PORTSTEWART PARISH 29th November 2015
First Sunday of Advent
Readings: Sunday C/Weekday 2 Psalter: Week 1 Fr. Austin McGirr PP 7083 2534 / 07739 223295 Email: pp@portstewartparish.co.uk Fr. Raymond McCullagh 07739 223293 Parish Secretary: Ruth McGuckian 7083 2534 Office email: secretary@portstewartparish.co.uk Website: www.portstewartparish.co.uk St Vincent de Paul: 07508 549 572 Bethany Bereavement: 07743 310 846 MASSES THIS WEEK Star of the Sea: Monday – Saturday 9.30am Portrush: Monday – Friday 10.00am St Malachy’s: Tuesday and Thursday 7.00pm; Wednesday and Friday 10.00am Sunday Vigil Mass here: 6.00pm Sunday: 9am, 11am and 8pm EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the Marian Hall from 10am to 9pm every Thursday. PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR DECEMBER That all may experience the mercy of God, who never tires of forgiving. REST IN PEACE Recent: Catherine Crawford, Gerard Bradley, Lucille Jones, baby Cabhán Keenan (son of Ryan and Sarah – funeral Mass Tuesday 11.30am) A month ago: Mary Crerand (Month’s Mind Mass this Saturday at 6pm) Anniversaries: Jimmy Loughrey (25), Nan McNamee, Dan O’Connor (27), Teresa Davies (30), Kathleen Kelly (1) SPECIAL RELIEF COLLECTION Our special parish collection for the relief of refugees raised £6052 which has been sent to Trocaire and St Vincent de Paul and will be put towards alleviating the suffering of those forced to leave their homes and possessions in search of a safe place to live. Thank you for your outstanding generosity. COLLECTIONS Last weekend’s parish collection came to £2187. Thank you for your continued support.
PARISH CENTRE 29 NOV – 5 DEC Sun: Malawi Sunday Kitchen & Car Boot Sale 0900 – 1400 Innova Irish Dance 1530 – 1900 Mon: U3A Pilates 1000 – 1200 U3A Spanish 1100 – 1200 Art Class 1130 – 1330 Weightwatchers 1730 – 1830 Karate 1845 – 2045 Art Class 1930 – 2130 Tues: Little Stars Parent & Toddlers 1030 – 1200 U3A French 1400 – 1700 U3A Whist 1415 – 1645 Innova Irish Dance 1700 – 1830 Legion of Mary 1930 Bowling Club 1900 – 2200 Wed: Zest Fitness 1000 – 1130 U3A Bridge 1400 – 1700 Innova Irish Dance 1700 – 1900 Junior Choir 1900 – 2000 Portstewart Bridge 1930 – 2230 Thurs: U3A Pilates 1600 – 1700 Innova Irish Dance 1700 – 1900 Bowling Club 1900 – 2200 Fri: Zumba Gold 1030 – 1130 Seated Tai Chi 1130 – 1230 U3A Bridge 1400 – 1700 Junior Legion 1700 Flame Club 1830 – 2030 Sat: Apostolic Coffee Morning 1015 – 1200 Innova Irish Dance 1230 – 1730
CAUSEWAY FOOD BANK Help feed people in need. Food collection in Tesco Portstewart from 3rd – 5th December. Tesco will top up 30% of what is collected in store. If you would like to volunteer please contact Causeway Food Bank 7032 6161
EOGHAN RUA GAC Lotto: Sun 22nd Nov - no jackpot winner. Nos: 9,13,20,23. £25 winner: Trudi Donnelly (Coleraine). Jackpot next Sunday: £3500. Adult Irish classes Wednesday 8 to 9.30pm. Ladies Football Training – Sunday mornings from 11am to 12.15pm. All welcome – no previous football experience necessary – just an interest and a willingness to get fit, compete and have fun!! Presentation Night for our Underage (U12 – U16) players in football, hurling & camogie and Launch of the Eoghan Rua Academy in The Lodge Hotel, Coleraine on Friday 4th December from 7- 9pm. All welcome. Annual General Meeting in the clubrooms Sunday 6th December at 3pm.
FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION Tuesday 8th December is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and is a Holy Day of Obligation. Masses in our parish are at 7.30pm on 7th Dec and 9.30am and 11.00am on 8th Dec. 8th Dec is also the 50th anniversary of the conclusion of the Second Vatican Council. Pope Francis has designated this the first day of a Year of Mercy. Pastoral Letter from our bishop and details of the diocesan plans for the Year of Mercy will be available next Sunday.
