Your Parish Newsletter for Sunday 24th October 2021:
WORLD MISSION SUNDAY
On World Mission Sunday each year, Catholics in every church, in every diocese worldwide, are asked to unite and recommit themselves to the universal mission of the Church, through prayer, solidarity and financial support.
There are few of us who do not know someone whom we describe as ‘a missionary’. It might be a relative, family friend or parishioner, who left our shores at some stage to devote their life to helping some of the world’s most marginalised and vulnerable people to get to know and understand the love of God, the gift of Scripture and the example of Jesus. We pray in a special way today for the many people from Ireland, and from our own locality, whose vocation has called them to serve in the Church’s missionary work abroad. We thank God for their witness.
PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH collection – There is a special envelope in your envelope box for this collection today. This annual collection is channelled through Missio Ireland (formerly World Missions Ireland), which is the official support organisation for the overseas mission of the Church. Taken up in all churches, it enables Missio Ireland to continue to financially support missionary activities that enable those less fortunate than ourselves to get to know Jesus. Your generosity will be greatly appreciated. Missio website: www.missio.ie
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.
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 10.00am. Tuesday: 9.30am
The Rosary will be recited on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 9.40am (before Mass) and, on Tuesday, at 9.10am
Friday, 7.00pm (Month’s Mind, Angela O’Connor)
Saturday, Vigil Mass: 6.30pm Sunday: Masses at 9.00am and 11.00am
PLEASE MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING AT ALL TIMES IN THE CHURCH AND ENSURE THAT SEATS ARE NOT OVER-CROWDED. PLEASE ALSO WEAR A FACE COVERING. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.
†
John Doherty, late of Block Five, Porthall
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support to Margaret Rose, to Shaun, Gabriel, Darryl, Yvonne, Laura and Paul, to the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brothers, sisters and wider family circle and friends of John, whose Funeral Mass took place in St Patrick’s on Friday. May he rest in peace.
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK:
Friday 29 October, 7.00pm – Angela O’Connor, The Roughan (Month’s Mind Mass).
ANNIVERSARIES:
Catherine Hannigan, Letterkenny Rd; John Buchanan, Mullinaveigh; Cyril Kavanagh, Croaghan; Sean Carlin, Strabane Gerry Harding, Strabane; Vincent Gallagher, Guystown; John Doherty, Ardnasool; Kathleen McGill, Cavan; Patrick Kennedy, Post Office Lane; Raymond Foley, Tober; Gerry Crawford, Grotto House; Bridie McMenamin, Ballyduff Park.
May they rest in peace.
COLLECTION:
THANK YOU for your ongoing generosity to the weekly collection which, last week, amounted to €2,088. It is much appreciated. Thank you also 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.
NOVEMBER – REMEMBERING THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE PAST YEAR:
Families who have been bereaved in the past year are asked to note that there will be a special Mass in our church on the evening of Tuesday 2 November (All Souls Day) at 7.00pm for our parishioners who have died in the past year and for those (perhaps not from this parish) who have been buried in our graveyard in the past year. During this Mass, candles will burn in memory of each of the deceased (which you can then take home). Bereaved families are asked to let their family members know about this Mass.
May the God of all Consolation comfort the bereaved.
Please note also that, while we have not been able to have the normal Blessing of the Graves ceremony this year either, due to the Covid pandemic, on the weekend of 6 / 7 November, there will be a short time of prayer & blessing during each of our Sunday Masses, remembering all those who are buried in our graveyards.
Ahead of that, next weekend (30/31 October), a small ‘pack’ including holy water and a prayer card will be available at the back of the church for each family to pick up, so that you, as families, can visit and bless your own family grave(s), and recite the prayers on the prayer card, at a time that suits you during Month of the Holy Souls. Sincere thanks to the Toland family who prepared the packs and to Marty Crawford for providing the photograph of the Cross in your graveyard for the prayer cards.
CLONLEIGH PARISH – GROWING IN FAITH TOGETHER:
Sincere thanks to all who came along to our Parish Assembly last Sunday. Thank you for the interest you showed and for your readiness to commit your time, talent and energy to enhancing and developing the various aspects of our parish life. It was most encouraging. I am grateful also to Brian McKean who has supported me personally in starting this initiative and whose input last Sunday led us to the first stepping stone in our Growing in Faith Together project. Please pray with me that last Sunday’s gathering will have been a seed that will bear much fruit for the life of our parish in the weeks, months and years ahead.
