PLEASE NOTE: January 6 th, ( EPIPHANY) is a Holy Day of Obligation. Vigil Mass, Masses on the 12noon; 1pm; 6pm.

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1 ST MARY S CATHOLIC CHURCH Chapel Lane, Belfast BT1 1JJ Tel: : administatorofstmarys@btinternet.com Priests: Fr James Boyle MHM: Fr Jim O Donoghue MHM: Fr. John Nevin MHM SECOND SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS (C) 3 rd January 2016 MASSES FOR THE WEEK: 6pm Sat: 2/1: Alice Vernon RIP 10am Sun: 3/1: Jonathan Mc Crossan RIP 9am Mon: 4/1: Noreen Collins RIP 1pm Mon: 4/1: Donal Lucey RIP 9am Tues: 5/1: Wellbeing of Alex Vernon 1pm Tues: 5/1: Forgotten Holy Souls in Purgatory 6pm Tues: 5/1: Vigil of the Epihany. Wellbeing of Eamon &Michael Turley 9am Wed: 6/1: Wellbeing of James Murray (sick) 12 Noon Wed: 6/1: Frame RIP 1pm Wed: 6/1: Mark Quinn 6pm Wed: 6/1: Wellbeing of Dympna Mc Faul (sick) 9am: Thurs: 7/1: Noreen Collins RIP 1pm: Thurs: 7/1: Vera Donaghy RIP 9am: Fri : 8/1: Mary Morris RIP 1pm Fri : 8/1: Noreen Collins RIP 6pm: Fri: 8/1: Intentions of Charlie Mc Nulty 9pm: Sat: 9/1: Intentions of Deirdre Hosan 1pm: Sat : 9/1: Intentions of Sheila Grego 6pm: Sat: 9/1: Intentions of Rosaleen Barr Let us remember the SICK in our Prayers: Paddy Gilliland, Michael Ryan, Anna Mc Givern, Tom Murphy, Tina O Sullivan, Margaret Mc Coy, Jim Matthew, James Cunningham, Peter Monaghan, Joe Faszcza & Betty, Jack Burns & Jan & Malachy, Martin Donaghy, Anne Rose, James, Clare, Terry Fullerton, Elsie Cooney, Eileen Delaney, Anne Lambe, Donna Carey, Sheila Gowdy, John Mc Auley, Danny Mc Kee, Margaret Power, David, Dolores Kelly, Dinny Murphy, Sinead Ward, Colette Kearney, Sarah Keyland, Mary Murray, Cian Travers, P McCloskey, Mary O Neill, Maria Antonia Peres, Shannah Smyth, Pat Carville, Sheila Smith, Barry Mulholland, Paul Connolly, Joan Smith, Kumacho, Eamon Toner, Nora Mc Mahon, Marie Mc Guigan, Paddy Mc Geough, Annie Crawford, Nuala Mailey, Margaret Burns, Deirdre Shaw, John Leatham, Jim Wilson, Fíonn Thompson, Paul Mc Larnon, Patsy Mullan, Larry Mc Gurk, Tommy Conlon, Bernadette Boswell, Isabel Rooney, Seán Smyth, Sadie Rush, Margaret Harrington, Netta Tracy, Linda McDonald, Terry Laverty, Christopher Browne, Aíne Hughes, Paul Kelly, Billy Shields, Annie Mc Nally, Maureen. CHRISTMAS COLLECTION: 1040 NEXT WEEK COLLECTION: Upkeep of the Church FRIDAY COLLECTION BUILDING FUND: next week SILVER CIRCLE: Silver Circle Resumes 5 th January PLEASE NOTE: January 6 th, ( EPIPHANY) is a Holy Day of Obligation. Vigil Mass, Masses on the 12noon; 1pm; 6pm.

2 ALL NIGHT VIGIL FOR FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY There will be an All Night Vigil for the Feast of the Epiphany on Tuesday 5th January. The vigil will start at 10 pm. with Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament and Midnight Mass at 12 celebrated by Fr Damien McCaughan with the special intention of praying for peace in the world and protection of all human life from conception to natural death. The vigil will finish at 7 am. on Wednesday 6th January. Entrance after 10 pm. via Marquis St through the back door of St Mary s Hall. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE FROM THE ST MARYS The Heavenly message at Jesus birth was: peace on earth and goodwill to all. May He bring Peace, Joy and Happiness into your homes and hearts. May He inflame your hearts with His Love and keep you close to Him and to each other now and throughout the coming year 2016 WHAT DOES EPIPHANY MEAN? Epiphany means a showing or revelation or making known of something that wasn t known before. The Magi or wise men revealed something that wasn t known before. The Epiphany is an advancement of the Christmas story. It reveals the identity of the child of Bethlehem as a king (gold),as divine (incense), as human (myrrh). The Magi are from far away, foreigners, which tells us that the Saviour King born in Bethlehem is not just for the Jews but for all nations. The chosen people, the Jews, thought the Messiah/ Saviour was only for them. Who were these Magi or wise men? They are called Magi. Magi was a word used of those who were regarded as having more than human knowledge. They were interpreters of dreams and readers of the skies, astrologers, even magicians. The wise men/magi came to be referred to as kings but they weren t really kings. They were astrologers. We can also ask, how many wise men were there? Three? But, in fact, Matthew does not say. Presumably the number three grew out of there being three gifts. The gifts themselves echo the passage from Isaiah which is the First Reading As does the tradition that they came on camels (not unlikely, as the camel was the normal transport across the desert). Following a Star: They followed a star. There is a lot of speculation about this star Was there a comet at that time? Was there a significant conjunction of planets? And how does one follow a star Or how does one judge when it is over a particular place, especially a small house? It would be like trying to find the end of the rainbow! Such questions really miss the point altogether. The special blessing for today links the light of the star with Jesus as the Light of the World. It was a common belief in ancient times that a new star appeared at the birth of a ruler. We are concerned, not with the details of the story but with its meaning. All the Infancy Narratives, both in Matthew and Luke, point symbolically to future events in the life of Jesus. This story is a foreshadowing of the rejection of Jesus by the religious and political leaders of his own people and his acceptance by the Gentiles. Although Bethlehem was very close to Jerusalem, no Jewish leader is found making his way to visit the Child. Herod s apparent interest is altogether sinister. When King Herod

