Parish Bulletin

4th October 2020

Twenty Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

It’s October already and once again the Church picks up her beads.  For centuries this month has been a time of special devotion to the rosary.  You’ll see details below of our parish rosary devotions on Monday evenings and the Coastal Rosary events next weekend.  But the best way to mark October is to pray the rosary with your family.  Archbishop Eamon Martin, the primate of All-Ireland, has made a special request for families to pray the rosary together this year.

 

Monday’s devotions also mark the reopening of the church in Dervock.  Unfortunately with social distancing only 15-20 people can fit in (too few for public Mass at this time).  But it will be lovely for some of us at least to be there in person on Monday night  - and everyone else is welcome to pray along on our Facebook page too!

 

Fr Damian

 

WE PRAY FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED

 

Anniversaries

Patsy Douglas, Annie Devine, James Fleming, Jane Graham, Lawrence Greene, Charlie McAleese,
Joseph McMullan, Teresa Martin, Mary O’Boyle, Margaret Shiels, Jack Young

 

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

 

 

MASSES AND SERVICES THIS WEEK

As we deal with the pandemic the obligation to attend Mass remains suspended.  Parishioners are invited to attend one Mass next weekend from the following options:

 

Friday     . .    .    .   7pm

Saturday . .    .    .  6pm

Sunday    . .    .    .  10am  or 5pm

Monday . .    .    .   10am

 

In addition there will be Vespers & Benediction on Sunday at 4pm and Mass on Wednesday at 9.30am - these two services will not be open to the public but will be streamed online.

 

 

CONFESSIONS

Confessions will be available in Our Lady & St Patrick’s this week on Friday evening from 5.30-6.30pm.

 

 

CHURCH OPENING

Our Lady & St Patrick’s will be open for private prayer 12noon-4pm on the days when Mass is celebrated - Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays.

 

 

OCTOBER ROSARY DEVOTIONS

We will pray the Rosary and Benediction on the Mondays of October at 7pm in Our Lady & St John’s in Dervock.  Please note that with social distancing there are only 15-20 spaces in Dervock which will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis.  This service will also be available to watch on Facebook.  

 

 

COASTAL ROSARY

On Sunday October 11th the Rosary on the Coast for Life & Faith in Ireland will take place.  Catholics will gather around Ireland to pray the rosary together.  This annual event also takes place in many other countries around the world.  The nearest location to our parish will be Carnlough harbour where the event begins at 2pm.

 

 

BABY LOSS AWARENESS WEEK

9-15 October marks the annual week to raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss in the UK.  Here in our parish we have set up an area of the parish grounds which will become a garden of remembrance for those who have lost babies before or after birth.  To mark this there will be a short prayer service in the garden after Mass next Sunday morning at 10.45am.  Refreshments will be served outdoors afterwards in a Covid safe manner.

 

On Sunday afternoon a special online ecumenical service of remembrance will be broadcast online by the Causeway Area Hospital.  Fr Damian will represent the Catholic community during this.  

 

 

CONFIRMATION 2020

The sacrament of confirmation will be celebrated for Year 8 children in two sessions on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th October at 5pm on both evenings.  The primary schools will contact those families in the coming days.  Bishop Treanor has authorised parish priests to celebrate the sacrament on his behalf this year.

 

 

FIRST CONFESSION 2020

Children in Primary Four will be making their First Confession in November this year.  Arrangements have been made with St Brigid’s Primary School and Ballymoney Model Primary School and they will inform parents.  If your child attends a different school you are asked to contact the parish office as soon as possible to register for the sacrament.  Please phone 27662003 to leave a message or email office@ballymoneyparish.com

 

 

UPDATE FROM OLD & NEW@No5 

Number 5 is now open three days a week and we’re doing great!  Now’s the time for something new so we’re going to launch an additional Facebook page called Something different @No5.  Stay tuned!

 

We also need good quality autumn/winter ladies’ clothes, handbags, shoes (in boxes where possible), scarves, etc.  You know the stuff you say is too good for charity shops?!  That’s the stuff we want (and all the better if it has labels on it!)

 

Donations can be left in the shop on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays between 10 and 4.30pm.

 

Thanks for your continued support and also thanks to all the Team@No5 who have made the shop the success it is.

 

 

COVID-19

The parish is following guidelines from both the Diocese and the Northern Ireland Executive to minimise the risk of spreading the Covid-19 virus.  

 

Those who have symptoms or who are vulnerable are asked not to attend at this time.

 

Those visiting the church for private prayer or public Mass are asked to wear a face covering unless they are exempt.  Visitors should try to keep a 2m distance from those outside their own household at all times.  Please follow the signage in the church.

 

When you arrive for Mass you will be greeted by a steward and shown to a seat.  If the church is filled to capacity at any Mass it will not be possible for anyone else to attend.

 

We also ask that if anyone who attends Mass or visits the church should test positive for the virus in the future that they would let us know as soon as possible.  The parish will then contact the health authorities immediately to get guidance on what steps to take to minimise the risk to others. 

 

 

CHURCH WEBCAM

Our Lady & St Patrick’s now has a permanent webcam which will allow almost all ceremonies in the church to be viewed by people at home.  The new webcam is accessed through the parish YouTube account.

 

If you have a YouTube account please subscribe and click the bell icon on the parish page to get updates of all our broadcasts.

 

 

PARISH FINANCE

Many thanks to everyone who has contributed to the parish finances.  We know many people are worried about their own family finances at this time, so it means a great deal that some people are able to support the parish too. 

 

If you want to make an offering you can leave your envelope through the door of the Parochial House at any time.  Collection envelopes may also be left in the church at Mass time.  If you’re shielding at the moment just save your envelopes at home until we’re all out and about again!

 

You can also make a payment online to the parish account or set up a regular standing order using the following details:

 

Parish of Ballymoney & Derrykeighan

Sort code: 95-06-79 

Account No: 10020192.  

 

(If you are someone who normally pays by envelope, please use your envelope number as a reference.)

 

 

ST VINCENT de PAUL

Our parish conference is still running and they are doing great work to help people in need of practical assistance at this time.  For confidential help contact their answerphone on 07860 455 549.

   

 

SACRAMENT OF THE SICK (LAST RITES)

Regular visits to the sick by the priest or Minister of Holy Communion are suspended.  However emergency call outs are being carried out as normal.  Please contact the Parochial House (or if it’s for a hospital patient, ask the staff to contact the priest on call).