VOL. 24 NO. 16 20TH MARCH 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
PALM SUNDAY – (Page 186 & 493)
Holy Week
Readings : Sunday Cycle C, Weekday Cycle 1, Psalter Week 2
| Entrance
Antiphon |
Six days before the Passover, when the Lord came into the city of Jerusalem, the children ran to meet him; in their hands they carried palm branches and with a loud voice cried out: Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are you, who have come in your abundant mercy! O gates, lift high your heads; grow higher, ancient doors. Let him enter, the king of glory! Who is this king of glory? He, the Lord of hosts, he is the king of glory. Hosanna in the highest! Blessed are you, who have come in your abundant mercy! |
| 1st Reading | (Isaiah 50:4-7) I did not cover my face against insult – I know I shall not be shamed. |
| Psalm | My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? |
| 2nd Reading | (Philippians 2:6-11) He humbled himself, but God raised him high. |
| Acclamation | Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory: Christ was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high and gave him the name which is above all names. Praise to you, O Christ, king of eternal glory. |
| Gospel | (Luke 22:14-23:56) The passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke. |
| Children | Jesus shared a meal with his disciples and then went to pray in the garden of Gesthsemane, where he was arrested. Two of Jesus’ disciples let him down. Judas pointed Jesus out to the soliders and Peter said he didn’t know Jesus three times before the cock crowed in the morning. Jesus was treated very cruelly; the soliders beat him and called him names, they made him a crown of thorns and he was sent to be crucified. |
| Communion
Antiphon |
Father, if this chalice cannot pass without my drinking it, your will be done. |
MASS TIMES FOR COMING WEEK
| Sat. | Sun. | Mon. | Tues. | Wed. | Holy Thursday | Good Friday |
| 6.30pm | 9.30am | 7.15am | 7.15am | 7.15am | 7.30pm | |
| Gerry O’Flaherty & Paddy Macauley | Francis Quigley | |||||
| 11.30am | 9.30am | 9.30am | 9.30am | |||
| Bernard Neeson |
Would those who are last to leave the Parish grounds in the evening please close the car park gates.
PARISH OFFICE AND BULLETIN
The parish office will close this Wednesday at 1.00pm and will reopen on Monday 4th April. Material for the bulletins on Easter Sunday and Sunday 3rd April needs to be in the parish office by 10.00am this Wednesday morning.
THE PARISH LITURGY FOR HOLY WEEK
PALM SUNDAY – Holy Week begins with the Blessing of Palms and the Solemn Procession to commemorate the Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem which takes place before the 11.30am Mass on Sunday morning. Palms will also be blessed at the Vigil Mass and the 9.30am Mass. Holy Week is a time for the whole parish family to come together as a faith community and follow in the footsteps of Christ.
MONDAY Masses at 7.15am and 9.30am.
Parish Passover Seder Meal at 7.30pm.
TUESDAY Masses at 7.15am and 9.30am.
Liturgy for Good Friday, Stations of the Cross, is being prepared by young people in the parish. There will be a practice for all those who would like to become involved, at 6.30pm in the Church. Contact Noeleen, 078 7949 8131.
WEDNESDAY Masses at 7.15am, 9.30 am.
HOLY THURSDAY If anyone has any daffodils in their garden and would like them to be used for decorating the Church on Holy Thursday, please leave them in the Church porch by 10.00am on Holy Thursday Morning.
Parishioners are invited to join the Bishops, Priests and Laity of the Diocese for the Mass of Chrism which will be celebrated in St. Peter’s at 11.00am.
The Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated at 7.30pm.
Night Prayer of the Church at 9.15pm
GOOD FRIDAY Good Friday (a day of fast and abstinence)
The Celebration of the Lord’s Passion at 3.00pm.
Stations of the Cross have been prepared by young people of the parish, and will take place on Friday at 7.30pm. A collection for Catholics in the Holy Land will be taken up at both ceremonies.
HOLY SATURDAY The Easter Vigil at 9.00 pm
EASTER SUNDAY Mass in St. Colmcille’s at 9.30 am & 11.30 am
Mass in Ulster Hospital at 10.45 am.
MINISTERS OF THE WORD – notes and commentaries for the readings on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Vigil are now available from the Sacristy after Mass. If you are reading at any of the ceremonies, please collect your copy after Mass this weekend. Copies of the Passion for Good Friday are available from the Sacristy.
