Your Parish Newsletter for Sunday 21st February 2021:
SUNDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2021 – FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT:
GOSPEL: MARK 1:12-15– JESUS IS TEMPTED BY SATAN AS HE PRAYS IN THE DESERT
By creating us in His own image and likeness, amongst the gifts God gives us are knowledge / reason and free will. With these God-given gifts come responsibilities when making choices. Temptation comes our way every day, in many forms. Sometimes, in our human weakness, we make selfish, self-centred choices. Today’s Gospel calls us to adopt the same trust and confidence in God that Jesus showed when faced with temptation.
Mass Schedule for the Parish this Week:
With our church being closed, you are invited to participate in our Masses via our parish webcam: WebCam – WATCH LIVE
Our 11.00am Mass is also broadcast live each Sunday on Finn Valley Radio, 95.8FM
SUNDAY MASSES:
Vigil: Saturday 6.30pm, Sunday Morning: 11.00am
(Note: there will only be one Sunday Morning Mass – 11.00am – while the church remains closed.
WEEKDAY MASSES & LITURGIES:Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Mass at 9.30am
The Angelus and Rosary will be recited each day at 12.00noon. The Angelus and Rosary will be recited Monday – Saturday at 12.00noon.
Walking the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross) with Jesus: Sundays of Lent at 12.00noon.
Our church continues to remain open for private prayer (other than when Mass is being celebrated or the Angelus/Rosary recited). Prayer is one of the three traditional pillars of Lenten observance (along with fasting and almsgiving). Scripture provides us with many references to the prayer life of Jesus. The reassuring thing for all of us is the simplicity of Jesus’ prayer life, in that it is nothing that we cannot try to imitate. Two things Scripture tells us of Jesus’ prayer life are: He sometimes went off to pray alone, and He prayed regularly. As we enter the Sacred Season of Lent with our churches closed for public worship, you are invited and encouraged to come along to the church, regularly if you can, at a time that suits you, for private prayer, and to light a candle.
†
Brigid McKenna, late of 4 Chestnut Grove, Coneyburrow Road
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support to the nieces, nephews and wider family circle and friends of Brigid, whose Funeral Mass took place on Friday.
We are asked to remember the souls of Tommy McDaid, Scotland, who died in January and Gabrielle Sharpe, late of Ipswich, whose burial of ashes took place here on Thursday.
May they rest in peace.
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK:
Mon 22 Feb, 9.30am: John Duggan, Coneyburrow Road; Wed 24 Feb, 9.30am: Liam Arthur, Townparks
Fri 26 Feb, 9.30am: Noel Gallagher, Croaghan Heights; Sat 27 Feb, 6.30pm: Sadie Gallagher, Liskey
Sun 28 Feb, 11.00am: Month’s Mind Mass for Robbie White, Murlog
ANNIVERSARIES:
We remember in prayer the souls of those whose anniversaries occur at this time….
Edward Crawford, Brickfield; Solly McGhee, Castlefin; Annie & Willie McGowan, Glenties;
John O Brien, Lifford; Sally McDonald, Coneyburrow; Tommy Quinn, Raphoe;
Anthony Connolly, Raphoe; Geraldine Duddy, Derry/Rossgier; Bella Porter, Edenmore;
Robert & Margaret Porter, Lifford; Jimmy Crawford Snr, Porthall; John & Mary Rose Colhoun, Ballindrait;
John Duggan, Coneyburrow Road; Liam Arthur, Townparks. Peggy Quinn, Ballyduff, Lifford, 3rd Anniversary
May they rest in peace.
COLLECTION:
THANK YOU for your generosity to the collection last week, which amounted to €1,370. I continue to be available in the church each day after the Rosary for those who wish to bring along their envelope. Envelopes can also be left through the door of the Parochial House. Thank you to those who contribute by Standing Order and online.
Download our Standing Order Form here.
You can also request envelopes by simply clicking on this link: ‘Get in Touch‘ and then select Parish Envelopes from the drop-down menu.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL:
Anyone who is in need of help or is struggling in any way, especially as a result of the pandemic, should call the SVP helpline number, 087 4647 991. Someone is available at all times to take calls. Please know that all calls are in the strictest confidence. If you need help, don’t hesitate to call!
WHAT ARE WE DOING FOR LENT IN OUR PARISH – IN OUR HOMES AND IN OUR CHURCH?
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Don’t forget to check in on our parish Facebook page: a ‘Thought for the Day’ is being posted each day of Lent, based on the Stations of the Cross. Meditating on the station presented each day, you may also wish to pray the station privately.
