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No.1900 ~ FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
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
Monday 31: St St John Bosco, priest. .
Tuesday 1: St Brigid, abbess, secondary patron of Ireland.
Wednesday 2: The Presentation of The Lord, Candlemas Day. World Day for Consecrated Life.
Thursday 3: St Blaise, died 315, Bishop of Sebaste, martyred in Armenia. Since the eighth century he has been venerated as patron of those who suffer from disease of the throat.
Saturday 5: St Agatha, died a martyr for the faith at Catania in Sicily in the third century.
MASS TIMES FOR WEEK AHEAD
SUNDAY MASS TIMES
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
St Patrick’s Sixtowns: 11.00 am
Holy Rosary: 12 noon
DAILY MASS TIMES (MONDAY 31 JANUARY - FRIDAY 4 FEBRUARY)
Holy Rosary Church:
Monday: 11.00 am
Wednesday: 11.00 am
Friday: 7.30 pm
St Mary’s, Coolcalm:
Tuesday: 11.00 am
Thursday: 11.00 am
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
FEAST OF ST BRIGID
Tuesday 1 February is St Brigid’s Feast Day. Mass will be celebrated at 11.00 am in St Mary’s Coolcalm, St Brigid’s Crosses will be blessed during this Mass. All welcome. If joining in this Mass on line please have your cross(es) in front of you for this blessing.
THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD ~ CANDLEMAS DAY
Wednesday 2 February is Candlemas Day. Mass will be celebrated at 11.00 am in Holy Rosary Church. Candles for both parishes will be blessed at this Mass. All welcome.
FEAST OF ST BLAISE
Following the most recent directive from Bishop McKeown there will be NO individual blessing of throats this year. There will however be a general blessing of throats at the end of the 11.00 am Mass in St Mary’s Coolcalm. This blessing will also be extended to those who will be joining in this Mass online.
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Rosalind Donnelly, Cahore Road;
Jean McElhinney, Oak Park;
Liz McCloskey, Dungiven;
Tishy McCloskey, Dungiven;
Michael Cassidy, Bellaghy.
MONTH’S MIND MASSES
Rose Slevin, Slievegallion Park on Friday 4 February at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
Mary Cassidy, Moneyneena on Friday 4 February at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
ANNIVERSARIES
First Anniversaries:
Margaret Mary Doherty
Anniversaries:
Rose Bradley,
Josephine Kelly,
Michael McKenna,
Helen Lagan.
BAPTISMS
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Odhran Martin McGregor, Tonagh Road;
Odhran Patrick McKenna, Brough Road, Castledawson.
CONFIRMATION DATES 2022
Proposed dates for Confirmation Ceremonies in Ballinascreen Parish are:
St Columba’s P.S. on Friday 25 February at 5.00 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
St Eoghan’s P.S. on Friday 4 March at 5.00 pm in St Eugene’s Church, Moneyneena.
St Mary’s P.S. on Friday 11 March at 5.00 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
Gaelscoil na Speiríní on Friday 1 April at 5.00 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
COMMUNION DATES 2022
Proposed dates for First Holy Communion Masses in Ballinascreen Parish are:
St Mary’s P.S. on Saturday 7 May at 11.00 am in Holy Rosary Church.
St Eoghan’s P.S. on Saturday 14 May at 11.00 am in St Eugene’s Church, Moneyneena.
St Columba’s P.S. on Saturday 21 May at 11.00 am in Holy Rosary Church.
Gaelscoil na Speirini on Saturday 4 June at 11.00 am in Holy Rosary Church.
NOTE OF THANKS
Fergus Layden wishes to thank everyone who bought Bonus Balls and so supported the following 3 charities:
(i) Autism,
(ii) Antrim Area Hospital and
(iii) Letterkenny University Hospital.
