BALLINASCREEN PARISH - 5 OCTOBER 2025
- Ballinascreen Parish
- Oct 4
- 7 min read
No. 2092 ~ TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
PARISH CONTACT DETAILS
Fr. Peter Madden PP VF
31 Sixtowns Road
Telephone: 79628376
Fr Michael McCaul CC
50 Tobermore Road, Desertmartin
Telephone: 79632196
Email: desertmartinparish@gmail.com
PARISH OFFICE
OPENING HOURS: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm.
9 High Street
Phone: (028)79628248
SAFEGUARDING
Click on this link for safeguarding information regarding support services, complaints and reporting, and downloadable resources from the Derry Diocese: https://www.derrydiocese.org/safeguarding
The Diocesan Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Marie Gormley. To contact Marie Tel: 07596500793, or Email: marie.gormley@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.
NOTICES FOR THE BULLETIN
Notices for the Bulletin should be received by 1.00 pm on Wednesday, preferably by email.
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
MASSES THIS WEEK
Monday ~ 6 October:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
7.30 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church
Tuesday ~ 7 Ocotber:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
Wednesday ~ 8 October:
10.00 am ~ Holy Rosary Church,
Thursday ~ 9 October:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
Friday ~ 10 October:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm,
7.30 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church.
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Monday 6: St Bruno, priest.
Tuesday 7: Our Lady of the Rosary.
Thursday 9: St John Henry Newman.
Friday 10: Children’s Day of Mission Prayer.
BALLINASCREEN PARISH OFFICE NEW OPENING HOURS
Monday ~ 8.45 am to 3.30 pm
Tuesday ~ 8.45 am to 3.30 pm
Wednesday ~ 8.45 am to 3.00 pm
Thursday ~ 8.45 am to 3.30 pm.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Eucharistic Adoration in Holy Rosary Church on Monday 6 October from 12 noon until 7.25 pm.
PADRE PIO MASS
Monthly Mass in honour of St Pio of Pietrelcina will be celebrated in Holy Rosary Church on Monday 6 October at 7.30 pm. Novena prayers and Rosary at 7.10 pm.
NOVENA OF HOPE
To celebrate the Holy Year which has HOPE as its theme a Novena of Hope will take place each Sunday at 6.00 pm alternating between Holy Rosary Church and St Patrick’s Church Keenaught. (Except for November 2). Guest speakers, listed below, have been invited to talk about their faith and life in the church.
October 19 in Holy Rosary Church
Marguerite Hamilton, Director Columba House Community.
October 26 in St Patrick’s Keenaught
Brenda Bannon, Former head of R.E. Loreto College Omagh.
November 2 All Souls’ Day Service
3.00 pm ~ St Patrick’s Keenaught
6.00 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church.
November 9 in Holy Rosary Church
Bishop Donal McKeown.
November 16 in St Patrick’s Keenaught
Fr Hugh Lagan SMA.
November 23 in Holy Rosary Church
Sr Perpetua McNulty, Sisters of Mercy and Thornhill Ministries.
November 30 in St Patrick’s Keenaught
Michael Murphy, Matt Talbot’s life and example.
December 7 in Holy Rosary Church
Annual Carol Service incorporating the Novena prayers.
December 14 in St Patrick’s Keenaught
Fr Paul Farren, Adm. St Eugene’s Derry.
PARISH NOVENA ALL SOULS’ DAY - ANNUAL MASS OF REMEMBRANCE
The Novena Service on All Souls’ Day (November 2) will be part of our Parish Annual Mass of Remembrance.
On Sunday 2 November a Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated in St Patrick’s Keenaught at 3.00 pm and at 6.00 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
During the 6.00 pm Mass the names of all who died or were buried in Ballinascreen Parish since All Souls’ Day 2024 will be read out. After all these names have been read out one adult member, of each of these bereaved families, will be invited to carry a lit candle to the altar. Each family should ensure that an adult member has been selected to represent them. All candles will be provided at the back of the church during this Mass.
At the 3.00 pm Mass the names of all who died or were buried in Desertmartin Parish since All Souls’ Day 2024 will be read out.
SCHOOL MASSES
St Mary’s Primary School Draperstown, Opening of School Year Mass, on Wednesday 15 October at 10.00 am in Holy Rosary Church.
St Colm's High School Harvest Mass on Thursday 9 October at 2.00 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
St Colm's High School Year 8 New Beginnings Mass on Thursday 23 October at 7.00 pm in St Colm’s High School.
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Brendan McPeake, Maghera;
Peter McPeake, London and Maghera;
Agnes McBride, Canada, formerly Moydamlaght;
Raymond Hill, England.
FIRST ANNIVERSARY MASS
Gerry Kelly Sixtowns, on Friday 10 October at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
ANNIVERSARIES
First Anniversary:
Monica Gillespie.
Anniversaries:
Patrick McCullagh;
Eileen Devlin;
John McGorry;
Richard Edwards;
Peggy Sargent;
Brendan McBride;
Mickey McGlone;
Ellen Murray,
Delphamine McKenna;
Susan Murray.
DO THIS IN MEMORY MASS
The first Mass, in the DTIM Programme, for children from the parishes of Ballinascreen and Desertmartin preparing to receive their First Holy Communion in 2026, will take place at 6.00 pm on Saturday 18 October, in Holy Rosary Church. All children, parents and families most welcome to attend.
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Weekly Collection £1750
Renovation Collection £2140.
Thank you for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
PARISH BAPTISMS 2025
Baptisms: Sundays at 3.00 pm. All bookings to be made please via the Parish Office, by phone 028 79628248 or by email ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
October 12 ~ Holy Rosary Church.
