No. 1696 ~ THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
SUNDAY MASS TIMES
VIGIL MASSES
Holy Rosary: 6.00 pm
St Eugene’s Moneyneena: 7.30 pm
SUNDAY
St Eugene’s Moneyneena: 9.00 am
St Patrick’s Sixtowns: 10.00 am
St Columba’s Straw: 11.00 am
Holy Rosary: 12 noon
DAILY MASS TIMES DURING LENT
Holy Rosary
Monday ~ 10.00 am and 7.30 pm
Tuesday ~ 7.00 am
Wednesday ~ 7.00 am
Thursday ~ 7.00 am
Friday ~ 10.00 am
St Eugene’s Moneyneena
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday ~ 10.00 am
St Columba’s Straw
Wednesday and Friday ~ 7.30 pm
St Colm’s High School
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday ~ 8.40 am
CONFESSIONS
Before the Vigil Masses
Fr. Peter Madden PP VF
40 Derrynoyd Road
Telephone: 79628376
Email:ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
Fr John Downey CC
36 Moneyneena Rd
Telephone: 79628375
Email: j.downey75@btinternet.com
Fr Dermot McGirr CC
50 Tobermore Road, Desertmartin
Telephone: 79632196
PARISH OFFICE
9 High Street Tel: 79628248
Opening Hours
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
9.00 am – 3.00 pm
Friday 9.00 am – 1.00 pm
Wednesday ~ Closed
BULLETIN NOTICES
All notices for the Bulletin should be received by 1.00 pm on Wednesday. ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
SVP HELPLINE
Helpline telephone number: 07710838050
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Wednesday 7: St Perpetua and St Felicity, martyred in Carthage in 203.
Thursday 8: St John of God. He devoted his life to the care of the poor and sick. He is patron saint of nurses, the sick, printers and booksellers.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS FOR LENT
Stations of the Cross today, Sunday, at 5.00 pm, in St Eugene’s Church Moneyneena. All are welcome.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Eucharistic Adoration in Holy Rosary Church on Monday March 5 following the 10.00 am Mass. Adoration will conclude with Mass at 7.30 pm.
PADRE PIO MASS
Monthly Mass in honour of St Pio of Pietrelcina will be celebrated in Holy Rosary Church on Monday March 5 at 7.30 pm. Rosary and novena prayers will commence at 7.10 pm.
VISITATION OF SICK AND HOUSEBOUND
Fr Downey will visit the sick in his care on Monday 5, Thursday 8 and Friday 9 March
MONTH’S MIND MASS
Helen Lagan, St Patrick’s St, Mass on Wednesday 7 March in St Columba’s Church Straw at 7.30 pm.
FIRST ANNIVERSARY MASS
Peter Bradley Cahore, Sunday 11 March in St Columba’s Church Straw at 11.00 am.
ANNIVERSARIES
Mary O’Neill, Maureen Kelly,
Helen Cuskeran, Pat Joe Bradley, Seamus McGuigan, Nancy Kelly.
LAST SUNDAY’S COLLECTIONS
Weekly Envelope Collection: £2246
Church Revovation Fund: £1522.
Many thanks to all who contributed.
BAPTISMS
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Brogan Francis Murray Drumard Road,
Harper Marie McLaughlin Cloane Road,
Tommy Grant Cordarragh Heights,
Fianna Rose Groogan Cordarragh Heights.
LENTEN WALK
Following a request from Corrymeela Community, both Ballinascreen Catholic and Church of Ireland Parishes have agreed to host one of their Annual Lenten Walks on Thursday 15 March. It will commence at 10.30 am with a short prayer service in the Church of Ireland Parish Church Draperstown followed by an 8 km walk which will begin and end at Lough Fea. Transport to Lough Fea is not provided. Following the walk a short prayer service will be held in St Columba’s Church, Straw with refreshments afterwards in An Rath Dubh, Moneyneena. For catering purposes it is important to let the Parish Office know, as soon as possible, of your intention to do the walk.
WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES ICON
The Official Icon for the WMOF2018 will be in the Derry Diocese from Monday 5 - Thursday 15 March, at the following venues:
Moville: St. Pius X Church, Evening of
Monday 5 March - Wednesday 7 March
Derry City: St Eugene's Cathedral Wednesday 7 - Monday 12 March
Omagh: Sacred Heart Church
Monday 12 - Tuesday 13 March
Bellaghy: St Mary's Church,
Tuesday 13 - Thursday 15 March.
There will be a Petitions Box in each venue while the Icon is there. The petitions will be forwarded to a convent of contemplative nuns who will pray for all the intentions prior to WMOF2018.
DO THIS IN MEMORY MASSES
Do This In Memory Mass will be celebrated today Sunday at 12 noon in Holy Rosary Church. Do This In Memory Masses will also be celebrated on ~
25 March, 15 April and 3 June 2018.
PARISH BAPTISMS
First Sunday of the month:
Holy Rosary Church after 12 noon Mass
Second Saturday of the month:
St Eugene’s Moneyneena at 3.00 pm
Fourth Sunday of the month:
St Columba’s Straw at 3.00 pm
St Patrick’s Sixtowns: By arrangement.
