No. 1844 ~ SECOND SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS
SUNDAY MASSES
VIGIL MASS
St Eugene’s, Moneyneena: 5.00 pm
Holy Rosary: 6.15 pm
St Patrick’s, Keenaught: 7.30 pm
SUNDAY
St Columba’s, Straw: 9.00 am
St Mary’s, Coolcalm: 10.00 am
St Patrick’s, Sixtowns: 11.00 am
Holy Rosary: 12 noon
DAILY MASS TIMES
Holy Rosary Church:
Monday and Wednesday ~ 11.00 am NB Wednesday Mass is via webcam only.
Friday ~ 7.30 pm
St Mary’s Church Coolcalm:
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday ~ 11.00 am
Wednesday ~ 7.30 pm NB Wednesday Mass is via webcam only.
All Masses in the Holy Rosary Church are transmitted live on the Ballinascreen parish webcam:
All Masses in St Mary’s Coolcalm are transmitted live via the Desertmartin parish webcam:
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
36 Moneyneena Rd
Telephone: 79628375
Email: j.downey75@btinternet.com
PARISH OFFICE
9 High Street Phone: (028)79628248
Please note that due to restrictions imposed by the Coronavirus Pandemic the Parish Office may only be contacted by email or phone (message may be left)
SVP HELPLINE
Helpline telephone number: 07710838050
BULLETIN NOTES
NOTICES FOR THE BULLETIN
Notices for the Bulletin should be received by 1.00 pm on Wednesday ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
Bulletins are presently only available:
Online at www.parishofballinascreen.com
On the noticeboard inside the front porch of Holy Rosary Church.
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Wednesday 6: The Epiphany of the Lord.
There is NO obligation to attend Mass for this feast this year, so to ensure safety for all during the current pandemic Masses for the Feast of the Epiphany, Wednesday 6 January, will be available by WEBCAM ONLY.
Holy Rosary ~ 11.00 am
St Mary’s Coolcalm ~ 7.30 pm.
DAILY MASS TIMES THIS WEEK (Monday 4 - Friday 8 January)
Daily Mass will be celebrated as follows:
Holy Rosary Church:
Monday ~ 11.00 am
Wednesday ~ 11.00 am (Webcam only)
Friday ~ Parish Anniversary Mass 7.30 pm.
St Mary’s Coolcalm:
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday ~ 11.00 am
Wednesday ~ 7.30 pm (Webcam only)
CRIB IMAGES
You are invited to email an image of your crib to ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
If you have not already sent in a photo of your crib in your home please do so before Tuesday January 5 as the Facebook Christmas Crib Presentation will go live on Wednesday January 6.
ANNIVERSARIES
Owen Walsh,
Phyllis Convery,
Phillip Donnelly,
Patrick McEldowney.
FIRST ANNIVERSARY MASS
Gerard McEldowney, Strawmore Road, on Friday January 1 at 6.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Pascal Kelly, Cahore;
Jimmy Rogers, Forglen;
Dolores Meyler, Dublin - formerly Dolores McKenna, Tullybrick;
Rose Harkin Melbourne - formerly Rose McGlade, Mulnavoo;
Margaret Hannon, Belfast née O’Neill.
BAPTISM
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Matthew Gerard Monaghan Cordarragh Heights.
PRIVATE PRAYER TIMES
Holy Rosary Church will open this week for Private Prayer as follows:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 12 noon – 4.00 pm
Sunday: 1.00 pm – 4.00 pm.
Upon entering the church for Private Prayer, parishioners are asked to first please sanitise their hands and then lift one of the yellow cards and leave it on the seat where you have been seated. Thank you
SUNDAY MASS SCHEDULE FOR JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2021
FRIDAY MASSES - PARISH ANNIVERSARY AND MONTH'S MIND MASSES
Parish Anniversary Masses will be held every Friday at 11.00 am in St Mary's Coolcalm and at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
If parishioners wish to have their loved one prayed for at these Anniversary Friday Masses, please email their name to Ballinascreen Parish Office by 12 noon on Thursday of the relevant week.
Email address: ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
We ask that only members of a family, whose loved one is being prayed for, attend the Friday Anniversary Mass in Holy Rosary Church at 7.30 pm. This will ensure that there is sufficient space for those who are remembering a Month’s Mind, First Anniversary and other anniversaries. This Mass will be available on the parish webcam.
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Sincere thanks to all who have returned parish envelopes, established standing orders, have made online payments or used the ‘Donate’ button on the Parish Website. You can also access the Parish Donation web page by clicking here: DONATE
Envelopes may be returned to the Parish Office or Parochial Houses or when attending any Parish Mass
Thank you very much for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
SVP CHRISTMAS APPEAL 2020
Many thanks for the many generous donations made to the SVP Annual Christmas Collection.
THE NET
December edition of The Net is now online, on www.derrydiocese.org
As always, it features a wide variety of news, interesting and inspiring interviews, articles and photos from parishes across the diocese.
You are invited to read The Net, on the diocesan website, at your convenience.
DIOCESAN CHRISTMAS PRAYER RESOURCES
A Family Prayer Booklet - The Twelve Days of Christmas - has been specifically prepared with families and prayer in the home in mind.
The Gospel for each day of the twelve days of Christmas is accompanied by a Gospel reflection, prayers and a link to online Christmas hymns.
The booklet may be downloaded at www.derrydiocese.org/news/family-prayer-service-for-use-at-home-this-christmas
SCHOOL NOTICE FOR PARENTS
If your child will be starting pre-school or Primary School in September 2021, you should apply for their place online from 12 noon on 7 January 2021.
Closing date for pre-school and Primary One applications is 12 noon on 29 January 2021.
Further details are available at www.eani.org.uk/parents/admissions
SMOKING CESSATION SERVICE
Thinking of giving up smoking for 2021?
Free smoking cessation service available at O'Kane’s Pharmacy.
Please phone 028 79628209 for more information.
BALLINASCREEN COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP
Please click the link https://www.parishofballinascreen.com/ballinascreen-community-support-gro for full details of Ballinascreen Community Support Group.
POPE FRANCIS@PONTIFEX
The blessing and praise that the Lord loves the most is love of neighbour. We praise him for this, because we believe and we know that all the good that is accomplished day after day on earth, in the end, comes from him.
THE WORK OF CHRISTMAS
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.
CHRISTMAS CRIBS
At the Feast of the Epiphan, as the Three Kings complete the picture in the manger of our new-born King and Lord, let us recommit ourselves to the cause of life that is the Heart and the Joy of Christmas. The Cribs in all our churches will remain until February 2, Candlemas Day, the day when the Child Jesus is presented in the temple, 40 days after his birth. It is an ancient practice that we use these days to quietly contemplate the Incarnation of Jesus into the world.
Why not in your own home do the same?
Take down the Christmas Tree and all the other decorations but leave the Crib in place to reveal more to you in its own time.
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