Your Parish Newsletter for Sunday 28th March 2021:
SUNDAY 28 MARCH 2021 – PALM SUNDAY
‘HOSANNA! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD’
On Palm Sunday, 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.
We pray that the sacred events of the Easter Triduum will be a blessed and meaningful time for all of us and for our parish.
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
Monday (29 March): Mass at 9.30am. Lenten Penitential Service at 7.30pm
Tuesday and Wednesday (30 & 31 March): Mass at 9.30am
Holy Thursday (1 April): Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7.30pm
Good Friday (2 April):
The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ at 3.00pm. Stations of the Cross at 7.00pm
Holy Saturday (3 April): Easter Vigil, 6.30pm
Easter Sunday (4 April): Mass at 11.00am
The Angelus and Rosary will be recited Monday – Saturday at 12.00noon.
†
Kathleen Keeney (nee Given), late of Legandara
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support to Packie, to Declan, Michael and Martin, to the daughters-in-law, grandchildren, brothers and sisters and wider family circle and friends of Kathleen, whose Funeral Mass took place on Wednesday. May she rest in peace.
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK:
Monday 29 March, 9.30am: Brian Devine, Main St; Easter Sunday 4 April, 11am: Jerry Drumm, Drumbuoy
ANNIVERSARIES:
We remember in prayer the souls of those whose anniversaries occur at this time….
Kathleen Carolan, The Common; Flora Patton, Carrigans; Desmond Mc Dermott, Rossgier
James Harte, Coolatee; Hugo Hannigan, Letterkenny Road; Brian Devine, Main Street
Hugh & Margaret Crossan, Glenfad; Jim Joe Brolly, Cloughfin; Seamus & Vera Lyons Wigan Tony Mc Ginley, Drumbuoy; Jack Foley, Castlefin; Dominic McCloskey, Dungiven.
May they rest in peace.
COLLECTION:
THANK YOU for your generosity to the collection last week, which amounted to €1,101. Thank you very much also to those who contribute by Standing Order and online. The total for these for March is €520.
I continue to be available in the church each day after the Rosary for those who wish to bring along their envelope.
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.
CHARITABLE DONATIONS SCHEME (Gift Aid):
We very much seek your support in bringing the Gift Aid scheme 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! Thank you for your support and co-operation.
LENTEN PENITENTIAL SERVICE: I invite you to join with me tomorrow night, Monday (29 March), on our parish webcam, at 7.30pm for this Service. During the liturgy, you will be invited to make an Act of Perfect Contrition. This involves preparing your heart and mind so that you will be open to drawing your heart and mind to God’s constant presence in your life and to His merciful and enduring love. Please reflect on the following:
– Christ’s death on the Cross and how He bore the weight of sin.
– The call to follow God’s way of love.
– The reality of my own weakness.
– The ways I have not been loving towards others.
– My need to be in right relations with God and others
– I make a commitment to try not sin again
– I express my sorrow, “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
– I resolve to receive the Sacrament of Penance when it is possible to do so.
MASS OF CHRISM:
Will be celebrated by Bishop McKeown in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, on Holy Thursday morning at 10am. During this Mass the holy Oils used for Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick and Ordination are blessed and the priests of the diocese renew their Ordination promises. The Chrism Mass is the only Mass celebrated in our diocese on Holy Thursday morning. You are invited to join in via webcam: www.steugenescathedral.com/webcam
SACRAMENTS OF FIRST HOLY COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION 2021:
As you know, we had set provisional sacramental dates for the parish. However, in a statement to the priests of the Republic of Ireland parishes of the diocese this week, Bishop McKeown announced the deferment of First Holy Communion this year until September and indicated that provisional arrangements for Confirmation in June could proceed. In his statement, the bishop said,
“The reason for additional restrictions in relation to the celebration of First Holy Communion and Confirmation arises from the associated parties and socialising. While these are completely disconnected from the celebration of the sacraments and the environs of the church, the parties and socialising can and often do occur. It must also be recognised that such parties and socialising are a matter for the civil authorities and, indeed, are currently banned under civil COVID regulations; it is for the civil authorities to enforce civil laws.
Having said that, I think that, as church, we should go the extra step to assist in protecting public health, by avoiding those situations which might with some regularity lead people to organise parties. Therefore, I have taken the difficult decision, after some consultation, that the celebrations of First Communion are to be deferred until September 2021, even if public worship is permitted prior to the end of the academic year. I do not take this decision lightly, but I am conscious that we must do everything we can to ensure that life is protected in the midst of this pandemic. I would ask you to let schools and parents of children know as soon as possible.
As regards the celebration of Confirmation, it is acceptable for parishes to make provisional arrangements for these in the month of June. However, I will review the situation in the middle of May. In addition, my review will be rendered academic if the ban on public worship continues for the rest of the school year.”
The provisional date arranged for Confirmation in our parish is Saturday 12 June, with two separate ceremonies. While we will keep this date in mind, please note Bishop McKeown’s intention to review the situation in mid-May.
In acknowledging the disappointment for many parents and children, I fully endorse the decision Bishop McKeown has taken at this time, in the interests of everyone, protecting public health and safety.
Please continue to remember in prayer the children who are preparing to receive the sacraments this year.
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 (2 Apr) until the first Saturday of Easter (10 Apr), leading into Divine Mercy Sunday. For those who would like to pray it but do not have a copy of the Prayers, you can access them on: https://divinemercy.life/the-divine-mercy-novena/
TROCAIRE COLLECTION: The Trocaire Lenten Boxes are normally returned during Holy Week. With the church closed for liturgies, it will not be convenient for everyone to return their Trocaire box to the church. In the circumstances, the following are suggestions as to how you might return your Trocaire box:
⬧ Those who currently bring envelopes along to the church after the 12.00noon Rosary, or to the Parochial House, can also bring their Trocaire box along
⬧ Online banking (pay directly to Trocaire). The Bank details are: BIC: AIBKIE2D. IBAN: IE20AIBK93208698861116
⬧ Post a cheque to Trocaire at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Co Kildare (or 50 King Street, Belfast)
⬧ Freephone number, 1850 408 408; ⬧ Donate online on the Trocaire website
For those returning their Trocaire box to the church or to the Parochial House, you are asked to include notes or cheques only, in so far as possible, for ease of counting in general and, in particular, to reduce the level of risk for the counters. Please note: cheques should be made payable to Trocaire (not the parish). Thank you very much for your co-operation.
Today, 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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