WALKING THE VIA DOLOROSA (THE WAY OF THE CROSS) WITH JESUS: Journeying with Jesus in a short (15 minute) liturgy each Sunday of Lent, starting today (21st), at 12noon, in which you can participate via our parish webcam. The theme today is, ‘The agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane’.
SACRED SPACE IN THE HOME: Every home should have one! If you haven’t already done so, create your own Sacred Space in your home this week. In particular, encourage children to participate in creating the sacred space. Purple is the penitential colour, so you may wish to use purple material / cloth as your backdrop, if you have some. You could place a crucifix or, perhaps, a cross made from wood/twigs that children gather; you might place your Trocaire box or a little basket for coins (representing almsgiving), a prayer book/bible (representing prayer). Sacrifice In Lent, in the form of fast or ‘going off’ some food or pleasure is another Lenten tradition: children could be encouraged to place a written note on the sacred space of their particular promise / sacrifice.
Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving: The three traditional pillars of Lenten observance:
PRAYER: Suggestions for your prayer life this Lent are:
Join me each Sunday at 12noon via the parish webcam for our Lenten journey with Jesus – Walking the Via Dolorosa (The Way of the Cross). This short liturgy each Sunday starts today (21st), shortly after 11am Mass. The theme today is: “The Agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.”
There is also a Diocesan Prayer for Lent – printed on the reverse of this page of our newsletter and posted on our parish Facebook page – which we are encouraged to pray each day of Lent.
Take time for private or family prayer for a short time each day at the Lenten Sacred Space in your home.
Visit the church frequently for private prayer, if you can.
Join me on the parish webcam for the Angelus and Rosary each day (Monday – Saturday)
Thought for the Day – visit our parish Facebook page each day to contemplate the ‘thought’. Each day is dedicated to one of the Stations of the Cross.
FASTING: Suggestions for forms of fasting:
Abstain from a favourite food or drink (or both!) for the duration of Lent. In particular, encourage children through your own example!
Friday Penance: this might include abstaining from meat each Friday (or some other favourite food or drink).
Penance arises from the Lord’s call to conversion and repentance and represents sharing in Christ’s suffering; it is an expression of inner conversion. Other forms of Friday Penance might include: making extra effort to attend Mass on Fridays (by webcam!), praying the Stations of the Cross every Friday, doing a special act of kindness.
ALMSGIVING: The main focus of our almsgiving is the Trócaire Lenten Campaign. South Sudan is the focus of this year’s campaign. We are told of the stories of two families whose lives have been impacted by conflict. On the Trócaire box we are introduced to family members, Awut and Ajak, who lost their homes and loved ones to the conflict in South Sudan. Awut and Ajak are shining examples of resilience, friendship and solidarity. We hear not only about the enormous challenges they have faced, but also about how they support each other through these challenges. Trócaire Boxes are available for collection in the porch. Thank you!
THE NET:
The February edition of The Net is now available to download on www.derrydiocese.org. You can also access it on our parish Facebook page. As always, it is full of interesting news, articles, interviews and photos.
Each day of Lent everyone is encouraged to pray the 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.
Next Sunday, 28 February, is the Second Sunday of Lent. The Gospel we will listen to is St Mark 9:2-10: ‘The Transfiguration of Jesus’. Check out the Readings on our parish website:
https://clonleighparish.com/sundays-mass-readings/
The Daily Mass Readings can also be accessed on our parish website: https://clonleighparish.com/todays-mass-readings/ . Alternatively, just google Clonleigh Parish readings.
ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION:
This is the version that we recite during each of our Masses – you are encouraged to pray it
and to teach it to children.
My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.
Covid-19 Protocols: Clonleigh Parish:
The current Clonleigh Parish protocols can be viewed by following the link to this page on our website and we recommend that you regularly check this page for any new updates:
ONLINE CONTRIBUTIONS:
Donate to the Church in the following ways:
1. Parish Envelopes
2. Online donation via our website. Click the Donate button below.
3. Standing Order. Set up a standing order through your online banking portal or – Download this form: Standing Order Form and we can set it up on your behalf. Send to or email to the Parish Office: clonleighparish@derrydiocese.org
Download our Standing Order Form
Parish Contact Details:
Parish Priest: Fr Colm @ 074-9142022
Fr Colm Mobile: 0833665530
Parish Office – Secretary: Lorna Porter @ 074-9142001
Email: clonleighparish@derrydiocese.org
Parish website: www.clonleighparish.com
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Follow us on Twitter: @clonleighparish
Join our free Clonleigh Parish Text Service on WhatsApp. We will text you when we update our website with the Parish Newsletter etc. And you can link in to read the latest updates.