£460 was raised in total. Winners of the Bonus Balls were Claire Kennedy and Kevin Bradley. Further functions planned include one on St Patrick’s Night in The Shepherd’s Rest and one in The Market Inn on Saturday 30 July. Further donations are welcome and may be made with Anita Donnelly in Ballinascreen Credit Union.
OMAGH CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP
Omagh Prayer Group invites you to join their weekly Zoom meeting on Thursday evenings at 6.30 pm for hymns, prayers of thanksgiving, Scripture and prayers of intercession. The meeting credentials are:
Meeting ID: 753 1929 5586 Passcode: Prayer1
(This meeting ID and passcode is the same every week)
PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE ~ CATHOLIC ENGAGED ENCOUNTER
A Marriage Preparation course is planned for 9/10 April 2022 in The Drummond Hotel, Ballykelly, Co. Derry.
This 2-day course is a positive way of preparing for Marriage where you will discover how you can enrich your future relationship.
For more details and to book please email marriageencounter.ie or phone 028 27638512.
MUSIC FOR MASS ~ WHY SING, WHAT TO SING, WHEN TO SING.
Workshop hosted by Rev Brendan Dowd, Permanent Deacon, ministering and living in Holy Family Parish Belfast on Saturday 26 February.
Registration starts at 10.30 am;
Workshop starts at 11.00 am sharp;
Break 1.00 pm - 1.30 pm, with light refreshments served;
Finishes by 3.00 pm.
Venue: Waterfoot Hotel, 14 Clooney Road, Derry.
As the event will be held close to the start of Lent, the pieces taught on the day will have a Lenten theme. Information and discussion will also be on:
The role of music in the liturgy, in the context of Church teaching
Roles of singers / musicians within groups/choirs
Principles for selecting music
Singing the Psalm (and learning a Psalm tone)
THE NET – JANUARY 2022
Sharing the fruits of the faith in the Derry Diocese, the January edition of ‘The Net’ is now available on the Diocesan website – https://www.derrydiocese.org/publications/the-net/the-net-january-2022.pdf
For coverage of faith stories just email editorthenet15@gmail.com.
Some of articles in this month’s Net are:
A New Year message from Bishop Donal
Francis Lagan – A man of faith who lived the ethos of Catholic Education
Fr Liam Donnelly reflects on priesthood
Synodal Pathway challenges and hopes
Behold Your Mother – A Lenten Retreat
Reflections on 2021
Children’s Catechism Club – C3
Irish Section by Fr Oliver Crilly Banagher & Claudy welcome first faith formation coordinator
The birth of Children’s Rosary
Young writers share thoughts on various issues.
PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE 2022
Seven Nights Pilgrimage to Medjugorje will take place from Saturday 21 – Saturday 28 May 2022. Spiritual Director will be Fr. Séamus Kelly. Bed/Breakfast and Dinner. Price £655, (Including insurance). Offer of special price of £605 for early booking is now extended to Monday 31 January 2022.
Money must be paid in full.
Flight from Belfast.
Contact Martina for further information. Telephone: 7774 1219.
STRESS CONTROL
'Stress Control’ is a six-session cognitive-behavioural therapy class, led by Dr Jim White, consultant clinical psychologist, and is used extensively in community-settings by the NHS. For full details on classes, dates and times visit https://ni.stresscontrol.org/ Next session starts Monday 7 February.
KNOCKNAGIN HALL
Tuesday 1 February: Exercise with Thomasina at 10.00 am. Adm. £4.
Tuesday 1 February: Crochet with Celine FROM 7.00 pm until 9.00 pm. Adm. £5.
Wednesday 2 February: Line Dancing with Thomasina from 7.30 pm -until 9.00 pm
If interested in registering for any of the following activities: Crochet Class, Line Dancing, Sean-nós Dance or Spring Gardening please contact
Kathleen: 07764277809; Anne: 02879642711 or Olive: 07887614094.
Early registration would be appreciated.
The committee would appreciate any feedback or suggestions for activities that you would like to see organized in the hall.
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.
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.
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.
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
