ARE YOU AWARE - that the St Colmcille's Parent and Toddler group meets in the
Parochial Hall every Wednesday during the school term at 10.00am? All children from
newborn to pre-school age are welcome, along with their parents or carers. Come along for
a chat and a cup of tea while the children play and make friends, and if you know of anyone
else who might like to come, please pass on this invitation. We extend a special invitation
to men caring for young children.
SCHOOL INFORMATION
ST COLMCILLE’S PRE-SCHOOL PLAYGROUP - will your child be in their preschool year in September 2015? The pre-school invites you to an open day on Tuesday 9th
and Wednesday 10th December between 3.30pm and 4.30pm and on Wednesday 7th
January 2015 between 6.30pm and 7.30pm to view the premises, meet the staff and collect
an application form for enrolment in September 2015. Please telephone Kathy on 9047
2724 if this date doesn’t suit and arrange an alternative time to visit the group.
ST. JOSEPH’S PRIMARY SCHOOL OPEN MORNING - this Wednesday morning
from 10.30am to 11.45am. All welcome. Is your child due to start primary school in
September 2015? If so, you have a very important decision to make in January – which
school you think is most appropriate for your child. Have you considered St. Joseph’s, your
local primary school? Enrolment forms have to be completed in January 2015 listing your
preferred schools. To help you in this process why not come along to the school during the
Open Morning where there will be an opportunity for you to speak to the principal, ask
questions, collect an Application Form/BELB Booklet and see around the school.
COMING EVENTS
60+ CHRISTMAS PARTY - will be held next Sunday in the Parochial Hall commencing
at 4.30pm and finishing at approximately 8.00pm. The night will include a 3 course dinner,
entertainment and a visit from Santa. This Sunday is the last opportunity to put your name
down on the list. Tickets are available from Roisin McMullan 07854 140019, Mary Walsh
07815 493463 or Lucy Traynor 07900 807589 and members of the Social & Fundraising
Committee will be at the back of the church this weekend to take your name. If you require
transport please let us know when your book your place. We look forward to seeing you
there.
LAST CHANCE - Family weekend in Corrymeela with our Presbyterian neighbours will
take place from this Friday to next Sunday. All families welcome! If interested, please
contact Mary Walsh 9029 5795 or Paula Sheils 9065 4395 urgently
FREE CHRISTMAS FAMILY FUN DAY IN BALLYHACKAMORE - next
Saturday. Ballyhackamore Main Square - 2.00pm to 4.15pm Children’s Christmas Party,
Kirkpatrick Church (registration required for party – contact Kirkpatrick Church or phone
9047 3891); 2.30pm to 4.00pm Visit Santa, Mrs Claus & the Elves in their Grotto at Oxfam
for sweet treats; 2.30pm Winner of Ireland’s Best Young Band “The Left Backs” will be
rocking around the Christmas tree. 3.45pm to 4.30pm Local School Choirs carol singing
around the Christmas Tree. 4.30pm Christmas tree lights switch on with Elsa, Anna and
Olaf; 4.45pm – Wandsworth Community Group Lantern Parade Passing through the
Village; 6.00pm - Wandsworth Community Group Fireworks at Strandtown PS. St
PARISH OF ST. COLMCILLE,
BALLYHACKAMORE
SUNDAY BULLETIN
VOL. 23 NO. 01 30TH NOVEMBER 2014
Father Ciaran Feeney Adm. 191 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3JB.
Phone – 9065 4157. Website: www.st-colmcilles.net E-mail: stcolmcilles@hotmail.com
St. Joseph’s Primary School – www.stjosephsps.co.uk Phone – 9065 0039
St Colmcilles Pre school – www.stcolmcilles-preschool.co.uk. Phone – 9047 2724
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT – (Page 17, 452 & 490)
1st Week of Advent
Readings : Sunday Cycle B, Weekday Cycle 1, Psalter Week 1
To you, I lift up my soul, O my God. In you, I have trusted; let me not be
Entrance
Antiphon
put to shame. Nor let my enemies exult over me; and let none who hope in
you be put to shame.
(Isaiah 63:16-17, 64:1, 3-8) Oh, that you would tear the heavens open and
1st Reading
come down.
