No. 2029 ~ SIXEENTH 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
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 a
St Eugene’s, Moneyneena: 12 noon
DAILY MASSES
Monday 22 July :
10.00 am ~ Holy Rosary Church
Tuesday 23 July:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
Wednesday 24 July:
10.00 am ~ Holy Rosary Church
Thursday 25 July:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
Friday 26 July:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
7.30 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church.
CONFESSIONS
In Holy Rosary Church every Saturday at 5.30 pm before the Vigil Mass.
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Monday 22: St Mary Magdalene.
Tuesday 23: St Bridget of Sweden, Religious, Patron of Europe.
Thursday 25: St James, apostle.
Friday 26: Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
BAPTISM
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Winnie Hope Donnelly, Slievegallion Drive.
MONTH’S MIND MASS
Margaret Shrapnel, (nee Boyle) Melbourne, Australia, formerly Strawmore, on Friday 26 July at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
P. J O’Kane, Cahore Heights;
Paddy McCallion, Cordarragh;
Eamon Toner, Glenelly Villas;
Rosemary Doherty, Drumderg;
Erin McGuigan, Westport.
ANNIVERSARIES
First Anniversary:
Stephen Lynn
Anniversaries:
Plunket Kelly;
Alice Kerr;
Joseph Hegarty;
Colm McWilliams;
Betty O'Neill.
DIOCESAN VOCATIONS
Vocations Day, for those considering diocesan priesthood, in Buncrana on Sunday 8 September, from 12 noon to 6.00 pm. Anyone interested should please contact the diocesan Vocations Director, Fr Pat O'Hagan by Email: pgoh2111@gmail.com
SUMMER DRAW 2024
Tickets on sale at the usual outlets and online. We make a special appeal to our younger parishioners especially those who are working. It might be in the next 5 to 10 years or indeed less that St Eugene’s Church Moneyneena will be the setting for their weddings and buying a ticket now is an investment that ensures the church is well maintained. Please ask your relations and friends to help you in this important fund-raising venture.
Thank you.
The first draw will now take place next Saturday July 27, and will end on Saturday August 24. The draw will take place at the 6.00 pm Vigil Mass in Holy Rosary and may be viewed on Holy Rosary webcam.
Week 1: 1st Prize £1,000, 2nd Prize £200, 3rd Prize £100.
Week 2: 1st Prize £1,000, 2nd Prize £200, 3rd Prize £100.
Week 3: 1st Prize £1,000, 2nd Prize £200, 3rd Prize £100.
Week 4: 1st Prize £1,000, 2nd Prize £200, 3rd Prize £100.
Week 5: 1st Prize £2,000, 2nd Prize £500, 3rd Prize £300.
Tickets only £20 each are now available to buy from:
Parish Draw Promoters
Heron’s Gift Shop
Moneyneena Post Office
Fr Madden’s and Fr McGirr’s Parochial Houses
Ballinascreen and Desertmartin Parish Offices
Ballinascreen and Desertmartin Credit Union Offices
Tickets may also be purchased online by scanning this QR Code:
or by clicking on this link: https://www.klubfunder.com/Clubs/Ballinascreen_Parish/TicketSales
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Weekly Collection: £1475
Renovation Collection: £1305
Thank you for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
A GREAT THANK YOU FROM FR. McGIRR
I would like to thank everyone involved with the Celebration Mass in St. Patrick’s Church, Keenaught on Saturday 6 July to mark the 25th Anniversary of my Ordination to the Priesthood. Thank you to the priests, Fr. Doherty, Fr. Sweeney and Fr. McGuigan, for concelebrating the Mass with Fr. Madden and myself.
I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to all those involved with the Mass, such as the Church Readers, pupils from St. Columb’s, Cullion and Knocknagin Primary Schools as well as members of my family helping with the offertory, Eucharistic Ministers, Church Altar Servers, and Sacristan for helping the Mass go so well. Thanks also to the musicians and singers of the Ballinascreen Choir who performed during the Mass and to the Sarsfield’s Band which played outside before the Mass and afterwards towards St. Martin’s GAA Club. Thanks as well to the flower arranger for the floral displays, Devlin Media for live streaming the Mass and the photographer for capturing the occasion. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the members of St. Martin’s GAA Club for the honorary membership and for hosting the celebration tea after the Mass and to Sperrin Bakery which donated food and the celebration cake shared by parishioners.
