|
Twenty-first Sunday In Ordinary Time
It seems like nothing is going right these days. Our ecological system is tangibly deteriorating and directly impacting our busy lives. Our financial stability has faltered and is denying people employment and the comforts of life. Our political history has been revealed to be one marred with corruption and lies. Our church structures too have been shown to be disfigured and sinful. The Psalmist today had also ‘suffered distress and anguish’. He says ‘ I kept my faith, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”: I said in my consternation, “everyone is a liar”.’ But God is not a liar. It is not on these human things, then, that we hope. It is in Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life.
Like Isaiah, we are being led from exile to a glorified Jerusalem. The way is difficult. Life is difficult. Life is lethal. We cannot get out of it alive! These times are the path to the narrow door, an opportunity to reveal God to others by example and joy despite the difficulties around us. St Paul urges us in these difficult times to lift our drooping heads and strengthen our weak knees. We are a people of hope with reason to be optimistic. Especially in Ireland, our ancestors struggled through famine, poverty and civil strife and maintained a rigid faith. This is our heritage and this is what we are made of. Abraham, our father in faith, trusted God so much that he was willing to sacrifice his only son Isaac. Jesus tells us that they both now, along with Jacob and the prophets, have places reserved for them at the banquet in the Kingdom of God. These present troubles are not the things by which we should identify ourselves. Rather, we are beloved children, suffering patiently the chastisement of our creator, who waits at the narrow door, who sees the path we tread and recognises the place from which we come.
Fr Tom Cahill, Intercom |
|
|
|
 |
| DAILY READINGS
You
can access the daily readings on the
parish website:
|
|
|
|
|
A Twelve-week programme of Adult Faith Development
“Our Faith is not a theory but an event,
an encounter with the living God”. Benedict XVI
Why not join us in St Mary’s University College?
20th September – 13thDecember 2010
Topics include:
Contact Claire Dowds 028 9049 2777 or email familyministry.dc@btconnect.com
|
|
|
|
|
Papal Visit To Scotland
One day pilgrimage to the Papal Mass
Glasgow September 16th.
Organised by the Knights of St Columbanus on behalf of the diocese
Down and Connor has been offered a number of tickets for the Mass with Pope Benedict XVI in Glasgow on Thursday September 16th.
A number of coaches will travel to the Mass from the diocese. The total cost of the one day trip will be £60 (covering coach travel, ferry crossing and the £20 contribution to defray the costs of the Papal event).
Pilgrims will travel on September 16th with a 7.30am ferry and return on a late night crossing.
Anyone over 18 who is interested in travelling should contact one of the following individuals by Wednesday August 25th. Places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
|
|
|
|
|
Attention Ministers of the Word
and Ministers of the Eucharist
Rotas available for September can be collected from the sacristy
click here for Ministers of the Word rota
click here for Ministers of the Eucharist rota
|
|
|
|
|
Conway Education Centre
Open Week 23 – 27 August
Taster sessions, course information and enrolment!
Monday/Thursday/Friday 10am – 5pm
Tuesday/Wednesday 10am – 9pm
|
|
|
|
|
Workforce Training Services
Workforce Training Services are having an
Open Day for School Leavers
on Thursday 26th August 2010
at 88/120 Springfield Road, Belfast between 9.00am-6.00pm.
Call in to view the premises and meet the staff
to discuss what careers are on offer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Enrich your Marriage
Marriage Encounter is a weekend away (Friday 8pm to Sunday 5pm) for married couples of all ages with a stable relationship. Couples explore, in complete privacy, how to come to a deeper, mutual understanding of each other.
Next weekend: 24-26 September 2010 - Dromantine Conference Centre, Newry. Tel 028276 38512 or www.marriageencounter.ie for details.
Engaged Encounter is a Church approved Marriage preparation course presented by married couples and a priest for couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage.
