1a Bryson Street, Belfast, BT5 4ES   |   Tel: 028 9045 7626  |  Fax: 028 9045 2456   |   Email: info@stmatthewsparish.org

WEEKLY BULLETIN- 7th March 2010

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ST MATTHEW’S CHURCH

No 21

7th March 2010

                                                    

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

            

               

                                                               SUNDAY MASSES

7pm Vigil

12 Noon Sunday

 

WEEKDAY MASSES

                                         Monday:                                                                                        10am

                                         Tuesday                                                                                       10am

                                         Wednesday                                Novena                                   7:30pm

                                         Thursday                                                                                      10am

                                         Friday                                                                                            10am

                                         Saturday                                                                                       11am

Sacrament of Reconciliation/Confession

Saturday 11.30 to 12.30pm & 6pm to 6.45pm

TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Fr Aidan - 90457626

St Matthew’s Primary School & Nursery - 90 457885

www.stmatthewsparish.org

 

Email: - st.matthews@btconnect.org

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Third Sunday of Lent                                                                                            7th March  2010

The Readings:

 

First Reading: Exodus 3:1 to 8 and 13 to 15:

 

God promises to deliver his people from slavery in Egypt and give them a land where they can build fruitful lives again.

 

Psalm 102:  The Lord is compassion and love.

 

Second Reading: First Corinthians, Chapter 10 verses 1 to 6, 10 to 12:

 

St Paul tells us that God cared for Moses and the people who were delivered from slavery, but they were expected to remain faithful to God.

 

St Luke’s Gospel: Chapter 13, verses 1 to 9:

 

God gives plenty of opportunity for repentance.  Without repentance the people will perish.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS

 This Sunday at 5pm, followed by Benediction of the Blessed Eucharist.

QUESTIONS PEOPLE ASK

 Q. When people have a run of accidents or bad luck is it a sign of God punishing them for past sins?

A. The notion that God punishes us with misfortunes is not what Jesus taught.  See his response to your question in today’s Gospel.  The victims of Pilate’s savage reprisal and those who were crushed when a tower collapsed at Siloam were no worse than other people.  God might permit something to happen to bring people to their senses in an act of loving correction.  But God is not in the business of dishing out punishment.  As today’s psalm puts it, the Lord is compassion and love. Fr Silvester O’Flynn. OFM

DEATHS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Our prayers are asked for Una Walsh of Bryson Street who died during the week and for the following whose anniversaries occur at this time: Peter and Matthew Burke, Anne Cunningham, Tommy Edgar, Una Gibney, Sammy Kelly, Sarah Agnes Murray, Henry Moore, William Mc Allister, James O’Hagan, John Patrick Stewart and Mary Walsh. May they all rest in eternal peace.   Amen.

TOMORROW MONDAY:

 From 7pm to 9pm, I hope to visit the following homes: 111, 109 and 107 Madrid Street.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY:

 I want to thank those who came to the meeting last Tuesday night to help me organise the children’s liturgy.  I was very pleased.  It is hoped after the vetting procedure has taken place that we get it up and running.

READERS:

 

Sunday 14th March

  

 7pm Vigil: Olivia Dibden.  12 noon: Susan Mc Art.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

7pm Vigil:  Molly Davey and Dolores Ross.

 

12 noon: Michael O’Hara, Margaret Copeland and Mary Duggan.

 

THE ROSARY

Every Tuesday and Thursday after 10am Mass.

 

FIRST CONFESSION MEETING FOR PARENTS:

Thursday 11th March from 2 until 3pm in St Matthew’s Primary School.

FIRST CONFESSION

Thursday 25th March at 2pm in St Matthew’s Church.

 

JOHN DOHERTY

John has been invited to take part in a trip to India, to teach children English, between the ages of 4 and 18.  He needs money to help keep the school going so I have given him permission to take up a collection after Easter.  If there is anyone else in our parish taking part in this worthwhile cause, please get in touch with me.

BINGO

This Sunday evening at 8 O’clock in St Matthew’s Hall,  All welcome

 

RECENT COLLECTIONS

 

       Last Sunday’s Weekly offering amounted to:                                                     £1080.

       Loose plate                                                                                                    £    10

       Building Fund                                                                                                 £  556

       Shrines and candles                                                                                       £  165

       For all of these I return my sincere thanks.

THE MONTHLY PRIESTS COLLECTION:

Will be taken up with the weekly offering today.

 

TROCAIRE

 Information packs are available on the table at the back of our Church.

NON STOP DRAW

Congratulations to last week’ winners; Tony Ward, Vince Gunn, Christina Hagan and Thomas Mc Crory who were all £100 winners.  On Monday the monthly jackpot prize of £500 will be drawn.All members must be fully paid up to be eligible.  To be fair to all the members, this rule will be strictly adhered to in association with the rules of the Non-Stop Draw.  I would like to take this opportunity to thank the promoters and members of the “Non-Stop Draw,” it is much valued revenue towards our parish.

THANK YOU

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Catherine Mc Veigh, Mary Duggan, Anne Burns and Ann Mc Cullough for their continuous work in our church shop.   Proceeds from the shop over the past few years have enabled us to pay for our beautiful oak baptismal font which matches the Church.  Thank you very much ladies.  Fr Aidan.

                                                       

                                                  REFLECTIONS DURING LENT

Lord, I have so much in material terms and yet I am never content. You have made me a steward of your wonderful gift of creation and still I do not respect the precious environment which sustains all nature. I do not appreciate how fortunate my life has been. You challenge me to take my head out of the clouds and live in the real world where I must face my extravagance and wastefulness. Teach me to trust in your invitation to leave what is comfortable and familiar. Help me to be open to moments in my life where cross and resurrection meet in hope.

 

 

updated 08/03/2010

Building Fund £522