No. 2000 ~ THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH
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
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Monday 1: Mary, the Holy Mother of God. World Day of Peace.
Tuesday 2: St Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops, doctors of the Church.
Saturday 6: The Epiphany of the Lord. This is a holyday of obligation. Masses for the holyday are detailed below..
MASSES FOR THE FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD
An invitation to all parishioners to celebrate the arrival of the Magi on the Feast of the Epiphany.
Vigil Masses - Friday 5 January:
Holy Rosary Church ~ 7.30 pm
St Patrick’s Keenaught ~ 7.30 pm
Masses - Saturday 6 January
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
Saturday Vigil Masses
Holy Rosary Church ~ 6.00 pm
St Patrick's Keenaught ~ 7.30 pm
DAILY MASS TIMES (1 - 5 JANUARY)
Monday January 1:
Holy Rosary Church ~ 10.00 am
Tuesday January 2:
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am
Wednesday January 3:
Holy Rosary Church ~ 10.00 am
Thursday January 4:
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am
Friday January 5:
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am
Holy Rosary Church ~ 7.30 pm.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
There will be NO Eucharistic Adoration in Holy Rosary Church on Monday January 2.
MONTH’S MIND MASS
Mary Trainor, Tobermore Road, on Friday 5 January in Holy Rosary Church at 7.30 pm.
James McEldowney, Moykeeran, on Friday 5 January in Holy Rosary Church at 7.30 pm.
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Hugh McGuckin, Desertmartin;
Michelle Cartin, Park, Claudy;
Vincent McHenry, Ballycastle;
Bridget McKay, Maghera.
ANNIVERSARIES
John Henry;
Mary B McKee,
Margaret Groogan;
Anne O'Kane;
Gerard McEldowney;
Dolores Meyler;
Jimmy Rogers;
Donaugh McCallion;
Mary Cassidy.
CHRISTMAS BOX COLLECTION
The priests of the parish wish to express their sincere thanks and deep appreciation to the people of the parish for their great kindness and generosity to them in the Priests’ Christmas Box Collection.
PARISH OFFICE
Parish Office will be closed until Thursday 4 January 2024. Please email in any notices for Bulletin.
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 email ballinascreenparish@gmail.com If you email a request please leave a telephone number for contact.
January 7 ~ Holy Rosary Church
Jan 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.
WORLD DAY OF PEACE 2024 - SYNOPSIS OF POPE’S MESSAGE
Pope Francis’ message for World Day of Peace emphasizes the positive contributions of science and technology to human progress while cautioning against the potential risks posed by advances in artificial intelligence (AI).
He discusses the ethical dimensions of AI, including concerns related to privacy, bias, and the impact on human dignity. The message stresses the need for responsible development, regulation, and oversight of AI technologies, highlighting potential risks in areas such as disinformation, social control, military, education, the workforce and international law.
The Pope calls for a cross-disciplinary dialogue, ethical development of algorithms (algo-ethics), and the inclusion of diverse voices in decision-making processes. By reminding us that the measure of true humanity lies in how we treat the least among us, he concludes with a hopeful vision that AI development may contribute to human fraternity and world peace: ‘for peace is the fruit of relationships that recognize and welcome others in their inalienable dignity, and of sincere cooperation and commitment in seeking the integral development of all individuals and peoples.’
Please Note: The Pope’s full message for the 57th World Day of Peace on 1 January 2024 which is titled Artificial Intelligence and Peace is now available on the Vatican website.
THE NET
The current edition of The Net is now available in the Holy Rosary porch and on the Derry diocesan website. This paper has many interesting faith stories and news clips from around our diocese.
LOCAL HISTORY BOOK
Old Houses of Sixtowns and their People, is now on sale in Heron’s Gift Shop and the Credit Union. Limited number available and they are going fast.
STRESS CONTROL CLASSSES
Free online stress control classes, with Jim White, Consultant Clinical Psychologist as the key presenter, will be available at https://ni.stresscontrol.org/.
Next round of classes will commence on Monday 8 January, with session two on Thursday 11th January. Each class will begin at 9am and will be available to watch online for around 2 ½ days (62 hours) after the start time.
For any further details or information please Email:
SPERRIN FOODBANK
operates Monday – Friday 9.00am – 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:
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
Yoga classes start Monday 8 January at 10.00 am, numbers limited (registration is necessary) £36 for 6 weeks. Please contact Olive 07887614094, Kathleen 07764277809 or Anne 028 79642711 to register.
NEW YEAR PRAYER
Dear Lord,
We pray that this New Year will bring us closer to You.
May we take the time to get to know You.
Help us to truly celebrate the gifts You have graciously given us and use them to serve You and spread Your word.
May we also see and love you in all the people we meet, so that in turn, they can see You in us.
Let us accept You in our lives, in the way it pleases You,
as Truth, to be spoken,
as Life, to be lived,
as Light, to be lighted,
as Love, to be followed,
as Joy, to be given,
as Peace, to be spread about,
as Sacrifice, to be offered among our relatives, friends, neighbours and all people.
Amen.
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
