Bray
CHRIST CHURCH COI
Services of Worship for Sunday, November 26 – The Kingship of Christ: 8.30 a.m. – Holy Communion One; 11 a.m. – Holy Communion Two.
Classics by Candlelight: Back by popular demand, ‘Classics by Candlelight’ returns for its eighth year at 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 3. Tickets cost €10 and can be bought from the Travel Boutique or by calling the parish office. This is an evening not to be missed – book early to avoid disappointment.
HOLY REDEEMER PARISH
Two Taize Evenings: An open invitation to come, away to the quiet, for 30 minutes of silent reflection, on Wednesday, November 29, and Wednesday, December 20, at 8.30 p.m. in Holy Redeemer Church.
November Altar List of the Dead: If you wish to have your loved ones included in the November Altar List of the dead, the latest date for receipt of envelopes is today (Wednesday). Our Priests attached to Holy Redeemer have all agreed to celebrate five Masses each for those on the November Altar List of the Dead; Dan, Eddie, Enda, Hilary and John O’C.
Fr John Moses Jatau: Fr John Moses is back home with us for a visit and we are holding a small celebration in the Little Flower Hall for him this Friday from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. We hope to have a little food, some music and plenty of chat. You are welcome to bring some finger food or a cake along on the night. As some of our parishioners have expressed a wish to help him in.
building his new Church in Bida, in the Minna Diocese, our Outreach/Twinning Group will be there on the night to help facilitate this. If you wish to make a donation, they will happily forward it to the church Building account in, Nigeria. Cheques should be made payable to Holy Redeemer. If you care to leave a donation in to the parish office, please do so, before the end of.
DECEMBER.
New Parish Pastoral Council: The new PPC – Parish Pastoral Council – invite you to email them with any ideas, thoughts or responses to life in our parish community. Our address is holyredeemerppc@gmail.com. You are also welcome to drop us a line and leave it into the parish office.
What Actually Happened in Bethlehem?: Would you like to look more deeply at the events in Bethlehem and reflect on what they might mean to us as adults in today’s world? If so, please come along and join Fr John and his team at our two Advent gatherings in Holy Redeemer Youth Centre on Thursdays December 7 and December 14 from 7.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. (prompt start and finished guaranteed).
Christmas Cards: Yes, its that time of year again. We are calling on your generosity to continue providing famine relief and education to our young friends in our Twin Parish, Ikanga, in Kenya. We would also like to thank all of our parishioners for your continued support over the years and we wish you all the joys and blessings of Christmas. The cards are good quality, produced and printed in Ireland, and are the same price as the last seven years, €3.50 for a packet of six cards, or €10 for three packets. They are available at the doors of the church after Mass or in the parish office.
ST PETER’S PARISH
November Altar List of the Dead: The envelopes for the November Altar list of the dead are available at the back of the church till this Sunday. All those whose names are listed will be remembered at Mass on the First Friday of each month. Please return envelopes to the sacristy or the parish office.
Do This in Memory Mass: Will take place this Sunday at 11.30 a.m. Mass. All children to attend.
Concert for the Irish Neonatal Health Alliance: St Fergal’s Men’s Choir will give a concert in aid of the INHA in St Peter’s Church at 8 p.m. this Sunday. Tickets available from the sacristy and parish office.
SVP: Drop off point for post for the St Vincent de Paul is situated at St Peter’s Parish Bungalow Chapel Lane. If you need to contact the SVP please call 01 855 0022. St Vincent de Paul would like to thank you for your generous contribution of €367.49 on Sunday, November 5.
Young at Heart Dinners: Take place on Friday at 12.30 p.m. Come along and enjoy great food and a game of bingo. Young at Heart dinners will finish on Friday, December 8, will recommence in February. Date to be confirmed.
ST FERGAL’S PARISH
Ballywaltrim Community Centre: Is organising a Christmas Market as a fundraising event on Saturday, December 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Flower Ladies: Would you be interested in joining our very talented Church Flower Team? If so, we would be delighted to hear from you. You will be given training, but, if you have some knowledge of flowers and colour co-ordination that would be a big plus. So, if you are interested, please leave your name with Jenny in the parish office. Many thanks.
Knights of Columbanus Christmas Dinners church gate collection: The Knights of Columbanus Christmas Day Dinners appeal for needy families and elderly people living alone, will take place after all Masses this Saturday and Sunday. Your ongoing generosity is very much appreciated.
Parish Christmas Cards: Packs of assorted Parish Christmas Cards are available to purchase in the church after all Masses and the parish office. €4 for six cards. Those, who receive the cards will be remembered in the Christmas Masses being offered in the parish.
