BALLINASCREEN & DESERTMARTIN PARISHES 14_DECEMBER_2025
- Ballinascreen Parish
- 13 minutes ago
- 7 min read
No. 7 ~ THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
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 OFFICES
Ballinascreen:
9 High Street
Phone: (028)79628248
Opening hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm.
Desertmartin:
St Patrick’s Keenaught
Phone: (028)79397047
Email: desertmartinparish@gmail.com
Opening Hours: Wednesday and Thursday 10.30 am to 3.00 pm
SAFEGUARDING
Safeguarding Contact Information
If you have any concerns with regard to the safeguarding of children within the Church, please contact:
Marie O’Kane - Diocesan Designated Liaison Person (DLP) Tel.: +44 7596 500793 or Email: dlp@derrydiocese.org
Northern Ireland Emergency Services
PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland): 101
Social Services:
Gateway Services, Western HSC Trust: 028 7131 4090 (ask for the Duty Social Worker)
Gateway Services, Northern HSC Trust: 028 9442 4459
Regional Emergency Social Work Services: 0800 1979 995
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.
Email: desertmartinparish@gmail.com
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 ~ 15 December:
10.00 am ~ Holy Rosary Church
7.30 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church - Advent Service of Reconciliation
Tuesday ~ 16 December
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcam
Wednesday ~ 17 December:
10.00 am ~ Holy Rosary Church
7.30pm ~ St Patrick’s, Keenaught - Advent Service of Reconciliation
Thursday ~18 December:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
Friday ~ 19 December:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
7.30 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church.
CONFESSIONS
Ballinascreen:
Holy Rosary Church: Saturdays at 5.30 pm; before Vigil Mass.
Desertmartin:
St Patrick’s, Keenaught: Saturdays from 6.30 pm until 7.10 pm.
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Thursday 18: St Flannan, bishop
Saturday 20: St Fachanan, bishop
NOVENA OF HOPE
Everyone welcome to the final evening of The Novena of Hope which will be held this evening (Sunday 14 December) at 6.00 pm in St Patrick’s Church Keenaught. Fr Paul Farren, Administrator St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry will be the guest speaker on the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Please Note: All Novena Services, in both churches, are recorded and posted on Ballinascreen Parish Facebook and Ballinascreen Parish website ~ www.parishofballinascreen.com
ADVENT SERVICES OF RECONCILIATION
Visiting priests will be in attendance to hear confessions at the Advent Services of Reconciliation on Monday 15 December at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church and on Wednesday 17 December at 7.30 pm in St Patrick’s Church, Keenaught.
VISITATION OF THE SICK
Fr Madden will conclude the visitation of the sick during this week.
CHRISTMAS HOUSEBOUND VISITS
Fr Michael will visit the housebound next week as follows:
Monday 15 December 2025
Nutgrove Rd, Crocknamohill Rd, Brackaghlislea Rd & Gortahurk Rd.
Tuesday 16 December 2025
Iniscarn Rd, Longfield Rd, Brackagh Rd & Quilly Rd.
Wednesday 17 December 2025
Luney Rd, Forgetown Rd & Brackagh Lane.
Visitations will begin 11.00 am after the morning Masses.
CHRISTMAS MASS IN THE FOLD
Will take place on Monday 22 December at 1.00 pm. All welcome.
CHRISTMAS EVE MASS TIMES
5.00 pm ~ St Eugene’s, Moneyneena
7.00 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church
7.30 pm ~ St Patrick’s, Keenaught
9.00 pm ~ St Columba’s, Straw
9.00 pm ~ St Patrick’s, Sixtowns
CHRISTMAS DAY MASS TIMES
9.00 am ~ St Columba’s, Straw
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s, Coolcalm
11.00 am ~ St Patrick’s, Sixtowns
12 noon ~ St Eugene’s, Moneyneena
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Paddy O’Neill, Dysert Road.
ANNIVERSARIES
Ballinascreen:
Michael McGuigan, Moykeeran Drive;
Helen Heron, Maghera;
Briege Lawless, Cloane Rd;
Bridget Stokes, Campbelltown;
Carmel McCartan, Bancran.
