PARISH BULLETIN – 4^th SUNDAY OF ADVENT – 18^th December 2022

 

SUNDAY MASSES

VIGIL MASS

Holy Rosary, Ballinascreen:                6 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

St. Eugene’s, Moneyneena:                12 noon

 

 

WEEKDAY MASSES THIS WEEK

 

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

 

Holy Rosary Church, Ballinascreen:  Monday and Wednesday ~ 11 am; Friday ~ 7.30 pm. [webcam]

 

 

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:

 

Canon Pat Kelly, Glasgow and Desertmartin; Bridget Loughran, Davagh Road; Shane McGregor, Tirruadh Square; and Patrick Rogers, Leitrim and Drumderg, who were buried during the week.

 

Anne O’Hagan, Bridget Loughran, Frank Donnelly, Mary Brigid McCrystal, Anna Sweeney and Eileen Mitchell who died recently.

 

Ellen McIvor, Charlie Bradley, Joe McHugh, Peter Kearney and Agnes Higgins whose anniversaries occur at this time.

 

____________________________________________________________

 

BAPTISM

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

Frank Thomas Gerard McElwee, 6 Quarry Road and Rosie Kelly, 4 Crocknamohill Road.

 

THANK YOU for your generous contributions to the Parish.

Last Week:

Sunday/Priest’s Collection envelopes:  £607.00.

Retired Priests’ Collection envelopes:  £32.00 (total so far £903.00).

 

CHRISTMAS 2022

Masses to celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ will be as follows:

 

CHRISTMAS EVE MASSES ~ Saturday 24^th December

 

St. Eugene’s, Moneyneena ~  5 pm

Holy Rosary, Ballinascreen ~ 6 pm

St. Patrick’s, Keenaught ~ 7 pm

St .Columba’s, Straw ~ 8 pm

St. Patrick’s, Sixtowns ~ 8 pm

 

CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES ~ Sunday 25^th December

 

St. Columba’s, Straw ~ 9 am

St. Mary’s, Coolcalm ~ 10 am

St. Patrick’s, Sixtowns ~ 11 am

Holy Rosary, Ballinascreen ~ 12 noon

 

Confessions

St. Mary’s, Coolcalm on Friday 23^rd December from 11.30 am to 12.30 pm and from 5 pm to 6 pm.

 

 

LAST WEEK TO GET TICKETS

 

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS 2022 DRAW ~ There will be draws every day of the 12 days between Christmas Day and Tuesday 5^th January 2023.  As before, 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.  TICKETS are £20 each, available from:

• the Churches before and after Mass

• Desertmartin Parish Office on a Thursday between 10.30 am and 3 pm

• from McGirr at the Parochial House, 50 Tobermore Road

• Heron’s Gift Shop, Draperstown

• Moneyneena Post Office

A ticket would make a nice Christmas gift to send inside your Christmas cards to members of your family and friends this Christmastime.

If anyone would like a Ticket Posted to them, please contact Fr. McGirr on 028 7963 2196 or email desertmartinparish@gmail.com

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 enters the Twelve Days of Christmas Draw.

 

CHRISTMAS Carol Service

Christmas Carol Service will take place today, Sunday 18^th December, in Holy Rosary Church at 6 pm.  All welcome.  During the service a collection of non-perishable foodstuffs will be taken up on behalf of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.  This year’s appeal is more important than in previous years as the demand has become much greater.  Thank you.

 

CLEANING OF OUR CHURCHES FOR CHRISTMAS

If you could spare a little time one evening this coming week, we are cleaning Keenaught Church this Wednesday 21st at 7 pm and Coolcalm Church this Thursday 22nd at 7 pm.  Do bring along a brush and dustpan and/or mop.  The more who come along to help the quicker we can be finished.

 

PIONEER CALENDAR 2023

Pioneer Calendar 2023 available to purchase from Madonna Devlin (077 8850 1610) or Kathleen Walls (028 79631 094).  Telephone to order.  Cost £5.

 

SARSFIELD’S BAND

2023 Calendar featuring 12 photos of the band down through the ages are now on sale.  Calendars are £5 each and can be bought from any band member.

