ATTENTION all Organisations!

If you would like information about the work that you do and when you meet to be put up on the website, please contact us.

BALLYMENA PARISH CELLS

Growing together as a parish family

 Understandiing the Scriptures and applying them to everyday life

Searching for God 

What are they?
Parish cells are meetings of about four to ten or more people gathering once a fortnight in parishioners' homes.  Meetings are held from September to June.  They are there to help us in different ways - in our search for God; in understanding the Scriptures and applying them to everyday life and in growing together as a parish family.

Who can attend?
The meeting are open to everyone, church goers and non-church goers; everyone is most welcome.

What happens at a meeting?
The format is simple and informal.  Usually there is an opening prayer followed by a simple hymn or two.  A scripture reading is then read and discussed by the group.  this is followed by a reflection on tape, sometimes provided by the Parish Priest and sometimes from other sources.  After that the needs of those present and of the parish and community are remembered in prayer.  Then there is time for a cup of tea and a chat.

Where do they meet?
A number of people have offered their homes as venues so there is plenty of choice.  Go where you feel comfortable.

How do I find out more?
Members of the Steering Group, who contact numbers are listed below, will answer any of your queries and help you find a meeting to visit.  You can then come and go as you please.  the idea is not to join a group but to avail of a meeting when it suits.

Steering Group Contact Numbers:        2564 2818        2565 8472        2564 4541        2175 8726        2564 0920        2564 2526 

Who we are?

We are a lay fraternity group of men and woman trying to follow Jesus in the Spirit of Charles De Foucauld (1858-1916) a French priest who lived and died amongst the Tuareg people of the Sahara.

In expressing our love of God we take the Eucharist, the living presence of Jesus amongst us, as our focal point, and aim to make silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament a central feature of our lives. Reading and meditating on, the Gospels, in order that we may come to do, say and think what Jesus would do, say and think in our place, is a fundamental part of Brother Charles‘s message.

This facility was formed about thirteen years ago to enable those who either had not their own transport or just wanted to be driven on occasions to go off for a day.

A couple of parishioners (Mona and her friend Rose) arrange top quality coaches for visits of interest or to scenic spots over the summer season, shopping trips right across the seasons, pilgrimages and pantomime visits. 

On 8 May 1972 Fr Stefano Gobbi was taking part in a pilgrimage to Fatima.  In the Chapel of Apparitions an interior force drove him to have confidence in the love of Mary.  He was asked to gather together all those priests who would accept the invitation to consecrate themselves to her Immaculate Heart.  Thus was formed the Marian Movement of Priests (MMP).

This draw has been in existence since September 1985 and was started to help renovate the then Parochial Hall, which soon after was sadly destroyed in a fire.  From then on profits went towards the provision of a new Parish Centre.  Plans for this are now well under way, but even after completion, will always need maintenance and manning, so this draw will always be needed and your support always appreciated. 

For only fifty pence per week you have a chance of winning every day of the year.  Weekly prizes are normally £50 on Sunday and £15 Monday – Friday. At special times of the year the Sunday prize can be £250, £200 or £100 and the final yearly draw is £1000.

Do you want information on how to take part in the draw? OR
Could you be a promoter in your own street or avenue?

Contact either Ballymena 2564 0968 or 2564 0719

Frederic Ozanam was born at Milan on 23 April 1813 and died at Marseilles on 8 September 1853. In 1833 along with other young students, he founded the Society of St Vincent de Paul.

The society has been serving the poor in Ireland since 1844.

Ballymena St Vincent de Paul

In this photograph Mr Bernard O'Neill JP is 2nd from left at back.
Can you name any of the others?

What it is and what it does

What is the Society of St Vincent de Paul?
A voluntary organisation of lay people.

SPRED is a little Christian Community of faith and friendship. It is programmed to enable parishioners with a learning disability to be integrated into parish life and worship.

Meetings are held in the Parish Centre, Broughshane Road, Ballymena every Tuesday at 7 30pm (except July, August and Christmas and Easter holidays)

For further particulars contact any catechist during a meeting, or through the Parish Office  028 2564 1415

St Joseph’s Young Priests Society is a society of lay people whose purpose is to promote vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life; and to assist financially in the education of clerical students; mainly for the Irish dioceses; but in recent years also for overseas students.

The Society was established in Ireland in 1895 by
Mrs Olivia Taaffe and there are branches all over Ireland. Our Ballymena branch was established in September 1994.

Our objectives

We were established in Belfast in June 1915 by Canon James O’Neill.  In placing the Order under the patronage of St Columbanus, our founders were mindful of his missionary zeal in bringing the good news of salvation to all.  The Knights were the response of Catholic laymen acting in close co-operation with their Bishops in the work of the Apostolate.

The Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart was founded in the Church of St Francis Zavier, Dublin by Father James Cullen SJ on 27 December 1898.  One of the main celebrations to mark its centenary year was the Mass and Rally in Croke Park, Dublin on 30 May 1999.

Pioneer members take a threefold commitment –

 To pray daily for the conversion of excessive drinkers
 To abstain for life from all intoxicating drink
 To wear the Pioneer Pin publicly; an encouragement for others to do the same

The Pioneer Association is not anti-alcohol.  Total abstinence is a personal choice of Pioneers – moderation and self-control is for all.

The first Pioneer Council in All Saints’ Parish, Ballymena was founded over seventy years ago.  Our present Spiritual Director is Archdeacon Kevin Donnelly and there are four members on the Pioneer Council.

The Order of Malta Ambulance Corps is a worldwide organization of Christians, whose main object is, “ to help the poor, the sick, the old and the weak regardless of nationality, sex, religious or other personal beliefs.“

It is comprised of trained volunteers and health professionals, and is involved in a wide range of activities. In Ireland, these include running a Day Care Centre for the physically disabled, care of patients and provision of First Aid facilities at pilgrimages, conducting First Aid classes, Home Nursing Training and Youth Courses.
Further information on www.orderofmalta.ie