Our follow-up meetings have begun this week, with the Hall working-group having met on Tuesday night, the Liturgy working-group having met on Thursday and the Faith Formation working-group having met on Saturday.
I am grateful also to those who have expressed an interest in being an active part of our parish life but who were unable to come along last Sunday. Please give me a ring and I can fill you in on Sunday’s gathering and point you in the right direction.
Thank you so much. Fr Colm.
PARISH COMMUNITY HALL:
Following the new Hall working-group’s first meeting this week, the members want you to know that the hall is ‘open for business’ and welcomes bookings for rental of the hall. Initial contact for bookings should continue to be made through Lorna in the parish office.
Some essential electrical and minor maintenance works are currently being carried out to the hall. With the assistance of grant aid, it is hoped to carry out further improvements in the future and maintain the hall to the best standard possible. Sincere thanks to the working-group.
SACRAMENT OF CONFESSIONS:
Regular Confessions have now resumed on Saturday evenings, from 5.30pm – 6.15pm, in the sacristy. Covid safety precautions are in place. Those waiting for the sacrament should be seated in the seats at the front right-hand side of the church (in front of the tabernacle).
BAPTISM TREE:
As you may already have noticed, our Baptism Tree is now in place on the sanctuary, beneath the sanctuary lamp. A ‘leaf’ has been added this week for each child baptised in our church this year, bearing the name and date of baptism of each child. A new leaf will be added each time a child is baptised in our church in the coming weeks and months.
We will remember these Children of God in our prayers at our Masses. The Dove sculpture (originally placed over the baptism font) will be placed above the sanctuary lamp and Baptism Tree in the coming days, reminding us that each child who was baptised received the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In due course, a special liturgy will be celebrated in our church for the newly baptised children and their families. More will be published about this in due course.
As mentioned last month, I shall visit the homes (in advance) of the parents of children who are to be presented for Baptism. Baptisms should be booked through Lorna in the parish office. Please book the date well in advance of the proposed date for the sacrament (if possible) and leave your name, address and contact number with Lorna when you ring. I will contact you to arrange a mutually suitable time/date to call with you. Thank you!
AN CHEAD CHEIM (THE FIRST STEP):
Are you or a loved one affected by addiction? An Chead Cheim, 11 College Court, Ballybofey, provides a free support group service to all. Open Monday – Friday, 10.00am – 1.00pm. An Chead Cheim also hosts a weekly support meeting every Thursday, 8.00pm – 9.00pm. All are welcome. Visit website for details: www.ancheadcheim.com
SACRAMENTAL DATES – 2022:
The proposed Confirmation and First Holy Communion dates for the coming year are:
Sacrament of Confirmation – Saturday 26 March 2022
Sacrament of First Holy Communion – Saturday 21 May 2022
God willing, we will be able to adhere to the proposed dates in 2022. I will be working closely with our three schools in the coming weeks and months as the children prepare for these important steps in their faith. Please keep the children, their teachers and their families in your prayer.
Please pray for one another and for our parish. Please pray the Parish Prayer.
PARISH PRAYER
God our Father,
pour forth Your Holy Spirit on our parish.
Guide us in Your ways, grant us Your vision. Be our wisdom.
Open our hearts and minds to Your Holy Word,
strengthen us with the Holy Eucharist,
our food for the journey.
Help us to be people of prayer,
trusting in Your constant presence
in the challenges that we face.
With Your help,
may our parish always be a place where
Your love is known, Your light shines
and our parish families grow together in faith and mission.
We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
St Patrick, pray for us.
You can access the Readings on our parish website:
https://clonleighparish.com/sundays-mass-readings/
I hope that having the Readings available on our parish website is also helpful to our Scripture readers, for the purpose of checking them out in advance. The Daily Mass Readings are also on our website: https://clonleighparish.com/todays-mass-readings/ . Alternatively, just google Clonleigh Parish readings.
ONLINE CONTRIBUTIONS:
You can donate to the Church via The Parish Envelopes or by Standing Order. Download this easy to fill form: Standing Order Form – & send to or email the Parish Office: clonleighparish@derrydiocese.org
Parish Contact Details:
Parish Priest: Fr Colm O’Doherty Parochial House: 074-9142022
Mobile: 0833665530
Parish Office – Secretary: Lorna Porter @ 074-9142001
Email: clonleighparish@derrydiocese.org
Parish website: www.clonleighparish.com
Follow us on Twitter: @clonleighparish
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