VOL. 24 NO. 07 10TH JANUARY 2016
Father Ciaran Feeney Adm. 191 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3JB.
Phone – 9065 4157. Website: www.st-colmcilles.net
E-mail: stcolmcilles@downandconnor.org
St. Joseph’s Primary School – www.stjosephsps.co.uk Phone – 9065 0039
St Colmcille’s Pre School – www.stcolmcilles-preschool.co.uk. Phone – 9047 2724
BAPTISM OF OUR LORD – (Page 102, 452 & 490)
1ST Week in Ordinary Time
Readings : Sunday Cycle C, Weekday Cycle 2, Psalter Week 1
| Entrance Antiphon | After the Lord was baptised, the heavens were opened, and the Spirit descended upon him like a dove, and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. |
| 1st Reading | (Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11) The glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all mankind shall see it. |
| Psalm | Bless the Lord, my soul! Lord God, how great you are! |
| 2nd Reading | (Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7) He saved us by means of the cleansing water of rebirth, and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit. |
| Acclamation | Alleluia, alleluia! Someone is coming, said John, someone greater than I. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Alleluia! |
| Gospel | (Luke 3:15-16, 21-22) While Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened. |
| Children | Jesus is baptised by John. The Holy Spirit comes down from heaven like a dove. God the Father is heard saying to Jesus, “You are my Son, the Beloved.”. |
| Communion Antiphon | Behold the One of whom John said: I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God. |
MASS TIMES FOR COMING WEEK
| Saturday | Sunday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 6.30pm
|
9.30am
|
9.30am
Vera Donnelly |
9.30am
|
9.30am
|
9.30am
Anointing of the Sick |
| Confession at 6.00pm | 11.30am
|
Would those who are last to leave the Parish grounds in the evening please close the car park gates.
PARISH OFFICE
The parish office will closed this Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
YEAR OF MERCY
Pope Francis has announced an Extraordinary Jubilee Year, dedicated to living out in our daily lives, the mercy which the Father constantly extends to all of us. By showing mercy to others, we are witnessing to our faith in God.
CTS BOOKLETS – for the Year of Mercy, are now available to purchase from the stand in the Church porch.
BAPTISM
The Sacrament of Baptism is one of the most joyful occasions both for the family and the Parish and everyone is welcome. The next Baptismal Course takes place on Tuesday 19th January in the Iona Room from 8.00pm to 9.30pm, where parents will receive their Baptismal pack and can arrange the date for their child’s Baptism. Baptisms in the Parish take place on the first and last Sunday of each month and attendance at the course is arranged through Philomena in the Parish Office.
PARISH FAMILY
DOWN & CONNOR DIOCESAN DIRECTORY – copies of the Down & Connor Diocesan Directory, price £3.00, are on sale at the back of the Church. Please put money in either of the Candelabra boxes. The Directory gives information about every parish in the Diocese, listing the names and addresses of the Priests and Religious, the times of Masses, Parish Schools, Pastoral and Spiritual organisations and useful contact numbers.
MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION – who take the Blessed Sacrament to the housebound, should sign their name on the list in the Sacristy on each occasion.
THE WEDNESDAY WORD – is a national prayer mission which links parishes throughout the country through regular weekly prayer. The Wednesday Word contains the following Sunday’s scripture readings and reflections and is an excellent way of preparing to come to Mass. It is available each week at the back of the Church to take home. Please do consider starting to use this Christ centred, scripture based, method of praying, in spiritual solidarity with many parishioners throughout the country
MONEY MATTERS
Many thanks to all who contributed so generously to the collections.
DIOCESAN YOUTH COMMISSION COLLECTION – will be taken up at all Masses next weekend. Living Youth (the Down & Connor Youth Commission) is now 3 years old and working with more young people than ever before and they need our help if they are to continue growing and reaching more children, young people and young adults. The number of young people currently engaged with Living Youth is impressive & includes 1551 young people on the Pope John Paul II Award over the 3 years, almost 1,000 11 and 12 year olds on the Parish GIFT programme this year and a large group of young adults on the Catholic Youth Alpha programme, summer pilgrimage, leadership training and the Papal Cross Award.
DECEASED
We pray for all those whose anniversaries occur at this time of year especially:
Vera Donnelly, Frank Kelly, Kenneth Mains, Arthur Devlin, Mary Devlin
Monica Spence, Dan McNaughton, Fred Loder and Bridie Loder.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT – we can be contacted on 074 5698 9458. Our members are Regiena Babu, Eithne Daly, Brenda McMeekin, David McMeekin, Celine Molloy, Joan Rogan and Lucy Traynor.
