No. 2051 ~ FOURTH 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 OFFICE
OPENING HOURS: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm.
9 High Street
Phone: (028)79628248
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.
NOTICES FOR THE BULLETIN
Notices for the Bulletin should be received by 1.00 pm on Wednesday, preferably by email.
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 FOR THIS WEEK
Monday 23 December:
10.00 am ~ Holy Rosary Church
Tuesday 24 December:
NO 10.00 am Mass on Christmas Eve,
Christmas Masses:
Christmas Eve ~ 24 December
St Eugene’s Moneyneena ~ 5.00 pm
Holy Rosary Church ~ 6.00 pm
St Patrick’s Keenaught ~ 7.30 pm
St Columba’s Straw ~ 7.30 pm
St Patrick’s Sixtowns ~ 9.00 pm
Christmas Day ~ 25 December
St Columba’s Straw ~ 9.00 am
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 10.00 am
Holy Rosary Church ~ 11.00 am.
Thursday 26 December:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
Friday 27 December:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
7.30 pm ~ Holy Rosary Church.
CHRISTMAS CONFESSIONS
Confessions on Monday 23 December immediately after the 10.00 am Mass in Holy Rosary Church.
Confessions at 11.00 am on Tuesday (Christmas Eve) in Holy Rosary Church.
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Tuesday 24: Christmas Eve
Wednesday 25: The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ ~ Christmas Day
Thursday 26: St Stephen, First Martyr.
Friday 27: St John apostle and evangelist
Saturday 28: The Holy Innocents, martyrs.
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Martin O'Neill, Portadown;
Kathleen McAnenny, Strabane;
Michael Scullion, Romford, Essex.
ANNIVERSARIES
Mary Gallagher;
Carmel McCartan;
Joe Conville;
John McEldowney;
Alice Hughes;
Patsy Kennedy;
Michael Kelly.
BAPTISMS
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Danny Mulligan, Drumderg Cottages;
Fiadh Grace Kearns, North Lakes, Queensland, Australia;
Ruby Rose Convery, Tirruadh Court;
Sofia Rose Rogers, Drumderg Road.
WEDDING
Congratulations and best wishes for the future to Bronagh McGillian and David Quigley who were married recently in Holy Rosary Church Draperstown.
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Weekly Collection: £2527
Renovation Collection: £1700.
Thank you for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS DRAW - Last few days to buy!
Desertmartin Parish Christmas Draw will have draws every day for the 12 days between Christmas Day and Sunday 5 January 2025. Total prize fund is £5,000. Ttickets costing £20 each are still on sale at Ballinascreen and Desertmartin Parish Offices, Heron’s Gift Shop, Moneyneena P.O. and Ballinascreen and Desertmartin Credit Unions.
INVITATION TO 33 DAYS OF FAMILY PRAYER
Bishop McKeown will lead the diocese in 33 days of Family Prayer towards Consecration to Jesus Christ through Mary, as part of a diocesan programme for the Jubilee Year 2025, Pilgrims of Hope. It will be delivered online on the Diocese of Derry Facebook, each evening at 7.00 pm, starting Thursday 9 January and ending on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Tuesday 11 February.
Bishop McKeown explains,
‘It is a journey I set out to make to entrust myself and my priesthood to Christ through the Mother of God. I extend an invitation to you and your families from the parishes of the diocese to join me.’ Details and times of the prayer programme with a video message from Bishop McKeown may be viewed at derrydiocese.org/consecration
JUBILEE 2025 - PILGRIMS OF HOPE
The 2025 Jubilee will officially open on December 24, 2024 at 7.00 pm, (Roman time) with the rite of Opening of the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of St. Peter by Pope Francis, who will then preside over the celebration of the Night Mass of the Lord's Birth inside the Basilica.
For the occasion of the Jubilee Year of Prayer 2025, a Teach us to Pray handbook has been created. The handbook, inspired by the teachings of Pope Francis, is written as an invitation to intensify prayer, understood as a personal dialogue with God, and to lead readers to reflect on their faith, and their commitment in today's world, in the various contexts in which they are called to live. The handbook is freely available to download on the Derry diocesan website.
THE NET
The current edition of The Net is now available in the church porches and on the Derry diocesan website. This paper has many interesting faith stories and news clips from around our diocese
SAVE THE DATE!
2025 Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock will be on Sunday 15 June.
PARISH BAPTISMS 2025
Baptisms: Sundays at 3.00 pm. Bookings to be made please via the Parish Office, Tel: 028 79628248 or by Email: ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
January 5 ~ St Eugene’s, Moneyneena
January 12 ~ St Columba’s, Straw
January 26 ~ Holy Rosary Church
February 2 ~ St Patrick’s, Sixtowns
February16 ~ St Eugene’s, Moneyneena
February 23 ~ St Columba’s, Straw
March 9 ~ Holy Rosary Church
March 23 ~ St Patrick’s, Sixtowns
March 30 ~ St Eugene’s, Moneyneena
April 6 ~ St Columba’s, Straw
April 13 ~ Holy Rosary Church.
SIXTOWNS DANCE
Christmas Social Dance in Sixtowns Cross Community Centre on Friday 27 December at 9.30 pm. Music by The Lakelanders. Light Supper served. Everyone welcome.
GLENSHANE HOUSE DUNGIVEN
Glass Painting with Leona. 5 week free course starts on Wednesday, 8 January at 7.00 pm. To register Tel: 07399023003 or Email: info@limavadylips.co.uk.
DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
Pilgrimage led by Bishop McKeown, from Monday 30 June to Friday 4 July 2025, leaving from City of Derry Airport. Price £849 plus insurance and single supplement if required. The Pilgrimage Office at 164 Bishop Street, Derry BT48 6UJ will not be open for booking until Saturday 1 February 2025, 11.00 am to 1.00 pm (and each following Saturday and Thursday at the same time unless notified). However, gift vouchers are now available from the Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry. Email enquiries to derrypilgrim@outlook.com
BABY MASSAGE CLASSES
New baby massage and reflexology classes begin Friday 10 January. To register or for more details please contact Rosie on 07749121208
MARY'S MEALS
At this time, all donations made to Mary’s Meals are being doubled by a group of generous supporters, up to £900,000. There are many ways to give, including gift cards and online Christmas Trees of Hope. Find out more at Freephone: 0800 698 1212 or at marysmeals.org.uk.
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
KNOCKNAGIN HALL
Boxing Night Tea Dance on Thursday 26 December. Music by Chris Dallat. Admission £7, included light supper. Come along for a night of craic and fabulous entertainment.
The Hall Committee wish to thank all their volunteers and patrons for their help and support throughout 2024. They also wish to all a happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. They look forward to your patronage and continued support in 2025.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS We pray for our seminarians and for those considering a vocation to serve as priests in this diocese that, like Mary and Elizabeth, they will be attentive to the power and movement of the Holy Spirit in their lives. |
