Parish of Ardkeen. 2 nd Sunday of Easter Divine Mercy Sunday 3 rd April 2016

Transcription

1 The Parish of Ardkeen Weekly Offering Envelopes The delivery of the Weekly Offering Envelopes will be completed this week. To keep the collections within the tax year, the new envelopes will begin on 10 th April If you have recently started work and would like to donate to the Church, again please leave your name and address with Fr Neeson requesting a box of envelopes. Parish Gift Aid: If you pay Income Tax, please consider signing a Gift Aid Form and, at no expense to yourself, the Government will contribute 25% of your donation to the church. For the 2014 year, the Parish received 17,435 from the Government because Parishioners had signed a Gift Aid Form. A simple example would be a contribution of 5 in the weekly envelope amounts to 260 each year. The Parish then receives a further 65 back from the Government at no extra cost to the Donor. So that donation is now worth 325 to the Parish. ALL of your donations in the Parish envelopes will benefit from Gift Aid. If you are unsure whether you have already signed a Gift Aid Form simply complete another - there is no harm in this - we will check it out for you. Gift Aid Forms are available at the Church Doors. Complete form, put in envelope marked GIFT AID and place in collection basket at any weekend Mass or leave into the Parish Office in Parochial House. Parish of Ardkeen - Silver Circle - March Draw Congratulations to the following winners of March Draw which was drawn last Sunday 27th March. 1 st Agnes and Uel Cochrane, 2 nd Philip McCarthy, 3 rd Karen Toner, 4 th Mary McCarthy. The total profit realised for year 2015/16 was a very sincere thank to everyone who contributed to last year's Silver Circle and to all who have rejoined or joined for the first time this year. The support of members within our Parish and friends in the wider community has made it possible to achieve another successful year. All profit will go towards our Building Fund. The first draw for the 2016/17 year will take place on Sunday 24 th April. The monthly prize money for the sixth year will be 1 st - 200, 2 nd - 150, 3 rd and 4 th with an extra draw at Christmas for 5 prizes of 100. Renewal forms have been sent to existing members and forms will be available at the church doors for anyone who would like to join up for the first time. Great prizes but if you're not in you can't win!! A Parish Mission will take place in the Parish of Ardkeen beginning on Saturday 16 th April until Sunday 24 th April. It will be conducted by Fr Brendan Keane CSsR, a Redemptorist Missioner from Clonard. Everyone is invited to come along to this Special Week of Celebration for the Year of Mercy. More details and programme of Events will be available next week. Parish of Ardkeen Fr Patrick Neeson, Parish Priest (028) info@parishofardkeen.co.uk Fr Mulholland PP Portaferry and Ballygalget nd Sunday of Easter Divine Mercy Sunday 3 rd April 2016 Eternal Father, I offer you the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion have mercy on us and on the whole world. Mass Times next week (w/b 4 th April) Monday and Thursday at 9.00am Mass in St Mary's Primary School on Wednesday at 9am 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: Seamus Kelly Anniversaries: James Crawford, Norah Bittles, Elizabeth Collins, Ann Jeffrey, Louis O'Keeffe, Elizabeth McGrattan, Andy Fowler, John Smyth, Brendan Curran, Elizabeth O'Connor, Sarah Gilmore, Michael McGoldrick, Katie Hughes, Brigid Doherty, Sarah Brown, Thomas Rogan, Sean Fay, Alice Caldwell, Cecelia Donnan, Isabella Lennon, Anne Durcan 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 Offering amounts will be announced in next week's bulletin. Thank you all sincerely for your continued support. Sanctuary Lamp Intentions (SL) Ann Marie Hunt deceased (SH) Thanksgiving AMc (SH) Special Intention MC (OL) Good exam results KG (OL) Birthday memories Genevieve McCullough If you wish to put forward an intention for one of the lamps after Easter, 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 (7 th Apr) and the country area will be done on Friday morning (8 th Apr). If you are related to or visiting someone who is housebound, please inform them of the priest's visit. THE FEAST OF DIVINE MERCY will be celebrated in St. Patrick s Church, Portaferry this Sunday 3 rd April as follows: 1.30pm- 2.45pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. 2.00pm Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy & Various Reflections. 1.30pm 2.45pm Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available 3.00pm Mass followed by Veneration of the Divine Mercy Image A Plenary Indulgence may be gained by the faithful on this day: For those who attend Confession (Confession Made in Holy Week/Easter Octave will suffice) and worthily receive Holy Communion with complete Trust in God s Mercy, witness the Public Blessing of The Image of Divine Mercy, Venerate the Image and perform an act of Mercy. Ballycran GAC News Club Lottery: Sun 27 th March. Numbers drawn 12, 17 and to Seamus Bell, Ronan O'Flynn, William Brown and William Caldwell. Jackpot this week 300. Down Clubs Draw: Club winner for March, 50 to Ciaran Fitzgerald. The Club is hosting a series of GAA coaching education courses. On 9th April we will host the Foundation level course which applies to all coaches involved in children, youth and adult squads. Further details on our Facebook page and from Emma Keith and Seamus Ennis. Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2016: Full board in 3* hotel: 7 nights (10 th - 17 th July) for 600 or 5 nights (11 th -16 th July) for 550. Full board for sick or infirm pilgrims with medical and nursing care in Accueil Notre- Dame: 5 nights (11 th -16 th July) for 430. Youth Team (8 th -17 th July) 500. All flights from Belfast International Airport. Application forms now available from the Parish Office, contact Fr Neeson Further information contact the Pilgrimage Office (see Notice Board) Prayer Friends It s that time of year again. Any STUDENT wishing to have a prayer friend please put your name on the student list at each door. Those offering to be a PRAYER FIREND for any of our students sitting exams this year please put your name on the Prayer Friend list at each door. Alternatively Students or Prayer Friends can Phyllis at Phyllis.g@hotmail.co.uk The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock will be from Sat 11th to Sun 12th June. Further details can be obtained by contacting Brenda Cafolla on or Anne Stafford on ST. COLUMBA S COLLEGE, PTFA MONSTER BINGO - A monster Bingo will take place on Sunday 17 th April in the College Hall at 3pm. Come and enjoy an afternoon of fun and craic! Young Priests Society Membership of 6 is now due. Anyone wishing to subscribe to the Society please give their donation to Phyllis Gilmore or put your money with your name and address in a sealed envelope, marked YPS and put on the collection plate at any of the Sunday Masses. Monies collected go to the education of priests for the diocese and Missionary priests. Please join and help more young men continue the priestly ministry in our parishes and on the missions. Blessing of the Graves pm Parish of Ballygalget, Sunday 29 th May Cooey Wells Mass Sunday 12 th June Parish of Portaferry, Sunday 19 th June Parish of Ardkeen, Sunday 26 th June Preliminary Notice - Family Ceili in McKenna Hall on Sunday 1 st May. Dancing to Raymond Loney with caller Maire Pollack. 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!! If you have to bring your dog unto church property in Nunsquarter, Ballycran or Lisbane, please keep it on a lead, clean up and take home any mess it may leave. Please respect your church and surroundings. Lough Derg Jubilee Year of Mercy Pilgrimage Season opens on Sunday 1 st May with One Day Retreats which continue on 2, 7, 8, 10, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 & 30 of May. Booking is essential. Contact Lough Derg by telephone , info@loughderg.org, Sincere thanks for the generous donations towards the Easter flowers and to those who leave a donation in the Flower Box every week - very much appreciated. Door of Mercy - The theme of mercy is very dear to Pope Francis's heart and he believes that mercy is the force that reawakens us to new life and instils in us the courage to look to the future with hope. He has asked that where possible each of us should make a pilgrimage to our Diocesan Door of Mercy. St. Vincent de Paul conference after consultation with Fr Mulholland is organising a bus trip to St. Patrick's Church in Belfast on 23rd April where we will be able to pass through the Door of Mercy and also attend the 1pm mass. Anyone interested in joining us on this trip please leave their name and a 5 deposit with Anna Curran at the Rock Bakery.

