Page 1

Twenty Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
6 September 2026
Very Rev. Rory Sheehan P.P.: St Joseph ’s
Presbytery, 59 Chapel Road, Glenavy, BT29 4LY Tel: 94 422278
(If unavailable and in an emergency only, contact
Fr Declan Mulligan P.P. Aghagallon 92 651214)
Parish Office at St Joseph ’s Glenavy: Monday - Friday 10am -3pm
Parish Support Officer: Joan McShane Tel: 94 422278
Email: glenavy@downandconnor.org
Parish Website: glenavyandkilleadparish.com
A member of Lisburn Pastoral Community
MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING YOU’RE INVITED ! Join us for the cause, the chatter or
the tasty treats at St Clare ’s Community Hall on Friday 11 September 2026 betwee n
9.30am – 12pm.
GH T YRES AND AUTO SERVICES : 40a Glenavy Road, Crumlin. Punctures repairs,
Wheel Balancing, Wheel Alignment, Batteries, Genera l Service and repairs Tel: 0289
4423 113.
JOIN THE GLENAVY GARDEN CENTRE TEAM! Seasonal staff to work 16 -24
hours per week. If you have interest or know of anyone who might be
interested, contact Dominic 07874005422 or email to glenavygardencen-
tre@outlook.com .
ST.JOSEPH ’S GAC: Lotto results 28 August 2026 Winning no ’s 2-10-15-28
Jackpot £7,500. No Jackpot Winner. 2 Lucky dip Winners, £25 each – Fion-
nuala McLernon – Karen Stockham. Next week ’s jackpot is worth £7,550.
The members of St. Joseph ’s GAC thank you for your support. DOWN & C ONNOR DIOCESAN TRUST BELFAST JESUIT CENTRE VACANCY “Pastoral
Ministry Co -ordinator ” (2 yr Fixed Term Contract) based within the Jesuit Cen tre at 193
-195 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2FL. 35 hrs per w eek (flexibility required), £29k per
annum, closing date Thurs 10 September @ 12noon. Fu ll details including application
form see http://www.downandconnor.org or https://belfastjesuitcentre.co.uk
ST. PATRICK ’S CHURCH , DONEGALL STREET , BELFAST @ 6 pm on Sunday, 6
September Celebrant: Fr Piaras Jackson SJ, with interfaith contributions.
This Mass marks the beginning of the Season of Creation (1 Sept– 4 Oct),
under the theme “Living Water ”.
THE CHOSEN – SEASON 2 AT THE BELFAST JESUIT CENTRE Weekly screenings
will take place each Friday at the Belfast Jesuit Centre on 4, 11,18, 25 Sept,
2, 9, 16 & 23 Oct. Contact: bjc@jesuit.ie | 07955 282371
CATHOLIC MEN’S RETREAT - STANDING IN THE BREACH A Catholic Men ’s Retreat at
Portglenone Monastery on Saturday 19 Sept 26, from 9am— 1pm.
The theme of the retreat is “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in
me” (Galatians 2:20). The morning will include prayer, teaching, fellowship
and men ’s testimonies, with Fr Eddie McGee as keynote speaker. All men
are very welcome. For further information, contact Thomas Carey on 07967
620435 or email sean@catholicminute.co.uk .
HLI I RELAND : Fr Lawrence Carney (USA), international speaker & popular
author, Provincial Tour of Ireland. Join us for the Ulster event at the Canal
Court Hotel, Newry, on Tuesday 29 September at 6:45pm, with a Relic of St
Thérèse. Free admission.
BEGINNING EXPERIENCE is offering a programme of bereavement support in St
Bride’s Hall, Derryvolgie Ave., Belfast on Saturdays 26 Sept, 24 Oct & 21
Nov. Booking essential. To find out more contact Marie 07896119669 or
email belfastbe@yahoo.com
ANAM CARA, will hold its monthly Parent Support Evening on Monday 14
Sept @ 7.30pm in the Crowne Plaza, Shaws Bridge, Belfast. Online support
meeting also available . For more info 01 4045378 or email in-
fo@anamcara.ie Season of Creation 2026
“Future generations will never forgive us if we miss the
opportunity to protect our common home. We have
inherited a garden; we must not leave a desert for our
children. ”
Joint statement from Pope Francis, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew
and Archbishop Justin Welby of Canterbury.
THEME: “LIVING WATER”
This year ’s theme, “Living Water ”, explores Ezekiel 47:9 and 12 as a
powerful biblical vision of hope and ecological healing. Set amid exile and
loss, the image of living water flowing from God ’s sanctuary reveals divine
healing that renews land, water, biodiversity, and human responsibility
towards the whole creation.
“Swarms of living creatures will live wherever the river flows. There will be
large numbers of fish, because this water flows there and makes the salt
water fresh; so, where the river flows everything will live. […] Fruit trees
of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not
wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because
the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food
and their leaves for healing. ”(Ezek 47:9,12)
PRAYING WITH AWARENESS IN THE SEASON OF CREATION Living among Others
Jesus ’ invites us to stay awake, to seek and respond to the signs of God ’s loving
presence that are all around us. Websites like Sacred Space and Pray -as-you-go
follow the structure of the Examen of Consciousness — or Awareness Prayer — in
offering guidelines for prayer. The points listed below are to help you heighten your
awareness of living in response to God ’s presence by considering aspects of
everyday life. They may enhance your prayer in this Season of Creation as you
reflect on them or discuss them with others . OUR STARTING POINT The beauty of
creation reflects the infinite beauty of the Creator and ought to inspire the respect
and submission of man's intellect and will. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, §341)
The Catechism teaches that the order, harmony, and beauty we find in creation are
not incidental — they point beyond themselves to the Creator who gave them. How
do you notice yourself relating to the created world? When have you recently
noticed real beauty in creation - something that stopped you, even briefly? What did
that moment invite in you? We are commissioned to till and to keep, to work and to
guard the garden the Earth (Genesis 2:15): what efforts do you notice yourself
making to care for and protect creation?
Tom Layden, S.J.
Chair, Diocesan Ecumenical Commission Glenavy and Killead https://www.glenavyandkilleadparish.com

