BALLINASCREEN & DESERTMARTIN PARISHES 8_FEBRUARY_2026
- Feb 8
- 6 min read
No. 15 ~ FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
PARISH CONTACT DETAILS
Fr. Peter Madden PP VF
31 Sixtowns Road
Telephone: 79628376
Fr Michael McCaul CC
50 Tobermore Road, Desertmartin
Telephone: 79632196
Email: desertmartinparish@gmail.com
PARISH OFFICES
Ballinascreen:
9 High Street
Phone: (028)79628248
Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm
Desertmartin:
St Patrick’s Keenaught
Phone: (028)79397047
Email: desertmartinparish@gmail.com
Opening Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 10.30 am to 3.00 pm
SAFEGUARDING
Safeguarding Contact Information
If you have any concerns with regard to the safeguarding of children within the Church, please contact:
Marie O’Kane - Diocesan Designated Liaison Person (DLP) Tel.: +44 7596 500793 or Email: dlp@derrydiocese.org
Northern Ireland Emergency Services
PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland): 101
Social Services:
Gateway Services, Western HSC Trust: 028 7131 4090 (ask for the Duty Social Worker)
Gateway Services, Northern HSC Trust: 028 9442 4459
Regional Emergency Social Work Services: 0800 1979 995
SVP HELPLINE
Helpline telephone number: 07710838050
SPERRIN FOODBANK
Tel: 07543420639
BALLINASCREEN COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP
Please click the link https://www.parishofballinascreen.com/ballinascreen-community-support-gro for full details of Ballinascreen Community Support Group.
NOTICES FOR THE BULLETIN
Notices for the Bulletin should be received by 1.00 pm on Wednesday, preferably by email.
Email: desertmartinparish@gmail.com
VIGIL MASSES FOR SUNDAY
Holy Rosary: 6.00 pm
St Patrick’s, Keenaught: 7.30 pm
SUNDAY MASSES
St Columba’s, Straw: 9.00 am
St Mary’s, Coolcalm: 10.00 am
St Patrick’s, Sixtowns: 11.00 am
St Eugene’s, Moneyneena: 12 noon
MASSES THIS WEEK
Monday 9 February:
10.00 am ~ Holy Rosary Church.
Tuesday 10 February:
10.00 am ~ St. Mary’s Church, Coolcalm.
Wednesday 11 February:
10.00 am ~ Holy Rosary Church.
Thursday 12 February:
10.00am ~ St. Mary’s Church, Coolcalm.
Friday 13 February:
10.00 am ~ St. Mary’s Church, Coolcalm.
7.30 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church.
CONFESSIONS
Ballinascreen:
Holy Rosary Church Saturday 5.30pm before Vigil Mass.
Desertmartin:
St Patrick’s, Keenaught Saturday 6.30 pm until 7.10 pm.
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Tuesday 10 February: St Scholastica, virgin.
Wednesday 11 February: Our Lady of Lourdes, St Gobnait, virgin.
Saturday 14 February: Ss Cyril, monk & St Methodius, Bishop, patrons of Europe. St Valentine.
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Sean Donnelly, Cordarragh;
Josie Lindsay, Disert Rd.;
Michael McSorley, Tobermore Rd.;
Patrick Farrell, Cahore Terrace;
William Dorrity, Fivemilestraight;
Michael McLernon, Mooretown.
MONTH'S MIND MASS
The Month's Mind Mass for Monica and Bernadette McKernan, Oak Park will be celebrated on Friday 13 February at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
FIRST ANNIVERSARY MASS
The first Anniversary Mass for John Grimes will be celebrated on Saturday 14 February at 7.30 pm in St. Patrick’s Church, Keenaught.
ANNIVERSARIES
Ballinascreen:
First Anniversaries:
Susan McEldowney, Magherafelt Rd.;
Mary Kelly, Strawmore Lane.
