Parish Bulletin

28th February 2021

Second Sunday of Lent

 

As Lent continues we prepare ourselves to participate in the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus during Holy Week and Easter.  We don’t know yet if we’ll be able to celebrate those feasts together in the church (but we keep our fingers crossed - and say our prayers!).

 

One excellent way to prepare for Holy Week is to pray the Stations of the Cross during Lent.  Our friends at Catholic Minute on Facebook lead a beautiful service on Friday evenings at 8pm.  I encourage you to watch and pray along if you can.

 

Fr Damian

 

THIS WEEK

parish webcam available to watch on our YouTube channel.  

 

Sunday  .   .   .   .   .   .  10am Mass

                                         4pm Devotions  click here for the Order of Service

 

Monday  .   .   .   .   .   .  10am Mass

 

Tuesday   .   .   .   .   .   .   9am Mass

 

Wednesday .   .   .   .   .   7pm Mass from St Peter's Cathedral Belfast (link on our Facebook page)

 

Friday  .   .   .   .   .   .   .  10am Mass

                                          8pm Stations of the Cross (from Catholic Minute on Facebook)

 

 

 

WE PRAY FOR OUR FAITHFUL DEPARTED

 

Recently Deceased

Brigid O’Hara, Dunloy

 

Month’s Mind

Vincent O’Brien.

 

Anniversaries

John Kelly, Nellie Kelly, Winifred Lagan, Arthur McConville.

 

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

 

 

 

ST VINCENT DE PAUL - CAN YOU HELP?

Our St Vincent de Paul conference has continued to work throughout the last year providing help to local families in crisis situations.  They do amazing work which really brings the love of Jesus into the lives of people in our community in a concrete way.

 

At this time the conference is looking for new members.  If you think God might be calling you to do something extra for others why not get in touch and find out more about the work?  Just leave your name and contact number with Fr Damian (email the parish office or drop a note through the door of the parochial house) and he will pass your details on to a SVP member.  They will get in touch and tell you more about the what they do.

 

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.

 

 

THE SEASON OF LENT

 

Trocaire Lent Appeal 

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.

 

 

European Chain of Prayer

The Bishops of Europe are asking Catholics to unite in prayer this Lent for victims of the pandemic.  A chain of prayer and Masses is being organised with each nation taking part.  Ireland's day is Wednesday 3rd March.  Special Masses will be celebrated by Archbishop Eamon Martin in Armagh and our own Bishop Noel Treanor at St Peter's Cathedral in Belfast at 7pm.  Bishop Noel's Mass will be available to watch on the Cathedral webcam and we hope to have a link on our Facebook page.

 

 

Stations of the Cross 

As noted above 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  

The online Lectio Divina course for parishes in this area continues this week.  It is an opportunity for people to come together online, pray with scripture and share their insights. 

 

Each week the course 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 

 

 

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 chaplain.