Bulletin: 29th August 2021

PARISH BULLETIN – 22^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – 29^th August 2021

 

SUNDAY MASSES

VIGIL MASS

St. Eugene’s, Moneyneena:                5 pm

Holy Rosary, Draperstown:                6.15 pm [webcam]

St. Patrick’s, Keenaught:             7.30 pm

 

SUNDAY

St. Columba’s, Straw:                         9 am

St. Mary’s, Coolcalm:                  10 am [webcam]

St. Patrick’s, Sixtowns:                       11 am

Holy Rosary, Draperstown:               12 noon [webcam]

 

DAILY MASS TIMES FOR THIS WEEK

Holy Rosary Church:  Monday and Wednesday ~ 11 am.  Friday ~ 7.30 pm.

 

St. Mary’s Church, Coolcalm:  Tuesday, Thursday and Friday ~ 11 am.

 

All Masses in St. Mary’s, Coolcalm are transmitted live via the Desertmartin parish webcam:

https://www.churchservices.tv/Desertmartin

All Masses in the Holy Rosary Church are transmitted live on the Ballinascreen parish webcam:

https://www.churchservices.tv/Draperstown

____________________________________________________________

 

Fr. Peter Madden P.P. V.F.                                    

31 Sixtowns Road, Draperstown

Phone:  028 7962 8376

Email:  ballinascreenparish@gmail.com

 

Fr. Dermot McGirr C.C.

50 Tobermore Road, Desertmartin

Telephone:  028 7963 2196

Email:  desertmartinparish@gmail.com

 

Fr. John Downey C.C.

36 Moneyneena Road

Telephone:  028 7962 8375

Email:  j.downey75@btinternet.com

____________________________________________________________

 

DEATHS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Please remember in your prayers:

 

Patrick Gormley, 96 Tobermore Road; Colm Higgins, Maghera; Alex McBride, Cookstown and Monsignor Ignatius McQuillan who were buried during the week.

 

John Rogers, Patricia McGreevy, James McAuley, John Murray, Margaret Layden, Conor Donaghy and Conor Devine who died recently.

 

Gerry O’Hagan whose Month’s Mind occurs at this time.

 

Mary Woulahan whose First Anniversary occurs at this time.

 

Danny MacOscar, Patrick O’Neill and Hubert Murray whose anniversaries occur at this time.

 

MONTH’S MIND MASS

The Month’s Mind Mass for Joseph McGuckin, 53 Tirgan Road, will be celebrated on Friday 3^rd September at 11 am in St. Mary’s Church, Coolcalm.

 

____________________________________________________________

 

BAPTISM

We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:

Michael Terence Foley, 6 Moorside Villas.

 

 

THANK YOU for your generous contributions to the Parish.

Last Week:

Sunday Collection/Priests’ Collection envelopes:  £925.00.

Restoration Fund envelopes:  £45.00.

Pope’s Collection envelopes:  £5.00  (total so far:  £482.00).

 

Those who contribute with a church collection envelope, you are welcome to return them at any parish Mass or put them through the Parochial House letterbox.

Many thanks to all who have dropped in parish envelopes or established standing orders.  Your generosity is vital to the parish and is appreciated very, very much.

 

ST. VINCENT de PAUL

If you would like to make a donation, please put it in an envelope marked ‘St. Vincent de Paul’ and put the envelope through the letterbox at the Parochial House.  Thank you.

 

SEASON OF CREATION ~ ‘A Home for All?  Restoring Our Common Home’

Pope Francis established 1^st September as World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation following the publication of the encyclical Laudato si’ in 2015.  The Season of Creation or Creation Time, is marked throughout the Christian world from 1^st September to 4^th October (Feast of St. 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

 

RE-OPENING OF SCHOOLS

We welcome back staff and pupils to all of our schools this week and we ask God to bless everyone as they begin another school year.  Hopefully, this year will be less disrupted by Covid 19 than the past eighteen months have been.

