PARISH OF LARKHILL/WHITEHALL/SANTRY

Parish of Larkhill/Whitehall & Santry Parish Office: Church of the Holy Child,

The Thatch Road, Dublin 9. Tel (01) 837 5274 Website: www.whitehall.dublindiocese.ie.

St. Francis of Assisi 2nd October 2016

Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures"

St. Francis of Assisi was born in Assisi, Italy in 1181 or 1182 A.D. The son of a wealthy merchant, he lived a carefree, fun-loving life in his youth enjoying the company of other young people in Assisi at that time. He even fought in the war with the neighbouring town of Perugia, and on capture spent about a year as a prisoner of war.

"Let every spirit praise the Lord"

However, the focus of his attention gradually changed as he experienced a series of personal encounters with the Lord Jesus Christ in dreams, in the silence of a cave, in prayer before the San Damiano crucifix, in hearing a passage from the Gospel and in meeting a leper on the road. Indeed, it was while he was praying in an abandoned church dedicated to St.

Damien (San Damiano) that he heard the figure on the cross say to him, "go repair my house which as you can see is falling into ruin."

On turning his attention to God the Father, overwhelmed by His infinite

love for him revealed in His incarnate Son, Jesus and in creation, Francis gave up his inheritance and devoted his life to following the poor and crucified Christ. Francis showed his love for God through his deep love and reverence for all of God's creation. His prayers such as "The

Canticle of the Creatures" express his brotherly relationship with all created things.

"Sing a new song to the Lord” Men and women joined him, and together they prayed and praised God in all His creation, and served Christ in people experiencing poverty and suffering. Eventually, Francis founded the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) for men, and

along with St. Clare of Assisi, the Poor Clares for women. He founded the Secular Franciscan Order for married, widowed and single people. Each of these groups try to live the spirituality of St. Francis based on his life.

He died in Assisi in 1226 A.D. Due to his brotherly care for all creation including nature, St. Francis was named Patron Saint of Ecology by Pope John Paul II.

The Crib About 1223 A.D., something marvellous happened. St. Francis made a living crib, an enactment of the birth of Christ near the town of Greccio on Christmas Day, and so popularised the making of a crib scene in our homes, workplaces, churches, hospitals, schools and shops at Christmas.

Desiring to represent as faithfully as possible the lowly poverty of the infancy of the Saviour born at Bethlehem, when the Feast of the Nativity was at hand, Francis sent word to a religious nobleman in the town of Greccio named John who provided an ox and an ass, with a stable, in anticipation of the joys of the coming celebration. Finally the holy night arrived, and Francis was there with many of his brothers gathered around him. hay in the manger is prepared, the ox and the ass are arranged around the manger, and the vigil celebration begins with joy. A great multitude of people stream together from various places with candles and torches as requested by Francis to light up the night just like that first Christmas night lit by a star. He ensured that everybody including flora (represented by hay) and fauna (represented by the ox and ass) had a part to play in the Nativity scene since he knew that the Saviour was born for all. And so, out of Greccio was made a new Bethlehem! Francis stood before the manger overcome with joy, and Mass was celebrated over the crib. After the celebration, Francis insisted that care be taken of the hay and the animals, reminding us to take care of every created thing even after we no longer need it! St. Francis' initiative at Greccio popularised the making of a Christmas crib in our homes, churches, hospitals, schools and other places where we wish to remember the Christmas event. Source: Praying Nature—Br. Cathal Duddy OFM

Mass Intentions for the coming week Church of the Holy Child Monday 3rd October 9.15a.m. Catherine Norton (Anniversary) 7.00p.m. Available for Intention Tuesday 4th October 9.15a.m. Available for Intention 7.00p.m. Noel O’Brien (Anniversary) Wednesday 5th Oct. 9.15a.m. Available for Intention 7.00pm Mary Delaney (Anniversary) Thursday 6th Oct. 9.15a.m. John Malone (Anniversary) 7.00p.m Mary Brady (Month’s Mind) Friday 7th Oct. 9.15a.m. Altar List of the Dead 7.00p.m. Altar List of the Dead Saturday 8th Oct. 10.00a.m. Available for Intention Vigil 7.00p.m. Margaret Fagan (Birthday Remembrance) Dominic (Anniv.) & Maura O’Shea (R. I. P.) Sunday 8th October 8.30p.m. Brigid and Michael Dunne (Anniversaries) 11.15a.m. People of the Parish 12.30p.m. Mavis Keniry (Month’s Mind) Peter Bermingham (Birthday Remembrance R.I.P ) 6.00p.m. Anthony Dennis (Month’ s Mind) Chapel of Blessed Margaret Ball Wednesday 5th Oct. 10.00a.m. Available for Intention Friday 7th October 10.00a.m. Altar List of the Dead Sunday 8th October 10.00a.m. Seán McAllister (Anniversary)

