PORTSTEWART PARISH 3rd January 2016
Second Sunday of Christmas
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Readings: Sunday C/Weekday 2 Psalter: Week 2 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
TRAVELLING SERVICE Sunday 3rd January This annual ecumenical event on the first Sunday of the year starts at 11.30am at the Methodist Church, Heathmount, Portstewart and moves to the nearby Portstewart Presbyterian Church, then Agherton Church of Ireland parish hall and finally to Star of the Sea. It is a service of prayers, hymns and readings at each of the four churches in the town. The service ends around 12.30pm with refreshments in the Town Hall. About 250 people turn up each year. Why not join them for this 16th birthday celebration of the Travelling Service? There will be no Mass at 11.00am, but there will be an evening Mass at 8.00pm.
MASSES THIS WEEK This Sunday 3rd January: Mass at 9am and 8pm – NO 11am MASS – TRAVELLING SERVICE Monday – Friday: Mass at 9.30am Saturday: Mass at 9.30am and Sunday Vigil at 6pm Sunday: Mass at 9am, 11am and 8pm
PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR JANUARY That sincere dialogue among men and women of different faiths may produce the fruits of peace and justice.
MARIAN CLUB The Wednesday morning Marian Club will be back on Wednesday 13th January after the 9.30am Mass.
one night does not suit. The Principal will speak at 7pm, followed by a tour of the school to meet students and staff.
THE YEAR OF MERCY Pope Francis has inaugurated a Year of Mercy. He hopes this will be “a special time for the Church”: a time to “gaze more attentively on mercy so that we may become a more effective sign of the Father’s action in our lives.” A Door of Mercy for the Diocese has been opened in St Patrick’s Church, Donegall St., Belfast. Invitations to visit the church during the Year of Marcy are available at our church doors. The opening times of the Door of Mercy are given, as well as the times of Sunday Masses in St Patrick’s. There is also a Door of Mercy in Clonard. Bishop Treanor’s Pastoral Letter for the Year of Mercy is available on-line. There is a one-page flier summarising the plans in the diocese at the church doors. www.downandconnor.org
EOGHAN RUA GAC Lotto: Sun 27th Dec - no jackpot winner. Nos: 1,2,3,22. £25 winner: Grace Hardy (Coleraine). Jackpot next Sunday: £4000.
An Information Day for Prospective Sixth Formers will be held on Fri 12th February 2016. Contact the school for further details 7083 2715
REST IN PEACE Recent: Marie McGeown, Canon George O’Hanlon, Ann Bernadette Rimmington (Req. Mass Thursday at 2.00pm) One Month Ago: Cabhán Keenan – month’s mind Sunday 3rd at 8pm Anniversaries: Seamus Mulholland (1), Johnny Madden (2), Celia Holmes, Agnes McLaughlin, Rose Trolan,James Orrell, Marie Kennedy (3), Lily O’Doherty (4), Michael Lagan (6) and James Grey (7).
PARISH CENTENARY BOOK Celebrating 100 years of the church of St Mary’s, Star of the Sea, copies of the Centenary Book are now on sale in the Repository priced £5. Special centenary candles are also on sale for £1. The book has lots of old and new photographs, articles by parishioners, nuns and bishops.
COLLECTIONS Last weekend’s parish collection came to £1615. Thank you for your continued support. PARISH CENTRE Mon: U3A Pilates Weightwatchers Karate Tues: Innova Irish Dance Bowling Club Legion of Mary Wed: Zest Fitness U3A Bridge Innova Irish Dance Portstewart Bridge Thurs: U3A Pilates Innova Irish Dance Bowling Club Fri: U3A Bridge Junior Legion Flame Club Sat: Zest Pilates Innova Irish Dance
3 – 9 JANUARY 1000 – 1200 1730 – 1830 1845 – 2045 1700 – 1900 1900 – 2200 1930 1000 – 1130 1400 – 1700 1700 – 1900 1930 – 2230 1600 – 1700 1700 – 1900 1900 – 2200 1400 – 1700 1700 1830 – 2030 0915 – 1015 1030 – 1730
FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY Wed 6th January Vigil Mass Tuesday 5th January at 7.30pm Masses on Wednesday 6th January at 9.30am & 11am
KARATE CLUB We are back in training every Monday night. New members are always welcome. Juniors 6.45 - 7.30 and seniors 7.30 - 8.45. More info on our facebook page - JKA Portstewart Karate Club. Next grading will be held on the 30th January.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Eucharistic Adoration takes place in the Marian Hall from 10am to 9pm every Thursday.
