RECENT BAPTISMS Finn William Nyhan "Lisheen" Dunmanway Rd., Ian Robert Curtin, 3 Rosewood Avenue

The Monthly Meeting of St. Josephs Young Priests Society will be held at the Munster Arms Hotel on Tues 2nd Dec. at 8.30pm

Christmas Youth 2000 Retreat A national Youth 2000 Christmas retreat for young people aged 16-35 takes place at Newbridge College, Kildare from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st December.  An opportunity not to be missed to experience the Catholic faith and meet many new friends!  Contact Youth 2000 office 01 6753690 or Mark 086 8550417 for further info.  No Charge - donation only.  Special buses available from some locations.  See poster at back of the church.  Website: www.youth2OOO.ie

St.  Peter's Church Concert: on Friday Dec. 5th at 7.30pm. Taking part will be St. Patricks Brass Band, Clonakilty - The Glaslinn Ladies Choir - Vocal Students of Bob Beare - Violinists, Guitarists from the 'County Cork School of Music'.  An offering will be taken after concert for the Millbrook Hospital, Bandon Community Hospital & St. Patrick's Brass Band.

Connnunity Service of Carols & Readings for Advent & Christmas 2008.  The annual community service of carols & readings in preparation for Christmas will be held, this year, in St. Patrick's church on Friday Dec. 19th at 7.30pm. This carol service gets to the heart of Christmas and makes for a worthwhile preparation for this joyful season.  There is one serious problem: We urgently need men to come and sing with the community choir which is drawn from the Christian communities in Bandon.  You don't have to be a great signer, just enjoy singing.  Practises every wed. evening 7.00-8.00pm in St.Peter's Church.  So, what about it,men?  Do you like a challenge?  Come join us on Wednesdays or ring 41092 for info.

Trocaire Global Gifts brochures are available at the back of the church.

Bandon branch of Cope Foundation monthly meeting Mon.  Dec Ist 8pm Munster Arms Hotel.

Bandon Neighbourhood Watch AGM Wed. 3rd Dec. 8pm in Town Hall.  All welcome.

The Celiac Society of Ireland southern branch will hold a meeting Tues. 2nd Dec. at 8pm in the S.M.A. centre, Wilton.  Christmas party night "Bring something, taste something" All Welcome

Bandon Christmas Coal Fund Annual church door collection Sat. 6th & Sun 7th of Dec.  Donations may also be sent to the Hon.Treasurer c/o St. Patrick's Church, Bandon.

St.  Brogan's College, Bandon OPEN EVENING Thurs. 4th Dec. 2008 7.00-8.30pm Principal's address at 8.30pm

We need Advent to teach us patience.  It can teach us more than that, of course.

However, with our busy lifestyles we need to releam how to be patient with, rather than how to put up with, something or someone.  That busyness results in us wishing our life away.  We become edgy and tense with the present and slide easily into the future-be it only into the hour ahead of us.  We develop the 'when I...' mentality: when-l-get-home, when the weekend arrives, when the summer is here, when I get my new car, when I..when I ... when 1. The future seems to hold the caffot:the present the stick.  And as we lose touch With the present, we lose touch with ourselves.

And how easy is that.  During the summer I saw a pub advertising a fancy dress Christmas bash for the middle of July.  For many years now venues for Christmas parties have to be booked months in advance.  And it's no surprise anymore to hear and see promotions for summer holiday deals the day after Christmas.  We are being programmed to live in the future as if the present doesn't count.  More and more life's rhythms are set by the world of commerce than by the world of nature.

Advent slows us down.  It alerts us to prepare for Christmas, not to start celebrating it.  Our Gospel today (Mark 13:33-37) alerts to something else: the Lord's return.  That alertness is for now, for we can meet the Lord at any time.