SUNDAY 3rd December 2023:
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
GOSPEL: ST MARK 13:33-37 ‘STAY AWAKE’
Today, the First Sunday of Advent, is the first day of the new liturgical year – Year B – when we will listen to the Gospel of St Mark on most Sundays. The season of Advent gets its name from the Latin word adventus, meaning ‘arrival’. December is the month when we turn our minds to preparing to celebrate the birth of the Baby Jesus. The message in the Gospel today is to stay awake, to be alert, to be ready! But the preparation Jesus speaks of in today’s Gospel is preparation for the coming of the Lord at the end of time, when He will take all creation to Himself. A new liturgical year provides an opportunity to look forward to fresh opportunities. We begin again in discipleship and in renewal of our relationship with God, knowing that He, ever bountiful in love and mercy, is always there to welcome us. We pray that we will use well the opportunities that the prayerful Season of Advent provides for spiritual growth so that, as we journey together in hope, we will be a watchful people, strengthened by prayer and nourished by the Eucharist.
MASS SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday, 10.00am
Tuesday, 9.30am
Friday, Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Holy Day of Obligation): Mass at 10.00am
(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
†
Claire Devine, late of Birmingham (formerly Five Acres and Brookvale, Strabane)
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support to all who mourn the death of Claire, whose Funeral Mass took place in St Patrick’s on Saturday: to Jamie, Sebastian and Chester,
to Maureen, to Nick, Nicola, Colleen, Caroline and Peter, and to the wider family circle and friends of Claire. May she rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES:
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they rest in peace:
Joseph & Kathleen Quinn, Feddyglass; Molly Colhoun, Coneyburrow; James & Mary Devine, Lifford
Jim & Fionnuala Devine, Strabane; Taffy Doherty, Belfast; Anne Stewart, The Roughan
Donal MacLochlainn, Drumbuoy; Maura MacLochlainn, Bridge Street; Betty McCrory, Porthall
Thomas Friel, Coolatee; Bernadette Simpson, Moy-Ita.
MASS INTENTIONS:
Saturday 9 December, 6.30pm:
John McMenamin, Croaghan Heights; Danny & Annie Donnelly, Ballylennon
Sunday 10 December, 10.00am:
Seamus McBrearty, Tamnawood; Richard McBrearty, Chestnut Grove.
THANK YOU as always for your generosity in last week’s collection, which amounted to €1,734.00
CONFESSIONS:
The Sacrament of Confessions will be available in the church each of the next three Saturdays of December, 9, 16 & 23, from 11.00am till 12.00noon. It is hoped that as many people as possible will avail of the opportunity to receive the sacrament, as part of their spiritual preparation for Christmas. In particular, I encourage parents to bring their children along to receive the sacrament.
ADVENT ASSEMBLY for Murlog National School: tomorrow, Monday (4 December), in the church at 11.15am. Everyone is welcome. In particular, parents, grandparents, siblings and other family members are invited to come along, if at all possible.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL Christmas collection will take place this weekend, 2/3 December. You are asked to be as generous as possible to this annual collection.
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 Masses next weekend, 9 & 10 December.
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.
A FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS PRAISE:
Ballindrait Presbyterian Church warmly invite you to this event next Sunday, 10 December, at 7.00pm. Special collection in aid of Donegal Hospice. Tea and mince pies will be served!
ANAM CARA Monthly Parent Evening for bereaved parents, Thursday 14 December, at 7.15pm in the Raddison Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. This event is free and is open to all bereaved parents, regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances, or whether the death was recent. Online service also available. Tel 01 4045378.
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.
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. Note: The virtual doors above cannot be opened ahead of their actual date!
Symbolism Of The Irish 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.
On this First Sunday of Advent, we light the first candle of the Advent Wreath, representing Hope:
God of Hope, we enter your holy season of Advent
giving thanks to You for the love You have for all of us.
We begin to prepare for the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Your Son, Jesus.
With the promise of Your Son, we live with great hope and anticipation:
Hope in the knowledge of the love You continue to give us.
Hope in the knowledge that Jesus is coming into our lives and hearts to heal us and love us.
We are a people of hope, and no matter how difficult times sometimes are,
we know that Your Son is coming and that you continue to shower us with Your love. 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 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