We welcome Mr. Liam Kearney as the new Acting-Principal of St. Columb’s P.S., Cullion.  We wish Mr. Kearney well as he takes up his post in the school on Wednesday, 1st September.  We also thank the outgoing Acting-Principal, Miss Patricia Carr, for all her teaching talents, energy, care and time she shared with the school community over the past few years.

St. Colm’s High School begins its Diamond Jubilee this week, the school having opened in September 1961.  We wish the school’s new principal Ms. Sinead McAllister and all the staff and pupils many blessings in this anniversary year. Covid 19 not-withstanding we hope to celebrate this milestone appropriately during the Jubilee Year.

 

DESERTMARTIN CREDIT UNION

We will be ordering Oil within the next 2 weeks, so if you want to request a fill, please let us know how much as soon as possible.  Also, any member who is not in the Heating Oil Club, you can join, and let us know your oil request for this delivery.  Office Telephone No:  028 7963 4858 on a Friday from 6 pm to 9 pm and a Saturday from 10 am to 12 noon.

 

KNOCKNAGIN HALL COMMITTEE

Monday 30^th August ~ Desertmartin Walk for Health Group will meet at the Hall on Knocknagin Road at 7 pm (please note time change).  Come along and join in for chat, fun, exercise and friendship.

Tuesday 31^st August ~ Join us for Exercise and Line-Dancing with Thomasina in the Hall at 11.30 am.  Admission £4.

Wednesday 1^st September ~ Gardening with Mary Doris.  Week 1:  ‘Grow your Own’ in raised beds/containers.  Week 2:  ‘Planting Containers for Autumn Colour’.  Come along and join in session from 7 pm – 8 pm.  Admission £3.

Due to Covid restrictions, it is important to register for sessions as numbers are Limited.  Contact Kathleen on 077 6427 7809, Anne on 028 7964 2711 or Olive on 078 8761 4094.

 

DRAPERSTOWN LIBRARY

From Monday 6^th September, Library opening hours will be:  Tuesdays 2 pm – 8 pm, Fridays 10 am – 1 pm and 1.30 pm to 5 pm, Saturdays 10 am – 1 pm and 1.30 pm – 4 pm.  Tea and newspapers on Friday afternoons resume on 10^th September.  Adult Book Club will resume, but with restricted numbers due to covid regulations.  Members may contact staff regarding booking a seat.  NO Rhythm and Rhyme sessions.  Books being returned, no longer need to be left in foyer – adults and children may return them to the issue desk.

 

   ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY

Alzheimer’s Society is delivering a Virtual Dementia Information Program across the Northern Trust area in August and September.  There will be 4 information talks from professionals about topics relevant to people affected by dementia, with an opportunity for people to ask questions.  Attendees need to book on to the sessions, this can be done by contacting Lisa Hendley, Dementia Support Worker, Mid-Ulster on 077 3019 5234 or email at lisa.hendley@alzheimers.org.uk . Attendees can attend all 4 sessions or pick and choose which they feel are relevant to them:

Friday 20^th August ~ 10.30 am – 11.30 am ~ What is Dementia? with Dr. Ronan Kehoe, Consultant Old Age Liaison Psychiatrist, NHSCT.

Friday 27^th August ~ 10.30 am – 11.30 am ~ Legal and Financial Issues with Lisa Mallon, Alzheimer’s Society, and Michael Graham, Solicitor with Cleaver, Fulton and Rankin.

Friday 3^rd September ~ 10.30 am – 11.30 am ~ Dementia and Changes in Behaviours with Anne Marie Stewart, NHSCT Dementia Home Support Team.

Friday 10^th September ~ 10.30 am – 11.30 am ~ NHSCT Memory Service and the role of the Dementia Navigator with Tom Brannigan, Dementia Navigator with NHSCT Memory Service.

If you wish to speak to someone about dementia, please contact Alzheimer’s Society Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456.  Opening hours: 9 am – 8 pm Monday to Wednesday.  9 am – 5 pm Thursday and Friday.  10 am – 4 pm Saturday and Sunday.

