No. 2019 ~ THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD - WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY
PARISH CONTACT DETAILS
Fr. Peter Madden PP VF
31 Sixtowns Road
Telephone: 79628376
Fr Dermot McGirr CC
50 Tobermore Road, Desertmartin
Telephone: 79632196
PARISH OFFICE
OPENING HOURS: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm.
9 High Street
Phone: (028)79628248
NOTICES FOR THE BULLETIN
Notices for the Bulletin should be received by 1.00 pm on Wednesday, preferably by email.
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.
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 a
St Eugene’s, Moneyneena: 12 noon
DAILY MASSES
Monday 13 May :
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
7.30 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church
Tuesday 14 May :
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
Wednesday 15 May:
10.00 am ~ Holy Rosary Church
Thursday 16 May:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
Friday 17 May:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
7.30 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church.
CONFESSIONS
In Holy Rosary Church every Saturday at 5.30 pm before the Vigil Mass.
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Monday 13: Our Lady of Fatima.
Tuesday 14: St Mattihias, apostle.
Saturday 18: St John I, pope and martyr.
PADRE PIO MASS
Monthly Mass in honour of St Pio of Pietrelcina on Monday 13 May at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
Novena prayers and rosary at 7.10 pm.
BAPTISMS
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Christy Matio McGuigan Astudillo, Spain;
Éabha Anne Davidson, Glenelly Villas;
Fiontan Terry Hegarty, Sixtowns Road;
Thea Rose McAuley, Rannakeeran;
Tiarnan John McKeown, Cloane Lane.
DEATH
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Manus McElhone Belfast.
ANNIVERSARIES
Francis McGurk;
Mark Cassidy;
Maureen McCallion;
Margaret Bottomley;
John Joe Doherty;
Bridget McKenna.
MONTH’S MIND MASS
Teresa McGuigan, Drumard, on Friday 17 May in Holy Rosary Church 7.30 pm
Mary Cushenan, Oak Park, on Friday 17 May in Holy Rosary Church 7.30 pm.
THE LITTLE WAY NOVENA
Novena in St Eugene’s Cathedral this week. Devotions and talk today, Sunday, at 6.00 pm.
Monday to Friday (13 to 17 May) Novena Masses at 6.30 am and 10.00 am and Evening Service with a guest speaker at 7.30 pm.
Saturday 18 May, 10 am Mass for the dead.
Novena ends Sunday 19 May at 3 pm.
All very welcome, or follow via webcam.
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Priests’ Collection: £2345
Renovation Collection: £1771.
Thank you for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
ST EUGENE’S CHURCH
Fr Madden is grateful for the donations already received towards the renovation work on St Eugene’s Church. Further donations gratefully accepted. Donations may be given directly to Fr Madden or left in the Parish Office or made on-line via the Donate Button on our Parish website. If using this button please select the ‘Restoration Fund’. You may also contribute directly to Ballinascreen Church Renovation Fund account, using these bank account details: Ballinascreen Parish Premium Business Reserve account number: 10585922. Sort code: 98-05-50
Thank you once again for your ongoing support and for your support of the various fund-raising events.
BLESSING OF GRAVES 2024
Blessing of Graves in the parishes of Ballinascreen and Desertmartin will take place on the following dates:
Saturday 8 June:
6.30 pm ~ Mass in St Patrick’s Keenaught followed by Blessing of graves. Please note the earlier Mass time.
Sunday June 9:
11.00 am ~ Mass in St Patrick’s Church, Sixtowns followed by Blessing of graves.
12 noon ~ Mass in St Eugene’s Church, Moneyneena followed by Blessing of graves.
2.00 pm ~ Blessing of graves at St Columba’s Straw.
3.00 pm ~ Blessing of graves at St Mary’s, Coolcalm.
4.30 pm ~ Blessing of graves at Old Keenaught Church.
The annual gate collection will be taken up, at the end of each ceremony to help with the upkeep of the graveyards.
PARISH BAPTISMS 2024
Baptisms on Sundays at 3.00 pm and bookings are to be made via the Parish Office, by phone 028 79628248 or email ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
May 19 ~ St Columba’s Straw
June 2 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns.
June 30 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena
July 7 ~ Holy Rosary Church
July 14 ~ St Columba’s Straw
July 28 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns
August 4 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena
August 18 ~ Holy Rosary Church
August 25 ~ St Columba’s Straw
September 1 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns
September 22 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena
September 29 ~ Holy Rosary
October 13 ~ St Columba’s Straw
October 20 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns
November 3 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena
November 10 ~ Holy Rosary Church
November 24 ~ St Columba’s Straw
December 1 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns
December 15 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena
December 22 ~ Holy Rosary Church
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2024
First Holy Communion will continue to be celebrated in our parish on Saturday 18 May at 11.00 am for children attending St Columba's P.S.
SIXTOWNS CROSS COMMUNITY GROUP
Yoga classes with Sperrin Wellbeing and Yoga in Sixtowns Hall each Wednesday during May from 8.00 pm to 9.00 pm. Drop Ins welcome, £7 per class.
On Thursday 6 June Sixtowns Hall will host the Farm Families Mobile Screening Unit which offers FREE advice and health assessments. Appointments about 20-25 minutes, checking blood pressure, BMI cholesterol, diabetic risk and more. General lifestyle, mental health and wellbeing advice will be provided by trained nurses. Health checks available to anyone over 18 who hasn’t had a cholesterol test or blood pressure check within the past year. Booking essential, to book please call Emma on 07769289385.
