VOL. 23 NO. 13 22ND FEBRUARY 2015
Father Ciaran Feeney Adm. 191 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3JB.
Phone – 9065 4157. Website: www.st-colmcilles.net E-mail: stcolmcilles@hotmail.com
St. Joseph’s Primary School – www.stjosephsps.co.uk Phone – 9065 0039
St Colmcilles Pre school – www.stcolmcilles-preschool.co.uk. Phone – 9047 2724
FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT– (Page 141, 452 & 116)
1st Week of Lent
Readings : Sunday Cycle B, Weekday Cycle 1, Psalter Week 1
| Entrance
Antiphon |
When he calls on me, I will answer him; I will deliver him and give him glory. I will grant him length of days. |
| 1st Reading | (Gensis 9:8-15) God’s convenant with Noah after he had saved him from the waters of the flood. |
| Psalm | Your ways, Lord, are faithfulness and love for those who keep your covenant. |
| 2nd Reading | (1 Peter 3:18-22) That water is a type of Baptism which saves you now. |
| Acclamation | Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory! Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory. |
| Gospel | (Mark 1:12-15) Jesus was tempted by Satan, and the angels looked after him. |
| Children | Jesus went into the desert by himself for forty days. He was tempted by the devil but the angels looked after him. After this time Jesus went into Galilee to tell everyone the Good News that God loves them. He told people to turn back to God and believe in him. |
| Communion
Antiphon |
One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. |
Could those who are last to leave the Parish grounds
in the evening please close the car park gates.
PARISH OFFICE
The parish office will be closed this Monday.
MASS TIMES FOR COMING WEEK
| Sat. | Sun. | Mon. | Tues. | Wed. | Thurs. | Fri. |
| 6.30pm | 9.30am | 7.15am | 7.15am | 7.15am | 7.15am | 7.15am |
| Ted O’Neill, Moya Dalton, James Dalton & Teresa Barclay | Hugh Close & Harry McGarry | Frank Donnelly | Mary Paul | |||
| 11.30am | 9.30am | 9.30am | 9.30am | 9.30am | 9.30am | |
| Maureen McGonnell & Charles Doherty | Brenda Quinn | Anointing of the Sick |
PARISH PROGRAMME FOR LENT
MORNING MASS – will be celebrated Monday to Friday mornings at 7.15am and 9.30am.
EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT – each Thursday evening from 7.00pm to 9.00pm.You are invited to make a Lenten commitment to Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on one or more occasion, by adding your name to the Adoration timetable on the clipboard at the back of the Church.
THE GIFT – An inspiring and practical series aimed at people of all ages to help them encounter the Holy Spirit and empower them to share their faith. Everyone is invited to gather together at 10.00am on Friday mornings during Lent, in the Iona room, where we will begin with refreshments. The next session in the series is ‘The Joy of the Gospel’.
stations of the cross – will be celebrated each Saturday evening at 6.00pm.
Awakening Faith Programme – will take place next Sunday, Sunday 15th and Sunday 29th March after the 9.30am Mass. Everyone is welcome for free refreshments in the hall. Children are invited to the Iona room for activities. The theme of the first short talk is ‘Can Mass make my life more meaningful?’
TROCAIRE FAST BOXES – are available in the foyer of the Church.
SACRED SPACE – ‘One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God’. (Matthew 4:4) Let us open our hearts to God’s holy word in scripture, for each of us personally, as we journey through this season of Lent. The purple cloth reminds us of the journey, with our offerings to God of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. The ashes symbolize our penance and contrition. The crown of thorns reminds us that Christ offered Himself as the complete sacrifice for our sin. The candle is the symbol of Christ’s presence with us during our personal Lenten observances. Here we should pause for a time and re-commit ourselves to developing our personal relationship with Jesus, by placing a stone in the desert oasis.
PARISH FAMILY
Proclamation of the Word – volunteers are urgently required for this important Ministry. To meet this need a series of four training sessions begins this Monday evening at 7.30pm in the Church. If you are interested in contributing to this fulfilling aspect of Parish life please contact John Barry on 9065 4395 / 078 4072 8477 or email jb654395@yahoo.co.uk.
ANNUAL 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) – £570 in hotel or £450 in hospital; 7 nights (10-17th) – £625; Youth Team (Age 16-25) – 8th-17th £520. Closing date for youth applications is 27th March. For more information see the poster in Church Porch or contact the Pilgrimage Office on 9064 6040 or email dcpilgrimage@gmail.com
MONEY MATTERS
Many thanks to all who contributed so generously to the collections.
The Monthly Stipend Collection will be taken up at all Masses next weekend.
DECEASED
We pray for the repose of the souls of Father Fred Hassan, Harry McGarry, Thomas Varkey and Charles Doherty who died recently. We also pray for all those whose anniversaries occur at this time of year especially:
Ted O’Neill, Moya Dalton, James Dalton, Teresa Barclay, Hugh Close,
Maureen McGonnell, Frank Donnelly, Mary Paul,
Brenda Quinn, John Feenan, and Olga Hughes.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT – we can be contacted on 074 5698 9458. Our members are Regiena Babu, Eileen Brogan, Eithne Daly, Maire Devine, Brenda McMeekin, David McMeekin, Celine Molloy, Joan Rogan and Lucy Traynor.
