Ballina/Boher Parish and GAA News

Trocaire: On this last week of Advent, as we prepare for Christmas, Trocaire is asking us to bring light to Northern Uganda by buying a solar powered lamp to help children study after dark and improve their chances of a better future. Contact www.trocaire.org/globalgift

Confessions at Christmas: Confession will be held after 10am Mass in Ballina Church on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, December 21^st and 22^nd. Confessions in both churches and Christmas Eve from 2pm to 3pm.

Mass Times for Christmas: Christmas Eve – Boher at 8pm and Ballina at Midnight: Christmas Day – Ballina at 9am and 11.30am and in Boher at 10.30am: St. Stephen’s Day: Ballina at 9am and 11.30am and Boher at 10.30am: Monday & Tuesday – 12 noon: Wednesday to Friday: 10am.

Ballina Choir: Would you like to be part of our Church Choir? We are still recruiting. Old and new members are welcome. Give your name to Paul or Martina Collins on 086 8234464.

Parish Hall Hire: If you would like to use the Parish Hall in Ballina, please contact the Parish Office on 061 376178 Monday to Friday between 10.30am and 1.30pm. You will need to fill out a form detailing times, your intentions with the Hall and assurance that you are aware of the appropriate guidelines.

For your attention: We wish all our parishioners and visitors for Christmas all the joys and blessings of the season. We thank all those who have helped so generously in our parish over the past year – Sacristans, Altar Servers, Readers, Ministers of the Eucharist, Organists, Musicians, Choirs, Groundskeepers, those who care for our church buildings, those who arrange flowers, those who prepared our churches so diligently for the different Church Seasons, those who helped to maintain or develop our facilities, those who give of their time and expertise voluntarily, those who act on all our parish associated committees and you for your support, financial or otherwise.

Lottery: Winning Numbers: 9 13 20 25. No winner. Next Week’s Jackpot stands at €12,400. Build up Jackpot: €4,400 €30 Lucky Dip Winners: Thomas Janovski, Cnoc Ard: Mike Slattery, Ross, Killaloe: Junior Cawley, c/o Mill’s Bar: Patsy Bonner, Ballina: Eamonn Power, On line Winner. Next Week’s draw will take place in Reddan’s Bar on Tuesday, January 4^th, at 9pm. The Lotto can now be done on-line. Log onto locallotto.ie, click on Ireland, then Tipperary and scroll down to the Ballina GAA and Parish site. One Lucky Dip is dedicated to those who play on-line every week.

Ballina GAA and Parish Lotto Build Up: As you know, our Jackpot figure now stands at €12,400. A Build Up Jackpot is now underway and presently stands at €4,400. As long as the main Jackpot is not won, each Jackpot figure will receive the €200 bonus every second week.

Apostolic Visitation: In his Pastoral Letter to the Catholics of Ireland, Pope Benedict XVI expressed his deep sorrow and regret regarding abuse perpetrated by priests and religious and the way in which such cases had been responded to in the past. He also called for an Apostolic Visitation of certain dioceses in Ireland, as well as seminaries and religious congregations. The Most Reverend Thomas C. Collins, Archbishop of Toronto, will serve as the Visitor for Cashel and Emly. He will visit the Archdiocese for a number of weeks during January of 2011. The Archbishop will meet with anyone who wishes to contact him regarding anything related to sexual abuse by clergy in the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. One group of people whom all the Visitors are asked to meet as a priority are any victims or their families who wish to do so, and whose situation relates to the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. He will also meet with office holders in the Archdiocese and those responsible for Safeguarding Children at diocesan and parish level. Finally, other priests, religious and lay faithful and individual men and women who wish to be received by the visiting Prelates may request this in writing.