Desertmartin:
Fr Pat Kelly;
Agnes Walls;
Mary Brigid McGovern;
Frankie McCann;
Briege McGurk;
Eddie McGurk;
Katie McGurk;
Elizabeth O’Connor.
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Ballinascreen
Renovation Collection - £2066.62
Priests Collection - £2594.50
Desertmartin
Renovation Collection - £502
Priests Collection - £659
Thank you for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
SIXTOWNS CROSS COMMUNITY GROUP
Children’s Disco: Sunday 14 December from 4.00 pm to 6.00 pm. Open to pre and primary aged children. Santa will be there with a gift for every child! £5 entry per child. Adult supervision required.
TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
Desertmartin Parish is having it’s Christmas Draw again this year!
The total prize fund is £5000. Tickets are £20 each.
Draws every day for the 12 days between Christmas Day and Monday 5 January 2026. Everyone’s tickets will be included in all draws, giving you 33 chances to win prizes!
Prizes: For the first 10 days there will be 3 prizes of £100 each day. On the eleventh day there will be 2 prizes of £500, and on the twelfth and last day of Christmas there is 1 final prize of £1000.
Tickets On sale at:
Ballinascreen & Desertmartin Parish Offices;
Heron’s gift shop;
Moneyneena P.O.
Ballinascreen Credit Union.
Before & after all Masses in the Desertmartin Churches.
Directly from Fr.McCaul at the Parochial House.
A ticket would make a nice Christmas gift to send inside your Christmas cards to members of your family and friends this Christmastime. If anyone anywhere would like a ticket posted to them, please contact Fr.McCaul on 02879632196 or email desertmartinparish@gmail.com. All proceeds going towards the running of the parish & essential work to be carried out at St. Patricks Keenaught.
TRÓCAIRE GIFTS AND DONATIONS
December 14: Trócaire stall selling gifts and accepting donations after 9.00 am Mass in Straw, 11.00 am Mass in Sixtowns and 12 noon Mass in Moneyneena.
STEPS CHRISTMAS WALK & CHAT
Monday 15 December at 7.00 pm at Ballinascreen GAC. Join us for a gentle walk before Christmas or just call in after for a cuppa, chat and the craic. Come as you are. Everyone welcome.
ST COLM'S HIGH SCHOOL CAROL SERVICE
Tuesday 16 December in Holy Rosary at 2.00 pm. All welcome.
CHURCH CLEANING FOR CHRISTMAS
We are looking for volunteers to help give St Patrick’s Church, Keenaught a clean for Christmas. We will have a cleaning evening on Tuesday 16 December at 7.00 pm. All parishioners invited to give a little bit of their time to come along to help with the clean. Bring along a brush and dustpan, or a hoover would be most helpful. Many hands make light work. Please help to have your church cleaned. Thank you.
WARM WELCOME WEDNESDAY
Christmas Luncheon Club: Free Christmas lunch for over 60s, Wednesday 17 December in Workspace Community Hub from 12 noon to 2.00 pm. Food served at 12.30 pm. Music by Country Harmony. Limited places, to book contact Workspace 02879628113 by 12 noon on Monday 15 December.
THE SPREAD ANNUAL MASS
The Annual SPREAD Mass will take place on Thursday 18 December in St Mary's Coolcalm at 10.00 am. All welcome
CORMAC Ó CEALLAIGH CCÉ
Christmas Seisiún in the Market Inn Lounge, Draperstown on Friday 19 December. Junior seisiún from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. SANTA ARRIVAL - 8:30pm. Slow seisiún from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Light refreshments followed by advanced seisiún. Everyone is very welcome! Tá fáilte roimh chách
THE WORKSPACE COMMUNITY FUND FOR 2026
The Fund is open to community & voluntary groups in the Ballinascreen, Kilcronaghan and Desertmartin areas. Welcomes applications for grants between £500 - £2,000 for projects addressing local need, improve the local area, enhance the quality of life & wellbeing in the local community, & promote community involvement. For an application form & guidance notes, contact Workspace on 028 7962 8113 or info@theworkspacegroup.org. Closing date for applications is 1.00 pm on Monday 22 December. Applicants who received funding for 2025 are not eligible to apply to the Fund this year.
