ST. PATRICK’S, BALLYPHILIP THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

TH 24 January 2021

Fr Feargal McGrady PP Tel: 028 427 28234 Web: www.portaferryparish.com Email: [email protected] Office: 028 427 28373, Monday – Friday 9.00am – 1.00pm

St. Vincent de Paul Helpline 07508549701 Leave a message or Text

This Weeks Diary: Monday 25th January: The Conversion of St Paul, Apostle Tuesday 26th January: Ss Timothy & Titus, Bishops Wednesday 27th January: St Angela Merici, Virgin Thursday 28th January: St Thomas Aquinas, Priest & Doctor Saturday 30th January: St Aidan, Bishop

Our prayers are requested for the happy repose of the souls of Declan Clarke and Eileen Smyth, recently deceased and for the following whose anniversaries occur around this time: Kieran Mageean (First Anniversary), Doran, James Murray, Aiden Faloona, Charlie Conlan, Sarah McGrattan, Patrick McGrath, Ann Crawford, Vincent Coulter, John Smyth, Helen Owens, James Owens, Paddy & Margaret Curran, Patrick Hinds, Anthony McMullan, Peter Tomelty, John Gerard Mason, Desmond & Bernadette Conlan, Sally Lennon, Peter Smyth, Andy & Jane Ross, John Mahon, Eileen Milligan, Margaret Lennon, Joshua Kelly. May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace, Amen.

MASS TIMES St Patrick’s Church, Portaferry via Webcam @ www.churchmedia.tv Sunday: 11.00am Monday: 7.00pm, , 7.30pm Mass Tuesday 9.00am, Rosary, 9.30am Mass (Ballygalget Webcam) Wednesday: 7.00pm Rosary, 7.30pm Mass Thursday: 9.00am Rosary, 9.30am Mass Friday: 9.00am Rosary, 9.30am Mass 10.00am Saturday: 9.30am Mass, 10.00am Rosary 6.30pm Vigil Mass Churches will remain open for Private Prayer Only, All Masses will be live streamed and can be viewed from www.churchmedia.tv will continue on Fridays 11am – 6pm in St Cooey’s Oratory. Suggestions for watching Mass via Webcam • Dress as you would for Mass. • Have your technology ready and be on time. • Turn off any technology that might distract you during Mass. • If possible, join in the Mass as a family and have a member light a candle before Mass begins, perhaps beside a cross or another sacred image. • Share in the responses, prayers and gestures of the Mass. • Stand for the Gospel and Our Father; kneel as appropriate if you can. • Join in the singing. • At the time of Holy Communion, make an act of . • And finally, when Mass is ended go in peace from this prayer to live what you have prayed. In these darkest of days, our keeping of Sunday can give us exactly the light, sustenance and grace we need to carry us through the rest of our week. Sunday is God’s gift to us. It’s up to us to do the unwrapping.

Diocesan Directories are available from The Rock Bakery, or the Parish Office, Price £4. Includes updated list of Priests, City & Country Parishes, Church Services, Diocesan Bodies, Religious Orders & Pastoral Organisations, Schools & Colleges, Index of deceased bishops and priests 1960 – 2019.

Anniversary Masses can be booked through the parish office. If you want an anniversary mentioned at Mass please either ring the office or send the name via email: [email protected]

Date for your Diary: Ballygalget Confirmation Friday 23rd April 2021 at 1.00pm

Parish collection envelopes can be left through the letter box at the Parish Office 15, Church Street, or the Parochial House, Windmill Hill. If anyone would like to contribute via Standing Order, please contact the Parish Office for our bank details, Tel 028 427 28373, Mon – Fri 9am – 1pm.

Statement by the Northern Catholic Bishops Re extension of the Covid-19 Shut-down by the Northern Ireland Executive to 5th March 2021.

Yesterday afternoon the Northern Ireland Executive took the unanimous decision to extend the current Covid-19 restrictions until Friday 5th March 2021. This decision was based on the strong recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer and the Chief Scientific Advisor, as a result of the continued extremely high level of transmission of the Covid-19 virus throughout the community (which over these last four weeks had not reduced to the level that had been hoped for), along with the increasing numbers in hospital and intensive care. In the light of this decision, and on the basis of the clear and unequivocal public health advice that people should continue to stay at home, the Northern Catholic Bishops have decided that, until 5 March (but subject to ongoing review in line with any change to the public health advice), the celebration of the Eucharist and other liturgies should continue to take place without the physical presence of the faithful. Marriage, funeral, baptismal liturgies and drive-in services may continue (subject to strict safety guidelines and regulations). Arrangements for recording and/or livestreaming and making individual visits for private prayer are also permissible in accordance with regulations. We encourage parishes, where possible, to continue to broadcast the celebration of Mass - and other devotions and prayer services - online and on other media, knowing that faith and prayer can be a tremendous support to individuals and society during these difficult times. We once more make this decision reluctantly, conscious of the pain that not being able to gather for public worship causes for all the faithful, but in the hope that this period of sacrifice is inspired by the command of Jesus to love our neighbours and undertaken for the protection of life and health and for the Common Good. We continue to ask for prayers for the sick, the bereaved and all those whose livelihoods have been particularly impacted by the pandemic. We keep especially in mind all health workers, carers, chaplains and other essential workers. We welcome the announcement that a similar position is being taken by the leaders of the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, the Methodist Church in Ireland and many other denominations and faith communities in response to the unequivocal message from public health authorities that as many people as possible stay at home at this time. Most Rev Eamon Martin DD Archbishop of Armagh & Primate of All-Ireland Apostolic Administrator of Dromore

