A happy and peaceful Christmas to all our Parishioners and to all who are visiting our Parish at this time. A special wish and prayer for Wexford people all over the World – so many of our young people have left our shores to make their way in Australia, New Zealand, America, Canada,England and other far away places. Christmas with its heightened sense of family, makes absence all the more painful. There are also empty places at the tables of all who have lost loved ones during the year. We will remember our emigrants and our departed and those who miss them in our Masses and prayers over Christmas time. We pray that the Lord will bless you with love and happiness this Christmas and during the coming year.

As part of the preparations for World Meeting of Families in Dublin in 2018 – and the anticipated visit of Pope Francis to Ireland – Bishop Brennan has written a letter to the families of the Diocese of Ferns which will be distributed in the Churches of the Diocese of Christmas Day. The letter welcomes people to Masses on the day, it remembers the many of our own who live abroad, it outlines ‘the gift that family is’, it gives details of the Year of the Family and it contains 10 practical suggestions that families and parishes might consider as we go forward. Bishop Brennan readily recognizes that ‘families and communities are not perfect’ but in the spirit of Christmas he says that ‘despite their imperfections and flaws this is where God reveals his love and goodness, his compassion and kindness, for every member of the human family.’ The people of the Diocese are invited to consider the letter and to discuss it. In the four page colour letter he invites all ‘in the family of Ferns Diocese’ to an openness to what this particular opportunity – World Meeting of Families in Ireland in 2018 – may offer us as a church and as a nation. In conclusion, Bishop Brennan extends every good wishing and blessing to the people of the Diocese. http://ferns.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Pastoral-Letter.pdf

The Time Is Near.

Four Day Christmas Fast, St Iberius Church, Wexford. Canon Arthur Minion and Fr Aodhán Marken with Fr Jim Fegan dropping by to give his support to them. Keep giving generously one day left.

“When you pray at home in front of the crib, with your family, allow yourself to be touched by the tenderness of the child Jesus, who was born poor and fragile among us, to give us his love. This is the true Christmas! If we remove Jesus, what remains of Christmas? An empty feast. Do not take Jesus out of Christmas! Jesus is the center of Christmas. Jesus is the true Christmas.” (Pope Francis).