PARISH BULLETIN St Kieran’s, the Catholic Church in Campbeltown and Islay

Ceann Loch Chille Chiarain

St Kieran’s Church 8th December 2019

2nd Sunday of Advent

St. Kieran’s Tuesday and Wednesday Holy Mass 10.00 am Friday Holy Mass 6.00 pm Saturday Vigil Mass 6.00 pm Sunday 15th December Holy Mass 10.00 am

Islay (St. Columba’s Church, Bridgend) Sunday 22nd December – Holy Mass, 4.00 pm Epiphany Sunday 5th January 2020 – Holy Mass,

4.00 pm

Psalm response In his days justice shall flourish, and peace till the moon fails.

Gospel acclamation Alleluia, alleluia!

Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight,

and all mankind shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia!

Communion antiphon Jerusalem, arise and stand upon the heights,

and behold the joy which comes to you from God.

The mystery of Advent Julia likes Advent. From the first Sunday, when the first candle is lit, she sits every evening before an old Aga, opens the door and throws in a few pieces of dry wood. She listens to the growling of the fire, watches the dancing flames and thinks about life: the present and the future. She worries what will be like when her children one day exchange the old Aga for a gas replacement. After all – she says – it’s just not the same. Advent will lose some of its charm. Despite her age, Julia is well aware of the direction change is taking, the decline of community culture. The pizza eaten on the run by grandchildren is not the same as dinner together. A birthday greeting sent by text does not betray the shaking of the writer’s hand. The microwave oven does not give the sense of communing with the mystery of cooking. Technology impoverishes relationships despite now not being able to

function without a smart phone. And anything that is not associated with a virtual icon no longer speaks to us. The world of Advent’s symbols, the world of Christian liturgy, the world of signs, ceases to appeal to us. It becomes foreign, coming from a past world. Not managing to understand, we content ourselves with poor substitutes: blinking lights, reindeers, carols without Jesus and . . . . . consumption.

But it can be otherwise. Beginning with the question of for Whom and for what is this time. Listening with longing resonating with the simple words of the prayer Marana’tha! Opening the bright eyes of the heart to His presence here and now. Learning to connect with Mystery through the Christian liturgy. It will be the guiding motive of our Advent way this year. You are invited!

Take Five Invest just five minutes a day, and your faith will deepen and grow—a day at a time.

Monday, Dec 09, 2019 SOLEMNITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY Mary was no angel Since her very conception, Mary of Nazareth has been named “immaculate,” “pure,” “unblemished.” And rightfully so for she was born without sin and remained so throughout her life. Yet because of this pristineness, we sometimes think Mary was untouched by the messiness of everyday life. But Mary was a flesh-and-blood human and a strong, loving woman. She experienced the beauty and struggles of family and village life. She faced poverty and a refugee’s life, persecution and heart-breaking sorrow when her Son was tortured and killed. With Mary as your companion, take time this Advent to peer into your heart and see what beautiful, messy, tender, and broken things you are holding.

TODAYS READING S: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38. “God chose us to be holy and unblemished.”

Tuesday, Dec 10, 2019 WEEKDAY OF ADVENT Embrace the lost sheep In today’s gospel, Jesus elevates the importance of the single “lost sheep.” It’s worth leaving the 99 on their own for a time because the lost one has enormous value. Catholic social teaching hinges on the idea that every single human being has infinite worth, including our own lost sheep. Today those who are “outside the fold” may include addicts, the homeless, prisoners, refugees, the mentally ill — even our most unlovable relative. Who are the lost sheep in your community? Can you take one small step today to affirm their dignity and worth?

TODAYS READINGS: Isaiah 40:1-11; Matthew 18:12-14. “Will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?”

Wednesday, Dec 11, 2019 OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF SAINT DAMASUS I, POPE Stick with a church that sticks around If you love singing “Adeste Fideles” and “Gloria in Excelsis Deo”, you can probably thank Pope Damasus I for that. As the bishop of Rome during the fourth century, he championed many aspects of the faith that persist to this day — aspects that have helped ensure the cohesiveness and longevity of Catholic practice. These include: a common language (Latin) for worship, an official list of books for the Bible, the veneration of Christian martyrs, the denunciation of certain heresies, and the primacy of the bishop of Rome as pope. His actions laid down

some of the first stones of a Church that Vatican II saw as having an "eternal foundation” based on Christ.

TODAYS READINGS: Isaiah 40:25-31; Matthew 11:28-30. “Have you not heard? The Lord is the eternal God.”

Thursday, Dec 12, 2019 OPTIONAL MEMORIAL OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE Of the people and for the people Our Lady of Guadalupe is probably the most iconic image and story of Mary in North America. One reason for this overwhelming devotion is that she appeared in the form of an indigenous woman to an indigenous man — Indians being the lowest tier of Mexican society both then and now. That God’s own mother could be of the poor and for the poor continues to be a powerful message with strong implications about how we treat one another. In your prayer today, reflect on whose image Mary might take on if she were to appear in your community today. What would her face look like? And what might she ask of us?

TODAYS READINGS: Isaiah 41:13-20; Matthew 11:11-15. “If anyone has ears to hear, let him listen!.”

Friday, Dec 13, 2019 MEMORIAL OF SAINT LUCY, VIRGIN, MARTYR See with new eyes The music of Lucinda Williams is beautiful, simple, and challenging. In 2011, she released the song “Blessed,” a litany to remind us that even in the challenges of life, we are blessed. She sings, for example, “We were blessed by the blind man / Who could see for miles and miles.” We have a patron saint for people who are blind, Saint Lucy. Though tortured, blinded, and martyred, she is remembered as a woman of great vision for her love of Christ and poor people. How can you see “miles and miles” through a challenge you face?