LITTLE STARS PARENT & TODDLER GROUP Reopens for the new term on Tuesday 12th January.
GET FIT IN 2016 in the PARISH CENTRE Wed 10.15am - 11am Cardio workout 45 minutes of fat burning and toning to music(aerobics, balls, circuits, HIIT, combat etc) £5. Weight Management and Exercise £6.50 (from 10am) Saturday 9.15 -10.15am Fitness Pilates Starts Saturday 9th January £24 Please pre-book Barbara 07736963223 /zestrfl@hotmail.com JUNIOR CHOIR Rehearsals take place at 13 Burnside Road on Wednesday evenings from 6 – 7pm. New members always welcome!
BISHOP NOEL TRAINOR’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE A4 copies of the bishop’s Christmas Message are available at the church doors and on line at www.downandconnor.org PARISH CELL PRAYER GROUP The next meeting of the Cell Prayer Group will be on Monday 4thJanuary 2016 at 8pm. All are very welcome. If you are interested in finding out about the Cell Prayer Group please ring Mary 07769885710/ 7083 6330 or Terry 07783117077. OPPORTUNITY Part time SPRED Coordinator sought to help support fellow parishioners with learning disabled in our Diocese. Duties include providing training for our groups, giving presentations raising awareness and recruitment, administration and planning. 15 hours per week @ £8 per hour For more information and to apply, please contact or send CV to spreddc@gmail.com Closing date for applications 3rd January 2016 LORETO COLLEGE COLERAINE Parents, P6 and P7 pupils are invited to attend an Open Day on Saturday 9th January from 9.30am – 1.30pm. The Principal’s address will be at 9.30am for those who live West of the River Bann and 11.00am for those who live East of the River Bann. This arrangement gives you the opportunity to see the College comfortably both inside and outside. Year 12 students transferring to Sixth Form are also welcome to attend. We very much look forward to meeting you. DOMINICAN COLLEGE PORTSTEWART OPEN NIGHTS Wed 13th & Thurs 14th January 2016 from 7 – 9pm Parents, P7 pupils and other prospective students are warmly invited. To help manage numbers, could those attending schools in the Coleraine or Ballymoney areas come on Wednesday and those from Portstewart, Portrush and all other areas on Thursday. We are happy to see you on either night if
ST COLUM’S PRIMARY SCHOOL 2016/17 Children born between 2 July 2011 and 1 July 2012 must commence primary education in September 2016. Application forms may be obtained from St Colum’s School office, and must be returned by 12 noon on Wednesday 13 January 2016 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 NORTH CONNOR YOUTH PROJECT Are you 18 to 25? Could you give some time to work with young people in our parish? NCYP are organising a retreat on 15th – 17th January for anyone interested. Please contact: gottschalk.kerry@gmail.comCYP BEGINNERS’ BRIDGE Classes commence in Portstewart 15th January 2016. Please ring 7083 1000 for more information and registration. JEFF CAVINS Jeff Cavins’ 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). Parishioners from all six parishes (including our own) are being invited. To give an idea of numbers please let the parish office know if you plan to attend. THE DIOCESAN DIRECTORY 2016 This invaluable wee book is now on sale in the repository at £3.00. This year it features photographs of our Sheila – on the Portstewart parish page. 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 EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS Please collect your copy of the January rota from the Sacristy. LOST PROPERTY A ring was found in the church following the 9pm Mass on Christmas Eve. Please contact the parish office 7083 2534