 

   LOUGH DERG 2021

The Lough Derg Pilgrim Path on the lough shore is now open daily.  The full route is a 12 km loop, with a shorter 8 km option, and several information boards highlight features of particular interest.  Leaflets are available at the Visitors Centre.  Dates for Guided Walk Experiences will follow for late August and early September.  For bookings and further information, email info@loughderg.org  or telephone 00353 71 9861518.  Visit www.loughderg.org  Derg Pilgrim Path, Pettigo, Co. Donegal F94 N289

 

PREPARING FOR MARRIAGE?  CATHOLIC ENGAGED ENCOUNTER

A Zoom online Marriage Preparation course is planned for 11^th – 12^th September 2021.  This 2-day course is a positive way of preparing for Marriage where you will discover how you can enrich your future relationship.  For further information or booking, visit: marriageencounter.ie or tel. 028 2763 8512.

 

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^th September 2021.  If you require any further information, please contact the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre on 028 7126 4087 or email tferry@derrydiocese.org.

 

DROMANTINE RETREAT CENTRE

The following Retreat and Workshops will be offered by Fr. Hugh Lagan SMA:

‘Called by a New Name’ Retreat – Refocus, recharge and reconnect in a post-pandemic world.  Sunday 3^rd October 5 pm to Friday 8^th October at 9.30 am.  Cost £420 / €490.

‘Broken Open’ Workshop – How difficult times can help us grow.  Friday 19^th November at 5 pm to Sunday 21^st November at 2 pm.  Cost £200 / €230.

For enquiries and reservations, tel. 028 3082 1964.  Email: admin@dromantineconference.com

 

PARISH ANNIVERSARY MASS

If parishioners in Desertmartin and Ballinascreen wish to have their loved one prayed for at the 11 am Mass in Coolcalm or the 7.30 pm Mass in Holy Rosary on Friday, phone the Desertmartin Parish Office answering machine on 028 7939 7047 or email desertmartinparish@gmail.com by 12 noon on Thursday of the relevant week.  These Masses from Coolcalm and the Holy Rosary may be viewed on the respective Parish webcams.

For Coolcalm go to www.desertmartinparish.com and click on the blue webcam button.

For Holy Rosary, go to www.parishofballinascreen.com and click on the word ‘webcams’ in yellow.

 

COOLCALM AND KEENAUGHT OPEN FOR PRIVATE PRAYER

St. Mary’s, Coolcalm, will be open for private prayer and to light candles this week on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and FRIDAY from 11 am to 2 pm.

St. Patrick’s, Keenaught, will be open for private prayer and to light candles this week on Thursday and FRIDAY from 11 am to 2 pm.

You must wear a face covering while entering and leaving the church.  Also, please use hand sanitiser at the door.  When you call into the church please pick up a coloured card at the door on the way to your seat.  When you have finished praying please leave the card behind on your seat.  That seat will be cleaned later in the day.  Do not sit on a seat where a card has been left behind.  Thank you.

 

NUMBERS ATTENDING SUNDAY MASSES IN KEENAUGHT AND COOLCALM

In Desertmartin and Ballinascreen anyone may attend Sunday Mass in:  St. Patrick’s, Keenaught; St. Columba’s, Straw; St. Eugene’s, Moneyneena and Holy Rosary, Draperstown.

The 2-week townland area rota continues in St. Mary’s, Coolcalm for Sunday Masses.

 

THE NET – JULY-AUGUST 2021

Sharing the fruits of the faith in the Derry Diocese. With Covid-19 restrictions still in place, the July-August edition of ‘The Net’ will only be available on the Diocesan website – https://www.derrydiocese.org/news/the-net-july-august-2021

However, the publication will be available again in parishes when the restrictions are lifted.

For coverage of faith stories just email editorthenet15@gmail.com.

Coverage in this month’s edition includes:

• Search family bond still strong despite Covid enforced separation

• Newtownstewart P7 Award in memory of Fr. Stephen Kearney

• First Diocesan Youth Ministry Scholarship ends with day of celebration

• Fan the Flame celebration

• Southern sacramental situation – Bishop Donal

• Young writers share thoughts on…

            *Benefits of prayer in facing life’s challenges

            *Impact of social media

            *The faith of ‘Doubting’ Thomas

            *Pope’s call to ‘be like Peter and Paul, free but humble’

            *Is Catholic Education worth keeping in Northern Ireland?