TODAYS READINGS: Isaiah 48:17-19; Matthew 11:16-19. “I, the LORD, your God, teach you what is for your good, and lead you on the way you should go.”

Saturday, Dec 14, 2019 MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN OF THE CROSS, PRIEST, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH The change we need Here’s a simple truth: People resist change. The greater the change, the greater the resistance, generally speaking — even when the change is long overdue and much for the better. John of the Cross embraced the Carmelite reform initiated by his

spiritual sister, the visionary Carmelite Saint Teresa of Avila. However, a group of his fellow Carmelites strongly opposed the reform and went so far as to imprison John and treat him harshly. He persevered, and even wrote most of his famous Canticle while jailed. Try to see unfair treatment or setbacks that

come your way as an opportunity for spiritual growth. TODAYS READINGS: Sirach 48:1-4, 9-11; Matthew 17:9a, 10-13. “I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him but did to him whatever they pleased.”

Readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent Isaiah 11:1-10

Jesse’s tree is about to bud again, and with it the hope of the ages. Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

Justice is coming, and peace is not far behind. Romans 15:4-9

Scripture was written down to preserve the wisdom of the holy ones. Matthew 3:1-12

The Baptist is back, and he’s wielding the axe of God.

Thoughts on the ReadingsIsaiah 11:1-10 “A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse, a scion thrusts from his roots: (…) That day, the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples. It will be sought out by the nations and its home will be glorious”. The Messiah was promised to the Israelites several, maybe even a dozen or so centuries before our era. The Messiah, anointed with oil, was first understood to be a sort of king, an ideal ruler. Israel had therefore long expected a king. Unfortunately, not one of those who reigned was a ruler according to God’s intention. Doubt began to arise as to whether a Messiah would still appear at all. Others constantly believed that what God promises He fulfils, you only had to understand the promised figure in a different way. With flow of centuries and deepening reflection on the word of God, understanding became more and more spiritual. Above all, it reveals that the Messiah does not have to have political power and is not only for the Jews. God’s intention is to care for all people. And what’s more – for the whole of creation. The Messiah is the one who restores universal harmony. He leads to the whole truth. Time, patience and sensitivity are needed for external events and internal movement. Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17 “In his days justice shall flourish and peace till the moon fails. He shall rule from sea to sea, from the Great River to earth’s bounds. (…) For he shall save the poor when they cry and the needy who are helpless. He will have pity on the weak and save the lives of the poor”. This psalm recalls the promise of God and is a request that the Lord hurry the day of

its realisation. If it is delayed it is not because God has forgotten about His promise. The Israelites who prayed with this psalm did not do so as to remind God of His promise. Rather, prayer is to learn to look at the world with God’s eyes. We stand in the face of God’s intentions so as to revive our hope and find the strength to commit to their fulfilment. More: peace, justice, rescue of the poor and unfortunate do not materialise by magic. They need an embodied soul. Therefore, we pray so that God’s plan be done by ourselves and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in its realisation. If we get there then everything God promised really will become a fact, and in front of our very eyes. Romans 15:4-9 “Everything that was written long ago in the scriptures was meant to teach us something about hope from the examples scripture gives of how people who did not give up were helped by God”. The Holy Scriptures open before me the gate of its richness, if I read it convinced it has an important message for me and my situation. There, in the word of God is contained for me the source of an instructive and refreshing stream of hope. When we begin reading the Bible with this positive mindset, with small attempts to translate word into practice, we’ll notice that the text begins to explain itself through its effects in our lives. Holy Scripture reveals itself as Good News especially when we find in it liberating words which lead to the experience of freedom. The appeal that the Bible is for all people precisely such Good News, means it’s a source of hope and liberating power from everything that wants to dominate and to imprison them.

Matthew 3:1-12 “But when he saw a number of Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism he said to them, ‘Brood of vipers, who warned you to fly from the retribution that is coming?” John the Baptist in his clothing, behaviour and words is similar to the great prophets of the Old Testament. He uses their language which for the humble are gentle, encouraging, and for the proud – hard and raw. The unnerving expression “brood of vipers” does not have the aim to offend anyone; rather it is a call to mindfulness and attention: “watch out, you become like evil spirits, the tempter, the devil – symbolised by a serpent”. The listeners of John were used to the language of the prophets, knowing well that John does not attack any person or group but a certain way of life. So, really the judgement which John proclaims does not take place among people, but in the conscience of every person. That which is good in each of us, even if very small, will be preserved. This is the Good News: in every one of us are behaviours and ways of being which destroy us and this is why they must be cast off, but everything in

each of us that can be saved, will be saved. This judgement is possible thanks to the Messiah – Jesus, the perfect image of man. In Him – as in a mirror – we have to look at ourselves and separate the good from evil.

Prayer Please pray for those who are in need or have asked for our prayers: Ken McCoy and Russell Carroll.

Please remember in your prayers the soul of May Dumigan (Islay) and all whose anniversaries occur at his time.

News and Events Tea and coffee in the hall after Sunday Mass. Our visitors are most welcome, please come along. Fr. Brown will be available for confession after Mass on Wednesday this week and next. Thanks to all who contributed to the Coffee Morning on Saturday. Thanks from us and to us for a great celebration at the St. Andrew’s Day supper. We are grateful to all who contributed and attended, and especially those who cleared up afterwards.

campbeltown@rcdai.org.uk www.stkieransrc.org https://www.facebook.com/campbeltownrcchurch/

A Parish of the R.C. Diocese of Argyll and the Isles; Charitable Trust, a registered Scottish Charity, SC002876 Parish Priest: Fr. A. Wood, St. Kieran’s, Campbeltown; Tel. 01586 552160