Most Rev Noel Treanor DD Bishop of Down and Connor

Most Rev Donal McKeown DD Bishop of Derry

Most Rev Larry Duffy DD Bishop of Clogher

Most Rev Michael Router DD Auxiliary Bishop of Armagh

Prayer to Saint Joseph Blessed Joseph, husband of Mary, be with us this day. You protected and cherished the Virgin; loving the Child Jesus as your Son, you rescued him from danger of death. Defend the Church, the household of God, purchased by the blood of Christ.

Guardian of the holy family, be with us in our trials. May your prayers obtain for us the strength to flee from error and wrestle with the powers of corruption so that in life we may grow in holiness and in death rejoice in the crown of victory. Amen An Act of Spiritual Communion My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my Soul. Since I cannot at the moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen

Mary’s Meals Campaign Despite the challenges of another lockdown, we embrace the start of a new year with the hope of better times and continue to be inspired by your love and support for our work. This January, as many of us turn our minds to achieving new resolutions and personal goals, the Miles For Mary’s Meals campaign is the perfect way to fulfil your new year’s resolutions while making a long-lasting difference to the world’s poorest children. Whether it’s taking on a regular run, getting on your bike or upping your daily step count, there are lots of different ways you can take part. Simply set yourself an active challenge and make a donation, or ask for sponsorship from friends and family for every mile that you achieve. And thanks to Double The Love, your miles will go even further! Give until 31 January 2021, and the UK government will match public donations, up to £2 million, helping us to reach more hungry children in Liberia. Please ensure that you take part in your chosen challenge safely and follow Covid-19 restrictions in your local area. Contact us at Mary's Meals E: [email protected]

WEDNESDAY 27 JANUARY 2021 - from the Holocaust Memorial Day team at The Executive Office. It is important that we continue to remember those who lost their lives in the Holocaust and subsequent genocides and that society learns lessons from the past to create a better future for all. Holocaust Memorial Day is a poignant commemoration and remains very important to all of us all. This year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been decided there will not be a regional stand-alone event in NI and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust will hold a virtual UK wide commemoration event online with local contributions being made to ceremony which will be broadcast on the evening of 27 January 2021. The public registration portal is now open at: www.hmdt.geteventaccess.com/registration And also at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/holocaust-memorial-day-2021-tickets130788236135

Knock offers virtual pilgrimages in unique times This year, as we find ourselves in unique and challenging times, pilgrimage Masses will be broadcast online from Knock Basilica every Sunday at 3pm. The schedule for the afternoon will include the praying of the Rosary at 2.30pm, followed by Mass and Benediction at 3pm. The celebrant will be Fr. Richard Gibbons, PP, Rector at . Daily Masses continue to be broadcast on the Knock Shrine website and Facebook page at 12 Noon and 7.30pm, with Rosary at 7pm. SUNDAY MASS IS BROADCAST AT 12 NOON, ROSARY AT 2.30PM and MASS AT 3PM. For further details, please see www.knockshrine.ie

4 Corners Festival Belfast This inter-denominational arts festival aimed at promoting reconciliation runs from January 31 to February 7. Because of the pandemic it is a purely on-line project with all events being available in the comfort of your home via “live” video streaming services such as Facebook and YouTube.

The theme is Breathe… The Hebrew word Ruach means ‘breath’ or ‘spirit’ – the source of life. And the festival aims to breathe hope and creativity into Belfast and further afield at a very difficult time. The keynote speaker is Prof John Paul Lederach, the internationally renowned author and conflict transformation expert from the University of Notre Dame in the United States. Morning and Night Prayer will be streamed throughout the festival. Night Prayer will be led by Jim Deeds, a pastoral worker in Down and Connor and his colleague, Paula McKeown, director of the diocesan Living Church Office will facilitate a workshop on resilience. There will be discussions on topics such as domestic abuse and racism and one of the moderators will be Seamus McKee.. Due to the lack of social contact the organisers cannot spread word about the festival as they normally do and must rely heavily on social media. So, they would appreciate if you could follow them on Facebook and Twitter and share their posts whenever you can. The Festival was co-founded in 2012 by Falls Road priest, Fr Martin Magill and Presbyterian minister, Rev Steve Stockman. Further details can be found at the website 4cornersfestival.com

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL Saint Michael the , defend us in our hour of battle; be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil; may God restrain him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the Power of God, thrust into hell and with him all the evil spirits, who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen

THE Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known, that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help of sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence I fly to You, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. Of Mother of the word incarnate, despise not my petition, but in Your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.