No.1879 ~ TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY MASSES
VIGIL MASSES
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 (NB Townland Rota still applies)
St Patrick’s Sixtowns 11.00 am (NB Townland Rota still applies)
Holy Rosary: 12 noon
DAILY MASS TIMES
Holy Rosary Church
Monday and Wednesday ~ 11.00 am
Friday ~ 7.30 pm
St Mary’s Coolcalm
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday ~ 11.00 am
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 on 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
The Parish Office will be closed this week. Please send names for the Parish anniversary Mass via email or voicemail before Thursday 12 noon. Notices for Parish Bulletin to be also sent via email please
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.
SVP HELPLINE
Helpline telephone number: 07710838050
BALLINASCREEN COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUP
Please click the link https://www.parishofballinascreen.com/ballinascreen-community-support-gro for full details of Ballinascreen Community Support Group.
WEEKDAY MASSES: 6 SEPTEMBER - 10 SEPTEMBER
Holy Rosary Church
Monday and Wednesday ~ 11.00 am
Friday ~ 7.30 pm
St Mary’s Coolcalm
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday ~ 11.00 am
FEASTS OF THE WEEK
Wednesday 8: The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Thursday 9: St Ciaran, abbot.
PASTORAL VISITATION OF THE SICK
Following the easing of the coronavirus restrictions, Fr Madden and Fr McGirr hope to resume the visitation of the sick beginning in October.
There will be no monthly visitations as in the past and they will not be visiting parishioners by area.
It is still not safe to go from house to house visiting the sick and the vulnerable on rote. They will make prior arrangements and over the course of the next few months hope to visit each person on the list twice. Therefore, they would greatly appreciate it if those who would like them to call would email the parish ballinascreenparish@gmail.com or desertmartinparish@gmail.com giving their name, address, and contact details and the name of one delegated family member and their contact details if different. Those who would prefer no visit at this time should feel absolutely free to say so. Their wishes and those of their family will be respected.
If at any time you think a visit from the priest is needed, please contact
Fr Madden 02879628376 or
Fr McGirr 02879632196.
Covid 19 has not stopped them visiting the sick when necessary since the pandemic began.
SEASON OF CREATION.
‘A Home for All? Restoring Our Common Home’
The Season of Creation continues until 4 October (Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi), celebrating the joy of creation as well as encouraging awareness-raising initiatives to protect the natural environment. The Diocese of Derry is encouraging parishes, schools and families to reflect on what they can do to protect the environment around us all. Nature walks, planting seeds, collecting rubbish or recycling are examples of worthwhile environmental projects. For more ideas, initiatives, prayers, liturgies and news articles on the theme please see the diocesan social media channels and derrydiocese.org/season-of-creation
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Fr Madden acknowledges a generous £200 donation received towards the Church Building Fund.
ANNIVERSARIES
First Anniversary:
John O’Kane
Anniversaries:
Seamus O'Kane,
Eugene McGarvey,
May McShane-Johnston,
Marian Foley,
Charlie Murray,
Annie Murray,
Rose O'Kane,
Mary Lagan,
Susan Clerkin.
BAPTISMS
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Jasmine Aleshia Kelly, Gortnaskea;
Michael Gary McWilliams, Dromadallagan;
Thomas James McWilliams, Dromdallagan;
Emily Grace McAuley, Ranaghan Road.
WEDDINGS
Congratulations and best wishes for the future to:
Grainne Kelly and Paul McCrystal who were married recently in St Columba’s Church, Straw.
Mary McWilliams and Aidan Heaney who were married in St Eugene’s Church, Moneyneena
BALLINASCREEN PARISH OFFICE
The Parish Office will be closed this week. Please send names for the Parish anniversary Mass via email or voicemail before Thursday 12 noon. Notices for Parish Bulletin to be also sent via email please.
PARISH COLLECTIONS
Sincere thanks to all who have returned parish envelopes, established standing orders, made online payments or used the ‘Donate’ button on Parish Website. Envelopes may be returned at any parish Mass, to Parish Office or any Parochial House.
Thank you for your generous support which is greatly appreciated.
SVP DONATIONS
Many thanks for many generous donations. To make a donation please place it in an envelope and mark it SVP. All donations appreciated.
PARISH ANNIVERSARY AND MONTH’S MIND MASSES
If parishioners wish to have their loved one prayed for at any Anniversary Friday Mass, you MUST please email their name to Ballinascreen Parish Office by 12 noon on Thursday of the relevant week. e mail address is 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 should ensure that there is sufficient space for those who are remembering a Month’s Mind or any other anniversary, as seating is limited and cannot be exceeded. The Anniversary Mass will be available on the parish webcam. Holy Communion will be distributed at the door of the Church once the congregation has left. Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.
CHURCH READERS
More readers are needed please for Masses in Holy Rosary Church.
If you are willing to become a regular reader of the Word of God at any of the weekday Masses, the Saturday Vigil Mass or the Sunday Mass in Holy Rosary Church please contact the Parish Office as soon as possible.
LOUGH DERG 2021
Guided Pilgrimages on the Lough Derg Pilgrim Path will be offered on Sunday 12, Wednesday 15, Saturday 18 and Sunday 26 September also Sunday 3 October, with Mass outdoors, weather permitting. Full route is a 12km loop, with a shorter 8km option.
Advance booking is essential.
For further information email info@loughderg.org or phone 00353 719861518 view www.loughderg.org
DRAPERSTOWN LIBRARY
Coffee Morning Friday 24 September 11.00 am - 12.45 pm. Cakes, tray bakes, scones and tea/coffee provided. Social distancing will be observed.
