No. 1996 ~ FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
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, Kenaught: 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 am
St Eugene’s Moneyneena 12 noon
MASS TIMES FOR THIS WEEK
Monday December 4:
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am
Holy Rosary Church ~ 7.30 pm
Tuesday December 5:
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am
Wednesday December 6:
Holy Rosary Church ~ 10.00 am
Thursday December 7:
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am
Holy Rosary ~ 6.00 pm
St Patrick’s Keenaught ~ 7.30 pm
Friday December 8:
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am
St Eugene’s Moneyneena ~ 11.00 am
Holy Rosary Church ~ 7.30 pm.
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Thursday 7: St Ambrose, bishop and doctor of the Church.
Friday 8: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a holy day of obligation. Masses for this holyday are:
Thursday December 7 ~ Vigil Masses:
6.00 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church
7.30 pm ~ St Patrick’s Keenaught
Friday December 8:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
11.00 am ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena
7.30 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Adoration in Holy Rosary on Monday December 4, from 12 noon until 7.25 pm.
PADRE PIO MASS
Monthly Mass in honour of St Pio, including the blessing of the new Shrine containing the First Class Relic of St Pio of Pietrelcina, will be celebrated on Monday December 4 at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church. Novena prayers and Rosary will commence at 7.10 pm.
Please note: The collection at this Mass will be forwarded to the Capuchin Day Centre for Homeless in Dublin.
ST. PATRICK’S CHURCH KEENAUGHT 1973-2023
We congratulate the parishioners of Desertmartin Parish who are celebrating this weekend the 50th Anniversary of the opening of St Patrick's Church, Keenaught. Bishop Donal McKeown, Bishop of Derry is Chief Celebrant at 12 noon Mass in St Patrick’s Keenaught today, Sunday 3 December.
VOCATIONS MASS
Mass and Vigil of Prayer for Vocations in St Patrick's Church, Dungiven, Friday 8 December, 8.00 pm - 9.30 pm. May be viewed on the parish webcam.
FIRST ANNIVERSARY MASS
Shane McGregor Tirruadh, on Friday 8 December in Holy Rosary Church at 7.30 pm.
Bridie Loughran Davagh Road, on Friday 8 December in Holy Rosary Church at 7.30 pm.
DEATH
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Mary McCullagh, Moorside Villas.
ANNIVERSARIES
First Anniversaries:
Francis Donnelly
Bridie Loughran.
Anniversaries:
Baby Leonia Ellen Kidd;
Baby Jude Patrick Trainor;
Kevin McAuley;
Seamus McBride;
Peter McEldowney;
Brian McCloskey;
John O'Hagan;
Baby Rio Crossett.
PIONEER ASSOCIATION
Pioneer Mass for both Ballinascreen and Desertmartin Parishes in Holy Rosary on Wednesday 13 December at 7.30 pm.
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Weekly Collection: £1630
Renovation Collection: £1625
Further donation for Retired Priests £250.
Thank you for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
LIVE CRIB VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
On Saturday 30 December a Live Crib event, featuring people and animals, will be held in the grounds of St Eugene’s Church Moneyneena. It will start with 10.00 am Mass, with Chief Celebrant being Bishop McKeown, and conclude with Mass at 6.00 pm. If you are willing to help in any way with this community event either as a steward, or with the serving of refreshments or providing food such as traybakes, shortbread, biscuits cakes or buns etc. for serving with the tea and coffee, please email the Parish Office this week ballinascreenparish@gmail.com.
Please let us know what you would like to help with and what hours would suit you best. If volunteering to provide food please let us know what food you hope to provide.
As part of this special parish event, Eucharistic Adoration, will take place within the Church. It will commence after 10.00 am Mass and conclude at 5.30 pm. If you are willing to commit to at least 30 minutes of Adoration please email your name and your chosen half-hour or hour for Adoration. Thank you.
ST VINCENT De PAUL SOCIETY
If you, or anyone you know, needs assistance leading up to Christmas, please contact us on our help line.
DATES FOR BAPTISMS 2024
Baptisms in Ballinascreen will be held on the dates listed below. 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
If you email a request please leave a telephone number for contact.
