BALLINASCREEN PARISH - 29 AUGUST 2021
- Ballinascreen Parish
- Aug 28, 2021
- 8 min read
No.1878 ~ TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
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:
All Masses in St Mary’s Coolcalm are transmitted live on the Desertmartin parish webcam:
PARISH CONTACT DETAILS
Fr. Peter Madden PP VF
31 Sixtowns Road
Telephone: 79628376
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
The Parish Office will be closed this week. Please send names for the Parish anniversary Mass via email or voicemail before Thursday 12 noon. Notices for Parish Bulletin to be also sent via email please
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.
WEEKDAY MASSES: 30 AUGUST - 3 SEPTEMBER
Holy Rosary Church
Monday and Wednesday ~ 11.00 am
Friday ~ 7.30 pm
St Mary’s Coolcalm
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday ~ 11.00 am
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Tuesday 31: St Aidan.
Friday3: St Gregory the Great. Lived 540 -604. Patron of musicians.
SEASON OF CREATION.
‘A Home for All? Restoring Our Common Home’
Pope Francis established 1 September as World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation following the publication of the encyclical Laudato si’ in 2015.
The Season of Creation or Creation Time, is marked throughout the Christian world from 1 September to 4 October (Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi), celebrating the joy of creation as well as encouraging awareness-raising initiatives to protect the natural environment. The Diocese of Derry is encouraging parishes, schools and families to reflect on what they can do to protect the environment around us all. Nature walks, planting seeds, collecting rubbish or recycling are examples of worthwhile environmental projects.
For more ideas, initiatives, prayers, liturgies and news articles on the theme please see the diocesan social media channels and derrydiocese.org/season-of-creation
REOPENING OF SCHOOLS
We welcome back staff and pupils to all schools this week and we ask God to bless everyone as they begin another school year. Hopefully, this year will be less disrupted by Covid 19 than the past eighteen months.
St Colm's High School begins its Diamond Jubilee this week, the school having opened in September 1961. We wish the school's new principal Ms Sinead Mc Allister and all the staff and pupils many blessings in this anniversary year. Covid 19 not withstanding we hope to celebrate this milestone appropriately during the Jubilee Year.
MONTH’S MIND MASS
Margaret Layden, Sixtowns Road on Friday 3 September at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Pat Gormely, Desertmartin;
Colm Higgins, Maghera.
ANNIVERSARIES
First Anniversary:
Baby Robin O’Kane
Anniversaries:
Seamus Mulligan,
Rose-Celine Cleary,
Hugh Donnelly,
Francis McCloskey,
Mary Crossett,
Danny Mullan.
BAPTISMS
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Jasmine Aleshia Kelly, Gortnaskea;
Michael Gary McWilliams, Dromadallagan;
Thomas James McWilliams, Dromdallagan;
Emily Grace McAuley, Ranaghan Road.
WEDDINGS
Congratulations and best wishes for the future to:
Siobhan Donnelly and Anthony McWilliams who were married recently in St Eugene’s Church Moneyneena;
Emma McBride and Johnny McKenna who were married recently in St Patrick’s Church Sixtowns.
BALLINASCREEN PARISH OFFICE
The Parish Office will be closed this week. Please send names for the Parish anniversary Mass via email or voicemail before Thursday 12 noon. Notices for Parish Bulletin to be also sent via email please.
PARISH CEMETERIES
Can. 1240 §1 in the Canon Law of the Catholic Church states:
"Where possible, the Church is to have its own cemeteries, or at least an area in public cemeteries which is duly blessed and reserved for the deceased faithful."
We are blessed in Ballinascreen that all parish cemeteries and individual family graves are beautifully maintained and cared for throughout the year. This makes the reports Fr Madden has received of flowers and other mementoes of loved ones being taken from family graves all the more distressing.
It cannot be stated strongly enough that to disturb the resting place of those who have died is an act of desecration against those who have died, their families and the Church.
At the end of every funeral Mass, the priest ends the ceremony with these words:
"Let us bring our loved one to their final resting place."
It is to be hoped that these recent happenings will end immediately so that those who have died may indeed rest in peace and their loved ones can grieve their loss without any added distress.
MASTERS IN CATHOLIC SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
The Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre, working in Partnership with Saint Mary’s University, Twickenham, offers the Masters in Catholic School Leadership. This is a post-graduate degree 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. Applications for the Autumn intake close 30 September 2021. If you require any further information, please contact the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre on 028 71264087 or email tferry@derrydiocese.org
READERS FOR HOLY ROSARY CHURCH
More readers are needed please for Masses in Holy Rosary Church.
If you are willing to become a regular reader of the Word of God at any of the weekday Masses, the Saturday Vigil Mass or the Sunday Mass in Holy Rosary Church please contact the Parish Office as soon as possible.