Christmas Shopping Day Tour to Kilkenny: On Saturday, December 9, departing at 9.30 a.m. from St Fergal’s Church, heading back from destination at 7.30 p.m. Cost, depending on numbers: €47 – €57. Contact parish office for details and to book. Full deposit to be paid at time of booking. Final payment to be made by Friday, December 1, St Fergal’s Christmas Raffle 2017 – Great Prizes to be won.: First Prize – 32’ Walker – Flat Screen TV; second prize – Limited Edition Giclée Print by Peter Growney; third prize – Powerscourt Golf Club four Ball Green Fees Voucher; fourth prize – €100 Gift Bond for Whelan’s Craft Butchers; fifth prize – Luxury Christmas Hamper; sixth prize – six Bottles of Wine plus many more prizes. Tickets will be on sale in the church this weekend and in the parish office. €1 per ticket or book of six for €5. The draw will take place in the church after the Christmas Carol Concert on Saturday, December 16.
An Evening with St Fergal’s Men’s Choir: A fundraising concert in aid of the Irish Neonatal Health Alliance takes place this Sunday at 8 p.m. in St Peter’s Church, Little Bray. Admission: Adults €10/Students €5. Accompanying Children: Free All in a beautiful setting with lighting and spectacular visual backdrops.
OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE
Communion Mass: The third ‘Do This in Memory’ Communion Mass will take place this Sunday at 10.30 a.m. in our Church.
Church gate collection: The church gate collection this weekend is in aid of the Knights of Columbanus Christmas Dinner appeal. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Welcome to Eucharistic Adoration: We invite you to commit to one hour per week. If you currently attend but are not signed up, we would encourage you to become part of the official rota as we need to ensure that each hour is covered. Signing up is easy. There are cards and information at the special display at the back of the church. Please fill in one of the cards and leave it in the box provided. There will be a talk at all of the Masses on December 2 and December 3 by the Diocesan Perpetual Adoration Group.
Our Lady Queen of Peace annual Christmas Fair: Will take place in Villa Pacis on Sunday, December 3, If you have any unwanted new gifts and would like to donate them, please drop them into the Villa Pacis or contact Anne at 087 7772127.
Vevay Active Retirement Association: The Christmas Lunch will be held in the Martello, Bray, on Friday, December 8, at 2 p.m. Please contact Carmel at 2761241 or the Villa Pacis at 2760045.
QOP YOUTH CLUB
Queen of Peace Adventure Youth Club is already planning the club programme for 2017. Some of the plans are to increase the committee members from 10 to 12 with two new leaders, and to acquire stainless steel wheelie troughs for cleaning all the canoeing equipment each week after use. The club will be accepting new members in January.
DIVING CLUB
Now that the winter is here Bray Divers Sub-Aqua Club will devote time to running scuba diving and snorkelling courses. There are plans to organise canoeing and some social activities. Members will do their annual water fitness tests in the swimming pool to be ready for the next year diving. Anyone, who would like to be a diver for the New Year may call Albert at 087 6756439 and have a training course tailor made to suit.
ST CRONAN’S CRAFT FAIR
The St Cronan’s Christmas Craft Fair takes place this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. in the school. Admission is €2 however it is free for primary school children and Santa will be making a special appearance during the afternoon.
BRAY LIBRARY
Bray Library opening hours are – Monday/Wednesday/ Friday/Saturday – 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday – 10 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. Borrowers are reminded that books can be renewed by phone – call 01 2862600. This Friday, due to staff training, the library will not open till the later time of 11.30 a.m. that day.
CUALANN SOCIETY
Pádraig Laffan was the guest speaker last Thursday nights 8 p.m. meeting of the Bray Cualann Historical Society, the local history society for Bray and North Wicklow, in the Royal Hotel, Bray, at which he presented his lecture ‘The Desperate Fight to Save the Harvest of 1946 and the Severe winter of 1946/47’.
Pádraig recalled the massive operation carried out by thousands of urban dwellers who were went into the countryside in September 1946 to save the harvest at a time when the ground was too waterlogged to permit mechanical harvesting. This spell of bad autumn weather was followed in February and March 1946 by a series of snow storms alternating with spells of severe frosts which saw public transport come to a halt, communities become cut off, supplies of coal and turf became extremely scarce with gas and electricity rationed.
Although there are no meetings of the society in the Royal Hotel during December, on Thursday, December 7, James Scannell will present a talk ‘Christmas 1942 in Bray’ at 11.30 a.m. in Ballywaltrim Library, Boghall Road, Bray. All welcome – admission free. The following day, Friday, December 8, James will present a his talk ‘Christmas 1917 in Bray’ at 11.30 a.m. in Bray Library, Eglinton Road, Bray. All welcome – admission free.
In the meantime events coming up which may be of interest to members include this Saturdays 2017 Dublin City Library Local History Day from 9 a.m. to 2.15 p.m. in Dublin City Library and Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin – admission free. This event showcases some of the excellent work being done by historians on the civic, social, and political history of Dublin. The esteemed speakers include James Scannell on ‘The 1867 Bray Head Train Derailment’, Liz Gillis on ‘The Rebel Liberties’, Frank Whearity on ‘Tom Ashe’, John Dorney on ‘The Civil War in Dublin’, and Liam O’Meara on ‘The history of Keogh Square’.
The 2018 Dublin City Library and Archive Local History Society Group Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 24, in the Dublin City Library and Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin – details of the programme will be issued in due course.
Further information on the Bray Cualann Historical Society programme available on the Society’s web-site: braycualannhistoricalsociety.ie.