3 heard this [about the birth of the 'King of the Jews'], he was greatly troubled and all Jerusalem with him. His only concern is to get rid, as soon as possible, of a possible rival. On the other hand, we have these foreigners, these outsiders coming from some far away place from where it is not specified and it does not matter to worship the Child. The contrast is deliberate and is a foretaste of what will very soon happen when the new Church gets under way. The annual celebration of the Epiphany: is a reminder to us that for God there are no foreigners, no outsiders. Everyone can pray our Father There is not one single exception. And if God is Father/Mother of every single person, then every single person in this world is my sister or brother. The call then today is to live my life in such a way that in my words to people and about people, in my actions with people, I will never act in any way except as a caring brother or sister. Note: The Magi were not Kings: The magi were not, as we often depict them, really kings, wearing splendid garments. They were astrologers who interpreted present, past and future happenings by the movements and conjunctions of sun, moon, stars and planets. The lives of most people in those days were influenced by these interpretations. They were the central part of lives lived in superstition and the fear of forces totally beyond their control. People tried to appease these powers by all kinds of spells or by identifying some of these stellar forces with gods who had to be appeased. The Magi represented all these beliefs, superstitions and fears. But today they come and prostrate themselves before the Child who represents the true force in people s lives the love of God. The real source and goal of all living is union with God, represented and made accessible to us in this Child, God Incarnate And they are led to the Child by a star. Their lives were occupied with watching the movements of stars. But this was a new star they had never seen before. It led them to Jesus, the Son of God. They now forgot all other stars and bowed down, offered precious gifts (the earnings of their astrology), laid them at the feet of the Child and worshipped him. As they entered the house they gave up to Jesus the symbols of their former religion. This Child is the new and only Star with a message of Good News for the whole world - not just for the Jews - That message is the coming of God s Kingdom. THANKS FROM THE PRIESTS OF ST MARY'S Frs Jim, John and James wish to thank the many people who help in different ways at St Mary's. First of all we have those who exercise liturgical ministries of Eucharist, Lector, and Music weekday and weekend choirs & collectors, particularly Danny Curran and Alex Vernon. Also those who clean the Church Paul Donegan, Lily Brown and Susan O'Neill who spend hours behind the scenes on many Sunday afternoons washing and polishing floors and seats. A particular word of thanks to Paul Donegan for his daily commitment to cleaning the candelabra and restocking it with candles and for locking up. Thanks to Liam Burns and Paddy Gilliland for replenishing side altar and Tabernacle candles. We thank Maureen McMahon, Bridget Burns and Annette Dale for taking care of the Repository. A word of thanks to Maureen McMahon and Joan Valente for their commitment to running the Silver Circle. Of course, thanks too to those who support the Silver Circle. We thank Pat Wilson for

4 course, thanks too to those who support the Silver Circle. We thank Pat Wilson for taking care of the Grotto and to Jean- Charles Henon for power washing the Grotto. We thank Anne McCrossan in the parish office and Roisin McAufield our housekeeper and Irene Connolly who gets out the Sunday bulletin. We thank Brenda and Deirdre in the ACCORD offices for keeping a lookout for any untoward behaviour on the concourse and for looking after the toilet. The Church looks lovely. We thank Marian Jones for doing the decorations and Moira Mackin for making the lovely banners. We thank Harry Mackin too for always being on Standby to do handy jobs for us. In short, thanks to everyone and anyone who loves St Mary's and through your help, friendship and hospitality make it pleasant for us priests to minister here. Thanks to all those who gave us Nativity cards and gifts. JOB OPPORTUNITY: Part time SPRED Coordinator sought to help support fellow parishioners with learning disabled in our Diocese. Duties include providing training for our groups, giving presentations raising awareness and recruitment, administration and planning. 15 hours per 8 per hour. For more information and to apply, please contact or send your CV to spreddc@gmail.com Closing date for applications, 03/01/16 LIVING YOUTH - Habitat for Humanity Ethiopia Team 2016: Following our successful Habitat for Humanity projects over the past three years Living Youth is recruiting for another youth team due to travel to Ethiopia next summer. Provisional dates: 8-22 August Applicants should be 18 years or over and all team members will be expected to contribute to the cost of the trip as well as engage in an extensive fundraising campaign. To register or get more information visit:, call or gv@habitatni.co.uk LITTLE FLOWER GIRL'S SCHOOL: warmly invites you to our Open Evening on Thursday 14th January pm-9pm.. There will be an address by the Principal at 6.45pm. The Open Evening will offer parents and pupils the opportunity to experience and learn more about our school, which has been part of the community for over 55 years.during the Open Evening there will be competitions to win ipad minis HOLISTIC THERAPIST: available for therapies in the Fr O' Donnell Hall on Tuesdays, therapies include Reflexolgy, Aromatherapy, body massage. interested contact Roísín on:

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