No.1895 ~ THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST - 25 DECEMBER
THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH - 26 DECEMBER

PARISH CONTACT DETAILS
Fr. Peter Madden PP VF
31 Sixtowns Road
Telephone: 79628376
Email:ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
Fr Dermot McGirr CC
50 Tobermore Road, Desertmartin
Telephone: 79632196
Fr John Downey Priest In Residence
36 Moneyneena Rd
Telephone: 79628375
Email: j.downey75@btinternet.com
PARISH OFFICE
9 High Street Phone: (028)79628248
email: ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
Open Monday and Tuesday from 9.00 am until 3.00 pm
NOTICES FOR THE BULLETIN
Notices for the Bulletin should be received by 1.00 pm on Wednesday ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
Bulletins are presently only available:
Online at www.parishofballinascreen.com
On the noticeboard inside the front porch of Holy Rosary Church.
SVP HELPLINE
Helpline telephone number: 07710838050
BALLINASCREEN COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP
Please click the link https://www.parishofballinascreen.com/ballinascreen-community-support-gro for full details of Ballinascreen Community Support Group.


FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Monday 27: St John, apostle and evangelist.
Tuesday 28: The Holy Innocents, martyrs.
MASS TIMES FOR WEEK AHEAD
SUNDAY MASS TIMES ( 1 & 2 JANUARY)
VIGIL MASSES
St Eugene’s Moneyneena: 5.00 pm
Holy Rosary: 6.15 pm
St Patrick’s Keenaught: 7.30 pm
SUNDAY
St Columba’s Straw: 9.00 am
St Mary’s Coolcalm: 10.00 am
St Patrick’s Sixtowns: 11.00 am
Holy Rosary: 12 noon
DAILY MASS TIMES (MONDAY 27 - FRIDAY 31 DECEMBER)
Holy Rosary Church
Monday ~ 11.00 am
Wednesday ~ 11.00 am
Friday ~ 7.30 pm
St Mary’s Coolcalm
Tuesday ~ 11.00 am
Thursday and Friday ~ 11.00 am
All Masses in the Holy Rosary Church are transmitted live on the Ballinascreen parish webcam:
https://www.churchservices.tv/Draperstown
All Masses in St Mary’s Coolcalm are transmitted live on the Desertmartin parish webcam:
https://www.churchservices.tv/Desertmartin
MESSAGE FROM BISHOP McKEOWN ~ COVID 19 - OMICRON VARIANT
Bishop McKeown, having received the most recent scientific and medical advice, has written to all parishes to reinforce the following safety points to ensure that our churches remain as safe environments as possible.
All Church events must continue to be risk assessed.
Face coverings be worn, not just for entering and leaving the church, but also when seated. This is winter, but ventilation is still vital and social distancing is critical, both in the church and when entering or leaving.
The routine celebration of the Sacrament of Confession should not take place in the current circumstances.
Holy Communion should not be distributed on the tongue. A right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue is not an absolute right and, at the moment, must be restricted for the protection of human life, a key part of the church’s pro-life stance.
DEATH
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of Breige Lawless, Cloane Road, who died recently.
FIRST ANNIVERSARIES
Pascal Kelly, Cahore Road;
Dolores Meyler (nee McKenna), Dublin/Tullybrick.
ANNIVERSARIES
Mary McNamee,
Nellie Toner,
Bridget Duggan,
Carmel McCartan,
Joe Conville,
Gerard McAllister,
Mary B McKee,
John McEldowney,
Margaret Groogan ,
Anne O'Kane,
Alice Hughes,
Gerard McEldowney.
MONTH’S MIND MASSES
Robert Crossett Glenelly Villas on Friday December 31 at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
Peter McAllister Straw on Friday December 31 at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
John Molloy St Patrick’s Street on Friday December 31 at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
FIRST ANNIVERSARY MASSES
Jimmy Rogers Forglen and Drumderg, on Friday December 31 at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
Dolores Myler on Friday December 31 at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
BAPTISM
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Aria Mary Brunton, Glengomna Road.
BALLINASCREEN PARISH OFFICE
Parish Office will be closed next week, it will reopen on Tuesday January 4.
DIOCESAN VOCATIONS
The Diocesan Vocations Committee will hold a Holy Hour for Vocations in St Mary's Church, Creggan, on Friday 7 January 2022, from 8.00 pm until 9.00 pm. Everyone is welcome, especially those who may be considering a religious vocation. Members of the Diocesan Vocations Committee will be present, and will be willing to hear Confessions or talk with those who wish to discuss their vocation with them.
N.I. FOSTER CARE
With an increase in children and young people needing foster homes across Northern Ireland, more foster carers are now needed. Every child deserves to have a happy, loving and safe home where they'll feel cared for, valued and supported. It’s always the right time for fostering.
Phone 0800 0720 137 for more information or click on this link: adoptionandfostercare.hscni.net
BALLINASCREEN CREDIT UNION
December Quarterly Cash Draw Winners:
1st Prize - £10,000 - Mrs Noleen Connery, Gortnari.
2nd Prize - £7,000 - Mr Aaron Brunton, Dromdallagan.
3rd Prize - £5,000 - Ms Paula Corbett, Largantogher Park, Maghera.
4th Prize - £3,000 - Mrs Catherine Sarah Madden, White Water Court.
Next Quarterly Cash Draw will be on Saturday 26th March 2022.
PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE 2022
Seven Night Pilgrimage to Medjugorje will take place 21 – 28 May 2022. Spiritual Director Fr. Séamus Kelly. Bed/Breakfast and dinner. Price £655 (includes insurance). Offer of Special Price for early booking: £605 – if paid before 20 December 2021. Money must be paid in full. Flight from Belfast. Contact Martina for more details, phone 77741219.
PARISH ANNIVERSARY AND MONTH’S MIND MASSES
If parishioners wish to have their loved one prayed for at any Anniversary Friday Mass, you MUST please emailtheir name to Ballinascreen Parish Office by 12 noon on Thursday of the relevant week. e mail address is ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
PLEASE NOTE: First Anniversary and Month's Mind notices should be received the previous week in order for them to be placed in the Bulletin the weekend before the Friday Anniversary Mass.
HEALTH AND SAFETY NOTICE
Due to ongoing Covid 19 restrictions and the very great need for us to maintain social distance inside buildings, we remind you that only family members of those being remembered attend the Parish Anniversary Masses.
Please remain at home and follow the Mass on the parish webcam. As Covid numbers continue to be a cause for concern, there are only a limited number of seats available. Families remembering the Month’s Mind of a loved one or a First Anniversary must have precedence until the pandemic is over.
At Bishop McKeown’s request, those attending any mass or service in our churches must wear a face mask.
Thank you for your cooperation on these important matters.
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Sincere thanks to all who have returned parish envelopes, established standing orders, made online payments or used the ‘Donate’ button on Parish Website. Envelopes may be returned at any parish Mass, to Parish Office or any Parochial House.
Thank you for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
CHILDREN IN CROSSFIRE 2021 APPEAL
Envelopes containing details of the tremendous work carried out by Children in Crossfire, particularly in Ethiopia are available in all Church porches. Please take one home, details of how to support their vital work to save children’s lives are also provided in these envelopes. Thank you.
THE NET DECEMBER 2021
Sharing the fruits of the faith in the Derry Diocese, ‘The Net’ is now available on the Diocesan website: www.derrydiocese.org/news/the-net-december-2021
For coverage of faith stories please email editorthenet15@gmail.com
Coverage in this edition includes: