Parish Bulletin
24th January 2021
Third Sunday of Ordinary Time
Sunday of the Word of God
This Sunday the Church asks us to focus on the Word of God. God speaks to us through his Word which we read in the Bible and hear in the readings at Mass. This year the Gospel readings in Ordinary Time come from St Mark and St John and we start our journey through them this week.
Meanwhile we are disappointed but not surprised to hear that the lockdown has been extended for another four weeks. Despite that your support for our parish continues - and we're so grateful for everyone's prayers, encouragement and offerings. A special thank you to the team at Old & New @No.5 who have made a huge contribution to the parish this week - more details below.
May God reward all of you for your generosity and kindness.
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 . . . . 9.30am Mass
Friday . . . . . . . 7pm Mass
WE PRAY FOR OUR FAITHFUL DEPARTED
Recently Deceased
Margaret McLaughlin, Cloughmills
Fr Geoffrey Parfitt, Leeds
Anniversaries
Sr Mark McAfee, Sr Auxilia McKenna, Mary Coyles, Ellen Davis, Roseanne Doran, Susan Graham, Kathleen McAfee, Daniel McColgan, Samuel McColgan, Evelyn McVicker, Oliver Muldoon,
Gabriel Mooney, Patrick Mooney, Bobby Ward.
REQUIESCAT IN PACE
THANK YOU TO OLD & NEW@No.5
The parish was delighted to receive a cheque for £10,000 this week from our parish shop Old & New@No.5. This is due to the fantastic support of customers who came in before Christmas, parishioners who donated goods, and our wonderful team of volunteers who run the shop. A huge thank you to all of you for your amazing support. As you will understand the shop is closed at the moment, but we look forward to it reopening after the lockdown ends.
LOCKDOWN EXTENSION
In light of them recent decision of the Executive to extend the lockdown in Northern Ireland until 5th March, the Bishops have decided that the current closure of Masses and services to the public will continue until that date.
In their statement the Bishops write “on the basis of the clear and unequivocal public health advice that people should continue to stay at home, the Northern Catholic Bishops have decided that, until 5 March, the celebration of the Eucharist and other liturgies should continue to take place without the physical presence of the faithful.”
“We once more make this decision reluctantly, conscious of the pain that not being able to gather for public worship causes for all the faithful, but in the hope that this period of sacrifice is inspired by the command of Jesus to love our neighbours and undertaken for the protection of life and health and for the Common Good.”
LOCKDOWN ARRANGEMENTS
During the current lockdown period our arrangements will be as follows:
Masses on our webcam:
Sunday at 10am
Monday at 10am
Wednesday at 9.30am
Friday at 7pm
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.
Church opening:
Our Lady & St Patrick's church is open for private prayer only on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 12noon to 4pm.
ONLINE SCRIPTURE COURSE
Kieran Hill will soon be starting a 12-week scripture programme on the Gospel of Luke for Everyone. The course will run online and it starts on Tuesday 2nd February.
In Luke’s Gospel we see Jesus’ disciples following him learning on the job what it means to be a disciple. Please join us on this Lenten Programme and observe what Jesus said and did. Let us learn from how Jesus reached out to the poor and the excluded and disadvantaged and how he challenged inequality and injustice.
Programme Details
Date : Tuesday 2nd February (For 12 weeks) (Repeated on Wednesdays)
Time: 7-8.30pm
Cost: £8 for Course Book
On-Line
To register for the Programme and obtain your Course Books please contact the course Facilitator Kieran Hill as soon as possible:
E-Mail kc.hill@btinternet.com
Mobile: 07964287839
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. A Zoom online marriage preparation course is planned for 27-28 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
ST BRIGID’S PS P1 REGISTRATION
Is your child due to start P1 in September 2021? Unfortunately, due to the COVID restrictions, St Brigid's Primary School are not able to offer our usual warm and welcoming open day. So for this year, please accept our 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 opened on Thursday 7 January and closes at 12 noon on Saturday 30 January.
PARISH FINANCES
Thank you for your support of our parish collections. In these difficult times we greatly appreciate the financial support we receive.
During the next few weeks 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.