VOL. 20 NO. 13 19^TH FEBRUARY 2012

 

Father Ciaran Feeney,  Adm.   Father Krzysztof Olejnik, Curate. 191 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3JB.  Tel. 9065 4157 or 9065 6470.

Website: www.st-colmcilles.net    E-mail: stcolmcilles@hotmail.com

 

Sat.	Sun.	Mon.	Tues.	Ash Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.
				7.15am	7.15am	7.15am
6.30pm	9.30am	7.00pm	9.30am	9.30am	9.30am	9.30am
			Hugh Close	John Stewart
	11.30am.			7.00pm
	Teresa Barlcay

 

Sat		Mon.	Tues.	Wed.	Thurs.	Fri.
6.00pm		6.30pm	9.00am	9.00am	9.00am	9.00am

 

Sat.		Mon
6.00pm		6.30pm

PARISH ORGANISATION WEEKEND  -  the Parish Pastoral Council has set aside next Saturday and Sunday as an opportunity for each organisation to make the parish family, including new parishioners, aware of its work. It is also a means of encouraging more parishioners to get involved in parish activities. Each organisation will be responsible for setting up a display in the Parish Hall and ensuring members are available to present their work or to answer any questions. All organisations will have received a letter at this stage giving details of setting up arrangements and times. If your group has not got this information please contact Marina McConville on 9080 7952 or 077 7563 2066 or Lucy Traynor on 9067 3335 or 079 0080 7589.  St Colmcille's has 27 organisations and we look forward to promoting and sharing all the great work being done in our parish community so come and see the displays after all Masses on the above dates.

PARISH OFFICE  -  will be closed this Thursday and Friday.

MATERIAL FOR NEXT WEEK’S PARISH BULLETIN  -  needs to be in the bulletin box or parish office by this Tuesday evening. 

EARLY MORNING MASS  -  will be celebrated each weekday morning at 7.15am.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS  -  on Saturday evenings during Lent at 6.00pm.

DAILY MEDITATION FOR LENT  - copies of “Bible Alive” are available at the back of the church.

WALK WITH ME BOOKS – A Lenten Journey of Prayer for 2012, are available at the back of the church.  Price £1.  Please put money in paper box beside Confessional.

PRAYING THE WORD  -  led by the Living Faith group each Monday night in Lent, beginning on Monday 27^th February at 7.30pm in the Colmcille room in the Parochial Hall.  An opportunity for you to set aside time for praise, scripture reflection and intercessary prayer.

SAINTS - Helping Us Today: this is a DVD series, presented by the Living Faith group for Lent. The sessions are designed  to help people to grow in their faith through exploring the witness and teachings of some of the great saints of church history. The first session on St Therese of Lisieux will be in the Iona room, this Thursday morning, after the 9.30am morning Mass. The series will continue on Thursday mornings in Lent, on a different saint each week.  Please come along and have some coffee and scones. 

TROCAIRE FAST BOXES   -   are available in the foyer of the Church.  War and conflict have the most devastating effects on poor communities.  People are forced from their homes, losing everything.  Stripped of dignity and hope, families are often left powerless to control their own destinies.  By working to understand the root causes of poverty and injustice, we help communities to rebuild lives.  This is only possible with your support.  Thank you for helping us transform lives.

Why do we sit, stand and kneel during Mass? Our posture at Mass should be as uniform across the world as are the Sunday readings Although you may find that people in other parishes sit and kneel at different times than we do, there are actually set points in Mass when we should all kneel, sit or stand. We sit at times when we are learning something e.g. the readings. This tradition comes from the customs in the synagogue in Jesus’s time. We stand at times of prayer. By standing we are showing our reverence to God.  Finally, kneeling has a biblical tradition and we kneel to show our humility before God. When we kneel we adopt a posture of reverence, prayer and supplication. For more information check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NFuu6W392k

MINISTERS OF WELCOME  -  forward thinking parishes today often have Ministers of Welcome at the Church entrances to welcome people and offer a cheerful greeting.  At St. Colmcille’s for several years now many generous parishioners have volunteered to be Ministers of Welcome, a commitment for one month a few times a year to arrive at least 20 minutes before Mass to assist with this ministry.  Unfortunately a shortage has now arisen especially for ministers at the 6.30 Mass.  We would particularly welcome teenagers or a family.  Anyone interested please contact Paddy Donnelly on 9065 1351.

CHURCH CLEANING TEAMS  -  The latest Church cleaning rota is on the notice board in the porch of the Church. The Parish continues to be grateful to the Church cleaning teams for their ongoing commitment to the care of our Church. However, they need more help and we are again appealing for new volunteers. If you could spare 1 to 2 hours once  a month your help would be much appreciated. Perhaps you could form a group with friends. If you can help, or want more information on what’s involved,  please leave your name and telephone number in the bulletin box or call Mary Walsh on 078 1549 3463.