Page 2

7 —13 September 2026 Mass Intentions
ST JOSEPH ’S MATER DEI St James
Monday
Adoration
7pm— 8pm
Sun Adoration
6.30pm—
7.30pm
Divine Mercy
Chaplet, Chaplet
for Holy Souls &
Rosary after-
wards starts at
6.15pm
Mon Adoration
11am— 12pm Mon 9.30am Communion Service
Tue 7pm In Honour of Our Lady
6.30pm Rosary
7.30pm Divine Mercy Chaplet
7.30 —8.30 pm Adoration
Wed 9.30am Mass of Thanksgiving for
Doctors and Nurses in the Cancer
Centre
10am —12pm Adoration
Thurs 9.30am P.I.
Adoration 7pm— 9pm
Fri 9.30am In Honour of The Holy
Name of Mary
Sat 5.3pm Sacrament of
Reconciliation
6pm P.P.
Sun 9.30am Noel McComb (2nd
Anniv)
12.00pm Mass 10. 45am Mass

Recently Deceased Brendan Kevin Flood ( Glengormly)

Anniversaries Mary Mallon (1st), Hilary McKavanagh, Fidelma Ward, Louis
Heatley, Brigid Trowlen, Nathan Crean, Paddy O ’Hara, Jim McGarrell,
Liam Brankin, Ernie Thomas.
Baptisms We welcome into God ’s family Cathal John McNamara, Naoise
Joseph Morgan, Torin Lewis Damien Stevenson & Kaii Paul Thomas.
Sanctuary Lamps Special Intention, C.H.
A BLESSED STATUE OF OUR LADY OF FATIMA is available through The Legion of
Mary to any sick parishioner for one week. If you would like to avail of
the statue, please contact the parish office.
Sanctuary lamp intentions: A Sanctuary Lamp burns for a week in each of our
two churches. If you would like to dedicate a lamp for a loved one or a special
Intention please contact the Parish Office. There i s a suggested offering of £5.
Collection 30 August 2026
Weekly Offering: £3,017
Thank you for your generosity Feumore Mass
Centre
Parish Draw 2026 -27 (Week 18)
Winner £50 Seamus Kavanagh (Crumlin)
Winner £100 G & M McGarry (Crumlin)
Congratulations to our winners! SEASON OF CREATION 1 SEPTEMBER TO 4 OCTOBER , Feast of St Francis, a
dedicated time for Christians to commit to prayer, protection of the
environment and care for creation. Volunteers needed for the parish
Season of Creation Team, please contact the parish office.
THE CHILDREN ’S LITURGY HAS RESUMED We would welcome new helpers. We
have a very flexible rota & it is just during term time. If you could help
even one Sunday per year, call or email the parish office or speak to one
of us at Mass any Sunday.
BALLYMACRICKET PRIMARY SCHOOL ‘OUR PAST, OUR PRESENT , OUR FUTURE ’
This year Ballymacricket is celebrating its 170th anniversary. As we look
at our past, present and future, we ’d love your help to remember times
gone by. If you have any old photos or stories about the school, please
leave them in the school office or email ophillips404@c2kni.net We
invite past pupils, families, friends and members of the local
community to join us on Sunday 20 September, following 9.30am
Mass, in the school hall, to celebrate.
FRIENDS OF THE ORDER Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of
Jerusalem Lieutenancy of Ireland help sustain the living Christian
presence in the Holy Land. The Order is a Catholic Order under the
protection of the Holy See, dedicated to supporting the Latin Patriarchate
of Jerusalem and the Christian communities of the Holy Land. To register
your interest as a Friend or to donate holysepulchre.ie/friends , Facebook:
EOHSJ Ireland Email: friends@holysepulchre.ie Tel: 086 3253882 Following Christ is a 7 -week journey in growing in love of God and one
another. When Jesus was calling his first Disciples, he said, ‘come and
follow me ‘. We receive this calling ourselves today. God comes toward
us calling us to himself to be Disciples of Christ. It takes an effort on our
part to respond to that call. Will you strive to live the Christian life that
Jesus calls you to and make the effort to attend the Following Christ
course? It is a course that will help you to understand what it means to
be a Disciple of Christ offering practical ways in which to live out your
Catholic faith through learning to pray, read scripture, engage in the
sacraments and more. The course runs from 7 September to 19
October, 7 – 9pm in Mater Dei Pastoral centre . The topics covered
are; Personal Prayer, Hearing God in Scripture, The Power of the
Sacraments, Forgiving One Another, The Spirit -Empowered Life, The
Heart of a Disciple and Going on with the Lord. www.christlife.org
CELEBRATING CANON COLM An event will take place on Sunday 27
September 26 at 3pm in St Clare ’s Hall to celebrate Canon Colm ’s time
with us in Glenavy and Killead parish. The event, which will be an
admission free, will comprise of afternoon tea catered by St Clare ’s Hall
team, followed by entertainment. If you would like to attend, please
text Rose Crozier by 13 September 2026 on 07720 074213 to confirm
your place. If you can contribute in any way to the entertainment,
please contact Rose Crozier as above by 13 September 2026 with
details. A collection for a gift for Canon Colm will take place on Sunday
6 and 13 September. Envelopes are available at the rear of both
churches. Collection boxes will be placed in the porches on 13 and 20
September. Thank you in anticipation of your support.

