Banagher Parish, Derry Diocese, Ireland

The Pilgrimage of Croagh Patrick, County Mayo

http://www.accord.ie

Tel : 028-7964 2983

Parish Society News - 05/07/2009

OLDER PEOPLE IN YOR AREA NEED YOUR HELP – Did you know that there are older people living near you who spend a lot of their days alone, and sometimes find it very difficult to get to the shops or to medical appointments. Family members can be very willing but often have other commitments and older people can be very reluctant to ask friends or neighbours for help. Flexicare is a service that is set up to address this very problem. A project coordinator liaises with social workers to identify the older people who need the service and organizes for a local volunteer or visit them, take them shopping or chaperone them to hospital or the doctors. This is a lovely volunteering opportunity and is very rewarding as the volunteer can see first hand the good that they are doing. The older person appreciates the fact that this service is being provided willingly by someone who is not being paid to help. All volunteers are vetted, trained and supervised. We are currently looking for volunteers in Waterside, Eglinton, Claudy, Park, Prehen, Newbuildings and Strathfoyle. If you would like more information or would like to volunteer with Flexicare please contact either North West Volunteer Centre on 02871 271017 or Jenna at LCDI on 777 65438 or inquiry@limavadyvb.com

HALLOWEEN DRAW tickets are available in the Sacristy. Any individuals or groups who would like to try to sell 25 tickets will also be entered into a Sellers Draw. The Main Draw Prizes are £5000, £2000, £1000, £500 and £500. The Seller’s Draw has prizes of £500, £200, £100, £50 and £50

ST JOSEPH’S JUNIOR CHOIR – IMPORTANT INFORMATION – A sincere word of thanks to all those parents, and children, who have supported and participated in the Junior Choir over the last year. Your continued hard work and commitment has been very much appreciated and has helped to make the choir a great success. However, as the summer holidays are now upon us, please note that Junior Choir will be suspended during the months of July and August and will recommence in September. The Junior Choir makes an invaluable contribution to Mass at St Joseph’s each weekend. New members are always welcome. Continued support from both parents and children will be crucial if the choir is to resume as planned in September.

CHILD PROTECTION & OUR CHURCH – Over the last number of months a group of representatives from our parish as a whole have undertaken training and been attending information sessions on how best to implement Child Protection Policies 7 Procedures within our Parish Churches here in Banagher. This has not just been a practice unique to Banagher, representatives from all Parishes in the Diocese of Derry have been involved in respect of their own Parishes and Churches. The Banagher Parish Representatives would like to share with you, our parishioners, information regarding their work to date. To this end all parishioners are invited to a series of meetings being held, in the coming weeks, in the 3 areas of the Parish – Park, Feeny and Foreglen.

Feeny – St Joseph’s Hall, Monday 25th February 2008 at 7.30pm
Park – The Parochial Hall, Monday 3rd March 2008 at 7.30pm; and
Foreglen – The Community Centre, Monday 10th March at 7.30pm

The representatives would particularly request that:
- any person who works with children in our Parish;
- any person/group who uses parish property;
- parents of Altar Servers, Children in Choirs, etc;
- Any Parish Worker, paid or voluntary, eg savings collectors, Eucharistic Ministers; etc

Would try to attend one of the Meetings. If you cannot make the Meeting in your own area of the Parish, perhaps you could attend one of the other venues. The Banagher Parish Representatives would be very grateful for your help in this matter

(NB this is not an exhaustive list and no matter how small a role you think you play in Parish life, it is essential that you try to attend one of the Meetings).

johassan@btinternet.com

Parish Halls

St Joseph's Hall, Fincairn

St Mary's Hall, Altinure

Youth Clubs

St Joseph's, Fincairn

St Mary's, Altinure

Ballymonie Youth Club