Parish Bulletin
21st February 2021
First Sunday of Lent
I hope your Lent got off to a good start and that your keeping up your promises to pray more, to fast (or go off something) and to be generous to the poor. And if you haven’t made a start with Lent yet now is the time to get going!
You can find below details of various ways to make the most of Lent online this year. Don’t forget about Trocaire too - you can contribute online or collect boxes from the church! But above all take the opportunity to come closer to God and grow in faith.
Fr Damian
THIS WEEK
all services available to watch on our YouTube channel.
Sunday . . . . . . 10am Mass
4pm Devotions click here for the Order of Service
Monday . . . . . . 10am Mass
Wednesday . . . . . 9am Mass
Friday . . . . . . . 7pm Mass
8pm Stations of the Cross (from Catholic Minute on Facebook)
WE PRAY FOR OUR FAITHFUL DEPARTED
Recently Deceased
Anne Phillips
Very Rev. Dean Brendan McGee, Belfast
Kathleen Dornan, Belfast
Anniversaries
Sarah Cairns, Winifred Connor, Patrick McGoldrick, Josephine McKenna, Maura Mearns, James Mooney
REQUIESCAT IN PACE
THE SEASON OF LENT
Trocaire Lent Appeal
Trocaire is the aid agency set up by the Irish Catholic Bishops to support the third world. The annual Lenten appeal has begun and envelopes are now available from the church with Trocaire boxes and details about how to donate to Trocaire by post or online.
To make a donation online click here.
Lent Videos
The local Knights of St Columbanus have asked Fr Damian to make a series of videos about how to make the most of Lent this year. To watch them on YouTube click here.
So far he’s spoken about getting ready for Lent and the importance of fasting. New videos will be produced each week up to Holy Week.
Stations of the Cross
With the church closed for public services we can’t come together for the stations as normal this Lent. Instead we invite parishioners to pray them online with our friends on the Catholic Minute Facebook page on Fridays at 8pm. We’ll put up a link on our parish Facebook page too.
You are welcome to pray the Stations of the Cross yourself when the church is open for private prayer.
Lenten Pioneer Pledge
Many people choose to abstain from alcohol during Lent. Why not take this opportunity to perhaps help yourself or someone you know with an alcohol or drug problem by offering your sacrifice for freedom from addiction? Please consider taking the short-term Lenten Pledge and make a difference to someone's life and say the following daily prayer:
"I promise in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and with the help of the Blessed Virgin Mary to abstain from all alcoholic drink during Lent."
Lectio Divina sessions
This year Living Church is providing resources for a 5-week online programme which will be run by by Portstewart parish and the UUC Chaplaincy team. The programme is open to everyone across the North Connor Pastoral Community. It will be an opportunity for people to come together online, pray with scripture and share their insights.
Each week we will look at the Old Testament reading from Sunday Mass with a teaching video and then a Lectio Divina (prayerful reading) of the Gospel passage. The programme will run on Monday evenings from 22nd February to 22nd March inclusive starting at 7.30pm on Zoom. To join in use these details:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3917526857?pwd=b3ZhaXJVa0FVejAxMWpicFVsVHlRZz09
Meeting ID: 391 752 6857
Passcode: 3e70J2
ST VINCENT DE PAUL
If you need help please call our conference confidentially on 07860455549. Thank you to everyone who supports St Vincent de Paul. Donations can be left in an envelope (marked SVP) at the parochial house.
CATHOLIC MINUTE
Catholic Minute are an online ministry based in Portstewart and have worked with our parish on several projects over the last year. The team invite you to join with them for prayer on Facebook during the week. With daily scripture reflections, the rosary, intercessory prayer, and reflective music, you can be part of a community that wants to find our treasure in God. There is prayer each morning live on Facebook at 9am and in the evenings too. Why not tune in this Lent for some spiritual time-out with God! Everyone is welcome to join, just click here.
https://www.facebook.com/CatholicMinute
ARE YOU GETTING MARRIED IN 2021 or 2022?
It is a requirement for a Catholic marriage that the couple do a pre-marriage course before the big day. An online marriage preparation course on Zoom is planned for 27th-28th March 2021. This 2-day course is a positive way of preparing for Marriage where you will discover how you can enrich your future relationship. For more information or to book a place contact marriageencounter.ie or phone 028 27638512.
PARISH FINANCES
Thank you for your support of our parish collections. In these difficult times we greatly appreciate the financial support we receive.
In this lockdown period collection envelopes can be 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.
LOCKDOWN ARRANGEMENTS
During the current lockdown period our arrangements will be as follows:
Church opening:
Our Lady & St Patrick's church is open for private prayer only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 12noon to 4pm.
Confessions:
Please contact Fr Damian to make an appointment for confession.
Funerals:
Requiem Mass and funeral services will take place under strict conditions. A maximum of 25 people are allowed in the church for these services.
Baptisms:
Please contact Fr Damian if you wish to organise a baptism.
Sick calls:
Normal house visits are not permitted at this time. In an emergency please phone the parochial house.
If the sick person is in hospital and requires the last rites please ask a member of staff to phone the priest on call.