Happy New Year! Hope you all have a joyfilled 2008

Regular posts will return to this page on 2nd January!

And if you're celebrating tonight, be careful & have fun!!!

Steven

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2007

Dear Friends In Christ,

As we celebrate the Birth of Christ this year, may we never forget that the true meaning of Christmas is not the presents or the decorations but that baby, born in a humble stable in Bethlehem 2007 years ago. On this holiest of nights God became man, Heaven touched earth, the impossible became possible.

It is our hope that the true message of this holy season may touch your hearts, light up your lives and bring peace and goodwill to your families and homes.

Pope Benedict said recently that a Christless Christmas is pointless. Don't let the commercialisation of Christmas or the rush to get everything done distract you from the real and ever true reason for the season - God made man - Christ!

Christus Natus in Hodie - Christ is born today! Alleluia!

Happy CHRISTmas!

Stephen Clarke, Chairman

Dundalk John Paul II Prayer Group

MARIST CHURCH REOPENS FOR CHRISTMAS

The repair work on the Marist Church, St Mary's Road, will be completed in time for Christmas. The Church was seriously damaged when it was set alight last June and €500,000 has been spent on carrying out extensive repairs.

There will be a Carol Service at 9.30pm on Christmas Eve followed by Mass at 10.00pm

The Dundalk John Paul II Prayer Group wish to send our best wishes and assurances of prayer and support to the Marist Fathers on the occasion of the reopening of St Mary's (Marist) Church.

MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE THIS CHRISTMAS!

Want to make sure the money you spend on cards and presents this year goes to good causes? More and more Catholic charities are selling cards and presents this year. The following charities have a good selection.

TROCAIRE GLOBAL GIFT: https://www.trocaire.org/globalgift/

CATHOLIC EXTENSION: Giving aid to Rural American Mission Parishes http://www.catholicextension.org/

Aid to the Church in Need have a large selection of cards, books, gifts and music. For a catalogue contact: Tel: 0845 241 6068 Email : acn@acnuk.org or see their on-line shop at: www.acn.org.uk ACN also offers to arrange Christmas Masses for a stipend of £5 per Mass, which includes a Christmas Mass card to send to your loved ones.
CAFOD has a superb range of fair-traded gifts, clothing, jewelry and books. You can also give gifts certificates that will provide people in the developing with useful items such as seeds, chickens compost worms and gardening kits. Call 0207 733 7900 for a catalogue or visit the on-line shop at: www.cafod.org.uk/worldgifts.
The Catholic Children's Society, Westminster has a range of cards and gifts, For details call: : 020 8969 5305 e-mail: : info@cathchild.org.uk or visit their online shop at: http://www.cathchild.org.uk
HCPT the charity which takes young people with special needs to Lourdes has presents for children and adults as well as a good selection of cards. Call them on : 01788564646 or visit their on-line shop at: http://www.hcpt.org.uk/
HOLY SOCKS www.holysocks.co.uk
New Ways ­ a small charity which supports aid and development projects in northern Kenya. Now has an on-line Christmas catalogue at: http://www.newways.org.uk/newwayschristmascatalogue.pdf
The Pattaya Orphanage, a Redemptorist charity which runs projects in Thailand with street children, the blind, deaf, disabled and Aids orphans has an on-line shop at: http://www.pattayaorphanage.org.uk/
Wine from the Holy Land For a present with a difference you could buy wine from the Cremisan Monastery in Bethlehem, For more information see: http://www.5thgospelretreats.co.uk or call Della Shenton on 01579 340844 or 07808 957604 email: enquiries@5thgospelretreats.co.uk.

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS GONE CRAZY

The decision by RTÉ to ban an ad for the Church's publishing house, Veritas, with the word “crib” in it is “unwarranted and outrageous”, according to prominent commentator David Quinn.
RTÉ has denied banning the ad, saying it advised Veritas to clarify with the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland whether its prohibition of advertising 'directed towards religious ends' applied to cribs.
However, Mr Quinn said that the station's precautions were “an obviously over strict interpretation of the law”.
“Newstalk is to broadcast the ad without any cuts at all, so why RTÉ might have a problem is a mystery,” he told ciNews.
Mr Quinn said that the rationale behind the law itself was questionable.
“A law which can lead to the banning of a harmless word like “crib” at Christmas time is a law which needs to be seriously questioned,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Catholic Bishops have strongly protested that their agency, Veritas, had to drop the word "crib" from a radio advertisement before RTÉ would broadcast it.
They called the move an affront to Christians.
Following their winter meeting in Maynooth, the Bishops said expressing concern and disappointment at the editing of Veritas' first ever RTÉ ad campaign, which coincides with the run up to Christmas.
They say the removal of the word "crib" from the ad is both an affront to Christians and belies common sense in the context of Irish society and culture.
RTÉ has denied that it had banned the word. Station spokesman Peter Feeney said over a month ago its copy clearance committee concluded that an issue might arise if the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland consider that promoting the sale of cribs was directed towards religious ends, and therefore prohibited under its code.
RTÉ's committee advised Veritas to clarify the situation with the BCI.
It also said Veritas could alter the script, which it did, and it was then cleared for broadcast.
RTÉ understands that Veritas did not approach BCI with the matter, and says it continues to be willing to broadcast the original ad if BCI approval is given.