God of hosts, bring us back; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
Psalm
(1 Corinthians 1:3-9) We are waiting for our Lord Jesus to be revealed.
2nd Reading
Alleluia, alleluia! Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us your saving
Acclamation
help. Alleluia!
(Mark 13:33-37) Stay awake, because you do not know when the master of
Gospel
the house is coming.
As we start Advent our Gospel tells us to be ready for Jesus’ coming. We
Children
are to keep awake and stay alert. Jesus says it is like when a man has gone
away leaving his servants in charge. The doorkeeper needs to stay awake so
that he can let the master in whenever he comes back. The servants don’t
know when the master will return, but must be ready to welcome him.
The Lord will bestow his bounty, and our earth shall yield its increase.
Communion
Antiphon
MASS TIMES FOR COMING WEEK
Saturday
6.30pm
John & Mary
Bradley,
Maeve
McMurray
Confessions at
6.00pm
Sunday
9.30am
Hugh Close
11.30am
Sarah
Armstrong
Tuesday
9.30am
Dan
O’Kane &
Patricia
O’Neill
Wednesday
9.30am
Thursday
9.30am
Friday
9.30am
Prayer
Service
Could those who are last to leave the Parish grounds
in the evening please close the car park gates.
PARISH WEBCAM
Parishioners are invited to view parish Masses and other parish services with the help of the
parish website: www.st-colmcilles.net where you will find the Webcam. Click on
‘WEBCAM’ and scroll to view. The picture quality has been greatly enhanced recently. The
Webcam is normally on 24 hours a day. It should also work on iphones, ipads and Android
devices. The sound is normally only on during Mass and other Church services.
PARISH FAMILY
FIRST FRIDAY - Father Ciaran will attend the sick and housebound in the parish this
Tuesday.
BOOKING OF PAROCHIAL HALL - Pat is available from Monday to Friday for
bookings. Parishioners wishing to book the Parochial Hall need to speak to Pat on 9067
1036 from 7.00pm to 8.00pm on these evenings.
DECEASED - We pray for all those whose anniversaries occur at this time of year
especially;
John Bradley, Mary Bradley, Maeve McMurray, Dan O’Kane, Elizabeth Ferrie,
Hugh Close, Peter Ferrie, Sarah Armstrong, Colm Kerr and Michael Rooney.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT - we can be contacted on 074 5698 9458. Our members
are Regiena Babu, Eileen Brogan, Eithne Daly, Maire Devine, Brenda McMeekin, David
McMeekin, Celine Molloy, Joan Rogan and Lucy Traynor.
MONEY MATTERS
Weekly Offering Cash Collection – £1,381.48
Many thanks to all who contributed so generously to the collections.
The Monthly Stipend Collection will be taken up at all Masses next weekend.
The second of our four morning reflections will take place this Thursday after the 9.30am
Mass. Join us for coffee and scones in the Iona room and view another DVD from the
Emmaus Series. “Good news for Our World” is a brilliant presentation, answering the
question,what is at the heart of the Good News, Jesus came to give us. You would be most
welcome to join us.
O COME, O COME TO OUR ADVENT SERVICE - on Sunday 21st December at
6.00pm in the Church. A musical celebration of the Christmas journey. Take time out from
the hustle and bustle to listen to Advent music, hymns and carols performed by our Choir
and by an 80 strong cast of children from our Primary School. Admission is free but a
retiring collection will be taken up with the proceeds going towards Cancer Focus.
WALK WITH ME - A journey of Prayer for Advent and Christmas. Copies are available
at the back of the church. Price £1. Please put money in any of the Candelabra boxes.
CHRISTMAS MASS BOUQUET CARDS - are available in the Parish office or Sacristy
after Masses.
TAP CHRISTMAS GIFT CARDS - give a really worthwhile Christmas present this year
- a Christmas Gift Card to support our Tanzanian Africa Project and our twinned parish of
Moita Bwawani.. Choose from 3 life-changing themes. Buy a year’s School Uniform for a
Masaai Child for £10. Sponsor a Catechist to spread the Word of God, also for £10. Give
pre-natal medical care to Masaai mothers-to-be with our Mother and Baby Care for £20.
Cards on sale in the Church porch this weekend and each weekend up to Christmas.
