Parish Bulletin

31st January 2021

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time

 

This week we celebrate two beautiful feasts - St Brigid’s day on February 1st and the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd.

 

St Brigid is the second patron of Ireland after St Patrick (and patroness of our parish primary school too).  The Presentation of the Lord was when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem after his birth.  The prophet Simeon called him the ‘light to enlighten all nations’ and for that reason this day was chosen as a day for blessing candles.  

 

Although we can’t come together for these feasts we will celebrate them in the parish with joy and hope this week.

 

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

ST BRIGID’S DAY

 

Tuesday  .   .   .   .   .   .   8am Blessing of Candles & Mass

THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

 

Wednesday .   .   .   .  9.30am Mass

 

Friday  .   .   .   .   .   .   .   7pm Mass

 

 

WE PRAY FOR OUR FAITHFUL DEPARTED

 

Recently Deceased

Robert McCullagh

Vincent O’Brien

Sarah Mullan

 

Anniversaries

Beatrice Baird, Brendan Douglas, Martin Elliott, Frank Havlin, Maureen McAleese, Jim Wallace.

 

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

 

CANDLEMAS

Tuesday February 2nd is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord.  It's also known as Candlemas because before Mass the candles used in the church are blessed.  This year sadly we can't come together for this occasion but the blessing and Mass will be available to watch online.  In addition to the candles for use in the church, Fr Damian will bless a small number of candles for home use.  These will be available from the church when public Masses restart.  

 

He will also bless any candles that parishioners have.  If you have your own candles that you want blessed please put your name on them and leave them outside the sacristy door when the church is open for private prayer this weekend.  Fr Damian will bless them on Tuesday and they will be left out for you to collect from the church next weekend.

 

 

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

This week Kieran Hill will 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) with a repeat on Wednesdays.

 

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

 

  

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.