Your Parish Newsletter for Sunday 14th March 2021:
SUNDAY 14 MARCH 2021 – FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
GOSPEL: ST JOHN 3:14-21: JESUS’ ENCOUNTER WITH NICODEMUS – FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT
The Fourth Sunday of Lent is Laetare Sunday. The Latin word laetare means “rejoice”. (Laetare Sunday parallels with Gaudete Sunday in Advent). Laetare Sunday is the mid-point in our Lenten journey where, while we continue with our Lenten observances and disciplines, we are called to look forward with hope and anticipation to the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus.
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
Wednesday of this week is the Feast Day of St Patrick, normally a Holy Day of Obligation.
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.
†
Annie Tinney (nee McCullagh), late of Ballindrait
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support to Michael, to Sonia, Donna and Tanya, to Alex, Fiónn and Fiádh, to Brendan, to Johnny, Mary, Alice and Christy, and to the wider family circle and friends of Annie, whose Funeral Mass took place on Monday. May she rest in peace.
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK:
Monday 15 March, 9.30am: John & Martha Mitchell, St Johnston
Wednesday 17 March, 9.30am: Pat Gibbons, TironeillThursday 18 March, 9.30am: Neily Doherty, Gortgrannagh
ANNIVERSARIES:
We remember in prayer the souls of those whose anniversaries occur at this time….
Maisie Matthewson, Lurganshannagh; Mary Mc Cosker, Lifford; Annie Mc Granaghan, Tober;
John & Kathleen McGettigan, Ardnasool; Alice Howard, Glenfad; Bobby Kelly, Murlog; John Tourish, Albert Terrace
May they rest in peace.
COLLECTION:
THANK YOU for your generosity to the collection last week, which amounted to €1,465. 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: “The trial before Pilate”.
MOTHERS’ DAY:
Today we celebrate Mothering Sunday. We thank God for the love and blessings that mothers bring to our families and homes. As we honour our mothers in a special way today, we pray:
Mothers’ Day Prayer (from the Family Prayer Book)
Thank you, Lord, for all mothers. On this day let us think of them, whether they are with us
or gone to their heavenly reward. We think of their kindness, their compassion, their care for us and, above all, their unconditional love. We pray that you will watch over them and support them
in the joys and struggles of their daily lives. This we ask through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
PROVISIONAL SACRAMENTAL DATES:
The following provisional dates have been agreed with the schools:
First Holy Communion:
Saturday 5 June: 11.00am, Murlog NS (Scoil Naomh Padraig);
Saturday 5 June: 2.00pm, Lifford NS ( Scoil Mhuire gan Smal) and Cloughfin NS (Scoil Naomh Colmcille)
Confirmation:
Saturday 12 June: 11.00am, Lifford NS ( Scoil Mhuire gan Smal) and Cloughfin NS (Scoil Naomh Colmcille); Saturday 12 June: 14.00pm, Murlog NS (Scoil Naomh Padraig).
Parents are asked to support their children in whatever ways they can in their preparation for the sacraments and, as a parish faith community, we pray for the children as they prepare for these important days in their faith journey.
CLERICAL EDUCATION & ONGOING FORMATION COLLECTION:
There is an envelope in your envelope box for this collection, which is normally taken up at our Masses on St Patrick’s Day. This collection is used for the education and formation costs of seminarians of the Derry Diocese and the ongoing formation of clergy of the diocese. There are currently five students of the diocese studying for priesthood.
THE NET:
The March edition of The Net is now available online. You can view it on the diocesan website, www.derrydiocese.org. As always, there is a host of interesting articles photographs and interviews.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY:
On Wednesday of this week, we celebrate the Feast Day of our Patron Saint, St Patrick. Please join me on the parish webcam for our Celebration of the Eucharist at 9.30am.
On St Patrick’s Day we celebrate in a special way our Catholic faith, conveyed to us in the fifth century by our Patron Saint. We thank God for the gift of faith in our lives and for the witness of generations of people who, through their example and encouragement, handed on the gift of faith. As the disciples of our time, we pray that we too will proclaim the Gospel, and draw others to Jesus, through our example, words and actions.
At this time we also remember in a special way all who have emigrated, especially our own family members, friends and members of our parish community and our country. We pray, through the intercession of St Patrick, that their experiences will be positive and joyful. We think especially those for whom emigration is or has been a challenging or lonely experience and, especially, those who may not be in a position to return to their homeland. We also remember our immigrants at this time – those who have travelled from other lands to make Ireland their home, especially the immigrants in our own parish community. Just as we would hope and pray that our family members would be warmly welcomed wherever they go, we pray too that those who have travelled here from other lands will always be warmly welcomed amongst us. St Patrick, pray for us.
PARISH FINANCES:
A Summary Income & Expenditure Account for 2020 is displayed on the noticeboard of our church. You are invited to take the time to view it at your convenience, when you visit the church. If anybody has any queries or anything they would like clarified, please do contact me.
We very much seek your support in building up the Charitable Donations Scheme (Gift Aid) to its full potential, so that we can maximise in claiming from the Revenue Commissioners on all eligible donations. If you are a tax-payer and pay €250 or more per annum to the weekly collection, then please consider joining the scheme. It can generate a lot of income for the parish, at no extra cost to you! You can contact Lorna in the parish office for an application form or contact me at the Parochial House. Thank you very much for your support and co-operation.
Prayer for Emigrants:
Loving God, we pray for those whom we love but who are absent from us.
Keep them safe from all harm, evil and danger.
Bless them with peace, friends, laughter, wisdom, love and joy.
Grant that we may be reunited in the fullness of love: in Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
On Friday of this week, we celebrate the Feast Day of St Joseph. This year (8 Dec 2020 – 8 Dec 2021) was proclaimed by Pope Francis as Year of St Joseph, marking the 150th anniversary of the declaration of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. In this week leading in to the Feast Day, we will have a statue of St Joseph on the sanctuary of the church. I warmly invite you to call to the church to pray at the statue. Pope Francis encourages us to pray this prayer to “the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence” who, nonetheless, played “an incomparable role in the history of salvation:”
Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
To you God entrusted His only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man.Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen.
Next Sunday, 21 March, is the Fifth Sunday of Lent. The Gospel we will listen to is St John 12:20-30, Jesus, our Vision, our Way to God’s glory. 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
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.