Cobh

<h3>THE TRAIN: Thought for the day Christmas blessings</h3>
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At birth, we boarded the train and met our parents, and we believe they will always travel by our side.&nbsp;
As time goes by, other people will board the train; and they will be significant i.e. our siblings, friends, children, strangers and even the love of your life. However, at some station our parents will step down from the train, leaving us on this journey alone. Others will step down over time and leave a permanent vacuum.&nbsp;
Some, however, will go so unnoticed that we don't realize they vacated their seats.&nbsp;
This train ride will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos, goodbyes, and farewells. Success consists of having a good relationship with all passengers requiring that we give the best of ourselves.
The mystery to everyone is:&nbsp;
We do not know at which station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who we are.&nbsp;
it is important to do this because when the time comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty we should leave behind beautiful memories for those who will continue to travel on the train of life.
I wish you a joyful journey for the coming years on your train of life. Reap success, give lots of love and be happy. More importantly, thank God for the journey!
<h3>Lastly, I want to thank you for being one of the passengers on my train.</h3>
Christmas Message 2021- Most Rev. Wm. Crean, Bishop of Cloyne
A time to cherish faith, family and friends
Dear Friends,
Our expectation for a happy and peaceful Christmas celebration rests on the wonderful memories of Christmas gatherings in the past. These memories awaken our hopes to celebrate again what is best in life with those closest to us. This expectation and hope explain why so many travel near and far to come home for Christmas.
The persistence of Covid across the world has disrupted the rhythm of our comings and goings. These limitations and restrictions have sharpened our sense of the essential and important in life. Nothing replaces the joy of being with our own who accept and love us as we are “warts and all”.
The child in Bethlehem is the inspiration of our coming together because in the person of the Christ Child, God has made his home with us and become one of us. As one who was without welcome, He has taught us to make all welcome. It is He who has taught us that the stranger is one whose name we have yet to come to know. That enmity, bitterness and resentment simply ‘eat our hearts out’. That in giving we receive, that in forgiving we experience mercy.
In our blessing and good fortune, we keep those who are suffering in spirit or body close, through our concern and prayer. We pray that the rich nations will be generous in sharing the vaccines with the poor so we can all be safe.
We remember those bereaved because of Covid and the pain experienced because of restrictions on celebrations.
We are indebted to those on the front line who have given so generously, sometimes at great personal cost. Our thoughts too are with those for whom the pandemic has generated great stress and tension in their lives.
So we cherish these days of celebration as ones of special blessing on one another whereby we realise we are grace-filled in the intimacy and care of family and friends.
May that peace of God which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7)
<h2>St Colman's Cathedral Cobh</h2>
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Thanks for Fr Aquin and his team for the efficient way they organised the 8 masses in the Cathedral for Christmas night and Christmas Day. The important aspect was that everybody who wished got the opportunity to honour the birthday of the Lord in the best possible way. As the attached pictures show the floral arrangements were superb as usual many thanks to the arrangers.
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Parish Clergy Greetings From all of us here at Cobh Parish, we would like to wish you and your families a peaceful Christmas.&nbsp;
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<h3>Thank you for your support and prayers over the last year. Fr. Tom, Fr. Aquin, Fr. Liam and Fr. Paul.</h3>
A huge Thank You to Cobh Flower Club and their members for their wonderful floral display in St Colman’s Cathedral. 
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They have created beautiful arrangements for the Christmas Season. Thank you for your time and effort given to create these beautiful displays.
What a magnificent Tree of Thanksgiving. Thank you to everyone who added to this year's tree. We have a lot to be thankful for. 
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A special thank you to the Byrne Family who kept our tree looking so colourful and continued the tree in memory of Áine.
Some beautiful pictures of the Christmas arrangements in Sacred Heart Church Norwood. 
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All our parish churches are open for private prayer each day. Thank you to all who decorated Norwood Church.
Some beautiful pictures of the Christmas arrangements in Sacred Heart Church Ballymore, including some young parishioners putting Baby Jesus in the crib. 
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All our parish churches are open for private prayer each day and Mass is celebrated at 9.30am every Sunday in Ballymore. 
Thank you to all who decorated Ballymore Church and to Eileen for sharing these photographs.
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The traditional Christmas Carillon recital presented by Adrian Gebruers (Cathedral Carillonneur) with granddaughters Amy and Ella Gebruers.
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A thought on Christmas Day

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