FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (YEAR C)
GOSPEL OF ST LUKE (1:39-45) THE VISITATION:
Today’s Gospel recounts the Visitation of Mary to her cousin, Elizabeth, when they share their good news. We pray today for all expectant mothers, that our Blessed Mother will watch over and protect them and their unborn babies.
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
CHRISTMAS MASSES:
Christmas Eve (Friday): Vigil Masses, 6.00pm and 8.00pm
Christmas Day (Saturday): 9.00am and 11.00am
Sunday Masses (26 December): 9.00am and 11.00am
Please note the Christmas Mass schedule above. It is hoped that the four Christmas Masses (two Vigils and two Christmas morning Masses) will facilitate everyone who wishes to attend. Stewards will be available to help make sure that everyone attending is safely accommodated and I would very much appreciate your co-operation with their guidance and directions. In the interests of caring for one another, all adults are asked to wear a face covering while in the church. Thank you very much.
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:
CONFESSIONS will be heard this week on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, after our 10.00am Mass, in the sacristy. In addition, Confessions will be heard this afternoon (Sunday) in Melmount church, from 2.00 – 6.00pm. Several priests will be available to hear Confessions in Melmount. You are very welcome to come along.
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK:
Friday, 24 December, 6.00pm: Ray Jarrett, Tober
Friday 24 December, 8.00pm: Susan Arthur, Coneyburrow Road.
ANNIVERSARIES:
Patrick McGranaghan, Strabane; Jimmy Diver, Birdstown; Pauline McCallion, Cavan; John Foley, Tober
Willie Doherty, Cloughfin; Edmund Breslin, Croaghan Heights; Kathleen Porter, The Common
John King, Westport; Annie Whyte, Gallows Lane.
May they rest in peace.
COLLECTION:
THANK YOU as always for your generosity to the weekly collection which, last week, amounted to €2,222. Thank you also to those who faithfully contribute by Standing Order/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.
THE NET:
The online December edition of The Net is now available to view on www.derrydiocese.org. It is also available on our parish Facebook page. As always, it has a wide range of news, stories, interesting articles and photos from across the diocese.
LIFFORD CLONLEIGH RESOURCE CENTRE:
You are invited to view the newly designed website: www.liffordclonleighresourcecentre.ie
ADVENT ASSEMBLY with our schools:
THANK YOU to the children of our three schools for joining in our Advent Assembly this week. Huge thanks also to the children who, with the guidance of their teachers, produced fantastic displays for our church to help us prepare for and focus on the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Together, these displays tell the wonderful and timeless story of the Nativity. I am very grateful to the teachers and staff for their encouragement and support. Please take time to view the fabulous displays at the back of our church, which are a credit to our three schools.
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.
St Vincent de Paul, pray for us.
CHRISTMAS PRAYER RESOURCES:
Christmas prayer resources are available to download at https://www.derrydiocese.org/christmas for private prayer (in church or in your home) and/or for daily family prayer. The resources on the diocesan website include:
Prayers at the Crib: A prayer card and booklet with a series of prayers and scripture for use at the Crib (at home or in the church).
The 12 Days of Christmas: A family prayer booklet compiled with families in mind. The Gospel for each day of Christmas is accompanied by a Gospel reflection and prayers.
Christmas Prayers for Children: Thoughts, ideas and resources to help children and families reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and to celebrate and share the gift of the Baby Jesus with others. These children’s resources are also available at: https://catecheticalcentre.org/category/christmas/
As we celebrate the gift of Jesus over Christmas, you are invited to use these prayer resources, especially for family prayer, to help families rediscover the meaning of Our Lord’s Nativity and the great hope that it proclaims for the world.
Please continue to pray our 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.
As we draw close to the end of our Advent journey and look forward to the joys and certainties that come with the celebration of the Birth of Jesus, we do so in the knowledge that Christmas, this year again, will be celebrated amidst the ongoing uncertainties and unknowns of COVID-19; we pray and hope that better times are not very far away.
We have been very blessed to have had our church open for Mass again since 10 May, albeit with restrictions. It was certainly most welcome news for me that the church was to re-open; despite the benefits of modern technology, there is no substitute for having a congregation in the church for Mass!
I take this opportunity to wish you and your families peace and joy this Christmas. Special blessings on all the children and the young people of our parish, who have been so resilient in their response to the many restrictions placed on their young lives, for nearly two years now.
Many people and families are carrying the cross of sickness this Christmas. I pray that the blessings of the Christ-Child will be a source of comfort and strength to them and, indeed, to all who have asked for prayer at this time.
To the families in our parish who have been bereaved this year, may our prayerful support be a comfort to you in your sorrow. May the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.
On a personal note, I wish to thank you most sincerely for your kindness and generosity to me, and for your support and encouragement, not just at Christmas but throughout the year. Thank you also for your prayers. I can assure you of my prayer for you and I pray that the peace, joy and true meaning of Christmas will be at the heart of your homes and families as we celebrate the Birth of Jesus. Please stay safe, stay well and continue to look out for one another in the days and weeks ahead.
May the blessings of the Christ Child be upon you all. Fr Colm
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:
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.