Parish Bulletin

2nd May 2021

Fifth Sunday of Easter

 

This weekend we move into the month of May—a time of special devotion to Mary, the Mother of God.  For centuries this has been the time for Catholics to make a special effort to pray the rosary as a family, set up a May altar in their homes or take part in novenas or devotions.  We’ll do something special for Our Lady here in the parish later in the month but let’s make a start by praying at home.

 

When we pray with Mary we’re asking her to help us to know and love her son better.  No one has ever known or loved Jesus like Mary his mother, and she will help us to better follow the Lord. 

 

Remember too that on the cross Jesus gave his mother to be the mother of the disciple he loves.  Like St John we should make her welcome in our homes and she in turn will bless us and our families.

 

Fr Damian

 

 

THIS WEEK

Parish webcam can be viewed on our YouTube channel
(search for Ballymoney Parish)

 

SATURDAY 1st        5pm Confessions (until 5.30pm)

                                     6pm Vigil Mass

 

SUNDAY 2nd          10am Mass

                                     4pm Vespers & Benediction (not open to public)

                                      5pm Mass

 

MONDAY 3rd          10am Mass

 

WEDNESDAY 5th     9am Mass (not open to public)

                                               

FRIDAY 7th           5.30pm Confessions (until 6.30pm)

                                      7pm Mass

                                               

Our Lady & St Patrick’s is open Friday to Monday from 12noon to 4pm for private prayer.

 

 

 

WE PRAY FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED

 

Month’s Mind

Kieran McKay

 

Anniversaries

Leo Coyle, Edward McGothigan, Jack McCloskey, John McCusker, John McKenna,
John Bernard O’Rawe, Brendan Smyth

 

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

 

 

 

PRAYING WITH OUR LADY IN MAY

There are many different ways to show our devotion to Mary during her month of May:

 

Set up a May altar in your home as a place where the family can pray together.

 

Pray the rosary.  Pope Francis has asked Catholics around the world to pray the rosary each day of May for the special intention of ending the coronavirus pandemic.  Each evening at 5pm our time the rosary will be prayed at the Vatican and Marian shrines around the world including Knock, Fatima, Lourdes and Walsingham.  You can join in with these prayers through the Vatican website and social media.

 

Ballymena May novena.  This year marks the fifth year of Ballymena parish’s annual novena to Our Lady.  Novena devotions will be available to watch on their Facebook page from Sunday 1st to Monday 9th May at 7.30pm each evening.  Fr Damian will be speaking at the session on Monday 2nd May.

 

 

 

FIRST CONFESSION

We look forward to celebrating First Confession for the children of St Brigid’s Primary School on Wednesday morning this week and for other children on Wednesday 12th May.  May God bless them and their families at this time.

 

 

 

PARISH FINANCES

Thank you for your support of our parish collections. 

Collection envelopes can be left in the church at Mass times or left at the parochial house any time.  You can also set up a standing order or make a one-off payment to our account with these details:

 

Parish of Ballymoney & Derrykeighan

Sort code: 95-06-79 

Account No: 10020192.

 

Please make cheques payable to:

Parish of Ballymoney & Derrykeighan

 

 

 

TROCAIRE LENT APPEAL

The parish will shortly be sending off your contributions to the Trocaire Lent appeal.  If you have a contribution which you haven’t handed in yet please do so this week.

You can leave Trocaire boxes in the church at Mass times or put your offering in an envelope marked Trocaire and post it in the letterbox of the parochial house.  The UK government will match donations from Northern Ireland residents received by May 16th. 

 

You can also make a donation to Trocaire at any time by post or online.  Check the Trocaire website for more information: www.trocaire.org

 

 

 

PRAYING FOR OUR PARISH

Before Christmas we sent out census forms so that we can refresh our parish records which were some years out of date.  Around 100 households have sent back in their forms and we’re very grateful for their support.

 

Beginning this week, four households will be chosen each week to be prayed for in a special way and remembered at Mass.  That means that by the end of this year all our registered parishioners will have been prayed for personally.  Especially at this time when it’s not possible for us all to come together, this initiative will remind us that we are all part of one Christian family and that
everyone matters to God and to our parish.

 

Fr Damian will contact you when your household is being prayed for.  If you wish, you can let him know if you have any special intentions.

 

If you haven’t registered yet you can collect the pink form from the church when it’s open. 

 

 

 

PRAYING FOR VOCATIONS

Lord, make me a better person,

more considerate towards others,

more honest with myself,  more faithful to you.

Make me generous enough to want sincerely

to do your will whatever it may be.

Help me to find my true vocation in life,

and grant that through it I may find

happiness in myself and bring happiness to others.

 

Grant, Lord, that those who you call to enter the
priesthood or religious life

may have the generosity to answer your call,

so that those who need your help
may always find it. 

Through Christ Our Lord.   Amen.