Welcome to the Parish of Magheralin

Booking Anniversary Masses.
Please note that Anniversary Masses for the deceased should be booked using the new Anniversary Request Envelope. 
Indicate the date and one of the Mass times when you wish the Mass to be said.
These envelopes should be left into the parish office  or the parish office post box, or they can be put into the collection baskets at the weekend Masses. They should be in the Parish Office or the collection baskets two weeks before the date of the anniversary to ensure that they are included in the relevant bulletin.
Anniversaries will no longer be booked via the sacristy before or after mass.
Envelopes will be available in the porch of both churches.
Please feel free to bring the Offertory Gifts forward at the Anniversary Mass,
and please indicate that you wish to do so on the request envelope.
Thank You

Parish Envelopes.
If you are new to the parish or just haven't managed as yet to get around to registering for a a parish weekly collection envelope, we would encourage you to please come forward. We value all your support towards the weekly collection. Please contact any of our Finance Committee members or just email your interest to the parish office (magheralinparish@btconnect.com). You can also pay your weekly offering by standing order and please let us know if you wish to use this method which is simple to set up. 
Gift aid allows us to reclaim tax on your contribution and we would encourage you to register with us for this if your circumstances permit.

Pope John Paul II Award.
Are you in your 12/13 school year and interested in doing this award.
If so please contact Caitriona Hughes on 07979725564 before the 20th January 2019.
Thanks.

Senior Citizen's Annual Party.
Our annual party will be held in the Parochial Hall on Sunday 20th January 2019 from 5.00 pm - 8.00 pm. Come along for food, music, dance and prizes and please bring a friend. Please let us know if you wish to attend or if you have any special dietary requirements or if you need transport.
Contact 07544314434 or 07717186985.

Christian Unity Week.
There will be a Workshop Service on Wednesday 23rd January at 7.30 pm in St. Paul's Church Francis Street Lurgan. Guest speaker will be the Reverend Andrew Irvine of the East Belfast Mission. The theme of Christian Unity this year is Justice.
All welcome.

Dates for Your Diary.
First Communion - Sunday 12th May 2019 at 12.30 pm.
Confirmation - Thursday 16th May 2019 at 6.00 pm.

Prayer Group.
Will resume again in the Prayer Room on Wednesday 23rd January 2019 at 8.00 pm. Lectio Divina. Praying with the Sunday readings.
All welcome.

Children's Liturgy.
Next liturgy will be on Sunday 20th January 2019 at the 11.00 am Mass.

Fair Trade.
In the Parochial Hall on Sunday 13th January after the 11.00 am morning Mass and in St. Colman's Church on Saturday 19th January after the 6,00 pm Vigil Mass.

Trocaire Gifts.
A big thank you to all those parishioners who bought Trocaire gifts.
The amount contributed was £1,019.55 including donations.
Your support is very much appreciated.
Caitriona Hughes.

Hospitality Group.
A hospitality group is being set up to help with the catering etc. at parish events in the hall. Volunteers are needed to join the group. If you can spare the time to help out-at most three times in the year, please contact Martina on 075443144 or 02838316194

Little Ducklings Parent & Toddler Group.
10.30 am-12.15 pm in the parish hall.

Bingo.
In St. Michael's GAA Hall every Thursday at 8.00 pm. Book £5.00.

Weight Loss and Wellness Workshops for Women.
Information & Registration in St. Patricks Parish Hall on Thursday 17th January at 8.00 pm.

Lurgan Library Free Events.
Adult Health Fair - Friday 25th January 10.00 am until 3.00 pm.
Review, Relax Unwind - Monday 11th February 10.00 am until 12.00 noon.
Lest we Forget - A lurgan Man's Story of the Great War by Eamon Wright on Tuesday 12th February at 7.00 pm.

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Food.
Food for the body is not enough. There must be food for the soul.
(Dorothy Day)

A Blessing.
May you have:
Enough success to keep you eager;
Enough failure to keep you humble;
Enough joy to share with others;
Enough trials to keep you strong;
Enough hope to keep you happy;
Enough faith to banish depression;
Enough friends to give you comfort;
Enough determination to make each day better than yesterday.

