17th May 2015
VOL. 23 NO. 25 17TH MAY 2015
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 353, 452 & 498)
7th Week of Easter
Readings : Sunday Cycle B, Weekday Cycle 1, 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 | (Mark 16:15-20) He was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place. |
| Children | Jesus came to his disciples and told them he had important work for them to do. The disciples must tell everyone the good news that God’s love makes people happy. Jesus wants his friends to show God’s love to others by their actions as well as words. Then Jesus left them and was taken to heaven. God was with the disciples as they did what Jesus asked. |
| 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
|
9.30am
|
9.30am
Communion Service
|
9.30am
|
9.30am
|
9.30am
Anointing of the Sick |
| Confessions at 6.00pm | 11.30am
|
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 this Tuesday evening 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
New Pastoral Communities – back in January the Diocese launched a consultation on how parishes might best work together in the future. Bishop Treanor, supported by the Living Church Office received feedback from groups and individuals across the diocese. The consultation closed with four regional meetings. Now, the Bishop is announcing the makeup of the 13 new Pastoral Communities. Please read a copy of the document which is available as you leave the church, or on the diocesan website.
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL – young people are invited to join the team who read the prayers at Mass. Training will take place next Sunday and Sunday 14th June from 10.25am to 11.15am in the Church. All welcome. Enquiries to Noeleen 078 7949 8131.
ALTAR SERVERS – formation and additional training: for post primary Servers attending this Sunday from 10.25am to 11.15am and Sunday 7th June 10.25am to 11.15am in the Church; for P6 and P7 servers continuing this Wednesday after school in the Church.
SUMMER CHILDREN’S WEEK – application forms for the children’s holiday bible week ‘Under the Big Top’, on Monday 3rd to Friday 7th August are available in the Church Porch and from colmcilleyouth@yahoo.co.uk
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.
St Anne’s Parish invites you – to a Vigil on Wednesday 27th May in St Anne’s Church, from 7.00pm to 9.00pm to pray for The Reverend Conor McCarthy whose Ordination will take place on Sunday 28th June. All are welcome to join in this Prayer Service of Adoration, Testimonies, Readings, Intercessions, Benediction and Veneration of Our Blessed Lady.
MONEY MATTERS
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 this weekend. This year our diocese has ten students in training for the priesthood. Fr. Andrew Black has just been ordained. Rev Conor McCarthy will be ordained in June. James O’Reilly will be ordained deacon later this month. 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.
DECEASED
We pray for the repose of the souls of Una Coll, Peggy McCrarren, parishioners who died last weekend and for Bridie Teer, who recently died. We also remember all those whose anniversaries occur at this time of year especially:
James Richmond, Mary Richmond, Michael Kelly, Una Gallagher,
William Kells, Sam Heath and Carmen Carey.
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.
CEMETERY SUNDAYS
Milltown – on Sunday 24th May.Prayers and blessing of graves will be held at 3.00pm.
Hannahstown – on Sunday 31st May at 3.00pm. Mass will be celebrated in the grounds of St Joseph’s Cemetery, followed by the blessing of the graves.
St Peter’s, the Rock – Sunday 7th June at 3.00pm. Prayers and blessing of graves.
PARISH DRAW
The winners of the 3rd Parish Draw for 2015 are: Ciara Erwin – £100, Mary Walsh – £75 & Noeleen Dunn – £25. Don’t worry its still not to late to get your tickets please speak to any member of the Social & Fundraising committee.
THIS WEEK
Scripture and Prayer Group – we meet again as usual, this Tuesday evening at 8.00 pm in the Committee Room. Our focus will be on the readings for Trinity Sunday and The Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. All welcome.
Big Breakfast for TAP – next Sunday, after the 9.30 and 11.30 Masses we will be staging a Big Breakfast for Tanzania to raise much needed funds for our twinned Parish of Moita Bwawani in Tanzania. This is as much a Parish Family event as a fundraiser. So next Sunday, forget about your breakfast chores, let us do the cooking for you and you can reward us with your generosity. Come on over to the Parochial Hall, relax with a hearty breakfast and at the same time help our TAP programme.
BELMONT AND DISTRICT COUNCIL OF CHURCHES – will hold their Pentecost Service on next Sunday, in Stormont Presbyterian Church at 7.00pm. All welcome.
COMING EVENTS
APOSTOLIC WORK ANNUAL DISPLAY will be held after all the Masses on 30th and 31st May. There will be plants, cakes, books and toys, jewellery and, of course, the Tombola and raffle. There will be tea and coffee as usual. If anyone wishes to provide cakes or other items for the sale please speak to a member of Apostolic Work or bring it to the hall on Saturday 30th May. There have been an increasing number of requests from missionaries for help to Apostolic headquarters so your continued support will be very important. New members or anyone who can help in other ways are always welcome. If you cannot stay after Mass but would like to contribute, donations will be received at the door of the Parochial Hall.
Community Fun Day – on Saturday 6th June from 12.00 noon to 3.00pm. Come along to St Joseph’s P.S. first ‘Community Fun Day’ for a fun-filled afternoon! Climb the Infinity Tower, descend the Mega Slide, touch the clouds on the bouncy castle and wonder at our birds of prey. Plus we’ll have face painting, a photo booth, gladiator duel, arts and crafts, a football arena and lots, lots more!! If you work up an appetite there’s a BBQ and refreshments as well as plenty to do indoors if it’s wet! We hope you can make it. We also welcome volunteers to help on the day and donations for our cake sale can be left at the school the week before. Follow us on facebook at ‘St Joseph’s PTA’ or email stjospta@gmail.com
PARISH SIRLOIN STEAK/CHICKEN BBQ & DISCO – will take place on Friday 5th June from 7.30pm in the Parochial Hall/Scout & Guide den. Bring your own refreshments and the music will be on until 12.30am. Its guaranteed to be a great night out so why not make it a great night out with friends. Tickets are only £15 per person and will be available to purchase next weekend or they are available from Roisin McMullan on 078 5414 0019 or Mary Walsh on 078 1549 3463 or any member of the Social & Fundraising Committee. If you have any special dietary requirements please let us know when you book your ticket. We look forward to seeing you there.
