No. 1995 ~ FEAST OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE
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 Eugene’s Moneyneena: 7.30 pm
(Please note change to the 7.30 pm Mass from St Patrick's Keenaught to St Eugene's, Moneyneena.)
SUNDAY MASSES
St Columba’s, Straw: 9.00 am
No 10.00 am Mass in St. Mary's Coolcalm
St Patrick’s, Sixtowns: 11.00 am
St Patrick's Keenaught: 12 noon
(Please note change to the 12 noon Mass from St Eugene's, Moneyneena to St Patrick's Keenaught.)
MASS TIMES FOR THIS WEEK
Monday November 27:
Holy Rosary Church ~ 10.00 am
Tuesday November 28:
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am
Wednesday November 29:
Holy Rosary Church ~ 10.00 am
Thursday November 30:
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am
Friday December 1:
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am
Holy Rosary Church ~ 7.30 pm.
FEAST OF THE WEEK
Thursday 30: St Andrew, apostle.
ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH, KEENAUGHT – 1973-2023
Due to the 50th Anniversary of the Opening of St Patrick's Church Keenaught the 7.30 pm Vigil Mass on Saturday 2 December at will be held in St Eugene’s Church Moneyneena.
There will be NO 10.00 am Mass in St Mary’s Church Coolcalm on Sunday 3 December.
Mass will be celebrated in St Patricks’ Church Keenaught at 12 noon on Sunday December 3, with Bishop McKeown as the chief celebrant. All are very welcome.
There will be NO 12 noon Mass in St Eugene’s Church Moneyneena next Sunday 3 December.
PRIESTS’ CONFERENCE
Priests of the Diocese of Derry are meeting this week with Bishop Donal McKeown in Dromantine Conference Centre. The conference is being led by Fr Hugh Lagan SMA and Fr Seamus O'Connell, St Patrick's College Maynooth.
Fr Sean McGuigan has kindly agreed to cover Masses in Ballinascreen and Desertmartin and we are very grateful to him. Please pray for the success of the conference. There will be another one in the spring of 2024.
BOOKS OF REMEMBRANCE
A Book of Remembrance has been placed in each of the churches in the parish for parishioners to enrol the names of their deceased loved ones. These books will remain in place during the month of November.
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Jim McGuigan, St Patrick’s Street;
Francie Shields, Desertmartin;
Jim Costello, Maghera.
MONTH’S MIND MASS
Patsy McEldowney, Cloane on Friday December 1 at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
FIRST ANNIVERSARY MASS
Frank Donnelly, Bancran on Friday December 1 at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
ANNIVERSARIES
James Gerard McGuigan;
Rose Conville;
Catherine McKenna;
John Molloy;
Krzysztof Wojenodzki;
Brian McGuigan;
Robert Crossett;
Peter McAllister;
Carmel McKenna.
WEDDING
Congratulations and best wishes for the future to Oonagh Clarke and Mark McFerran, who were married recently in St Eugene’s Church Moneyneena.
BAPTISM
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
John Patrick Fullerton, Rannakeeran.
PIONEER ASSOCIATION
Anyone wishing to receive a silver, gold or diamond pioneer pin should email either Ballinascreen or Desertmartin Parish Office this week to give their name and details. If you have done this before, please do it again in case someone gets overlooked.
A Pioneer Mass for both Ballinascreen and Desertmartin Parishes will take place on Wednesday 13 December at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
The 2024 Pioneer calendar is available from Pioneer Central Office (003531 8054226). It is designed to offer spiritual support and encouragement to families which are being impacted by alcohol and addiction. Cost €5.
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Weekly Collection: £2175
Renovation Collection: £1510
Retired Priests’ Collection £1190.
Thank you for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
DATES FOR BAPTISMS 2024
Please take note of the following new arrangements for the celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism in the Parish of Ballinascreen effective from 1 January 2024. All baptisms will take place on Sundays at 3.00 pm and bookings are to be made via the Parish Office by phone 028 79628248 or by email ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
If you email a request please leave a telephone number for contact.
Baptisms will be celebrated on the following dates:
January 7 ~ Holy Rosary Church
January 21 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena
February 4 ~ St Columba’s Straw
February 18 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns.
March 3 ~ Holy Rosary Church
March 10 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena
March 24 ~ St Columba’s Straw
April 7 ~ St Columba’s Straw.
April 14 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns.
