No. 1694 ~ FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
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 DURING LENT
Holy Rosary
Monday ~ 10.00 am and 7.30 pm
Tuesday ~ 7.00 am
Wednesday ~ 7.00 am
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 Colm’s High School
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday ~ 8.40 am
CONFESSIONS
Before the Vigil Masses
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
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Thursday 22: The Chair of St Peter. This feast celebrates Peter as bishop of Rome and the focus of unity in the communion of one faith.
Friday 23: St Polycarp. He was a disciple of St John the Apostle and bishop of Smyrna. He was martyred in 155.
LENTEN STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Stations of the Cross on today, Sunday February 18, at 5.00 pm in St Columba’s Church Straw. All welcome.
VISITATION OF SICK AND HOUSEBOUND
Fr Madden will attend the sick in his care on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings of this week.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Eucharistic Adoration in Holy Rosary Church on Monday February 19 following the 10.00 am Mass. Adoration will conclude with Mass at 7.30 pm.
TRÓCAIRE LENTEN CAMPAIGN
Trócaire Lenten Boxes are now available 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, with a daily scratch-off activity, that invites us to pray, to fast or to give are available in all Churches during Lent. A number of the activities this year have a focus on family.
DERRY DIOCESAN SOCIETY MASS
The 11.00 am Mass today, Sunday February 18, in St Columba’s Straw, will be offered for all the deceased members of the Derry Diocesan Society.
BAPTISMS
We welcome into God’s family through the sacrament of Baptism:
Gerard Darragh, Bancran Road,
Ellie-Mae Toner, Moykeeran Drive,
Clodagh Maria McElroy, Cahore Road,
Nicole Jade Murphy, Scutchers Lane
Orla Marie McEldowney, Carnamoney Lane.
MONTH’S MIND MASSES
Patrick McGlone, Glenelly Villas, Saturday 24 February in St Eugene’s Church Moneyneena at 7.30 pm.
Margaret McCallion Wednesday 28 February in St Columba’s Church, Straw at 7.30 pm.
ANNIVERSARIES
John Craig, Margaret Donnelly,
John Loughran, Patrick Kelly, Joe Morgan
Dan McKenna, Mary McKenna,
Marian Haskins, Bernie Hamill.
COLLECTION FOR HOLY LAND
The annual collection for Holy Places in the Holy Land intended for Ash Wednesday was overlooked. Please place your envelope for this collection in any of the baskets today. Thank you.
LAST SUNDAY’S COLLECTIONS
Weekly Envelope Collection: £1804
Lourdes Hospilite Collection: £1750
Many thanks to all who contributed.
CONFIRMATION FOR IRISH MEDIUM SCHOOLS 2018
Confirmatoin for children attending irish medium schools will be celebrated in St Columba’s Church Straw on Saturday 24 February at 10.30 am.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 2018
First Holy Communion will be celebrated in Ballinascreen Parish on the following dates in May 2018:
Saturday 5 May ~ Gaelscoil na Speiríní in St Coumba’s Church Straw,
Saturday 12 May ~ St Columba’s P.S. in St Columba’s Church, Straw,
Saturday 19 May ~ St Mary’s P.S. in Holy Rosary Church, Draperstown,
Saturday 19 May ~ St Eoghan’s P.S. in St Eugene’s Church, Moneyneena.
DO THIS IN MEMORY MASSES
Masses will be celebrated at 12 noon in Holy Rosary on the following dates: 4 and 25 March, 15 April and 3 June.
CONFIRMATIONS 2018
Bishop McKeown will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation in Ballinascreen on Sunday April 29 at 3 pm.
BALLINASCREEN PARISH DRAW
February Draw on Monday February 26. All returns to Parish Office please before 12 .30 pm on Friday February 23.
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
DIOCESAN VOCATIONS
Information Evening on Tuesday 27 February from 6.00 pm – 9.00 pm in the Parochial House, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Francis Street, Derry, BT48 9AP. Enquiries can be made via the Diocesan Vocations Director: Fr Paul Farren, Tel 028 71 264087 or email ddcc@derrydiocese.org
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.
NAÍSCOIL NA SPEIRÍNÍ
Bingo, with cash prizes today Sunday 18 February at 3.00 pm in Ballinascreen GAC. £10 per book £5 half a book.
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.
SIXTOWNS CROSS COMMUNITY GROUP
Fundraising event for Sixtowns Hall will on Sunday 4 March in The Shepherds’ Rest. Music by the Bleeding Cowboys. Light Supper provided. 5.00 pm -7.00 pm. Adults £6, Children £4.
DRAPERSTOWN LIBRAY
Illustrated talk on an Introduction to Photography on Tuesday 6 March at 6.00 pm. All welcome - no booking required.
Thursday 1March is World Book Day. Library will open at 6.00 pm for parents/carers and children. Children may come dressed as a children’s book character.
Talk for retired people by a crime prevention officer about preventing scams on Tuesday 13 March at 3.00 pm.
KILCRONAGHAN CENTRE
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.
FOSTERING IN WHSCT AREA
Information Evenings on Monday 19 February, Fir Trees Hotel, Strabane at 7.30 pm, Wednesday 21 February, Da Vinci’s Hotel Derry at 7.30 pm, Thursday 22 October, Silverbirch Hotel, Omagh 7.30 pm. There will be an opportunity to ask questions from staff and experienced foster carers at these events. Light refreshments served. For details phone 82835264 or email Vanessa.Nelis@westerntrust.hscni.net
ST COLM’S GAC
400 Club Winners:
£300 Michelle Kelly,
£50 Bronagh Donnelly £50 Brian Devlin
Club Membership for 2018 is now payable online at ballinascreengaa.com
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
Mary, mother and guide, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, father and protector, pray for us.
Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for us.
Saints Louis and Zélie Martin, pray for us.
For more information view
www.worldmeeting2018.ie
CHOOSE LIFE 2018
‘The christian message is a message of life. It is about how every human life is a reflection of the very life of God. Each of us is created in the image of God. Catholic teaching clearly affirms that every human life has unique and irreplaceable dignity. Every human life has the right, from its very beginnings, to flourish and develop as God wants it to. Compassion and support for women in difficult situations also belongs to the essence of Catholic teaching. Any society which attempts to define certain lives as being of lesser worth and of lesser protection betrays the common good. All should be equal in the face of the law. That is a fundamental principle of our Constitution – and indeed of democracy – to be maintained and protected.’
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin
Visit www.chooselife2018.ie
We may not have a vote but we can pray!
POPE FRANCIS @ PONTIFEX
When we confess our sins with humility and sincerity, we receive forgiveness and are reunited with God and our brothers and sisters.
