VOL. 24 NO. 03 13TH DECEMBER 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
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – (Page 41, 452 & 490)
3rd Week of Advent
Readings : Sunday Cycle C, Weekday Cycle 2, Psalter Week 3
| Entrance Antiphon | Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near. |
| 1st Reading | (Zephaniah 3:14-18) The Lord will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival. |
| Psalm | Sing and shout for joy for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. |
| 2nd Reading | (Philippians 4:4-7) The Lord is very near. |
| Acclamation | Alleluia, alleluia! The spirit of the Lord has been given to me. He has sent me to bring good news to the poor. Alleluia! |
| Gospel | (Luke 3:10-18) What must we do? |
| Children | The people asked John the Baptist what they had to do to get ready for God’s chosen one. John told them they must share what they have, they must not cheat people and they must treat people fairly. Everyone started to think that John might be God’s chosen one. But John told the people that while he baptised them with water, someone was coming who would baptise them with the Holy Spirit and with fire. |
| Communion Antiphon | Say to the faint of heart: Be strong and do not fear. Behold, our God will come, and he will save us. |
Would those who are last to leave the Parish grounds in the evening please close the car park gates.
MASS TIMES FOR COMING WEEK
| Saturday | Sunday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 6.30pm
Jim Forrester |
9.30am
Maurice Melville |
9.30am
Vera McGurran |
9.30am
|
9.30am
|
9.30am
Anointing of the Sick |
| Confession at 6.00pm | 11.30am
Kay & Tom O’Neill |
|
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. The Year of Mercy began last Tuesday.
- COLMCILLE’S DOOR OF MERCY – will be opened during a Special Liturgy at the beginning of the 11.30am Mass this Sunday.
THE DOOR OF MERCY – this Sunday Bishop Noel Treanor will open the Door of Mercy for the Diocese in St Patrick’s Church, Donegall Street. This will take place during 7.00pm Evening Mass and parishioners from across the Diocese are invited to attend. The link for the Pilgrim’s journey of St. Patrick’s Church, Belfast can be found https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LuNl9AAquA
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 this Tuesday 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
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.
Lourdes 2016 – we are currently seeking doctors (post foundation training) and nurses (on the NMC live register) to join the volunteer staff of the Diocesan Pilgrimage (11-16thJuly 2016). For more information please email us at lourdes@downandconnor.org
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.
DECEASED
We pray for the repose of the souls of Rose Mary McCullagh, Vera McGurran, mothers of parishioners, who died recently. We also remember all those whose anniversaries occur at this time of year especially:
Bernadette Kane, Joseph Conway, Mary Conway, Nathaniel Tio,
Maurice Melville, Jim Forrester, Kay O’Neill and Tom O’Neill.
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.
ADVENT
ADVENT FESTIVAL – Take some time out and feel well prepared for Christmas, by enjoying a time of reflection this Sunday at 6.00pm in St. Colmcille’s Church. Join the parish Choir and St. Joseph’s Primary School in singing the joyful story of the coming of the Lord. Refreshments served afterwards in the Hall.
TAP Christmas Gift Cards – Shop Early for Christmas! The Annual Tanzanian Africa Project (TAP) Christmas Gift Cards, in support of our twinned parish in Moita Bwawani Tanzania, will be available from this weekend and all the weekends of Advent. Attractive Christmas Gift Cards for School Uniforms (£10), Sponsor a Catechist (£10) and Mother and Baby Care (£20) will be available in the Porch after each of the Masses during the season of Advent. We look forward to your usual generous support for this fundraising event.
TROCAIRE GIFTS – buy a Trocaire gift and make a lot more people happy. Booklets regarding this year’s Trocaire gifts are available at the back of the Church. For more information log on to www.trocaire.org/gifts or call 080 0912 1200.
