Parish of Ardkeen. 18 th Sunday of the Year 31 st July 2016

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1 July Draw of the Parish Silver Circle will take place this Sunday 31 st July after the 11.00am Mass. Anyone paying monthly/bi-monthly please leave your subscription into the Parochial House or on the collection basket at the weekend Masses. Jim Deeds will launch his latest book, Surfing Life s Waves, at St. Oliver Plunkett Parish during Féile an Phobail. Jim works for Living Church and is at the forefront of building lay involvement in the Catholic Church today. The book is written simply and is for anyone who is curious about life and the purpose to our existence. The event will start at 7.00pm on Monday 8 th August in St. Oliver Plunkett Parish Hall, Glenveagh Drive. There will be readings, poetry, songs and a question and answer session. The Living Rosary in The Parish of Ardkeen Many thanks to those who have signed up for a daily decade of the Living Rosary - there are still plenty of yellow spaces left - it takes less than 5 minutes to say your decade. Please consider putting your name forward. What Is The Living Rosary? The Association of the Living Rosary was founded in Lyons, France by Venerable Pauline Jaricot in From the beginning the Living Rosary had clerical approval, the Archbishop of Lyons gave his approval and Pope Leo XII orally blessed the Living Rosary in The Living Rosary is a method adopted for praying the Rosary in which the twenty Mysteries are said between 20 people; one Mystery to each person. The precious devotion should be practised every day, members meditating on their personal Mystery while saying their decade (one Our Father, ten Hail Mary and one Glory Be ). The members, united spiritually, form with their hearts, a Living Rose in the flourishing field of Our Lady s Rosary Garden. We are asking for more Parishioners to join our Living Rosary to try to build it up for the month of October - the month of the Holy Rosary. Our Lady of Fatima is crying out for the Rosary to be recited and by joining the Living Rosary; you will be uniting with other members of the Parish in offering up complete decades of the Rosary each and every day. Thank you to those who have put their names forward! At the Church doors, there is a sheet with the names of those who have already signed up - check if your name is there. You may write your name (please complete the gaps first) against one of the Mysteries. Then all you have to do is to spend a few minutes reciting your Decade each and every day, at any time or place, meditating on your Personal Mystery. 2 nd Joyful Mystery: The Visitation The Blessed Virgin, bearing Jesus in her womb, make the long journey to AIN KARIN, in order to be with her cousin Elizabeth until the birth of the last of the Prophets, John the Baptist. Mary thanks GOD in her inspired song - the Magnificat. 2 nd Sorrowful Mystery: The Scourging of Jesus at the Pillar Jesus is so cruelly scourged by soldiers that His sacred body becomes like an open wound. Here He reminds us of the need for constant self-denial to make atonement for the sins of impurity in a permissive world; all is vanity except to love God and do His will. 2 nd Glorious Mystery: The Ascension of Our Lord into Heaven As Our Saviour returns to the Eternal Father, He give this Commission to His chosen Apostles and their Successors. "Go, teach all nations, baptising them and instructing them to keep all that I have commanded. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of Time." Pius XI used to say; "The future is in GOD's hands; we are in very safe hands." Provided we persevere faithfully. 2 nd Mystery of Light: The Wedding at Cana Christ changes water into wine and opens the hearts of the disciples to faith, thanks to the intervention of Mary, the first among believers. Mary Queen of the Rosary, pray for us. Parish of Ardkeen Fr Patrick Neeson, Parish Priest (028) info@parishofardkeen.co.uk Parish of Ardkeen Fr Mulholland PP Portaferry and Ballygalget " 18 th Sunday of the Year 31 st July 2016 "Fool. This very night the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?" So it is when a man stores up treasure for himself in place of making himself rich in the sight of God. Mass Times next week (w/b 1 st Aug) Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at 9.00am Tuesday and Friday (Novena) at 7.30pm Saturday Vigil at 6.30pm and Sunday Masses at 9.00am and 11.00am. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament Friday 7.00pm pm Sacrament of Reconciliation Saturday 5.45pm pm. First Friday 7pm pm New SVP Helpline No: Bulletin Notices: please call or news@parishofardkeen.co.uk Items for the bulletin must be in by Thursday morning at the very latest.

