No. 2054 ~ THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

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 OFFICE
OPENING HOURS: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm.
9 High Street
Phone: (028)79628248
SAFEGUARDING
The Diocesan Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Marie Gormley. To contact Marie Tel: 07596500793, or Email: mariegormley@derrydiocese.org
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.
SUNDAY VIGIL MASSES
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 FOR THIS WEEK
Monday 13 January:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
7.30 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church
Tuesday 14 January:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
Wednesday 15 January:
10.00 am ~ Holy Rosary Church
Thursday 16 January:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
Friday 17 January:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
7.30 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Wednesday 15: St Ita, virgin.
Friday 17: St Anthony, abbot.
Saturday 18: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins today.
CHILDREN IN CROSSFIRE COLLECTION
This weekend (11 and 12 January) the Christmas Collection for Children in Crossfire will be taken up after all Masses in place of the usual SVP collection.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Eucharistic Adoration in Holy Rosary Church on Monday 13 January from 12 noon until 7.25 pm.
PADRE PIO MASS
Monthly Mass in honour of St Pio of Pietrelcina will be celebrated on Monday 13 January at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church. Novena prayers and Rosary at 7.10 pm.
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Jonathan Molloy, Mallon Villas;
Josephine McCloy, Ballymulderg, The Loup.
ANNIVERSARIES
Michael McCullagh;
Frank Kelly;
Seamus McGuigan;
Paul McCloskey;
John Donnelly;
Pat Bradley;
Sean Kelly.
MONTH’S MIND MASS
Stephen Donnelly, Moneyneena and Derry, on Friday 17 January at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
BAPTISMS
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Isla Marie Donnelly, Barnett St., Sydney;
Josephine Mai McKee, Cordarragh;
Aisha Julie Ann Rogers, New Zealand;
Nóra Marie McGurk, Foxfield Park, Magherafelt.
WEDDING
Congratulations and best wishes for the future to:
Martin McCormack and Elsedien Zevalkink who were married recently in St Eugene’s Church Moneyneena.
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Priests’ Collection: £3085
Renovation Collection £989.
Thank you for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
In Derry Diocese, Catholic Schools Week 2025 will be celebrated from Sunday 19 January until Saturday 25 January. This year’s theme is ‘Catholic Schools: Alive in Christ’.
During Catholic Schools Week families, parishes and schools are invited to participate in a week of celebration of Catholic schools, reflecting on their contribution to the common good of society.
To launch Catholic Schools Week in our diocese, the Eucharist will be celebrated by Bishop McKeown in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry on Thursday 16 January at 10.00am. Everyone is welcome to attend.
33 DAYS OF FAMILY PRAYER
The 33 days of Family Prayer towards Consecration to Jesus Christ through Mary, as part of a diocesan programme for the Jubilee Year 2025, Pilgrims of Hope, continues until the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (Tuesday, 11 February).
Bishop McKeown invites you and your family to join him each evening at 7.00 pm online, live on the Diocese of Derry Facebook page.
The final day of the Consecration on Tuesday, 11 February will be in St Eugene's Cathedral, Derry. (Full details to be announced later). Further details may be viewed at derrydiocese.org/consecration
JUBILEE OF HOPE 2025 FREE HANDBOOK
A Teach us to Pray handbook has been created for the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025. The handbook, inspired by the teachings of Pope Francis, is written as an invitation to intensify prayer, understood as a personal dialogue with God, and to lead readers to reflect on their faith, and their commitment in today's world, in the various contexts in which they are called to live. The handbook is freely available to download on the Derry diocesan website.
CONFIRMATION 2025
Gaelscoil na Speiríní: Saturday 1 March 1 in Holy Rosary Church at 12 noon.
Desertmartin Parish Primary Schools: Sunday 2 March in St Patrick’s Church Keenaught at 10.00 am.
Ballinascreen Parish Primary Schools: Sunday March 2 in Holy Rosary Church at 2.00 pm.
WARM WELCOME WEDNESDAY
Healthy eating cookery demonstration with Joanna from Wysebites on Wednesday 15 January. Places are strictly limited. To confirm your place, please contact Workspace on 028 7962 8113 by 12 noon on Monday 13 January.
TABLE QUIZ
Table Quiz in The Hogan Stand Bar on Friday 17 January in aid of St Eoghan’s Primary School. Fun filled evening will commence at 8.30 pm. Cost is £5 per person.
