SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2022
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
In the four-week run-up to Christmas, with so much emphasis on the secular preparations and celebrations, we thank God for these four weeks of prayerful and reflective preparation that Advent provides. Advent provides us with opportunity. It can be a challenge for us to use that opportunity well at such a busy time – a challenge to find sacred space and time for prayer, reflection, renewal and spiritual preparation. However, it is a challenge and an opportunity to which we are invited to rise so that, when Christmas comes, we will be ready to fully share in and appreciate the joy, peace and true meaning of Christ’s coming into our lives. We pray God’s grace on our Advent journey.
MASS SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 10.00am. Tuesday: 9.30am
Rosary commences 20 minutes before Mass (morning Masses)
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
†
Philomena McLoone, late of Birdstown, Ballindrait
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support Philomena’s daughter, Christina, and the wider family circle and friends of Philomena, whose Funeral Mass took place in St Patrick’s on Saturday of last week. May she rest in peace.
Sadie Sweeney (nee Tinney), late of Ballybofey
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support to the sons, daughters, grandchildren, brothers, sister and the wider family circle and friends of Sadie, whose Funeral Mass took place in St Patrick’s on Thursday. May she rest in peace.
James Crawford, late of Lancaster (formerly Gortgrannagh)
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support to Jamie, Jennie and Geraldine and the wider family circle and friends of James, whose ashes were brought to St Patrick’s for Mass on Friday morning, with burial afterwards. May he rest in peace.
Catherine (Kitty) Kelly (nee Doherty), late of Rowfield, Braide
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support to Grace, Catherine, Brian, Denis and Alex, to Rosaleen, to Sonny, to Emma, Brian, Aoife, Paul, Daragh, Karen, Colin, Mark, Sandra and Rachael and to the great-grandchildren and the wider family circle and friends of Kitty, whose Funeral Mass took place in St Patrick’s on Friday morning. May she rest in peace.
We offer our special condolences to our parish choir on the death of Kitty. As we know, Kitty gave an outstanding life of service to the parish and, in particular, to the choir as church organist. In January 2020, His Holiness Pope Francis announced the award of the Benemerenti Medal to Kitty in recognition of her exceptional service. The pontifical award was indeed a great honour, not just for Kitty and her family, but for all of us, as a parish family. May God reward Kitty for her great services.
MASS INTENTIONS:
Tuesday 29 November, 9.30am: Seamus Lynch, Coneyburrow
Saturday 3 December, 6.30pm: Anne Stewart, The Roughan
Sunday 4 December, 11.00am: John McMenamin, Croaghan Heights.
ANNIVERSARIES:
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they rest in peace:
James Woods, Ballymonaster; Mary Woods, Ballymonaster; Josie Gallagher, Post Office Lane
Hugh McGranaghan, Tober; Dan Carlin, Coneyburrow; Liam Lafferty, Ballinabreen
Patrick Caulfield, Gallows Lane; Seamus Lynch, Coneyburrow.
COLLECTION:
THANK YOU for your generosity in last week’s collection, which amounted to €2,900, and for further contributions to the graveyard collection of £177. Sincere thanks also to the donor of €50 towards the graveyard project.
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.
SYMBOLISM OF THE ADVENT WREATH:
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, 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.
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’, each day 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 Synodality. Note: The virtual doors above cannot be opened ahead of their actual date!
SACRAMENTAL DATES 2023:
Confirmation: Saturday 11 March, at 11.00am. First Holy Communion: Saturday 13 May, at 11.00am.
‘LEARNING ABOUT THE MASS’ CORNER:
KATH: Qumen, why do we have to stand for the Gospel? I was tired standing last Sunday at the Do This In Memory Mass.
QUMEN: Yea, it can be a bit long sometimes, but Mum said that the Gospel is the most important part of the Liturgy of the Word – it is God’s Word, so we give it reverence by standing. The Gospel gives us the chance to hear about Jesus’ life, what He said to his friends and how He treated others.
KATH: Why do we need to know all about Jesus’ life? It was so long ago!
QUMEN: We are meant to try to be like Jesus – to be kind, to help each other out, to forgive one-another, and to help people in need. In the stories and parables of the Gospel, Jesus teaches how to be like Him and how to live good lives, in the things we say and do.
KATH & QUMEN: Even we probably need to be reminded sometimes of how Jesus would like us to live! It’s good that we have Jesus as our friend.
Do This In Memory:
Well done, boys and girls, at our Do This In Memory Mass last Sunday. It was lovely to see you and for you to be such a special part of our Mass.
As many of you will now know, the special time in the Church calendar when we prepare for Christmas is called Advent.
I’m sure some of you have an Advent Calendar in your house? Your Advent Calendar helps you to prepare each day in a special way for the celebration of the birth of Jesus, and to count down the days until we celebrate His birth.
Access the Readings on our parish website:
The Daily Mass Readings are also on our website: https://clonleighparish.com/todays-mass-readings/ . Alternatively, just google Clonleigh Parish readings.
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