No. 1967 ~ SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
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 Moneyneena
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, 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
POST PANDEMIC MASS TIMES
Following the announcement last Saturday from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that the Covid Pandemic is no longer a global health emergency, we would however encourage parishioners who come to Mass to continue sanitising hands on entering any of the churches. Even the common cold is a virus and we have learned so much over the past three years about the duty of care we have to others.
As a result of this declassification of the Covid 19 emergency, daily Masses in Ballinascreen and Desertmartin will revert to the pre-Covid 19 Mass times.
From Monday May 15, daily Mass will begin at the earlier time of 10.00 am. We hope this new time will suit more people.
As always, funeral Masses will take place at 11.00 am and any necessary changes in Mass times that may arise will be posted on the Parish Facebook Page.
DAILY MASS TIMES
Monday May 15: Holy Rosary Church ~ 10.00 am
Tuesday May 16: Holy Rosary Church ~ 10.00 am
Wednesday May 17: Holy Rosary Church ~ 10.00 am
Thursday May 18: Holy Rosary Church ~ 10.00 am
Friday May 19: St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am & Holy Rosary Church ~ 7.30 pm.
NB: All Masses this week will be at 10.00 am in Holy Rosary Church apart from Friday morning Mass. The Friday morning Mass will be at 10.00 am in St. Mary's, Coolcalm.
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Monday 15: St Carthage, bishop.
Tuesday16: St Brendan, abbot. .
Thursday 18: St John 1.
Saturday 20: St Bernadine of Siena.
MEDITATING WITH MARY IN THE MONTH OF MAY
This three part programme will continue on Friday 19 and 26 May at 8.15 pm in the Community Hub. It will help us to rediscover the beauty of God's message of hope and love as we contemplate the wonders God worked in Mary’s life. All welcome.
BLESSING OF GRAVES 2023
Blessing of Graves in the parishes of Ballinascreen and Desermartin will take place on the following dates:
Saturday June 10:
6.30 pm ~ Mass in St Patrick’s Keenaught followed by Blessing of Graves. Please note the earlier Mass time.
Sunday June 11:
11.00 am ~ Mass in St Patrick’s Church, Sixtowns followed by Blessing of graves.
12 noon ~ Mass in St Eugene’s Church, Moneyneena followed by Blessing of graves.
2.00 pm ~ Blessing of graves at St Columba’s Straw.
3.00 pm ~ Blessing of graves at St Mary’s, Coolcalm.
4.30 pm ~ Blessing of graves at Old Keenaught Church.
BAPTISM
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Cara Eve Kelly, Sixtowns Road.
FIRST ANNIVERSARIES MASS
Pearly Burns, Magherafelt Road on Friday 19 May in Holy Rosary Church at 7.30 pm.
Baby Henry Gray, Cahore Heights on Friday 19 May in Holy Rosary Church at 7.30 pm.
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Aidan Clerkin, The Orchard;
John Connolly, Moyard Road;
Joe Crilly, Newtownards, formerly from Drumard.
ANNIVERSARIES
Francis Toner;
Mark Cassidy;
Maureen McCallion;
Margaret Bottomley;
Bridget McKenna.
SVP VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers needed to help with weekly collections after each Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses. If you can help please contact 07710 838050.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2023
Parish celebrations of this Sacrament will continue on the following date:
May 20 ~ St Columba’s P.S. pupils in St Columba’s Church, Straw at 11.00 am.
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Weekly Collection: £2188
Renovation Collection: £835.
Thank you for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
LITTLE WAY NOVENA
Novena in honour of St Thérèse of Lisieux in St Eugene’s Cathedral Derry closes with Devotions and Blessing of Roses at 3.00 pm today, Sunday 14 May.
KNOCK SHRINE 2023
The pilgrimage season at Knock Shrine is now underway, and they look forward to welcoming organised pilgrimages from all across the country at the weekends, and daily ceremonies for visiting pilgrims each day. For full details please visit their website: www.knockshrine.ie
BLOOD DONATIONS
Northern Ireland Blood Transfusion Service will be in the Backrow Recreation Centre on Tuesday 23 May from 3.30 pm to 8.00 pm. To book an appointment to give blood please call 08085 534 653.
BALLINASCREEN TRADITIONAL MUSIC GROUP
Monthly session in An Scioból on Friday 19 May. Juniors from 7.30 pm to 8.30 pm followed by Open House. This will be the last session of the season. Let’s make it a big one! Tá fáilte roimh chách.