            *The gift of older people in our lives

• Celebration of Grandparents and the Elderly

• Termonbacca to host Youth 2000 summer festival

• Cast your burdens at ‘Blessed Is She’ retreat by Aoife O’Neill

• Preparing for Season of Creation by Patricia McCormack

• Mass rocks powerful reminder of ancestors’ sacrifices to preserve the faith – Glenshane, Leckpatrick and Granaghan

• Réalt na Mara – Irish Section by Fr. Oliver Crilly

• Bellaghy celebrates Mgr. Andy Dolan’s Golden Jubilee

• Ballinascreen mark 100^th anniversary of late Fr. Michael Collins’ ordination

• Sacristan shares childhood memory of Fr. Collins

• Thornhill celebrates Golden Jubilee of Fr. Colum Clerkin

• Neal Carlin, founder of Columba Community, laid to rest

• Tribute to Fr. Neal by Mary O’Donnell

• Drumquin celebrates Fr. Kevin Mullan’s Golden Jubilee

• Last 40 years have been a blessing – Fr. Michael Canny

• We are born to live in The Divine Will – Emma Devine

• Life’s tapestry – A tribute to late Fr. Brian O’Donnell by Fr. Malachy Gallagher

• Mike Spain OCD reflects on 40-year ministry that led him back to Derry

• Stephen Quinn shares vision for future ministry of Carmelites in Derry

• Bearing witness to Jesus – the Way, the Truth and the Life – Pope Paul VI

• One of the reasons we still have our faith by Michael Devlin

• Discarded Stations of the Cross restored and multiplied thanks to two faith friends

• Reflections on Pope’s prayer intentions for July and August by Bishop Donal

• Celebrating St. Maria Goretti and the power of forgiveness by Mary McMenamin

• Pope Francis and his critics by Fr. Stephen Quinn OCD

• Where have the treasures gone? by Vera McFadden

• Rejoice and be glad by Fr. Johnny Doherty CSsR

• Fun and Games by Fr. John McLaughlin SSR

• Children’s Catechism Club – C3 by Veronica Harley

• Quiz Time with Lawrence

 

 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 come along to our online Stress Control class.  ‘Stress Control’ is a six-session cognitive-behavioural therapy class used extensively in community-settings by the NHS (UK) and HSE (Ireland) and across the world.  You can find out more here: https://ni.stresscontrol.org/

As you can’t come to a regular Stress Control class due to the current circumstances, Stress Control will come to you and live stream the sessions.  Each session will be available on the YouTube channel from 9 am 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 take part:

1. Go to https://ni.stresscontrol.org/ where you can learn more about the class and get the dates. Everything you need to successfully complete the class – the booklets, self-assessment, relaxation and mindfulness – can be found in the ‘Free zone’.  If you can, please read, and start working on, the booklets in the ‘Preparing for the course’ section before Session 1.

2. On the homepage, click on the ‘Stress Control Online’ link to access our YouTube channel where the classes will be available to view at the scheduled times. If you click the ‘Subscribe’ button on our YouTube page (free), you will receive notifications when a new session is available.  You can also follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdCfzKgmXbB30baWLv6L5-g

3. The session will begin exactly on time, so make sure you are there from the start. Sessions run for about 90 minutes and there will be a 10-minute break in the middle.

4. Each session is one piece of the jigsaw in tackling your Stress. By coming to each class, the jigsaw will form, and the big picture can emerge, making you better able to handle your stress.  This is cognitive-behavioural therapy so it is crucial you practice the skills you will learn between sessions.

Life is very hard for us just now and there are no easy solutions or magic cures, but, with hard work and determination, we can boost our resilience to cope with these difficult times and come out the other end stronger. Please pass this on to anyone who you think might benefit from the class.