PARISH BULLETIN – 2nd SUNDAY OF LENT – 25th February 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: Monday and Friday ~ 10 am; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday ~ 7.30 pm. [webcam]
St. Colm’s High School, Draperstown: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday ~ 8.40 am.
St. Eugene’s, Moneyneena: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday ~ 10 am.
Holy Rosary, Ballinascreen: Monday and Friday ~ 7.30 pm; Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday ~ 7 am. [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
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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
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
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DEATHS AND ANNIVERSARIES
Please remember in your prayers:
Fr. George McLaughlin, Moville; James Joseph McGuckin, Cookstown and Ballinderry; and Andy McGuckin, Magherafelt whose funerals were held during the week.
Peter Brown, Sharon McGuigan, Mary Darragh, Veronica McKernan, Kathleen Faulkner, Cillian McKenna and Danny Otterson who died recently.
Martin Walls, Hugh Bradley, Rita Shaw, John McBride, Andrew Shaw, Christopher Shaw, Paul O’Hagan, John O’Hagan, Brigid McGonigle, John Connery, Brigid McGirr, Ellen McGirr and Vincent Corry whose anniversaries occur at this time.
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BAPTISM
We welcome into God’s family through the Sacrament of Baptism:
Edward Maurice Higgins, 5 Sherbourne Heights, Magherafelt and Jessica Rose Neill, 62 Desertmartin Road, Magherafelt.
THANK YOU for your generous contributions to the Parish.
Last Week: Sunday/Priest’s Collection envelopes: £748.22.
Lourdes Hospitalité Collection envelopes: £56.00 (total so far £654.00).
Holy Places Collection envelopes: £420.90.
Thank you to those who contribute to the parish by direct debit.
LENT WEEKDAY MASS TIMES
Monday 26th February:
St. Mary’s, Coolcalm ~ 10 am
Holy Rosary, Ballinascreen ~ 7.30 pm
Tuesday 27th February:
Holy Rosary, Ballinascreen ~ 7 am
St. Colm’s High School ~ 8.40 am
St. Eugene’s, Moneyneena ~ 10 am
St. Mary’s, Coolcalm ~ 7.30 pm
Wednesday 28th February:
Holy Rosary, Ballinascreen ~ 7 am
St. Colm’s High School ~ 8.40 am
St. Eugene’s, Moneyneena ~ 10 am
St. Mary’s, Coolcalm ~ 7.30 pm
Thursday 29th February:
Holy Rosary, Ballinascreen ~ 7 am
St. Colm’s High School ~ 8.40 am
St. Eugene’s, Moneyneena ~ 10 am
St. Mary’s, Coolcalm ~ 7.30 pm
Friday 1st March:
St. Mary’s, Coolcalm ~ 10 am
Holy Rosary, Ballinascreen ~ 7.30 pm
TRÓCAIRE 2024
Trócaire boxes will be available in all Church porches during Lent. Please take one home. Your contributions will help Trócaire to continue its vital work in developing countries. www.trocaire.org
CONFIRMATION 2024
Confirmation will be celebrated in Desertmartin Parish on Sunday 10th March at 12 noon in St. Patrick’s Church, Keenaught for the children attending St. Columb’s P.S., Cullion and Knocknagin P.S.
KNOCKNAGIN HALL ACTIVITIES
Chair Exercise on Tuesday mornings at 10 am, followed by a short walk. Admission £4.
Knit and Natter Classes resume on Tuesday 20th February 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.
Read Yourself Well: Selection of books from wellness experts, doctors and bestselling authors. There are a number of books out on loan but no details were recorded. If you are borrowing a book, it is necessary to record your name and a contact number. Please return any overdue books or if you require it for a longer period then contact any committee member below.
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.
Sarsfield’s Accordion Band: All band members are invited to attend practice on Thursdays at 7.30 pm and to check their uniforms in preparation for St. Patrick’s Day.
TIRGAN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
Aware NI will be running a 6 week Free mental health programme in Tirgan Hall. The dates will be announced in due course. This programme is open to men and women. If anyone is interested, please contact Eileen on 079 5519 1890.
KILCRONAGHAN CENTRE
Grand Country Concert on Tuesday 12th March at 8 pm, featuring Yodelling Kenny Archer, Caillin Joe and many more artists. Proceeds for Macmillan Cancer and other charities. Tickets £15 or pay at the door. Contact Fiona on 077 4689 5968.
Pilates and Yoga Style Exercise Class, adaptable for all abilities and ages. Ideal also for those who are less mobile. Continues every Friday, 10 am – 11 am, £4. Includes advice on nutrition, sleep, stress and mindfulness to help you look and feel your best self.
Watercolours Painting Class with George Gourley, Monday 8th April x4 weeks, 10 am – 12 noon. Ring/text 078 2196 3749 to book your place/more details.
BALLINASCREEN PARISH DANCE
Dance this Friday 1st March in An Ráth Dubh, Moneyneena. Music by Bleed’N Cowboys. Dancing from 10 am – 1 pm. Admission £10. Proceeds in aid of restoration work on St. Eugene’s Church, Moneyneena. Light refreshments served. All welcome.
