St Mary's Catholic Church
Chapel Lane, Belfast BT1 1JJ
Tel: 028 9032 0482

Mass times:   Monday - Thursday 9.00am & 1.00pm Friday - Saturday 9.00am, 1.00pm & 6.00pm Sunday 10.00am & 12noon (Irish) Exposition:   Daily after 9.00am mass until 1.00pm   Friday - Saturday after 1.00pm mass until 6.00pm Confessions:   Saturday 12noon - 12.55pm & 5.00pm - 5.55pm   Monday 12noon - 12.55pm

Masses for the week

Luke 13:1-9 Intercom

A call to repentance and the reminder that God is merciful and will provide a second chance. Does God send tragedies to punish us? Jesus’ hearers question him on the injustice of God. Were the Galileans, killed by Pilate, sinners? No! But we must be ready for the unexpected. We are called to a new way of living. The passage ends with a parable on the unexpected mercy of God – he does not cut down the fig tree but waits. Maybe next year it will bear fruit.

Sung Mass in the Extraordinary Form (known as the 'Tridentine Mass')
will be celebrated in Saint Paul's Church, Falls Road, Belfast
on Sunday 7th March 2010 at 2.30pm.
Everyone is very welcome.

Spring Back to Life Personal Development Course 6 week courses beginning after Easter.  The course explores principles and values, assertiveness, goal settings, self-awareness and confidence building. 

For further details and to enrol please contact Marieannette Magee on 077 4044 0782.

Northern Ireland Cancer Pilgrimage to Lourdes

Northern Ireland Cancer Pilgrimage to Lourdes accompanied by medical, nursing and other Oncology staff, Thursday 27th May to Tuesday 1st June 2010, ex Belfast. 5 nights full board, £599 with insurance, Oncology patients £499, recently treated £399.Telephone a committee member on 075 1675 9646 or e-mail: mail@nicancerpilgrimage.org.uk

Youth 2000 Retreat - Ballymena

Youth 2000 Retreat
Ballymena: Youth 2000 will be hosting a youth retreat
in St Patrick’s College, Ballymena
12th – 14th March, for 16-35 yr olds.
For more info contact Carla 075 1482 0572
or check www.youth2000.ie

MARCH 14th, A Festival of Music, celebrating 80 years of Drumalis Retreat Centre, an evening of dinner and music.  Cost: £30 per person (admission by prepaid ticket only)

For further information or to book tickets, please contact Drumalis

Tel: 028 2827 2196 or 028 2827 6455

or email drumalis@btconnect.com

Engaged Encounter is designed for couples preparing for marriage to enrich communication in all aspects of their relationship. The next weekend will take place 20-21st March 2010 in Dromantine Conference Centre, Newry.

Phone 028 7930 0340 or visit www.marriageencounter.ie

FATIMA
DIRECT FROM DUBLIN
2nd -9th July 2009, 7 nights full board
4* Hotel Santa Maria from £696,
Spiritual Director – Fr Jim Crudden PP
For details contact: Sheila Butler 9061 8842 / 079 0318 8313

Cursillo weekends In Benburb Priory
Men: Thurs 4th March – Sun 7th March
Women: Thurs 11th March – Sun 14th March
Cost: £85 Transport provided from Belfast.
Contact: Sean Cullen 9022 0492
Roisin Mulholland 077 2300 2094

Stations of the Cross will be on each Friday at 12:30pm

Diocesan Message: It is a praiseworthy tradition in the Catholic Church to have mass offered for a deceased person and have a card signed by a known priest to give to relatives of the deceased as an act of support. In recent times some companies have exploited this catholic practise. They offer pre-signed mass cards for sale in shops and commercial outlets. The impression given is that these are genuine cards and that masses will be offered, sadly this is not always the case. Some of these commercial pre-signed mass cards are being sold in the diocese of Down & Connor, distributed by I.M.C.C Suppliers of signed mass cards based in Longford and owned by Thomas MC Nally. After an investigation into the priests whose names appear on the pre-signed cards, the following was the outcome:

1) Some can’t be traced,

2) Some were deceased,

3) Some no longer in good standing in the church.

Pre-signed Mass cards are not being sold with diocesan approval.
Contact the diocese if you become aware of the sale of these cards in your area.

A Beginning Experience Residential Weekend for Widowed, Separated and Divorced
(who have been on their own for a least a year) will be held in Drumalis Retreat & Conference Centre,
16th –18th April. The weekend commences at 7:30pm on Frday and ends 4:30pm on Sunday.

For further information contact: Phil 028 9020 7645 or Geraldine 028 9083 3329 or Marie 075 4207 0835.

Independent Literacy Centres.  Opportunity for Individuals to run their own Computer Based Literacy Programme for children and adults with Dyslexia and other learning difficulties.  Touch-Type, Read and Spell (TTRS) currently operates in several training centres throughout the U.K. and Ireland.  Please contact TTRS at 028 4173 8413 or 078 1135 5462 if you are interested in setting up a TTRS centre in your area. Training, start-up and follow-up help provided.

Lifeline: Is a new regional 24/7 helpline, calls are answered by trained counsellors, to deal with, suicide, self-harm, abuse, trauma, depression, their number: 0808 808 8000, this number is free from landlines and mobiles.

Last Sunday’s Collection: Upkeep of church £637

Today’s offertory Collection: Priests of St Mary’s

Next Sunday’s offertory Collection: Heat and electricity

We thank you for your generous support