Parish Bulletin
6th December 2020
Second Sunday of Advent
Although we still have another week of our lockdown, most of us are thinking ahead to Christmas. It’ll be different for everyone this year - and that goes for the parish too. You’ll see a note below about Christmas Masses which have to be by ticket only due to the limited capacity of the church. Further tickets will be available next Sunday (13th December).
Many people will not be able to come out to Mass this year but we invite you to come to see the crib on Christmas Eve afternoon or to join in with our Masses on the webcam.
May God bless all of us over these next few weeks and keep us safe. (And don't forget our online Carols Together service on Monday evening!)
Fr Damian
THIS WEEK
The church will be closed for public ceremonies in line with the regulations of the Northern Ireland Executive until Friday 11th December.
The following services will be available to watch on YouTube this week (search for Ballymoney Parish to see our channel)
SUNDAY 6th 10am Mass
4pm Vespers & Benediction (click here for the Order of Service)
MONDAY 7th 10am Mass
TUESDAY 8th 10am Mass
Immaculate Conception
WEDNESDAY 9th 9.30am Mass
**********
FRIDAY 11th We reopen for public services today
5.30pm Confessions (until 6.30pm)
7pm Mass
SATURDAY 12th 5pm Confessions (until 5.30pm)
6pm Mass
Our Lady & St Patrick's church will be open Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 10am to 4pm for private prayer.
WE PRAY FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED
Recently Deceased
John McAleese
Anniversaries
Oliver Delaney, Kathleen Donaghy, Mary Ellen Elliott, Catherine Kelly, James McAfee, John McIntaggart, Rosetta McKay, Gerard Mooney, Jimmy Neill, Joe Quigg.
Requiescat in Pace
CAROLS TOGETHER 2020
Ballymoney's annual ecumenical carol service will be a virtual celebration this year! A video of carols and prayers featuring our parish, St Patrick's Church of Ireland, Ballymoney Methodist and First Presbyterian churches will be available online from Monday 7th December at 7pm. The link to watch will be up on our Facebook page on Monday evening.
COME TO THE MANGER!
Not everyone will be able to come to Christmas Mass this year, but we want to invite all families in our parish to be part of our celebration.
On Christmas Eve the church will be open from 1pm-3pm for a time of prayer. We invite families (especially with small children) to call in and visit the crib during this time. Fr Damian will be present during to say hello, give a blessing to families or hear confessions.
CHRISTMAS MASSES
Due to social distancing the capacity of Our Lady & St Patrick’s is reduced to around 60-70 people. This means that our Masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year will be ticket only.
There will be a further distribution of tickets on Sunday 13th December from 1.30-3.30pm. Please come to 79 Castle Street (the old Canon’s side of the parochial house). Tickets will be allocated on a strictly first come first served basis.
Tickets are still available for the following Masses:
Midnight Mass (at 12 midnight) - limited availability
Christmas morning 8am
Christmas morning 10am
You may also come to Mass on Sunday 27th December (the feast of the Holy Family) at 10am or 5pm. No ticket will be needed that day.
Please remember that there is no obligation to attend Mass at this time. Anyone who is vulnerable or who has symptoms should not come to the church. All our Christmas Masses will be available to watch on our webcam.
ST BRIGID'S PS MEGA CHRISTMAS DRAW
Due to all the restrictions there will be no Christmas Bazaar this year. Instead we will have a Mega Christmas Draw with over 20 prizes. The tickets for the draw will be on sale up to Thursday 10th December. The draw will take place in school on Friday the 11th December. To reflect the great prizes, tickets are priced at £2.00 each or a book of 6 for £10. Many parishioners support the school draw and bazaar every year and if you would like to buy some tickets please contact the school (028 27662664) or call to the main front door.
ST BRIGID’S PS P1 REGISTRATION 2021 & VIRTUAL TOUR
Is your child due to start P1 in September 2021? Unfortunately, due to the COVID restrictions, we are not able to offer our usual warm and welcoming open day. So for this year, please accept our warm invitation to visit St Brigid’s PS website.
On the website there is a section, 'Starting Our School' and it contains lots of information about the school, including a wonderful video tour of the school through the eyes of the P1 children. Alternatively, if you have any questions, please ring (028 27662664) to speak to the Principal, Mr O'Neill. Registration opens Thursday 7 January and closes at 12 noon on Saturday 30 January.
ST VINCENT de PAUL CHRISTMAS APPEAL
This year the SVP Christmas appeal will be a bit different due to the pandemic. Instead of handing out toys and gifts the conference will be helping out families in need with vouchers. We are asking for financial help to buy all those vouchers.
You can donate in several ways:
(please state Ballymoney, Co. Antrim in the ‘specific
location to help’ box on the donate page.
(please tell them your donation is for Ballymoney, Co. Antrim).
Our conference continues to support our local
community. If you need help please call us
confidentially on 07860455549.
We would like to thank you for your very generous ongoing support. Our conference wishes everyone a peaceful Christmas and a happy New Year.
PARISH GIFT BAGS
These are being distributed to parishioners whose addresses we have from last year. Thank you to the volunteers who have helped with the deliveries!
If you haven't received a bag please contact the parish office to request one.
Parish Census
A pink parish census form is included. Please consider filling this in so that we can update the parish records and keep in touch more easily in the future. When completed, the pink form should be brought to Mass or sent in to the parochial house.
Parish Finance
If you have previously registered with us your bag will include a new box of envelopes for 2020-21. All the bags have standing order forms and details of how to contribute online. If you need envelopes please see Fr Damian after Mass.
Standing Orders
This year we would like to encourage parishioners to make their offertory contributions by monthly
standing order. To set up a regular standing order you can fill in the white form (Form B) and take it to your own bank. Alternatively if you have internet banking you can set up the standing order yourself online.
We then ask you to fill in the yellow form (Form A). It allows you to divide up your monthly contribution between the different collections and to sign up for gift aid. Please bring the form to Mass or send it to the parochial house.
Thank you very much for your support of all the parish collections. We are very grateful for your offerings.