WARM WELCOME WEDNESDAY
Luncheon Club – offering a FREE lunch for over 60s and the chance to meet and chat to others, on Wednesday 15 May in Workspace Community Hub from 11.00 am to 1.30 pm. Food served about 12.15 pm. Only 30 places available so booking is essential. To confirm your place contact Workspace on 028 79628113 by 12 noon on Monday 13 May.
BALLINASCREEN TRADITIONAL MUSIC GROUP
Congratulations to all the musicians who participated in the Derry Fleadh and An Carn Feis and to all the winners. The Group is very proud of you all and all your musical achievements!
Next Seisiún in Market Inn (Regan's Lounge) on Friday 17 May.
Junior seisiún 7.30 pm -8.30 pm.
Slow seisiún 8.30 pm -9.30 pm.
Advanced seisiún 9.30 pm - late.
Adult adm £3. Everyone very welcome!
GLENSHANE HOUSE
First Aid & Defib Training from7.00 pm to 9.00 pm starting next Wednesday (15 May) for 4 weeks. Registration £30, Certificate £10. Spaces available. Phone 028 77742494.
GLENSHANE PILGRIMAGE
Pilgrimage to Rome, San Giovanni and Montecassino from November 6 to November 10. Cost : 895 Euro all in. Afternoon flights with Aer Lingus. Excellent accommodation and dinners. All coaching and tours included. Phone Kieran and Laura, 00353 579355050.
MASTERS IN CATHOLIC SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre, in partnership with St Mary’s University, Twickenham, offers the Masters in Catholic School Leadership. This post graduate degree is dedicated to the professional development and spiritual formation of Catholic school leaders. It is a great opportunity for those currently in leadership roles and those who aspire to, or have an interest in, leadership roles within the Catholic School system. An information session via ZOOM will be held on Monday 20 May at 3.30 pm.
For more details, or to register for the information session, please contact Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre on 028 71264087 or email tferry@derrydiocese.org
FOSTER CARE FORTNIGHT
From Monday 13 to Sunday 26 May, this fortnight will highlight how fostering transforms lives. As the number of children coming into care each year increases, more foster homes are needed across Northern Ireland. At HSC NI Foster Care, there are lots of ways people can get involved including short-term support, emergency care placement, supported lodgings/ STAY or long-term care. There is no such thing as a ‘typical’ foster carer. Enquiries and applications are welcome from all backgrounds.
FREE HOUSE INSULATION
Homeseal have secured funding for free insulation for households with income less then £40,000 per annum. All works completed under the scheme are free this includes loft / cavity wall insulation. For more details please phone 79627474.
AN EVENING OF CONVERSATION AND MUSIC
Celebrating 125 Years of The Sacred Heart Church, Omagh on Wednesday 22 May, 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm. St Mary's Hall. (Entrance at back of Sacred Heart Church at graveyard). Admission free, limited tickets available. Taking part will be local musicians and native priests of Drumragh including Fr Eamon Graham, Fr Joe Gormley, Fr Gerard Mongan and Fr Damian Bresnahan. Ticket may be booked at bit.ly/sacredheartchurch125
or call Parish Office on 028 82242092.
CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY AT QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY
Summer Concert on Sunday 2 June at 7.00 pm. The singers and musicians of Canticle Sacred Music Society will provide a rich programme of sacred and traditional music. Concert will be held in Fitzroy Presbyterian Church, with light refreshments afterwards. Tickets £10.
LOUGH DERG
One Day Retreats in May. These guided days of prayer and reflection will take place on Tuesday14, Saturday 18, Saturday 25 and Monday 27. More details at www.loughderg.ie. Cost €45 per person, booking essential.
Three Day Pilgrimages begin Friday May 31 and continue until August 15.
MARY’S MEALS - PRAY IN MAY
Mary’s Meals, provides school meals to over 2.4 million children every day. During May, which is dedicated to Our Lady, they invite you to join them in praying for the hungry children who rely on their life-changing school meals, and for all the children and families who live in poverty, particularly praying for families facing extreme hunger in Ethiopia. Further details and prayer resources for adults and children at
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
SPERRIN FOODBANK
Foodbank operates Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. If you or someone you know requires assistance please call 07543420639. No questions asked or criteria to meet. Facebook page is Sperrinfoodbank, Email:
KNOCKNAGIN HALL
SPRED meeting Monday 13 May at 7.30 pm.
Convery School of Irish Dancing classes for boys and girls aged 3 and over on Tuesdays at 6.00 pm. To register please contact Nicola on 07518204758.
Line Dancing: Wednesdays at 7.30 pm.
Yoga classes: Mondays at 10.00 am.
Chair Exercises: Tuesdays at 10 am followed by a short walk. Adm £4.00.
Knit & Natter now closed, will resume again in September.
Sarsfield’s Accordion Band: Monthly Draw winner for May, Kathleen Walls, Luney.
Band practice: Thursdays at 7.30 pm. New and old members welcome.
SYNTHESIS REPORT FROM FIRST SESSION OF THE XVI ORDINARY GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE SYNOD OF BISHOPS TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2023
The Participants in the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops have approved a Letter to the People of God. The text offers reflections and proposals on topics such as the role of women and the laity, the ministry of bishops, priesthood and the diaconate, the importance of the poor and migrants, digital mission, ecumenism, and abuse.
It is not a final document, but an “instrument at the service of ongoing discernment“.
The Synthesis Report is structured in three parts:
The first outlines “the face of the synodal Church”, presenting the practice and understanding of synodality and its theological underpinning.
The second part, entitled “All disciples, all missionaries”, deals with all those involved in the life and mission of the Church and their relationships with one another.
The third part bears the title “Weaving bonds, building community”.
Episcopal Conferences are now called to focus on the questions and proposals that are considered most urgent, all this sustained by a climate of mutual listening and sincere dialogue.
To read the report, please click link below:
