Sunday 22nd February 2009

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.

“His Eminence Keith Cardinal O’Brien, Archbishop of St Andrew and
Edinburgh will be making an official visit to the Diocese on Monday, 23rd and Tuesday, 24th of Feb. He will be Principal Celebrant at Mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral on the morning of Tuesday, 24th Feb at 10.00am to which you are all welcome. Cardinal O’Brien will be available after the Mass to meet and greet those who come along.”

Mass Times
Mon & Fri 7.30pm
Tues, Wed & Thurs 9.30am

Vigil (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

Confirmation: Next Sunday 1st March
at 11.30am Mass with Bishop Hegarty
Rehearsal on Friday after 7.30pm Mass. Sponsors please attend.

Anniversaries

Roseanne Campbell, Margaret Hughes, Mick McErlean,
John Boyle, Teresa McCann, Michael & Rose McCartney,
Enda Scullion.

Confirmation: Sunday 1st March @ 11.30am.
First Communion: Saturday 6th June @ 11am

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:A McGoldrick Vigil: TJ McErlean
9am:P Stuart 11.30am: R McPeake

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 28th February & 1st March
Vigil: Gerry Diamond, Colette Glackin, Elizabeth Davidson, Shauna Higgins.
9.00am: Celine McCann, Margaret J Diamond, Isobel Diamond.
11.30: Josephine Brennan, Kathleen O’Neill, Rosemary Devine.
Weekdays: week commencing 22nd February.
Morning: Elizabeth Davidson Evening : Kathleen O’Neill

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

Children’s Liturgy Teams February:
Vigil: Rosemary Scullion, Margaret McCartney & Kathleen O’Neill.
11.30am: Deirdre, Eimear & Claire Diamond.
Meeting for Teams on Thursday 26th @ 7.30pm

Parish Draw Winners ( Wk. 20).

£500 Teresa Quinn, B’nease Rd 2533 Kathleen McErlean
£200 Hannah McCauley, B’nease Rd 1197 Rosemary McCauley
£200 Claire Heaney, Castledawson 1261 Tom O’Kane
£100 Twin Campbells, B’dermott Rd 1088 Kathleen Diamond

.
Bellaghy Camogie Notices: There will be a club meeting on Tues 24th at 7pm to make arrangements for club registrations along with other issues. All club members please attend.

Comhaltas Notes: music classes are now full to capacity. Fees are now due.
Anyone wishing to enrol for next year please contact Manus McShane ASAP due to demand.
Branch Meeting on Fri 20th Feb @ GAA Club after class.
Irish Dancing Class & Line Dancing Class have both resumed.
St Malachy’s Castledawson - Lotto No’s 2, 7, 12, 23.
Lucky Dip winners Bronagh McLaughlin & Susanna Kealey.
Jackpot capped @£5000.

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

Alzheimer’s Society Mid Ulster Branch—Caring for Carers starts on Thurs 26th Feb @ 7.30pm. Fourth Thursday of every month Magherafelt Day
Centre. Tel Louise Hughes 028 86765888.

A one day retreat for senior Citizens and their friends form Derry and
surrounding areas on Thurs 26th Feb 10.30am—5pm. Cost £15 includes four course lunch. Payment at Centre on day. Tel 71262512.

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

Niamh McGlinchey will be appearing on RTE 1 on Sunday evening @ 6.30pm, in the Talent Show.. She needs your vote!!!!

St Joseph’s Ballyscullion

Mass Times
Sunday @ 10.00am

Wednesday is Ash Wednesday:
It is a day of both fast and abstinence.
Blessing of Ashes and Mass at 8.00pm
We welcome into God’s Family through Baptism:
Rossa Francis Duffin, Loughbeg Rd

Eucharistic Minister for next Sunday
Gerard Trainor
Reader for March
Seamus Laverty

Collectors for March:
EdmondO’Donnell &
Benny Duffin

ALTAR SOCIETY:
Claire Duffin & Mary Duffin

St Ergnat’s GAC
Lotto No’s 3, 15, 17, 21. £50 Donal Laverty £25 Mary Leonard & George Laverty.Jackpot now £1850.
Tickets on sale for Blind Date & Crazy Folkers 28th March Tel 79650818
U16 boys training will commence Mon 23rd Feb @ 7.30pm sharp @ Toome.
Chip Poker night in Club Rooms 28th Feb 9pm
SENIOR MATCH
Moneyglass v Kilcleaf(Co Down)
On Sun 1st March @1.00pm

Youth 2000
Welcome family, friends and community to our End of
Retreat Mass today Sunday at 2.30pm in Termonbacca, Derry. This mass is always inspirational, showing thanks that our faith is alive. A great event not to be missed. Hope to see you there.

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

THE JOYS OF PRIESTHOOD
Who would want to be a priest?
If the sermon is long : “He sends us to sleep”
If it’s short: “He didn’t bother to prepare it”
If he raises his voice: “He is shouting”
If he speaks normally: “You can’t hear him”
If he is away: “He’s always on the road”.
If he’s at home: “He never goes anywhere”.
If he’s out visiting: “He’s never at home”
If he’s in the house: “He never visits people”
If he talks finance: “He’s fond of money”
If he doesn’t: “He’s letting the parish run down”.
If he takes his time: “ He’d wear you out”.
If he doesn’t: “He never listens”
If he starts Mass on time: “His watch must be fast”
If he starts a minute late:“He holds everyone up”
If he’s young: “He has no experience”
If he’s old: “He ought to retire”
And if he dies, or is changed: “No one could ever replace him”.

ANNUAL DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
ANNUAL DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES: Bishop Hegarty states that, regrettably, due to a prohibitive increase in cost, the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes will not take place this year

Youth 2000 Catholic Weekend
20th—22nd Feb @ Iona Centre,
Termonbacca, Derry for those aged
16-35yrs.
Contact Natasha 07791420037 or visit
Www.youth2000.ie
Booking essential also parental consent required for those aged under 18

St Mary’s Primary School are privileged to offer a limited number of places to parents of children attending St Mary’s P.S on “incredible years parent training course.” This 12 week course is funded by Health Trust each
Fri 9.15am-11.15am from Fri 20th Feb. Training will cover aspects of
helping children through play; effective use of praise; setting boundaries etc.
Visit www.incredibleyears.com
As expected demand will be high please return reply slips as soon as possible

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

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.