Anniversaries:
Philomena Jeffer, Glenelly Villas;
Helen Kelly, Glenelly Villas;
Julia Morgan, Scutchers Lane;
Gracie Mae Corrigan, The Orchard;
William Murray, Glengomna;
Francis Costello, Cahore Rd.;
Philomena Donnelly, Moykeeran Dr.;
Michael Burns, Derrynoid Rd.;
Peter Brown, Glengomna Rd.;
Sharon McGuigan, The Orchard;
Baby Eden Bradley, Glengomna / Moykeeran.
Desertmartin:
Fr James McKee;
Eddie & Norah Gribbin;
Michael Gribbin;
Seamus O’Hagan;
Sarah Higgins;
Kevin Fullen;
Marie Scullion;
Sharon McGuigan;
Phillip Donnelly.
BAPTISMS
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Kai Samuel Oliver, The Orchard;
Ethan Daniel Grant, Stranahinch;
Daithi Joseph Higgins, Cavanreagh Road.
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Ballinascreen:
Renovation Collection - £ 3096.90
Weekly Collection - £ 3239.00
Desertmartin:
Renovation Collection - £410
Weekly Collection - £650
Totals shown include January Standing Orders from Parishioners.
If you would like to avail of this option please contact the Parish Office.
Thank you for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
BALLINASCREEN & DESERTMARTIN PARISH MISSION
Thursday 19 February 2026
7.30 pm ~ Mass, Holy Rosary Church. Theme: ‘Eucharist and Thanksgiving’
Friday 20 February 2026
7.00 am Mass: Holy Rosary Church.
10.00 am Mass: St Mary’s, Coolcalm Theme: ‘The Cross.’
Tea/coffee will be served after the 10.00 am Mass in Knocknagin Parish Hall.
7.30 pm Service: Holy Rosary Church - Liturgy of the Word. Theme: ‘The Cross’ (Focussing on grief & bereavement.) Please note: This 7.30 pm Service is NOT a Mass.
There will be NO Parish Anniversary Mass in either parish on Friday 20 February.
Saturday 21 February 2026
10.00 am Liturgy of the Hours Service: Holy Rosary Church. Theme: ‘Waiting.’ There will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament during this Service.
4.00 pm Mass & Anointing of the Sick: St Patrick’s Keenaught. Theme: ‘Waiting’.
6.00 pm Vigil Mass: Holy Rosary Church
There will be NO 7.30 pm Vigil Mass in St Patrick’s Keenaught on Saturday 21 February.
Sunday 22 February 2026
9.00 am Sunday Mass: St Columba’s, Straw.
10.00 am Sunday Mass: St Mary’s, Coolcalm.
11.00 am Sunday Mass: St Patrick’s, Sixtowns.
12 noon Sunday Mass: St Eugene’s, Moneyneena.
Confessions will be heard after each Service on Friday & Saturday morning.
NEW BABY MASSAGE & REFLEXOLOGY CLASSES
Beginning Monday 16 February from 12.30 pm to1.30 pm - 4week block. Contact Rosie on 07749121208
FREE TEA DANCE
Wednesday 18 February from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm, at The Heritage Centre, Maghera. Everyone welcome
NETBALL
Wednesday nights from 8.00 pm to 9.00 pm in the Backrow Hall. Ladies, come along for a bit of exercise, meet new people and have a laugh. Suitable for all abilities and no experience necessary as it is mainly for fun. Contact Martina on 07795165999 or just show up on the night. Adm £3 to cover hire of the hall.
KNOCKNAGIN HALL COMMITTEE
Social Tea Dance: Friday 13 February. Music by Pat McKenna Duo. Admission is just £7, which includes refreshments.
Irish Language Class: Mondays at 7:30 pm.
Chair Exercise Tuesday mornings at 10.00 am.
Irish Dancing Lessons: Tuesday evenings from 5:30 pm to 7.00 pm To register, contact Nicola: 07518 207458
St. Mary’s Bowling Club: Meets on Tuesday evenings at 8:00 pm. New members welcome.
Acrobats Gymnastics Club: Saturdays from 9.00 am to 2.00 pm
Sarsfield’s Accordion Band. January monthly draw winner: No.94 - Noel Donnelly, Lissan. February winner: No. 57 - Kevin Walls, Luney. Tickets can still be got from any band member. £1 a month, £12 for the year, £50 prize drew every month.