PENITENTIAL SERVICES
“Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate.” (Luke 6:37)
Next Saturday St. Colmcille’s 7.30pm
Next Sunday St. Brigid’s 4.00pm
Monday 21st December Holy Rosary 7.30pm
Tuesday 22nd December Drumbo 7.30pm
St Vincent de Paul
Christmas Appeal 2015 – continues to next Sunday. Once again this year we are asking for donations of cash or shopping vouchers. Cash is required to buy essentials such as vegetables, meat and other fresh food and is also practical as it may be used towards a top up card for the electric or gas meters or to buy heating oil stamps. Your donations can be popped into our normal collection boxes with our members at the church exits any time up to Sunday 20th December. SVP Envelopes marked as Gift Aid can be found at the Chapel porch. If you are a UK tax payer then using the Gift Aid envelope will enable us to claim the money back from government, increasing your donation. As most of our families live near a Tesco store this would be the best supermarket voucher to donate. Heating oil stamps can be purchased from many oil suppliers or you can specify on the envelope if you wish us to spend your donation on fuel. The annual appeal in 2014 was a great success and as a result we were able to help many families in the East Belfast area, of which our Church plays an important part. No matter how small (every £1 counts) all donations help to relieve the dreadful pressure our families suffer. Many have the simple choice of heat or eat.
THE LARDER – is a food bank in Mersey Street which has been most helpful in supporting many of the clients of our St. Vincent de Paul. The St. Vincent de Paul propose collecting food to deliver to the Larders throughout Advent and would particularly appreciate any donations of food. Boxes will be availabe in the porch for this collection, commencing at all Masses next weekend and concluding on the weekend of the 19th/20th December.
SVP ANNUAL LOCAL COLLECTIONS – the last one will take place at Tesco Expres in Ballyhackamore next Saturday. Anyone willing to help out should contact Paddy Donnelly.
THANK YOU – the St. Vincent de Paul Conference wish to thank the Spar Ballyhackamore, Super Value at Kings Square and Dundonald Asda for allowing us to hold collections over the last three Saturdays, enabling a total of £1,230.51 to be raised. We would particularly wish to thank the 20+ collectors who stood out in the most awful weather collecting on one or more than one occasion.
For further information on what SVP contributes to our society, check the web site at SVP.IE
THIS WEEK
Scripture and Prayer Group – our last meeting for 2015 will be at 8.00pm in the Committee Room this Tuesday evening. All are welcome.
PARENTS MEETING – this Wednesday at 7.00pm in the Parochial Hall, for parents of the children who are preparing for First Holy Communion. Parents will be able to enrol their child for this Sacrament at the meeting.
ADVENT PROGRAMME – concludes this Friday morning at 10.00am, starting with refreshments, in the Iona Room.
artisan market – will be held in the Church Grounds next Saturday from 10.00am to 4.00pm. There will also be more stalls available.
DTIM – The Do This In Memory of Me monthly Mass will take place at 9.30am next Sunday. The children who are preparing for First Holy Communion will be presented to the parish at this Mass.
BAMBINELLI SUNDAY – For several decades, an Italian tradition, has been to bring a Christ-child figure to St Peter’s Square, to be blessed by the Pope on a Sunday in Advent. As part of our Advent celebrations, all children and adults are invited to bring their Christ-child figure from home, to be blessed at the 9.30am Mass at St Colmcille’s next Sunday. A suggestion is, following the blessing, take your ‘bambinelli’ home and place it in a gift box, wrap it, and save it for Christmas. Let this be the first gift your family opens on Christmas, when together you place the Christ-child figure in your Crib.
TEA & BUNS – for everyone next Sunday after both morning Masses. No charge. Come along, relax and catch up with friends and family.
LIVING YOUTH – Come and join us for our third Monthly Diocesan Youth Mass on next Sunday at 5.00 pm (Confessions and Music Practice from 4.30pm) in Holy Family Church, Newington Avenue. Refreshments after in the Church Gathering Space. All welcome.
COMING EVENTS
Ballyhackamore Business Association – has always taken Christmas seriously, and this year is no exception. Engaging the irrepressible talents of Young at Art, Northern Ireland’s leading arts organisation for children and young people, this year Christmas is turning into a hunt for Santa. That’s right Santa has been kidnapped! The ‘Nearly True’ Christmas Tour is an exciting walking tour around the village of Ballyhackamore, where no stone will be left unturned in the search for Santa. The hour-long tour with the elves will be running every Saturday to 19th December and further tours will be held on Monday 21st, Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 23rd December to ensure that Santa is found before December 25th ! There are three tours each day beginning at 11.00am, 1.00pm and 3.00pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance, and are available to buy from Greens Pizza in Ballyhackamore. Tickets are priced at £12 per child and £8 per adult and this will include a gift and a photo with Santa.