WORKSPACE RECREATION CENTRE
Nuala’s Keep Fit Circuit Classes are still running with spaces still available. Cost: £3.50 per class. Classes on Mondays at 7.15 pm and Thursdays at 6.45 pm.
Beginner Exercise Classes on Tuesday evenings from 8.00 pm. Cost: £3.50. A great class for those starting or not sure where to start.
SIXTOWNS CROSS COMMUNITY GROUP
Volunteers needed to join the cleaning rota for Sixtowns Hall. You can choose a month that suits you best. 2 - 4 hours commitment. If you can help please contact Emma 07769289385
MARY’S MEALS PRAY IN MAY
During May, the month dedicated to Our Lady, Mary’s Meals invites you to pray for its life-changing work, carried out in her name. They currently provide nutritious daily school meals to 2.4 million children in 18 of the world’s poorest countries. These meals bring children into the classroom, where they can gain an education and hope of a better future. Could you commit to praying each day of May for the children receiving Mary’s Meals, the volunteers and all who support this work and those children still waiting? For more information and prayer resources see www.marymeals.org.uk/prayinmay
ALL IRELAND ROSARY RALLY
All Ireland Rosary Rally on Saturday June 3 from 1.00 pm in Knock. Will include Mass, Rosary, Stations of the Cross and a talk by Bishop Oliver Doeme. Main Celebrant of the Mass will be Archbishop Eamon Martin.
A bus will leave from Antrim / Derry. Please book bus early to avoid disappointment. Ring Patricia Casey 075 93041040 to book.
ACCORD
ACCORD Central Office is recruiting for the Certificate in Counselling (Marriage and Relationship) training programme commencing September 2023. Training will take place in Maynooth and the course is validated by the Pontifical University, Maynooth. Accord CLG pays the fees and provides placement. Successful applicants will follow a 16 day Certificate programme. If you hold a:
Level 5 (UK ) qualification in Counselling/Psychotherapy;
Substantial experience of working in the Person-Centred style;
100 client counselling hours post-graduation; and,
A current supervised caseload.
and would like more information about this unique opportunity, please email: info@accord.ie. Final date for receipt of applications is 19 May and should be submitted to Breda Landy Horgan bhorgan@accord.ie.
BABY REFLEXOLOGY
New Baby Massage and Reflexology Class coming to Community Hub starting Friday 26 May. For more details contact 07749121208 by Whatsapp or email rosiesbabymassage@hotmail.com
GLENSHANE HOUSE
Names now being taken at Glenshane Houe Dungiven for OCN L2 course in Mindfulness and Anxiety in Children: 4 weeks x 3 hours (evenings), also Flower Arranging course starting on 20 June for 4 weeks (evenings). Phone 028 777 42494 to book or for more details.
SPERRIN FOODBANK
If you require a food parcel, Sperrin Foodbank will be open on Fridays from 11.00 am to 1.00 pm for drop-ins. No appointment required. If you require assistance outside this time, please call 07543 420639 to arrange collection. No questions asked or criteria to meet. Other contact details are Facebook page Sperrinfoodbank or email
LOURDES DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE 2023
Pilgrimage from 3 to 7 July 2023. The Pilgrimage Office at 164 Bishop Street, Derry, BT48 6UJ will be open to the public on Saturdays only from 11.00am until 1.00 pm commencing on Saturday 11 February. Intending pilgrims can also leave a message on 028 7126 0293 with their full postal address and the number of booking forms required, or email these details to derrypilgrim@outlook.com or write to the above address to request booking forms.
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 12 noon on Thursday of the relevant week. Email address is: ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
PLEASE NOTE: First Anniversary and Month's Mind notices should be received before the Wednesday of the previous week in order for them to be placed in the Bulletin the weekend before the Anniversary Mass.
KNOCKNAGIN HALL
SPRED Group: Meeting on Monday 15 May.
Chair exercises: Tuesday at 10.00 am followed by a short walk. Admission £4. All welcome.
Knit &Natter: Tuesdays at 7.30 pm.
Line Dancing: Wednesdays 7.30 pm. Admission £4.
If interested in any of the above please contact Olive 07887614094, Kathleen 07764277809 or Anne 79642711 to register
Sarsfield’s Band & Div. 30 offer sincere sympathy to the McKee and Martin families on the death of Eileen McKee and to the Atkinson Family on the death of John Atkinson.
May Draw winner: Leah Walls.
Band Practice: Thursdays at 7.30 pm. New and past members welcome. Roles for all ages and abilities.
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
