VOL. 24 NO. 24 8TH MAY 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
THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD – (Page 389, 452 & 498)
Easter Time
Readings : Sunday Cycle C, Weekday Cycle 2, Psalter Week 3
| Entrance
Antiphon |
Men of Galilee, why gaze in wonder at the heavens? This Jesus whom you saw ascending into heaven will return as you saw him go, alleluia! |
| 1st Reading | (Acts 1:1-11) He was lifted up while they looked on. |
| Psalm | God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast. |
| 2nd Reading | (Ephesians 1:17-23) He made him sit at his right hand in heaven. |
| Acclamation | Alleluia, alleluia! Go, make disciples of all the nations; I am with you always; yes, to the end of time. Alleluia! |
| Gospel | (Luke 24:46-53) As he blessed them he was carried up to heaven. |
| Children | Jesus reminds his friends that they are his witnesses. He blesses his disciples and tells them to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. Then Jesus returns to his Father in heaven. The disciples go back to the city full of joy. |
| Communion
Antiphon |
Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, alleluia. |
MASS TIMES FOR COMING WEEK
| Saturday | Sunday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 6.30pm
John Roddy |
9.30am
Seamus Slack |
Communion Service
|
9.30am
David NG
|
9.30am
|
9.30am
Gertrude Cochran
|
| Confession at 6.00pm | 11.30am
Peggy McCrarren, William Kells & Carmen Carey |
Could those who are last to leave the Parish grounds
in the evening please close the car park gates.
DECEASED
We pray for the repose of the souls of Fiona Brady, Kathleen Wilson, David NG and Gertrude Cochran, who died recently and for Seamus Slack, whose month’s mind occurs this coming week. We also remember all those whose anniversaries occur at this time of year especially:
John Roddy, Peggy McCrarren, William Kells, Carmen Carey, Michael Kelly,
Winifred Murray, Una Trickett, May Ferris, William Ferris,
Annie Coulter and John Coulter.
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.
ADORATION
ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT – is held in the parish every Monday and Tuesday from 2.00pm to 9.00pm in the Chapel of Adoration. Entrance is from the outside door at the left side of the Church. Adoration teams cover specific hours. There is still opportunity to join the rota (details beside Bulletin box in the porch of the Church) or feel free to drop in at anytime during these hours
CHAPEL OF ADORATION – Arrangements are being made to furnish the Chapel with a new tabernacle, seating, kneelers etc over the next few weeks to create a space of reverence, dignity and beauty. This will be such a blessing for the parish and future generations. If you wish to sponsor or make a contribution towards the cost of an item, envelopes with further details of these items are available this weekend at all the Masses. They can be returned to the parish office for the Parish Adoration Committee, put in the Offertory Collection basket next weekend or given to Fr Feeney. All contributions will be acknowledged
YEAR OF MERCY – GIVE TO THOSE WHO THIRST
“We will entrust the life of the Church, all humanity, and the entire cosmos to the Lordship of Christ, asking him to pour out his mercy upon us like the morning dew, so that everyone may work together to build a brighter future.” Pope Francis, Misericordia Vultus 5.
It is a tragedy that people still live without clean water. Charities like Trócaire and Habitat provide basic resources for people in developing countries. Are you in a position to support their work? Or you could be conscious of the amount of water you use and work to reduce waste?
YEAR OF MERCY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES – application forms are now available from the Parish Office. Fare, inclusive of all charges, return flight from Belfast to Lourdes and full board in hotels in Lourdes, is: 5 nights (July 11-16th) – £550 in hotel or £430 in hospital; 7 nights (10-17th) – £600; Youth Team age 16-25 (8-17th) – £500. For more information contact the Pilgrimage Office on 9064 6040 or email Lourdes@downandconnor.org.
