Aghaviller Parish Newsletter
Hugginstown, Newmarket and Stoneyford
16th. and 17th. December 2023.
“Third 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
Mass Times in Aghaviller Parish:
Monday 18th. to Saturday 23th. December 2023
Hugginstown:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.30a.m.
Vigil – Saturday 23rd. at 8.00p.m.
Stoneyford:
Vigil – Wednesday 20th. at 7.00p.m.
Vigil – Saturday 23rd@ 6.30p.m.
- Monday 18th. Feast of St. Flannan
- Friday 22nd. Visitation with Holy Communion will take place at the usual times on Friday. Please let us know if you would like to receive Holy Communion in your home for Christmas or at any other time
Parish Mass Times over Christmas:
- 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 of the children will be taking an active part on Sunday 24th.. They will be involved with the Choirs, Readings, Prayers, Gifts, Servers etc. All children are invited to bring a little gift for other children who are in need. We ask parents to come with their children and to join in the singing of the Christmas Carols and to celebrate as family.
Pray For:
Ellen McKean nee Aylward, Cabinteely and late of Boolyglass.
Anniversary Mass:
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.
James Walsh, Grand Gates, Castlemorris.
Anniversary Mass next weekend;
Mary and Richard Burke, Croan. Mass in Hugginstown Church on Saturday 23rd. December at 8.00p.m.
Rota for next week-end:
23rd. December 2023 (Fourth Sunday of Advent)
Readers:
Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Sheila Lennon.
Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Deirdre Rohan.
Eucharistic Ministers:
Stoneyford: Saturday 6.30p.m. Bernie Grace
Hugginstown: Saturday 8.00p.m. Mary Murphy.
Parish Contributions:
The “Church Door” Contributions last weekend amounted to €585.00. Thank You.
Christmas Offerings:
Envelopes for your Christmas Offerings 2023 may be collected in the Church Porch, and your contributions may be handed in during the coming weeks: or you may wish to donate directly – Use IBAN: IE19 AIBK 9330 9000 0561 20 (BIC: AIBKIE2D).
Many thanks for all your support and contributions during the past year.
Roman Catholic Diocese and Parishes of Ossory – Registered Charity No. 20015831
Safeguarding Contacts:
Diocesan Designated Liaison Person: Ms. Ailish Higgins Tel: 087 100 0232.
Aghaviller Parish Representatives are: Deirdre Rohan and Catherina Roche.
Service of Healing:
Service of Healing and Penitential Service will be celebrated in preparation for Christmas during all Masses this weekend: Saturday16th. December in Stoneyford and Hugginstown Churches and on Sunday17th. December in Hugginstown Church.
Ossory Adult Faith Development: – Advent 2023
“Diocesan Carol Service” will take place in St. Mary’s Cathedral on Sunday 17th. December at 7.30p.m.
Stoneyford School:
The first meeting of the new Board of Management will be held in the school on Tuesday 19th. December at 8.00p.m.
The Chapter House Bookshop:
The Chapter House Bookshop at St. Mary’s Cathedral, will be open 5 Days a week
(Monday to Friday) until Christmas. The Shop has a great selection of Nativity Cribs, Christmas Cards, Calendars and Diaries for 2024, also a wide selection of Bibles, Liturgical and spiritual Books. The Bookshop also has a wide selection of Mass Cards and Religious Gifts.
South Kilkenny Historical Society:
Newsletter:
If you wish to receive the weekly Newsletter by email, please drop us your email address.
The Newsletter is also available on the Stoneyford Website every week.(www.stoneyford.ie) All notices for the Newsletter to be left in before 5.00p.m. on Thursdays please.
Contact: Telephone: 056 776 8693 or email: liamcassin@ossory.ie
First Reading
A Reading from the Prophet Isaiah:
The spirit of the Lord has been given to me, for the Lord has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are
broken; to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison;
to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.
‘I exult for joy in the Lord, my soul rejoices in my God,
for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation, he has wrapped me in the
cloak of integrity, like a bridegroom wearing his wreath,
like a bride adorned in her jewels.
‘For as the earth makes fresh things grow, as a garden makes seeds spring up,
so will the Lord make both integrity and praise spring up in the sight of the
nations.’
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm
Response: My soul rejoices in my God.
My soul glorifies the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her nothingness;
henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
My soul rejoices in my God.
The Almighty works marvels for me.
Holy his name!
His mercy is from age to age,
on those who fear him.
My soul rejoices in my God.
He fills the starving with good things,
sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel, his servant,
remembering his mercy.
My soul rejoices in my God.
Second Reading:
A Reading from the First Letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians
Be happy at all times; pray constantly; and for all things give thanks to God, because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus.
Never try to suppress the Spirit or treat the gift of prophecy with contempt; think before you do anything – hold on to what is good and avoid every form of evil.
May the God of peace make you perfect and holy; and may you all be kept safe and blameless, spirit, soul and body, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has called you and he will not fail you.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel Acclamation (Please stand)
Alleluia, alleluia!
The spirit of the Lord has been given to me.
He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor.
Alleluia!
Gospel
A Reading from the Holy Gospel of St. John:
A man came, sent by God.His name was John.He came as a witness,
as a witness to speak for the light, so that everyone might believe through
him. He was not the light, only a witness to speak for the light.
This is how John appeared as a witness. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ he not only declared, but he declared quite openly, ‘I am not the Christ.’ ‘Well then,’ they asked ‘are you Elijah?’ ‘I am not’ he said. ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ So they said to him, ‘Who are you? We must take back an answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?’ So John said, ‘I am, as Isaiah prophesied: a voice that cries in the wilderness: ‘Make a straight way for the Lord.’ Now these men had been sent by the Pharisees, and they put this further question to him, ‘Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the prophet?’ John replied, ‘I baptise with water; but there stands among you – unknown to you – the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo his sandal-strap.’ This happened at Bethany, on the far side of the Jordan, where John was baptising.
The Gospel of the Lord.
