RECENT BAPTISMS Owen Deasy Anaya, Madrid.  Cian Patrick Chan-Riordan, 5 Millrace Mews, Chapel St. Tomasz Daniel Dubicki, 16 Rosewood Lawn. jowita jakubowska, 8 Rosewood Lawn.  Muireann Christine Lordan, 25 Meadowlands.  Carrie Ann Crowley, 6 Castle Woods, Castlebemard.  Matthew James Tobin, Upper O'Mahony Avenue.

CONFIRMATION ENROLMENT The enrolment of boys and girls for Confirmation takes place at the 7.30pm mass on Sat next 17th January.

TAI CHI FOR HEALTH AND FITNESS Whatever your age or level of fitness, Tai Chi Chuan is the ultimate form of exercise to keep you strong and healthy in body and mind.  A I 0-week morning and evening course will commence on January 22nd at 10-30am and 7.30pm at the Town Hall, Bandon.  For further details please contact Mary Niles on 0872492921 or 086-1780680.  Mary Niles is a qualified instructor with the John Ding International Academy of Tai Chi Chuan.

WEST CORK RURAL BUS TRANSPORT continues every Thursday leaving Gaggin Church at 10-30am and servicing Mayfield, Moneens, Farren, Knockna allagh, Dangan and proceeds to Bandon via Timoleague road.  Free to all bus pass holdegrs.  Enquiries to Marv 023-88 39181 or 087-9533665.

BANDON CHRISTMAS COAL FUND COMMITTEE acknowledges the generosity of those who contributed to our recent collection, enabling us to fulfill our commitments for this year.

ST BROGANS COLLEGE ADULT EDUCATION EVENING COURSES enrolment Mon 19th January 7-8pm, Full programme next week.

THANK YOU for helping to spread the word about our recent Blood Donor Clinic in Bandon.  A special thank you to the 315 Donors who attended this Clinic.  Donors together with the families, friends and neighbours that support them, make up a community that brings life and hope to hospital patients everyday.

CEILI & SET DANCING CLASSES commencing in the Town Hall Bandon on Thursday 15th January at 9pm.  All are welcome.

BANDON TOASTMASTERS We meet 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month in the Bandon Room of the Munster Arms Hotel at 8.15pm sharp.  If you would like to speak publicly and are to shy to do so, we can help.  Improve your life and career.  Visitors and new members always welcome.  Next meeting is on 14th January. mnsale meeting on 2 Ist January in The Blue Haven Hotel at 8pm. (New year, new adventure).

As a missionary in Indonesia I baptised hundreds of babies, but only one adult.  Part of a Holy Saturday vigil, that adult baptism hugely impressed the congregation by the dignity of its rite and the sincerity of its candidate.  Seeing an adult freely and joyftilly commit himself to Jesus for life in public was a compelling sign of God's Spirit at work.

Today's feast, the Baptism of the Lord, is a reminder of our own baptism.  For those of us baptised as babies it's a non-event because we can't remember it.  Its impact is not what it might have been had we been adult when baptised.  However, we have ratified what our parents did on our behalf either negatively by not discarding our faith, or positively by making a conscious decision at some stage of our life to continue being a follower of Jesus.

Either way, today's readings Isa 55: 1-11, where God says that God's word does not return empty but fulfils its mission, and Mark 1:7-1 1, where God calls Jesus the beloved son in whom he is well pleased, applies to us baptised.

In baptism God gives us a mission.  It's a mission to make God known to our world, especially to those who do not know God.  While that mission is general to all baptised, the way we carry it out is specific to ourselves.  Realising we have it, and discovering how to carry it out, gives purpose to our life - and makes us the beloved son or daughter in whom the Father is well pleased.