Sunday 1st March 2009

First Sunday in Lent

Our God of forgiveness

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic: “My child, your sins are forgiven.” The sick man in the Gospel came to Jesus looking for health and he was offered forgiveness, good health followed. We often look for wealth and we are offered peace, our possessions then don’t seem just as important. We look for pleasure and we are offered joy, the ordinary things of life are so pleasurable. We look for power and we are offered love, the greatest power of all because it helps us to forget ourselves. The sins we most often need forgiveness for are found in the ways we look for the wrong things in life and miss out on the really important ones. Those important things are first of all to be found in the intimate relationships we have in marriage and family life and secondly in the wider community that can bring us life.

Fr. Johnny Doherty, C.Ss.R.

St Mary’s Church, Bellaghy.

Notices for the bulletin are also taken by email to mail@bellaghyparish.com Please mark this bulletin news and have all notices into the office by lunchtime On Thursdays.

Mass Times

Mon & Fri 7.30pm

Tues, Wed & Thurs 9.30am

(Sat) 6.30pm

Sun 9am & 11.30am

Confessions
Fri 7pm—7.20pm
Sat 6pm—6.20pm
First Frid after Thurs morning mass & 1st Fri 7pm—7.20pm

Friday is First Friday: Exposition of Blessed Sacrament in Prayer

Room all day for usual intentions of Vocations.

Confirmation.

We welcome Bishop Seamus Hegarty to our Parish this weekend to confirm the children @ 11.30am mass. We wish the children every blessing on this special day. Hopefully they and their families will enjoy the whole occasion. Our thanks is due to their teachers who have prepared them. Our appreciation goes to all who have helped in any way in the Church and afterwards in the Hall

First Communion: Saturday 6th June @ 11am

Anyone wishing to be involved in the music at 11.30am mass next Sunday please assemble at the Church at 10.45am to prepare.

2 adorers required for First Friday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament between 2.00 & 2.30pm.. 1 adorer required between 12.30pm &1.00pm

.

Lenten Talks each Sunday evening at 6.30pm in
Parochial Hall with the theme of Vocations; speakers are:

Sunday 1st March Fr Sean McKenna PP (Ballymagroarty)
Sunday 8th March Sr Eileen McElhone
Sunday 22nd March Dr Tom McGinley (Foyle Hospice)
Sunday 29th March Grainne McGroarty (single person from Moville)
Sunday 5th April Mickey Harte

All are very welcome and hopefully many will avail of this opportunity.

Altar Servers: W’days:R McPeake Vigil: A McGoldrick
9am:TJ McErlean 11.30am: P Stuart

Readers for the month of March
Vigil Mass: Teresa O’Hagan 9.00am: Brigid Scullion 11.30am: Sheila Fullerton

Daily Readers (March)
Mon: Fidelma McClenaghan Tues:Madeline Scullion Wed: Brigid Scullion
Thurs: Anne Scullion Friday: Anne Scott.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS SCHEDULE
Weekend of 7th March & 8th March
Vigil: Gertrude Toner, Barry Cassidy, Ronan McErlean.
9.00am: Betty Campbell, Dympna Gallagher, Pauline McGoldrick.
11.30: Pat Henry, Tom McGoldrick, Madeline Scullion.
Weekdays: week commencing 1st March.
Morning: Ann Scullion Evening : Gerry Diamond

ALTAR SOCIETY MARCH: Kathleen McGahey & Maureen Cassidy

Children’s Liturgy Teams March:
Vigil: Bernie Quigley, Clare Quinn, Edel Quigley.
11.30am: Fidelma McClenaghan, Helen McErlean, Lauren Agnew

Car Park Attendants: March—Francis Diamond & Chris Diamond.
We appeal for more volunteers for this very important task.

Church cleaners for March Anne McErlean, Betty Doherty &
Noeleen Heaney.

COLLECTORS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH

Vigil Mass 9.00 am 11.30am.
Patsy McErlean
(Ballynease Rd) Sean Larkin Patsy McErlean
(Ballymacombs)
Brendan McGoldrick James McCann James A Kearney
Brendan Loughlin

Anniversaries: Frankie Mullen, Shauna McElhone, Jim Scullion,
Mary Jane Milne, Kathleen O’Boyle, Annie Quinn, Jackie Gribbin,
John Joe Brennan, Peter McErlean, Kathleen Toner.

Parish Draw Winners ( Wk. 21).