THIS WEEK
SAINT COLMCILLE’S GUIDE UNIT – reopens for the Cygnet, Brigin and Guide sections this week. Ranger section will reopen on Monday 18th January. Brigin Section – Monday evening from 6.30pm to 8.00pm. Ranger Section – Monday evening from 8.15pm to 9.30pm. Cygnet Section – Wednesday evening from 6.15pm to 7.15pm. Guide Section – Wednesday evening from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. For further information please contact Philomena on 077 6194 3649
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL – will meet this Tuesday evening at 7.30pm in the Committee Room.
CONFIRMATION PARENTS MEETING – this Wednesday at 7.00pm in the Parochial Hall. Parents will be invited to enrol their child for the Sacrament and to find out more about the Service of Light liturgy next Saturday and their role in it.
SERVICE OF LIGHT – is a Confirmation Commitment ceremony that will take place at the 6.30pm Mass next Saturday.
BELMONT AND DISTRICT COUNCIL OF CHURCHES – will hold its Church Unity Week Service next Sunday at 7.00pm in Knock Methodist Church. Please come along and join the members of the other Churches in prayer.
COMING EVENTS
Scripture and Prayer Group – our next meeting will be Tuesday 19th January at 8.00pm in the Committee Room.
11th Belfast Scout Group, St. Colmcilles 50th Anniversary Dinner Dance – Plans are now very advanced for the Scout Group’s 50th Anniversary Dinner Dance. We have ex members and current members flying in from Seoul, Brussels, USA, Dubai, Glasgow, London, Leeds, and friends joining us from all parts of Ireland. We want all our ex members, friends and supporters to join us in celebrating our anniversary – 50 years of quality scouting in St. Colmcilles and 50 years of fun, friendship and achievement. Because we can’t contact everyone, we need your help in spreading the word. We have established a dedicated Facebook page which can be accessed via the scout troop Facebook page and details of the dinner can be seen there. Tickets at £35 are now available from Paul Browne at 9029 1935.
SCHOOL INFORMATION
- MALACHY’S COLLEGE – Open nights on Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th January. Principal’s Address at 7.00pm in the College Hall. Primary 6 pupils are welcome to attend on the Thursday night. If coming by car, please access via Lincoln Avenue.
REPORTS
TAP Christmas Gift Cards – The Christmas Gift Card Appeal this year raised the magnificent total of £4050, a record amount since the fundraiser began. The extremely generous response from parishioners and friends is to be warmly applauded. The total will be transferred to the Moita Bwawani Mission account and we can be confident that Fr. Janutz will be thrilled with the gift from St. Colmcille’s Parish.
St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal – St Vincent de Paul would like to thank everyone who contributed to our Christmas Appeal. Thanks to your extraordinary generosity we raised £6,941 in our December appeal. This money all goes directly to help local people in need. Thanks also to all those who contributed food to our collection for the Larder food bank, which provides a vital service to those in food poverty in East Belfast. Thank you for all your support, not only for the Christmas appeal, but throughout 2015.
OTHER NOTICES
Belfast Beginning Experience – is continuing its weekly support group meetings during 2016. Are you suffering the pain of loss of a partner? Looking for help and understanding? Beginning Experience (a support group for widowed, separated and divorced people) meets every Wednesday from 8.00pm to 10.00pm in St Bride’s Hall, 38 Derryvolgie Avenue, commencing this Wednesday evening. A Residential Weekend will be held in Drumalis Retreat and Conference Centre, Larne from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th February. Application forms available on request. For further information please contact Phil on 9020 7645 or Marie on 078 9611 9669.
IRISH DANCE CLASSES – starting on Thursday 14th January 2016 from 3.00pm to 5.00pm in St Colmcille’s Parochial Hall. Age 4+. For more information or to book a place contact Nicola Oakes on 077 1892 7242 or email: leonardnicola@hotmail.com
CARING FOR OUR COMMON HOME – with Professor John Sweeney and Nellie McLaughlin RSM in Drumalis from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th February. The recent publication of the papal document “Laudato Si” has highlighted many of the issues regarding the future of the planet – our common home. This annual Spring Conference weekend will offer an opportunity to “enter into dialogue with all people about our common home”. It is possible to attend either on a residential or non-residential basis, or for Saturday only. For further details or to book a place, please contact Drumalis on 2827 2196/2827 6455. Further details and booking forms are also available on the Drumalis website www.drumalis.co.uk.