SIXTOWNS HISTORY AND HERITAGE GROUP
Booklets are running out so if you want to get one as a Christmas gift for someone who is away from home you can get it in Herons Gift Shop, Ballinascreen Credit Union, Sheehy’s or the Mill Wheel shop in Dunamore. £10 each. They are a one-off publication.
NUALA'S BEGINNER 6 WEEK FITNESS CLASS
New Beginner Fitness Class to help you move, build confidence, & have fun! £3.50 per class. For beginners, low impact & easy to follow workouts. Starts Tuesday 6 January from 6.45 pm to 7.45 pm in the hall, Workspace Recreation Centre on the Back row. To Book your space, contact Carin on 02879628113
TRÓCAIRE 'Gifts of Change'
Gifts that transform lives, bringing real hope and opportunities to families and communities living in poverty. 24 Gifts to choose from starting at £5 for the 'Gift of Soap' for families in war-torn South Sudan. All gifts are real items, sourced in-country which go to families in need of our support. You can buy a Gift online at www.trocaire.org/gifts, calling 0800 912 1200 or visiting our office at 60 Berry Street, Belfast, BT1 1FJ.
KNOCKNAGIN HALL
Chair Exercise Class: Tuesday at 10:00am.
Irish Dancing Lessons: Tuesday evenings: 5:30 pm New beginners & 6:00 pm returning learners. To register, contact Nicola: 07518 207458
St. Mary’s Bowling Club: Tuesday 8:00 pm. New members welcome.
Sarsfield’s Accordion Band: Tickets for the 2026 monthly draw now on sale. £1 a month, £12 for the year, £50 prize drew every month
GREENCASTLE PARISH PILGRIMAGES 2026
Poland: 16 - 23 June: Flights and Half Board, £1275. Salt Mines £55(Optional). Spiritual Director: Fr. James Devine.
Fatima: 23 - 30 July: Flights, Full Board and Coach to Dublin Airport: £879. Spiritual Director: Fr. James Devine.
Medjugorje: 4 - 11 September: Flights from Belfast. Half Board: £849. Spiritual Director: Fr. Pat O’Hagan.
Further details contact Maria on 02881648357 or 07768 395038.
PARISH BAPTISMS 2025
Ballinascreen Parish:
All bookings to be made via Ballinascreen Parish Office on 02879628248 or ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
Baptisms are held at 3.00 pm on the following dates:
December 21 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns at 12noon
December 21 ~ Holy Rosary Church at 3pm
December 28 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena.
Desertmartin Parish:
To book a baptism, contact Fr McCaul on 02879632196 or Desertmartin Parish Office on 02879397047. Baptisms can be held in either church and are held at 1.30 pm on the following dates:
21 December 2025
4 & 18 January 2026
1 & 15 February 2026
1 & 15 March 2026
12 & 19 April 2026
3 & 17 May 2026
7 & 21 June 2026
5 & 18 July 2026
2 & 9 August 2026
NOTICES FOR THE BULLETIN OVER CHRISTMAS
Parish offices will be closed from 22nd Dec until 5th Jan.
Notices should be received by 12noon on Tues 23rd Dec by email only to ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
PARISH ANNIVERSARY MASS & MONTH’S MIND MASSES
If you wish to have a deceased loved one prayed for at the Anniversary Friday Mass over the Christmas period, please email their name to the Parish Office by 12noon on Tuesday 23 December.
Notices for First Anniversary and Month's Mind Masses should be received before 1.00 pm on Wednesday of the previous week so that, they may be printed in the Bulletin the weekend before the Anniversary Mass.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
For our seminarians and all those who will be the future priests of our diocese, that they will be prophetic proclaimers of the Good News of God's liberating love revealed in the person of Jesus Christ.