PARISH DRAW
There is still time for you to participate in this year’s Parish Draw. Please show your support to the Parish by purchasing a ticket or two by contacting Roisin McMullan on 078 5414 0019, Mary Walsh on 078 1549 3463, or Philomena in the Parish Office.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
We are greatly helped in our work of support for the poor and needy by “The Larder” the food bank attached to St. Christopher’s Church in Mersery Street. Over fifty of our clients have received generous food parcels from one to six times in the past year. The food is provided by neighbouring churches and we feel particularly as our clients are amongst the major beneficaries, we should try to contribute to them. So starting next weekend and up to Sunday 29th March members of the St Vincent de Paul will be in the Church Porch to receive donations of food for onward transmission to “The Larder”. The following are suggested items: cereal, jam, pasta, rice, pasta sauces, tinned fruit, tinned meat and fish, tinned vegetables, tinned soup, tinned tomatoes, biscuits, tea, coffee, toilet rolls, washing powder, toothbrushes, toiletries and washing up liquid. They have always loads of baked beans.
DIOCESAN VOCATIONS
Have you ever considered a vocation to the priesthood? Have you felt called to serve Christ in the Church as a priest? If so, take this opportunity to gather with other men who are discerning a vocation to the priesthood.
VOCATIONS EVENING – in the Parish of Saintfield on Thursday 30th April 2015. For more information on vocations please contact Father Kevin McGuckien on 9061 4567 or email:kevinmcguckien@hotmail.com
THIS WEEK
stations of the cross – will be celebrated each Saturday evening at 6.00pm.
Apostolic Work Lenten Lunch – in the Parochial Hall after both Masses this Sunday. If anyone cannot be there but would like to make a contribution please give it to any member of Apostolic Work at any time. Volunteers on the day will be very welcome.
EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT – each Thursday evening from 7.00pm to 9.00pm.
THE GIFT – will take place on Friday Mornings after the 9.30am Mass. The next session in the series is ‘The Joy of the Gospel’.
Awakening Faith Programme – will take place next Sunday morning after the 9.30am Mass. The theme of the first short talk is ‘Can Mass make my life more meaningful?’
OTHER NOTICES
SLOW DOWN SATURDAY – enjoy a cup of tea and a bit of calm, time to think and pray, time for you and God, guided gently by Breige O’Hare, next Saturday from 11.00am to 12.45pm, in The Old School, beside St Patrick’s Church, Donegall Street (room opposite Veritas bookshop). Donation £1. Booking essential. To book, ring Breige at well.com on 9031 9530 or contact her through her website www.athomewithgod.co.uk
THE POPE FRANCIS EFFECT – a series of talks being held in Tobar Mhuire, Crossgar during the Tuesday’s in Lent. Tuesday 24th February – Signs of hope in the Church today? By Father Brian D’Arcy. Brian McKee will give the following talks: Tuesday 3rd March – A Voice in the Wilderness? Tuesday 10th March – Pope Francis – Where does he fit into the papacy? Tuesday 24th March – Building a Church of the People. Each evening begins at 7.30pm. Come along for one evening or for the full series of talks. Voluntary donation. Everyone welcome!
ST MARK’S CHURCH – are running an early evening programme on a Wednesday evening until 25th March. The timing for each evening is: 6.00pm – Lenten Office in the Church; 6.30pm – Supper in the Church Hall; 7.00pm – after Supper Speaker. People are welcome to come for the entire evening, or even just for supper and/or the speaker. There is
no cost for each evening, although there will be an opportunity to contribute towards the cost of supper each week on an entirely voluntary basis. Please phone St Mark’s Parish Office on 9065 9047 if you are planning to come for supper, just to give us a sense of numbers for catering!
Gilnahirk Presbyterian Church Women’s Guild – are holding a Concert featuring Ballyclare Male Choir at 7.45pm this Wednesday evening in Gilnahirk Presbyterian Church Hall. For tickets (£10 inc. supper) contact Anne in Gilnahirk Church Office on 9040 3589 or Audrey on 9079 4477 or pay at the door. Everyone welcome.
STRESS CONTROL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME – Belfast Health and Social Care Trust are offering a choice of a free six week stress control programme. Choice 1 – in the Skainos Centre, Newtownards Road on a Monday evening commencing this Monday evening. Choice 2 – Falls Road Library on a Thursday evening commecning this Thursday evening. Each evening runs from 6.30pm to 8.00pm. There is no need to book. Just turn up on the night. For more information please contact Audrey at 9504 2689 for more information.
Adopters Needed Now – Family Care Adoption Services is presently seeking families who would be interested in adopting children aged between 2–6 years and who need the love and attention of a caring and understanding family. Could this be you? If you would like to find out more please contact Family Care Adoption Services on: 9069 1133 email: email@familycaresociety.org. Website: www.familycaresociety.co.uk
You are invited to – an evening of reflection on the plight of persecuted Christians around the world, this Thursday evening from 7.30pm to 8.30pm in Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Carryduff. Christianity is now the most persecuted religion in the world. Pope Francis has called on us to remember our fellow Christians who are suffering for their faith. The evening will consist of a series of accounts of the difficulties suffered by Christians in different parts of the world interspersed with prayer, sacred music and personal reflection. The service will conclude with Benediction. An opportunity for further discussion with a cup of tea/coffee will follow in the St. Mochumma room in the Church. The evening is being organised by the Knights of St. Columbanus and some young people undertaking their John Paul II award. Please come along and join us.
IN JOYFUL HOPE – a new step in Eucharistic Communion. The next gatheirng will be held in St Peter’s Cathedral on Tuesday 3rd March at 7.30pm.