ST MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH
Chapel Lane, Belfast BT1 1JJ
Tel: 028 90 32 04 82: www.stmarysbelfast.org
E-mail: administatorofstmarys@btinternet.com
Priests: Fr James Boyle MHM: Fr Jim O’ Donoghue MHM: Fr. John Nevin MHM
Seventh Sunday of Easter 1st June 2014 “ASCENSION”
Masses for the Week:
6pm Sat: 31/5: Wellbeing of Gerard Anderson
10am Sun: 1/6: Seamus Mc Mullon RIP
9am Mon: 2/6: Anne &Francis Smith RIP
1pm Mon: 2/6: Margaret Coulter (A.M)
9am Tues: 3/6: Thomas & Mary Rafferty RIP
1pm Tues: 3/6: Maura Gracey RIP
9am Wed: 4/6: Colin who is sick
1pm Wed: 4/6: Rose Kilmartin (A.M)
9am Thurs: 5/6: Terry Eastwood RIP
1pm Thurs: 5/6: The Souls in Purgatory
9am: Fri: 6/6: Wellbeing of Mary O’ Neill
1pm Fri: 6/6: Ethine Rainey health & wellbeing
6pm Fri: 6/6: For the Conversion of Sinners
9am Sat: 7/6: Edward & Pat & Souls in Purgatory
1pm Sat: 7/6: Intentions for Carmel Donaghy
6pm Sat: 7/6: For the Magee Family
Last Week Offertory Collection: £467
Friday Building Fund Collection: £300
This Week Collection: Up Keep of the Church
Next Week: Priests of St Marys
Silver Circle Winners: Vera McCrudden; Jim McDermott
Remember the SICK in our Prayers:
Paddy, Gilliland, Gerry Anderson, Michael Ryan, Anna Mc Givern, Fr Roger Mc Gorty, Tom
Murphy, Meta Fitzpatrick, Tina O’ Sullivan,
Margaret Mc Coy, Jim Matthew, James Cunningham, Peter Monaghan, Joe Faszcza & Betty,
Jack Burns & Jan & Malachy, Martin Donaghy, Anne Rose, James, Wilhelmina Markey,
Clare, Terry Fullerton, Elsie Cooney, Eileen Delaney, Mc Kenna Family, 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,
Nicola & baby Corey, Mary Murray, Cian Travers, P Mc Closkey, Marie
Mc Guigan, Annette Dale, Nora Mc Mahon, Mary O’ Neill, Maria Antonia Peres, Patsy
Woods, Jackie Mc Aree, Shannah Smyth, Pat Carville, Maureen, Annmarie, Sheila Smith,
Barry Mulholland, Paul Connolly, Kathleen Patterson, James Dillon, John & Anne Graham,
Alana, Mary, Bernadette Kumacho, Eamon Toner, Tony Mc Guigan, Margaret Robinson,
Dominic Hyland, Joseph Corr.
CARRICKHILL COMMUNITY CENTRE: The centre is open Mon – Fri for people of all ages. It has a
brand new computer suite with 11 up to date computers. There is a danger the facility could be closed if
facilities aren’t used to the full. The centre would welcome anyone interested in learning how to use a computer
for the first time or for perfecting skills already acquired.
MCCRACKEN’S IRISH-LANGUAGE SUMMER CAMP FOR TEENAGERS. A week-long Gaeltacht
experience with Music, Song, Sport and Craic right on your doorstep.
Monday 21st – Friday 25th July 2014 . St. Malachy’s College, Antrim Road. £30.00 per person. Contact 028
9074 9688 or eolas@mhicreachtain.com
For more info contact the centre on Tel: 02890 231 602.
SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
THE ASCENSION
(by
Fr. Don Willard C.Ss.R)
The Ascension of the Lord marks the completed work of our redemption and the entrance of Christ into his
glory. Because of this, this day marks a major event in our salvation history. To fully understand this event, we
have to understand the process that returns us to the glory of God.
In the beginning, we all recall that Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden. The Garden represented the
perfect harmony and relationship that humans enjoyed with God. Remember, God would come in the cool of the
evening and walk with Adam and Eve. They lived in the very presence of God. Thus, they enjoyed being in the
Glory of God. However, after the fall, Adam and Eve removed themselves from the presence of God. Recall
how they hid in the trees, and God asked where they were. This is not because God does not know they are in
the trees, this is a question about their position in the relationship, not their physical position. To rephrase the
question is to ask, “Why are you removed from my glory?”
The relationship was broken by sin. Sin destroys our relationships with one another and with God. However, the
relationship is not beyond repair and hope. God always wanted to be with us, but we need the freedom to be able
to choose for ourselves if we wanted to be with God. True freedom can only exist if you have the ability to
choose the good or not. Adam and Eve must bear the responsibility for their actions, but God also gave all of us
a path to come back into a relationship with him.