April 21 ~ Holy Rosary Church
May 5 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena.
May 19 ~ St Columba’s Straw.
June 2 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns.
CHURCH OF IRELAND CAROL SERVICE
St Columba's Church of Ireland welcome the Ballinascreen Parish Choir to their annual Carol Service on Sunday 3 December. Please note the change of time to 3.00 pm.
A warm welcome is extended to all and refreshments will be served at the end of the service.
ADVENT PRAYER BOOKLET
As we prepare for the coming of Jesus at Christmas, a family prayer booklet has been been created by the diocese in conjunction with the Northern Pastoral Network. This booklet contains a Gospel reading for each Sunday of Advent with a reflection, prayers and links to music.
It can be downloaded at: https://www.derrydiocese.org/advent
BALLINASCREEN PARISH CHOIR
The members of the choir sincerely wish to thank the Spillane family for their most generous donation to the choir. They were priviliged to be asked to sing at John's recent Funeral Mass.
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS DRAW 2023
Desertmartin Parish is having a Christmas Draw again this year. There will be draws every day of the 12 days between Christmas Day and Friday 5 January 2024. Everyone’s ticket will be in for all the draws, which means you have 33 chances to win prizes. Total prize fund is £5,000. Tickets £20 each are now available from:
Holy Rosary, Coolcalm & Keenaught Churches before and after Masses.
Ballinascreen and Desertmartin Parish Offices.
Fr. McGirr’s Parochial House.
Heron’s Gift Shop.
Moneyneena Post Office.
A ticket would make a nice Christmas gift to send inside your Christmas cards to members of your family and friends this Christmastime.
DIARY DATES
Saturday December 16 ~ Do This In Memory Mass Holy Rosary Church 6pm.
Sunday December 17 ~ Annual Parish Christmas Carol Service in Holy Rosary Church at 6.00 pm.
Saturday December 30 ~ Live Crib at at Eugene’s Church Moneyneena. More details later.
ST VINCENT de PAUL SOCIETY
If you, or anyone you know, needs assistance leading up to Christmas, please contact us on our help line.
ST MARY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL
Open Night will take place on Thursday 30 November from 6.00 pm – 7.30 pm. Everyone is welcome.
ST EOGHAN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL
Open Night will take place on Thursday 30 November at 7.00 pm. Everyone is welcome.
AONACH NA NOLLAIG - CHRISTMAS MARKET
Glór na Speiríní’s indoor Christmas Market on today, Sunday 26 November 5.00 pm to 8.00 pm in Straw. Proceeds will go to Naíscoil and Gaelscoil.
WORKSPACE COMMUNITY NOTICE ~ WREATH MAKING
Christmas Wreath Making Session on Wednesday 29 November, from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm, in Workspace Community Hub. Limited places available. To book please contact Workspace on 028 79628113.
TOTUS TUUS MAGAZINE
This Catholic magazine, full of articles from Irish priests and laity, aims to highlight the beauty and joy of our faith. It is going into its 7th year and is run by donations. If you haven't come across Totus Tuus Magazine and would like a free copy please contact Fiona Kiely on 086 8760058.
ADOPTIVE PARENTS NEEDED URGENTLY
Family Care Adoption Services is an Adoption Agency, and a core part of our work is to place children with new adoptive families. We provide adoption services throughout all Northern Ireland and work with Health and Social Care Trusts to place single children and sibling groups for adoption. These children are aged from babyhood to approximately 5 years old. There are currently more children waiting to be adopted in Northern Ireland than families approved to adopt and there is an urgent need for new families to come forward. All sorts of people from all walks of life can be considered for adoption. So, wherever you live in Northern Ireland if you think you could offer a child (children) a new life in a family of their own and would like an informal chat to discuss this and to find out more about adoption, please Email:email@familycareadoption.org or Phone: 028 90691133
Website: www.familycareadoption.com
We are waiting to hear from you!
YOUTH 2000 IRELAND
Annual Christmas Retreat in Dominican College, Newbridge, Co Kildare from 8 to 10 December for ages 16-35. This promises to be a special retreat! Excellent speakers, inspiring talks and workshops, fantastic music, group activities, youth Masses, Adoration, Reconciliation, prayer, drama, games and plenty of time to chill out, meet new people and find out what it means to be young and Catholic today!! Free buses will operate from all over the country, book online. Donation only. For more details and to register please visit www.youth2000.ie
KILCRONAGHAN CENTRE
Christmas gift wrapping demonstration followed by a design and print your own wrapping paper or Christmas cards workshop, on Monday 4 December, from 10.00 am to 12 noon. Cost £5 which includes all materials and festive refreshments. Places must be booked. Text / WhatsApp / ring 07821963749 to book.