I would like to express my appreciation to everyone involved in working in and around the church to present St. Patrick’s in such a good light for the Anniversary Mass – parishioners who came in and cleaned the church so thoroughly in the days before, the groundskeeper for tidying the grounds around the church, and the members of the Parish Pastoral Council for co-ordinating and doing so much over the past weeks to organise the celebration itself and for putting up flags and bunting in the church grounds. Finally, thanks to you, Desertmartin and Ballinascreen parishioners and friends from other communities, who attended the Mass in church or participated online from home, and anyone else who lent a hand in any way.
I feel very appreciative and humbled by the amazing and generous gifts of all kinds from the Parish and from parishioners of both Parishes and from fellow priests. People’s generosity, thoughtfulness and kind messages are very special and have made the Celebration Mass and the whole evening very memorable for me.
Thank you very, very much. Go raibh míle maith agat go mór, and may God bless you.
SIXTOWNS DANCE
Monthly Dance in Sixtowns Cross Community Centre on Friday 26 July at 9.30 pm. Everyone welcome.
GLÓR NA SPEIRÍNÍ - PUBLIC MEETING
The Board of Glór na Speiríní invites all local community groups, schools, charity organisations, churches, all political parties, employers, and interested individuals to a public consultation in Glór (Straw old school) on Monday 22 July at 7.00 pm. This will be a perfect opportunity to express your opinion(s) on the Irish Language and its continuing development and its place in our parish.
DIOCESE OF DERRY - THREE DAY PILGRIMAGE TO LOUGH DERG
The Lough Derg Pilgrimage provides a breathing space in which people can calmly explore and reflect on where they find themselves in their lives at this moment in time. The Diocesan Pilgrimage led by Bishop McKeown starts next Friday 26 and concludes on Sunday 28 July. Bus will depart after 10. 00am Mass from St Eugene's Cathedral, on 26 July. Cost £80 including transport. Cost without transport £70. Pre booking required. Please email Tony Brennan at tony.brennan@derrydiocese.org
or phone the Diocesan Office on 028 71262302 for booking form.
MACMILLAN CANCER WALK
‘For walkers of all abilities and those folk who just fancy a cup of tea’
Annual Walk on next Saturday July 27, will start and finish at An Rath Dubh. Registration open from 8.30 am.
Long walk (7 miles) starts at 9.00 am, short walk (3 miles) starts at 11.00am. Lunch served from 12 noon. Buckets on day for donations or donations may be made online at www.justgiving.com/page/walkhudysway2024. For more details contact Joseph McCullagh 07841820228 or email josephmccullagh@hotmail.co.uk
NATIONAL GRANDPARENTS PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK
National Grandparents Pilgrimage to Knock on Sunday 28 July. Led by Archbishop Luis Mariano Montemayor, Papal Nuncio to Ireland. The theme this year is: ‘Do Not Cast Me Off in My Old Age’ (Psalm 71:9). Those unable to join in person can take part online at www.knockshrine.ie/watch
GROUP PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE
From 4 to 11 September, cost €835 includes daily breakfast, evening meal and full religious programme. Operated by Marian Pilgrimages. For more details please contact Group Leader Luke McCann on 07955386288. To book contact Marian Pilgrimages on 028 95680005
HORTICULTURE CLASSES
Classes in the polytunnel on Back Road, behind the Soup Kitchen, on Thursdays from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm. Everyone welcome, for more details please ring STEPS on 07821119367.
STRESS CONTROL
Free online stress control classes begin Monday 29 July at 9.00 am with session two on 5 August at 9.00 am on https://ni.stresscontrol.org/
For more details please Email: stress.control@northerntrust.hscni.net
PARISH BAPTISMS 2024
Baptisms Sundays at 3.00 pm and bookings to be made please via the Parish Office, by phone 028 79628248 or Email: ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
July 28 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns
August 4 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena
August 18 ~ Holy Rosary Church
August 25 ~ St Columba’s Straw
September 1 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns
September 22 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena
September 29 ~ Holy Rosary Church
October 13 ~ St Columba’s Straw
October 20 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns
November 3 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena
November 10 ~ Holy Rosary Church
November 24 ~ St Columba’s Straw
December 1 ~ St Patrick’s Sixtowns
December 15 ~ St Eugene’s Moneyneena
December 22 ~ Holy Rosary Church
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.