TROCAIRE’S GIFTS - buy a Trocaire gift and make a lot more people happy. Booklets
regarding this year’s Trocaire gifts are available at the back of the Church. For more
information log on to www.trocaire.org/gifts or call 080 0912 1200.
DIOCESAN VOCATIONS
VOCATIONS WEEKEND FOR YOUNG MEN - in Drumalis Retreat House, Larne
from Friday 13th to Sunday 15th February 2015.
VOCATIONS EVENING – in the Parish of Saintfield on Thursday 30th April 2015. For
more information on vocations please contact Father Kevin McGuckien on 9508 8030.
AWAKENING FAITH
AWAKENING FAITH - concludes this Wednesday evening at 7.30pm in the Iona
Room of the Parochial Hall.
SESSION 4: Can I Accept God’s Mercy?
 ‘Why do I have a hard time admitting my own sin but readily see the faults of
others?’
 ‘At times I struggle to accept God’s mercy and forgiveness for me’
Does this sound familiar? Then come along to this last session in this series to reflect and
share openly with others your thoughts and feelings about God’s mercy in an atmosphere of
trust, friendship and confidentiality. Everyone most welcome.
ADVENT
ADVENT REFLECTIONS - has begun well with a good group attending last Thursday.
THIS WEEK
APOSTOLIC WORK CHRISTMAS SALE - the annual sale in aid of the Missions
through Apostolic Work will take place after all the Masses this weekend. As usual there
will be tea/coffee and scones and usual stalls plus one with a specific Christmas interest and
a special Christmas raffle. Donations of cakes, books in good condition, items for the
Christmas stall will be most welcome. Most importantly we need your presence to make this
event a successful fundraiser for this most worthy of causes. Apostolic Work gives directly
in a most responsible way to support missionaries in numerous countries throughout the
world.
BELMONT AND DISTRICT COUNCIL OF CHURCHES - will hold their Advent
Service this Sunday, in St Columba’s Church at 7.00pm.
AWAKENING FAITH - concludes this Wednesday evening at 7.30pm in the Iona
Room of the Parochial Hall
ADVENT REFLECTIONS - continues this Thursday morning at 10.00am.
Colmcille’s Parish Church Carpark family fun from 2.30pm to 4.00pm – Facepainting,
Mobile Go-Karts (weather permitting & small charge applies), PSNI & Fire Service Vehicle
Displays and visits from some very special friend.
WEDNESDAY CLUB - Christmas Lunch at La Mon on Wednesday 10th December.
Price £20. If you would like to attend place ring Anna on 9065 1351 to book. Everyone
welcome.
CHRISTMAS FAIR AND FUN DAY - being organised by St. Colmcille’s Guide Unit on
Saturday 13th December from 11.00am to 2.00pm between the Parochial Hall and Guide
and Scout Den. Stalls include: bun decorating, hair braiding, nail painting, Christmas
decorations for sale, take and make stalls, tomobola, bouncy castle, tea/coffee and tray
bakes, non alocholic mulled wine and of course Santa will be present from 11.15am. Come
along and help soak up the Christmas atmosphere.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY-GLOBAL VILLAGE PROJECT - a Team from St Colmcille’s and
Gilnahirk Presbyterian Church is participating in a Building Project in India during the last
week of July and the first week of August 2015 in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity
Northern Ireland and Habitat for Humanity India. The Project is centred in Savda Ghevra
which is located on the western outskirts of Delhi. If you are interested in participating in
this project please contact John Barry on 9065 4395 or jb654395@yahoo.co.uk or Patricia
Corbett on 078 0131 5158 (evenings). Alternatively you can leave your details on a Habitat
form which can be found at the back of the Church or in the porch.
SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
CHRISTMAS CARDS - once again the Christmas season looms closer and our traditional
practice of sending Christmas cards to loved ones and friends is nearly upon us. SVP
Christmas cards will be available to purchase in the porch of the Church after each weekend
Mass or by contacting one of the members. The price is £3.50 per pack and we thank you
for your support once again in raising funds for needy families in our community at this time
of year.
ANNUAL LOCAL COLLECTIONS - will take place in Tesco Express next Saturday
from 9.00am to 5.00pm. Collectors are required and there is a list at the back of the Church.
