Aghaviller Parish Newsletter

Hugginstown, Newmarket and Stoneyford

9th. and 10th. December 2023.   

St. Lucy

“Second Sunday of Advent”  

Priests in the Parish:

Liam Cassin (Parish Priest)  Telephone: 056 776 8693 or Mobile 087 231 2354

Peter Hoyne (Retired)           Telephone: 056 776 8678 or Mobile 086 373 8492


Monday 11th.  to Sunday 17th. December 2023

Hugginstown:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m.

Vigil – Saturday 16th. at 8.00p.m.;

Sunday – 17th. at 10.00a.m. 

Stoneyford:

Vigil – Wednesday 13th. at 7.00p.m.

Vigil – Saturday 16th.at 6.30p.m.  

  • Wednesday 13th Feast of St. Lucy.
  • Thursday 14th. Feast of St. John of the Cross

Marie Duggan, Ballinteskin, who died during the week.

Anniversary Mass:    

Maureen Connolly, Stonecarthy.  Mass in Stoneyford Church on Saturday 9th. December at 6.30p.m.

Martin Brennan, Gowlawn;

Pat and Margaret Irish, Hugginstown.  Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 9th. December at 8.00p.m.

Peter Kenneally, Barnadown.  Mass in Hugginstown Church on Sunday 10th. December at 10.00a.m. James Walsh, Grand Gates, Castlemorris.

Anniversary Masses next weekend;     

Mary McGrath, Norelands.  Mass in Stoneyford Church on Saturday 16th. December at 6.30p.m.

Michael Kelly, Castlemorris.  Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 16th. December at 8.00p.m.

Brendan Murphy, Newmarket.  Mass in Hugginstown Church on Sunday 17th. December at 10.00a.m.  


16th. and 17th. December 2023 (Third Sunday of Advent)

Readers:

Stoneyford:     Saturday 6.30p.m. Catherina Roche.

Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Pat Power.   Sunday 10.00a.m. Deirdre O’Shea

Eucharistic Ministers:    

Stoneyford:     Saturday 6.30p.m. Barbara Smolen

Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Mary Cuddihy.      Sunday 10.00a.m. Kay Power 


Saturday 23th. December :  

In Stoneyford Church at 6.30p.m. 

In Hugginstown Church at 8.00p.m.:   

Sunday 24th. December:  

In Stoneyford Church at 5.30p.m. 

In Hugginstown Church at 7.00p.m.:    

Monday 25th. December:

In Stoneyford Church at 10.00a.m:

In Hugginstown Church at 11.00a.m.


Many thanks to all who contributed to the November Offerings over the past weeks

To donate directly – Use IBAN:  IE19 AIBK 9330 9000 0561 20 (BIC: AIBKIE2D).

The “Church Door” Contributions last weekend amounted to €570.00. Thank You.

Diocesan Designated Liaison Person: Ms. Ailish Higgins Tel: 087 100 0232.

Aghaviller Parish Representatives are: Deirdre Rohan and Catherina Roche. 

Many thanks to Teresa Broderick and Carmel O’Toole who have stepped aside as our Parish Representatives after many years. Thank you both.

Service of Healing and Penitential Service will be celebrated in preparation for Christmas during Masses next weekend:  Saturday16th. December  in Stoneyford and Hugginstown Churches and on Sunday17th. December in Hugginstown Church.

“From Peace on Earth to Peace with Earth” 

Given by Tobias Winright, Professor of Moral Theology, St. Patrick’s, Maynooth:  on Monday 11th. December at 7.30p.m. in St. Kieran’s College.

“The Parish of tomorrow will be vastly different from today”  

Given by Fr. Albert McDonald, Diocese of Killaloe:  on Tuesday 12th. December at 7.30p.m. in St. Kieran’s College.

“Diocesan Carol Service” will take place in St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday 17th. December at 7.30p.m.


The first meeting of the new Board of management will be held in the school on Monday 11th. December at 8.00p.m. 

Do you know in Ireland that almost 1 in 5 adults have difficulty with reading and writing?  One in four have difficulty with maths.  One in two have difficulty with digital devices.
If you or a family member would like support or up skilling, please contact KCETB (Kilkenny Carlow Education and Training Board) for a free and confidential service for all adults.  Contact details: Kilkenny Adult Learning Service 056 776 3149.  Carlow Adult Learning Service: 059 913 5544.  “Let us empower everyone in Ireland to be their best possible selves”.   Simon Harris TD Minister for Further and Higher Education. 

This year on Thursday 14th. December the 192nd. Anniversary of the Battle of Carrickshock occurs. This will be marked by the Annual Torchlight Walk at 8.00p.m.  from Hugginstown via Kyleva to the battle Commemoration Cross. A short oration will follow. All are welcome 


If you wish to receive the weekly Newsletter by email, please drop us your email address.

All notices for the Newsletter to be left in before 5.00p.m. on Thursdays please.  


A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah:

 ‘Console my people, console them’ says your God.

‘Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and call to her that her time of service is

ended, that her sin is atoned for, that she has received from the hand of the

Lord double punishment for all her crimes.’

A voice cries, ‘Prepare in the wilderness a way for the Lord.

Make a straight highway for our God across the desert.

Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be laid low.

Let every cliff become a plain, and the ridges a valley;

then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it;

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’

Go up on a high mountain, joyful messenger to Zion.

Shout with a loud voice,  joyful messenger to Jerusalem.

Shout without fear, say to the towns of Judah,  ‘Here is your God.’

Here is the Lord coming with power, his arm subduing all things to him.

The prize of his victory is with him,  his trophies all go before him.

He is like a shepherd feeding his flock,  gathering lambs in his arms,

holding them against his breast and leading to their rest the mother ewes.

Response: Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

I will hear what the Lord God has to say, a voice that speaks of peace,

peace for his people.

His help is near for those who fear him and his glory will dwell in our land.

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

Mercy and faithfulness have met; justice and peace have embraced.

Faithfulness shall spring from the earth and justice look down from heaven.

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

The Lord will make us prosper and our earth shall yield its fruit.

Justice shall march before him  and peace shall follow his steps.

Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help.

A Reading from the Second Letter of St Peter:

There is one thing, my friends, that you must never forget: that with the Lord, ‘a day’ can mean a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord is not being slow to carry out his promises, as anybody else might be called slow; but he is being patient with you all, wanting nobody to be lost and everybody to be brought to change his ways. The Day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then with a roar the sky will vanish, the elements will catch fire and fall apart, the earth and all that it contains will be burnt up.

Since everything is coming to an end like this, you should be living holy and saintly lives while you wait and long for the Day of God to come, when the sky will dissolve in flames and the elements melt in the heat. What we are waiting for is what he promised: the new heavens and new earth, the place where righteousness will be at home. So then, my friends, while you are waiting, do your best to live lives without spot or stain so that he will find you at peace.

The Word of the Lord

Gospel Acclamation   (Please stand)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight,

and all mankind shall see the salvation of God.

Alleluia!

A Reading from the Holy Gospel of St. Mark:

The beginning of the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 

It is written in the book of the prophet Isaiah:   Look, I am going to send my messenger before you; he will prepare yourway.     

A voice cries in the wilderness:

Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight.

and so it was that John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. All Judaea and all the people of Jerusalem made their way to him, and as they were baptised by him in the river Jordan they confessed their sins. John wore a garment of camel-skin, and he lived on locusts and wild honey. In the course of his preaching he said, ‘Someone is following me, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to kneel down and undo the strap of his sandals. I have baptised you with water, but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.’

The Gospel of the Lord.


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