Reunion Dinner – to mark the 50th anniversary since the re start of the Scouts in the parish, a 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner Dance has been arranged for the 6th February 2016 in the Stormont Hotel. All ex members of the Group, leaders and committee people are invited to attend, as are all parents and supporters. The Scout Group has been an integral part of the youth provision in St. Colmcilles Parish during good and bad times and it’s fitting that we celebrate the continued success of the Group. Please let family members no longer living in the parish know of this event. A dedicated Facebook page will be developed and further details about the reunion will be given as they become available.
LIVING YOUTH – Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia Team 2016: Following our successful Habitat for Humanity projects over the past three years Living Youth is excited to announce recruitment for another youth team due to travel to Ethiopia next summer. Provisional dates: 8th to 22nd August 2016. Applicants should be 18 years or over and all team members will be expected to contribute to the cost of the trip as well as engage in an extensive fundraising campaign. The budget for this trip is £2,000 p/p. This includes a non-refundable deposit, travel, in-country expenses and a £600 minimum donation to Habitat’s work. To register or get more information visit: www.habitatni.co.uk, call 9263 5635 or email gv@habitatni.co.uk
SCHOOL INFORMATION
Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock – Open Morning on Saturday 9th January 2016 from 9.15am to 12.30pm for Year 7 Pupils and Parents. Principal’s Address 9.30am and 11.00am. Prospective Year 13 students are also welcome.
REPORTS
TO THE ELVES AND THEIR LEADERS – “Many thanks for a lovely Christmas Dinner. The food was lovely, the service was impeccable, the entertainment entertaining and the present from Santa Claus was a wonderful surprise – a lot of work was done to prepare for this event. Many thanks again.” From a grateful attendee at the Christmas Dinner.
REFUGEE CRISIS – A SINCERE THANK YOU – “In October I spent some time in Greece distributing the aid from SVP members in the Northern Region. I do not have the words to describe the horrific things I saw, nor can I convey the joy of being able to help these poor people with money, food and clothes from home. I am writing to thank the parish for the humbling and generous donation of £1,413.23. The money that has been donated will be used to provide real and practical support for the Syrian refugees. You can be sure that each penny will have a positive and lasting impact on these people as they try to make a new life in Europe. Aidan Crawford, Regional President, Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
OTHER NOTICES
The Live Crib in Belfast – is now open at St Mary’s Church, Chapel Lane, Belfast. Come along to The Grotto and meet the Holy Family, Shepherds and Kings. Also featuring, Henry and Poppy, the donkeys, goats, Emily and Billy and Gruff, sheep Sean and Larry and Alpacas Chewy and Snowy. School groups, choirs and carol singers are welcome. The crib will run until 6th January 2016, animals arrive at 10.30am and go home at 5.00pm each day. Entrance is free. Donations to the crib will go towards Tuesday’s Child Following Yonder Star Christmas Appeal for children in Gaza, Kenya, Nigeria and child boat refugees rescued in the Mediterranean. There will be prayers each day in the crib for peace for every child, born and unborn. For further details e-mail events@tuesdayschild.org.uk or text 078 0881 4807.
To mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising – The Irish Catholic newspaper is publishing a special edition next week. The 40-page edition of the paper will set the context for the centenary celebrations and look at some of the neglected aspects of the celebrations, particularly: The humanitarian role of the pro-cathedral; How parishes coped with the carnage; The Catholic Faith of the leaders; The Church’s reaction to the Rising; A map of ‘Catholic Dublin’ at the time of the Rising; Insights from the archive; Reflections from Archbishop Diarmuid Martin, Mary Kenny, Martin Mansergh etc. and the morality of the Easter Rising;
ALHomecare – we provide live-in carers for the elderly in their own home. Our service is a lot more affordable than nursing home care. Our service costs from 350 euro per week for a live-in carer. Our website is www.alhomecare.ie.
Interested in fostering? – Do you think you have the skills, patience and desire to support vulnerable young people- then we would like to talk to you. We are currently looking to recruit 8 foster carers in your local area. We offer a good financial package to support young people in placement. Please contact Action for Children duty social worker on 02890460500 or email: nioffice@actionforchildren.org.uk
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.