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.