Parish Bulletin

Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

19th July 2020

One of the positive things from the last few months is the increase in good Catholic content on the internet.  Our parish Facebook page and website have grown in popularity and allowed us all to stay in touch as a community.  We’ve also been blessed to work with the Catholic Minute team who recorded our Sunday Mass and other ceremonies.  On their own page they’ve also been running morning and evening prayer times which have drawn a large following.  Now as things begin to go back to normal Catholic Minute is taking a well deserved break and we thank them and keep them in our prayers.  We look forward to working with them again very soon.

Our new church webcam comes into use this weekend and it will allow anybody to tune in to any of services (see details below).  Many thanks to the Parish Pastoral Council and the Finance Committee for their support in this project.  It’s exciting to think how our parish community has embraced new technology to share the Gospel in recent months.  May God bless the work as we move into the future!

Fr Damian

WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED

Recently Deceased:

Mary-Jean McCarron (Raphoe, Co. Donegal)

Anniversaries:

Annie Douglas, Billy Kerr, Roger McConnell, Gretta McMillan, Desmond Roche

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord

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.

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

When you arrive 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. 

In addition there will be Vespers & Benediction on Sunday at 4pm and Mass on Wednesday at 10am - these two services will not be open to the public but will be streamed online.

At this stage we will not be using Ministers of Holy Communion, Altar Servers, Choir or Folk Group.  The Bishop has asked that public Masses be celebrated in a simple way (as on a weekday) until a later date.

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

CONFESSIONS

Confessions will be available in Our Lady & St Patrick’s this week on Friday evening from 5.30-6.30pm.  Please speak to Fr Damian to arrange confession at another time.

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.

PARISH FINANCE

Since our last update we have received the following donations from envelopes and standing orders:

Weekly collection (for the parish)      £3874

Church Renovation                               £1027

Monthly offering (for clergy)              £1257

Other Collections                                  £2020

We also received a kind donation in memory of the late Cissie Doherty.  A Mass will be offered for the repose of her soul.

Many thanks to everyone whop 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).