Your Parish Newsletter for Sunday 16th May 2021:
SUNDAY 16 MAY 2021 – ASCENSION SUNDAY
GOSPEL: ST JOHN 15:9-17 CALLED TO LOVE
On Feast of the Ascension the Church celebrates the completion of Christ’s earthly mission and His glorification with God the Father in heaven. Jesus commissioned His disciples to proclaim the Good News of salvation, not only to the people of Israel, but to all nations. The disciples would do so fortified and guided by the very Spirit of God, as promised by Jesus. The Ascension of Jesus into heaven was not the end of a story, but was the start of a new chapter of a story that is everlasting. We are the storytellers of our time. As baptised Catholics, fortified by the Sacrament of Confirmation, it is our mission to live and communicate the Great Story of salvation, telling it well through our good example, drawing others to the joys of our faith by living the Good News of the Gospel in our actions and words.
Today is World Communications Day 2021. It is fitting to celebrate this Day on the Feast of the Ascension, given that Jesus entrusted his disciples – and us, the disciples of today – with the important task of communicating the Good News to all nations: ‘Go, make disciples of all the nations’.
Mass Schedule for the Parish this Week:
For those who are unable to come out to church, all our Masses will continue to be available on our parish webcam, and our 11.00am Mass is also broadcast live each Sunday on Finn Valley Radio: 95.8FM
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: Mass at 9.30am
Saturday, Vigil Mass: 6.30pm Sunday: 9.00am and 11.00am
The Rosary will be recited Monday – Friday at 9.10am, before Mass.
REOPENING OF THE CHURCH FOR PUBLIC WORSHIP:
It is most important that everyone attending feels safe in our church and, to this end, I ask that you comply with the following necessary precautions:
Please enter the church by one of the two back doors.
Please use the hand sanitiser that is available inside the door.
Please maintain social distancing at all times in the church.
Please wear a mask / face covering while in the church.
Please place your envelope / cash contribution in one of the baskets inside the door.
Please leave the church by one of the two side doors (the one that is closest to you).
Communion will be distributed at the end of Mass. You are asked to leave the church afterwards.
Please do not congregate outside in the church grounds.
The new fogging machine is now being used after every public service, when the congregation leaves the church. Thank you to Hugh for his faithful attention to keeping the church sanitised.
While it is regrettable that so many restrictions have to be in place, they are there for the protection and safety of everyone attending. Please note that, if you are not confident about returning to Sunday Mass, you may choose to attend Mass on a weekday. It is important, however, that anyone who is vulnerable or unwell and, especially, anyone with any symptoms that might suggest Covid-19 infection, should stay at home and, if possible, participate, via the parish webcam (or Finn Valley Radio on Sunday at 11.00am).
While the webcam has allowed us to stay connected – and will continue to do so – it is wonderful to have a congregation in the church again and I know that many of you have looked forward to being able to return to your lovely church again. Thank you all for your co-operation and patience. St Patrick, pray for us.
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK:
Friday 21 May, 9.30am: Peggy Peoples, St Johnston (1st Anniversary)
ANNIVERSARIES:
We remember in prayer the souls of those whose anniversaries occur at this time….
Jacinta Kelly, Gallows Lane; Frank & Maggie Connolly, Rossgier; Paul McLaughlin, Grotto House
Phil Grogan, Coneyburrow; Lila Mc Feely, Porthall; Peter Quigley, Guystown; Lettie Crotty, Coneyburrow
John Porter, Edenmore; Eamon Porter, Sion Mills; Sean Porter, The Common; Rose McGowan, The Diamond Elizabeth McBrearty, The Common; Pat Lafferty, Tober.
May they rest in peace.
COLLECTION:
THANK YOU for your generosity to the collection last week, which amounted to €1,898. Envelopes / weekly contributions can be left in the baskets inside the doors any morning of the week at Mass time. For those unable to attend Mass you can drop your envelope into the Parochial House letter box at any time. Thank you for your ongoing generosity.
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 (GIFT AID) SCHEME:
I am delighted with the very positive response to the Gift Aid scheme and most grateful to all who have so kindly returned a CHY3 Certificate in the last couple of weeks. It is most encouraging. Parishioners who are eligible to join in the scheme are those who:
1) contribute €250 or more in a tax year to the parish and,
2) pay income tax / capital gains tax on €250 or more in the tax year.