CELEBRATING THE YEAR OF ST COLUMBANUS
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Luxeuil, Bregenz, St Gallen & Bobbio – to mark the Year of St Columbanus, Bishop Noel Treanor will lead a Diocesan Pilgrimage to sites associated with St Columbanus – Luxeuil, Bregenz, St Gallen and Bobbio from 24th to 31st August. Anyone interested in taking part in the Pilgrimage is asked to contact Kieran Troy on 00 353 5793 55050.
Bangor Colloquium – Part 1 of a three-part Colloquium will take place in Bangor from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th May. Part 2 will take place in Luxeuil from Thursday 17th until Saturday 19th September. Part 3 will be held in Bobbio from Saturday 21st until Sunday 22nd November. The title of the Bangor Colloquium is “Making Europe: Columbanus and his Legacy”.
Celebrating Columbanus – a weekend of celebrations will be held in the Diocese of Down and Connor and Armagh from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st June. Visitors from Italy (from the Dioceses of Piacenza-Bobbio, Lodi, Pavia and Mantua), France (from the Archdiocese of Besançon) and Germany (from the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart) are expected to attend our celebrations. The celebrations commence with Vespers in Good Shepherd Church on Friday, 19th June at 7.00pm. Celebrations continue in Bangor on Saturday, 20th June, with the National Commemoration in honour of St Columbanus taking place in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh, on Sunday, 21th June.
Mass in St Comgall’s Church, Bangor – the principal celebration in honour of St Columbanus will be a celebration of the Eucharist in St Comgall’s Church, Brunswick Road, Bangor, on Saturday, 20th June at 6.30pm. It will be the Parish Vigil Mass.
OTHER NOTICES
Join the Belfast Conversation – what do you want Belfast to be like in 15 years time? Belfast City Council and its partners are looking for ideas and aspirations for Belfast 2030 to help shape the Belfast Agenda – a community plan detailing measureable social economic and environmental improvements for the city. Join the #belfastconversation and find out more at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/belfastagenda
LIVING THROUGH LOSS – with Brenda Kelso being held in the Kairos Centre, Knock Presbyterian Church. This Tuesday – Promoting Healthy Grieving in Children. Tuesday 26th May – Hope for the Hurting – What Helps and What Hurts? For more information contact Nicki Jemphrey on 078 4092 4505 or email njemphrey@knockpresbyterian.co.uk
Lough Derg – will hold a special Day Retreat ‘Hope and Encouragement for a New Beginning’ this Wednesday. Fr Ben Hughes, who promotes healing and well-being, will facilitate the day which will be beneficial to anyone who is living with or struggling with any issue that is holding them back or hurting their life. Advance booking is essential. For more information contact Lough Derg on 00353 71 9861518.
Supporting persecuted Christians in the Middle East – there will be a day to support persecuted Christians in the Middle East on next Saturday. It will be held in St Finnian’s Church at the top of the Cregagh Road from 10.00am to 2.00pm. The day is being organised by Divine Healing Ministries and Open Doors, who for decades have worked with the persecuted Church worldwide. There will be table top sales, tea and coffee, and the Church will be open for prayer for those who are suffering. The plight of persecuted Christians has been widely publicised in recent times. The video of twenty-one Coptic Christians being marched along the beach to be beheaded was one of the saddest scenes of all, but it was only the tip of the iceberg. Many people have been dismayed by what is happening, would like to help but don’t know how to. All of the money raised will be used to support those who are suffering in the Middle East.
Habitat for Humanity – Northern Ireland is hosting a special evening of music and song with The Priests. The classical music trio The Priests will present a special fundraising concert in St Patrick’s RC Cathedral, Armagh on Friday 29th May. The evening will celebrate the fact that local people have helped Habitat for Humanity Northern Ireland build over the last 21 years. Tickets cost £20 and can be purchased at www.habitatni.co.uk or from Armagh Parish Office on 3752 2813.
Forgiveness: the key to healing and happiness – a one day retreat to be held in Dromantine Retreat and Conference Centre on Saturday 30th May from 10.00am to 4.30pm. This day will provide an opportunity to reflect on ways to deal with life’s hurts and disappointments, so that we can let go, move on, and find peace and happiness and will be facilitated by Fr. Des Corrigan, SMA. Apply to the Secretary at Dromantine on 3082 1964 or email admin@dromantineconference.com.
Living Faith: Go Proclaim the Gospel – Living our faith can be both quite challenging and really wonderful. Each year in Ballymena a Round-Table gathering is held in The Parish Centre, All Saints Church, Ballymena to consider some aspect of faith. This year it will be on Saturday 6th June from 1.45pm to 5.00pm. The topic this year is Living Faith: Go Proclaim the Gospel. Our excellent keynote speaker this year is noted media commentator, speaker, journalist and teacher, Breda O’Brien, and the other speakers will be Baroness Nuala O’Loan and Fr Patrick Delargy.
THE PILGRIM LIFE – The Gospel of Mark, Discipleship in Ordinary Time by Pamela Thimmes, OSC in Drumalis Retreat and Conference Centre on Sunday 7th June from 10.00am to 4.30pm. Cost £35. Come and hear and learn about the Gospel of Mark. From beginning to end the first and shortest of the Gosepl challenges and astonishes, demonstrating that “sometimes we need stories more than food to stay alive”. To book a space contact Drumalis on 2827 2196.