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 Carol Service today, Sunday 3 December at 3.00 pm. A warm welcome is extended to all, refreshments served at end.
ADVENT PRAYER BOOKLET
An Advent family prayer booklet has been been created by the diocese in conjunction with the Northern Pastoral Network. It can be downloaded at: https://www.derrydiocese.org/advent
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 180th ANNIVERSARY
Draperstown Presbyterian Church building opened on Sunday 3 December 1843. Everyone is cordially invited to attend an anniversary service on Sunday 3 December at 6.30 pm - special speaker, visiting singers, light supper and complimentary souvenir book.
BALLINASCREEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Guest speaker for the meeting on Tuesday December 5 will be Edward Montgomery, London Livery Companies. This very informative and well illustrated talk will commence at 8.00 pm in the Community Hub. At this meeting the society will also launch their 49th publication. This is the 4th in their ‘Ballinascreen Gravestone Inscriptions’ Everyone welcome.
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS DRAW 2023
Desertmartin Parish is having a Christmas Draw again this year with draws every day of the 12 days between Christmas Day and Friday 5 January 2024. All tickets will be in for all the draws, so you have 33 chances to win prizes. Total prize fund £5000. Tickets £20 each are available to buy at:
Holy Rosary, Coolcalm & Keenaught Churches before and after Masses
Both 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.
COMMUNITY HUB NOTICES
Wooden Christmas Decoration Workshop, Wednesday 6 December, 11.00 am – 1.00 pm, in Workspace Community Hub. Limited places. To book contact Workspace on 79628113.
Health Matters Session, Wednesday 13 December, 11.00 am – 1.00 pm in Workspace Community Hub. Winter Wellness & Multi-Vitamins information session with Aine from O’Kane’s Pharmacy at 11.30 am followed by Chair Exercise Session with Thomasina. Places limited so booking is essential. Call Workspace on 028 79628113 to book.
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 would like a free copy please contact Fiona on 086 8760058.
ADOPTIVE PARENTS NEEDED
Family Care Adoption Services is an Adoption Agency, and a core part of their work is to place children with new adoptive families. They 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, if you think you could offer a child/ren 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@familycareadoption.org or phone 028 90691133. View their website: www.familycareadoption.com
YOUTH 2000 IRELAND
Annual Christmas Retreat in Dominican College, Newbridge, Co Kildare from 8 - 10 December for ages 16 - 35. Excellent speakers, talks, workshops, music, youth Masses, Adoration, Reconciliation, prayer, drama and time to meet new people and find out what it means to be young and Catholic today! Free buses from all over the country, book online. Donation only. For more details and to register please visit www.youth2000.ie
ST COLM’S ~ DRAW WINNERS
Week 3: £30 Margaret McDaid; £50 Annie Toner; £100 Joanne Hurl.
Week 4: £30 Marie McLernon; £50 Aoibhinn & Dara Walls; £100 Seamus Conway.
SPERRIN FOODBANK
Foodbank operates from 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: foodbank@theworkspacegroup.org
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.
KNOCKNAGIN HALL
·Social Dance on Friday 8 December from 9.00 pm to Midnight. Music by Colin Harney.
Tuesday 26 December - Boxing Night Dance from 9.00 pm to Midnight. Music by Country Sounds.
Flower arrangement on Sunday 17 and Monday 18 December supported by Public Health Agency. You will need to bring your own materials, (registration necessary).
SPRED Group meeting on Monday 4 December.
Chair Exercises on Tuesday at 10.00 am followed by short walk. Admission £4.
Knit & Natter on Tuesdays at 7.30 pm. Bring your own project or you can help with knitting for local charities.
Line Dancing on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm. £4.
Yoga on Mondays at 10.00 am in January. Numbers limited (registration necessary).
Please contact Olive 07887614094, Kathleen 07764277809 or Anne 028 79642711 to register.
Sarsfield’s Band 2024 calendars are now on sale, cost £7.
Monthly Draw for 2024 - £1 per month, £12 for the year, £50 prize every month.
Band Practice Thursdays at 7.30 pm. New and past 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:
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
