Ferbane Parish

Christmas Eve
5:00pm - Ferbane
7:00pm - Boora
7:00pm - High Street
9:00pm - Ferbane

Christmas Day
9:00am - Ferbane
9:30am - Boora
11:00am - Ferbane
12Noon - High Street 

• A draw will be made to allocate available attendance places
• Please add your name to the sheet in your chosen church by 20th December
• You will be contacted if you have secured a place
• Please read the full letter from the parish council below

Dear Parishioners,

We hope this message finds you safe and well in these strange times. 🙏

As you are aware our Christmas ceremonies will be very different this year with the current restrictions and limitations placed on numbers attending our masses.

With this in mind we are holding a draw to allow for Christmas Mass attendances in our 3 parish churches. Christmas Eve masses are as follows: Ferbane 5pm and 9pm, Boora 7pm, High Street 7pm.

Christmas Day: Ferbane 9am and 11am, Boora 9.30am, High Street 12 noon.

If you wish to attend Christmas Mass at your chosen church, please visit the church before Dec. 20th and fill out your name on the sheet provided and YOU WILL BE CONTACTED if you have secured a place.

Please note that people are welcome to listen to mass from within their cars outside the churches and communion will be distributed at designated areas outside the churches.

Masses from Ferbane Church will also be streamed live and the link to gain access will be distributed in the coming weeks.

We would ask that you are tolerant of the difficult position we find ourselves in this year with regard to numbers attending Christmas ceremonies and to remind you that you are all very welcome to visit the Churches and their cribs during the Christmas period for private prayer and reflection. Please be mindful of social distancing around the crib and entrance to our churches. Wearing of face coverings is also strongly advised.

We would ask that you please share this message to other groups and individuals on our behalf.

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy Christmas.

Yours in Prayer,

Ferbane Parish Council.

PREPARING FOR CHRISTMAS AT HOME

Second Sunday of Advent: John the Baptist - our Advent companion “St. John the Baptist is very prominent in Advent. He is an ideal companion, at once austere and joyful. His own life was penitential in the extreme, but there was no note of sadness in it. As the herald and forerunner of Jesus, he rejoiced to hear the voice of the Lord. He is the one to stir us out of our complacency: ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand’, was his cry.” - Vincent Ryan, OSB. Lighting of the Second Candle: All powerful Lord of Light, may our Advent be a time of preparation. Help us reflect on the power of light to dispel darkness in our world and in our lives. Touch our hearts with the warmth of your love. Be Patient…for the coming of the Lord.

First Sunday of Advent: The tradition of the Advent wreath of evergreens and candles, reminds us of the gifts of nature and the Lord’s faithfulness to come and be with us, Emmanuel.
Blessing of the Advent Wreath: We ask you, God, our creator, to bless this Advent wreath. May it remind us that Jesus is in our midst and that we are surrounded by his love and care. Bless these candles on our wreath. May they remind us that Jesus is the Light of the World. Bless these evergreens on our wreath. May they remind us that Jesus’ love for us is everlasting and that nothing we do will ever take it away. May this wreath remind us to prepare well for Christmas, each and every day of the Advent Season. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
                                                                        Lighting of the First Advent Candle
As we light our First Advent Candle this week may we open our hearts to the light of Christ.
May His light increase in brightness, through our love and efforts this Advent.

Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois 
‘Remember In November’ – A Pastoral Letter for November 2020 
Bishop Francis Duffy, Bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnois 

November is a time to remember and pray for family members, colleagues, neighbours and friends who have died since this time last year.  Those who have gone before us, those who were so much present with us, so central to our lives, have left us with a deep sense of loss.  We look for peace, for healing of heartache, and for hope.  
This year is particularly difficult for those who have been bereaved since March.  Those profound feelings of loss have been heightened by not being able to be present at a time of death and by the absence of the familiar family and community supports.   

Familiar Faces
The lockdown and restrictions have impacted on how we say goodbye to our loved ones.  Some sadly died without familiar faces around them, some left this life with the caring presence of hospital and nursing home staff, we are grateful to them.
Familiar faces, consoling words and reminiscence are all important in our grieving process.  Many have not had the traditional practices that help us: wakes, gatherings at home, reception of remains at the church and a funeral Mass with an unrestricted attendance.  These experiences have added to the sense of loss. 

Sacraments
We have been without the normal free flowing schedule of Masses and sacraments for over seven months now.  Our priests and parishioners have made great efforts to keep our churches open and safe and welcoming, for this we are very thankful. Although we have moved online, and on television, for Mass, it is not the same.  In his message for World Mission Day 2020, Pope Francis writes,
‘Being forced to observe social distancing and to stay at home invites us to rediscover that we need social relationships as well as our communal relationship with God.’
We long so much to be back in church, with the support of a gathering, and the meaningful participation of being present with others, an expression of who we are and what we believe in. 

Uncertainty for young people and the economy
Our remembrance this November takes place at a time of continuing uncertainty, isolation and economic hardship.  We take reassurance from the good practices learned in all areas of life about how to keep ourselves and others safe.  Every day we should reassure our young people of our love and support and help them to nurture their God-given gifts. 
We take reassurance from the determination of our political leaders to bring us through this pandemic as safely and as socially and economically resilient as possible.  We take reassurance from our belief in a caring God who encourages us to make wise decisions for the common good and to look out for each other.  Jesus’ call to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ has taken on a new meaning in the current context of caring and of keeping safe. 

Hope based in Jesus ensures all will be well
We have the reassurance of the Lord that all will be well and that He will strengthen our ability to lift ourselves and others with resolve and hope during this terrible time.  Resolve to do our very best to ensure maximum safety.  Hope based in Jesus’ promise to be with us always ‘until the end of time’ (Matt 28: 20).   In his extraordinary Urbi et Orbi address of March 2020, Pope Francis said,
‘In the midst of isolation when we are suffering from a lack of tenderness and chances to meet up, and we experience the loss of so many things, let us once again listen to the proclamation that saves us: he is risen and is living by our side’ 
The risen Lord is with us. 

#Remember in November
During the month of November parishes will continue with their remembrance practices in so far as the restrictions allow, November lists, remembrance trees, candles and other local traditions. 

On Sunday 1 November at 3.00pm a special Remembrance Service will take place in Saint Mel’s Cathedral, Longford, and will be broadcast by webcam on www.longfordparish.com.  I invite you to join us online as we remember, pray for those who have gone before us and for those who mourn.  In a similar way on social media I encourage you to use the hashtag #RememberInNovember along with your prayerful messages to commemorate the souls of our loved ones.  May our departed rest in peace and may the Lord bring consolation to those who grieve.

 +Francis Duffy

Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois

The picture below is of  the garden in front of the ambo in Ferbane Church

The following Masses from Ferbane church are available on Parish Radio (106.5FM ) and on the Ferbane Parish Facebook page:

Monday - Saturday 10:00am   Sunday 11:00am

PRAYER OF PROTECTION FROM CORONAVIRUS

God of infinite love and creator of all life, protect us from all sickness and suffering. Heal those depressed and burdened with ill health of mind and body. Comfort and strengthen those who are fearful, anxious and distressed. Instill hope and courage in those who are struggling and vulnerable at this time. Relieve the suffering of all, so that we may experience the joy and peace of your presence in our need. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. (Fr. Francis Beirne)