No.1891 ~ FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

SUNDAY MASSES
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 (NB Townland Rota still applies)
St Patrick’s Sixtowns 11.00 am (NB Townland Rota still applies)
Holy Rosary: 12 noon
DAILY MASS TIMES
Holy Rosary Church
Monday and Wednesday ~ 11.00 am
Friday ~ 7.30 pm
St Mary’s Coolcalm
Tuesday, 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
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
Tuesday 30 November: St Andrew, apostle.
Friday 3 December: St Francis Xavier, priest.
WEEKDAY MASSES: MONDAY 29 NOVEMBER - FRIDAY 3 DECEMBER
Holy Rosary Church:
Monday and Wednesday ~ 11.00 am
Friday ~ 7.30 pm
St Mary’s Coolcalm:
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday ~ 11.00 am
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.
TRÓCAIRE ~ EMERGENCY COLLECTION
Fr Madden wishes to acknowledge a further £495 received for the Trócaire emergency collection. Total now raised in Ballinascreen Parish for this emergency Trócaire collection is £8010. Many thanks to all who contributed so generously to help Trócaire in its vital work to alleviate the current humanitarian crisis in East Africa.
FIRST ANNIVERSARY MASSES
Johnny O’Hagan, Moykeeran, on Friday December 3 at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
Brian McCloskey, Moneyneena Lane, on Friday December 3 at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the families and relatives of:
Katie Donnelly, Mallon Villas;
Michael Hegarty, Moneymore;
Bernadette Gallagher, Magherafelt.
ANNIVERSARIES
Rose Grant,
James Gerard McGuigan,
Baby Jude Patrick Trainor,
Rose Conville,
Catherine McKenna,
Krzysztof Wojenodzki,
Brian McGuigan.
BAPTISMS
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Gracie Mae Annie McFadden, Glenelly Villas;
Daithi Martin McSorley, Tirruadh Court;
Conor Michael Mellon, Milltown Road.
HOW FIT IS YOUR SOUL?
The How Fit Is Your Soul Programme is an online programme from St Eugene’s Cathedral taking place during Advent. This is for anyone who is interested in reflecting on and developing their prayer life, whether you would like to start praying, pray more or experience new ways to pray. For more details please phone 028 71262 894 or eamil: emmett.mullan@btinternet.com
ADVENT 2021
A Family Prayer Booklet, for family prayer at home during Advent, has been been created by the diocese in conjunction with the Northern Pastoral Network. The booklet contains a Gospel reading for each Sunday of Advent, a family activity, prayers and a reflection. It can be downloaded at this link https://www.derrydiocese.org/advent
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.
SVP DONATIONS
Many thanks for many generous donations. To make a donation please place it in an envelope and mark it SVP. All donations appreciated.
SIXTOWNS CROSS COMMUNITY GROUP
Christmas Market at Sixtowns Hall on Sunday 5 December from 4.00 pm until 7.00 pm. Wide variety of stalls, live music and tea and coffee served.
Christmas Raffle will be held on the night ~ 1st prize ~ 8ft metal outdoor Christmas tree with lights. Tickets may be bought at the Christmas Market or before it at Straw Service Station or Heron’s Gift Shop.
Free entry everyone welcome.
KILCRONAGHAN CENTRE
The members of the Five Roads Writing Group cordially invite everyone to come along to the informal, drop-in, book launch of their third publication, “Reflections”. The 86 page book contains 55 items from 7 local writers. The event will be held at the Centre on Saturday 4 December from 2.00 pm until 3.00 pm. An ideal Christmas gift!
LOUGH DERG ONLINE SHOP
Their online shop offers unique Christmas Cards, featuring scenes of the Island from across the centuries and bespoke gifts including a limited edition Lough Derg Christmas Candle. Christmas Mass Bouquet Cards are also available. Fr La, Prior, will offer a triduum of Masses beginning on Christmas Eve for all who are enrolled. View their website or phone or phone 00353 71 9861518 to order.
Delivery nationwide. Click and Collect Service available.
NOVENA TO THE DIVINE CHILD
Carmelite Retreat Centre Termonbacca, Derry will host this Novena from 8 December until 16 December. Novena Mass and prayers will be live-streamed via Facebook each evening at 7.30 pm. Novena prayer leaflets containing the public prayers after Mass and the private prayers to be said at home are on Termonbacca Facebook page or email termonbaccaderry@gmail.com
PRIORY INSTITUTE
Lectio Divina Reflections on the Advent and Christmas Gospels
The Priory Institute is offering a FREE online retreat. To register or for more details visit their website: prioryinstitute.com or click on this link https://bit.ly/3DWrTkx