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PARISH OF
ST COLMCILLE’S
BALLYHACKAMORE
6 SEP 2026TH
Missal Pg 647“To know the joy
of God’s love and
make the love of
God known to all”
23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME- YEAR A
WELCOME BACK!
As September begins, we hope that everyone has had a restful and enjoyable summer. It is
wonderful to welcome everyone back, and there is a real sense of excitement about all that
lies ahead in the life of our parish.
This year, rather than welcoming a NET Team, we are delighted to be appointing our own
Youth Minister, Brendan, who will work with our you ng people and families and help us
continue to develop this important part of our pari sh mission. We very much look forward to
welcoming Brendan and to seeing all that will grow from his ministry among us.
The summer has also given us an opportunity to focu s particularly on parish leadership and
renewal. We have welcomed new members to our Parish Engagement Group (PEG), and we
are continuing to develop our Four Ws, helping to e nsure that the many different groups,
ministries and organisations which make up our pari sh remain connected to one another and,
above all, to our shared mission.
As the next step, I would like to invite the leader or one representative from every group,
ministry, committee or organisation connected with our parish to a Four Ws gathering on
Tuesday 29th September at 7.30pm in the Parish Cent re.
St Colmcilles Parish, 191 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3JB
Parish Priest: Fr Conor McGrath PP, Fr Anthony Curran PE
Website: www.st-colmcilles.net Phone: 02890 654157
Email: stcolmcilles@
This includes not only our explicitly pastoral or l iturgical
ministries, but the many groups and organisations w ho meet in or
use our parish facilities. If you are part of the l ife of this parish,
you are part of our mission.
If you lead or represent one of these groups, pleas e contact the
Parish Office for further details and to let us kno w that your
group will be represented.
There is much to look forward to in the months ahea d. May we
begin this new parish year with renewed energy, wor king together
to build a community where everyone is welcomed, va lued and
invited to share in the mission of proclaiming the Gospel.
St Colmcilles https://st-colmcilles.net

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SUN
Mass: 9.30am & 11.30am
MON
Morning Prayer: 9.00am
TUE
Holy Hour, Confessions: 6.00pm
Mass: 7.00pm.
WED
Mass: 9.30am
THU
Mass: 9.30am
FRI
Morning Prayer: 9.00am,
Mass: 9.30am
SAT
Confession: 5.00pm –5.20pm, Mass:
5.30pm
THIS WEEK AT ST COLMCILLE’S
First Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-9
Psalm 94
O that today you would listen to his voice!
‘Harden not your hearts.’
Second Reading: Romans 13:8-10
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!Your word is truth, O
Lord: consecrate us in the truth.
Alleluia!
Gospel: Matthew 16: 21-27
MASS THIS SUNDAY
DECEASED
We pray for the repose of the souls of
all those who have died recently.

ANNIVERSARIES

We also remember in prayer all those
whose anniversaries occur at this time:
Maureen Forrester, David
O’Flaherty and Jack Younger.
Lost Property
A collection of clothing left in the
church hall is currently on display on
the long bench in the church foyer.
If you have lost an item, please check
the collection and claim it by Saturday
12th September. Any unclaimed
items after this date will be disposed
of.

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2. Training in Online Safety
There will be a free online training opportunity
provided by CiNI on 8th September 2026
regarding online safety that may be of interest to
Leaders of children’s and young people’s
activities.
The 3-hour workshop delivered via zoom is an
introduction to the issues surrounding on-line
child protection. It looks at harm prevention and
protection in the on-line world and how we can
enable children to be safe, benefit from
this world and protect
themselves.
You can book directly
with CiNI here:
Money Matters
The Monthly Offering Collection for the support of the prie sts
will be taken up this weekend.
If you wish to make your contributions via contactless paymen t,
this is now available using the QR code on the parish websit e or
in the bulletin. We would encourage you to gift aid your
donation if you are paying tax; you only need to key this
information once, as long as you are using the same debit/c redit
card to make your donations each time.https://donate.mydona.com/st-
colmcilles-parish-belfast
Parish Safeguarding Training
1. Full Child Safeguarding Training for Leaders (Le vel 2)
The dates and links for registration for these trai ning sessions are listed below.
Please note that these are face-to-face sessions ta king place locally, and there may not be any
further Level 2 Child Safeguarding Training opportu nities scheduled in your area this year.
BALLYMENA- Sat 12th September 2026
BELFAST- 16 & 23 Sept 2026
NEWCASTLE- Sat 19 Sept 2026

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USEFUL CONTACTS

Parish Office : stcolmcilles@downandconnor.org

Finance Officer : Philomena Dawson - p.dawson@downandconnor.org
Parish Engagement Group - stcolmcillespeg@gmail.com
Webcam : https://st-colmcilles.net/web-camera/
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/stcolmcilleschurch/
Instagram : stcolmcillesballyhack

Parish Office

Mon- Fri 10:00 - 13:00 Parish Group Notices:
John Paul II Award – Information Session
Calling all 16-17 year olds, especially those who have recently finished their GC SEs!
Come along to find out more about this year’s John Paul II Award and hear fr om young people
who have recently completed it, sharing their experiences of volunteering and the benefits of
the programme.
When: Thursday 17 September at 7pm, Where: Parish Hall – Iona Room
A great opportunity to get involved in parish and community life while gaining a reco gnised
award for your CV and future applications. New members are very welcom e!
St Colmcille's Indoor Mixed Bowling Club resumes on Thursday 3rd September 26 at 7pm.
New members are welcome!
Enquiries: Please contact Deirdre on 07479329938, or just turn up!
St Colmcille's Parent & Toddler Group
We provide an opportunity for anyone caring for a child from 0 to 4 years to co me along with
the child and enjoy company, snacks and play. We meet on Wednesdays at 10 a m, and we
resume on Wednesday 9th September 2026 after the summer break. If you haven't been
before, it's a great way to make new friends. All mums, dads, grandparents, chi ldminders and
carers are welcome, with their children!
Align Physio-led Pilates
Classes will resume Monday 7th September in the Parish hall. Class times on a Monday are
9.30am, 10.30am, 7.15pm and 8.15pm. Suitable for all ages, men and women. If intere sted and
for more information, please contact oliviadavidson42@hotmail.co.uk
St Colmcille’s Parish Youth Group
The Youth Club returns on Saturday 12 September at 6.30 pm.
New and existing members (Years 8–11) are very welcome!
Parents who would like to volunteer and help with the Youth Club ar e warmly invited to contact
Jarek on 07704 410446.