Kilcronaghan Gift vouchers are also available to any value and can be used for any classes in 2024.
ST COLM’S HIGH SCHOOL DRAW WINNERS
Week 1: £30 James McNally, £50 Angela O’Kane, £100 Paddy O’Connor.
Week 2: £30 Danny Boyle, £50 Sarah Cleary, £100 Doreen Bradley.
CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR
Lissan Primary School’s Christmas Fair on Sunday 3 December from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm. All welcome.
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
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 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.
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:
NATIONAL SYNTHESIS OF THE SYNODAL PROCESS
The Irish Bishops' Conference has published the National Synthesis of the Synodal Process conducted across the Church in Ireland from Autumn 2021. The National Synthesis is the fruit of a wide-ranging process of listening and consultation and is based on the syntheses produced by the 26 dioceses in Ireland, as well as those submitted by religious congregations and other interested groups. The National Synthesis will be forwarded to Rome as part of the worldwide synodal process of listening and discernment launched by Pope Francis in October 2021 and which will culminate in the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome in 2023.
To view this document click HERE
SYNODALITY
Synodality is about seeking together to discover God’s way forward in a new time and place.
This is not just a time of change but a change of time.
It is about learning to journey in hope from the great figures of the Advent liturgy: Isaiah, John the Baptist, Mary and Joseph.
We are a pilgrim people, following the voice of God who calls us one step at a time.
We are moving beyond a Church where everything depends on ‘Father’.
Pope Francis has asked us to rediscover the Advent spirit of leaving our secure base and trusting that the Lord will guide our feet into the way of peace.
We aim to have a time of local listening to one another in January/February, building towards a diocesan submission to an Irish national response.
All national responses will be considered by the Vatican and a Working Document sent back for local reflection and comment in late 2022 – building towards the Synod of Bishops’ meeting in October 2023, and beyond.
This is the beginning of a new way of being Church. It is not just a passing initiative. It is facing the future together, open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Advent is not just a season of the year. It is a permanent part of our identity as Church.
PRAYER FOR THE SYNOD
We stand before You, Holy Spirit, as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us, make Yourself at home in our hearts; Teach us the way we must go and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful; do not let us promote disorder. Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity so that we may journey together to eternal life and not stray from the way of truth and what is right.
All this we ask of You, who are at work in every place and time, in the communion of the Father and the Son, forever and ever. Amen.
THE SYNOD PRAYER ~ IRISH TRANSLATION (Paidir an tSionaid)
Seasaimid i Do láthairse, a Spioraid Naoimh,
agus muid ag teacht le chéile i D’ainm
Agus Tusa amháin mar threoraí againn
socraigh Tú féin síos inár gcroíthe;
Múin dúinn an tslí a chaithfimid dul
agus conas is féidir linn leanúint di.
Táimid lag agus claonta chun peaca;
ná lig dúinn ainriail a chur chun cinn.
Ná lig don aineolas sinn a chur amú,
ná don chlaonpháirtíocht ár ngníomhartha a mhúnlú.
Lig dúinn teacht Ort inár n-aontacht
chun go dtriallfaimid le chéile chun na beatha síoraí
gan dul ar strae ó bhealach na fírinne ná ón cheart.
Iarraimid é seo uile Ort,
Tusa a bhíonn ag obair de shíor agus i ngach uile áit,
i gcomaoin an Athar agus an Mhic,
trí shaol na saol.
Amen.
To learn more about the Synodal Pathway for the Catholic Church in Ireland please visit:
To learn more about the worldwide Synod please visit: https://www.synod.va/en.html
Please say each day in your prayers the following prayer for the success of the Synodal Process which is both old and new.
PRAYERS FOR OUR PROTECTION
The Irish Catholic Bishops have asked for prayers for those affected by the Coronavirus. Placing all our trust in the Lord, and asking Our Lady to intercede for us, the bishops invite everyone to pray these prayers:
EXTRACT FROM SAINT PATRICK’S BREASTPLATE
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.
MEMORARE
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you,
O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy, hear and answer. Amen
