PARISH BULLETIN – Nativity of Our Lord ~ Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph – 25^th/26^th December 2021

 

SUNDAY MASSES NEXT WEEKEND

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

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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

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DEATHS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Please remember in your prayers:

 

Breige Lawless, Cloane Road, who was buried during the week.

 

Paddy Leyden, Thomas McLoughlin and Anna Devenney who died recently.

 

Patricia McSwiggan, Brendan Burns, Jimmy Breen, Elizabeth Donnelly, Shauna Murchan, Mary Kerr, Joseph Marshall, James Kelly, Hugh Kelly, Frankie John McGuigan, Tommy Shiels, Pat Bradley, Mary Bradley, Cissy Higgins, Brian Higgins, Jim Joe Kelly, Pat McGirr and Mary McGirr whose anniversaries occur at this time.

 

MONTH’S MIND MASS

The Month’s Mind Mass for Bridie McGuigan, 24 Brackalislea Road, will be celebrated on Friday 31^st December at 11 am in St. Mary’s Church, Coolcalm.

 

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MESSAGE FROM BISHOP

COVID 19 ~ OMICRON VARIANT

Bishop McKeown, having received the most recent scientific and medical advice, has written to all parishes to reinforce the following safety points to ensure that our churches remain as safe environments as possible.

1. All Church events must continue to be risk assessed.

2. Face coverings be worn, not just for entering and leaving the church, but also when seated. This is winter, but ventilation is still vital and social distancing is critical, both in the church and when entering or leaving.

3. The routine celebration of the Sacrament of Confession should not take place in the current circumstances.

4. Holy Communion should not be distributed on the tongue. A right to receive Holy Communion on the tongue is not an absolute right and, at the moment, must be restricted for the protection of human life, a key part of the Church’s pro-life stance.

 

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The priests of the parish wish everyone a holy and peaceful Christmas

Beannachtaí na Nollag

 

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DESERTMARTIN PARISH OFFICE 

The Parish Office will be closed next week.

                                   

THANK YOU for your generous contributions to the Parish.

Last Week:

Sunday Collection/Priests’ Collection envelopes:  £1,937.00.

Restoration Fund envelopes:  £306.00.

 

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 at any time.  Thank you.

Thank you also to all parishioners who are supporting the Parish by direct debit.  Your contributions are appreciated very much.

 

 

NEXT PARISH ANNIVERSARY MASS

The next Parish Anniversary Mass will be on Friday 31^st December.  If you wish to have a deceased loved one prayed for at this Mass on 31^st December, please email their name to the Parish Office.

 

 

 

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS DRAW

 

There will be draws every day of the 12 days between Christmas Day and Tuesday 5^th January 2021.  Everyone’s ticket will be in for All the draws, which means you have 33 chances to win prizes.  Total prize fund is £5,000.

PRIZES ~ on the first 10 days there are 3 prizes each day of £100.  On 11^th Day the draw will be for 2 prizes of £500 and on the 12^th and last Day of Christmas there is one final prize of £1,000.  Please let your family and friends know about our special Christmas Draw.

 

Good luck to everyone who has entered the Christmas Draw.

 

The first draws will be made at the end of the 10 am Mass in Coolcalm on Christmas Day.

 

 

 

 

DESERTMARTIN CREDIT UNION

Desertmartin Credit Union’s Opening Hours for Christmas are as follows:

Wednesday 29^th December 2021     6 pm to 8 pm

Friday 31^st December 2021                 Closed

Saturday 1^st January 2022                   Closed

Re-open on Friday 7^th January 2022 6 pm to 9 pm as usual.

 

DIOCESAN VOCATIONS

The Diocesan Vocations Committee will hold a Holy Hour for Vocations in St. Mary’s Church, Creggan, on Friday 7^th January 2022 from 8 pm to 9 pm.  Everyone is welcome, especially those who may be considering a religious vocation.  Members of the Diocesan Vocations Committee will be present and will be willing to hear Confessions or talk with those who wish to discuss their vocation with them.