Page 3

Liturgical ‘Sign of Peace ’ The Sign of Peace remains an integral part of
the celebration of the Eucharist and has been reintroduced as a normal
practice across the Diocese. The customary expression of the Sign of Peace
in Ireland is a handshake. However, other non -contact forms of the sign of
peace such as a nod, a bow or a smile are also legitimate expressions of the
Sign of Peace. No offence should be taken if someone prefers to express a
non-contact Sign of Peace. The Diocese encourages all to continue to
exercise good hygienic practices, and if you exhibit flu -like symptoms, you
are encouraged to remain at home.
Church Webcam The church webcam for live stream of Masses can be
accessed via the Parish Website www.glenavyandkilleadparish.com Go to
the top line and click on webcams and pick either Mater Dei or Glenavy. It
can also be accessed at www.churchmedia.tv . Select Antrim & search for St
Joseph ’s, Glenavy or Mater Dei, Crumlin and the churches will appear. Click
on the play button to view live stream. The webcams enable us to atte nd Mass,
however they do not allow us to receive the Euchari st, The Body of Christ. When possi-
ble, we should attend Mass in the Church whenever o ur circumstances permit in order
to receive Holy Communion.
MUSIC AT ST JOSEPH ’S There is an urgent need to recruit an organist or
guitarist or pianist, if you or someone you know would be interested in
this position please contact Canon McBride as soon as possible.
Making your offering to the church Parishioners are encouraged to
make donations to the parish either by using the parish envelopes or by
means of bank transfer. It is of great benefit to the parish when we can
record donations so that gift aid can be claimed, if applicable. If you would
like to donate using envelopes and don ’t already do so, please contact the
parish office. Alternatively, if you are able, you are encouraged to
make a monthly offering to the Church by means of a Bank Transfer to:
Parish of Glenavy and Killead Sort Code 98 04 60, Account
10654677 . The relevant forms are available at the back of the Churches.
Both forms need to be completed with one sent to your Bank and the other
to the parish office. If you have any queries, please contact the Parish Sup-
port Officer in confidence. Please note that there is a separate account
number for the Parish Draw and this should not be used when making a
weekly donation.
DEACONS Those who are discerning a vocation to the permanent diac-
onate are encouraged to make contact with the Dioce san Director, Rev
Brett Lockhart for the Permanent Diaconate,
b.lockhart@downandconnor.org .
CCTV C AMERA ’S Please be aware that St Joseph ’s Church and graveyard and
Mater Dei Church and grounds are monitored by CCTV.
COFFEE IN THE COURTYARD during the summer months after 10.45am
Mass in Mater Dei, weather permitting. Volunteers are needed. If you
can help, please contact the Parish office.
SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL—CRUMLIN CONFERENCE (ST JAMES) Emergency
helpline 07754427088. Donations can be made via the Crumlin SVP
conference bank account. Account number 41965035, sort code
980460. ST JOSEPH ’S GLENAVY CONFERENCE SVDP Emergency helpline
07784955647. Donation can be made to our bank account, Sort Code
98-04-60. Account Number 41966009. Your support is very much ap-
preciated as we support those most vulnerable in your local community.