“Do not be afraid! Open - in fact, break down - the doors for Christ!” - St John Paul II

 

After two long months, we are thrilled to be able to open the doors of Our Lady & St Patrick's church at least for private prayer.  Thanks be to God!

 

It's wonderful to have the opportunity to come and spend a little quiet time with the Lord, who is truly present in the tabernacle.  It's also gives us hope for the future: we don't know when, but we will gather together again for Mass and other ceremonies.  As the doors reopen let's ask the Lord to pour out his blessings on us and our parish.

 

Fr Damian

 

 

WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED

 

Anniversaries:

Daniel Carey, Berna Kearney, Padraig MacArdghail, David McFadden, Alex & Elizabeth McQuillan, Kathleen O’Brien, Patsy Olphert, John Quigg, Bertie Smyth

 

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord

 

SERVICES THIS WEEK

Mass will be live streamed at 10am on Sunday on our Facebook page.

 

At 5pm on Sunday we will live stream evening devotions.  We will pray Vespers (evening prayer of the Church) followed by Benediction.

 

Mass will also be streamed on Monday and Wednesday at 10am and Friday at 7pm. 

 

CHURCH OPENING

Our Lady & St Patrick’s church is open for private prayer this week:

 

Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday 12noon to 4pm.

 

When you come to the church please note that a one way system is in place to allow for social distancing.  Please enter through the main door at the back of the church and exit through the side door by the Sacred Heart shrine.  

 

We are so grateful to the volunteers from our cleaning teams, the sacristans and the Parish Pastoral Council who have made the reopening possible. 

 

PARISH FINANCE

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. 

 

Since we last updated you, the parish has received £1600 in donations from envelopes,standing orders and online payments.  Thank you so much for your generosity.

 

If you want to make an offering you can leave your envelope through the door of the Parochial House.  If you’re isolating 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:

 

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.)

 

TROCAIRE

Trocaire have been in touch with parishes and have asked that if it’s possible, people would consider sending their Lent donation directly to Trocaire in one of the following ways:

 

Online at www.trocaire.org

By post to their office: Trócaire, 50 King St, Belfast BT1 6AD

By phone 0800 912 1200

 

Please note that we cannot accept Trocaire boxes here in the parish at this time.  If you are unable to send a donation directly to Trocaire please wait until public Masses restart before bringing your box here.

 

BISHOP’S TRIDUUM OF PRAYER

Following on from the successful Diocesan Novena earlier this month, the Diocese of Down and Connor will close the month of May with a Triduum of Prayer to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost.

 

In the Christian tradition Pentecost is known as the Birthday of the Church. Over these three days, prayers will be offered for the Family (the Domestic Church), our local Parishes and Pastoral Communities (the Local Church), and for the mission of all Christians in the world (the Universal Church).

 

The Triduum will run from Friday 29th May until Sunday 31st May.

Bishop Noel Treanor warmly invites everyone to join with him as he leads the prayers on-line via the Cathedral webcam.

 

Each evening will begin at 7.00 pm and will last approximately 15 minutes.

 

Intentions may be sent by email to novena@downandconnor.org and they will be placed in front of the altar and included in the prayers each evening. A booklet of the prayers being used in the Triduum can be requested using email address above.

 

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.

 

MAY, THE MONTH OF MARY

As we continue the month of May we encourage every family in the parish to set up a May altar in your home.  This lovely tradition encourages us to pray together and is a sign of our love for Jesus and Mary.  This year especially when we can’t come to the church it is good to have a space for prayer in our own homes.

 

Pope Francis has asked us to pray the rosary daily in May to ask Our Lady’s protection on the world during this time.

 

CONFESSION

When confession isn’t possible we may seek God’s forgiveness by making an act of perfect contrition.

 

We should:

 

• Prayerfully call to mind our own sins.
• Tell God of our sorrow and desire for repentance.
• Do what we can to make amends.
• Promise to go to confession when it is possible.

 

We can then make the following prayer:

 

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace to confess my sins, to do penance and to amend my life. Amen.

 

If you urgently wish to go to confession, please contact Fr Damian to make arrangements.

 

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).

 

FUNERAL RITES

At this time only prayers at the graveside are allowed. Funeral Masses and prayers at the home are not possible. In the event of a death Fr Damian will offer Mass for the soul of the deceased privately.