No. 1983 ~ TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
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 Moneyneena
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, Keenaught: 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
DAILY MASS TIMES
Monday September 4:
Holy Rosary Church ~ 10.00 am
Holy Rosary Church ~ 7.30 pm.
Tuesday September 5:
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am
Wednesday September 6:
Holy Rosary Church ~ 10.00 am
Thursday September 7:
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am
Friday September 8:
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am
Holy Rosary Church ~ 7.30 pm.
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Friday 8: The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Saturday 9: St Ciaran, abbot.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Eucharistic Adoration in Holy Rosary Church begins at 12 noon on Monday September 4 and concludes at 7.25 pm. If you are free during the day, please come and spend time with Jesus.
PADRE PIO MASS
Monthly Mass in honour of St Pio of Pietrelcina will be celebrated on Monday September 4 at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church. Novena prayers and Rosary will commence at 7.10pm.
THE VOICE OF PADRE PIO
Annual subscriptions for the magazines are now due and will cover you receiving the magazine bi-monthly, until August 2024. If you wish to get this interesting/informative St Pio magazine, posted directly to your home from San Giovanni Rotondo, please enclose £14 in a sealed envelope with your full name and address. This payment should then be made at the St Pio Mass on Monday September 4.
Thank You
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Brendan McPeake, Cahore Terrace;
Hugh McLaughlin, Drum.
ANNIVERSARIES
Marian Foley;
Rose Celine Cleary;
Hugh Donnelly;
Charlie Murray;
Annie Murray;
Rose O'Kane;
Mary Lagan;
Danny Mullan;
Rose Kelly.
BAPTISM
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Cahir Michael Hegarty, Rannakeeran.
SUMMER DRAW
Thank you to everyone who supported our parish Summer Draw and congratulations to all the winners.
WEEK 5 WINNERS:
£2000: Mary Gray, Drumard Road;
£500: Cassie Hegarty, Tonagh Road;
£300: Lorcan Cassidy, Portglenone.
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Weekly Collection: £1310
Renovation Collection: £1356.
Thank you for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
MARY'S MEALS ~ THANK YOU
A very sincere thanks to Fr Madden, Fr. McGirr, Fr. McGuigan, sacristans, altar servers and collectors and everyone in Ballinascreen Parish for the very warm welcome given last weekend for our talks. The amazing amount donated was £4,019.96 which will feed 214 children everyday in school for a full year. Grateful thanks to everyone for their exceptional generosity, those who donated at all the Masses and those who will donate in other ways as a result of our visit to your Parish. Special thanks to the SVP for foregoing their collection to facilitate Mary’s Meals.
LIFE IN THE SPIRIT
Seminars in St Joseph's Hall, Omagh on Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 September, led by the Apostles of Love Missionary Team. Registration from 10.00 am. Saturday 11.00 am - 4.00pm, Sunday 10.00 am - 4.30 pm with Mass. The Celebrant will be Bishop Michael Router. For any enquiries or to book please contact: Tel.07876411435 or Tel. 0759660904.
Cost ~ donation only.
Open to adults and children age 12+
MARRIAGE AND RELATIONSHIP COUNSELLING
If you feel your relationship is in crisis or you need a little guidance and help, either face to face or online, contact your local ACCORD centre. ACCORD NI counsellors are professionally trained in the specialism of couples and relationships counselling. Every year Accord help thousands of couples rebuild and sustain healthy relationships. For support, call 028 9023 3002 or visit accordni.com
DRAPERSTOWN HEALTH MATTERS PROJECT
O’Kane’s Pharmacy and The Workspace Group will be holding a series of free monthly health related information sessions on issues affecting the local community. An initial information session will be held on Wednesday 6 September at 11.00 am in the Workspace Community Hub to discuss the project and agree topics for each month. The project is open to anyone from Draperstown and surrounding areas, aged 21 and over, but places are limited. If interested in attending or for more details, please call Workspace on 028 7962 8113.
BALLINASCREEN GAC
Have you a family member living elsewhere but was once a member of Ballinascreen GAA? Would they have a story or photograph from their days playing for Ballinascreen GAA?
Please let them know that Ballinascreen GAA would really love to hear from them. They would also love to hear of course from past and current members who are still living locally. Stories, memories, photographs could be published in the Club’s 90th Anniversary Souvenir Magazine later this year. Please email stories or photos to screengac90@gmail.com
BALLINASCREEN SET DANCING GROUP
Weekly classes resume on Thursday 7 September at 8.30 pm in An Scioból (behind The Market Inn). Everybody welcome to come along and try it. Great exercise and craic!