LOURDES PILGRIMAGE COFFEE / TEA MORNING
There will be a "Cup of Love for Lourdes" coffee morning after the 10.00 am Mass in St Mary's, Coolcalm on Sunday 15 February from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm. The purpose of the morning is to help to raise some funds to help cover the costs of the youth travelling from the parish to Lourdes on the Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage from Monday 29 of June until Friday 3 July. All welcome. RAFFLE TICKETS: £1 per strip to purchase contact Madonna Devlin: Tel.: 07788501610 or Áine Devlin: Tel.: 07500926037, also available at Herons Chemist Draperstown.
ST COLM’S HIGH SCHOOL
Lenten Masses will begin on Tuesday 24 February at 8.40 am. Mass will be on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday during the season of Lent. All parishioners welcome
DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2026
For availability please ring 02871 260293 and leave a message or email; derrypilgrim@outlook.com or alternatively contact JWT Dublin on +353 1 685 2244
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES
5 Day Silent Ignatian Retreat for Men. Led Benedictine monks from St. Joseph Abbey, in France. Starts Thursday 30th April at 3pm in Benburb Priory, Co. Tyrone (1.5 hrs from Dublin). €450 (all meals & single room included). Daily Mass - Ordinary Form (Latin & ad orientem). Discover the strength that only comes when you stop running and let God speak.
Book at: https://soutenir.clairval.com/retreat-benburb-priory or Email: pgoh2111@gmail.com
CONFIRMATION 2026
Ballinascreen:
St Eoghan’s PS, Moneyneena, St Mary’s PS Draperstown, & St Columba’s PS, Straw: Saturday 28 February at 12 noon in Holy Rosary Church.
Gaelscoil na Speiríní: Saturday 7th March at 11.00 am in Holy Rosary Church.
CONFIRMATION 2026
Desertmartin:
Sunday 1 March at 12 noon, in St Patrick’s Church, Keenaught.
HOLY COMMUNION 2026
Ballinascreen:
St Eoghan’s P.S.: Saturday 2 May at 11.00 am in St Eugene’s, Moneyneena.
St Mary’s P.S.: Saturday 9 May at 11.00 am in Holy Rosary Church.
Gaelscoil Na Speiríní: Saturday 16 May at 11.00 am in Holy Rosary Church.
St Columba’s P.S.: Saturday 16 May at 11.00 am in St Columba’s Church, Straw.
HOLY COMMUNION 2026
Desertmartin:
Knocknagin P.S.: Saturday 25 April at 11.00 am in St Mary’s Church, Coolcalm.
St Columb’s P.S. Cullion: Saturday 23 May at 11am in St Patrick’s Church, Keenaught.
PARISH BAPTISMS 2026
Ballinascreen Parish:
All bookings to be made via Ballinascreen Parish Office on 02879628248 or Email: ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
Baptisms will be held at 3.00 pm on the following dates:
15 February, Holy Rosary.
22 February, Sixtowns.
8 March, Straw.
15 March, Moneyneena.
22 March, Holy Rosary.
29 March, Sixtowns.
Desertmartin Parish:
To book a baptism, contact Fr McCaul on 02879632196 or Desertmartin Parish Office on 02879397047. Baptisms can be held in either church and are held at 1.30 pm on the following dates:
15 February
1 & 15 March
12 & 19 April
3 & 17 May
7 & 21 June
5 & 18 July
2 & 9 August
NOTICES FOR THE BULLETIN
Notices should be received by 1.00 pm on Wednesday, preferably emailed to ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
PARISH ANNIVERSARY MASS & MONTH’S MIND MASSES
If you wish to have a deceased loved one prayed for at any Anniversary Friday Mass, please email their name to the Parish Office by 1.00 pm on Wednesday of the relevant week. Notices for First Anniversary and Month's Mind Masses should be received before 1.00 pm on Wednesday of the previous week so that, they may be printed in the Bulletin the weekend before the Anniversary Mass.
DERRY DIOCESAN SOCIETY
If you wish to enrol someone in the society, please contact the parish office. The fee for a living or deceased member is £20.
