SUNDAY 8th MAY 2022
FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
“The sheep that belong to Me listen to My voice; I know them and they follow me.”
On the Fourth Sunday of Easter we celebrate Vocations Sunday, also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. It is a worldwide day of Prayer for Vocations, especially Vocations to priesthood and Religious life.
In Scripture today, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, invites us to listen to His voice and to be led by Him into ways that draw us into union with God the Father. Distractions in our lives sometimes block our hearts from hearing Jesus’ voice, but we know that Jesus is Shepherd to all of us, not just the pious, the uncomplicated and those who do not wander. He invites us all back into His fold, so that we can be drawn into that desired union with God the Father.
We thank God today for all who have shepherded us in life – encouraging us to listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, drawing us back to paths that lead us into union with God and living out our vocation in life, whatever that may be, to the best of our ability.
MASS SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:
Friday: 10.00am
Please note: Friday is the only weekday Mass in our parish this week
as I am on Retreat from Sunday afternoon until Thursday. Fr Colm.
Rosary: twenty minutes before Mass.
Saturday: Vigil Mass, 6.30pm. Sunday morning: Mass 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, 95.8FM
MASS INTENTIONS:
Saturday 14 May, 6.30pm: Elizabeth Mc Brearty, The Common
Sunday 15 May, 11.00am: Seán Porter, The Common.
ANNIVERSARIES:
We pray for the following, whose anniversaries occur at this time:
Raymond White, Ballyduff Park; Ellen Doherty, Cloughfin; Mary Foley, Tober; Rita Farrell (Foley) England
Frank and Maggie Connolly, Rossgier; Pat McIntyre, Rossgier/Convoy; Margaret Tinney, Ardnaglass
Danny McLaughlin, Letterkenny Road; Danny Boy McLaughlin, Coolatee.
May they rest in peace.
COLLECTION:
THANK YOU for your generosity in last week’s collection, which amounted to €2,122.00 Thanks, as always, 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.
PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYER:
Michael McCaul, who will celebrate his Ordination to Diaconate today, Vocations Sunday. Michael’s ordination will take place in Christ the King Church, Strathroy, Omagh, at 3.00 this afternoon. A native of Derry City and a student of St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Michael has been on pastoral placement in Cappagh (Killyclogher) parish for this past year. May God bless him on this important milestone on his journey to priesthood for the Derry Diocese. St John Vianney, pray for him.
TROCAIRE COLLECTION:
Thank you for your returns to date. It will be appreciated if any final returns can be made by next weekend, so that the total amount can be remitted. Thank you.
FIRST HOLY COMMUNION in our parish will be on Saturday 21 May, at 11.00am. I encourage the parents of the children to bring them along to Mass each weekend, as it is important that all the children are familiar with the Mass. Please keep the children in your prayers in these final days of preparation for the sacrament.
DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOUGH DERG, Friday 24 – Sunday 26 June:
Bishop McKeown will lead the pilgrimage and invites you to join him. Booking is essential, so please call 048 71264087 or email: lizzie.rea@derrydiocese.org . Bus transport available from St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry.
DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES, 3 – 8 July:
(ex Belfast). £689 per person sharing. Places are still available Contact the Pilgrimage Office in Derry: tel 028 71260293 or email derrypilgrim@outlook.com. All intending pilgrims are asked to return application forms and full payment by Saturday 28 May.
ANAM CARA DONEGAL is holding its monthly Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Thursday 12 May, at 7.15pm, in the Raddison Blu, Letterkenny. This event is free and open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age at time of death, the circumstances of death, or whether the death was recent. An online service is also offered. Please telephone 085 288 88 88 or email info@anamcara.ie for further information.
MAY – MONTH OF MARY
MAY ALTAR IN OUR CHURCH:
You are invited to place your petitions in the box at our May Altar. They will be prayed for during each of our Masses during May. Also, if you would like to place some flowers or a plant at our May Altar anytime during the month, you are welcome to do so.
PRAY IN MAY – As families, we are invited to make special effort to pray the Family Rosary each evening or a decade of the Rosary or perhaps pray the Angelus or some other short Marian prayers or aspirations.
MAY ALTAR IN OUR HOMES – The May Altar is a great way for children to become actively involved in honouring Our Lady at home. May Altars can be created very simply, with a clean white cloth, a statue of Our Lady, Rosary beads, holy water and some flowers. Parents are encouraged to pray with their children each day at the May Altar.
PARISH ROSARY GROUP – You are very welcome to join our Rosary Group to recite the Rosary, which starts twenty minutes before our week-day Masses (please note, Mass on Friday only, this week).
PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS:
Lord Jesus Christ, gentle Shepherd,
You know Your sheep and You know how to reach their hearts.
Give to the people of the parishes of the Diocese of Derry
hearts that are open to the call of the Holy Spirit.
Speak to the hearts of the young men of our diocese
that they may hear Your call to follow You and serve Your people as priests.
Awaken in them the courage to answer: ‘Here I am, Lord, Send me.’
St Patrick, pray for us. St John Vianney, pray for us.
In his Message for this Vocations Sunday, Pope Francis chose the theme, ‘Called to Build the Human Family’. He reflected on the broader meaning of “vocation” within the context of a synodal Church, a Church that listens to God and to the world:
“As Christians, we do not only receive a vocation individually; we are also called together. We are like the tiles of a mosaic. Each is lovely in itself, but only when they are put together do they form a picture. Each of us shines like a star in the heart of God and in the firmament of the universe. At the same time, though, we are called to form constellations that can guide and light up the path of humanity, beginning with the places in which we live. This is the mystery of the Church: a celebration of differences, a sign and instrument of all that humanity is called to be. For this reason, the Church must become increasingly synodal: capable of walking together, united in harmonious diversity, where everyone can actively participate and where everyone has something to contribute. When we speak of “vocation”, then, it is not just about choosing this or that way of life, devoting one’s life to a certain ministry or being attracted by the charism of a religious family, movement or ecclesial community. It is about making God’s dream come true, the great vision of fraternity that Jesus cherished when he prayed to the Father “that they may all be one” (Jn 17:21).
The full text of the Pope’s Message can be accessed on www.catholicbishops.ie or www.vatican.va
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.
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