KNOCKNAGIN HALL
Monday30 August:
Desertmartin Walk for Health Group meet at Hall on Knocknagin Road at 7.00 pm.(Please note change of time) Come along and join in for chat, fun, exercise and friendship.
Tuesday 31 August:
Exercise and Line-Dancing with Thomasina in Hall at 11.30 am. Admission £4
Wednesday 1 September:
Gardening with Mary Doris.
Week 1: Grow your Own in raised beds /containers
Week 2: Planting containers for autumn colour.
Come along and join in session from 7.00 pm - 8.00 pm admission £3.
Due to Covid Restrictions, it is important to register for sessions, as numbers are limited.
To register please contact either Kathleen 07764277809, Anne: 02879642711 or Olive: 07887614094
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
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 12 noon on Thursday of the relevant week. e mail address is ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
We ask that only members of a family, whose loved one is being prayed for, attend the Friday Anniversary Mass in Holy Rosary Church at 7.30 pm. This should ensure that there is sufficient space for those who are remembering a Month’s Mind or any other anniversary, as seating is limited and cannot be exceeded. The Anniversary Mass will be available on the parish webcam. Holy Communion will be distributed at the door of the Church once the congregation has left. Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.
DRAPERSTOWN LIBRARY
From Monday 6 September, opening hours will be:
Tuesdays 2.00 pm - 8.00 pm,
Fridays 10.00 am - 1.00 pm and 1.30 pm - 5.00 pm
Saturdays 10.00 am - 1.00 pm and 1.30 pm - 4.00 pm.
Tea and newspapers on Friday afternoons resumes on September 10.
Adult Book Club will resume, but with restricted numbers due to covid regulations. Members may contact staff regarding booking a seat.
NO Rhythm and Rhyme sessions.
Books being returned, no longer need to be left in foyer – adults and children may return them to the issue desk.
Certificates and medals for the children who completed the Summer Reading Challenge,
POPE FRANCIS@PONTIFEX
We should not pursue God in dreams and in images of grandeur and power, but He must be recognised in the humanity of Jesus and, as a consequence, in that of the brothers and sisters we meet on the path of life.
YEAR OF ST JOSEPH
We invite you to come to the Shrine of St Joseph in Holy Rosary Church and to place written petitions to St Joseph in the box provided. Please do not put money in your petition envelopes as all petitions will be burned unopened.
REGULATIONS FOR ATTENDANCE AT RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Since Monday 12 April, regulations on the number of people attending weddings, funerals and baptisms have been relaxed, so the following arrangements are now in place in Ballinascreen and Desertmartin parishes. All churches have been risked assessed and the number of places determined for each church is as follows:
Holy Rosary: 100
St Columbna’s, Straw: 100
St Eugene’s, Moneyneena: 100
St Patrick’s, Sixtowns: 50
St Mary’s, Coolcalm: 60
St Patrick’s, Keenaught: 100
These numbers do not include priests, sacristans, or musicians as they have already designated places.
While extra places are now available, we ask that families be mindful of those who are vulnerable, even if they have been vaccinated. Social distancing and hand sanitising are necessary requirements inside the church but a lack of social distancing outside the church and elsewhere is a potential danger that should not be lightly ignored. Many outbreaks of Covid 19 have occurred when large numbers have gathered in homes and other places where the protocols have not been followed.
Track and trace is obligatory at all weddings, funerals and baptisms. Families will be provided with a template on which all names and contact details of those attending a wedding, funeral or baptism must be recorded and once completed returned to the relevant Parish Office.
WEDDINGS
As well as providing a Track and Trace contact sheet, couples will receive a plan of the church where their wedding will take place so that they can prepare their own church seating plan. This plan will then assist the church stewards to direct guests to their designated seats as they arrive. The plan must be received by the Parish Office three days before the date of the wedding. For the distribution of Holy Communion, guests will be asked to stand in their place and the priest or Eucharistic Minister will distribute Holy Communion to them. Masks must be worn by all attending the wedding. The bridal party, with the exception of the bride and groom, must wear masks when they are in their place.
FUNERALS
Unlike a wedding where there is plenty of time to prepare a church seating plan, families will receive specially printed admittance cards and families may distribute these cards as they wish. These cards MUST be shown at the door of the church to one of the stewards. Please do not ask to be admitted into the church if you have not been given one of these cards. Families are requested to adhere to social distancing inside the church, and so sit in their ‘bubbles’ of two, three or more. Occasionally, stewards may have to respectfully request mourners to move to another seat to ensure proper social distancing is maintained. For the distribution of Holy Communion, mourners will be asked to stand in their place and the priest or Eucharistic Minister will distribute Holy Communion to them.
Face masks must be worn by everyone. A track and trace contact sheet must be completed the day before the funeral.
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