2 Our prayers are requested for: Month's Mind: Charlie Strong Anniversaries: Andrew Ibbotson, Eileen McNamara, Sheila Gilmore, John Paul, Vincent White, Minnie O'Neill, Gerard Coulter, Victoria Hemphill, Agnes McNamara, Hughie McNamara, Jack, Patrick, Teresa and Thomas Leddy, Thomas Mulholland, Gerry Fitzsimmons, Brian Churchman, John Dickson, John Flynn, May Bailie Peggy Cowan, Geraldine McGrattan, Eileen Dorrian, Paddy Rogan, Pearl Mageean, Brian Mills, Rose Murphy, Margaret McNamara, Tommy Conlon, Jean Gilmore, Mary Moore, Lily McKeating, Samuel Eccles, Martin Coleman, Peggy McAvera and all those whose anniversaries occur at this time. We remember those who have no one to pray for them. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen. MONEY MATTERS Last week's Offerings amounted to Thank you all sincerely for your continued support. Sanctuary Lamp Intentions (SL) Gerald Coulter deceased (SH) Special Intention MS (OL) For the Holy Souls If you wish to put forward an intention for one of the lamps, please call into the Sacristy after Mass. Suggested offering 5. First Friday Visits: The sick and housebound will be attended this coming week. Please note the visits to Kircubbin and Greyabbey will take place on Thursday morning and the country area will be done on Friday morning. If you are related to or visiting someone who is housebound, please inform them of the priest's visit. Sale of Blackhall Street: The Sale of Blackhall Street has finally been completed with 71, being credited to the Parish Building Fund. Preliminary Notice - Family Ceili August Bank Holiday A Family Ceili will be held on Sunday 28 th August in McKenna Hall, McKenna Road. Dancing from 8pm - 11pm. More details later. St Joseph's Ballycran GAA Club News Club Lottery: Sun 24 th July. Numbers selected 4, 12 and 24. Jackpot not won. 10 to Masterson grandchildren, Joe Hoeritzauer, Seán Mallon and Seán McGourty. Jackpot this week: Pub Quiz: Ballycran Juvenile Committee is having a quiz in The Mermaid on Friday 29 th July commencing at 8.30pm. Proceeds in aid of the trip to Croke Park on 7 th August. Visit Club Facebook Page St Joseph's Ballycran GAA Club St Mary's Primary School News - Tel Cash for Clobber Bin - please keep filling up the Clobber Bin over the summer holidays!! South African Orphanage - Cake Sale and Coffee Morning Sincere thanks to all who came along last Saturday morning to support Nicola Gilmore's Cake Sale and Coffee Morning. Nicola will travel to a South African Orphanage along with a group of pupils to carry out various charity work. The total raised from the Coffee morning was 560. Very many thanks! Jerry can Journey - Stand By Me Another one of our young parishioners, Hannah Braniff, is taking part in the National Citizen Service. They will be doing a sponsored walk for the charity "Stand By Me" - the walk will be from Bangor to Crawfordsburn on 4 th August and they will be carrying jerry cans filled with water to replicate the daily journey of many young people in third world countries to collect water which is usually unsafe to drink. If you wish to donate to this walk you can go online and donate to Portaferry Twilight Walk - Cancer Research UK Join us on our 5km Twilight Walk along the shores of Strangford Lough as the sun goes down and help us to beat cancer sooner. Starts off from the Portaferry Hotel at 7.30pm on Friday 9 th September To register and for more information you can visit registration fee. Or contact allisonmurphy478@gmail.com. The Annual Apostolic Work Collection: The Annual Apostolic Work collection will take place after Masses on the weekend July 30 th and 31 st. Your support is as always much needed and greatly appreciated. (Those who make donations by cheque, please note banks now only accept cheques made payable to "Apostolic Work"). "Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love". (Blessed Teresa of Calcutta.) Holy Year of Mercy on Lough Derg. Down and Connor One Day Retreat on Lough Derg will take place on Wednesday, 24 th August Arrival 10.00am - Departure 4.15pm. Cost is 32 per pilgrim. Jacinta Crockford, Holywood Parish, has agreed to organise a bus for the Pastoral Community. More details to follow. Can you give a little of your time to the church once a week/month? There are various areas in the church where your help would be very much appreciated and welcomed: for example becoming a Minister of the Word (5 mins during Mass every 4 th /5 th week), helping to clean the church (1 hour every 4 th week), joining any of the choirs (during Mass and perhaps 15 mins practice afterwards) etc. If you would like to help out in any area please give your name to Fr Neeson or contact Parish Office and leave a message. We particularly need more members to help clean the church - just one hour a month!! Altar Servers: We need to recruit more altar servers. If your child has made his/her First Communion then they are eligible to serve on the altar (P5 upwards). Please talk this over with your child and ask them to consider serving on the altar - it's a privilege to do so. We are particularly looking for altar servers for the 9am Sunday Mass. YEAR OF MERCY SPECIAL PILGRIMAGE TO POLAND Pilgrimage to Krakow Poland for this Extraordinary Year