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EASTER SUNDAY
On approaching the tomb in the still darkness of pre-dawn, it seems that Mary Magdalene’s thoughts were centred on a stone to be rolled away. It was all she had eyes for as it were. Nor did she seem to check on whether the tomb was empty or whether the body of her Beloved Lord was still there. “We don’t know where they have laid him” was her desolate message to the disciples.
In reflecting on my own experience I can recall many stones that needed to be rolled away. I cite one example of a relationship with a person with whom I was living in close quarters. I needed her friendship I thought. I had to get that relationship working! All my thoughts were concentrated on the stone that had to be rolled away. After much frustrating activity and indeed a certain amount of pain, I discovered that my happiness did not indeed depend on that person’s friendship. “My yoke is easy and my burden light”! God does not ask the impossible! Self created stones can be eliminated! Now I tend to set my eyes on Jesus and then everything falls into place!
Whilst all this was happening for Mary (and perhaps other women) Peter and the Beloved Disciples were shut in, possibly keeping a safe distance from the authorities. At the first inkling of hope he was off to the tomb – both were! What a relief it was to find the clothes and the cloth that had been around the head! As yet Jesus had not poured out the Spirit so they were slow to understand. It does seem that John was the first to get a flash of understanding of the Resurrection. He saw and believed!
Faith in the Resurrection is of primary importance for the followers of Jesus. What a pity it is that at the first sign of storms we Christians are too inclined to “return home” to betake ourselves to our comfort zones, to disappear off the scene! Yet the Psalmist urges us:
Praise the Lord all you nations, extol Him all you peoples;
for great is His steadfast love towards us.
And the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever!
Holy Week
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Mon, Tues & Wed 7am & 10am
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Tuesday
30th March
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Penitential Service at 7.30pm |
Holy Thursday
1st April |
No morning Mass in the parish. Chrism Mass in St Peter’s Cathedral at 11am. Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7.30pm followed by Procession of the Blessed Sacrament will then take place until night prayer at 10.30pm
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Good Friday
2nd April |
No morning ceremonies. The Solemn Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion with Veneration of the Cross and Holy Communion at 3pm. Station of the Cross at 7.30pm
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Holy Saturday
3rd April |
Confessions: 12.00-1.00pm. The Easter vigil and Mass of the Resurrection begins at 9pm. (No other Mass in the church today)
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Easter Sunday
4th April |
Masses at 10am and 12noon |
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Readings
You
can access the daily readings on the
parish website:
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Easter Holidays
Please note that the Parish office will be closed from Monday 5th to Friday 9th April, re-opening Monday 12th April. There will be no bulletin that weekend.
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Blood Transfusion Service
The next blood donation session will be held in St Michael’s Parish Centre on Friday 9th April 2-4.30pm and 5.45-8pm.
New donors always welcome.
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Rathmore Grammar School Reunion 2010
The Class of 1978-1985 are having a reunion on Friday 9th April 2010 in Belfast Boat/Tennis Club, Stranmillis (80s music and a buffet supper). All proceeds will be donated to the Northern Ireland Cancer fund for Children. To register online and for further information go to www.rathmorereunion2010.co.uk
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Matt Talbot Pilgrimage
The Pioneer Association has organized a pilgrimage to the shrine of the Venerable Matt Talbot on Saturday 10th April. The bus picks up locally at approx. 8am, cost £12. Mass at the Shrine. Free afternoon in Dublin. For enquiries and booking phone Anne 9061 5461 or Josephine 9061 7116.
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Feast of Divine Mercy
The Feast of Divine Mercy will be celebrated in St. Peter’s Cathedral, Falls Road, on Sunday 11th April commencing at 2.30pm. The rosary will be followed by the Divine Mercy Chaplet and Holy Mass. Confessions available. |
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Making Sense of your Money
A free 6 week course commencing Tuesday 12th April, 7-9pm at Intercomm, 290 Antrim Road, Belfast.
For further information contact Patricia Brady 9035 2165.
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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 31st March from 8.15 – 9.15pm in St Peter’s Cathedral.
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St. Agnes’ Choral Society
Award Winning, St. Agnes’ Choral Society will take to the stage with their energetic Hot Mikado in the Opera House from Tuesday 13th April to Saturday 17th April 2010. To book tickets call 90 241919 or go on line www.goh.co.uk
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A Word Of Thanks
Thank-You to St Oliver Plunkett Nursery School
for the donation of £100
for the parish’s Trócaire Lenten Collection.
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West Belfast Historical Society
A meeting of the West Belfast Historical Society will take place on Friday 16th April in the Colin Glen Trust premises, Stewartstown Road. Clive Scoular will give a talk on the “Freemantle Mission”. All Welcome. (Admission Free)
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Liturgy Day
Brother Gregory Collins OSB former Parishioner and now a Monk in Glenstall Abbey writer and commentator, will lead a Liturgy day in St Agnes’ Parish Centre Andersonstown Road on Saturday 17th April 2010 from 10.00am – 4.00pm. This day will be especially helpful to Ministers of the Word and Ministers of the Eucharist, musicians and sacristans. Everyone else is welcome please bring a packed lunch, there will be no cost.
To register please contact the parish office Monday – Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm
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Parish Retreat, Drumalis
A weekend to Drumalis Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th April the bus will be leaving the church at 2.30pm Saturday and returning Sunday 7.00pm.
For more detail contact Eilish: 9059 7082
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Belfast Pioneer Region Annual Mass
Mass will take place in St Patrick’s Church, Donegall Street, Belfast, on 23rd April at 7pm. Main Celebrant and Preacher,
Fr Ciaran Dallat.
Refreshments afterwards in St Kevin’s Hall, North Queen Street. Contact 9032 2744 for more information.
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Trócaire Boxes
Reminder for Trócaire Boxes to be returned to the church.
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Mass Times
Saturday
Vigil 6.30pm
Sunday 10.00am and 12 Noon
Monday-Thursday 10.00am
Friday 7.30pm
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| Baptisms
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Next baptisms will take place on Sunday 18th April 2010 at 1.30pm. The next pre-Baptism instruction will be on Thursday 8th April 2010 at 8pm in the convent.
It is necessary to attend pre-Baptism preparation before asking to have your child baptised. The next available date for Baptism is Sunday 2nd May. To register for pre-Baptism preparation please contact the parish office 9061 8180 Monday to Friday 9.00am-5.00pm
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Newly Baptised
We welcome into our parish family
Kacey and Katie Glennon
Ben Christopher McGrillen McHugh
Patrick Paul Murphy
who were recently baptised.
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| We
Loved Them In Life
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We offer
our prayerful support to the family of those
who died recently:
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Brendan McIlveen, Lenadoon Avenue
Mary Rice, Stewartstown Avenue |
We
pray for the happy repose of those whose
anniversaries occur around this time:
Declan Adams
Mary and Jack Lappin
Albert Beales
Annie McStravick
Eileen McCann (Month’s Mind) |
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| Collections
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The offertory collection
amounted to £980.65
There will be a collection on Good Friday for Catholics in the Holy Land.
Last week’s collection for Needy Parishes
amounted to £716.57
The Project Zambia collection
amounted to £1495
The second collection today is the monthly stipend for the support of the priests of the parish.
Bible Alive
Bible Alive for April is now on sale, price, £1.
Thanks to all
those who gave to the Parish collections.
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