Your Parish Newsletter for Sunday 28th February 2021:
SUNDAY 28 FEBRUARY 2021 – SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT:
GOSPEL: ST MARK 9:2-10 ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’
On the Second Sunday of Lent each year the Gospel we hear is The Transfiguration of Jesus. The Transfiguration took place in the presence of three of His disciples – Peter, James and John. On one hand, it was a frightening and confusing event for the disciples, but this intimate spiritual experience, this glimpse of the glory of God, this moment of awe and wonder, would strengthen them in faith and give them the courage and hope they needed for the challenging and dark times ahead.
We too may sometimes experience precious, inexplicable moments of transfiguration that bring us fresh understanding of Christ’s loving presence in our lives; such moments of grace help to encourage and sustain us in faith and embrace the challenges in our lives. But, our daily task is to stay close to Jesus through prayer, through Scripture and through the Eucharist. This sacred season of Lent offers us opportunities to transform and sustain our relationship with Jesus. We ask God today for the grace to use these opportunities well.
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 and First Friday: Mass at 9.30am
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 remains open for private prayer (other than when public liturgies are being celebrated). Two things Scripture tells us of Jesus’ prayer life are that, He sometimes went off to pray alone, and He prayed regularly. In this 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.
†
We are asked to remember in prayer the soul of Kathleen Friel, nee Crawford, Lancaster (formerly Gortgrannagh) who passed away this week:
May she rest in peace.
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK:
Saturday 6 March, 6.30pm: Fonsy Brennan, Coneyburrow
Sunday 7 March, 11.00am: Martin Tourish, The Roughan.
ANNIVERSARIES:
We remember in prayer the souls of those whose anniversaries occur at this time….
Martin Mc Brearty, Croaghan Heights; Jim & Kitty Mc Cosker, Main Street;
John & Margaret Crawford, Raphoe; Sarah Gibson, Letterkenny Road;
Nellie Mc Dermott, Rossgier; John F Mc Dermott, Drumbuoy; Martha Duffy, Letterkenny;
James Mc Feely, Porthall; Hughie Rooney, Convoy; Mickey Mc Namee, Porthall;
Patrick Gallagher, Liskey; James Dolan, Ardnasool; Brigid Mc Girr, Pullyarnan;
Noel Gallagher, Croaghan Heights; Sadie Gallagher, Liskey.
May they rest in peace.
COLLECTION:
THANK YOU for your generosity to the collection last week, which amounted to €1,553. 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.
DON’T FORGET: to check in on our Thought for the Day each day of Lent, on our parish Facebook. The Thoughts are based on the Stations of the Cross.
PLEASE 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 starts shortly after 11am Sunday Mass. The theme today is: “Jesus’ arrest and trial before the Sanhedrin and the denial of Peter.”
TRÓCAIRE:
If you haven’t yet picked up your Trócaire Box, there are boxes available at the back of the church. The Trócaire Box can form part of the Sacred Space in our homes this Lent, serving to remind us of our duty to be generous to those less fortunate than ourselves. 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.
RADIO MARIA IRELAND:
Based in Dublin, is an Irish-run Catholic Talk-Radio Station with commercial-free broadcasting of Prayer, Catechesis, Music, Talks, Interviews and Testimonies. You can tune in to the station in a variety of ways:
• Digital TV – Saorview Channel 210/ Freeview TV
• Download FREE App “RADIO MARIA IRELAND”
• Streaming on website, www.radiomarie.ie (subscribe and donate here also)
• ‘Listen Live Radio’ link on Facebook Page. (Like, Share and Follow us on Facebook)
• Phone – get live radio feed by calling 01 437 3277 (no extra charges apply).
Prayer and song requests welcome. “A Catholic voice in your home”. Fr Eamonn McCarthy is Director.
MAKE LENT MEANINGFUL:
Below are excerpts from an article by Fr Brendan McManus SJ entitled ‘Make Lent Meaningful’ in the February edition of The Sacred Heart Messenger:
“In preparing for Lent, Pope Francis quotes the prophet Amos, ‘What I want is mercy not sacrifice’, a shift of emphasis away from what I do to what God does in me……Yet people may still get caught up in Lent as simply a time of self-sacrifice, a giving up of stuff through self-discipline or will-power. Nothing wrong with that but just notice the emphasis on ‘self’ and what ‘I’ am doing. It seems almost to cut God out of the picture. The better question is, ‘What is God asking of me at this moment, and what is holding me back; how can I bloom and grow?’ The quote from Amos is inviting us to act in a merciful or loving way which is subtly different. For example, a person may be called to go the extra mile with someone, to mend a fractured relationship, to ask forgiveness for a hurt caused, to turn away from vice and reform their life…..Obviously there is sacrifice involved here, and there is always a cost in changing for the better, but the goal is not sacrifice, it is trying to do the right thing, the loving thing…..doing what God wants, though brings its own courage, hidden strength and grace that allows us to go beyond our normal selves.”
Little possibilities for this week:
Visit the church and pray the Stations of the Cross
Join in the 12noon Rosary, via webcam, on a day that you are free (Monday – Friday)
Make a special effort for some form of family prayer – a decade of the Rosary perhaps
This coming Friday is the ‘First Friday’ – make a special effort to join in the 9.30am Mass
Abstain from meat – or some other favourite food – on Friday.
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, 7 March, is the Third Sunday of Lent. The Gospel we will listen to is St John 2:13-25, ‘The Cleansing of the Temple.’ 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.Or, remembering the words of Pope Francis, “The Bible is not just a beautiful book to keep on a shelf,” check out the Readings in your bible!
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
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