Parish Bulletin

27th September 2020

Twenty Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

The week ahead is marked by a number of lovely saints’ days.  Sunday is the feast of St Vincent de Paul, Tuesday is the Archangels, Thursday is St Therese the Little Flower and Friday is the Guardian Angels.  Before all that is the feast of the brother saints Cosmas and Damian on Saturday 26th.  Our own Fr Damian will be celebrating that one especially!

 

Saints’ days are a reminder of those inspirational figures of the past who passed on the faith to us and made this world a better place.  Now they watch over us from heaven and their prayers on our behalf are especially effective with God.  Do you know when your own saint’s day is?  Or your confirmation saint?  It’s easy to find out!

 

God bless,

Fr Damian

WE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED

 

Recently Deceased:

Gerry Thompson, Ballymoney

 

Anniversaries:

Fr James McEvoy, Fr Felix McLaughlin, Yvonne Fisher, John McGinty, Ellen McGuigan, Edna Stinson.

 

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord

 

 

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

 

In addition there will be Vespers & Benediction on Sunday at 4pm and Mass on Wednesday at 9.30am - these two services will not be open to the public but will be streamed online.

 

 

CONFESSIONS

Confessions will be available in Our Lady & St Patrick’s this week on Friday evening from 5.30-6.30pm.

 

 

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.

 

 

UPDATE FROM OLD & NEW@No5 

Number 5 is now open three days a week and we’re doing great!  Now’s the time for something new so we’re going to launch an additional Facebook page called Something different @No5.  Stay tuned!

 

We also need good quality autumn/winter ladies’ clothes, handbags, shoes (in boxes where possible), scarves, etc.  You know the stuff you say is too good for charity shops?!  That’s the stuff we want (and all the better if it has labels on it!)

 

Donations can be left in the shop on Wednesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays between 10 and 4.30pm.

 

Thanks for your continued support and also thanks to all the Team@No5 who have made the shop the success it is.

 

 

ONLINE SCRIPTURE PROGRAMME 

John’s Gospel is an invitation to encounter the Risen Jesus in his life, death and resurrection and be drawn more closely into that relationship of love between Jesus and his Father. The course will be delivered by Zoom and it starts Thursday 1st October from 7-8.15pm (for 12 weeks) Cost: £20 - includes course books. To register please contact the course Facilitator Kieran Hill E-Mail: kc.hill@btinternet.com 07964 287839

 

 

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 

Children who have started P5 will make their First Holy Communion on Saturday 3rd October at 11am.  Due to social distancing the number of guests will be strictly limited.  Further information will be provided to parents through St Brigid Primary School and Ballymoney Model Primary School.

 

 

CONFIRMATION

The sacrament of confirmation will be celebrated for Year 8 children in two sessions on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th October at 5pm on both evenings.  The primary schools will contact those families in the coming days.  Bishop Treanor has authorised parish priests to celebrate the sacrament on his behalf this year.

 

 

COVID-19 

The parish is following guidelines from both the Diocese and the Northern Ireland Executive to minimise the risk of spreading the Covid-19 virus.  

 

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

 

Those visiting the church for private prayer or public Mass are asked to wear a face covering unless they are exempt.  Visitors should try to keep a 2m distance from those outside their own household at all times.  Please follow the signage in the church.

 

When you arrive for Mass 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.

 

We also ask that if anyone who attends Mass or visits the church should test positive for the virus in the future that they would let us know as soon as possible.  The parish will then contact the health authorities immediately to get guidance on what steps to take to minimise the risk to others. 

 

 

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.

 

 

PARISH FINANCE

Many thanks to everyone who 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).