SIXTOWNS CROSS COMMUNITY GROUP
Would you like to join an Events Committee to plan and run fundraisers and other seasonal events at the hall? Or volunteer to join the cleaning rota? If so please contact 07769285385 for more information and find out how you can get involved.
RADIO MARIA IRELAND
Launch of its Belfast Studio, located in St Mary’s Church, Chapel Lane, on Thursday 7 September. Starting with Mass at 6.00 pm in St Mary’s Church followed by tea/coffee and an information evening about Radio Maria and how it can help support the faithful in Ireland today. For more details see www.radiomaria.ie or call 0035386 8389989.
GOSPEL MUSIC EVENING
In Draperstown Presbyterian Church on Friday 15 September at 7.30 pm, featuring Joseph and Sandra Kennoway, Solid Ground and Lynda and Alice Lindsay. All proceeds and donations to missionaries. All welcome.
BACKROW RECREATION CENTRE
Nuala’s Keep-Fit Classes on every Monday and Thursday at 6.45 pm. Classes only cost £21 for 6 weeks (one night per week). For more details please call Workspace on 7962 8113.
33RD DERRY BALLINASCREEN SCOUTS ~ CONGRATULATOINS
Ballinascreen Scouts achieved Silver standard and won the Spirit Award in the Phoenix Challenge, an All-Ireland Scout competition they attended in Dublin recently. Well done to Aoife McHugh, Katie McLernon, Ethan and Noah Lagan, Callum Cassidy, Augustas Kraslauskas, Mark McNicholl and Sarah Jane Bradley.
A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE
St Columba's Church of Ireland extend a warm welcome to ‘A Trip Down Memory Lane’ on Saturday 16 September at 2.00 pm This will be a pictorial presentation on the rebuilding of the church spire in the early 1990's and the vital support from the local community in fund raising events. Graham Mawhinney will provide an historical perspective on the history of the church. Light refreshments served.
BABY MASSAGE
New Baby Massage and Reflexology classes starting in September in Draperstown. For details contact Rosie on 07749121208
KILCRONAGHAN CENTRE
Painting For Pleasure: Wednesday 13 September for 14 weeks from 10.00 am to 12 noon or from 7.00 pm to 9.00 pm.
Yoga: Thursday 28 September for 5 weeks from10.30 am to 12 noon.
Chair based exercises: Friday 29 September from 10 am to11 am for 10 weeks. Ideal for those who are less mobile.
George Gourley Watercolours Painting: Monday 9 October from 10.00 am to 12 noon for 4 weeks.
Text/WhatsApp 07821963749 for more details and to book a place on any class. Everyone welcome.
LOUGH DERG DAY RETREATS
September on 6, 9, 12, 16, 17, 23 and 24. Booking essential. Admission €45. For details see www.lough.org
SVP VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers needed to help with weekly collections after each Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses. If you can help please contact 07710 838050.
SPERRIN FOODBANK
Foodbank now operates from Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. If you or someone you know requires assistance please call 07543 420639. No questions asked or criteria to meet.
Facebook page: Sperrinfoodbank
FOYLE HOSPICE
October is Foyle Hospice Coffee Morning Month. You could host a Coffee Morning anywhere! All you need is a kettle and some company. A ‘Free Coffee Morning Pack’will be provided. For more details or to sign up to become a host, please call Ailbhe, Foyle Hospice, on 028 71359888 or email ailbhe@foylehospice.com
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 they may be printed in the Bulletin the weekend before the Anniversary Mass.
KNOCKNAGIN HALL
Social Dance: Friday 8 September. Music by Francis Faulkner. Dancing from 9.00 pm until Midnight. Adm £7 - includes light supper.
Chair Exercises: Tuesdays at 10.00 am followed by a short walk. £4.
Knit & Natter: Tuesdays at 7.30 pm. Bring your own project or you can help with knitting for local charities.
SPRED Group Activities: Restart on Monday 11 September at 7.00 pm.
Line Dancing: Restarts Wednesday 13 September at 7.30 pm. Admission £4.00.
Bowling Club: Recommences on Tuesday 5 September from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm. New and past members welcome.
Annual Christmas Craft Fair: Sunday 12 November. Tables £20 each or two for £30.
Read Yourself Well. Books by wellness experts and doctors available to borrow for free at the Parish Hall.
If interested in any of the above please contact Olive (07887614094), Kathleen (07764277809) or Anne (79 642711) to register.
Sarsfield’s Band Practice restarts Thursday 14 September at 7.30 pm. New and past members welcome. A 2024 calendar is being prepared, it would be appreciated if any suitable band photos could be given to any band member for copying, all photos will be returned.
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
