Church of St. MacNissiANTRIM PASTORAL COMMUNITY

12th Sunday in Ordinary TimeSunday 21st June

HAPPY “FATHERS” DAY!!WEBCAM STREAMED SERVICES THIS

WEEKSorry for the technical faults recently experiencedIn the present quarantine you might find it helpful to access some of our parish liturgical moments on the web cam www.mcnmedia.tv go to ‘Northern Ireland’–Antrim-Randalstown

SUNDAY MASS Saturday 6pm Vigil & 10.00amDAILY MASS Tuesday 7pmWednesday to Friday 9.30amADORATIONDaily 10.00am - 12 noon

ANNIVERSARIES; Johnny Harkin 3rd Anni – Sat 20th June 6.00pmGeorge McCann 1st Anni - Sun 21st June 10.00am

INTENTIONS;Joseph O’Hara Tues 23rd June 7pmMagde Radaviciene, Mary Magill Wed 24 June 9.30amTony Martin, Ita McCormack, Riagh O’Boyle. Mary Magill, Gerard McKay, Josie Teeling, Bernie McCann, Gerard O’Neill, Sally McKeown, Sally Anne Johnston, Hugh Shannon, Annie O’Neill Deirdre O’Boyle, Damian Crossan, Isabella DevlinSeamus Martin

At Mass on Tuesday evening we will also pray for our children who will be leaving Mt MacNissi PS this yearAct of Spiritual Communion

Here, but not yet….Some changes indicated on possibility of re-opening churches for worship. Along with pubs and hair salons – the Executive has directed that churches may be open for services from Monday week 29th June

That, for a while, will be the ‘new normal’, so there shall be, for the meantime, protective measures to be taken, social distancing, hand sanitising, care for hygiene, signposting.

Due to necessary spacing in our church there shall be will designated seating areas but in our 850 seater church we should still manage to accommodate the numbers who attend.

One possible suggestion is that during this crisis period we might consider an extra Sunday morning Mass to facilitate adequate spacing. Any suggestions?

In the meantime we continue with our limited opening for private prayer. 10am -2pm 6.30pm -8pm (except Tues)

We remain grateful to the small but dedicated team who give more than generously of their time to supervise/ facilitate the present opening times.

And OUR CEMETERY:While visiting please protect yourself and others OBSERVE SOCIAL DISTANCING

During actual burials - graveside access is restricted to the funeral party - a maximum of 10 family members

If an actual interment is taking place, kindly respect grieving families by not visiting at these times

Pope Francis’ tweet

The Lord always watches over us with mercy.Let us not be afraid of approaching him. He has a merciful heart!

If we show him our inner wounds, our inner sins, he will always forgive us.It is pure mercy! Let us go to Jesus

St Benedict’s College We congratulate Mrs Catriona McAteer, our Principal and her Staff on the exceptionally large number of Year 7 students who have indicated their preference to transfer to our College. This is a well-deserved vote of confidence for all concerned in the development of our young people. The chaplain, Fr O’Reilly, will celebrate Mass for the College on Thursday pm

CLONARD NOVENAThe Clonard Novena in Belfast has always been a significant part of our diocesan calendar,

My Jesus I believe that you are present in the Blessed Sacrament. I love you above all things, and I long for you in my soul. Since I can’t now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.

As though you have already come, I embrace you and unite myself entirely to you. Never permit me to be separated from you Amen

attracting thousands of people of many religions and none. In current circumstances, it isn’t an option to celebrate an in-church Novena during the month of June.So, the Irish Redemptorists have decided to do an all-Ireland, online Novena, which will be streamed live from Limerick, Mt St Alphonsus and Belfast, Clonard.

The Novena began last Friday, June 19th and ends on June 27th, the feast of Our Mother of Perpetual Help.

The Sessions from Clonard will be at: 7am; 9.30am; 6.15pm; and 8.00pm.

The Redemptorist preachers are: Fr Peter Burns, Fr Johnny Doherty, Fr Brendan Keane and Fr Ciaran O’Callaghan.

Rev Dr Janet Unsworth (Methodist) and Rev Jonathan Frazer (Presbyterian) will speak on the Ecumenical day (Monday 22nd June)

S.V.P.PARISH HELPLINE 0750 854 9606We are grateful to parishioners who continue to support the parish. The Collection last week amounted to £1050.

If you wish to make a direct payment/debits tothe parish account the details are as follows

Danske Bank 42 High Street, Antrim BT41 4AP

Account name Church of St MacNissis

Sort Code 95-04-31 A/c number 11000861

‘Until LOVE conquers FEAR’ (The very theme of today’s gospel)

Outstanding Trocaire boxes can be left in the church at the Private Prayer opening times, or dropped off at the Parochial house at any time.

A prophetic peopleJeremiah explains his pain of being a prophet (first reading), and Jesus asks his followers to be brave in promoting their faith (Gospel).

All members of the People of God are prophetic and need to play their part in handing on the truth.

Not all Christians have equal opportunities of being spokespersons for God. Bishops and priests have the official duty of encouraging and teaching the faithful. Their task is to faithfully hand on Christ’s teaching, and correct errors that threaten the integrity of the traditional Christian doctrine or ethical standards. Like Jeremiah and other Old Testament prophets, they remind their people of God’s revealed will and of the high moral standards God asks of us. And, like the prophets, priests can often expect criticism and opposition, just for doing their job.

Theologians have an important work to deeply study the revealed truth, and then blend that traditional teaching with modern knowledge, so as to honestly apply the Christian message to new problems. To help they have the light of the same Holy Spirit who guided the prophets of old. But it is not only priests and theologians who have the prophetic role towards God’s people. Vatican 2 taught that every Christian should give a living witness to Christ, through living a life of faith and charity and by joining in worship and prayer. This is not such an easy matter. The spirit of today’s society, the example of others, and the irreligious mood of much of the media do not always foster God-fearing attitudes or encourage sound moral standards. In most countries today, Christians are not persecuted for showing faith in Christ and his Gospel, but when she or he lives according to this teaching they will be swimming against the tide of a materialistic culture and will not find the going easy. Jesus warns that being a Christian will cost sacrifice and suffering. We are bound to face opposition from a world that does not gladly submit to the word of God, that makes so many demands on human nature. But there is real satisfaction, too, in standing up for the truth of things. In the centre of their souls, prophetic people have the happiness of working with the Lord, who is the ultimate truth on whom we all depend.