of Mercy from Sunday 23 rd to Thursday 27 th October Visits include: The Divine Mercy Sanctuary of St Faustina, The birthplace of St John Paul II in Wadowice, The shrine to Our Lady Queen of Poland in Czestochowa, The St John Paul Centre: Do not be afraid And many other places near and around Krakow- optional visits to Auschwitz and Wieliczka Salt Mines UNESCO World Heritage Site. We stay in Matejko Hotel (4 star B&B) in heart of Krakow. Booking direct through Travellers Secrets Warrenpoint, (Joanne Hardy) tel For further information and details regarding full programme please contact: Jerome Mullen jerome@seafields.co.uk mob or Fr Mario Jachym jachym34@gmail.com mob Organised by St Peter s Clonallon (Warrenpoint) Parish Council Faith & Life Convention The diocese will host the 3 rd Faith & Life Convention on Saturday 24 th September. The Convention is a forum for people from across the diocese, and beyond, to gather together and to take part in a range of conversations about the meaning of faith and its relevance to every area of our lives. This year we will focus on the theme Faith in a world in need of Mercy. Our keynote speaker will be Sarah Teather, Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service and former MP and we have a selection of 23 workshops available in the afternoon. A crèche facility will be available for children aged 0-4 and there are free passes for young people aged Online Booking is now available and we would encourage you to book early and avail of our early bird rate of 20 ( 25 after 15 th August) and to select your workshops which are booked on a first come first served basis.

3 Visit our Parish website and view the recent events Also visit our Facebook Page - Parish of Ardkeen for daily reflections and news - updated every day. Medjugorje Irish Centre Pilgrimages: Airport Transport Dubrovnik or Split and 7 nights. Apartment B&B 205. Tel or reservations@med-irishcentre.com. Call for flight info. MEDJUGORJE: IRELAND: reservations@med-irishcentre.com. WEBSITE: The Society of St Vincent de Paul - Clare Lodge Centre - A centre for well being Situated at 3 Castle Place Newcastle, County Down, Clare Lodge is more than just a holiday centre, it is a haven of peace and tranquillity for those who need a break from the pressures of day to day life, or to enjoy a relaxing stay by the sea. One of the few holiday centres to be opened all year round, Clare Lodge can accommodate 42 guests in 18 en suite bedrooms all with tea and coffee making facilities, free internet access and flat screen televisions. Together with a large dining hall, comfortable lounge and an outside seating area, this is a modern, spacious centre. All rooms are wheelchair accessible with a lift for ease of access. We can offer week long breaks, Sunday to Saturday as well as midweek and weekends on a full board basis which includes, breakfast, lunch, evening meal and light supper. Bed and breakfast and tailored options are also available. For further information contact any member of your local St. Vincent de Paul Conference or directly to Clare Lodge on Pilates with Bernie. Kircubbin Integrated PS, Wednesday 6.30pm pm. No classes 29 th June, 6 th /13 th July. Portaferry Com Centre, classes finish on Thursday 16 th June, recommence Thur 8 th Sept. Ballyphilip Church of Ireland. New Pilates course commencing Friday 12 th August - 30 th Sept at 9.30am. 7 weeks 35. Contact Bernie on The next Hospital Visitors' Training Course, run in partnership by the NI Healthcare Chaplains' Association and Edgehill College, will commence on Thurs 29th Sept from pm at Edgehill College, Belfast. The course will run until 8th December with half-term break 3rd Nov. For further information and an application form contact: Mrs Kay Irvine, College Administrator, Edgehill Theological College, 9 Lennoxvale, Belfast BT9 5BY kirvine@edgehillcollege.org Tel. (028) Family Care Adoption Society is presently seeking to recruit adoptive families for babies and young children. For more information please contact us at: Telephone: or Monday to Friday 9.00am 1.00pm. @familycaresociety.org Website: Bethany Bereavement Support Group is a parish based group ministry which aims to help those bereaved and grieving. Support is offered on an individual basis in the home, to groups in drop-in centres, by phone calls, by helping at funeral liturgies etc. For more information or to register interest in the next Training Course which begins in September 2016 and will take place in the Good Shepherd Centre, please contact Claire Dowds, Good Shepherd Centre, 511 Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 3GS. ( , or bethanybereavementni@gmail.com Never be ashamed of your faith - no matter what religion you follow, Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian, Methodist, Elim, Pentecostal etc - we are all worshipping the same loving God. Pray to Him and tell Him what you need. Pray for the sick of the Parish and community - there are many people in our pastoral community who need prayers for physical, mental and spiritual issues - some issues that we can't see. Sometimes when you are sick, it is hard to pray for yourself - that's where we, the Parish, come in. An extra Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be