29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

MISSION SUNDAY

Mention ‘Missionary’ in most schools today you’ll probably get blank looks. Travel has broadened the mind and once strange-sounding places are now possibly the home their very secular (& high earning) aunts and uncles living abroad.

Our little Green Empire of Missionaries is also shrinking. Many return in later life to a totally changed modern Ireland that seems at times indifferent to the heroic sacrifices they made as youths to bring health, education and Christ to far-flung places.

We are religiously less confident. It’s no secret that we’re having trouble passing the faith on to our own children. The most difficult mission field in the world today is secular Western culture; in the boardrooms, living rooms, bedrooms and entertainment places. Western secularism is spiritually interested and hungry if illiterate mostly. More asleep than bad and needing to wake up to Christ, a different reality. Nor can you measure things by mere church attendance. Many will believe but not belong. To all this we must display faith which always needs public expression or else we will drown individualism.

If you can interview for a job, apply for a loan, or propose to your husband or wife – then you can say something for Christ. You just may be the only believing Christian that somebody knows in their life. Churchgoers can tend to live apart from non-attenders, the parallel universe syndrome. That ‘somebody’ you know is hungry for you to witness. It’s the mission of a lifetime.

Copyright Intercom Fr. T. Cox

Church Closure

The church will close after the 10am Mass on Monday 23rd October 2006 – Friday 1st December 2006 to allow for the floor and sanctuary to be tiled.

Weekday Masses will be celebrated in the parish hall.

The Saturday evening vigil Mass (6.30) and

Sunday Masses will be celebrated in Carrigart Youth Club, Glenveagh Drive (Opposite the Parish House).

Childline Northern Ireland

ChildLine Northern Ireland needs volunteers to take part in their Christmas Flag Day Collection in Belfast City Centre on Thursday 30th November. Taking part really does make a difference. Every £3 that volunteer collectors raise allows ChildLine Northern Ireland to answer another call from a child in danger or distress.

For more information please call 0870 336 2945.

Feast Days Of The Week

DCPA

The Pioneer Association in D&C will have an hour of prayer in the Oratory in their premises, 68 Berry Street, Belfast on Tuesday 24th October at 7pm, led by Fr. Raymond McCullagh. All welcome.

Unity Pilgrims

In response to the prayer of Jesus at the Last Supper,

‘Father, may they all be one.’

On Sunday 29th October a group from our parish will go as Unity Pilgrims in a spirit of faith and friendship to the 11.30 morning service at St. Matthews Church of Ireland and Shankill Mission Presbyterian Church.

We welcome interested parishioners to join in this pilgrimage and in future occasional visits. Pilgrims attend Mass in their own Church on Saturday evening or Sunday morning. We will meet at St. Oliver Plunkett at 11am for a short prayer and a blessing before we go to the Shankill churches. Unity Pilgrims from some other parishes will accompany us, some of whom have visited St. Matthew’s and Shankill Mission many times over the last few years. There is always a warm welcome from the ministers and their congregations.

Blood Transfusion

Coming to Anderstown Leisure Centre on
Friday 27th October 2006
between 2pm-4.30pm & 5.45pm-8pm.

New Donors needed.

Baptisms

Baptisms today at 2pm. Next baptisms will take place on Sunday 5th November 2006 at 2.00pm. Please note the next date available for Baptism is Sunday 3rd December 2006. The next pre-Baptism instruction will be on Thursday 26th October 2006 at 8pm in the convent. It is necessary to attend pre-Baptism preparation before asking to have your child baptised.
To register for pre-Baptism preparation please contact the parish office 9061 8180 Mon & Wed 2pm-5pm Tue & Fri 10am-2pm & Thurs 10am-1pm. Newly Baptised We welcome into our parish family Karl Diego Tate Brianna Mary Fitzpatrick Emma Christina O’Callaghan Grace Maria Kyles who were recently baptised.

We Loved Them In Life

Collections

Last week's offertory collection amounted to £1003.57. There will be a second collection today – Propagation of the Faith. We thank you for your on going support .