St. Michael's Parish 
Come and See
Our gospel text at Mass this weekend is more notable for what it doesn’t say rather than what is included. This is often the case and is the reason why we need to take time to listen carefully rather than rushing to apply it.
The simple words of Jesus are to ‘come and see’. There is no long discussion, the enquirers are not referred on. Nowadays, they might be referred to a website somewhere! They are simply invited by Jesus to spend time in his presence in the Eucharist, as we do each weekend, or in prayer at home or in the church.
We have a beautiful parish church and many people drop in to pray. People often say that they get great peace and comfort being in the church in prayer and with their own thoughts.
The invitation is always to ‘come and see’. It’s also the invitation to people who would like to be at Mass but for many reasons have fallen out of the habit. The best words are the three words of Jesus in our gospel this weekend to ‘come and see’.
May God bless us all as we enter a new year in hope and faith. St. Michael, pray for us.
Fr. Michael
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2024 Launch
In 2023 almost 400 pilgrims from Cork and Ross travelled to Lourdes as part of the diocesan pilgrimage, the first such one since the pandemic. The hope is to build and grow this number in 2024. If you are interested, you might contact Fr. Michael very soon as the 2024 Pilgrimage will be launched on this Thursday 18th January in the Cathedral.
Alpha Training Day – Saturday 27th January in Blackrock Parish Centre
The Alpha programme helps people to not just know about the person, Jesus, but to come to know him, to come into an encounter with him, and into a relationship with him. Alpha can bring new life and energy back into the parish community because people form friendships, experience Christian community, and experience God in a new and life-giving way through Alpha. Please contact Fr. Michael if you hope to be present. Also more details from https://corkandross.org/alpha-training-day
Ballinlough, Blackrock, Blackrock Road, Mahon Family of Parishes
Representatives from the Office of Mission and Ministry in the Diocese will speak at all Masses across the four parishes during February. In preparation for this we will pray at all Masses during January asking God’s blessing so that parish councils will be formed in a spirit of prayer and discernment to specifically serve the prayer and faith lives of the parishes.