Mass Times:
St. John the Baptist
Saturday   7 p.m.
Sunday     8.30 & 11.30 a.m.
St. Patrick's
Sunday    10 a.m.

Weekday Masses:
St. John the Baptist
Monday 10am
Tuesday - Friday 7p.m.
St. Patrick's
Tuesday - Saturday  10 a.m.
Monday 7p.m. (Novena - Miraculous Medal)

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Thursdays in St. John the Baptist Church beginning at 6 p.m.

Devotions1st & 2nd Sunday -October - June

Confessions:
St. Patrick's
Saturday - 12.30 - 1.15 p.m.
St. John the Baptist
Saturday - 6.15 - 6.45 p.m.

Baptisms:
Every Saturday, 5 p.m.
Registration for Baptism must be  made in St. John the Baptist Church, after Friday evening Mass, two weeks prior to date.

Marriage:
At least three months notice must be given to the Priests of the Parish.

Phone Numbers:  
Fr. O'Dwyer 38350610
Parish Mobile - Emergency No. 07841101850

Adoration of The Blessed Sacrament in St. John the Baptist Church today, commencing 4 p.m. and concluding with Evening Prayer of the Church and Benediction at 7 p.m.

Easter Ceremonies are two weeks over - thanks to all who participated and worked behind the scenes to make our celebrations enriching and memorable.

Minister of the Eucharist - St. John the Baptist, week beginning 9th  Mary McAlinden.

Ministry of The Word - Week beginning 9th - 10 a.m. Peggy McKeever.  7 p.m. Geraldine Lawless.

Thanks to the Presentation Sisters Dorothy and Yvonne and Ministers of the Eucharist Eddie and Martin, who visited some of the housebound, along with Fr. O'Dwyer, last week.  If some were not visited please contact Fr. O'Dwyer.

Recent Baptisms:  Ana Luisa Da Silva Vidal, Aodhan George Neeson

Sacrament of Marriage:  congratulations to Clara McNally and Niall O'Callaghan who were married recently.

Lough Derg Day Retreat - Saturday 21st May: Bus leaves St. John's Car Park 7.30 a.m., returning 7.30 p.m. approx.  If interested contact David 07759768878 or Peggy 38333391.  To confirm seat £20 deposit before May 10th.  Total cost £35, to include tea/coffee/scones on arrival, lunch.

Lourdes Collection:  Annual Church Door collection after all Masses this weekend.

Armagh Diocesan Clerical Benefit Society members and benefactors Mass Wednesday 11th May.

Legion of Mary:  Annual Retreat to Benburb Sunday 22nd May.  Bus leaves St. Patrick 9 a.m., St. Mary's Hall 9.10 a.m., St. John the Baptist 9.30 a.m.  Cost, including transport, £25.  To book phone 38334245.

Adoration:  Adoration Core Group meeting on Thursday 12th May in the Pastoral Centre after evening Mass.

"Walk with me" prayer booklets for Eastertide available in Churches.  £1.

New Missal for Advent:  some new wording for the prayers during Mass:  a leaflet from the Irish Bishops "Introducing the New Missal" is available in Churches.

Christian Aid Week - 15th - 21st May - helping people in poverty out of poverty.  The local Committee seek volunteers to help with collections - if interested please contact F. O'Dwyer.

Knock - Diocesan Pilgrimage - Sunday 29th May.

Craigavon Area Hospital invites you to a Service of Remembrance to give thanks for and to remember all babies who have died in the hospital, Sunday 22nd May at 3 p.m. in the main hospital building.  For an act of remembrance you may wish to bring a flower.  
All welcome.

Getting married during the next few months - please contact Fr. O'Dwyer to confirm date, time, Chruch and celebrant.

he Irish Catholic Newspaper is running a special feature on the Church in County Armagh in the paper over the next 2


Offertory Collection
Sunday 1st £2137-48
Thanks to all who contributed
++++++++++++++

Requiescant in Pace
Lately Deceased:  Leo Harbinson, Mary Kelly
At This Time: Stella & Jimmy Loughlin, Mau Loca, Sara Mau, Mau Laco, Bi Colo, Mary Rose Mallon, Edel Fox
Sunday 8th: Elizabeth Fearon, Mary Josephine Murphy, Cissie Murphy, Robert Hamill, John McCann, John Duffy, Nellie Campbell  Monday 9th:  Joseph Hamill, John Daley, Joseph McConville
Tuesday 10th: M.M. Peggy Lappin, Jeanie McParland, Stephen Toal
Wednesday 11th:  Thomas Beattie
Thursday 12th:  John Connolly, Kathleen Grimley   
Friday 13th:  Annie Monaghan, Ellen McConnell, Eddie Steele, Francis McShane
Saturday 14th:  M.M. John McGeown, Laurence Hall(1st Anniversary), George Davidson, Paddy McGurk, John F. McCormac, James Davidson

Anniversaries late for Bulletin should be left in the Sacristy for inclusion on proper day
 
When submitting notices for the bulletine please include a contact name and telephone number
Notices and anniversaries should be left in by the Wednesday prior to publication.

