Parish Bulletin

27th February 2022

Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

We have mixed emotions in the parish this weekend - joy and hope now that most of the Covid restrictions have ended, but also sadness and apprehension about the state of the world following the invasion of Ukraine.

 

Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace and we turn to him in prayer at this time.  Pope Francis is asking all of us to pray and fast for peace this week on Ash Wednesday, trusting that in Christ our prayers make a real difference.

 

May God bless all those suffering through war and violence around the world and may Our Lady, the Queen of Peace watch over us all.

 

Fr Damian

 

 

THIS WEEK

Parish webcam can be viewed on our YouTube channel
(search for Ballymoney Parish)

 

SATURDAY 26th                   6pm Vigil Mass

 

SUNDAY 27th                       10am Mass

                                                   5pm Mass

 

MONDAY 28th                     10am Mass

                                                  7pm Ecumenical Prayer for Peace in Ukraine at Castlecroft, Main St.

 

TUESDAY 1st                         7pm Mass in Dervock

 

WEDNESDAY 2nd              10am Mass

Ash Wednesday                     7pm Mass           

 

FRIDAY 4th              5.30-6.30pm Confessions

                                                  7pm Mass

                                               

Our Lady & St Patrick’s is open every day for private prayer—usually from 11am to 4pm.

 

 

 

WE PRAY FOR THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED

 

Anniversaries
Fr Daniel McBride, Nellie Kelly, Brigid & John McErlain, Josephine McKenna,
James Mooney, Patricia O’Mullan

 

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

 

 

 

RELAXATION OF COVID RESTRICTIONS

From this weekend:

  • Parishioners may enter and leave from either the main doors or the side door.
  • There will be no stewards at Mass and parishioners may sit in any of the pews.  Please be respectful of others who may still wish to keep a certain distance from those
    outside their household.
  • Holy Communion will be given by the priest from the sanctuary to everyone at Communion time.
  • Those who are unable to come up for Holy Communion should sit in the seats at the pulpit side of the altar and the Blessed Sacrament will be brought to them.
  • Confessions will be heard in the confessional once again.

 

Thank you to everyone who has cooperated with the social distancing restrictions over the last two years and especially to those who volunteered as stewards.

 

 

 

 

COMMUNITY PRAYER FOR UKRAINE

There will be a public prayer gathering for peace in Ukraine on Monday evening at 7pm at Castlecroft off Main Street.  This service is supported by our own parish, St Patrick's Church of Ireland, Ballymoney Methodist, First Presbyterian and Connect Christian Fellowship.

 

 

 

PUBLIC MASS IN DERVOCK

With the relaxation in social distancing rules, we will have Mass at Our Lady & St John the Evangelist’s church in Dervock on the first Tuesday of each month from March to June.  The first Mass will be this Tuesday at 7pm.

 

 

 

THE SEASON OF LENT

As we move out of the pandemic period we should make a special effort to make a good Lent this year.

 

Ash Wednesday

Ashes will be distributed at the Masses at 10am and 7pm.

 

Ash Wednesday is a Day of Fast and Abstinence for all Catholics in good health aged between 14 and 60.

 

  • We fast by eating just one normal meal
    (and also one or two small snacks if necessary).
  • We abstain by not eating meat at all.

Pope Francis asks us all to offer up our prayer and fasting on Wednesday for peace in Ukraine and around the world.

 

 

Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross will be prayed in Our Lady & St Patrick’s each Sunday of Lent at 4pm, beginning next Sunday (March 6th).

 

 

Lenten Pledge

Many people choose to give up alcohol for Lent. You can offer up this sacrifice as a prayer for those who suffer through alcoholism.   If you do, why not make this 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."

 

 

Online Lent Study Course: The Psalms

The programme will run from 7-8.30pm on either:

 

Tues 1st March  for 6 weeks until Tues 5th April 

or

Thurs 3rd March  for 6 weeks until Thurs 7th April                                                                                                           

 

To register, please contact  Kieran Hill stating your preference to attend either the Tuesday or Thursday evening session. kc.hill@btinternet.com  or  07964287839

 

 

 

PARISH FINANCES

Thank you for your support of all our parish collections.  Envelopes can be left in the church at Mass times or at the parochial house.  You can also set up a standing order or make a one-off payment  with these details:

 

Parish of Ballymoney & Derrykeighan

Sort code: 95-06-79 

Account No: 10020192.

 

Please make cheques payable to:

Parish of Ballymoney & Derrykeighan

 

 

 

DIOCESAN VOCATION RETREAT

A vocations weekend for men takes place at Drumalis in Larne, Fri 11th-Sun 13th March.  For more information contact Fr Kevin McGuckien   phone: 02890614567
email: vocations@downandconnor.org

 

 

 

OLD & NEW@No.5

Our parish shop is open Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 4.30pm and you’ll find us at 5 Gate End.

 

 

 

ST VINCENT DE PAUL

If you need help or you would like to find out more about getting involved in the work of the SVP contact us on 07860 455 549 or by speaking to any member of the society.