3 Our Lord asks: "Why will you not sing to me? I can hear you singing to your babies and children. I can hear you singing as you work. When you're down in the pub, at a party, on a bus going to a match, I can hear you joining in the singsong. And when you're at a football or rugby match -wow!! I can really hear you sing then!! But when you come into MY HOUSE, I can't hear you. Why will you not sing to me?" Hymn books are at the end of each seat, hymn numbers are on the hymn boards, just lift a book and sing - please! 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. Bishop Treanor wrote in his Pastoral Letter for the Jubilee of Mercy: I invite everyone in the Diocese to observe a special Day of Mercy on the last Friday of every month - Friday, 25 th February will be the next "Day of Mercy". This should be a day of prayer, fasting and almsgiving; a day when we remember God's mercy for us and share that mercy with others CENTENARY OF THE ANGEL OF FATIMA. 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 & Fr Sean Gilmore. Special Group price 709 inclusive of tax & insurance. For further details contact Joe Catney or Early booking advisable, deposit secures. OTHER NOTICES MEDJUGORJE st 8 th May th 26 th June 2016 (35 th Anniversary) 31 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 ARE YOU SUFFERING THE PAIN OF LOSS OF A PARTNER? Looking for help and understanding? Beginning Experience (a support group for widowed, separated and divorced people) meets every Wednesday from 8pm to 10pm in St Bride s Hall, 38, Derryvolgie Avenue, Malone Rd, Belfast. Residential Weekend: Friday 26th Sunday 28th February 2016 in Drumalis Retreat and Conference Centre, Larne. Application forms available on request. For further information please contact Phil Tel: or Marie Tel: CENTENARY OF THE ANGEL OF FATIMA. 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. LIVING YOUTH Aged 17-25? Want to be part of World Youth Day 2016 in Poland? Come and be part of the Living Youth Team and explore your faith, friendship, music, fun, culture and Mass with the Pope. For more information go to ADOPTERS NEEDED NOW

4 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 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

5 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 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/