 

DESERTMARTIN CREDIT UNION

Our opening hours for the Christmas and New Year are as follows:

Thursday 22^nd December – 6 pm to 8 pm

Friday 23^rd December – 6 pm to 8 pm     

Thursday 29^th December – 6 pm to 8 pm

Friday 30^th December – 6 pm to 8 pm

Office opens as normal from Friday 6^th January 2023 from 6 pm.

 

KNOCKNAGIN HALL COMMITTEE

Social Dance:  Monday 26^th December.  Boxing Night Dance.  Music by Francis Faulkner.  Dancing from 9 pm – 12 midnight.  Admission £7 includes light supper.

Christmas Wreath Making with Mary on Monday 19^th December at 7 pm.  Only a few places left.

Chair Exercise with Thomasina on Tuesday mornings at 10 am followed by a short walk.  Admission £4.  Everyone welcome.

Knit and Natter Class meets on Tuesday evenings at 7.30 pm.

Indoor Bowls on Tuesday nights at 8 pm.  Come along and try the game.

Line Dancing with Thomasina on Wednesday evenings at 7.30 pm.  Admission £4.

Here And Now:  Older People and Well-Being with Charmaine from Arts Care on Fridays at 7 pm for a Music and Dance programme.  Come along and enjoy the craic.  Open to all over 55s.  This is a funded programme.  Free admission.

If you are interested in any of the above activities, please contact Olive 078 8761 4094, Kathleen 077 6427 7809 or Anne 028 7964 2711 to register.

 

TIRGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

Boxing Day 10km challenge with 3.5km fun walk ~ Inaugural Boxing Day 10k challenge set on the picturesque Slieve Gallion mountain.  Challenge yourself this Boxing Day and work off the turkey and Christmas pudding by taking part in the 10k to Slieve Gallion summit and back.  In order to cater for all abilities we will also be holding a 3.5k fun walk.  Tickets cost £10 (£5 for walk) and include festive refreshments on return to Tirgan Hall.  Prizes available.  Starts and finishes at Tirgan Hall.  Register online at www.eventbrite.co.uk.

 

DESERTMARTIN GAC WEDNESDAY NIGHT WALKING CLUB

Desertmartin GAC invites you to its Winter Walking Club from 6.30 pm to 9 pm every Wednesday night until Wednesday 22^nd February 2023 around the Club’s fully lit walking track.  Everyone welcome.  All ages, all abilities, wheelchair and pram friendly.  Dogs on leads welcome.  Do as much or as little as you want.  Set your own targets.  How far can you go?  Come along and enjoy some walking, some talking, a cup of tea and a bit of craic in the community hub.  Beat those winter blues, keep fit and meet some friends.  Free to all.  Looking forward to seeing you.

 

FOYLE HOSPICE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS OF LOVE CEREMONY

Foyle Hospice has announced that a free park-and-ride service will be available for their Christmas Lights of Love ceremony this year.  Thanks to the kindness of Reddins Coach Hire and Thornhill College, anyone attending the interdenominational service at Foyle Hospice can park at Thornhill College and a shuttle bus from Reddin’s Coach Hire will take attendants to the ceremony.  The Foyle Hospice Lights of Love Service, lighting up the Christmas tree in memory of loved ones who have died, will take place this year on Tuesday 20^th December at 7 pm.  Foyle Hospice is asking attendants to park at Thornhill College and the Reddin’s shuttle bus will start transporting people from there at 6.30 pm to the Hospice grounds. The shuttle bus will return you to your cars after the service and shuttles will end at 8.30 pm.  Everyone is welcome to attend.

 

CHRISTMAS PRAYER RESOURCE

At Christmas we celebrate the gift of Jesus, our hope and peace, Jesus, the light of the world.  We pray this Christmas that each of us will rediscover the meaning of Our Lord’s Nativity and the great hope that it proclaims for the world.  You are invited to spend time with scripture, reflection and prayer.  A Christmas prayer resource is available to download on the Diocese of Derry website for private prayer at the church or home, to share with a neighbour who may have no online access or for a time to gather each day with your family.  The booklet can be downloaded at: https://www.derrydiocese.org/news/12-days-of-christmas-2022

 

WALK IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE HOLY FAMILY THIS CHRISTMAS

Walk in the footsteps of the Holy Family this Christmas: ‘An Irish Pilgrimage Guide to the Holy Land’ is a new book by Michael Kelly, Editor of ‘The Irish Catholic’ newspaper which explores the places associated with the life of Christ.  Michael, who has led many pilgrimages to the Holy Land, says he hopes the book can also act as an ‘armchair retreat’ for people who cannot travel to the Holy Land bringing the Gospel to life for them.  It is available now from all good bookshops, www.columbabooks.com or by calling 00353 1 687 4096.  Price €16.99/£14.99.  An ideal Christmas gift.

