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Twenty-second Sunday In Ordinary Time
God is a God of contradictions. In the First Reading, those who receive gifts in abundance are required to be humble in abundance. St Paul says that the high drama of the Old Testament which depicts the history of the salvation of God’s people is nothing compared to the sprinkling of Jesus’ blood. Jesus is our mediator and our definitive means of salvation, the final covenant. In the Gospel, we are told to find exaltation in strangers and those less revered in society. It is pretty confusing stuff! But moreover, it is not an easy teaching.
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus explains that we need no further reward than the one we are receiving. We live in the promise of the resurrection. We live as though it has happened already because by the mark of our baptism, we are numbered along those who are saved. We visibly belong to Christ. This too is a contradiction. We are living the lives of resurrected people while we look forward to it.
Today’s psalmist echoes this concept. He sings a song of praise, calling for all nations to join him in praise of God. The psalm opens with ‘May God be gracious to us and bless us, and make his face to shine upon us’. We have everything we require in this life. God has blessed the earth so that everyone should have plenty. He also blessed the earth with opportunity. This is why the psalmist sings, ‘the earth has yielded its increase…God has blessed us’. Our task is to gather the poor, the crippled whose journey towards the Kingdom is made with broken feet, the lame who lose their way and the blind who do not see God. And in gathering them, we too pray with the psalmist that the way of the Lord be known upon the earth. Because what we see as a contradiction makes perfect sense to God!
Fr Tom Cahill, Intercom |
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| DAILY READINGS
You
can access the daily readings on the
parish website:
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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
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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.
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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
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Ranganna Gaeilge – Irish Language Classes.
Teach Mhic Reachtain, 156 Antrim Rd.
Week Commencing 6 September 2010
MON 7.00 – 9.00pm: Beginners
Advanced Grammar
TUES 7.00 – 9.00pm: Medium Past Pupils
WED 7.00 – 9.00pm: Beginners
Intermediate Level
Advanced Literature
Enjoy tea and coffee mornings Mon, Wed and Fri 10:30am – 12pm through Irish too!
For more information contact Niall – 028 9074 9680
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Cantiunculae Choir’s 21 years celebration
The Cantiunculae choir is celebrating their twenty first year in existence by performing a concert on Sunday 12th September at 7:30pm in St Thomas’ Parish Church (corner of Lisburn road). Tickets available from Fr McCann – 028 2582 1218 or at the door priced £10 (£6 concessions).
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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. |
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Pilgrimage To Knock
Luxury return travel by coach to Knock, Saturday 25th September 2010. Price £130 per person to include: one night accommodation at the Knock House Hotel (£25 single room supplement), 2 course lunch at the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen on Saturday and High Tea at the Knock House Hotel on Saturday evening. Bed, breakfast and Sunday lunch at Knock House Hotel and High Tea at the Killhevlin Hotel.
Pick up: Saturday 25th September at 10am, St Oliver Plunkett Church. For more information or to book a place phone Marie 028 9030 6930, 10am-4pm Monday to Friday. |
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Finance Report 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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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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 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.
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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.
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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:
We
pray for the happy repose of those whose
anniversaries occur around this time:
Special Intentions
We also offer our prayers up for the special intentions of those in our parish, including prayers for:
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| Collections
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Last week's Offertory Collection amounted to £1269.55
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
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