N O V E M B E R – M O N T H O F T H E H O L Y S O U L S
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord;
And let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
SUNDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2021
THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
‘BUT AS FOR THAT DAY OR HOUR, NOBODY KNOWS IT….BUT GOD THE FATHER GOSPEL: MARK 13:24-32
The Liturgical Year concludes next Sunday, with Feast of Christ the King. As we approach the end of the Church Year, the Scripture readings speak of end times, with Jesus reminding us of the finite nature of our earthly lives and of all that we build up on our journey. He reminds us of the importance of building towards sharing in the eternal destiny that God has planned for all of us. It is in the simple opportunities of everyday life that we can do this; we build God’s kingdom here on earth when we do our best to live each day in the love and service of God and of one another; in so doing, when the time comes, we will be no stranger to the One who will welcome us into His eternal kingdom.
Mass Schedule for the Parish this Week:
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 10.00am
Tuesday: 9.30am
Friday, 10.00am and 7.00pm (The 7.00pm is the Month’s Mind Mass for John Doherty)
The Rosary will commence 20 minutes before Mass on each weekday
Saturday, Vigil Mass: 6.30pm
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.
CONFESSIONS each Saturday from 11.00am – 12.00noon, from now until Christmas.
†
Joan McElchar (nee Crawford), late of Ballylast, Lifford, formerly of Grotto House, Porthall
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support to Shauna, Keith and Nicola, to Eileen, Kathleen, Margaret, John, Richie, Gerard and Colette and to the wider family circle and friends of Joan, whose Funeral Mass took place in St Patrick’s on Tuesday. May her soul rest in peace.
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK:
Tuesday 16 November, 9.30am: Jonathan Quinn, The Roughan
Friday 19 November, 7.00pm: John Doherty, Block Five – Month’s Mind Mass
Sunday 21 November, 11.00am: Seamus Hegarty, Cloughfin.
ANNIVERSARIES:
James McGettigan, Tamnawood; Mary Quigley, Guystown; Susan Carlin, Glenfad
Robert Gibson, Letterkenny Road; John Brennan, Ballindrait; John French, Braide
Kathleen Crawford, Glenview House; Pauline Lynch, Coneyburrow; Denis Gallagher, Mullaghanney
Laura Harte, Ballyduff Terrace; Joe Gallagher, Gortgrannagh; Peter Devine, Strabane
Marie Breslin, Glenfad; Isobel O’Doherty, Derry; Jonathan Quinn, The Roughan.
We also remember our loved ones whose names have been placed in the petitions box at the Sacred Space in our church and those whose names we have placed in the Sacred Space in our homes.
May they rest in peace.
COLLECTION:
THANK YOU for your generosity to the weekly collection which, last week, amounted to €2,161, and for contributions to the Cemetery collection, €757. Thank you also to those who contribute by Standing Order and online: these contributions amounted to €450 for the month of October.
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.
VISITATION OF THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND:
VISITATION OF THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND will take place this week, as follows:
Wednesday (10 November) starting at 11.00am: Areas to be visited –
Murlog; Lifford; Coneyburrow; Letterkenny Road; Croaghan Heights.
Friday (12 November), starting at 11.00am: Areas to be visited –
Ballindrait; Tober; Cloughfin; Rossigier; Coolatee; Porthall; Cavan Hill.
I would be very grateful if family members, friends or neighbours could let those whom they know to be visited aware of the arrangements, if possible. If there is anyone who is normally part of the visitation but does not wish to be visited for any reason, please let me know. Likewise, if there is anyone who is not normally visited but would like to be visited, please let me know and I will be more than happy to bring you the Eucharist. Please note: I will wear a face covering, use sanitiser and observe all the recommended Covid precautions, during visitation. Fr Colm.
NOVEMBER – MONTH OF THE HOLY SOULS
BLESSING OF GRAVES PACKS:
The Blessing of Graves packs are ‘back in stock’ again. Many families have picked one up this week; if your family has not yet received one, please feel free to pick one up at the back of the church.
SACRED SPACE & PRAYER INTENTIONS IN THE CHURCH:
You remain welcome to write out and bring along the names of your deceased relatives and friends, and place these in the basket at the Sacred Space at the back of our church. 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. Thank you to the Liturgy working-group for creating our November Sacred Space.
GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE:
A Prayer Garden has been constructed at St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, (behind the Lourdes Grotto) for all those from across the diocese who have died since the start of COVID-19. It names all the parishes of the diocese, including our own, and includes prayers for the deceased. A rose plant for each of our 51 parishes has been planted in memory those who have died from each parish. You are welcome to visit the Prayer Garden at any time, for prayer and reflection.
FOLK CHOIR:
If you would be interested in becoming part of a Folk Choir for our Saturday Vigil Mass, please contact me. A couple of people have expressed an interest. I know that, in the past, this parish was blessed with a great Folk Choir and I would be very keen that we take up that time-honoured tradition again. Please give me a ring!
ALCOHOL AWARENESS WEEK: 16 – 22 November 2021:
Theme: ‘Alcohol and Relationships’. Al-Anon provides a free, confidential, non-judgmental support service to individuals and families whose life is or has been affected by someone else drinking. All meetings are listed on the website www.al-anonuk.org.uk , or you can call the Confidential Helpline on 048 90682368, 10am – 1pm or 6pm – 10pm, or call 01 8732699, 10am-10pm.
The Matt Talbot Prayer Society – Praying for those suffering from Addiction:
This Prayer Society has been created to pray for people who are suffering from any form of addiction, to pray for those recovering from addiction, and to pray for all those affected by addiction, especially family members. As we know, addiction takes many forms, including alcohol, drugs, gambling, pornography and many other less-acknowledged addictions.
To join the Prayer Society, you are invited to enrol the name of the person to be prayed for and the addiction from which we pray they will be freed. Those enrolled will be prayed for specifically every day by members of the Matt Talbot Prayer Society. Mass is offered for those enrolled on the first Monday of every month in St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, at 7.30pm. You will also receive an enrolment card to enable you to join in the prayer. To enrol someone in the Matt Talbot Prayer Society please call Emmet Mullan at St Eugene’s Cathedral, on 048 71262 894 or email emmett.mullan@derrydiocese.org
God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.
CATECHESIS CORNER:
• Next Sunday, 21 November, is Feast of Christ the King and is the last Sunday of the Church (liturgical) year
• Sunday 28 November is the First Sunday of Advent (the first of four Sundays of Advent) and the first day of the new Church year.
• Advent gets its name from the Latin word adventus, meaning ‘coming’ or ‘arrival’. It is, of course a time of spiritual preparation for celebrating the coming of the Christ Child, at Christmas.
• In this coming liturgical year, Year C of the three-year cycle, we will listen, most Sundays, to the Gospel of St Luke.
• The symbol of St Luke’s Gospel is an ox. You can indeed see this on the beautiful mosaic panel on the outside of our own church, which features the four evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John). Take time to stop off at the mosaic panel, at your convenience, to contemplate the third symbol.
• Why an ox? Christian tradition has long associated each of the Gospels with one of the four faces encountered by the priest and prophet Ezekiel (1:1–14). The early church made the connection between Luke and ox because of the book’s ‘sacrificial connotations’. Oxen were used in temple sacrifices.
• Luke’s is actually the longest of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John), even though there are more chapters in Matthew’s Gospel.
• Luke’s Gospel is distinct for its interesting and unique parables (eg, Prodigal Son, Good Samaritan).
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.
You can access the Readings on our parish website:
https://clonleighparish.com/next-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
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.