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BALLINASCREEN PARISH - 6 FEBRUARY 2022

No.1901 ~ FIFTH 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

36 Moneyneena Rd

Telephone: 79628375

PARISH OFFICE

9 High Street Phone: (028)79628248

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:

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

Tuesday 8: International Day of Prayer and Awareness against Human Trafficking.

Thursday 10: St Scholastica, virgin.

Friday 11: Our Lady of Lourdes. World Day of the Sick.


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 7 - FRIDAY 11 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:

All Masses in St Mary’s Coolcalm are transmitted live on the Desertmartin parish webcam:


DEATHS

We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:

Roseanne Kelly, Bancran Road;

Joe Crilly, Sixtowns Road.


MONTH’S MIND MASS

Sean Kelly, Slievegallion Park on Friday 11 February at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.


ANNIVERSARIES

Helen Gray,

Philip Donnelly,

Peter Girvan,

Helen Kelly,

Philomena Jeffery,

Bridie Lagan,

Julia Morgan,

William Murray.


BAPTISM

We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:

Sadie-Rose McGlade, Moneyneena Road.


HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS

A Holy Hour led by the diocesan Vocations Director, Fr Pat O’Hagan, will take place in St Mary’s Church, Creggan, Derry, at 8.00 pm on Friday 11 February, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.

Everyone is welcome to attend.

The Holy Hour may also be followed at http://www.cregganchapel.com/webcam.html


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.


YOUTH 2000 ~ ST VALENTINE’S BALL

Youth 2000 invites you to the St Valentine`s Ball 2022 on Saturday 19 February. The evening will include dinner, a raffle, a band and DJ and an opportunity to meet many new people from across Ireland. The evening will begin with the celebration of Holy Mass at 4.00 pm in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Armagh. From there, the ball will commence at 7.00 pm nearby in The Armagh City Hotel.

The event is strictly for persons aged 18 and over and ID will be required. Tickets cost €55 and can be purchased only on www.youth2000.ie


KILCRONAGHAN CENTRE

  • CREATIVE WRITING classes with Maura Johnston resume on Tuesday 15 February, from 10.30 am until 12 noon, for 8 weeks. Cost is £3 weekly or £20 if paid on week one.

  • PAINTING FOR PLEASURE classes will resume on Wednesday evenings in February if there is enough interest. Please ring or email to register your name and then a start date can be confirmed. Phone 028 796 27826 or email manager@kilcronaghan.co.uk


ST. COLM'S HIGH SCHOOL ~ JOB VACANCY

The school canteen, requires a temporary catering assistant for 14.5 hours a week, anyone interested please contact Celine on 02879627953 during the day or on 07564998419 in evening.


DRAPERSTOWN LIBRARY

  • Draperstown Library will host an information stand on behalf of AgewellNI on Friday 11 February from 10.00 am onwards. Angie from AgewellNI will distribute information on home safety, morning phone call service, energy efficiency, power washing, handyman service etc.

  • Rhythm and Rhyme Sessions are on again on Friday mornings at 11.30 am.

  • Knit & Natter on Tuesday evenings.

For further information please phone 796 28249.


PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA

Escorted group Pilgrimage. 7 nights departing from Dublin with 20 kgs check-in-bag. Staying in 4 Star Styler Hotel with breakfast, lunch and evening meal each day. Excursion to Santarem, guided tour of Aljustrel and sights relating to the apparitions in surrounding area. Cost: £679 per person sharing. For more details phone Bridie Gallagher, O28 25644181.

Pick up Points: Oak Leaf Restaurant, Castledawson Roundabout and Ballymena.


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.


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.


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 8 February: Exercise with Thomasina at 11.30 am. Adm. £4.

  • Crochet classes on Tuesdays suspended until a later date.

  • Wednesday 9 February: Line Dancing from 7.30 pm until 9.00 pm.

The committee would appreciate any feedback or suggestions for activities that you would like to see organized in the hall. Please contact: Kathleen: 07764277809: Anne: 02879642711 or Olive: 07887614094


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

 

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