cards we have received—we appreciate all your kindness. We wish you all a very happy and blessed New Year.
BENEDICT XVI RIP
Please pray for the repose of the soul of Benedict XVI (Pope 2005-2013) as we keep this first anniversary of his death and funeral.
BAPTISM SIGN-UP
The next Baptism sign up will take place on Monday 8th January at 6.30pm in the Parish Centre.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
Parents are reminded of their session on Tuesday 9th January at 7.30pm in the Parish Hall. Children’s session will take place on Saturday 13th January at 10am—11.15am. Family Mass Sunday 14th at 11.15am.
RCIA (JOURNEY IN FAITH)
The first session will take place on Monday 15th January at 7.30pm.
MARY GALLAGHER RIP
The funeral will take place on Thursday 18th January at 10am. May she rest in peace.
MARGARET CRONIN RIP
The funeral will take place on Friday 26th January at 10am. May she rest in peace.
FOOD BANK
A word of thanks to everyone for continuing to kindly support the food bank either by bringing donations or volunteering each Wednesday. May God bless you all.
TOWARDS THE HOLY YEAR: 2025
The Church celebrates ‘ordinary’ Holy Years every twenty-five years. The most recent of these was also a Great Jubilee - celebrated in 2000 in honour of the two-thousandth anniversary of the Incarnation at the first Christmas. The next Holy Year or Jubilee will thus take place in 2025. This new year we have just begun, 2024, has been designated as a time of prayerful and spiritual preparation for the coming Holy Year which will begin next Christmas when Pope Francis opens the Holy Door at St Peter’s in Rome. Looking beyond this, the Church is also preparing for an extraordinary Great Jubilee in 2033, which will mark the two-thousandth anniversary of the world’s redemption in the Passion, Death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus. More information will be coming from the diocese and Rome throughout the coming year.
ON THE MYSTERY OF THE EPIPHANY
St Paul, who had a great understanding of the scriptures, speaks of a mystery that has been revealed by the Holy Spirit to the prophets and the apostles. This revelation is that Jesus came for all humanity, that we are all His body, and we inherit the same promise of eternal life. The visit of the wise men to the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus has great significance for us as, in spirit, the wise men represent all humanity and therefore this is our introduction, as gentiles, to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. In Luke the shepherds represent the poor and downtrodden, the first to visit the babe, now it is our turn as we come to worship Christ. We must now carry the love and blessing of the birth of Christ into our future as we seek to serve the Lord of All. (David Frank)