Bulletin: 14th January 2024

PARISH BULLETIN – 2^nd SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – 14^th January 2024

 

SUNDAY MASSES

 

SATURDAY VIGIL

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, Coolcalm:  Friday ~ 10 am. [webcam]

 

Holy Rosary, Ballinascreen:  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday ~ 10 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

 

Desertmartin Parish Office:

Tel. 028 7939 7047.  Wednesday and Thursday, 10.30 am to 3 pm.

Email:  desertmartinparish@gmail.com

 

Christenings:  To book a baptism, contact Fr. McGirr on 028 7963 2196

 

Parish Anniversary and Month’s Mind Masses:  If parishioners wish to have their loved one prayed for at any Anniversary Friday Mass, please email their name to the Parish Office by noon on Thursday of the relevant week.  Email:  desertmartinparish@gmail.com.

Notices for First Anniversary and Month’s Mind Masses should be received before the Thursday of the previous week so they may be printed in the Bulletin the weekend before the Anniversary Mass.

 

Sperrin Foodbank:  075 4342 0639                         SVP Helpline:  077 1083 8050

____________________________________________________________

 

DEATHS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Please remember in your prayers:

 

Brigid Loane, 9 Luney Road; Leon Toner, 22 Glenelly Villas and Patrick McCormick, Stockholm, Sweden whose funerals were held during the week.

 

Eileen Ryan, Michael Brennan, Joseph Larkin, Hugh McGuckin, Bridget McKay, Michelle Cartin and Vincent McHenry who died recently.

 

Ann McCrystal, Helena McElhennon, Matthew Shields, Bridie McIvor, Tommy McGuckin, Roseanne McGuckin, Sarah McElwee, Dennis McWilliams, Harry O’Kane, Veronica O’Kane and Patrick Corry whose anniversaries occur at this time.

 

MONTH’S MIND MASSES

The Month’s Mind Mass for Hugh McGuckin, 15 Carncose Road, will be celebrated on Friday 19^th January at 7.30 pm in the Holy Rosary Church, Ballinascreen.

 

The Month’s Mind Mass for Elizabeth O’Connor, Magherafelt and Boveagh, will be celebrated on Friday 19^th January at 7.30 pm in the Holy Rosary Church, Ballinascreen.

 

____________________________________________________________

 

THANK YOU for your generous contributions to the Parish.

Last Week:  Sunday/Priest’s Collection envelopes:  £798.50. 

Restoration Fund envelopes:  £805.50. 

Thank you to those who contribute to the parish by direct debit.

 

ST. MARTIN’S GAC CLUB NOTES

The Christmas Draw income came to £3,376.  This is divided equally between Desertmartin Parish and Desertmartin GAC.  Well done once again to our winners Paula McElwee and Dylan O’Neill.  A sincere thank you to all those who contributed, organised and sold tickets.

 

ST. VINCENT de PAUL

Ballinascreen Saint Vincent de Paul Society would like offer its sincere gratitude to everyone that donated money, food, clothing, furniture and toys throughout the year.  They also deeply appreciate your recent generous food and money donations for their Annual Christmas Appeal.  Your kindness and caring commitment gives hope to many individuals and families in our parishes.  A special thank you to St. Colm’s High School Pope John Paul II Award pupils who assist with weekly collections.  If you or someone you know is alone, a visit from SVP could mean the world to someone who is going through a difficult time.  Please contact SVP on 077 1083 8050 if you need any assistance to get back on your feet.  Thank you.

 

KNOCKNAGIN HALL ACTIVITIES

Yoga Classes started on Monday 8^th January at 10 am.  Numbers limited.  Registration is necessary.  £36 for 6 weeks.  Contact Olive on 078 8761 4094, Kathleen on 077 6427 7809 or Anne on 028 7964 2711 to register.

Food and Medicine:  On Monday 15^th January at 7.30 pm, Margaret, Complementary Practitioner and Lecturer in Holistic Health Studies, will deliver a talk on Food and Medicine to help beat the Winter Blues.

Chair Exercise on Tuesday mornings at 10 am, followed by a short walk.  Admission £4.

Knit and Natter on Tuesday evenings at 7.30 pm.  Bring your own project or you can help with knitting for local charities.

Line Dancing on Wednesdays at 7.30 pm.  Admission £4.

Come along to any of the above actives and enjoy a fun way to exercise, keep fit and improve your health and wellbeing.  Contact Olive on 078 8761 4094, Kathleen on 077 6427 7809 or Anne on 028 7964 2711 to register.

Band Practice on Thursdays at 7.30 pm.  New and past members welcome.  Tickets for 2024 monthly draw now on sale, £1 a month, £12 for the year.  £50 prize drew every month.

 

FREE PRE-SCHOOL PLACES

EA Connect Portal opened on Tuesday 9^th January.  If your child was born between 2^nd July 2019 and 1^st July 2020, they will be eligible for a funded preschool place from September 2024 – June 2025.