 

CHILDREN IN CROSSFIRE 

Envelopes containing details of the tremendous work carried out by Children in Crossfire, particularly in Ethiopia, are still available in all Church porches.  Please take one home.  Details of how to support their vital work to save children’s lives are also provided in these envelopes.  Thank you.

 

LOUGH DERG ONLINE SHOP

Lough Derg online shop offers unique Christmas Cards, featuring scenes of the Island from across the centuries and bespoke Gifts including a limited edition Lough Derg Christmas Candle.  Christmas Mass Bouquet Cards are also available  –  Fr. La, Prior, will offer a triduum of Masses beginning on Christmas Eve for all those who are enrolled.  Visit www.loughderg.live/shop   Telephone 00353 71 9861518.  Delivery nationwide and Click and Collect Service available.

 

MEDJUGORJE IRISH CENTRE PILGRIMAGES APRIL – OCTOBER 2022

7 Nights Apartment B&B and return Airport transfer from Dubrovnik or Split from €315 per person sharing.  Guaranteed Airport transfer price for any flight.  Contact us for details and book the dates that suit you.  Tel. 00353 1443 4510 or email reservations@med-irishcentre.com

 

THE NET – DECEMBER 2021

Sharing the fruits of the faith in the Derry Diocese, the December edition of ‘The Net’ is now available on the Diocesan website – https://www.derrydiocese.org/news/the-net-december-2021.  For coverage of faith stories just emaileditorthenet15@gmail.com.

Coverage in this edition includes:

• May we be grateful for God-given blessings – A Christmas message from Bishop Donal

• Derry youth enjoy World Youth Day at Home

• Long Tower celebration for end of St. Columba anniversary year

• Winning schools announced for Columba Project

• International praise for Claudy children’s digital book on St. Colmcille by Michael O’Kane

• Hollybush P.S. welcomes Bishop Donal for blessing

• Spirit of Christmas shines at Steelstown P.S.

• Volunteering gave a sense of purpose lost to many nowadays– A JPII Award reflection by Luke Kelly

• Award coordinators nourished by fruits of pandemic reflection time

• Answering God’s call to youth ministry – Galliagh’s Lauren Campbell shares faith story

• Young writers share thoughts on…

*Preparing for Christmas

*Gratitude for faith passed on

*Caring for others less fortunate

*Using gifts from God

*Servant Sisters at St. Cecilia’s College

*Diocesan World Youth Day

• Three Patrons’ Mission a special time of reflection on St. Joseph

• Many preparing for Christmas with Novena to Divine Child

• Steelstown and Culmore promote Trocaire’s Gifts of Love

• Passers-by support for pro-life vigil by Ethna Johnston

• Derry men folk at Belfast Rosary of Reparation

• Stopping malnutrition…saving children’s lives by Shauna O’Neill, Children in Crossfire

• Waterside priest uses pedal power to raise thousands for charity

• Led back into life of prayer through Divine Mercy– Omagh’s Siobhan Sweeney shares faith story

• St. Michael’s Apostolate of Prayer for Priests

• Syro Malabar Bishop on Derry visit

• Remembering Fr. James McKee – a holy, kind and gentle pastor by Fr. Liam Donnelly

• Gifting talents to parish family – Comments from across the Diocese

• Developing a ‘ministry-rich’ way of being Church – Reflection by Bishop Donal

• To live a life of service with love by Mel O’Dea

• Building a lasting relationship with Jesus will lead to freedom – Fr. Paul Farren

• Live Advent journeying in hope by Marguerite Hamilton

• Mí na hAidbhinte – Irish section by Fr. Oliver Crilly

• December Blessed Brunch and Books

• Is Sr. Clare Crockett a saint? – Part II by Fr. Stephen Quinn ocd

• O Mary conceived without sin pray for us who have recourse to Thee by Mary McMenamin

• Children’s Catechism Club – C3 by Veronica Harley

• Saints we celebrate during December by Bishop Donal

• Watch yourselves! Stay awake! by Fr. Johnny Doherty CSsR

• Sergio Munoz…and many faces along the highways of my life-span by Fr. John McLaughlin ssc

• Visions of the Child by Vera McFadden

• Burt, Inch and Fahan Calendar 2022

• Quiz Time with Lawrence