 

DIOCESAN VOCATIONS

Anyone interested in serving the Diocese of Derry as a priest should contact their local priest(s) and/or the diocesan Vocations Director, Fr. Pat O’Hagan, P.P., Bellaghy, at pgoh2111@gmail.com

 

GLENSHANE HOUSE

OCN Level 2 Award in ‘Introduction to Mindfulness and Reducing Anxiety in Children’ starting January on Wednesdays from 7 pm – 9 pm for 6 weeks.  Suitable for parents, classroom assistants, teachers and students over 16.  To register, phone 028 7774 2494.

 

ALCOHOL AWARENESS

Al-Anon groups provide family support to anyone whose life is or has been affected by someone else’s drinking.  All meetings are listed on the website or call Confidential Helpline on 028 9068 2368 between 10 am – 1 pm or 6 pm – 10 pm Monday to Friday.

 

PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND

Bishop Donal McKeown will lead a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from 13^th – 21^st February 2023.  Visiting Bethlehem, Nazareth, Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee and other important sites, this is an opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Jesus.  Price is €1,895 / £1,655 p.p.s. including taxes and tips.  For more details, email info@marian.ie or call Belfast on 028 9568 0005 or Dublin on 00353 1 878 8159.

 

PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE 2023

Seven Nights Pilgrimage to Medjugorje from 24^th May – 31^st May 2023.  Spiritual Director will be Fr. Séamus Kelly.  Bed/Breakfast and dinner, price is £799.  Offer of special price for early booking:  £699 – if paid before 5^th December 2022.  Money must be paid in full.  Contact Martina for further information. Phone 028 7774 1219 or 077 1549 0880.

 

LOURDES PILGRIMAGE 2023

The Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2023, led by Bishop Donal McKeown, will go direct from City of Derry Airport.  3^rd to 7^th July, four nights full board in the Hotel Agena:  £745 sharing, £35 single supplement.  Travel insurance up to age 79 – £39.  Age 80 to 94 – £78.  (Pilgrims may wish to use their own insurance).  Further details and payment arrangements will be available in the new year via the Lourdes Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop Street, Derry, derrypilgrim@outlook.com, tel 028 7126 0293.

 

WORLD YOUTH DAY PILGRIMAGE – LISBON 2023
The Diocese of Derry is inviting any young person who is over 18 or will be 18 by July 2023 to join us on Pilgrimage to Lisbon for World Youth Day.  World Youth Day (WYD) is the gathering of young people from all over the world with the Pope.  It is also a pilgrimage, a celebration of youth, an expression of the universal Church and an intense moment of evangelization for the youth world.  This pilgrimage will take place in August 2023.  For now, we are taking expression of interest until we have more information on dates, times and prices.  We have limited space so signing up is essential.  You can register your interest on the derrydiocese.org website or on the @derryyouth Facebook page.  If you have any questions regarding this pilgrimage, please email Lizzie Rea, Youth Coordinator at: lizzie.rea@derrydiocese.org

 

PILGRIMAGE TO SAN GIOVANNI AND ROME

As part of St. Eugene’s Cathedral 150^th Anniversary Celebrations, Bishop Donal McKeown will lead a pilgrimage to San Giovanni and Rome from 25^th – 30^th September 2023.  Visiting the birthplace of Padre Pio, Shrine of St. Michael Archangel, St. Peter’s Basilica and other important sites.  Price is £879 p.p.s. (Single room supplement £150).  For more details, email info@marian.ie or call Belfast on 028 9568 0005 or Dublin on 00353 1 878 8159.

 

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 remain available until 8 am the morning of the next session, e.g. Session One will be available from 9 am on Monday 2^nd January and will be taken down at 8 am on Thursday 5^th January.  Session Two will then premiere at 9 am.

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.