SUNDAY 26th November 2023:
FEAST OF CHRIST THE KING
The Church concludes the liturgical year with the celebration of the kingship of Jesus. Next Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent, is the first day of the new liturgical (church) year.
Today, we celebrate Christ as our anointed King, who overcame suffering and death to lead us, His children, out of darkness and into the eternal light of God’s heavenly kingdom. Jesus’ model of kingship was about love, service, justice, reconciliation and peace. All these things are ‘within our league’, but we don’t always get it right. Today’s Gospel is a clear teaching on seeing the face of Christ in others, especially those in need.
So, with Jesus as our model, we pray that today will mark a new beginning for all of us in allowing God to rule our hearts and minds and permeate everything we do and say, so that our lives and our values in life will reflect the teachings and example of Christ our King.
MASS SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:
Monday, 10.00am; Tuesday, 9.30am; Wednesday, 10.00am.
Please note that there will be no Mass on Thursday or Friday of this week,
as I will be attending an event for the priests of the diocese and will not be available,
except in case of emergency.
(The Rosary is normally recited by the congregation 20 minutes prior to the midweek morning Mass). As always, you are invited to come along to this special time of parish prayer
and blessing in our church.
Saturday: Vigil Mass, 6.30pm.
Sunday: Mass at 10.00am
All Masses are livestreamed on our webcam; 10.00am Mass on Sunday is broadcast by Finn Valley Radio, 95.8FM
†
Anne Stewart (nee Quinn), late of 55 Croaghan Heights, (formerly Brockagh)
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support to all who mourn the death of Anne, whose Funeral Mass took place in St Patrick’s on Tuesday: to Patrick, to Sinead, Tina, Marie, Anne and Josephine, to Peggy, to the grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and wider family circle and friends of Anne. May she rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES:
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they rest in peace:
Danny McGavigan, Croaghan Heights; Hugh McGranaghan, Tober; Dan Carlin, Coneyburrow
Nora Rooney, The Diamond; Joseph Gallagher, Post Office Lane; Liam Lafferty, Ballinabreen
Joseph O’Driscoll, Coneyburrow; Willie McGinley, Sligo; Peter, Mary & Peter Eunan Quigley, Guystown
Murphy Family, Mayo; Peter Devine, Strabane; John Devine, Mossbeg; Seamus Lynch, Coneyburrow Kevin Woods, Ballymonaster; Patrick Caulfield, Gallows Lane
MASS INTENTIONS:
Wednesday 29 November, 10.00am: Seamus Lynch, Coneyburrow
Saturday 2 December, 6.30pm:
Anne Stewart, The Roughan; Donal MacLochlainn, Drumbuoy and Maura MacLochlainn, Bridge Street.
THANK YOU as always for your generosity in last week’s collection, which amounted to €2,906. Thank you also for further contributions to the Cemetery Sunday collection, amounting to €200.00
WELCOME to our Do This In Memory Mass children today, at our 10.00am Mass. Today, we will remember, in a very special way, their loved ones who have died. The children have been busy this week preparing their tribute to their family members who have died.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL:
Christmas collection will take place next weekend, 2/3 December. Sincere thanks to those in our parish community whose ongoing charitable works provide invaluable support to people in need. 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.
TROCAIRE has launched its annual Gifts of Change campaign. “The Gift of Family Essentials (€35) will bring vital comfort to children and families caught up in conflict in countries like Gaza, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Ukraine. This gift will provide families with survival kits, emergency dignity kits and food baskets.” “The Mental Health Lifeline Gift (€50) also provides women and children in Gaza access to vital mental health care.” ‘Gifts of Change’ will be on sale after our Mass on Saturday 9 December and after our Mass on Sunday 10 December.
STRABANE HISTORY SOCIETY will meet this Thursday, 30 November, at 7.00pm, in The Music Rooms, John Wesley Street, Strabane (opposite the Library, close to the back gate of the Post Office). This month’s Talk will be “Railway Days in Strabane.” The speaker will be Jim Tinneny, co-author of Railway Days. Everyone is welcome.
FINN VALLEY MEN’S CHOIR will perform at Clonleigh Social Centre, Lifford, this Wednesday, 29 November, at 8.00pm. Admission €10. Everyone is welcome!
SENIOR CITIZENS CHRISTMAS PARTY:
Clonleigh Social Services Senior Citizens Christmas Party will be held in the Lake of Shadows Hotel, Buncrana, on Saturday 9 December. Bus will depart at 10.00am.
MEDJUGORJE PILGRIMAGE – EASTER 2024:
27 March, for seven days, ex Dublin. Spiritual Director, Fr Billy Molloy. If you are interested in receiving further details, please contact Bernie McBride on 087 935 3953.
MEDJUGORJE PILGRIMAGES 2024:
8 – 15 May and 18 – 25 September. If you are interested in receiving further details, please contact Anne Duffy on 077360 05396.
GRAVEYARD SKIPS:
I wish to remind everyone who uses the skips at our graveyards that they are only for old flowers and wreaths. No other materials should be put into them. Recently, people have been putting stones, clay and household rubbish into the skips and, as a result, when they are weighed, the bills for them have gone up dramatically. It is inconsiderate of those who misuse the skip facility, causing unnecessarily large bills for the parish. This cannot continue, long-term. I ask, please, that everyone respects this request for correct use of the skips. Thank you to all who do avail of the facility for the correct purposes, helping to keep your graves and our church grounds tidy. Fr Colm.
The new liturgical year, Cycle B, starts next Sunday (First Sunday of Advent) when, for the most part, we will listen to the Gospel of St Mark.
While Mark’s Gospel is presented in the Bible as the second of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John), it is believed to have been the first written (thought to have been written between 50 – 70 AD), and directed to the needs of early Christian communities, particularly the Gentile audience. It is the shortest of the Gospels, with just 16 chapters.
Jesus is pictured by Mark as a man of action and authority. He puts emphasis on what Jesus did, rather than on His words. Mark (John Mark was his full name) was not one of the first disciples of Jesus, but he was a companion of Peter (Simon Peter) and much of what is written by Mark is thought to be the eye-witness accounts of apostles, particularly Peter, during Peter’s ministry with Jesus.
Most importantly, Mark’s Gospel gives us a clear portrayal of authentic discipleship and, as the disciples of today, we are called to apply it to our everyday lives. So, we pray that the start of the new liturgical year will mark a new beginning for all of us in allowing the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel to be at the centre of everything we do and say, so that our lives and our values will reflect His example.
St Mark, pray for us.
‘And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you into fishers of men.”
And at once they left their nets and followed him.’ Mark 1:17-18
Hello, boys and girls.
Our friends Kath and Qumen have been in touch again,
asking how you are getting on with your preparations for First Holy Communion.
They are so pleased that you are all remembering, in such a special way, your family members
who have died, and who were very special to you and to your families.
We are always sad when someone who is very special to us has died.
Kath and Qumen wish to remind you to read and do all the activities in
Thumb and Grapevine, with the help of your parents.
They look forward to tuning in with you again on Sunday 24 December,
when we will all be preparing in a very special way to celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus.
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