FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR C)
GOSPEL: ST LUKE 21:25-28, 34-36) ‘STAY AWAKE AND STAND READY’
These four weeks of Advent are given to us as a contemplative time of preparation in the Church calendar so that, when we come to celebrate the Birth of Jesus at Christmas, we will be well ready and prepared to joyfully welcome, within our hearts, the peace, joy and glory of the Light of Christ in our lives.
The preparation of which Jesus speaks in today’s Gospel, however, is preparation for the coming of the Lord at the end of time, when God will take all creation to Himself. Jesus tells us to be ready for that day; this is not about instilling fear in us but it is, rather, an invitation to us to live our lives in close relationship with God, keeping His enduring presence around us and within us central to our everyday lives. Prayer and the Sacraments help us in this endeavour.
We pray today that we will use well the opportunities that the prayerful Season of Advent provides so that, journeying together in prayer and hope, we will remain a watchful people, well prepared for the joys of Christmas.
Mass Schedule for the Parish this Week:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 10.00am; Tuesday, 9.30am
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 continue to be available on our parish webcam:
and our 11.00am Mass is also broadcast live each Sunday on Finn Valley Radio, FM95.8.
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 FOR YOUR CO-OPERATION.
CONFESSIONS each Saturday from 11.00am – 12.00noon, from now until Christmas.
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK:
Monday 29 November, 10.00am: Seamus Lynch, Coneyburrow
Saturday 4 December, 6.30pm: John McMenamin, Croaghan Heights.
ANNIVERSARIES:
Hugh McGranaghan, Tober; Seamus Lynch, Coneyburrow; Josie Gallagher, Post Office Lane
Dan Carlin, Coneyburrow; Ted Porter, Croaghan Heights; Thomas Friel, Coolatee; Nora Rooney, The Diamond.
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 €2,385 and for the Mission Sunday collection, which amounted to €1,197 in total. Sincere thanks also for donations to the Trocaire Special Appeal, €40 and £100.
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.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL:
The SVP helpline number, 087 4647 991, is available at all times to take calls. Please know that all calls are in the strictest confidence. Sincere thanks to those in our parish community whose ongoing efforts provide invaluable support to people in need. St Vincent de Paul, pray for us.
FOLK CHOIR:
A few people have now expressed an interest in being part of a new Folk Choir in our parish. I am delighted with this and it will be a great achievement for us if we can get a Folk Choir up and running for the start of the new year for our Saturday evening Vigil Mass. To this end, there will be a short initial Gathering next Saturday, 4 December, immediately after the 6.30pm Mass (7.15pm). If you are interested in being part of the Folk Choir, please come along to this practice. You will be most welcome!
DIGITAL ADVENT CALENDAR:
The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference website, www.catholicbishops.ie, is offering its online Advent calendar this year again, going live today, Sunday. Behind each ‘door’ there is content aimed at assisting us to pray and to reflect on how best we can keep Christ at the centre of our Christmas preparations during this special liturgical season. The theme of the Advent Calendar this year is Hope. Note: The virtual doors above cannot be opened ahead of their actual date!
AN ADVENT FAMILY PRAYER BOOKLET to facilitate family prayer at home during the season of Advent can be downloaded on: https://www.derrydiocese.org/advent. The booklet contains a Gospel reading for each of the four Sundays of Advent, accompanied by a family activity, prayers and a reflection. We are encouraged to make use of this resource in our homes as part of our spiritual preparation for Christmas.
LECTIO DIVINA REFLECTIONS on the Advent and Christmas Gospels:
The Priory Institute is offering a free of charge Online Retreat. To find out more information, visit: prioryinstitute.com.
LOUGH DERG online shop offers unique Christmas Cards, featuring scenes of the Island from across the centuries and bespoke gifts, including a limited edition Lough Derg Christmas Candle. Christmas Mass Bouquet Cards available – Fr La Flynn will offer a triduum of Masses, beginning on Christmas Eve, for those enrolled. Visit www.loughderg.live/shop. Tel 071 9861518. Delivery and Click & Collect Service available.
A SYNODAL CHURCH:
In the coming, weeks, months and years, the words Synod / Synodality will become words that we may at this stage be hearing for the first time to words that will take on real meaning and understanding in the context of what it is for us to be Church, in changing times. Pope Francis has called on the entire Catholic Church – every Catholic, every parish, every diocese – to journey together towards and participate in an upcoming Synod of Bishops (2023). This Synod is entitled: “For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission.” This Synod is not just another meeting with oral presentations and written reports but, rather, a process in which all of us will journey together by listening, dialoguing, praying, discerning and making decisions, for the purpose of living out the call of the Gospel and the call of our baptism.
Initially, Pope Francis is asking each local parish to create opportunities to listen to each other, regardless of where we are on our faith journey. Further information will be provided on this in the coming weeks.
The “goal” of this journeying together is not to create a new vision or pastoral plan with objectives. Rather, the objective is to be present with one another, to listen and learn with each other, and to grow closer to the Lord and His Church.
This is not just a time of change but a change of time. Further information in the coming weeks.
CATECHESIS CORNER:
S Y M B O L I S M O F T H E A D V E N T W R E A T H:
The Advent Wreath draws us to focus on the advent (coming) of the Light of Christ into the world.
The wreath is made of evergreens, signifying everlasting life.
The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolises the eternity of God,
unending love, the immortality of the soul, and the promise of everlasting life in Christ.
Cones and berries can be used to decorate the wreath,
and are symbolic of the fruits of salvation.
The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent:
(1. Hope, 2. Peace, 3. Joy and 4. Love).
They are lit gradually – one each week – drawing us out of darkness into light.
This symbolises not only the First Coming of Christ into the world,
but His Second Coming at the end of history.
Three candles are purple, the penitential colour used in Advent (and Lent).
One candle is rose; it is lit on the third Sunday of Advent,
known as Gaudete Sunday, (Gaudete meaning Rejoice),
symbolising our joyful expectation of the imminent coming of the Light of Christ.
The white candle in the middle represents Christ, and is lit on Christmas Day.
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.