Source: Catholic Ireland

CARDINAL SEAN BRADY IN DUNDALK

CIVIC RECEPTION OF CARDINAL SEAN BRADY

Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Dundalk

Thursday 29th November 2007

Cardinal Brady will celebrate Mass this Sunday (9th Dec.) at 11.30am in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dundalk

MAKE JOHN PAUL II NUMBER 1 THIS CHRISTMAS!

The first music DVD to embody the voice and the images of John Paul II. As it stands, this is a 60 minute film - or series of clips (most very modern and radical, graphically and artistically) in which John Paul II’s speeches and in 2 instances him singing, have been set to music, most of it orchestral and incorporating original gregorian recordings, though some is electronic (Trip Hop) or contemporary acoustic guitar.

It is produced by the Vatican’s biggest media company San Paolo Multimedia. Though there is a number of documentaries and bio pics out there, this is the only film with the man John Paul II in his own words (taken under unique license from the Vatican Radio recordings of his most celebrated speeches), with a musical interpretation. The film is a celebration of his life, words and messages set to surprisingly contemporary music and images, with spoken and sung passages (in Italian, Polish, Latin, English, French, Brazilian and Spanish), which are chants and prayers culled from recordings of the Pope by Radio Vaticana over the years of his papacy. Before his ordination as a priest, he was a member of an experimental theater group, a stonecutter, and a published poet. Now, he offers the world the first music recording to embody his actual voice and images as in a videoclip.

The music is composed and performed by British film composer Simon Boswell. The result is a powerful and moving marriage of images, music and words that touch on universal themes such as peace, charity, forgiveness and reconciliation among all people. It is not just for Catholics, but for everyone interested in a new experience of the wisdom and compassion of one of the world’s great spiritual leaders and communicators.

TO BUY OR REVIEW SEE WEBSITE:

http://www.santosubitoonline.com/

IN IRELAND & UK 'Santo Subito' IS AVAILABLE FROM HMV

A DAY OF GREAT JOY FOR IRELAND

Cardinal Sean Brady received a joyous welcome home on Thursday after returning from Rome where was elevated to the College of Cardinals by Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday 24th November.

The Cardinal arrived at Dublin Airport and after being greeted by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, Archbishop Martin hosted a Liturgical Welcome in the Airport Church. The ceremony was also attended by Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, John Neill.

The Cardinal then travelled to Drogheda where he was greeted by hundreds of well wishers on the steps of St Peter’s Church after praying at the Shrine of his predecessor, St Oliver Plunkett. He then travelled to Ardee where he was welcomed again by hundreds waving flags.

Then onto Dundalk where Cardinal Brady was given a civic reception in St Patrick’s Church attended by hundreds of parishioners. The Cardinal was greeted by a guard of honour formed by representatives of Dundalk schools. Speeches of welcome were presented by Dundalk Town Council, GAA, Youth, International Community and Dundalk Chamber of Commerce. Saint Patrick’s Choir was in fine voice as they welcomed Dundalk’s Parish Priest. Dundalk was en fete for the occasion and everyone joined together to create a brilliant atmosphere.

The Cardinal then crossed the border. He got out his car at the border where Gardai handed over escort duties to the PSNI, the first time since partition that police have escorted a Cardinal to Armagh. The Cardinal stopped at a number of towns before arriving in Armagh City; everywhere he went hundreds turned out to welcome him.

On arrival in Armagh, the Cardinal walked through the streets lined with onlookers accompanied by Brass Bands, Scouts & Knights of Columbanus for a triumphal parade through the city. He then celebrated Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral.

CONGRATULATIONS CARDINAL SEAN!

Cardinal Sean Brady will return to Dundalk to celebrate Mass in St Patrick’s Church at 11.30am on Sunday 9th November.