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Thirty-first
Sunday of the year
Have you ever noticed
that in radio and TV interviews where
an issue of national importance is
being discussed the language of “seeing”
and “hearing” is often
used to describe understanding, comprehension
and insight? “I see it this
way…”; “what I hear
you saying is…” In this
sense, sight has as much to do with
seeing beneath the surface of things
as it has to do with being able to
recognize persons or objects in the
physical sense. In other words, truly
seeing goes deeper than surface realities.
In the same way, truly hearing often
demands going beyond the surface meaning
of words used to the deeper reality
they point towards. Language like
this appeals to listeners to “hear”
in order to “see” and
understand.
The three readings
from scripture which are proclaimed
in today’s Mass are all linked
by an appeal to these two senses of
hearing and sight. John “saw”
another angel and “heard”
how many were sealed. He “saw”
a huge number of people and “heard”
their shouts of praise. Again in this
first letter, John uses language to
appeal to the imaginations of those
who would read this letter. He asks
them to think about the love God lavishes
on them in order for them to better
“see” who they really
are: the children of God. By seeing
this more clearly, they will then
model their lives more closely on
Christ’s in order to come one
day into the fullness of reality in
heaven.
The Gospel ties all
this together beautifully by opening
with three simple yet powerful words:
“seeing the crowds”. By
“seeing”, Matthew means
that Jesus looks at them with compassion
and insight. He sees into their hearts
and he recognizes the need they have
for encouragement and hope. He also
wants them - and by extension, us
- to recognize that blessedness belongs
to those who are faithful in the ordinary
circumstances of their everyday lives.
Blessedness is part and parcel of
the lives of those who are humble,
gentle, compassionate, just, merciful,
generous, peaceful and willing to
sacrifice for the good of others.
This is the path to sanctity.
(Fr Tom Cahill,
Intercom)
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| Daily
Readings
You
can access the daily readings on the
parish website:
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Feast Days Of The Week
Sunday
1st Nov |
All
SaintsThe
ultimate object of veneration
of the saints is the glory of
God and the sanctification of
people by conforming one’s
life fully to the divine will
and by imitating the virtue
of those who were pre-eminent
disciples of the Lord. Our relationship
with the Saints must be seen
in light of the faith and should
not obscure the cultus latriae
due to God the Father through
Christ in the Holy Spirit, but
intensify it.
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Monday
2nd Nov |
All Souls Indeed the Church
in it pilgrim members, from
the very earliest days of
the Christian religion, has
honoured with great respect
the memory of the dead; and
“because it is a holy
and wholesome thought to pray
for the dead that they may
be loosed from their sins”
(2 Mac:12, 46) she offers
her suffrages for them.
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Tuesday
3rd Nov |
St
Malachy bishop,
was born near Armagh in 1094.
He introduced the Cistercians
and the Canons Regular into
Ireland. He died at Clairvaux,
in 1148.
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Wednesday
4th
Nov |
St
Charles Borromeo bishop,
1538-1584. he was Cardinal
Archbishop of Milan at the
age of twenty-one, worked
for reform in his diocese,
drafting the Catechism of
the Council of Trent. Patron
saint of catechists and seminarians.
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Friday
6th Nov |
All
the Saints of Ireland.
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SWINE
FLU
If
any one has flu-like symptoms they
should stay at home, seek advice from
their GP and not attend any church
liturgies, Mass, Baptisms, Funerals…
the obligation to attend Sunday Mass
does not apply in cases of sickness.
Sign of Peace
For the next 6 months, the Sign of Peace has been suspended.
Communion
In light of the present circumstances parishioners are asked to receive Holy Communion in the hand. This includes primary school children. Please note for the next 6 months, Holy Communion will be under the form of bread only.
Receiving Holy Communion in your hand.
When approaching the Priest place your right hand under the left hand, making a hollow or throne for the Eucharist. When the Priest says, “The Body of Christ”, answer “Amen”. Step to the right or left of the Priest. Then take the Eucharist from the hollow of your hand with your left hand and place it in your mouth immediately. |
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Choral Vespers
Choral
Vespers for All Saints Day will take
place in
St. Peter's Cathedral
on Sunday 1st November at 5.00pm.