Shine a light.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
Nelson Mandela

Someone Who Cares.
Lord, make my heart a haven where the lonely may find friendship, where the weary may find shelter, where the helpless may find refuge, where the hopeless may find hope and where all those who seek someone who cares may enter and find you.

Evening.
When the evening comes and the busy world is hushed, may God in his mercy give us a holy rest and peace at last.
In the twilight of life God will not judge us on our earthly possessions and human success, but rather on how much we have loved.

When you seek me.
When you seek me with all your heart you will find me and I will come to you.

Into Your Hands
Dearest Jesus, I give myself to you today knowing that your will is my happiness and you can bring this about in ways that I may be unable to understand. Help me this day not to be burdened with the problems I have but to place them in your hands and be free.

Five Fingered Prayer (from "Pope Francis Selected Prayers")
This method of prayer, championed by Pope Francis, has been widely adopted in classrooms & parishes across the globe and has resonated particularly with children & young people.
The Thumb.
The closest finger to you reminds you to pray for those who are closest to us such as our family and friends.
The Index Finger.
The pointing finger reminds you to pray for wisdom and support for those who teach us and show us the way.
The Middle Finger.
The tallest finger reminds you to pray for guidance for our leaders and those in positions of authority.
The Ring Finger.
Your weakest finger reminds you to pray for the weakest in society, like those who are sick, poor or having problems.
The Little Finger.
The smallest finger reminds you to pray for yourself. When you have prayed for the other four groups you will be able to see your own needs but from the proper perspective. 

Prayer for the Family.
Father in heaven you called Saint Zelie and Louis Martin to holiness through their married life. You gave them as mother and father of St. Therese of Lisieux. Through their intercession we ask you to bless married couples, our children and grandchildren. Guide us as citizens to make the kind of decisions that will support family life.
We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Reflections
(Thoughts from Pope Francis)
1. No family drops down from heaven perfectly formed; families need constantly to grow and mature in the ability to love. May we never loose heart because of our limitations or ever stop seeking that fulness of love and communion which God holds out before us.
Amoris Laetita 2016 
2. The church is a field hospital after battle. It is useless to ask a seriously injured person if he has high cholesterol or about the levels of his blood sugars! You have to heal his wounds.
Audience 2013
3. The family is the primary setting for socialisation, since it is where we first learn to relate to other, to listen and to share, to be patient and show respect, to help one another and to live as one. The task of education is to make us sense that the world and society are also our home: it trains us how to live together in this greater home. In the family we learn closeness, care and respect for others. We break out of our fatal self-absorption and come to realise that we are living with and alongside others who are worthy of our concern, our kindness and our affection.
Amoris Laetitia 2016
4.All family life is a 'shepherding' in mercy. Each of us, by our love and care, leaves a mark on the life of others: with Paul we can say: "you are our letter of recommendation, written on your hearts. Not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God" (2 Cor 3:2-3).
Amoris Laetitia 2016

Prayer to the Holy Family.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in you we contemplate the splendour of true love; to you we turn with trust.
Holy family of Nazareth grant that our families may be places of communion and prayer; authentic schools of the gospel and small domestic churches.
Holy Family of Nazareth may families never again experience violence, rejection and division; may all who have been hurt or scandalised find ready comfort and healing.
Holy Family of Nazareth make us more mindful of the sacredness and inviolability of the family and its beauty in God's plan.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph graciously hear our prayer.
Amen.
Amoris Laetitia 2016.

Thoughts for the week.
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people. (Elanor Roosevelt).
Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. (Saint Anthony of Padua)
May we learn to say thank you to God and to one another. We teach children to do it and then we forget to do it ourselves. (Pope Francis)

Healing
Each of us is capable of doing some healing because we have eyes that can see, ears that can hear, tongues that can speak, hands that can touch and above all a heart that can love.Lord make us instruments of your healing power.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
And where there is sadness, joy.

Loneliness.
We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.
(Dorothy Day)