or an invocation will help us know that we are helping someone in need. Our Lady Health of the Sick, pray for us. Jubilee of Mercy Every particular church will be directly involved in living out this Holy Year as an extraordinary moment of grace and spiritual renewal. Pope Francis, The Year of Mercy. A Holy Year also known as a Jubilee is to be celebrated by Catholics worldwide from 8 th December 2015, to 20 th November In the Roman Catholic tradition, a Holy Year is a great religious event, observed and celebrated by millions of Catholics across the world. The tradition has its origins in the Book of Leviticus in the Old Testament. A Jubilee was described as a special celebration each 50 years when slaves were set free and debts forgiven. In modern times, the Pope calls a Holy Year every 25 years as a unique time for all Catholics to find spiritual renewal in prayer, pilgrimage, the forgiveness of sins and the gaining of special indulgences. From time to time, the Pope may call an Extraordinary Jubilee, which is a Holy Year outside of the normal quarter century cycle, to mark an important event or anniversary in the Church s history. Pope Francis has called an Extraordinary Jubilee to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vatican Council II. The theme of Pope Francis Extraordinary Jubilee is Mercy. The Pope wants the whole Church to be reawakened to Mercy, which in the context of Christian teachings, refers to concepts such as forgiveness, healing, hope and compassion for all fellow human beings. Pope Francis has called for a revolution of tenderness in the Church through a renewed focus on these values. All Catholics are called to spend the Year of Mercy celebrating not only the compassion and forgiveness of God but also increasing their own understanding and capacity for compassion and forgiveness, in all of their thoughts and deeds. OTHER NOTICES MEDJUGORJE st July 7 th August 2016 (Youth Festival) PLUS FURTHER DATES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR Guide will be with group throughout; All airport and local taxes; Travel insurance included. Flying from Belfast International Airport. COST STG Single room supplement is EXTRA deposit secures a seat! For further details contact: Reggie Donnelly or Jean Reynolds or jeanreynolds@hotmail.co.uk 2016 CENTENARY OF THE ANGEL OF FATIMA.

4 Pilgrimage to Fatima & Santiago de Compostela. 9 th - 18 th August Nights H/B Los Abetos Hotel Santiago, 6 Nights F/B Hotel Avenida Fatima, visiting Pontevedra, Tuy & Balasar. Spiritual Directors Fr Gerry McCloskey and Fr Sean Gilmore. Special Group price 709 inclusive of tax & insurance. For further details contact Joe Catney or Early booking advisable, deposit secures. ADOPTERS NEEDED NOW Family Care Adoption Services is presently seeking families who would be interested in adopting children aged between 2-6 years and who need the love and attention of a caring and understanding family. Could this be you? If you would like to find out more please contact Family Care Adoption Services on: Belfast: or Derry: @familycaresociety.org Website: FOSTERING AND THE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY Could you help a child in need? Northern Ireland is currently experiencing a severe shortage of Foster Carers, and particularly carers from the Catholic Community. Kindercare Fostering is a not for-profit organisation which works to find safe, secure and loving homes for children and young people in need in Northern Ireland. We need Foster Carers in your area! If you would be interested in finding out more about Fostering, please contact Gillian on , Gillian.devlin@kindercare.co.uk or check us out at WARM HOMES SCHEME Make your home warmer and reduce energy costs Grant schemes offering insulation and possibly new central heating at no cost are available, if you own or privately rent your home and meet qualifying criteria. For more information or independent advice on reducing energy costs call Bryson Energy on / and quote Health Routes FRIENDS IN FAITH GROUP- Clonard- Open to new members! Are you in your 30 s, 40 s +plus / Interested in making new friends / living & sharing your faith together / participating in various Spiritual/Social events. Why not come and see for yourself, you would be very welcome at Clonard. Simply register now by ing your name/and contact details to faithtogether@clonard.com or text your name to and we will be in touch. PRAXIS CARE BEFRIENDING NEEDS VOLUNTEERS COULD YOU HELP? Befriending provides one to one support and companionship to people who are feeling isolated or lonely as a result of their mental ill health. Volunteer Befrienders get involved with everyday activities with their Praxis Care friend: Going for a walk Meeting for a coffee Going to the cinema or a local event Shopping Playing sport Volunteers build friendships which have a lasting positive impact, make a huge difference to the lives of the adults they are matched with, reducing isolation, giving their time, sense of enthusiasm and energy. Could you get involved? Donating even an hour or two of your time will make a real difference to someone in your local community who feels isolated and lonely. To find out more, get a volunteer