Armagh Hospitalite Pilgrimage to Lourdes:  The Portadown Lourdes Committee sincerely thank all who have supported or helped in any way during the past year.  Masses and candles will be offered for your
intentions in Lourdes.
As we depart for Lourdes on 12th May please join us in spirit for the 5 days by saying the following Lourdes Associate Prayer.
Blessed be the Holy and Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
Our Mother have pity on us.
Our Lady of Lourdes heal us for the greater glory of the Most Holy
Trinity.
Our Lady of Lourdes heal us for the greater glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Our Lady of Lourdes, heal the sick, convert sinners.
Help of the sick, help of the suffering, pray for us.
O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.
St. Bernadette pray for us.
For those with access to the internet: join the Diocesan Pilgrimage on the Lourdes website at the following times (Irish time):  Friday 13th Grotto Mass at 8.45 a.m.  Saturday 14th Torchlight Procession 8 p.m., Sunday 15th Mass 8.30 a.m., Sunday 15th Blessed Sacrament Procession 4 p.m.

Exam Prayer Forum - organised by Pastoral Area - will take place on Tuesday 10th May, 7.30 p.m. in St. John the Baptist Church, Drumcree.  All those preparing for exams at this time at school, college, university, or in your chosen profession, or in some other area of life are encouraged to come along.  There are different ways of praying to reach the same goal - come and see and stay and pray a while.

St. Vincent De Paul Society
URGENTLY REQUIRED!!  Ladies, Men's and Children's clothing.
Clothes shop, tel. 38393898 or  Furniture shop tel. 38394219, Mayfair Business Centre.  Monday - Friday 10am- 3pm.  Saturday 10am - 1 pm.  NEW SELF HELP LINE - 38339639.  Response within 48 hours.  

THANKS - Ann and Liz thank all who took part in the Macmillan Easter Egg Raffle.  Total raised £213.  Winners were:  Joan McCann, Ryan Goodman, Dominic Hoey.

SUNDAY FUNDAY - SUNDAY 15th May
Friends of St. John the Baptist P.S.present the annual fun day.  Fun for all the family.  BBQ., Bouncy Castle, Games, Side Shows, Face Painting etc.  All support welcome.

Wanted – Your Old Photographs of Parish Life. As part of the new Parish Pastoral Centre we will be compiling a special montage of
photographs of life in our Parish over the years.  Have you any old [or even not so old] photographs that you can share?  We will copy the photographs and return them in perfect condition – we promise.  Have a hunt in your old photo albums and if you find anything interesting simply leave it in the sacristy.  We would love your help with this project to add to the beauty of our centre.

 
Tir Na nOg GFC:  Bingo every Tuesday 8.15 p.m.  All support needed.

Portadown Neighbourhood Policing Team:  Community Awareness Meetings on Tuesday 10th May and 24th May 12 noon - 1 p.m. in Ashgrove Community Centre, Garvaghy Road.  All welcome.

St. Patrick's Grammar School - Annual Spring Concert in School Assembly Hall, Wednesday 11th May at 7.30 p.m.  Tickets £5 and £3, family ticket £12.  All welcome.

Marie Curie Cancer Care:  Sponsored Walk in Lurgan Park, Wednesday 18th May from 6.30 p.m.  For entry form contact Margaret on 38343411 or Phil 90882066.  Craigavon Sponsored Cycle on Saturday 21st May - beginning Oxford Island - call 90882066/67 for entry form.

Bannside Development Centre - recalling the history of St Mary's Hall. Have you a story to tell? Come along on Thursday 12th May from 7pm to 9pm for an evening of fond memories and good craic. Refreshments served. Contact Carol at 38339916

Reflection
 
We had been hoping

How often we've said or thought that:
We had been hoping.

That love would last or a relationship would get deeper,
that illness would ease or death would be
delayed,
that employment would come or a raise would be offered,
that life would be enjoyable, comfortable:
We had been hoping.

And there have been disappointments:
let-downs by friends, by family,
promotions not found in a job,
success in exams lost,
prayers not answered,
love lost or not found.
 
How to get through this?
The apostles had put faith in Jesus,
had invested much of their lives in him.
Their disappointment blocked their faith in his resurrection.

We had been hoping.

Yes, it was ordained that glory comes through suffering;
there's the love and growth and fullness
discovered even in disappointment.
Even in the darkness of disappointment,
do we not find glimpses of light?
And we know in the heart
that nothing except love is lasting.

He vanished from their sight,
but left the Eucharist;
a sure sign
that no disappointment is final,
that there is always hope,
and the possibility of new life.

Was it not ordained that
I should suffer
and so enter into glory?

***************
PARISH -
BE A PART OF IT
 OR BE APART FROM IT

****************
A MINUTE IN EVERY HOUR!  
AN HOUR IN EVERY DAY!  
A DAY IN EVERY WEEK

**********
THE JOY RULE
THINK OF JESUS
THINK OF OTHERS
THINK OF YOURSELF