Naíscoil na Speiríní’s Pre-Pre Program has now started.  For more details, you are welcome to please email naiscoilnaspeirini@gmail.com.

 

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS’ WEEK

The Mass to launch Catholic Schools Week will be celebrated on Tuesday 16^th January at 10 am in St. Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry.

 

HEALTH MATTERS SESSION

On Wednesday 17^th January in Workspace Community Hub.  Getting a Healthy Heart information session with Aine from O’Kane’s Pharmacy commencing at 12 noon.  No need to book, just drop in.

 

WOMEN’S HEALTH EVENING

Women’s Health and Wellbeing Evening on Menopause with guest speaker Dr. Frances Stewart on Friday 19^th January from 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm in The Community Hub.  Limited tickets are available.  Purchase in store at O’Kane’s Pharmacy or by phoning 028 7962 8209.

 

GLENSHANE HOUSE DUNGIVEN

OCN L2 Award in Managing Challenging Behaviour in Children course starting soon (6 weeks x 2 hrs).  Few spaces available.  To register, tel. 028 7774 2494.

 

SPERRIN FOODBANK NEW OPENING HOURS

Foodbank operates Monday – Friday 9 am – 5 pm.  If you or someone you know requires assistance, please call 075 4342 0639.  No questions asked or criteria to meet.  Follow them on facebook at Sperrinfoodbank or email foodbank@theworkspacegroup.org.

 

TRÓCAIRE SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS 

Are you a retired teacher or someone who has experience presenting to groups of school children?  Do you have a passion for making this world a better place, especially for the most vulnerable?  Trócaire is looking for volunteers to support its School Talks Programme for Lent 2024 in parishes of the Derry Diocese.  If you think you have the right skills and experience and will have a few free hours during Lent, then we would love to hear from you!  For more information, call Casey Schell on 028 9080 8033 or email casey.schell@trocaire.org.

 

MARY’S MEALS – DOUBLE THE LOVE 

Mary’s Meals is keeping the promise of a daily school meal to over 2.4 million children in 18 countries.  Our ‘Double the Love’ Campaign has launched and all donations made to Mary’s Meals until 22^nd January 2024 will be doubled by a group of generous supporters, up to £1 million.  Amongst the many challenges we see in today’s world, from conflict to the cost-of-living crisis, your little acts of love can go further thanks to ‘Double the Love’, bringing hope to desperately hungry children and their families.  Please pray that we can reach even more children around the world with our life-changing school meals this Christmas.  Find out more and browse our Christmas gift cards at marysmeals.org.uk or freephone 0800 698 1212.

 

TEACHER TRAINING COURSE IN FERTILITY AWARENESS 2024 

Teacher Training Course in Fertility Awareness at the City North Hotel, Gormanston, Co. Meath and Online.  Six study days in person (Saturdays), Nine lectures online (Mondays) from January to April 2024, followed by three months of supervised practical instruction from April to June 2024 leading to a certificate to teach the Sympto Thermal Double-Check Method of Natural Family Planning.  Accredited by European Institute for Family Life Education:  www.ieef.ie.  Cost:  €320 from Eventbrite / NFPTAI:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/fertility-awareness tickets-742948818917?aff=oddtdtcreator  

Further details: www.naturalfamilyplanningireland.ie  or info@naturalfamilyplanningireland.ie or Tel. Sinead on 00353 86 052 8282.

 

DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES 2024 

Monday 1^st to Friday 5^th July, ex City of Derry Airport.  Led by Bishop Donal McKeown.  Full board £799, single room supplement £150.  The pilgrimage office at 164 Bishop Street, Derry, will open to the public 11 am to 1 pm on Thursdays and Saturdays, starting Saturday 10^th February.  Tel. 028 7126 0293 or email derrypilgrim@outlook.com.

 

DERRY DIOCESAN YOUTH PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE 2024

We are inviting young people aged 16+ to join us on pilgrimage to Medjugorje for 9 nights from 30^th July to 8^th August.  This will be a unique experience for young people and an opportunity to engage with peers from around the world, in a faith context.  Up to 50,000 young people attend the Medjugorje Youth Festival each year.  Cost is £800 and there will be a budget plan to help with this.  Names and deposit of £100 are required as soon as possible to secure a place.  For more information or to book in, please contact lizzie.rea@derrydiocese.org or tel. 028 7126 4087.

 

SAFEGUARDING NOTICE

If you have any concerns with regard to Safeguarding children or adults in need of protection within the Church, contact Marie Gormley, the Diocesan Designated Liaison Person (DLP), on 075 9650 0793, or at mariegormley@derrydiocese.org.

Additional contact numbers:  PSNI Tel. 101 or Social Services Western HSC Trust on 028 7131 4090 (ask for Duty Social Worker).

 

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 8^th January and will be taken down at 8 am on Thursday 11^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.