If you are eligible, then we appeal to you to consider joining, thereby increasing the parish income substantially, over and above your already very generous donations. Remember, there is no extra cost to you! The parish requires to have a CHY3 Certificate completed by you to enable a claim to be made to the Revenue Commissioners.
THE NET:
The online May edition is available on https://www.derrydiocese.org/images/the-net/the-net-may-2021.pdf As always, it contains interesting stories, news, articles and photographs from across the diocese.
NOTICE FOR ATTENTION OF WORKS CONTRACTORS:
As you know, it is intended to carry out works to extend the (new) graveyard at St Patrick’s and also to construct accessible indoor toilets in the church. We invite expressions of interest from persons who wish to submit tenders for the works. Please forward your details, by this Wednesday, 19 May 2021, to Fr Colm O’Doherty PP, 6 Orchard Park, Murlog, Lifford, Co. Donegal F93 VYA5, or by email to odohertycolm@outlook.com. Thank you.
WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY 2021:
On this 55th World Communications Day, Pope Francis has chosen the theme, “ ‘Come and see’ (John 1,46). Communicating, encountering people as and where they are”. This theme recalls the Gospel account of the first disciples’ initial encounters with Jesus, who invited them to “Come and see,” to enter into relationship with Him.
“In communications, nothing can ever completely replace seeing things in person….We do not communicate merely with words, but with our eyes, the tone of our voice and our gestures. Jesus’ attractiveness to those who met Him depended on the truth of His preaching; yet the effectiveness of what He said was inseparable from how He looked at others, from how He acted towards them, and even from His silence. The disciples not only listened to His words; they watched Him speak. Indeed, in Him the Word took on a face; the invisible God let Himself be seen, heard and touched.” Extract from Pope Francis’s Message for World Communications Day. The Pope’s Message concludes with a prayer:
Lord, teach us to move beyond ourselves, and to set out in search of truth.
Teach us to go out and see, teach us to listen, not to entertain prejudices or draw hasty conclusions.
Teach us to go where no one else will go, to take the time needed to understand,
to pay attention to the essentials, not to be distracted by the superfluous,
to distinguish deceptive appearances from the truth.
Grant us the grace to recognize your dwelling places in our world
and the honesty needed to tell others what we have seen.
The full text of the Pope Francis’s Message for World Communications Day can be seen on our parish Facebook.
MAY – MONTH OF MARY:
Thank you to all who have brought along some flowers or plants to adorn our May Altar in the church. You are welcome to leave flowers / plants throughout the month, in honour of Our Lady. I also invite you to place your prayer intentions in the petitions box in the Church and, each day during May, when I am celebrating Mass, your prayer intentions (those in the church and those placed at your May Altar in your home) will be remembered. Thank you very much to those who have sent a photo of the May Altar in their home. Lovely to see them. Keep them coming! You can view them on our parish Facebook.
PLEASE NOTE: Notices, including anniversaries, are most welcome for the parish newsletter, but they need to be with Lorna in the parish office by 12.00noon on Thursdays. Thank you very much for your co-operation in this.
SAFEGUARDING IN THE DIOCESE OF DERRY:
Ms Marie Gormley has been appointed as the new Diocesan Liaison Person for the Diocese of Derry. The Diocesan Liaison Person is the person to contact with any safeguarding concern or allegation. Marie’s contact details are: Email: marie.gormley@derrydiocese.org Tel: 07596 500 793.
Ms Briege O’Neill has been appointed as the new Safeguarding Co-ordinator for the diocese. The Safeguarding Co-ordinator develops safeguarding policy and procedures in the diocese, and coordinates training and diocesan safeguarding audits. Briege is based in the Safeguarding Office in the Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Bishop Street, Derry: Email: safeguarding@derrydiocese.org Tel: (028) 71362475.
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.
ONLINE CONTRIBUTIONS:
Donate to the Church in the following ways:
1. Parish Envelopes
2. 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
3. Online donation via our website. Click the Donate button below.
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
Follow us on Twitter: @clonleighparish
Find us on Facebook: Clonleigh Parish
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.
SAFEGUARDING:
The Derry Diocesan Liaison Person, to whom any safeguarding concerns or allegations should be
communicated is: Ms Marie Gormley, Email: marie.gormley@derrydiocese.org Tel: 07596 500 793