When Jesus went to the cross, he redeemed us. He paid for our sins. He bore our punishment and infirmities. By
dying on the cross, by the just one dying the unjust death, Jesus actually removes the punishment that strict
justice would impose upon us. The punishment for sin is death. So, Jesus dies so we do not have to die. Now,
that might seem that God is an angry God. It seems to us that the punishment does not fit the crime. But,
consider, if I insult an equal, an apology is the normal way of repairing the relationship. If I insult someone of
higher status, I need to do more than just apologies. When you are a child, not obeying your parents may result
in losing some privileges for a certain amount of time. If the person is of a sufficient status that is higher than
me, I may have to do a lot more than apologize. For example, if I insult the President of the United States,
depending on the insult, I could even spend time in jail.
God is of the highest status. Sin is an insult to God because when a person sins they act as if God does not exist.
In short, they act as if God is dead. They pretend like God does not exist. This is insulting to a being whose very
essence is existence. Therefore, the appropriate punishment for claiming that God is dead is the death of the
offender. But, in the passion and death of Jesus, the punishment for all of humanity is paid for by an eternal
payment. Since Jesus is consubstantial with the Father, he has eternal life, but he died for us. Thus, the one death
of Jesus is an infinite payment against the debt of our sins. We have been bought at the price of the blood of
Jesus. So, the punishment for our sins can be removed justly if we lay claim to the blood of Jesus.
In the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, we see that love is stronger than death. God’s plan to be with us is not
just the removal of the punishment of sin, but the restoration of us into a covenant with God. The relationship
that was broken by sin and death is, not only fully restored, but it is elevated. We now have access to the
covenant life through the sacraments. God has given himself completely to us and we can give ourselves
completely to him. Thus, through the sacraments, we engage the resurrected life of Christ. It is Christ who
justifies us. We have been healed, restored and renewed through the sacramental life. This is because we have
full access to the divine life. To be justified is to have all that you need. And in the sacraments we find all we
need to live the life of grace and love.
Today, we go one step further in the process. We have been redeemed and we have been justified, but now we
need to be glorified. We need to be restored to the glory of God, to live in the presence of God. Jesus returns to
the Father. In so doing, the head of the Church, the first born of the dead, returns to the right hand of the Father
to intercede for us. Heaven is not up in the sky somewhere. The language of the writer refers to an upward
movement, but in fact this is referring to a metaphysical direction, a higher status. We know that God is
everywhere, and we know that heaven is where God is, therefore heaven is anywhere and everywhere that is in
the presence of God.
So, in the Ascension we see
that we as the body will follow where the head has gone. By the Ascension, since Jesus has returned to the full
glory of God that he has enjoyed since before creation, we too have the promise of our entering into the
presence of God. We must continue to follow where the head of the body goes so long as we stay connected to
the head. We stay connected through the covenant life that is our justification. Therefore, the Ascension is the
promise of the return to glorification.
God has always wanted to be with us, in the Ascension, we see that we can be with God. Yes, we enter the
process through baptism, and in the sacramental life we move from our Redemption, our justification, and into
our glorification. This is not some far distant future, but is a reality that is at hand for all of us even in the
present moment. As Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” Through the Ascension we see that the
kingdom is re-established, not an earthly kingdom, but a spiritual kingdom that allows us to live every moment
in the presence of God, where God will walk with us and be with us in every moment of our lives, if we chose to
live ad walk with him
MEETING TO DISCUSS THE RECENT DIOCESAN REVIEW
Right across the
Diocese during Lent there was an audit of pastoral activity in each of our parishes. This included
counting the number of people attending Mass as well as a breakdown of age and gender. Information
was also collated regarding the various pastoral activities carried out by priests and lay people in our
parishes. On Monday 16th June at 7.00 pm in St Peter's Cathedral Hall there will be an
opportunity for people from our parish and neighbouring parishes to come together to receive initial
feedback from the review and to consider the implications for the future. This is an important time in
our Parish, Diocese and Church. Please come along and take part in the evening. There will be an
opportunity for people from our parish and neighbouring parishes to come together to receive initial
feedback from the review and to consider the implications for the future. This is an important time in
our Parish, Diocese and Church. Please come along and take part in the evening.
PLEASE NOTE WITH JOY:
At the vigil Mass of Pentecost in St Mary’s, on 7th. June, Bishop Noel will be receiving six people
into the Catholic Church. Three Adults will be for Baptism, Confirmation and First Holy Communion.
Three, who are already baptized into other Christian denominations will be received into full
communion with the Catholic Church and will receive Confirmation and First Communion.
LIVING CHURCH LOUGH DERG PILGRIMAGE
The annual Living Church Lough Derg 3 day Pilgrimage will take place this year from Fri 27th June to Sunday
29th June. The pilgrimage will be the traditional three day format. Those who took part in the pilgrimage last
year spoke of the many blessings they received from being on the island of Lough Derg, as countless people
have throughout the years. There is quietness and deep spirituality to be found there that is very special. Please
consider coming along this year.
The cost of the pilgrimage is £60.00. The cost does not include travel to the island. For details of travel
arrangements and to book a place please call the Living Church Office on 02890690920 or email
office@livingchurchdc.org by Monday 16th June.
POPE FRANCIS asks for worldwide prayer for a fruitful outcome to his meeting in Rome with the Jordanian
and Israeli Presidents, when they will pray together for peace and a successful solution to the difficulties of the
Middle East.