YEAR OF MERCY PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND St. Patrick’s Parish, which hosts the Door of Mercy for Down and Connor Diocese, will lead a Pilgrimage of Mercy to Poland from 8th to 15th September. Pilgrims will be accommodated on a half-board basis in a luxury 4* hotel in the historic city of Krakow. Pilgrims will have an opportunity to visit the Wieliczka Salt Mine, the shrine at Czestochowa, Wawel Castle and Cathedral, the birthplace of St. John Paul II, the tomb of St. Faustina, the shrine of Divine Mercy and Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Itineraries and booking forms are available from St. Patrick’s Parish Office, 199 Donegall Street, Belfast (Tel: 9032 4597). The cost of the pilgrimage is €995 per person sharing (a single supplement applies). Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.
CTS BOOKLETS – for the Year of Mercy, are now available to purchase from the stand in the Church porch.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR BAPTISM IN OUR PARISH
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 17th May 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
BAPTISM – we welcome into the parish Adam Arthur Edwards and Oliver James Tumilty who were baptised in St. Colmcille’s last weekend.
EXAM BUDDIES– all students preparing for exams are invited to take an exam pack from the table in the Church porch and to place their name on the Exam Buddies notice board there. Parishioners are invited to place their name on the Prayer Sponsors board and then pray for the students over the exam period in May and June.
HALL BOOKINGS – Pat is available to take bookings for the Hall. Please phone her on 9067 1036, Monday to Friday evening from 7.00pm to 8.00pm.
MONEY MATTERS
Weekly Offering Cash Collection and Standing Orders: £1,765.78
Many thanks to all who contributed so generously to the collections.
Annual Diocesan Collection for the Education of our Student Priests – will be taken up at all Masses next weekend. This year our Diocese has eight students in training for the Priesthood. Rev. James O’Reilly will be ordained Sunday, 12th June at 3.00pm in the Church of Christ the Redeemer. The other students are Manuelito, Tony, James, Michael, Kevin, Christopher and Stiofan. Please keep them in your prayers. Your financial contribution is another concrete way of supporting our students as they journey towards Priesthood for service in our parishes.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
Is one of the most memorable and joyful days in a child’s life and represents a sign of growth on their faith journey and the love of God for each and every child, since in the Eucharist we receive Christ Himself. Parents who put forward their child for First Holy Communion are fulfilling the vow they made publicly at their child’s Baptism, to be the ‘first and best teachers of the child in the ways of faith’. The home is the place where our children’s faith is nurtured, nourished and sustained. Parents have been supported by the school Alive O programme, Sacramental Parents Meetings and the parish Do This In Memory Of Me Sunday Mass. The celebration of First Holy Communion each year is also a parish community celebration. Please pray for the seventy one parish children who will receive their First Holy Communion next Sunday at the 11.30am Mass.
THIS WEEK
PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL – will meet this Tuesday evening at 7.30pm
BELMONT AND DISTRICT COUNCIL OF CHURCHES – will hold their Pentecost Service on next Sunday, in Garnerville Church at 7.00pm. All welcome.
COMING EVENTS
WEDNESDAY CLUB – outing to Lissan House, Cookstown on Wednesday 18th May. Bus leaving at 11.00am. Cost £20. To book please ring Pat on 9067 1036 or Anna on 9065 1351. We welcome anyone who would like to join us on this day out.
APOSTOLIC WORK ANNUAL DISPLAY AND SALE – will be held on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd May.
SAVE A DATE – Friday 3rd June is the date for St Colmcilles annual BBQ. More details to follow but gather your friends to book your table for this fabulous evening.
OTHER NOTICES
INTERESTED IN ADOPTION? – Family Care Society specialises in finding forever families for children aged 3 years old and upwards and for brothers and sisters. This year we have successfully placed more brothers and sisters together and half of them were over the age of 3. Many more children need forever families. Could you be their new family? We are also seeking families who would be interested in becoming concurrent carers for babies under 2 years old. If you would like to talk to one of our specialist adoption practitioners please contact: Rachael on 9069 1133, Julie or Brian on 7136 8592 or email: email@familycaresociety.org. We look forward to hearing from you.
THE THIEL CHOIR – from Thiel College, Greenville, Pennsylvania are holding a concert in Bloomfield Presbyterian Church this Wednesday evening at 7.30pm. For more information please phone 9047 1103
EMBRACE – finding refuge in Northern Ireland. First hand experience from some of our new neighbours this Thursday evening at 7.30pm in Edgehill Theological College, 9 Lennoxvale, Malone Road, BT9 5BU. This will inlcude an update on the government programme to re-settle Syrians in Northern Ireland and first hand accounts of the experiences of refugees and people in the asylum process.