October 19 ~ St. Columba’s, Straw.
October 26 ~ St. Patrick’s, Sixtowns.
November 16 ~ St. Eugene’s, Moneyneena.
November 30 ~ Holy Rosary Church.
December 14 ~ St Columba’s, Straw.
OUR LADY UNTIER OF KNOTS
Novena in St Eugene’s Cathedral Derry, after the 7.30 pm Mass every Thursday until 27 November. This Novena reminds us that sin never entangled Our Lady, and that Christ gave us His Mother as Our Lady, Untier of Knots. Through this devotion, we entrust our personal “knots” to her loving care - learning to let go and allowing her to gently untie what binds us. All welcome to join this Novena.
BALLINASCREEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A talk entitled ‘Ballinascreen Ether Epidemic’ by Brenda Carson will be held on Tuesday 7 October at 8.00 pm in the Community Hub. All welcome.
DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY
Congratulations to Brendan and Josie McBride of Cordarragh on the occasion of their diamond wedding anniversary. On 4 October 2025 they will be married 60 years, a wonderful achievement. We offer them our prayers and best wishes for the years to come.
THE RISE AND SHINE TRUST PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
The Rise and Shine Trust travels to Lourdes every Easter Sunday with young people and children from Ireland. The Derry, Tyrone and Donegal groups are currently accepting applications from young people of all religious denominations with:
• A medical condition, physical disability or illness (aged 9-18)
• A learning disability (aged 11-21)
• Very seriously ill children under the age of 9, accompanied by a parent or close relative
• Young adults between the age of 19 and 30 with a disability or illness.
The young person travels without their family but accompanied by experienced adult carers in the group. This week is a great experience for the young person as they have the opportunity to make new friends, increase their social skills and confidence and often provides respite for parents/carers. The Rise and Shine Trust cover the cost of those young people selected to travel. If there is a young person that you feel would be eligible and would benefit from a trip to Lourdes, please contact Aileen Henry on 00353 872063183 for more details and an application form. Closing date for applications is Wednesday 15 October.
BALLINASCREEN CREDIT UNION
September Quarterly Cash Draw Winners:
1st Prize: £10,000 - Mr Declan McGuigan, Scutchers Lane.
2nd Prize: £7,000 - Mr Eamon McGuigan, St. Patrick’s Street.
3rd Prize: £5,000 - Mrs Gemma Flanagan, Glenshane Park.
4th Prize: £3,000 - Miss Patricia McElhone, Carndaisy Lane, Moneymore.
Next Quarterly Cash Draw will be held on Thursday 18 December 2025.
SIXTOWNS CROSS COMMUNITY CENTRE
Events for October and Halloween:
Indoor Bowls every Monday at 8.00 pm. Beginners welcome.
Tuesday 14, Social and Old Time Dance Classes at 8.30 pm.
Saturday 18, Autumn clean up around outside of the Hall at 11.00 am. All volunteers welcome.
Thursday 30, Children’s Halloween Disco from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm.
Friday 31, Monthly Social Dance at 9.30 pm Music by Larry & Co.
Sunday 2 November, Coffee / Tea Morning from 11.30 am. All welcome.
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND
Focolare Centre, Curryhills, Prosperous, Co Kildare, 7 - 9 November. Open to all married couples. An opportunity to enrich, renew and refresh your marriage. For details and bookings please visit www.marriageencounter.ie
KILCRONAGHAN CENTRE
Creative Writing Workshops resume on Tuesday 14 October from 10.30 am to 12 noon. This will be an 8 week block of classes, £28, paid week one, with author, Jim Simpson as the new tutor. Places must be pre booked. For more details or to book please message 07821963749.
WEEKEND RETREAT
Recollection Weekend on the Four Last Things from 31 October to 2 November at Tí Chulainn Centre, Mullaghbawn Co. Armagh. An opportunity for adult Catholics who would like to go deeper in their faith and life and come together in prayer and reflection. Retreat leader: Fr Patrick Desmond OP. Fully residential with full board - non residential rates available also – full details are online at www.thecollect.ie
STRESS CONTROL CLASSES
Six free Stress Control online classes start Monday November 3, For full details please visit ni.stresscontrol.org/
PARISH ANNIVERSARY AND MONTH’S MIND MASSES
If you wish to have a deceased 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.
GAMBLING HELPLINE
Is gambling affecting your life? If so help is available by phoning 028 71351329.
KNOCKNAGIN HALL
Monthly Tea Dance on Friday 10 October. Music by Peter McCloskey. Dancing from 9.00 pm to midnight. Admission £7 including light supper.
Light Exercise and Dance with Charmaine: Thursdays at 2.15 pm. Admission £3, supported by National Lottery Community Fund.
Chair Exercises: Tuesdays at 10.00. Admission £4.
St Mary’s Bowling Club: Tuesdays from 8.00 pm to 10.00 pm. New members welcome.
Line Dancing Classes: Wednesdays at 7.30 pm. Supported by National Lottery Community Fund.
Irish Dancing: Tuesdays at 5.30 pm for new beginners and 6.00 pm. To register contact Nicola on 07518207458.
Crochet Classes: Tuesdays at 7.30 pm.
Only a few tables left for Craft Fair on Sunday 9 November. £20 a table or £30 for 2. To book contact 07887614094.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
We pray that our seminarians and those discerning a vocation to the diocesan priesthood will, in the words of St Paul to Timothy, ‘…fan into a flame the gift’
[of faith] and ‘…never be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord…’ as they rely on the power of God to keep them faithful to their calling.
