Your Parish Newsletter for Sunday 31st October 2021:
SUNDAY 31 OCTOBER 2021
THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME:
LOVE GOD AND LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR GOSPEL OF ST MARK 12:28-34
Today’s Gospel brings us to the heart of Jesus’ teachings: love of God and love of neighbour. Taught in Scripture as the greatest of the Commandments, God’s Commandment of Love can be challenging but, rather than seeing it as some sort of rule or law that binds us, it should should be seen as a way of living that has at its centre the virtues of the Gospel and a desire to follow the example of Jesus in all our encounters.
God of gracious love, may the light of Your love shine in every part of who we are
so that we may respond to Your great love with our whole self.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Mass Schedule for the Parish this Week:
Monday, All Saints Day – 10.00am (normally a Holy Day of Obligation)
Tuesday, All Souls Day – 9.30am and 7.00pm.
The 7.00pm Mass on All Souls Day will be offered 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.
Wednesday, 3 November: 10.00am
Thursday, 4 November: 10.00am & 11.00am
The 11.00am Mass is the annual Mass of Remembrance for Deceased Members of the Defence Forces
Friday, 5 November (First Friday): 10.00am
The Rosary will commence 20 minutes before Mass on each weekday
Saturday, Vigil Mass: 6.30pm Confessions before Mass: 5.30pm – 6.15pm
Sunday: Masses at 9.00am and 11.00am
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.
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.
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK:
Tuesday 2 November, 7.00pm: Mass for those who have died in the past year
Wednesday 3 November, 10.00am: Aidan Foley, Rossgier
Thursday 4 November, 11.00am: Mass of Remembrance for Deceased Members of the Defence Forces
Sunday 7 November, 9.00am: Kathleen Patton, Coneyburrow
Sunday 7 November, 11.00am: James (Seamus) Meehan, Ballybofey – Month’s Mind.
ANNIVERSARIES:
Margaret Tourish, Curraghalane; Paul Rancour, Texas; Joe Gormley, Ballindrait; Tony Hannigan, Lifford CommonRuby Hynes, Argery; Lila Doherty, Ardnasool; Maggie Mary Rushe, Ballybun; Gerald McDaid, Lifford; Aidan Foley, Rossgier; Nellie Doherty, Coolatee; Margaret Dolan, Ardnasool; Jenny Simpson, Coneyburrow; Alphonsus Maguire, Dublin; Stephen Maguire, Strabane.
May they rest in peace.
COLLECTION:
THANK YOU for your generosity to the weekly collection which, last week, amounted to €1,400, and to the Missions collection, which amounted to €622. 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.
PARISH COMMUNITY HALL:
The Hall working-group wants 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.
An initial meeting of the Property Maintenance working-group took place on Monday night. Thank you to those who are willing to give of their time and expertise to the maintenance and ‘well-being’ of our church properties and grounds to ensure that these are maintained to a good and acceptable standard.
We remain very grateful also to the property and grounds services provided under the SOLAS (FAS) Scheme. The good work done for the parish is very much appreciated.
NOVEMBER – MONTH OF THE HOLY SOULS:
MASS REMEMBERING THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN THE PAST YEAR:
The Mass in our church this Tuesday, 2 November (All Souls Day), at 7.00pm, will be celebrated for our parishioners who have died in the past year and for those 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).
BLESSING OF GRAVES:
While we have not been able to have the traditional Blessing of the Graves ceremony this year either, next weekend, 6 / 7 November, I will conduct a short time of Prayer & Blessing during each of our Sunday Masses (Vigil & Morning Masses), remembering all those who are buried in our graveyards.
This weekend, a small ‘pack’ including holy water and a prayer card is available at the back of the church for each family to pick up (today or during the week), 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. Please collect one pack per family.
CEMETERY COLLECTION:
There is a special envelope in your envelope box for this collection for next weekend, 6/7 November. This collection will go towards the routine costs of the upkeep of our graveyard. Thank you to everyone for keeping your graves so well, and special thanks to those who care for graves where there is no-one to look after them.
We are progressing well with our graveyard extension project. This project is being funded in full from parish reserves; however, anyone who wishes to make a donation towards the overall cost is very welcome to do so. Donations will be acknowledged anonymously in the parish newsletter.
NOVEMBER SACRED SPACE & PRAYER INTENTIONS IN THE CHURCH:
Our Liturgy working-group will create a Sacred Space in our church for Month of the Holy Souls. From Tuesday 2 November, you are welcome to write out and bring along the names of your deceased relatives and friends, and place these in the basket that you will find in the Sacred Space. They will be remembered during our Masses in November. You might also like to light a candle in the church in memory of your loved ones. (In compliance with Covid precautions, no facility will be in place within the church for you to write the names).
‘REMEMBER IN NOVEMBER’ SACRED SPACE IN OUR HOMES:
We are invited to create a Sacred Space in our homes for November, in memory of our deceased family members and friends. Our Sacred Space might include some of the following: photographs or memorial cards, a little box or basket with the names of family members or friends who have died, a crucifix, rosary beads, holy water, a candle (taking care with it, of course!). Autumn leaves might be gathered and perhaps some purple material (if you have some) could be used to help create and adorn your Sacred Space. Parents, in particular, are asked to involve their children in creating Sacred Space in the home for November.
PRAYER RESOURCES FOR NOVEMBER:
A range of prayer resources for families to use at home during November is available on the Diocesan website, https://www.derrydiocese.org/news/november-family-prayer-at-home. These include practical ways to pray together at home, prayers you can use and tips on creating a sacred space for prayer.
NOVEMBER PLEDGE:
Many people choose to abstain from alcohol for the month of November and offer this prayerful act in honour of their deceased loved ones or for someone they know or love with an addiction. To take the SHORT-TERM Pledge for NOVEMBER, visit www.pioneerassociation.ie or call 01 8749464.
DIOCESAN MASS FOR DECEASED CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE:
The Annual Mass for deceased children and young people will be celebrated in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, next Sunday, 7 November, at 7.00pm. You can join this Mass live on the St Eugene’s Cathedral webcam. If you would like to have a child or young person remembered at this Mass, please email the name to lizzie.rea@derrydiocese.org or telephone 028 7126 4087.
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.
CLONLEIGH PARISH – GROWING IN FAITH TOGETHER:
Please pray our Parish Prayer, as our newly formed parish working-groups begin their work:
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.
CHURCH 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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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.