Recently Deceased: You are asked to remember in your Prayers: Mary Costello Essie Foster Brendan Halpin

May they enjoy perfect peace and

reconciliation in the presence of God.

Please Support your Parish Lotto Last Tuesday’s winning numbers were: 1st Jackpot: 2 5 21 27 2nd Jackpot: 1 8 13 14 No Jackpot winner. The winners of the seven prizes of €25 were:

J. Lavelle: B. Magee: C. Holden: P. Mullen N. Masterson: S. Geoghegan: T. & B. Brown. Next Week’s Jackpots : First Jackpot €15,000 Second Jackpot €2,000 Plus 7 Consolation Prizes €25 & 5 extra Prizes of €100.

We welcome in Baptism Oliver Robert Emmett May this newly

baptised Child always know and love Jesus as his friend.

Volunteers Required The Parish Centre is looking for someone who would be willing help out in Reception and in the Coffee Shop. Monday or Tuesday afternoons from 2.30p.m. to 4.30p.m. If you are available please contact

Tina at 01 8375274

Blessing of Animals

Don’t forget, in honour of

St. Francis of Assisi, whose

Feast Day is Tuesday, 4th

October, all pets will be

blessed underneath the Bell

Tower this Sunday 2nd

October after the 12.30pm.

Mass. St. Francis em-

braced poverty and preached the love of

God to all. In 1221, while praying at La

Verna, he received the wounds of the cruci-

fied Lord, which caused him great pain in

his final years. Remember to bring your

pets along for the special blessing.

The Family Mass Sunday

12.30p.m. We are looking

for more young people to

join our Youth Ministry

Teams: The Youth Choir,

the Young Ministers of the

Word or the Altar Servers. Full training will be

given. If you are interested in joining one of the

youth ministries please talk to a member of the

Family Mass Team after the 12.30p.m. Mass on

Sunday.

Blessing for Expectant Mothers A Special Blessing for Expectant Mothers will take place on Wed. 5th Oct 2016 at 8.00pm in Our Lady of Mercy Church, Brookwood Grove, Artane.

Parish Hospitality Team—New members are required for this important welcoming Parish Ministry. If interested please contact Anne in the Parish Office. Tel: 01 8375274

St. Therese of Lisieux

Saturday, October 1st is the feast day of St. Therese of Lisieux, much loved by many Dubliners who call her the ‘Little Flower’. During the 7.00p.m. Mass in the Church

of the Holy Child on Wednesday, 5th

October, Fr. Damian McNeice will mark the feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, with a brief homily about her spirituality and give blessings with a relic of the popular Carmelite saint. All are welcome

In this Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Navan Road, Dublin 7 - The Rediscovered Face of Christ - Exhibition tracing many testimonies relating to the Face of Christ from the early centuries of Christianity. Slide & video presentation Saturday 15th & Sun. 16th Oct. Venue: Parish Pastoral Centre,

Navan Rd. For further information, times & pre-booking (Essential) tel: 01 838 0265

Friday 7th Oct.—First Friday Schedule of Masses-Church of the Holy Child 9.15am and 7.00pm: Margaret Ball: 10 .00a.m. Confessions on Thursday-after the 9.15a.m. Mass & before 7pm Mass

Ministry Advocacy & Compassion. The Catholic Church & 1916—St. Kevin’s Chapel The Pro Cathedral Exhibition continues from 1.30p.m. to 5.30p.m. Admission is free. This exhibition takes you into the heart of the fighting during the Easter Rising, where Catholic priests risked their lives to minister the sacraments to the wounded and dying. Examine the crucial acts of the nuns and clergy as they responded to the immediate needs of the hungry and displaced by providing them with much needed food and shelter. The interactive touchscreen shows never before seen documents from various religious archives, all relating to the Rising.