Parish News …

Last week’s Weekly Offertory Promise Collection amounted to £2307

Christmas Offering £4280. Thank you for your generous financial support.

Special Ministers of Holy Communion: Meeting on Wednesday 14th January 2015 at 11am. Upstairs in the Parish Centre

Creating Pastoral Communities

Looking to the future Bishop Treanor is calling the diocese to create new Pastoral Communities. This is part of a dynamic which began with the Listening Process of 2011. This new proposal is  guided both by the vision of a co-responsible Church focused on mission and the realities which are manifested by the findings of the Diocesan Review which took place last Spring. The Diocese is currently engaged in a process to determine the boundaries of our new Pastoral Communities. You are invited to read the Consultation Document available on the Diocesan Website www.downandconnor.org.

You may remember that at the beginning of lent we had three weeks of gathering statistics of Mass attendance. At that same time every parish submitted its figures for baptisms, weddings, funerals and a good deal more. When the Mass attendance figures were compared with the 2011 Census, for those people who declared themselves Catholic, we found that the regular Sunday attendance across the diocese is 20%. While the regular Sunday attendance has fallen steeply in recent decades the number of baptisms, weddings and funerals has remained very high. We also know that at Christmas churches across the diocese were very full. One part of our response is the Bishop’s call for us to create new Pastoral Communities. These communities will have a population of at  least 20,000 Catholics, made up of at least three large parishes. The vision is that the clergy and laity in these communities will be able to work together and share resources much more effectively while still maintaining the sense of community of each individual parish. We clergy have had a chance to consider the proposal and respond. Now the Bishop invites you, the people to consider the proposal and respond.

Remember in Prayer…

Recently deceased: Maisie Kavanagh, Gabrielle Donnelly, Renee Collins, Maura Woods.

Those whose anniversaries occur at this time:  Gerry Carr, Peter Cunningham, Ethna Mc Kenna, Elizabeth O’Callaghan, Margaret Hernan, Eamonn Friel, Joe Edwards, Charlie Corr, Cornelius, Mary Ann &Mary Small, Phil O’Hara, Owen Mc Cann, Martin Duffy, John & Nora Mc Carthy, Mary Mc Morrow, Jarrod Mc Knight, Jim Cunningham, Tommy Kelly, Frances Mc Cotter, Mary Kennedy, Sarah & Bernard Burns, Patrick Murphy, Ellen & Tom Harte, Henrietta Turner, Anne Kelly, Kathleen Carey, Catherine & Luke Mc Cann, Gerry Hill, Bridget & Jack Mc Cusker, Jim Mc Greevy, Eileen Steenson, Margaret & William Burgoyne, Terence Maguire, Catherine Doherty, Kathleen Mullan, Winnie Christy, Mary Jane O’ Malley, Charles Magirr, Kathleen Teeney, Michael Mallon, Leo Wilson, Thomas Gallagher, John Cregan.

Whats on Locally…

Conway Education Centre: new programme for courses starting in January is now out. Courses in Indian Cookery, Baking, Sugarcraft, History, ICT Primary Curriculum, Social Networking, Web design, Digital Photography, Irish, Spanish. New courses commencing 19th January. Call into the centre from 5th January to enrol in courses.

St Patrick’s Parish Belfast: A 200th Anniversary Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi. Staying in the heart of Rome. Visiting the principal holy places of the Eternal City. Attendance at a Papal event in St Peter’s Square, Overnight in the city of Francis and St Clare. Travelling from 2””9 of October 2015 at a cost of 995 Euro ( approx, £780 per person sharing). An itinerary and booking forms are available from the parish office.

Dromantine Retreat Centre: 16th””18th January.  Retreat Ireland would like to welcome you to their Annual Conference from Friday 16th at 6pm until Sunday 18th Jan until 2pm. The theme will be “ Surprised by Mercy”: The Vision of Pope Francis with Fr Michael Paul Gallagher sj. The programme includes, input, reflection, sharing and prayer. The cost of a residential stay is £150, a non-residential will be £100 and a Saturday will be £50. For further enquires contact Dromantine Conference Centre on 02830 821964.

Walk the Camino — The Way of St James: Camino de Santiago ”” Sections from the Pyrenees to Santiago. 22nd — 28th May 2015. 6 Nights Hotel Accommodation, with Breakfast and dinner daily. Coach and back-up bus with group throughout, Walk leader  with group throughout, All airport and local taxes, Travel insurance included. Flying from Dublin Airport. Cost £715.00 stg. SEATS ARE LIMITED Single room supplement is extra. £100.00 deposit secures a seat! For further details contact: Jean Reynolds 02844 830979 or email: jeanreynolds@hotmail.co.uk.

Andersonstown Traditional & Contemporary Music School. Classes commencing January 2015. If interested in joining music classes, contact the school’s office on 02890 434894 or email admin@atcms.freeserve.co.uk.

St Mary’s Christian Brothers’ Grammar School Open Night: Thursday 15th January 2015 at 7.30pm. All enquiries to the Principal Tel 02890 294000.

DE LA SALLE COLLEGE Open Night: Tuesday 13th January. Address by Principal at 7pm.

Rathmore Grammar School Open Day: Saturday 24th January 2015  9.30am-1pm. Address by Principal at 9.30am and 11.00am.

Corpus Christi College Open Night: Monday 12th January 2015. Principals address at 7pm.

Andersonstown Traditional & Contemporary Music School. Classes commencing January 2015. If interested in joining music classes, contact the school’s office on 02890 434894 or email admin@atcms.freeserve.co.uk.

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