Dear Friends,
Today is the First Sunday of Advent, the beginning of a new Church year.
In our 11.00am Mass today we will be remembering in prayer those whose funerals took place from this church in the last year. The names of these deceased will be read out at the time of the Prayers of the Faithful.
Saints of the Week – Saint Edmond Campion, S.J., Robert Southwell, S.J. & Companions
This feast on Monday, December 1st commemorates ten Jesuits who, in the 16th and 17thcenturies were martyred in England and Wales for the profession of the Catholic faith and were canonized by Pope Paul VI in 1970. The number includes Edmund Campion, Alexander Briant, Robert Southwell, Henry Walpole, Nicholas Owen, Thomas Garnet, Edmund Arrowsmith, Henry Morse, Philip Evans, David Lewis. Together with them this feast also celebrates another sixteen beatified Jesuit martyrs who were killed in the same persecution between 1575 and 1679.
Wednesday 3rdDecember is the Feast of St. Francis Xavier, the patron of our church. Margaret, our soloist, and Seamus, our organist, will be here to help us in our celebration.
The students from Belvedere College will have their annual Mass in celebration of this feast, beginning at 11.45am on Wednesday 3rd, so there will be a quick turnaround between Masses.
Two Advent Reflection Mornings
There will be two Advent reflection mornings on Friday 5th and 19th December. These will take place in the John Sullivan Room from 11.30am -12.00 noon, immediately after the 11.00 Mass. This will be a brief time to reflect together on the mystery of the coming Christmas through readings from scripture, poetry and seasonal music. This proved to be very popular last year. I regret that because of other commitments I cannot offer four Friday mornings this year. Please come along, if you’re free on the dates mentioned above.
Upcoming Christmas Concert
The Choral Group, Visionaries will give a Christmas Concert here in Saint Francis Xavier, Gardiner Street from 4,00pm to 6.00pm on Sunday, 14th December. Admission will be only 10 Euro (at the door).Visionaries is a choir of some 50 voices, singing in four-part harmony. The members of the choir are visually impaired and any money raised will be for Fighting Blindness. They will sing seasonal and Christmas pieces. Please come along to support them and to enter into the spirit of the season.
Reading Club
Our next meeting will be tomorrow, Monday, 1st December from 10.00am until 12.00pm inthe John Sullivan Room. We are reading Ronald Rolheiser’s The Holy Longing –The Search for A Christian Spirituality. The following meeting will be onMonday, 12th January, 2026.
Fr. Brendan
GIVE A GIFT THAT CHANGES LIVES
This winter, thousands of children in Syria are facing the cold without proper clothing. You can help keep them warm and safe.
After years of conflict and hardship, Syrian families continue to face bitter winters without essentials. As temperatures fall below zero, children and the elderly are most at risk. Your gift will provide a warm winter jacket, hat, scarf, pants, shoes, T-shirt, and jumper, all purchased from local markets. This gift saves lives.
Your support brings real warmth, dignity, and hope to those who need it most.
Give a Winter Kit today by calling Irish Jesuits International at 01 836 6509 or visiting ouroffice at 20 Upper Gardiner Street, Dublin 1. www.iji.ie
CAROLS &CLASSICS BY CANDLELIGHTS.
At St. Columba’s Church, Iona Road
Sunday 7thDecember at 7 pm. Tickets: €10 at the door.
Are you discerning a vocation to religious life?
For Young Women(18-40yrs) who are discerning a Vocation to Religious/Consecrated Life, monthly meetings are held in Charleville Retreat Centre, Cork. The day includes prayer,talks, Holy Mass, Adoration and a chance to meet and chat with religious sistersof different communities. If you are interested in attending please emailwomendiscern@corkandross.org
POPE LEO XIV’S PRAYER INTENTION FOR DECEMBER
For Christians in areas of conflict
Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation, and hope.
LAST WEEK’SCOLLECTION
Church: € 768Share: €137. Card reader: € 430. IDonate: € 90
Thanks for your continued support