SUNDAY 8 JANUARY 2023
BAPTISM OF THE LORD
Gospel – St Matthew 3:13-17 The Baptism of Jesus by John in the River Jordan
The Baptism of Jesus is a very special moment of grace in God’s plan for salvation. A turning point in the life of Jesus, it is sometimes described as the moment when He was ‘officially commissioned’ by God the Father, with the power of the Holy Spirit, to commence His public, redemptive ministry on earth.
Just as Jesus’ Baptism was the start of a significant journey for Him, so too is the Sacrament of Baptism in our lives. It is the start of a life-long call to us to enter into the privileges and responsibilities of witnessing to the Gospel and sharing in the mission of the Church, especially in our own parish communities.
MASS SCHEDULE & LITURGIES THIS WEEK:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 10.00am. Tuesday, 9.30am.
Rosary commences 20 minutes before morning Mass
Sunday Masses: Vigil, 6.30pm, Sunday morning, 9.00am and 11.00am.
All Masses are livestreamed on our webcam; 11.00am Mass on Sunday is broadcast by Finn Valley Radio, 95.8FM
MASS INTENTIONS:
Wednesday 11 January, 10.00am: Annmarie Brennan, Finnside Close
Saturday 14 January, 6.30pm: Month’s Mind Mass for Bobby Porter, Rossgier
Sunday 15 January, 9.00am: Katty Gamble, Rossgier; 11.00am: Month’s Mind Mass for Conleth Tourish, Strabane.
ANNIVERSARIES:
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they rest in peace:
Leonard Friel, Cavan Hill; Hugh & Maureen McDermott, Coneyburrow; Shaun Buchanan, Tamnawood;
Sister Gabriel Porter, The Common; Annmarie Brennan, Finnside Close; Thomas Stewart , Strabane
Josephine Colhoun, Beechwood; Jimmy Crawford Jr, Porthall; Araron Rafferty Gallagher, Ballina
Thomas Hart, Corner House; Alice McGhee, Castlefinn.
THANK YOU, as always, for your generosity in last week’s collection, which amounted to £1,725. Thank you also to those who contribute by Standing Order.
The weekly collection is used to meet the routine costs of running the parish, including energy costs (heat and light), sanctuary candles, liturgical consumables (altar breads, altar wine), pastoral activities, office expenses (including telephone/internet/stationery), maintenance and repairs (of the church, the hall and parochial house), priest’s stipend and staff wages. We do our best to monitor costs at all times and to make the best possible use of the money which you so faithfully contribute each week. In February/March we will be in a position to publish the Financial Report for 2022.
If there is anyone who does not currently contribute to the collection but feels they are now in a financial position where they can start contributing to the cost of running the parish, please contact Lorna in the parish office and she will be happy to provide you with a box of envelopes or for you to arrange payments by Standing Order. Thank you very much.
CHARITABLE DONATIONS SCHEME (GIFT AID):
As mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I am absolutely delighted to report that the total amount received in Gift Aid in 2022 (for 2021 contributions) was almost £10,000. Thank you to all who contributed to this fantastic achievement.
Those eligible to sign up for the Scheme are those who:
a) contribute €250 or more in a tax year and
b) pay income tax / capital gains tax on €250 or more in the tax year.
The current rate payable by the Revenue is 31%, so your €250 contribution to the parish results in the parish getting an additional €112 (€362 in total).
If you are a tax-payer, pay €250 or more per annum (€5 per week) to the weekly collection, and have not yet signed up for the Scheme, then I appeal to you, please, to consider joining. Please remember, it is at no extra cost to you! You can join by contacting Lorna in the parish office, who will be happy to provide you with the relevant Mandate. Thank you!
Today, we offer a very special welcome, at our 11.00am Mass, to the babies baptised in our church in 2022. We welcome their parents and other family members too. The gift of the Sacrament of Baptism, which the children received last year at the request of their parents, opened the door to a life of faith and friendship with Jesus. As we bless them today, we pray that, with the continued support of their parents and Godparents, these children will be guided by the Holy Spirit throughout their lives in getting to know Jesus better.
May God bless and protect them always.
PARENTS OF THE ‘FIRST HOLY COMMUNION’ CHILDREN ARE ASKED TO NOTE:
Our next Do This In Memory Mass will be in two weeks’ time. On this occasion, it will be celebrated on the Saturday evening – Vigil Mass, Saturday 21 January, at 6.30pm. Word of the change to the Saturday evening is also being sent to parents via the schools. Apologies for any inconvenience caused by the change to Saturday evening.
At the Saturday evening Mass, each child will each be provided with a little bottle of Holy Water, which I will bless and which they can then bring home for their use and their family’s use.
YOU ARE ASKED TO NOTE, PLEASE:
On the weekend of Sat 21 January / Sun 22 January (Third Sunday in Ordinary Time), we will have no 9.00am Mass in St Patrick’s. Mass will be celebrated, as normal, on Sat 21st, at 6.30pm, and on Sun 22nd, at 11.00am. On that Sunday, I am attending the episcopal ordination of Fr Niall Coll as Bishop of Ossory, in Kilkenny. Apologies to those who normally attend the 9.00am Mass, for any inconvenience.
I am delighted to be able to join Fr Niall, a native of St Johnston, for the occasion of his episcopal ordination; Fr Niall was a classmate of mine when we studied for priesthood in Maynooth. I ask that you include him in your prayers in these coming days and weeks, as he commences his episcopal ministry.
I am grateful to Fr Michael Doherty, PP Melmount, who has kindly offered to provide a priest to celebrate the 11.00am Mass in our parish on Sunday 22 January.
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM:
Baptisms in our parish in this coming year will be celebrated on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, at 2.00pm. Bookings should be made through Lorna in the parish office, who will be happy to help you. As in the past year, I shall arrange to visit the parents of the children to be baptised into our Catholic faith and welcomed into our parish family, and I very much look forward to that.
ANNIVERSARY MASSES / MONTH’S MIND MASSES, 2023:
I am always encouraged by the great tradition in our parish of honouring deceased loved ones through the celebration of Anniversary Masses. It is always a privilege for me to join in your prayer for your deceased loved ones through the celebration of Mass.
I know that it isn’t always easy for families to find a time that is suitable for everyone to gather for Anniversary Masses, especially where family members have to travel. While I would very much like to facilitate all preferences for a Mass time and date, I ask you to note that, in this coming year, all bookings for Anniversary Masses will be for one of the Masses in the existing schedule for the parish (ie, one of the three Sunday Masses – Saturday evening Vigil, 6.30pm, Sunday 9.00am / 11.00am, or one of the five weekday morning Masses). Bookings should be made through Lorna in the parish office, who will be happy to try and facilitate you.
I would ask you to note, also, that Month’s Mind Mass requests will take preference over Anniversary Masses. For example, in the event of someone having booked an Anniversary Mass, it may have to be rescheduled in the event of a Month’s Mind Mass request. It is very much hoped, of course, that any such inconvenience will be minimal.
In so far as possible, it is asked that bookings for Month’s Mind Masses also be made for one of the Masses in the existing schedule. However, in the event that this is very inconvenient for family members or not suitable for some other reason, I am very happy to try and facilitate you at another time. In the case of a special request (for a Mass that is not part of the normal schedule), please contact me directly to arrange a suitable day and time.
Thank you very much for your co-operation, and I encourage you to continue the tradition of Anniversary Masses.
As we enter the year 2023, please make our Parish Prayer part of your daily 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.
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
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