PARISH CELL PRAYER GROUP The next meeting of the Cell Prayer Group will be on Monday 30th November at 8pm. All welcome. If you are interested in finding out more please Mary 07769 885710/7083 6330 or Terry 07783 117077. PARISH CENTENARY BOOK Following the launch of the book celebrating 100 years of the church of St Mary’s, Star of the Sea, copies are now on sale in the Repository priced £5 per copy. Special centenary candles are also on sale for £1. The book has lots of old and new photographs, articles by parishioners, nuns and bishops.
MEALS ON WHEELS PORTSTEWART Our AGM will be held on Thursday 3rd December at 7.30pm in the Town Hall. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer but unable to attend the AGM should contact Shawn Davies 7083 3520 APOSTOLIC WORK CHRISTMAS COFFEE MORNING AND SALE Saturday 5th December at 10.15am in the Parish Centre. Admission £2 includes tea/coffee, mince pies and shortbread – children free. Donations of home baking, gifts and prizes will be much appreciated. There is also a raffle for a Christmas hamper – tickets on sale after masses during the week and at the Coffee Morning. Apostolic Work supports some of the poorest people in the world. This includes feeding programmes for children, educational projects and helping priests and religious groups with funds to assist their pastoral work. CHRISTMAS FLOWER ARRANGING Eoghan Rua clubrooms on Saturday 5th December from 11am- 1pm. Oasis, pots, expert guidance, refreshments and good craic all provided. If you can bring some greenery etc. and recycled pots from last year that would be great. All welcome.
SENIOR CITIZENS’ CHRISTMAS LUNCH The annual SVP Lunch will be held on Wednesday 9th December at 12 for 12.30pm in the Cromore Halt. Donation: £10. Please sign the list at the back of the church and indicate your menu choice by 2nd December. CANTEMUS IN CONCERT ‘Cantemus’ will be in Star of the Sea on Friday 11th December at 7.30pm. The concert will be compered by Helen Mark and followed by tea and mince pies in the Parish Centre. Tickets: £5 available from the Repository. ‘DOWN TO EARTH’ COOKBOOK Paula McIntyre will be in La Lola on the Promenade signing copies of her new Down to Earth cookbook on Saturday 12th December from 2 – 5pm. Great Christmas present!
CHRISTMAS CARDS Habitat for Humanity Christmas cards on sale in the Repository from this weekend. £4 for Pack of 10 contemporary and traditional designs. All proceeds will help build houses, community and hope in Ethiopia. As always your support would be very much appreciated. CHRISTMAS CARD DELIVERY SERVICE The Portstewart Committee for Cancer Research UK are again delivering Christmas cards in the town for 35p per card (2nd class post is currently 54p). Please support the charity by bringing your cards with Portstewart addresses to Morellis on the Prom on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th December between 9am and 5pm. LOURDES 2016 The Diocese is currently seeking doctors (post foundation training) and nurses (on the NMC live register) to join the volunteer staff of the Diocesan Pilgrimage (11-16th July 2016). For more information please lourdes@downandconnor.org ST. COLUM'S PRE-SCHOOL CENTRE 2016/17 Was your child born between 2 July 2012 and 1 July 2013? If so then you are entitled to a funded Pre-school place starting in September 2016. Application forms are now available from St. Colum's Pre-school Centre or from www.eani.org.uk/admissions. Closing date for lodging an application form is 12 noon Wednesday 13 January 2016. EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS Copies of the December rota are now available in the Sacristy. ADVENT SERVICE AT ST MALACHY’S We invited to attend an Advent Service of prayers and readings this Monday 30th November at 7.30pm in St Malachy’s Coleraine. IF YOU WOULD LIKE FRESH NEWS . . . The parish will send you fresh, up-to-the-minute news of events, celebrations, results, deaths, births, marriages IF you send an email to us and just put in NEWS. It will be done. SAVVY SURFER REQUIRED Our parish website is busy now with the Centenary Year and the Year of Mercy. Is anyone prepared to spend a bit of time taking the information and having it placed on the website please? Contact Fr Austin.
JEFF CAVINS Quite a few parishioners benefited from making the trip to Belfast last Saturday to hear Jeff Cavins in the Waterfront Hall. His scripture course “A Quick Journey Through the Bible” will be presented in Ballymoney Parish Hall starting on Sunday night 31st Jan 2016 7.30pm – 9.00pm and continuing until the evening of Palm Sunday. The course is a mixture of DVD presentations by Jeff and small group discussion and has been organised and presented by members of the North Connor Pastoral Community Team (formerly PAT). All six parishes (including our own) are being invited.