CONFESSIONS AND PENITENTIAL
SERVICES IN PREPARATION FOR EASTER
This Saturday St. Colmcille’s 7.30pm
Palm Sunday St. Brigid’s 4.00pm
Monday evening Holy Rosary Parish 7.30pm
Tuesday evening Drumbo and Carryduff Parish 7.30pm
Wednesday evening St. Bernadette’s Parish 7.30pm
YEAR OF MERCY – WELCOME THE STRANGER
“The mercy of God is his loving concern for each one of us. He feels responsible; that is, he desires our wellbeing and he wants to see us happy, full of joy, and peaceful. This is the path which the merciful love of Christians must also travel!” Pope Francis, Misericordia Vultus 9
EMBRACE is an inter-church organisation, which began as a support group for refugees and people seeking asylum. Their main role is one of encouraging church communities to be more welcoming places for all people from other countries and minority-ethnic backgrounds. Research their work on www.embrace.org and find out what help you could offer. Or perhaps you could adopt an attitude of openness and kindness to the next stranger you meet?
A PILGRIMAGE COMPANION FOR THE YEAR OF MERCY – is a book of prayers and reflection, and is available at the back of the Church. Price £1. Please put money in the box beside Confessional.
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
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 April 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 DRAW
If you wish to find out more information about the Parish Draw or sign up for this please contact Roisin McMullan on 078 5414 0019, Lucy Traynor on 079 0080 7589 or Mary Walsh on 078 1549 3463.
PARISH FAMILY
FIRST FRIDAY – Father Ciaran will attend the sick and housebound in the parish during the coming week.
MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION – please volunteer for Holy Week ceremonies and Easter weekend Masses, by writing your name on the sheet on the notice board in the porch, or by texting / emailing Noeleen 078 7949 8131 or colmcilleyouth@yahoo.co.uk
WALK WITH ME BOOKS – An Eastertide Journey of Prayer for 2015, are available at the back of the Church. Price £1. Please put money in paper box beside Confessional.
DAILY MEDITATION FOR EASTER – copies of the “Bible Alive” are available at the back of the Church. Price £1, please put money in either of the Candelabra boxes.
HALL BOOKINGS – Pat will not be available till Monday 4th April to take hall bookings
INTERCESSORY PRAYER TEAM – is a small group who meet on a weekly basis to add their voices to yours, presenting your needs to God. Requests for prayer can be made by completing a Petition Slip and placing it in the Prayer Request Box, both of which can be found in Our Lady’s Prayer Space, or by emailing colmcilleprayer@yahoo.co.uk. All requests are treated with the strictest confidence and you can make your request anonymously if you wish.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL – up to this Sunday the society is collecting foodstuffs, washing powder, toothbrushes, toilet rolls, toiletries and washing up liquid for “The Larder”, who provide help to approximately 150 people every month throughout East Belfast. The scriptures throughout the Season of Lent emphasise our duty to help the poor. Helping “The Larder” is a way for us to fulfil this duty. Boxes are available in the Church porch for your donations.
WEDDING – our congratulations and best wishes go to Stephen Morrissey and Alice Canning who were married on Saturday 12th March in St. Colmcille’s.
MONEY MATTERS
Many thanks to all who contributed so generously to the collections.
NEEDY PARISHES COLLECTION – will be taken up at all Masses this weekend. This collection was established to create a special fund to assist “Financially Needy” Parishes. There are already several Parishes within the Diocese that have accumulated debt and are financially stretched. However, through financial re-structuring schemes it is hoped that many of these parishes, with the aid of this fund, will be able to return to a positive financial position. Through this collection “better off Parishes” can help those less fortunate Parishes to have some hope of returning to sound financial footing.
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES FOR THE NEW YEAR – begin on Sunday 3rd April. New boxes of envelopes, will be in the foyer of the Church this weekend. If you wish to contribute by Standing Order or by envelopes and do not do so currently, please speak to Philomena after any of the Masses this weekend.
TRóCAIRE BOXES – parishioners are being asked to return their Trócaire box to the parish this Sunday, Palm Sunday, if possible. After Sunday, boxes may be left in the parish office or returned through the Offertory collection baskets at Mass. It would be appreciated if any small coins could be changed to larger denominations. All cheques should be made payable to Saint Colmcille’s Parish.