Next weekend: 16-17 October 2010 - Dromantine Conference Centre, Newry. Tel 02879 300340 or
email mail@strategia.co.uk
www.marriageencounter.ie for details. |
|
|
|
|
|
Annual Report (2009)
from Finance Committee to Parishioners
A number of people have indicated they have not received a copy of the annual finance report, for those who didn’t and would like one; additional copies are available in both porches.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Special Collection for Pakistan
There will be a special All Ireland Collection
taken up on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd August
for the suffering people in Pakistan.
Further details to follow.
|
|
|
|
|
EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place each Friday at 7pm-7.25 pm followed by evening Mass at 7.30pm.
|
|
|
|
|
Please Note!
Mass Intentions,
Anniversary Masses, Baptisms, and
Marriages are to be arranged through
the Parish Office
on Tel: 9061 8180 during the office
hours
of 9am - 5pm Monday - Friday
|
|
|
|
|
Gift Aid Donations
The priests of the parish and the parish Finance Committee sincerely thank all those Parishioners who signed up to the Gift Aid Scheme.
By choosing to Gift Aid your donation the Parish can reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 given by you through the offertory envelope collections.
Thank you for your continued generosity and support.If you haven’t already gift aided your donations to the parish and would like to do so
please contact the parish office 9061 8180 between the office hours 9am - 5pm Monday - Friday.
|
|
|
|
|
Reflexology: Theraputix Course
Reflexology Practitioners Diploma Course
St Brides Hall Belfast September 2010
30 weeks term time 6pm - 9pm Friday evenings.
Contact Sharon McCaffrey mobile 078 8880 4328 for details.
|
|
|
|
|
Catholic Singles
An organization which helps single, widowed, separated and divorced Catholics of all ages (over 18 years) meet, either one to one or through social events.
For more information phone 0161 941 3498,
visit www.catholicsingles.org.uk
or email info@catholicsingles.org.uk
|
|
|
|
|
Mass Times
Saturday
Vigil 6.30pm
Sunday 10.00am and 12 Noon
Monday-Thursday 10.00am
Friday 7.30pm
|
|
|
|
|
| Baptisms
|
Next available date for baptism is Sunday 19th September 2010 at 1.30pm. The next pre-Baptism instruction will be on Thursday 9th September 2010 at 8pm in the convent.
It is necessary to attend pre-Baptism preparation before asking to have your child baptised. To arrange a Baptism and to book a place on the pre-Baptism instruction course please contact the parish office 9061 8180 Monday to Friday 9.00am-5.00pm.
|
|
|
Newly Baptised
We welcome into our parish family
Bradan Patrick Anderson
Daniel Patrick Clarke-Brown
Emily Morgan Higgins
Tony Robert Harry McDonnell-Holland
Martin Joseph McIlwaine
who were recently baptised.
|
| |
|
|
|
| We
Loved Them In Life
|
We offer
our prayerful support to the family of those
who died recently:
We
pray for the happy repose of those whose
anniversaries occur around this time:
|
John Dickey
Bridget and Freddy Bowman
Brenda McCann
Joseph McKnight
Bridget, William, Roseleen and Sadie Mason
Esther Murphy
|
|
|
|
|
| Collections
 |
Last week's Offertory Collection amounted to £660.00
Last week's Diocesan Care Home Collection
amounted to £828.00
There will be a second collection this week for the Pakistan Appeal.
BIBLE ALIVE
September’s edition now available from sacristy, price £1.95
OFFERTORY ENVELOPES
If anyone has not received a box of offertory envelopes please contact the parish office 90 618180 between the office hours 9am - 5pm Monday-Friday.
Gift Aid Donations
The priests of the parish and the parish Finance Committee sincerely thank all those Parishioners who signed up to the Gift Aid Scheme. By choosing to Gift Aid your donation the Parish can reclaim 28p of tax on every £1 given by you through the offertory envelope collections. Thank you for your continued generosity and support. If you haven’t already gift aided your donations to the parish and would like to do so please contact the parish office 9061 8180 between the office hours 9am - 5pm Monday - Friday or pick up a leaflet from the church porch.
Thanks to all
those who gave so generously to the Parish collections
|
|
|
|
| Back
to top |