Please put your name and telephone number, and time suitable for doing a collection.
OTHER NOTICES
KEEP CALM-SLOW DOWN FOR CHRISTMAS - Come and enjoy calm for a few
hours in the middle of the Christmas frenzy. Slow down. Rest. Rediscover Christmas for
yourself. Time for you-time for God. Space for yourself to pray and think, gently guided by
Breige O’Hare. Next Saturday from 11.00am to 3.00pm in Clonard Monastery. Bring a
packed lunch. Tea/coffee provided. Donation £5. Booking is essential. Ring Clonard 9044
5950 or contact Breige through her website www.athomewithgod.co.uk
LIVING YOUTH – the youth ministry groups within our Diocese are coming together to
stage a series of events for our young adults 18-25 years. Our Christmas special is on
Friday 12th December from 7.30pm to late. Music, entertainment, coffee, buns and faith.
Go on-line to find out more and book your ticket – www.essenceevents.org
CHRISTMAS YOUTH RETREAT - Youth 2000 Ireland will be holding their annual
Christmas youth retreat in Newbridge College, Co. Kildare from Friday 12th to Sunday
14th December. Over 500 young people aged 16-35 are expected to attend this donation
only event, with all newcomers welcome. The weekend consists of an action packed
programme including prayer, workshops, drama, inspirational talks, testimonies, music,
games and chill out time. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about your Catholic faith
and to meet other young people. Please book online if you are interested & bring a sleeping
bag if you wish to avail of on-site accommodation. Retreat starts with registration on Friday
at 8.00pm. Free buses also available. For more info check out www.youth2000.ie & see us
on facebook.
CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR - in St. Joseph’s College, Ravenhill Road this Tuesday
from 7.00pm to 9.00pm. Christmas gifts, crafts, tea/coffee, carols by Cantiunculae. Tables
still available - £10.
MIKE NESBITT IN CLONARD - Leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Mike Nesbitt,
will come to Clonard Monastery this Tuesday evening at 7.30pm for a conversation
entitled ‘Belfast at Peace with Itself – What is your party’s contribution?’ Organised by the
Clonard/Fitzroy Fellowship. Everyone welcome!
AL-ANON GROUP TO SUPPORT FAMILIES OF ALCOHOLICS – runs every
Saturday at 12.00 noon in the Beaver Room of the Skanios Centre.
PARENTING TEENAGERS COURSE - concludes in Knock Presbyterian Church on
Tuesday 9th December from 7.30pm to 9.00pm. For more information please see leaflet at
back of Church or contact Nicki Jemphrey on 078 4092 4505 or
njemphrey@knockpresbyterian.co.uk
SOS NI - would like to invite you to a festive evening with the Concentio Chamber
Choir, Monday 15th December, at 8pm in Stormont Presbyterian Church. Doors open at
7:30pm. Admission is free but there will be a collection on the night, all proceeds will go
towards SOS NI.
IHCPT - want to bring a smile to the face of a young person with a disability and make
their year? Then join us (IHCPT) in Lourdes this Easter (5th to 11th April). IHCPT bring
young people aged 11-30 with varied abilities to Lourdes each year from Easter Sunday
until the following Saturday. We are looking for carers (aged 18 or over) to make 2015 for
these young people. You can get more information on this experience by
visiting http://www.irishpilgrimagetrust.com. If you are interested please contact Kate Acton
on 079 6653 6515.
THE WAY OF ST JAMES - Camino de Santiago. Sections from the Pyrenees to
Santiago from 22nd to 28th May 2015. 6 Nights Hotel Accommodation, with Breakfast and
dinner daily; Coach and back-up car with group throughout; Walk leader with group
throughout; All airport and local taxes; Travel insurance included. Flying from Dublin
Airport. Cost - £715.00. Seats are limited. Single room supplement is extra. £50.00
deposit secures a seat. For further details contact Jean Reynolds on 4483 0979 or email:
jeanreynolds@hotmail.co.uk
PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA - from Thursday 25th June to Thursday 2nd July 2015.
7 nights full board en suite £589.00 fully inc. free insurance, free tax, free coach to airport.
Paid in full by 1st Dec 2014 £100.00 off price. For more information contact the Spiritual
Director Rita O’Neill on 075 5435 4157.