No. 2049 ~ SECOND 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
DAILY MASSES FOR THIS WEEK
Monday 9 December:
10.00 am ~ Holy Rosary Church
Tuesday 10 December:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm. This Mass will be attended by the staff and pupils of Knocknagin P. S. who will celebrate the coming of Christmas.
Wednesday 11 December:
10.00 am ~ Holy Rosary Church
Thursday 12 December:
10.00 am ~ St Mary’s Coolcalm
Friday 13 December:
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 9: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. (This feast is NOT a Holyday of Obligation this year)
Tuesday 10: Our Lady of Loreto.
Wednesday 11: St Damasus I, pope.
Thursday 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe
Friday 13: St Lucy, virgin and martyr.
Saturday 14: St John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church.
PARISH CAROL SERVICE
Annual Parish Carol Service in Holy Rosary Church today Sunday 8 December at 6.00 pm. All welcome.
Please bring a non-perishable gift for the local SVP and Sperrin Foodbank to distribute on your behalf. Thank you.
BAMBINELLI SUNDAY
At all Masses next weekend 14 / 15 December parishioners are invited to bring the figure of the Child Jesus from their family Crib to Mass for a special blessing. If you don’t have a family crib, there is plenty of time to get one before Bambinelli Sunday.
Christmas Cribs do not need to be elaborate or expensive. A home-made crib with figures bought cheaply online might be even more meaningful.
DO THIS IN MEMORY MASS
Vigil Mass in Holy Rosary on Saturday December 14 will be a D.T.I.M. Mass for children preparing for their First Holy Communion in 2025.
ADVENT SERVICES OF RECONCILIATION
Reconciliation Services will be held in Holy Rosary Church on Monday 16 December at 7.30 pm and in St Patrick’s Church, Keenaught on Tuesday 17 December also at 7.30 pm. Visiting priests will be in attendance to hear confessions.
VISITATION OF SICK AND HOUSEBOUND
Fr Madden will visit the sick of Desermtartin Parish on Thursday (12) and Friday (13) of this week.
FIRST ANNIVERSARY MASS
Bridget Stokes Campbelltown, on Friday December 13 at 7.30 pm in Holy Rosary Church.
Mary Elizabeth O’Connor, on Saturday December 14 at 7.30 pm in St Patrick’s Church Keenaught.
DEATHS
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Baby Jospehine Bradley, Cordarragh Heights;
Mary Trainor (nee Murray), Downpatrick and Moneyneena;
Kathleen McGreevy, Belfast;
Joey Walls, Lisnamuck;
Stephen Donnelly, Derry and Moneyneena.
ANNIVERSARIES
First Anniversary:
Padraic O'Kane.
Anniversaries:
Sean Kelly;
James Kelly;
Helen Heron;
Johnny O'Hagan;
Baby Rio Crossett;
Patrick Leyden;
Bridie Loughran;
Shane McGregor.
BAPTISMS
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Pearse Joseph Brown, Woodland Grove;
Aoife Grace Trainor, Woodland Heights.
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Priests’ Collection: £2610
Renovation Collection: £1160.
Thank you for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS DRAW
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, tickets costing £20 each are now on sale at Ballinascreen and Desertmartin Parish Offices, Heron’s Gift Shop, Moneyneena P.O. and Ballinascreen and Desertmartin Credit Unions. A ticket would make a nice Christmas gift to send to members of your family and friends this Christmas.
CHRISTMAS HAMPER APPEAL
Sperrin Foodbank and St Vincent de Paul are working with local schools to provide Christmas hampers to people in need in Draperstown and surrounding areas. If you would like to donate to the Christmas Appeal, donation points can be found in all the local schools, Lynch's, Centra and Devlin's Moneyneena. Donations may also be left in The Workspace Group and at the Annual Carol Service in Holy Rosary Church on today, 8 December.
If you, or someone you know, would like to receive a hamper this year, please contact Sperrin Foodbank 07543420639 or St Vincent de Paul 07710838050 in complete confidence. It doesn't matter if you are a single adult, single parent with children or a working family, they are willing and there to help you.
MESSAGE OF THANKS
The parishioners of St Columba's Church of Ireland extend sincere thanks to the Ballinascreen Parish Choir and all who enabled and supported a wonderful community Carol Service on the first Sunday of Advent.
They were also delighted to welcome Father Madden to the service.
CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS DISCO
Children’s Christmas Disco in An Ráth Dubh, Moneyneena today, Sunday 8 December from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm. Santa will be in attendance.
ST EOGHAN’S PRIMARY SCHOOL
Coffee Morning and bake sale, in An Ráth Dubh on Saturday 14 December from 11.00 am to 2.00 pm. There will be many amazing raffle prizes to be won. Santa will make a special guest appearance! Everyone welcome.
BLOOD DONATION SESSIONS
Blood donation sessions on Monday 16 December in Kilcronaghan Church Hall from 12.30 pm to 4.00 pm and 5.00 pm to 7.00 pm. Your donation could save 3 lives. To donate please book an appointment online at www.NIBTS.org or phone 08085 534 653.
ST PATRICK'S COLLEGE, MAGHERA CAROL SERVICE
College Carol Service on Monday 16 December at 7.30 pm in St. Mary’s Church Maghera. Everyone welcome.
PARISH BAPTISMS 2024 & 2025
Baptisms: Sundays at 3.00 pm. Bookings to be made please via the Parish Office, by phone 028 79628248 or by Email: ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
December 15 ~ St Eugene’s
December 22 ~ Holy Rosary Church.
Dates for Baptisms 2025
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.
DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2025
Pilgrimage led by Bishop McKeown, from Monday 30 June to Friday 4 July, 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. Enquiries may also be made by emailing derrypilgrim@outlook.com
SAVE THE DATE!
2025 Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock will be on Sunday 15 June.
MARY'S MEALS
Amongst the many challenges in today’s world, your little acts of love can bring hope to desperately hungry children with a daily school meal with 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
KNOCKNAGIN HALL
Monthly Tea Dance on Friday 13 December. Music by Peter McCloskey. Dancing 9.00 pm to midnight. Admission £7 - including light supper.
Boxing Night Dance on Thursday 26 December. Music by Chris Dallat.
Read Yourself Well: Following the end of year audit, there are a number of books out on loan but no details were recorded. Can everyone please return any overdue books or if you require it for a longer period then contact any committee member.
Chair Exercises will finish on 10 December and will recommence on Tuesday 7 January at 10.00 am.
Irish dancing lessons: Tuesdays 6 pm. To register contact Nicola 07518207458.
Irish language classes hope to resume in 2025 on Mondays at 7.30 pm.
Line Dancing has now stopped for Christmas.
Acrobat Gymnastics Club: Saturdays from 9.00 am.
Knit & Natter: Tuesdays at 7.30 pm.
Arts care, here & now: Thursdays at 2.00 pm. A series of sessions with mindfulness and being in the present, conversation and fun, imaginative exercises into putting thoughts and ideas in writing. Open to all.
Sarsfield’s Accordion Band: 2025 calendars on sale - £7. Contact any band member.
December draw winner, No.116, £50 Margaret McDaid. Longfield.
Free draw for fully paid up members: No.66, £50 Mario Bradley, Longfield.
POPE FRANCIS@PONTIFEX
Awaiting God is an important part of our journey of faith. Each day, the Lord visits us, speaks to us, reveals Himself in unexpected ways, and He will come again at the end of life and time. The Lord therefore urges us to stay awake, be vigilant, and persevere in waiting.
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS For the future priests of the diocese of Derry that, like St John the Baptist, they will work to "... prepare the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight.... so that all mankind can see the salvation of God." |
