SUNDAY 3rd APRIL 2022
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
GOSPEL: St John 8:1-11
Our scripture readings today continue on the theme of God’s boundless love and mercy, in St John’s account of ‘the woman caught in adultery’. Jesus does not condemn the woman for her conduct, but challenges her to begin life afresh. This is the challenge Jesus puts to us each Lent: to begin afresh. Jesus invites us to address our own fragilities, rather than condemn the weaknesses and lifestyles of others. As we prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate Holy Week and Easter, we ask God’s help us preparing us in our preparations, especially through the gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which enables to begin afresh.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered here in St Patrick’s (in the sacristy) next Saturday, from 11.00am to 12.00noon, and in St Mary’s Church, Melmount, today, at 5.00pm, when several priests will be available to hear Confessions.
MASS SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: Mass at 10.00am. Tuesday: Mass at 9.30am
The Rosary starts 20 minutes before weekday Masses. Please come along for the Rosary, if you can.
Sunday Masses: Vigil, 6.30pm, Morning, 9.00am and 11.00am
7.00am Mass is celebrated in Melmount and in Strabane, each morning of Lent (Monday – Friday).
Confessions, each Saturday, in the sacristy, 11.00am – 12.00noon.
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.
†
Patricia Taylor (nee Lynch), formerly of Mullinaveigh
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support to the daughters, Anna and Moira, and to the grandchildren and wider family circle and friends of Patricia, who died at Galway, and whose ashes were buried at St Patrick’s on Thursday. May she rest in peace.
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK:
Sunday 10 April, 11.00am: Paul Friel, Braide.
ANNIVERSARIES:
We pray for the following, whose anniversaries occur at this time:
Margaret Grogan, Coneyburrow; Flora Patton, Carrigans; John Devine, Ballindrait; Vera Lyons, Wigan
Seamus Lyons, Wigan; Jerry Drumm, Drumbuoy; Humphrey Foley, Scotland/Tober;
Margaret Mary McHugh, Drumahaw; Tessie Melaugh, Gallows; Celly Melaugh, Gallows Lane
Natasha Melaugh, Letterkenny; Billy Harte, Ballyduff Terrace; Emmanuel & Grace Boyle, Guystown
John Bogle, Porthall.
May they rest in peace.
COLLECTION:
THANK YOU for your generosity in last week’s collection, which amounted to €1,662.00
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.
CONFESSIONS:
This Sunday (today), the Sacrament of Reconciliation is available in St Mary’s, Melmount, at 5.00pm. Again, the neighbouring priests will be available to hear individual Confessions.
BLESSING OF THE GRAVES:
Monday 13 June, at 7.00pm. Please let your family members know.
VISITATION OF THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND
will take place this week, as follows:
Monday (7 February): Ballindrait, Tober & Cloughfin, beginning at 11.00am
Rosgier, Coolatee, Porthall & Cavan Hill, beginning at 2.00pm
Thursday (10 February): Murlog, Lifford, Coneyburrow, beginning at 11.00am
Friday (11 February): Letterkenny Road, Croaghan Heights & Drumboy, beginning at 11.00am
I would be grateful if family members 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.
LOUGH DERG is delighted to announce that it is reopening from Sunday 1 May with a full Pilgrimage programme, and the Three-Day Pilgrimage will commence on Wednesday 1 June, continuing until 15 August (Saturday 13 August is the final day for pilgrims to begin the Three Day Pilgrimage). Cost €80. Concessions available for students, seniors and groups. Booking advisable. Visit www.loughderg.org or Lough Derg Facebook Page for further information.
FRANCISCAN FRIARY, ROSSNOWLAGH is now offering Healing Sunday Service on the first Sunday of each month, starting today (3 April). Starts with Rosary at 2.45pm, followed by Mass and Healing Service at 3.00pm. Confessions available from 2.00pm – 5.00pm. Everyone is welcome.
PARISH SYNOD MEETINGS:
On Monday and Wednesday evenings of this week we held our parish “listening evenings” in the Community Centre. I am most grateful to those who came along and engaged so willingly in the conversations on the various topics. It is very much appreciated. As you know, Pope Francis has invited all Catholics to be part of the synodal journey – he wants all voices to be heard. It is important that, in our parish, we hear from as many of you, our parishioners, as possible. To this end, those who were unable to come along to our gatherings will have an opportunity to share your views in writing. You are invited to do this in one of two ways:
(1) at the back of the church you can collect one of the Synodal Question sheets, fill it in during the week, and return it to the Returns for Synod box at the back of the church by next Sunday evening (10 April);
(2) there is an online questionnaire, which you can access by going on to our parish Facebook page and clicking the Clonleigh Parish Synod Survey article. If you choose to respond online, you should also do so by next Sunday evening (10 April).
Pope Francis very much wants to hear the voices of children on the synodal journey, and the boys and girls in our three schools have been playing their part, sharing their views on a specially prepared synodal invitation for National School children. No doubt, the children will be inspirational in their responses.
I am most grateful to our parish synod team who have done so much work over the last couple months in preparing for the synod meetings. I very much appreciate the time and effort they have been putting into the process and I look forward to their continued support as we collate the responses from the ‘listening’ process, submit our Parish Response to the diocese and plan for the next steps on our synodal journey here in the parish.
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. St Patrick, pray for us.
UPCOMING DATES OF NOTE:
Saturday 21 May: First Holy Communion in our parish
Monday 13 June, at 7.00pm: Blessing of Graves in our parish
Sunday 19 June, Feast of Corpus Christi:
Corpus Christi Procession for the First Holy Communion Children of our parish.
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: 0044 7596 500 793