Rhythm and Rhyme sessions for mums and tots will begin on Friday 17 September at 11.30 am. Booking essential as numbers are limited. To book phone 79628249 on Tuesdays, Fridays or Saturdays.
Homelessness in Northern Ireland is a massive problem. Can you help someone facing homelessness?
The demand for the services of the Simon Community continues to grow as the financial impact of Covid begins to be felt. All donations they receive are used here in Northern Ireland and for each £1 they receive, 94.8p goes directly to their front-line services
A donation of any size will help them to continue to provide their vital services.
For more information on their work and on how to make a donation their contact details are; Phone 028 90232882,
email info@simoncommunity.org or write to them at the following address;
4th Floor Arthur Place, 24-26 Arthur Street, Belfast, BT1 4GF.
KNOCKNAGIN HALL
Monday 6 September:
Desertmartin Walk for Health Group meet at Hall on Knocknagin Road at 7.00 pm. (Please note change of time.) Come along and join in for chat, fun, exercise and friendship.
Tuesday 7 September:
Exercise and Line-Dancing with Thomasina in Hall at 11.30 am. Admission £4.
Wednesday 15 September:
Gardening with Mary Doris
Seed Sowing
Wednesday 22 September:
Bulb planting
Gardening sessions 7.00 pm - 8.00 pm admission £3.
Due to Covid Restrictions, it is important to register for sessions, as numbers are limited.
To register please contact either Kathleen 07764277809, Anne: 02879642711 or Olive: 07887614094
MASTERS IN CATHOLIC SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
The Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre, working in Partnership with Saint Mary’s University, Twickenham, offers the Masters in Catholic School Leadership. This is a post-graduate degree dedicated to the professional development and spiritual formation of Catholic school leaders. It is a great opportunity for those currently in leadership roles and those who aspire to, or have an interest in, leadership roles within the Catholic School system. Applications for the Autumn intake close 30 September 2021. If you require any further information, please contact the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre on 028 71264087 or email tferry@derrydiocese.org
STRESS CONTROL ONLINE
Stress is a normal reaction to the rapidly changing and uncertain times we are all living in at the moment. If you are feeling a bit more stressed than usual and would like to learn some great ways, free-of-charge, to deal with common problems like anxiety, depression, panicky feelings, poor sleep and poor wellbeing then you might like to consider joining an online Stress Control class.
‘Stress Control’ is a free six-session cognitive-behavioural therapy class used extensively in community-settings by the NHS (UK) and HSE (Ireland) and across the world. First online class will be on Monday 6 September You can find out more here: https://ni.stresscontrol.org/
Each session will be available on the YouTube channel from 9am and will be 62 hours after the start time.
The sessions will be led by Dr Jim White, consultant clinical psychologist, who created the class and who has taught most of the NHS (UK) and HSE (Ireland) trainers who would normally be running classes across the country.
To learn more about the classes and get all the dates please log onto:
YEAR OF ST JOSEPH
We invite you to come to the Shrine of St Joseph in Holy Rosary Church and to place written petitions to St Joseph in the box provided. Please do not put money in your petition envelopes as all petitions will be burned unopened.
REGULATIONS FOR ATTENDANCE AT RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Since Monday 12 April, regulations on the number of people attending weddings, funerals and baptisms have been relaxed, so the following arrangements are now in place in Ballinascreen and Desertmartin parishes. All churches have been risked assessed and the number of places determined for each church is as follows:
Holy Rosary: 100
St Columbna’s, Straw: 100
St Eugene’s, Moneyneena: 100
St Patrick’s, Sixtowns: 50
St Mary’s, Coolcalm: 60
St Patrick’s, Keenaught: 100
These numbers do not include priests, sacristans, or musicians as they have already designated places.
While extra places are now available, we ask that families be mindful of those who are vulnerable, even if they have been vaccinated. Social distancing and hand sanitising are necessary requirements inside the church but a lack of social distancing outside the church and elsewhere is a potential danger that should not be lightly ignored. Many outbreaks of Covid 19 have occurred when large numbers have gathered in homes and other places where the protocols have not been followed.
Track and trace is obligatory at all weddings, funerals and baptisms. Families will be provided with a template on which all names and contact details of those attending a wedding, funeral or baptism must be recorded and once completed returned to the relevant Parish Office.
WEDDINGS
As well as providing a Track and Trace contact sheet, couples will receive a plan of the church where their wedding will take place so that they can prepare their own church seating plan. This plan will then assist the church stewards to direct guests to their designated seats as they arrive. The plan must be received by the Parish Office three days before the date of the wedding. For the distribution of Holy Communion, guests will be asked to stand in their place and the priest or Eucharistic Minister will distribute Holy Communion to them. Masks must be worn by all attending the wedding. The bridal party, with the exception of the bride and groom, must wear masks when they are in their place.
FUNERALS
Unlike a wedding where there is plenty of time to prepare a church seating plan, families will receive specially printed admittance cards and families may distribute these cards as they wish. These cards MUST be shown at the door of the church to one of the stewards. Please do not ask to be admitted into the church if you have not been given one of these cards. Families are requested to adhere to social distancing inside the church, and so sit in their ‘bubbles’ of two, three or more. Occasionally, stewards may have to respectfully request mourners to move to another seat to ensure proper social distancing is maintained. For the distribution of Holy Communion, mourners will be asked to stand in their place and the priest or Eucharistic Minister will distribute Holy Communion to them.
Face masks must be worn by everyone. A track and trace contact sheet must be completed the day before the funeral.
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
