SUNDAY 15th October 2023:
TWENTY-EIGHTH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME
PARABLE OF THE WEDDING BANQUET
In today’s Gospel, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to a royal wedding banquet. Just as there are invited guests to the banquet in the parable, we are invited guests in God’s kingdom, through the sacrament of Baptism. Today’s parable invites us to reflect on the quality of our response to God’s invitation to us: Does our lifestyle reflect a positive yes to the building of His kingdom? Do we sometimes respond in a half-hearted way, like the man in the second part of today’s parable who attended the wedding banquet but did not wear a wedding garment? We pray today that the quality of our ‘yes’ to God will be exemplary so that, by the example of our lives, we will inspire others in their response to God.
OCTOBER – MONTH OF MISSION
PROPAGATION OF THE FAITH (MISSION SUNDAY) COLLECTION will be taken up as a second collection at our Masses next weekend. There is a special envelope in your box for it. The proceeds of this collection are channelled through Missio Ireland, the official support organisation for the overseas mission of the Church, bringing the prayers, solidarity and financial help of the Church in Ireland to Christian communities in other parts of the world. See Missio website: www.missio.ie.
For his Message for Mission Sunday (22 October), Pope Francis has chosen the theme, “Hearts on Fire, Feet on the Move”, inspired by the story in the Gospel of St Luke (24:13-35) of the first appearance of Jesus to two of His disciples, after His crucifixion and discovery of the empty tomb. The full text of the Holy Father’s Message can be accessed on www.vatican.va
St Thérèse of Lisieux, pray for us. St Francis Xavier, pray for us.
MASS SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 10.00am.
Tuesday: 9.30am.
(The Rosary is normally recited by the congregation 20 minutes prior to the midweek morning Mass).
In this Month of October, you are asked to come along to pray the Rosary, if possible.
Saturday: Vigil Mass, 6.30pm. Sunday: Mass at 9.00am &11.00am
All Masses are livestreamed on our webcam; 10.00am Mass on Sunday is broadcast by Finn Valley Radio, 95.8FM
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ANNIVERSARIES:
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they rest in peace:
Charlie Lafferty, Holly Bush Park; Paddy & Bridie O’Donnell, Ard Baithin; Pajoe McBrearty, Albert Terrace Rose Roulston, Cavan Hill; Gwen Crawford, Glynford; Mary Ellen Devine, Ballindrait
Josephine Crawford, Block Five; Bridget & William Arthur, Coneyburrow Rd; Gerald Crawford, Grotto Hse.
MASS INTENTIONS:
Saturday 21 October, 6.30pm: John Doherty, Block Five
Sunday 22 October, 9.00am: Catherine Hannigan, Letterkenny Road.
THANK YOU as always for your generosity in last week’s collection, which amounted to: €2,114. Thank you also to those who contribute by Standing Order or online.
DO THIS IN MEMORY MASS is next Sunday, 22 October, (Mission Sunday), at 11.00am. All the children are due to receive the Sacraments of Penance and First Holy Communion in 2024, and their parents, are asked to attend this Mass. Parents, please support your child with Thumb and Grapevine, to help him/her prepare for this Mass. The children should bring Thumb to Mass, as it has the responses to the Mass prayers in it.
The children will process with me from the back of the church, carrying their candles, so it is important that all the children are there early, ready to process at 11.00am sharp. Louise and Patricia will look after you when you arrive. Looking forward to seeing you all!
UPCOMING JUBILEE YEAR:
ST PATRICK’S CHURCH, CLONLEIGH – OFFICIALLY OPENED 60 YEARS IN 2024
CLONLEIGH AS AN INDEPENDENT PARISH – 50 YEARS IN 2024:
Jubilee Meeting, to form a Jubilee Committee, will take place on Monday 23 October, at 7.30pm, in Murlog school. The committee’s initial role will be to give consideration to the practicalities and implementation of the ideas and suggestions brought forward at our first meeting and, then, to assist in drawing up a suitable calendar of events for 2024. If you would like to be part of the Jubilee committee, please come along next Monday night.
VISITATION OF THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND will take place this week, starting each day at 11.00am:
Monday – Ballindrait, Tober & Cloughfin
Wednesday – Rossgier, Coolatee, Porthall & Cavan Hill
Thursday – Murlog, Lifford & Coneyburrow
Friday – Letterkenny Road, Croaghan Heights & Drumboy
Please let your family member, neighbour or friend know that I will be calling. If there is anyone who is currently not attended but would like to be included, please let me know and I will be more than delighted to call with you and to bring you the Eucharist.
DAY RETREAT IN HONOUR OF ST PEREGRINE:
Carmelite Retreat Centre, Termonbacca, Thursday 19 October, 10.00am – 3.00pm. Cost, including light lunch, £15. Please bring along a bottle of olive oil to be blessed in honour of St Peregrine. A first-class relic of St Peregrine will be available on the day. For bookings, telephone 048 71 262512.
WEEKEND RETREAT, ‘Preparing for Christmas’, at Ards Friary, Creeslough, 8 – 10 December. Led by Philip McParland. In the weeks leading up to Christmas there is usually a lot going on in our lives. This weekend aims to offer an opportunity to focus on spiritual preparation. It will be both reflective and practical, suggesting ways to keep in touch with Jesus. To book, contact Ards. Tel: 074 91 38909. Email: info@ardsfriary.ie
ALONE is a charity that empowers older people to remain living in their own homes in their own communities with supports and programmes to enable them to do so. Some of these require volunteers – Visitation, Befriending and Telephone support. Full training and support provided. If interested, please sign up: https://alone.ie/volunteers/ For more information, contact Helena on helena.madden@alone.ie
October – Month of special devotion to Our Lady and, in particular, to praying the Rosary. You are encouraged to make special effort to recite the Family Rosary in your homes during this month. Parents, in particular, are encouraged to teach and pray the Rosary with their children.
In this Month of October, I encourage as many people as possible to come along and join our Rosary Group to pray the Rosary, twenty minutes before our morning Masses.
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 X: @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