A baptism card is to be completed when booking a baptism. Please contact the Parish Office to book a baptism
LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 2018
Bishop Donal McKeown will lead the diocesan pilgrimage from 1 – 6 July. Fare £669. Application forms available from Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop St Derry. Opening hours: 11.00 am – 1.00 pm Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Phone 71260293 email derrypilgrim@outlook.com.
TRÓCAIRE NEWS 2018
“How much longer will you set on a victim, all together, intent on murder, like a rampart already leaning over, a wall already damaged?” Psalms 62:3.
Today we pray for the people of Eastern Ghouta in Syria. Hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed in the bombing of the past two weeks including many children. Trócaire’s partners continue to work on the ground in horrendous conditions. We pray for those who can resolve this crisis to find the political will to do so. To find out more on Trócaire’s work visit www.trocaire.org
Trócaire Lenten Boxes available in all Church porches. Please take a box home and support this annual appeal to help people living in developing countries.
BALLINASCREEN TRADITIONAL MUSIC GROUP
Congratulations to all members who participated in the Ballymena Feis and especially to the Junior Grúpa Ceoil who came first. Grand Concert will be on 24 March. Further details later.
SIXTOWNS CROSS COMMUNITY
Fundraising event for Sixtowns Hall from 5.00 pm -7.00 pm today, Sunday, in The Shepherds’ Rest. Music by Bleed ‘N Cowboys. Light supper.
BALLINASCREEN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
A talk entitled ‘Ulster Architecture’ by Paul Larmour will be held on Tuesday March 6 at 8.00 pm in 50 High Street. Everyone welcome.
ST MARY'S PRIMARY SCHOOL
Draw Winners Week 1:
£60 Cahan Flanagan, Glenshane Park,
£30 Christine Farrelly, Tobermore Rd.
£20 Anne Murphy, Mallon Villas.
BALLINASCREEN FOLD
Congratulations to winners of February Quiz. All welcome to the next quiz on 30 March. Admission £2 includes supper.
Sleive Gallion Active Retirement Association
Meeting on Monday 5 March at 7.30 pm in St Mary's Parish Hall. Three day trip to Athlone planned for Sunday - Tuesday 13-15 May. Contact Chris 07546010560 for further details.
PARISH HALL DESERTMARTIN
Tea Dance in Parish Hall on Friday 9 March has been cancelled.
Hall Committee AGM on 25 March. All welcome to this open meeting. New Committee members welcome.
DRAPERSTOWN CELTIC
A 10km, 5km and walk will be held on Sunday 22 April at 11.00 am to raise funds for the youth teams that will be attending the Foyle Cup. Sign up at http://athleticsni.org/Fixtures/Run-DC-10K
ST COLM’S GAC
400 Club Winners:
£300 Gavin Bradley, £50 Tina Kelly, £50 Maria McWilliams.
Club shop open every Friday night from 7.00 pm - 8.00 pm.
Supper Night, in aid of youth funds, on Friday 23 March. Entertainment by Blue Folk. Tickets £15 are on sale in Herons Gift Shop and Club Shop.
Official Family Prayer for World Meeting of Families
God, our Father, we are brothers and sisters in Jesus your Son,
One family, in the Spirit of your love.
Bless us with the joy of love.
Make us patient and kind, gentle and generous, welcoming to those in need.
Help us to live your forgiveness and peace.
Protect all families with your loving care,
Especially those for whom we now pray:
Pause to remember family members and others
Increase our faith, strengthen our hope,
Keep us safe in your love,
Make us always grateful for the gift of life that we share. This we ask, through Christ our Lord. Amen
Mary, mother and guide, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, father and protector, pray for us.
Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for us.
Saints Louis and Zélie Martin, pray for us.
For more information view
www.worldmeeting2018.ie
CHOOSE LIFE 2018
Reasons to Protect the Eighth Amendment
The unborn child is one of us.
Advances in 4D ultrasound technology are a real window into the womb.
By Day 21, baby's heart is beating.
Facial features are starting to form from week four.
At just six weeks, the baby's eyes and eyelids, nose, mouth and internal organs have developed in their basic form.
From week eight the nervous system is beginning to respond.
From week nine the baby can yawn and swallow and from week 12 the baby can suck its thumb.
This is all happening before the mother's bump is showing.
Abortion Rates In Other Countries
When abortion becomes legal in a country, it slowly becomes acceptable.
In England and Wales, 1 in 5 pregnancies end in abortion every year.
Over 185,000 abortions were carried out in 2016 according to the Department of Health UK.
France and Spain also have an abortion rate of 1 in 5.
Italian and Portuguese Ministry of Health figures reveal a rate of 1 in 6.
Sweden's abortion rate is 1 in 4.
There is every reason to believe that, if legalised, Irish abortion rates would rapidly rise as they have in other countries.
To access videos, testimonies and frequently asked questions visit www.chooselife2018.ie
We may not have a vote but we can pray!