application form or to speak to someone about the service, contact Catherine on: Telephone: / volunteering@praxiscare.org.uk Online: AGE NI ADVICE SERVICE If an older person you know needs advice, information or practical support on a wide range of issues including welfare benefits, community care, housing and health, contact the Age NI Advice Service on Freephone to speak to a specialist advisor in confidence. Our advisors can provide a free benefit check to ensure that older people are accessing the benefits they are entitled to. TUESDAY S CHILD is a catholic charity helping children and their families in areas of the world ravaged by war and extreme poverty. Everything we do is All Through Mary for the glory of the Infant Child. Tuesday s Child gives 100 percent of donations received and monies raised. When you donate online, both pay systems we use take a small % of your donation. Administration costs are covered by a private sponsor and gift aid received goes to our projects. We work directly with catholic missionaries in all project areas. Where monies are donated to projects run by missionary priests, we ask for masses to be celebrated in return for Ireland. Tuesday s Child gives 100 percent of donations received and monies raised. If you are donating online both pay systems take a small % of your donation. ACTION CANCERS SUPPORT SERVICES Counselling (for adults and children over the age of 5) counselling provides an opportunity to explore thoughts and feelings, to identify worries and concerns and to create self awareness and bring about change. Examples of therapies used include: Person Centred Counselling; Sandplay/art therapy; Thought Field Therapy and Emotional Freedom Technique Complementary therapies which include: reflexology, aromatherapy, relaxation techniques, Bach Flower remedies, gentle massage, Bowen and Emmett therapy. Acupuncture clinic acupuncture can help with pain and symptom control. One to one Coaching. A group focused Positive Living Programme this programme uses life coaching techniques to help people reflect, refocus, build coping skills and set personal goals to be able to move forward positively with life after a cancer diagnosis. For further information Tel or info@actioncancer.org or visit the website at THE EXPLOREAWAY PROGRAMME If you are single and between 21 and 40 years of age and feel you may have an interest in religious life and would like to share with others similar questions then ExploreAway aims to provide the input, support and accompaniment needed to help participants discern their call. The programme involves five residential weekends and one residential weekend retreat throughout the year, based in Dublin The weekends will provide input on vocation, discernment, prayer and religious life- its core values and the various ways it is lived. enquires@exploreaway.net or Tel or MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS AND CHANGE YOUR OWN LIFE FOREVER Since 1960, Viatores Christi has aimed to respond to needs overseas and at home by giving people an opportunity to share their lives and skills with those in need. People from all backgrounds and professions join VC - people who want to challenge themselves to make a difference in the world, however big or small. If you want to explore such a challenge, and you are interested in learning more colin@viatoreschristi.com call or visithttp://viatoreschristi.com/events/

5 SERVING AFRICA THROUGH OLD COMPUTERS Camara are a Local Charity based in Unit 10, Townsend Enterprise Park. Belfast BT13 2ES, who take old computers, wipe the data, refurbish them and set them up in schools in Africa as computer labs. Combined with accredited training courses and ongoing maintenance we have taught over half a million young people how to use a computer. This vital skill in today's world opens up unending opportunities for the young people whilst also building a better future for the country. To do this amazing work we need old computers. There is huge demand from Africa for Camara computers as we send them preloaded with software and train the teachers how to use them. From 11th November we will run our annual "One week, One Thousand Computers" campaign. Churches in Northern Ireland contributed over a quarter of this last year. This annual event tries to find 1,000 unused and unwanted pcs and laptops for reuse in deprived schools in Africa. Camara wipe and repair computers of all ages, shapes and sizes, load them with educational software and ship them to one of Camara s seven African Hubs where they are distributed to the most deprived schools. We are asking people to dig out their old computers that are gathering dust. Visit for details of where to drop your computers off between 9.30 and 4.30 any week day. For your information. It costs 100 per computer to process, ship and provide the relevant training and maintenance for a minimum of 21 children to learn how to use it over the next 3 years. Most schools require a 25 computer suite at a cost of 2,500. Whilst we are not asking for donations anyone who feels they would like to support Camara in this way may do so through or by sending a donation along with a computer to our base in 10, Townsend Enterprise Park, Belfast, BT13 2ES