£500 Aisling O’Donnell Toomebridge 1934 Maura McErlain
£200 Daire O’Sullivan, Oldtown Rd 1783 Marian Diamond
£200 Maureen Friel, William St 1285 Maureen Friel
£100 Dermot Doherty, Ballynease 1206 Rosemary McCauley

Comhaltas Notes: 20th March is Daffodil Day—Bellaghy branch will be holding a session in McKennas Bar on Fri 20th @ 9.30pm.
All proceeds in aid of Marie Curie. Any donations would be most welcome.
Irish Dancing Class & Line Dancing Class have both resumed

St Malachy’s Castledawson

Lotto No’s 1, 7, 12, 17.
Lucky Dip winners Mick Wylie & Phil Rocks. Jackpot capped @£5000.
Senior/Reserve challenge matches v Cookstown @ Broagh today
Sun @ 12.45 & 1.50pm

Marriage Encounter is a weekend away Fri 8pm—Sun 5pm for married couples of all ages in a stable relationship. The dates for the next weekend are 27th—29th Mar, Dromantine Conference Centre, Newry. Tel 028 90626503

St Mary’s P.S are collecting Tesco Vouchers and would welcome vouchers towards buying computer and sports equipment. These can be left in the school at any time.

Owen Roes Accordion Band Rocktown practice every Mon @ 8pm for any boy or girl who would like to learn accordion. Tel 79386853

St John Bosco Youth Club
Dancing Class: Mondays at 7pm. Tuesday: Under 12’s 6.30pm-8.30pm
Wednesday: over 12’s 7pm—9pm Thursday: over 12’s 7pm—9pm

School Reunion, St Mary’s College , Clady.
Calling years 1973, 1974 & 1975
Venue Wild Duck Inn, Portglenone on 1st May 2009 commencing @ 8.30pm with Buffet Supper followed by disco. Adm £10
Proceeds in aid of New Palliative Care Unit. AAH
Contact Bernie McKenna 07843739836 or Marie McCann 07732267498

Parochial Hall Activities:
Monday @ 8.30pm -
BINGO Lines £20.Houses £40
Commencing 2nd Feb
Snowball on last house £500 starting on 43 numbers or £200 on usual full house.
Books £7. Flyer £1
Wed nights—WHIST

Ceili in Parochial Hall on
Sat 4th April @ 9.30pm. Music by Lifford Ceili Band. Proceeds in aid of Building Fund.

St Joseph’s Ballyscullion

Mass Times
Sunday @ 10.00am

Eucharistic Minister for next Sunday
Kathleen McErlain

Reader for March
Seamus Laverty

Collectors for March:
EdmondO’Donnell &
Benny Duffin

ALTAR SOCIETY:
Claire Duffin & Mary Duffin

Friday is First Friday. Mass at 8pm
Confessions before mass.
The Sick and Housebound will be
attended on Friday

St Ergnat’s GAC

Lotto No’s 12, 13, 17, 18.
£50 Anne Marie McCormack
£25 Daultagh Donnelly &
Hugh Carey. Jackpot now £1900.

Fixtures. Sun 1st M’glass v Kilclief 1pm

Sat 7th O’Cahan Cup
M’glass v Ballymena

Sun 8th U14 Feile 12noon M’glass v
St Endas

Wed 4th Mar @ 7.30pm information evening for parents of boys & girls U16 to U6 on youth team development

All present youth coaches to attend.

Congratulations to Conor Boyd on his All Ireland Scor Na Og success.

Newbridge Comhaltas
Thurs 5th March starts with junior session at 7.30pm.
Adm £2 includes light supper.
All welcome.

Children in Crossfire are recruiting
enthusiastic people to participate in Trek Peru in Nov 2009. A £250 registration fee is required and min sponsorship applies. Contact Sarah 028 71269898 or visit www.trekperu2009.com

Weddings:
Weddings must be confirmed in
Person. If a wedding is postponed or cancelled please let us know right away.

Baptisms:
1st Saturday of the month &
3rd Sunday of the month

Accord (Catholic Marriage Care Service)
Provides confidential counselling for couples or individuals who are experiencing problems in their relationships.
Accord also runs marriage preparation courses throughout the year. For further information on our services call 796 42983

Baptisms: To book a Baptism please contact the Parish Office 028 79386259

Weddings: Please check your wedding day details with Parish Office before you finalise your other arrangements for the day; 6 months in advance is advisable

New Cemetery: we request that no headstone should exceed 3ft 6` in width; and the height should be in keeping with the rest of the graves.