No. 1693 ~ SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY MASS TIMES
VIGIL MASSES
Holy Rosary: 6.00 pm
St Eugene’s Moneyneena: 7.30 pm
SUNDAY
St Eugene’s Moneyneena: 9.00 am
St Patrick’s Sixtowns: 10.00 am
St Columba’s Straw: 11.00 am
Holy Rosary: 12 noon
DAILY MASS TIMES
Holy Rosary
Monday ~ 10.00 am and 7.30 pm
Wednesday ~ 7.00 am and 12 noon
Thursday ~ 7.00 am
Friday ~ 10.00 am
St Eugene’s Moneyneena
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday ~ 10.00 am
St Columba’s Straw
Wednesday and Friday ~ 7.30 pm
St Patrick’s Sixtowns
Wednesday ~ 10.00 am
CONFESSIONS
Before the Vigil Masses
CONTACT DETAILS
Fr. Peter Madden PP VF
40 Derrynoyd Road
Telephone: 79628376
Email:ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
Fr John Downey CC
36 Moneyneena Rd
Telephone: 79628375
Email: j.downey75@btinternet.com
Fr Dermot McGirr CC
50 Tobermore Road, Desertmartin
Telephone: 79632196
PARISH OFFICE
9 High Street Tel: 79628248
Opening Hours
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
9.00 am – 3.00 pm
Friday 9.00 am – 1.00 pm
Wednesday ~ Closed
BULLETIN NOTICES
All notices for the Bulletin should be received by 1.00 pm on Wednesday. ballinascreenparish@gmail.com
SVP HELPLINE
Helpline telephone number: 07710838050
FEAST OF THE WEEK
Wednesday 14: Ash Wednesday.
This feast marks the beginning of Lent and is a day of Fast and Abstinence.
Fasting means that the amount of food we eat is considerably reduced. This applies to those aged 18 to 60.
Abstinence means that those aged over 14 abstain from eating meat.
Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the three strands of Lenten observance.
Ashes will be distributed at all Masses on on Ash Wednesday which are as follows:
Holy Rosary ~ 7.00 am and 12 noon
St Patrick’s Sixtowns ~ 10.00 am
St Eugene’s Moneyneena ~ 10.00 am
St Columba’s Straw ~ 7.30 pm.
The extra Mass at 12 noon in Holy Rosary Church is to facilitate all school going children who have no school this week.
TOWARDS PEACE
Towards Peace is a spiritual support service designed for those who have experienced sexual, physical, emotional or spiritual abuse by Catholic Church personnel in Ireland. Support is also available for family members of abuse survivors. The vision of Towards Peace is to provide a safe supportive space, where people who have been affected by abuse in a Church context can be accompanied as they seek their own experience of spiritual peace, one step at a time. Towards Peace provides spiritual support through one-to-one spiritual direction sessions, with a qualified spiritual companion. Up to nine sessions are offered and there is no cost. For more information, please visit www.towardspeace.ie phone 01 5053028 or email towardspeace@iecon.ie .
SPECIAL WORLD DAY OF PRAYER ADORATION
Friday 16 February has been chosen by Pope Francis as World Day of Prayer for the victims and survivors of Sexual Abuse, especially those abused by Catholic Church personnel.
You are invited to pray for all victims and survivors of sexual abuse before the Blessed Sacrament which will be exposed on the altar in St Columba’s Church, Straw from 3.00 pm - 7.25 pm, concluding with Mass at 7.30 pm. If you are available to spend time on Friday in St Columba’s during Exposition please sign the rota sheet available at the back of all churches.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Eucharistic Adoration in Holy Rosary Church on Monday February 12 following the 10.00 am Mass. Adoration concludes with Mass at 7.30 pm. Come along and meet Jesus and avail of all the graces and blessings that He wants to pour out on you and your family. Talk to Him about your joys, sorrows and needs.
TRÓCAIRE LENTEN CAMPAIGN
Trócaire Lenten Boxes will be available from Ash Wednesday in all Church porches. Please take a box home and support this annual appeal to help people living in developing countries.
Lenten Promise Cards
Cards will be available in all Churches during Lent. They are a great way of keeping Lent with a daily scratch-off activity that invites us to pray, to fast or to give. A number of the activities this year have a focus on family. Cost £1 each.
DERRY DIOCESAN SOCIETY MASS
The 11.00 am Mass on Sunday February 18, in St Columba’s Straw, will be offered for all the deceased members of the Derry Diocesan Society.
DEATH
We extend our prayerful sympathy to the family and relatives of:
Helen Lagan St Patrick’s Street.
ANNIVERSARIES
Katie Laverty, Leo McWilliams,
Susan McNally, Veronica Kelly,
Cathal Conville, Helen Kelly,
Philomena Jeffery.
LAST SUNDAY’S COLLECTIONS
Priests’ Monthly Collection: £3226
Church Renovation Collection: £1610
Many thanks to all who contributed.
PARISH BAPTISMS
First Sunday of the month:
Holy Rosary Church after 12 noon Mass
Second Saturday of the month:
St Eugene’s Moneyneena at 3.00 pm
Fourth Sunday of the month:
St Columba’s Straw at 3.00 pm
St Patrick’s Sixtowns: By arrangement.
A baptism card is to be completed when booking a baptism. Please contact the Parish Office to book a baptism
HOSPIALITÉ COLLECTION
The second collection at all Masses this weekend will be the Annual Diocesan Lourdes Hospitalité Collection. All money from this one special collection will be used to support pilgrims on the Diocesan Pilgrimage who are sick and in need of medical care.
LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 2018
Bishop Donal McKeown will lead the diocesan pilgrimage from 1 – 6 July. Fare £669. Application forms available from Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop St Derry. Opening hours: 11.00 am – 1.00 pm Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Phone 71260293 or email derrypilgrim@outlook.com.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
WMOF ~ 21 - 26 August 2018
Dublin has been chosen by Pope Francis to host the World Meeting of Families from 21 – 26 August, guided by the theme ‘The Gospel of the Family: Joy to the World’.
Held every three years, this major international event brings together families from across the world to celebrate, pray and reflect upon the central importance of marriage and the family as the cornerstone of our lives, of society and of the church. The organisers require several thousand volunteers for this event. If interested in volunteering at this historic event, Madeleine Frissung, Volunteer Outreach Co-ordinator for WMOF, will be holding an Information Session in Ardmore Parish Centre, on Saturday 24 February from 10.00 am. If interested in being a volunteer, there will be an opportunity on the day to complete the required vetting paperwork and other documentation.
If you wish to attend this Information Session, please register your interest with
Safeguarding Office, Diocesan Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop Street, Derry, or
email: safeguarding@derrydiocese.org or phone 71362475.
CHILDREN IN CROSSFIRE
Sincere thanks to all who took part in this year’s Advent Campaign. Ballinascreen Parish raised an amazing £1845.09. This money will go towards providing vital health care, education, nutrition and safe water for children living in extreme conditions in Tanzania and Ethiopia.
DIVINE MERCY CONFERENCE
Conference will be on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 February and will be streamed live from RDS to Plaza Buncrana. Mass and confessions on site as per RDS times.
Burning Hearts
Prayer with the Scriptures and Reflection at IOSAS Centre and Celtic Garden for 1 hour on Thursday mornings during Lent, starts 15 February at 11.00 am, finishes at 12.15 pm with light lunch. Cost £5.
RADIO MARIA IRELAND
This Irish-run Catholic talk radio station, features prayer, catechesis, music, interviews and testimonies – commercial free! Use free App ‘Radio Maria Ireland’, or www.radiomaria.ie. Live radio feed by phoning +353 14373277, no extra charge.
VOLUNTEERS AND MISSIONARIES
Meeting for overseas returned volunteers and lay missionaries on Tuesday 13 February at 7.30 pm in Ardstraw House, 21A Buncrana Road Derry. All welcome. For information phone + 353 838422468 or email jim.farrell@amri.ie
NAÍSCOIL NA SPEIRÍNÍ
Bingo, with cash prizes, on Sunday 18 February at 3.00 pm in Ballinascreen GAC. £10 per book £5 half a book.
Ballinascreen Traditional Music Group
Session in An Scioból on Friday 16 February. Juniors 8.30pm - 9.30 pm followed by Open House.
MONEYNEENA DEVELOPMENT GROUP CELEBRATION
All are welcome to join in a celebration of their work over the last 25 years at An Rath Dubh on Thursday 1 March at 8.00 pm. Light refreshments served. The group's past work will be reviewed and exciting plans for the area will be announced. The group are appealing please for photographs that record any activities or events undertaken by them over the past 25 years. These photographs will be exhibited at the celebration. Contact any of the Directors for further details. Past committee members and all in the wider community are invited.
KILCRONAGHAN CENTRE
Writing and Reminiscing, Tuesdays 11.00 am – 12.30 pm. Cost £2 weekly.
Computer Classes, start Tuesday 20 February for 6 weeks, 10.00 am - 11.30 am. Cost £20.
Flower Arranging Workshops on Friday 9 March, 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm and Saturday 10 March 10.00 am – 12 noon.
Craft Classes, 10.00 am – 12 noon. All materials provided. Monday 19 March ~ Brooches and felt making. Monday 26 March ~ Paper flowers and Easter crafts. Booking essential. Phone 79627826.
ST COLM’S GAC
400 Club winners £300 - Anne McGurk, £50 - Leo Quinn, £50 - Dolores Scullion.
Club Membership for 2018 is now payable online at ballinascreengaa.com
Beidh léacht le Déaglán Ó Doibhlin i mBéarla ar Bhaile na Scríne roimh an phlándáil Dé hAoine 16ú Feabhra sa chlubtheach CLG ar 8.00 pm. Fáilte roimh chách! All welcome!
Talk on Friday 16 February by Déaglán Ó Doibhlin on ‘Ballinascreen Prior to the Plantation’ in Clubhouse at 8.00 pm.
OFFICIAL FAMILY PRAYER FOR WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIES
God, our Father, we are brothers and sisters in Jesus your Son,
One family, in the Spirit of your love.
Bless us with the joy of love.
Make us patient and kind, gentle and generous, welcoming to those in need.
Help us to live your forgiveness and peace.
Protect all families with your loving care,
Especially those for whom we now pray:
Pause to remember family members and others
Increase our faith, strengthen our hope,
Keep us safe in your love,
Make us always grateful for the gift of life that we share. This we ask, through Christ our Lord. Amen
CHOOSE LIFE 2018
The right to life is not just a question of religious belief. As the first and fundamental human right, it affects people of all faiths, and none. You do not have to be from any particular faith tradition to agree that human life should be protected and that intentionally ending the life of another human is never justified. Supporting and sustaining a culture of life is in the interest of every citizen, Catholics and all people of goodwill because it defines us as a society.
What is the view of the Church?
The Church teaches that life is sacred from conception to natural death and there is no such thing as a life without value. This belief is based on reason as well as faith. Our Church rejects the suggestion that any person can decide when it is time for another person to die.
Visit www.chooselife2018.ie
We may not have a vote but we can pray!
POPE FRANCIS@ PONTIFEX
All of us are called to commit ourselves to protecting minors in the digital world