LAPÓGLANN - TODDLE-INN
Glór na Speiríní’s Parent and Toddlers Group recommences on the week starting 13 January, every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning from 9.00 am to 10.30 am in Glór na Speiríní Centre Straw, directly beside the church. Cost is £2 per session, refreshments included.
Tá fáilte roimh chách - Everyone welcome! For further information or to register please Tel.: 07795536682 or Email: conchurglor@gmail.com
RANGANNA GAEILGE - IRISH LANGUAGE CLASSES
Adult Irish language classes will recommence on Thursday 23 January from 7.30 pm to 9.00 pm. Cost for this 10 week block will be £40. Tá fáilte roimh chách. Everyone welcome!
For further information or to register please Tel.: 07795536682 or Email: conchurglor@gmail.com
LITTLE WOMBLES CROSS COMMUNITY PLAYGROUP
Fundraiser Pub Quiz in The Market Inn on Friday 7 February at 8.00 pm.
Coffee Morning and Official Opening of their new premises on Saturday 1 March from 10.00 am to 12 noon. All members of the community are welcome.
BOOK LAUNCH
A book celebrating the Life of Dr Tom McGinley – founder of the Foyle Hospice, written by Dr Keith Munro, will be launched on Wednesday 29 January at 7.15 pm in St Columb’s Hall, Orchard Street, Derry BT48 6EG. Doors open at 6.45 pm. Entry is free, but booking is essential at www.ticketsource.co.uk/stcolumbshall. Book costs £15 (cash only, please). Proceeds to Foyle Hospice. Derry.
PRE- SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
EA Connect Portal is open for online Pre-School Admissions and will be open until 12 noon Friday 24 January.
PARISH BAPTISMS 2025
Baptisms: Sundays at 3.00 pm. Bookings to be made please via the Parish Office: Tel.: 028 79628248 or by Email: ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
January 26 ~ Holy Rosary Church
February 2 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns
February16 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena
February 23 ~ St Columba’s Straw
March 9 ~ Holy Rosary Church
March 23 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns
March 30 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena
April 6 ~ St Columba’s Straw
April 13 ~ Holy Rosary Church.
DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
Pilgrimage led by Bishop McKeown, from Monday 30 June to Friday 4 July 2025, leaving from City of Derry Airport. Price £849 plus insurance and single supplement if required. The Pilgrimage Office at 164 Bishop Street, Derry BT48 6UJ will not be open for booking until Saturday 1 February 2025, 11.00 am to 1.00 pm (and each following Saturday and Thursday at the same time unless notified). However, gift vouchers are now available from Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street Derry. Email derrypilgrim@outlook.com
PARISH ANNIVERSARY AND MONTH’S MIND MASSES
If you wish to have a deceased loved one prayed for at any Anniversary Friday Mass, you MUST please email their name to Ballinascreen Parish Office by noon on Thursday of the relevant week. Notices for First Anniversary and Month's Mind Masses should be received before the Wednesday of the previous week so that, they may be printed in the Bulletin the weekend before the Anniversary Mass
KNOCKNAGIN HALL
Chair Exercises: Tuesdays at 10.00 am.
Irish Dancing lessons: Tuesdays at 6.00 pm. To register contact Nicola on 07518207458.
Arts Care, Here & Now programme: Thursdays at 2.00 pm - will continue for 3 more weeks.
Mid-Ulster District Council Cook It programme - 7 Days 7 Dinners. Two week cooking sessions starting shortly on Tuesday afternoons. Registration necessary. To register contact Olive 07887614094, Kathleen 07764277809 or Anne 02879642711.
Jiving Classes will commence on Wednesday 12 February at 8.00 pm for 5 weeks. To register contact Olive 07887614094, Kathleen 07764277809 or Anne 02879 642711.
Sarsfield’s Accordion Band:
Tickets for 2025 monthly draw now on sale; £1 a month; £12 for the year; £50 prize each month.
Band practice every Thursday at 7.30 pm. All members are asked to please attend in preparation for St. Patrick’s Day Parade, in Magherafelt. New and past members welcome.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS As we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus which marked the beginning of His public life and ministry we pray that each of us will respond positively to the universal call to holiness, thinking especially of those the Lord is inviting to serve His people as priests of the diocese of Derry. |