SMOKING CESSATION SERVICE
Thinking of giving up smoking for Lent? Call into O’Kane’s Chemist, Draperstown and speak to a member of staff about joining their Free 12 week programme.
WORKSPACE COMMUNITY HUB
Health Matters Session on Wednesday 28th February, 11 am – 1 pm.
Managing Your Medicines session with Aine of O’Kane’s Pharmacy at 12 noon.
SIXTOWNS CROSS COMMUNITY GROUP
Sixtowns Hall is hosting a Free series of classes as part of a ‘Wellness Week’ initiative from Monday 26th February to Sunday 3rd March, with thanks to funding support from the Workspace Group.
Monday 26th: Pilates classes fully booked.
Tuesday 27th: Waltz and Line Dancing Classes with Christopher Bradley, 8.30 pm – 10 pm. No booking required.
Wednesday 28th: Healthy Eating Airfryer Cookery Class fully booked.
Thursday 29th: First Aid Class with Hibernian Medical Service Ltd., 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm. No booking required.
Friday 1st: Mindfulness Class with Caroline Kelly, 7 pm – 8 pm. No booking required.
Saturday 2nd: Crochet and Chat, 11 am – 12 noon. No booking needed.
Sunday 3rd: Breezy Kids Workshops, in the small hall, 1-4 year olds with a parent/carer from 12 noon – 1 pm and for 5-11 year olds from 1 pm – 2 pm. Contact Karen on 075 4611 5167 to find out more.
Sunday 3rd: Exhibition in main hall from 12 noon – 2 pm with a variety of stalls focusing on health and wellness. Drop in for a cuppa and a chat. All welcome.
GLENSHANE HOUSE
OCN L2 Managing Challenging Behaviour in Children Course starts Tuesday 27th February 6.30 – 9.30 pm (4 weeks). Registration fee: £30 and Certificate / Accreditation Fee: £29 (payable on first night). The course is free to people in receipt of certain benefits or not in full time work. Phone 028 7774 2494.
PILATES
Pilates Classes at Sixtowns Hall each Monday in March: 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th with AMG Pilates. Suitable for age 16+. Men and women welcome. Exercises will be modified to suit all abilities. £25 for the 4 week block. To book your space, contact Emma on 077 6928 9385.
WARM WELCOME WEDNESDAYS
Free craft sessions in Workspace Community Hub, Draperstown, 11 am – 1 pm with Michaela Mills on these dates: Wednesday 6th March ~ Create a moss-land style terrarium using recycled glass jars. Wednesday 13th March ~ Ireland Pebble Art for St. Patrick’s Day. No previous experience or skill required and all materials will be supplied. Booking required as places are limited. Call Workspace on 028 7962 8113 to book.
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.
LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINARS
Omagh Charismatic Prayer Group invite you to seminars on Thursdays in conjunction with 7.30 pm Mass in Christ the King Church, Strathroy from 15th February until 21st March. Speaker on Thursday 29th February will Martina Purdy. Seminars online at www.churchservices.tv/strathroy.
DIOCESAN VOCATIONS
The Vocations Directors of the northern dioceses invite anyone interested in serving the Church as a diocesan priest, to attend a retreat at the Drumalis Retreat Centre, Larne from 8th – 10th March. Anyone aged 18 or over wishing to attend should contact the Diocesan Vocations Director, Fr. Pat O’Hagan at pgoh2111@gmail.com.
ACCORD NI SEEKING MARRIAGE PREPARATION FACILITATORS
ACCORD NI Catholic Marriage Care Service is currently recruiting people to train as marriage preparation programme facilitators. If you have a positive attitude towards marriage in the Catholic Church, if you have the enthusiasm to be part of the Accord team in supporting couples who are preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage, then Accord wants to hear from you. Successful applicants will receive professional training and will be part of a team delivering marriage preparation programmes locally. Contact Brenda on 028 9023 3002 or by email to info@accordni.com. www.accordni.com
LOUGH DERG RETREAT FOR YOUNG ADULTS (18 – 30 year olds)
The Knights of Columbanus, Omagh, is organising a Retreat in Lough Derg for young adults, to take place on Saturday 27th April from 10 am – 4 pm. Guest Speakers, inspirational talks, reflective time and concluding with Mass. This event is Free. For further information, email info@knightsofstcolumbansomagh.co.uk
PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA
Fully escorted group pilgrimage accompanied by Spiritual Director for seven nights from 28th May – 3rd June. Accommodation in 4* Hotel Style, with breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. Cost £825 p.p.s. Single room supplement £280. Mass daily and spiritual activities. Services of JWT tour guide. Direct flights from Dublin. Coach from Oakleaf Restaurant, Maghera to Dublin Airport. For further details, please contact Christina Lagan on 078 0319 2621.
DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
Monday 1st to Friday 5th 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 10th February. Tel. 028 7126 0293 or email derrypilgrim@outlook.com.
DERRY DIOCESAN YOUTH PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE
We are inviting young people aged 16+ to join us on pilgrimage to Medjugorje for 9 nights from 30th July to 8th 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 4th March and will be taken down at 8 am on Monday 11th March. 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:
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