SUNDAY GOSPEL READINGS WITH LECTIO DIVINA FOR YEAR B  -  copies are available at the back of the church, priced £4.  Please put money in paper box, beside Confessional.

ANNUAL DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES –  the Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage takes place this July under the leadership of Bishop Treanor.  Fare, inclusive of all charges, return flight from Belfast to Lourdes and full board in hotels in Lourdes, is: 5 nights (July 11-16^th) - £570; 7 nights (10-17^th) - £630; Youth Team (Age 16-25) – 10-17^th £510. Application forms available in Parish Office. 

DOWN AND CONNOR DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA  -  under the patronage of Bishop Noel Treanor.  From 14^th to 21^st August, 3* hotels, £629, includes Belfast-Dublin Aiport return coach, return flights to Lisbon, transfer from Lisbon to Fatima, 7 nights full board, based on sharing twin bedded rooms with  facilities, full religious programme, directed by Father Gerard McCloskey and Father Sean Gilmore.  For further details contact: Pat Wade – 077 8068 5768, Joe Catney – 9071 4001 or Maria McAree on 4376 8208.

DECEASED -   We pray for the repose of the souls of John O’Hagan, a former parishioner, who died last week and Gary Morris, a parishioner, who died this week.  We also remember all those whose anniversaries occur at this time of year especially:

Eva Haan,  Hugh Close,  Isa Quigley,  Dick Dale, Teresa Barclay  and John Stewart.

MONEY  MATTERS            

The collection for Sick and Retired Priests will be taken up at all Masses this weekend.  This collection is required for the ongoing needs in respect of the Sick & Retired Priests of the Diocese. Despite the availability of the funds raised through the recent ‘Planning for the Future’ Campaign, the ‘Priests’ Provident Fund’ continues to require ongoing funding if it is to carry on meeting the needs of Sick & Retired Priests into the future..

Many thanks to all who contributed so generously to the collections.

HEALING THROUGH DELIVERANCE RETREAT -  continues to this Sunday.  The Indian community welcomes all parishioners to the retreat which will be led by Father Johnson Alexander and the world famous anointed preacher Brother Joseph Stanley and team.  This Saturday until 8.30pm in English.  Sunday 9.00am to 4.00pm in Malayalam and 6.00pm to 8.30pm in English.     

DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME – parish programme for all children preparing for First Holy Communion will be held this Sunday at the 9.30am Mass.

HALL COMMITTEE  -  will meet this Monday evening at 8.30pm.

SCRIPTURE AND PRAYER GROUP  -  our next meeting will be held as usual, this Tuesday evening, in the Committee Room at 8.00pm.   We will review the readings for the first three Sundays of Lent.  If you are thinking of joining the group, now is a good starting place in Cycle B

WEDNESDAY CLUB  -  members outing to Coco Cola – Lisburn this Wednesday afternoon.  Bus leaving car park at 1.15pm

WOMEN’S WORLD DAY OF PRAY  - will be held on Friday 2^nd March in St. Colmcille’s.  A good attendance would be appreciated to welcome visitors from neighbouring churches.  Would you take part in the service or help with tea?  Offers to Anna Donnelly on 9065 1351.

ZUMBATHON  -  come and have a dance in aid of the Breast Cancer Campaign on Saturday 3^rd March from 3.30pm to 5.30pm in the Parochial Hall.  £4 minimum donation per person - £6 minimum donation per family, including Zumba, soft drinks, pizza and treats.  All ages wecome!  Contact Ciara Verdon (in association with St Colmcilles Guide Unit) on 9020 0078.  Or just turn up and join in.

CONFIRMATION  PARENTS MEETING - on Wednesday 7th March at 7.00pm in the Parochial hall, for all parents / guardians of children who will be receiving the sacrament of Confirmation this year.

ST. COLMCILLE’S & GILNAHIRK INTER CHURCH GROUP  -  invities you to a day event on Saturday 10^th March in Gilnahirk.  This follow up to Dr. McMaster’s talks will look at the Ulster Covenant of 1912 with a view to writing an inclusive version for 2012.  The morning will be led by Dr. Duncan Morrow.  Contact Eileen Connor on 9068 4838 or Artie O’Neill on 9058 4523 for further details.

ST. JOSEPH’S PARENTS ASSOCIATION  -  are holding a St. Patrick’s Ceilidh on Friday 16^th March in the Parochial Hall from 7.30pm to late.  Tickets £20, which includes a hot supper, bring your own drink.  Tickets available from the school office, any committee member or Keavy OMahony-Truesdale on 077 9971 1962.