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Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests
Monthly
prayer for the Sanctification of Priests
and Priestly Vocations for our Diocese,
which takes place on the
Wednesday of the first Friday week
of every month,
will be taking place on Wednesday
4th November
from 8.15 - 9.15 in St. Peters Cathedral.
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Lectio Divina Autumn/Advent
Christmas Programme 2009
A
time of prayer and reflection in preparation
for Christmas continues in the convent
on Tuesdays: Morning session: 10.40am
(after Mass) or Evening session: 7.00pm.
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Choice Weekend
If you are single (i.e. never been married before), aged between 20-45 and are keen to share your faith and life experiences with others in a friendly atmosphere, as well as making new friends, come along to our next Choice weekend at Drumalis on 7th and 8th November 2009. Faith and fun can go together.
Contact Drumalis 028 28272196 or 028 28276455 (during office hours only) or email: drumalis@btconnect.com
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Stress Control
There will be a Public Talk in
NICVA (Conference Room A)
61 Duncairn Gardens, North Belfast
on Monday, 2 November 2009 at 8.pm.
The talk is entitled
‘Stress Control’
and will be given by
Patrick Love
Senior Cognitive Behaviour Therapist, Belfast Trust.
Admission Free – all welcome.
For further information contact the Helpline of AWARE (Defeat Depression): 08451202961 or
Email: info@aware-ni.org or www.aware-ni.org.uk
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Sung Requiem Mass
Requiem Mass
in the Usus Antiquior of the Roman
Rite,
St Paul’s Church, Falls Road
on Saturday 7th November at 1pm.
Music by the Schola Gregoriana of
Belfast.
Everyone Welcome |
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Teenagers! What every Parent Has to
Know
Care for the Family
presents an evening with popular author
and speaker, Rob Parson. Come along
and get the inside track into understanding
teenagers. The event takes place in
Spires Conference Centre, Church House,
Wellington Street, Belfast on Tuesday
10th November at 7.30pm
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Catholic
Singles
Catholic
Singles is an organisation
which helps single, widowed, separated
and divorced Catholics of all ages
(over 18 years) meet, either
one to one or through social events.
All members receive a monthly bulletin,
called Catholic Networking. For more
information please tel. 0161 941 3498,
visit the website www.catholicsingles.org.uk
or email info@catholicsingles.org.uk
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Parish Radio
If you are interested please phone
028 9061 8590 or 028 9022 0961.
There are two models available which are marked to receive broadcasts from St Oliver Plunkett Church.
Model 1 costs £25 including VAT and batteries (short range). Model 2 costs £60 and is mains powered – no batteries required. This has a longer range and provides better quality which is more suitable for areas where there are electrical power lines nearby.
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FIRST
FRIDAY WEEK
Fr
Martin and Fr Andrew will visit the
sick of the parish in the following
areas:
Lenadoon
Avenue
Lenadoon Walk
Kerrykeel Gardens
Glencolin Drive
Glencolin Walk
Glencolin Close
Glencolin Park
Glencolin Manor
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Children
in Crossfire
Children in
Crossfire are recruiting enthusiastic
individuals to participate in the
Barcelona Half Marathon in February
2010 and Cycle Vietnam in April 2010.
A registration fee is requested and
minimum sponsorship applies.
If you are
interested in either of these challenges,
please
contact Sarah on 028 7126 9898
or email: events@childrenincrossfire.org
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Mass Times
Saturday Vigil – 6.30pm
Sunday – 10.00am + 12 Noon
Monday – Thursday – 10.00am
Friday – 7.30pm
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| Baptisms
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The next available date for Baptisms is
the 15th November. The next pre-Baptism
instruction will be on 5th November 2009
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 90618180, Mon & Wed
2pm-5pm, Tue, Thurs & Fri 10am-2pm.
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| We
Loved Them In Life
We offer
our sympathy and prayerful support to the
families of those parishioners who died
recently:
We
pray for the happy repose of those whose
anniversaries occur around this time:
Brendan Fitzsimons
Thomas and Kathleen Mullan
Aloysius and Sarah O’Neill
Mary O’Neill
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| Collections
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The offertory collection
amounted to £1,188.19
The second collection
this week is the Monthly Stipend in support
of the priests of the parish.
Thanks to all
those who give so generously to the Parish
collections.
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