Parish News

Last week’s Weekly Offertory Promise collection amounted to £2174. Thank you .

Holy Child Primary School’s First Holy Communions will be celebrated this Saturday 17th May at 11.00am.

Parish Weekly Envelope boxes and Gift Aid forms are available from the Sacristy and the Parish Office.

Annual Diocesan Collection for our Student Priests: There are currently ten young men in training for priesthood for the diocese, three of whom, Dominic, Andrew and Conor, are deacons. The other students are James, Manuelito, Tony, James, Michael, Kevin and Christopher. Please remember them in your prayers. The second collection on the Fifth Sunday of Easter is the yearly collection for the education of our student priests. Thank you for your support of this collection last year. Your continued support of this annual church collection on Sunday 18^th May 2014 is again requested. Your financial contribution is another concrete way of supporting our students as they journey towards priesthood for service in our parishes.

Please check out the new Vocations Webpage for ways to support and pray for vocations: www.vocationsdownandconnor.org

Solemn Rosary For Our Lady’s Month. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Recited Rosary with hymns, and Solemn Benediction. Every Thursday of May 7:00pm— 8:00pm at St Agnes’ Church. All welcome.

Remember in prayer…

Recently deceased: Danny Murray; Paul Smyth.

Those whose anniversaries occur at this time: Paul Graham, Jean Quinn, Mary Loughran, Sadie & Barney Gillespie, Henry McKeown, Joe Devlin, Anne-Marie Murray, Raymond Aldridge, McGuinness family (deceased members), Josephine McDonnell, Tom & Annie Morgan, Dick Grehan, Danny & Kathleen Dunne.

What’s on locally

Parish Retreat to Drumalis Retreat Centre, Larne, will take place from Saturday 6th-Sunday 7th September 2014. All welcome. Contact: Pat Coey: 028 90617082.

Down & Connor Vocation Vigil, St Comgall’s Antrim, Thursday 15th May, 8pm-10pm. Prayer, Music, Witness””for Vocations. All ages welcome.

Down and Connor Pilgrimage to Fatima under the patronage of Bishop Noel Treanor. 14th-21st August 2014. 3-star hotels.£649 incl. Belfast-Dublin Airport return coach, return flight to Lisbon to Fatima, 7 nights full board. Based on sharing twin bedded rooms with facilities. Full religious progamme, directed by Fr Gerard McCloskey & Fr Sean Gilmore. Contact: Joe Catney (90714001 or Anna Prior (44841843.

Focolare “ Many streams, one river” Summer Gathering for all ages. Ballycastle 2nd-6th July 2014. For further information: email: mariapolis@focolare.ie or Tel: 028 90661028 or www.focolare.org/Ireland

Day Pilgrimage to Knock for Feast of The Visitation on 31 May. Foyer of Charity Day of Prayer. Bus leaves St Agnes at 7.30am. Bring packed lunch. Back approx. 10.30 pm.  Price £15. Contact: Pat 07946917354 or Sonia 07873444629.

Lough Derg -The Island is Calling YOU! 3 Day Pilgrimage to Lough Derg, Friday 6th  June — Sunday 8th June. Bus leaving from Catholic Chaplaincy. To book or  for further info. Contact: Gerry on 90812712 or Rosaleen 07976 199756.

Day of Prayer for our land: This annual day of prayer will take place in St. Anne’s Cathedral, Donegall Street on Saturday, May 17 (10.30am — 3.30pm). The theme this year will be ”˜Moving Forward Together’. Amongst the officiants will be Father Oliver Crilly, Father Ciaran Dallat and David O’Connor leader of John the Baptist, Koinonia. You will be welcome to join us.

Padre Pio Pilgrimage 2014, 25th July-1st August 6nights San Giovanni at Parco Della Rossa and 1 night Benevenuto at Grand Hotel Italiano. Meals included. Full itinerary escorted. Price €849 For information contact Annemarie at Joe Walsh Tours 0035312410800 or Joanne 02890228436.

Spiritual Direction Training at Drumalis, in association with Manresa Jesuit Centre of Spirituality, Dublin, is delighted to offer a two-year Diploma in Spiritual Direction beginning in Sep 2014. Further details available at www.manresa.ie or Drumalis Retreat Centre 028 28272196.

Living Youth Habitat for Humanity Gala Ball””A Diocesan Living Youth Team will be travelling to Ethiopia in July 2014 to build houses with Habitat for Humanity, the world’s leading housing charity. As part of their fundraising campaign a GALA BALL will be held on Friday 16th May in The Tullyglass House Hotel, Ballymena. Tickets £40/£400 per table. To reserve tickets or for more information please contact: Claire Smylie at clairesmylie@livingyouthni.org. or Tel: 028 9023243. Please help build homes and hope in Ethiopia.