Dear friends,
Your Parish Newsletter for Palm Sunday 5th April 2020.
Anniversaries
We remember in prayer those whose Anniversaries are at this time:
Brian Devine, Main Street, Lifford 1st anniversary
Jerry Drumm, Drumbuoy .. anniversary
Billy Harte, Main Street, Lifford
Margaret Mary McHugh, Ballindrait
Gertie Gallagher, Liskey
Bobby Rodgers, Carrigans
Paul Friel, Braide
Patrick Masterson, Legandara
From Bishop Donal McKeown, Bishop of Derry:
Holy Week
These days up to Easter are liturgically very rich. At a time of crisis and stress, it is important for us to help on another be united with Jesus at the Last Supper and on the Cross. I suggest that we promote the development of little ‘domestic liturgies’ that can be used when people and families are preparing for or following the various liturgical celebrations.
Parishioners might be encouraged to
- Put greenery in their window on Palm Sunday
- Follow the Chrism Mass from the Cathedral on Thursday at 10am ( This is the only mass in the diocese on this morning)
- Put a Cross in their window on Good Friday
- Ask God’s blessing on water and have a Renewal of Baptismal Promises on Holy Saturday night or Easter Sunday, each family having a bowl of water, a twig for a Blessing Ceremony and the text of the Renewal of Baptismal Promises.
- Develop an Easter Garden in their window, porch or even garden.
Young People
The Diocesan Youth staff have developed a programme of materials which can be accessed through Instagram or Facebook.
On Palm Sunday we enter the holiest of weeks in the Church calendar, when we celebrate the timeless and central mystery of our faith − Christ’s passion, death and resurrection for us, His people. Today, the Church recalls the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem to accomplish the Paschal Mystery. The Paschal Mystery includes the sufferings, death, resurrection, ascension of Jesus into glory and the sending of the Holy Spirit on the disciples to continue the work Jesus began. Although in our liturgy these events are spread over a period of seven weeks, they are an indivisible single accomplishment of Jesus for all who are baptised into the Holy Trinity.
Traditionally, parishioners bring palm branches to the church to have them blessed so, this year, if you have palm branches, you can sprinkle them with holy water in your home when the palm crosses are being blessed. Alternatively, you can sprinkle last year’s branches, if you still have them in your home.
MASS OF CHRISM will be celebrated by Bishop McKeown in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, on Holy Thursday morning at 10 o’clock. During this Mass the holy Oils used for Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick and Ordination are blessed. The Chrism Mass is the only Mass celebrated in our diocese on Holy Thursday morning. People from across the diocese normally attend. The priests of the diocese renew their Ordination promises at this Mass.
We are invited to join as a diocesan family in the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday morning, via webcam: www.steugenescathedral.com/webcam
GOOD FRIDAY is a day of Fast and Abstinence, as a sharing in Christ’s suffering and as a reminder that we are called to penance and to conversion of life.
DIVINE MERCY NOVENA: Many people like to pray the Divine Mercy Novena for the nine days from Good Friday (10 April) until the first Saturday of Easter (18 April), leading into Divine Mercy Sunday (19 April). For those who would like to join in the Novena but do not have a copy of it, you can access it on: https://divinemercy.life/the-divine-mercy-novena/
TROCAIRE COLLECTION: The Trocaire Lenten Boxes are normally returned during Holy Week. With no church gatherings, parishioners will not be in a position to return them to the church. In the circumstances, other ways in which you can donate to Trocaire can be seen on www.trocaire.org
COVID-19 Support Line for Older People
ALONE has launched a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line is open seven days a week, 8am – 8pm, by calling 0818 222 024.
Diocesan Lenten Prayer
Loving Father,
To prepare for His mission of proclaiming Your Kingdom to the world
Your Son Jesus was guided by Your Holy Spirit to the quiet of the desert.
In these Lenten days, I pray that I will be guided by that same Spirit,
To a place of renewal in my heart and mind, so that I will seek opportunities for
daily personal prayer, personal sacrifices, and acts of kindness.
With Your help, may I too be truly prepared to share in the story of the passion,
death, and resurrection of Jesus Your Son, our Lord. Amen.
Communication Channels
Our new website is now up and running:
We invite you to visit our new site. There is a history of our Church alongside news and events that will be of interest to our community. We also have a live WebCam link to watch the Mass online. In the current crisis this will hopefully be an invaluable addition to us as we are unable to attend our Church in person.
Google us by typing in ” Clonleigh Parish “
And you should find us.
Our web address is: clonleighparish.com
Also find us on Facebook: Clonleigh Parish – also with news and WebCam links.
You can also watch our Mass on mcnmedia.tv
Finally, follow us on Twitter: @clonleighparish
Online WebCam Masses This Week:
Palm Sunday:
Vigil: 6.30 pm
Sunday: 11.00 am (Funeral Mass of Tessie Melaugh)
Monday: 9.00 am
Tuesday: 9.00 am
Wednesday: 9.00 am
Holy Thursday:
7.00 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper – After the Mass, The Exposition of The Blessed Sacrament until 9.45 pm
9.45 pm Night Prayer and Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament
Good Friday: 3.00 pm Celebration of the Passion of the Lord
7.00 pm Stations of the Cross for Good Friday
Holy Saturday: 9.00 pm Celebration of the Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday: 11.00 am Mass of Easter Day (John Crawford, The Common, Lifford, 20th anniversary)