SUNDAY 14th May 2023:
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
‘IF YOU LOVE ME, YOU WILL KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS’ (John 14:15-21)
Today’s Gospel, like last Sunday’s, is part of St John’s account of the events of Holy Thursday night. In preparing the disciples for His departure, Jesus was uncompromising in stating the importance of keeping the Commandments, and the essential connection between loving Him and keeping His commandments: Love of God and love of neighbour is a summary of the Ten Commandments. We cannot separate our relationship with God from our various relationships with other people: our personal, ‘vertical’ relationship with God also involves a ‘horizontal’ relationship with Him through our relationships with the people we meet in everyday life.
MASS SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 10.00am; Tuesday: 9.30am
Rosary: Each morning, twenty minutes before Mass.
Saturday: Vigil Mass, 6.30pm. Sunday morning: Mass at 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:
Monday 15 May, 10.00am: Jacinta Kelly, Gallows Lane
Thursday 18 May, 10.00am: Packie Lindsay, Croaghan Heights
Saturday 20 May, 6.30pm: Elizabeth McBrearty, The Common.
ANNIVERSARIES:
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they rest in peace:
Eamon Porter, Sion Mills; Raymond White, Ballyduff; Jacinta Kelly, Gallows Lane
Joe Maguire, Hollybush Park; Frank & Maggie Connolly, Rossgier; Sean Porter, Lifford Common
John Porter, Edenmore; Paul McLaughlin, Grotto House; Edward Harkin, Edenmore
Lila McFeely, Porthall; Peter Quigley, Guystown.
We pray for the souls of those recently enrolled in the Derry Diocesan Society:
Kathleen Sharkey, Carrickmore; Frances Devenney, Tober; Gertie McDaid, Letterkenny Road
Seamus Behan, Butcher Street; Gary McGinley, Moneen
Masses are offered throughout the year in parishes and churches across the diocese,
including our own, for all who are enrolled in the Derry Diocesan Society.
The Derry Diocesan Society poster which is displayed at the back of the church gives details of these Masses.
THANK YOU for your generosity in last week’s collection, which amounted to €1,714. Thank you also to those who contribute by Standing Order. Thank you very much to those who have signed up recently for Gift Aid. If you are eligible to sign up for Gift Aid and haven’t yet done so, then you are invited to contact Lorna in the parish office this week, who will be happy to provide you with a Mandate.
CONGRATULATIONS and Well Done to the boys and girls of our three schools, who received their First Holy Communion on Saturday. It was a very special day in the life of our parish. Thank you to the teachers, parents, grandparents and all who contributed in any way to this very important occasion in the faith journey of the children. It was lovely to have the Children’s Choir – well done and thank you! Many thanks to Mr Harvey and staff for the use of the school premises for the refreshments afterwards. Sincere thanks to those who organised the refreshments. Our grounds are looking magnificent – I am most grateful to all involved in taking such care in having them looking so well. Your work is much appreciated.
Please continue to support the children by keeping them in your prayers.
PARENTS OF OUR 6TH CLASS CHILDREN, PLEASE NOTE:
The children of our three schools who received the Sacrament of Confirmation this year are invited to attend the 11.00am Mass on Pentecost Sunday, 28 May. On Pentecost Sunday, as you know, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit. In thanking God for the coming of the Holy Spirit on these children in the Sacrament of Confirmation, we will have a special blessing of the children on the day.
The date for our ‘Leavers’ Mass in our church for the 6th Class children will be published next week.
PARENTS OF FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CHILDREN, PLEASE NOTE:
The next and final Sunday of the Do This In Memory programme is on the Feast of Corpus Christi (the Body and Blood of Christ), Sunday 11 June. On that day, the children will be invited to participate in a Corpus Christi procession. They are asked to wear their First Holy Communion outfit for this special occasion. Weather permitting, we will have an outside procession, which I will lead, carrying the Blessed Sacrament, at our 11.00am Mass. The Corpus Christi procession, as some of you will know, is a great tradition of our faith on the Feast of Corpus Christi, and the idea of ‘resurrecting’ it came from our Liturgy Working Group last year.
ROSARY AT OUR LADY’S GROTTO, PORTHALL will take place on Monday 22 May, at 7.30pm. The Rosary will be recited for the protection of Our Lady on our parish families and for peace. Everyone is welcome.
Thank you to all who are joining in the prayerful practice of adorning our May Altar. It is looking lovely. The petitions in the Prayer Intentions box will be remembered at each of our Masses this month.
BLESSING OF THE GRAVES will take place on Monday 12 June, at 7.00pm. Please let others know!
Laudato Si’ Week 2023 will be celebrated globally from 21 – 28 May with the film “‘The Letter’ – A Message for Our Earth”, marking the eighth anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical, Laudato Si’, addressed to all of us, on Care for Creation. This year’s theme, “Hope for the Earth. Hope for Humanity,” focuses on the connectedness of all things and the need for a renewed commitment to environmental justice. The film aims to highlight the power of humanity united in action to stop the ecological crisis and its devastating effects on all creation; it shows Laudato Si’ in action.
A showing of “The Letter” will take place on Tuesday 23 May, at 7.00pm, in St Eugene’s Cathedral Hall, Derry. Please pre-book by calling the Parish Office on (+4428) 71262894, as spaces are limited. The film is also being shown in St Mary’s Hall, Buncrana, on Tuesday 23 May at 12:30pm, and in The Exchange, Buncrana, on Friday 26 May at 7:45pm.
Congratulations to all the boys and girls who received the Sacrament of First Holy Communion. We have been very privileged to be part of your preparations for receiving the sacrament. We have really enjoyed being your companions and we hope that our conversations have helped you in some small way to understand the Mass better.
Love,
Kath & Qumen.
We leave you with a little prayer:
Lord Jesus, You give us many gifts in our lives.
The gift of Your Son, Jesus, in Holy Communion is the greatest of all.
Thank you for this special gift, which we have just received for the first time.
Thank you, Jesus, for the gift of all those who helped us
in our First Holy Communion preparation,
especially our teachers, our parents and families, our priest.
We are called to be like You. We know that we can become more like You
by getting to know You better through Mass and Holy Communion.
We pray, Lord Jesus, that, with Your help,
we will always remain close to You and grow in our knowledge of Your love.
UPCOMING DATES OF NOTE FOR OUR PARISH:
Sunday 11 June: Corpus Christi Procession with the First Holy Communion children, 11.00am Mass
Monday 12 June: Blessing of the Graves, at 7.00pm. Please let your relatives and friends know.
Saturday 12 August: Second Annual Parish Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine. Full details will follow.
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
SAFEGUARDING NOTICE:
If you have any concerns about safeguarding children or adults in need of protection within the Church, please contact Marie Gormley, the Diocesan Designated Liaison Person, on 07596 500793 or by email on marie.gormley@derrydiocese.org