DECEASED
We pray for the repose of the souls of Patricia Clydesdale, the sister of a parishioner, who died this week and for Rory McVeigh, who died recently and for all those whose anniversaries occur at this time of year especially:
Gerry O’Flaherty, Paddy Macauley, Bernard Neeson, Francis Quigley and Margaret Kerr,
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
CHRISTIAN PASSOVER SEDER – the Jewish Passover is the oldest festival of the Hebrew Liturgical Calendar. It commemorates the deliverance of the Jews from Egyptian bondage – the Exodus. Our Christian Passover remembers the Exodus but also defines so much of what we celebrate in the Liturgy of the Eucharist and Holy Communion. The Parish Pastoral Council invites all parishioners to join them for the Passover Seder which will be held in the Parochial Hall at 7.30pm on this Monday evening, three days before we celebrate the beginning of the Triduum with the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Some idea of numbers is needed to help plan the evening, so if you would like to take part in the prayer and ritual of Passover, please put your name down on the list at the back of the Church after Mass this weekend.
COMING EVENTS
Art of Caring Exhibition & Sale – is returning this year from Friday 8th April to Sunday 10th April in the Parochial Hall. This event raises money for Marie Curie Hospice Centre, St Joseph’s Primary School, St Colmcille’s Guide Unit, 11th Belfast Scout Group and St Colmcille’s Parish. More details will follow nearer the time but if you would like further information about the event or wish to put your name down for volunteering please contact either Artie O’Neill on 077 0326 9058 or Roisin McMullan on 078 5414 0019.
OTHER NOTICES
YEAR OF MERCY GOOD FRIDAY FALLS/SHANKILL WALK – on 25th March beginning at 4.45pm outside Clonard Church and finishing there through Clonard’s Holy Door at 6.00pm. Join with others in marking this special Year of Mercy with the 13th Annual Good Friday Prayer Walk. All are welcome! Contact Ed Petersen in Clonard for more details on 9044 5950.
Matt Talbot Pilgrimage – the Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Venerable Matt Talbot in Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Sean McDermott Street, Dublin takes place on Saturday 2nd April. Concelebrated Mass will take place in the Church at 12.30pm. For further details and booking, please contact Josephine O’Hagan on 9061 7116 or Mary Holden on 9442 3956.
- AGNES’ CHORAL SOCIETY – are delighted to return once again to the Grand Opera House Stage, with the hit musical 9 to 5. Performances are from 11th to 16th April, and tickets can be purchased from the box office on 9024 1919, or by going towww.goh.co.uk/nine-to-five. Please come and support our company, and enjoy some top class entertainment. This year St Agnes’ will be fundraising on behalf of Pretty’n’Pink Breast Cancer Charity.
HABITAT GALA BALL – for the fourth successive year Living Youth is sponsoring a Habitat team who will travel to Ethiopia in August. To help raise funds a Gala Ball will take place on Friday 22nd April in The Tullyglass House Hotel, Ballymena. Tickets £40 per person; £400 per table. Dancing to The Housem8s. Come enjoy a wonderful evening and help build hope. For more information or to reserve tickets please log on to info@habitatni.co.uk
NI CANCER PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES – from Friday 27th May to Wednesday 1st June. The price of £599 (with price reduction for Cancer Patients) will include: Return flights from Belfast International Airport, operated by JWT License T.O. 052. Full board and accommodation at the Hotel Agena in Lourdes for five nights based on twin/double/treble rooms. Travel insurance cover for persons up to 85 years on date of return. The party will consist of patients, ex-patients, relatives and friends accompanied by medical, nursing and other staff. To enquire or to obtain a booking form please contact:-Mrs Jean Clarke, Hon. Secretary, c/o Drumbo & Carryduff Parish, 6 Knockbracken Drive, Carryduff, Belfast, BT8 8EX, or speak to us on 075 1675 9646, or e-mail mail@nicancerpilgrimage.org.uk Chairman:- Dr Seamus McAleer, Spiritual Directors: Rev. Dermot McCaughan, Fr. Adrian Eastwood, Fr. Andrew Black.
PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND – from 19th to 26th May. Spiritual Director Canon Sean Rogan. Highlights include tour of the old town of Krakow, the shrine of Madonna at Czestochowa, the birth place of St. John Paul 11, Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp and Memorial Museum, Wieliczka Salt Mine & The shrine of Divine Mercy. Cost £849 pp includes return direct flights from Belfast, seven nights accommodation in 4 star hotel, three course meal, four nights in hotel and one night in city centre restaurant, all entrance fees (Wawel Hill, St. Mary’s Basilica Wadowice Museum, Auschwit, Salt Mine), full coach travel for all tours. To book please call Downe Travel 4461 3288