- JOSEPH’S COLLEGE PTA – will hold their AGM this Thursday evening at 7.00pm Please come along to hear what has been happening. Give us your opinions and ideas. All welcome! Tea and coffee will be served.
CELEBRATING 150 YEARS WITH THE REDEMPTORISTS – Pope Pius 1X presented the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help to the Redemptorists for veneration in their newly built Church of St. Alfonso, Rome in December 1865. It was solemnly installed there on 26th April 1866. Follow the Icon, Jubilee Pilgrimage, will be in St. Peter’s Cathedral from this Thursday to next Saturday. Thursday – Mass of Welcome celebrated by Bishop Treanor at 7.30pm; Healing Service at 9.00pm; Prayer around the Icon at 10.30pm. Friday – Mass at 10.00am; Prayer Service for Primary Schools at 11.00am. Saturday – Mass at 10.00am; Procession to Clonard Monastery at 11.00am
GILNAHIRK PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH – are holding a Spring Craft and Plant Morning in the Church Halls from 10.00am to 1.00pm next Saturday. Admission: adults £3.50 to include home made shortbread and scones; children free – juice and biscuits provided. Home made crafts and cakes for sale. Buy your own plants for the garden or bring your own baskets or pots to be filled.
THE BETHANY BEREAVEMENT TEAM – in Holywood Parish, would like to invite you to the Mass of the Angels, on Friday 20th May at 7.00pm. We welcome anyone who has suffered the loss of a child whether it be in the womb, at birth or later life to come to our parish to join us for this Mass of the Angels.
FAMILY FUN DAY – in Knock Methodist Centre on Saturday 21st May from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. Admission £2.50 person, which includes: bouncy castle, nail and facepainting, tattoos, badge making, sausage sizzle, duck hunt, teas, ice cream, bouncy slide, tug of war and bran tub. Everyone welcome.
PARISH LIFE IN BRAZIL IN RECENT TIMES – Fr. Paul Turley and Fr. Brendan Callanan, Redemptorist Priests, will give a talk on their experiences in Brazil, in Dundrum Parish Centre, at 7.30pm on Monday 25th May. Everyone welcome.
YOUTH 2000 SUMMER FESTIVAL – Cistercian College, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary from Thursday 7th to Sunday 10th July. This is a four day celebration of faith for young people aged 16-35. There is an action packed programme of inspiring talks, workshops, testimonies, prayer, music, drama and much more. The festival is donation only. Free buses available from all around Ireland. For more information and to book online, see www.youth2000.ie
ARDS CCE HOST ULSTER FLEADH – in Bangor from July 16th – 24th, with many events including Irish Music Sensations BEOGA on Saturday 16th July at St Comgall’s Parish Centre, Bangor and THE SANDS FAMILY on Thursday 21st July at Bangor Abbey. Tickets cost only £10 for each concert – More info on www.ulsterfleadh.com.
2016 CENTENARY OF THE ANGEL OF FATIMA. – Pilgrimage to Fatima & Santiago de Compostela, from 9th to 18th August 2016. 3 Nights H/B Los Abetos Hotel Santiago, 6 Nights F/B Hotel Avenida Fatima. Visiting Pontevedra, Tuy & Balasar. Spiritual Directors are Fr Gerry McCloskey & Fr Sean Gilmore. Special Group Price £709 inclusive of tax & insurance. Full Religious Programme. For further details contact Joe Catney on 9071 4001 or 077 7642 5631. Early booking is advisable. Deposit secures.
BEGINNING EXPERIENCE – are you suffering the pain of loss of a partner? Looking for help and understanding? Beginning Experience is a support group for widowed, separated and divorced people that meets every Wednesday evening from 8.00pm to 10.00pm in St Bride’s Hall, Derryvolgie Avenue. For further information please contact Phil on 9020 7645 or Marie on 078 9611 9669.