SUNDAY 7th January 2024:
BAPTISM OF THE LORD
The Church celebrates the Baptism of Jesus today. The Baptism of Jesus is a very special moment of grace in God’s plan for salvation and, 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 living out the virtues of the Gospel and sharing in the mission of the Church, especially in our own families and our own parish community.
We pray in a special way today all the children who were baptised in our church in the last year. The gift of the Sacrament of Baptism, which they received at the request of their parents, opened the door to a life of faith and friendship with Jesus. 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 them always.
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). 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
†
Sarah Gallagher, late of St Columba’s Grove, Ballyduff Park (formerly Porthall)
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support to all who mourn the death of Sarah: to Martin and Sheena, to Kyle and Caoimhe, and to the wider family circle and friends of Sarah, whose Funeral Mass took place in St Patrick’s on Christmas Day. May she rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES:
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they rest in peace:
Leonard Friel, Cavan Hill; Jimmy Crawford Jnr, Porthall; Alice McGhee, Castlefin; Josephine Colhoun, Beechwood
Shaun Buchanan, Tamnawood; Hugh & Maureen McDermott, Coneyburrow Road; Kathleen Porter, The Common
Sister Gabrielle Porter, The Common; Annmarie Brennan, Finnside Close; Aaron Rafferty Gallagher, Ballina.
MASS INTENTIONS:
Saturday 13 January, 6.30pm: Rose Peoples – Month’s Mind Mass
Sunday 14 January, 10.00am: Kaddy Gamble, Rossgier.
SVP THANK YOU:
The St Patrick’s Murlog Conference wishes to sincerely thank the tremendous generosity of all who contributed to the recent annual collection, which raised a phenomenal €13,171 in their recent annual collection. Through your generosity, the Conference is able to provide invaluable services to those needing help in our local community.
SPECIAL THANKS to our liturgy working group who decorated our church so beautifully for our Christmas celebrations, and to Old Daly’s Shop who, as always, supplied our beautiful Christmas tree. Thank you also to all who helped in any way in our Christmas liturgies. As always, we are very grateful to our two choirs – singers and musicians – whose contribution always enhances our liturgies so much. We were especially blessed this Christmas to have our two new altar servers. They are doing a great job. I am delighted to have them. Well done, boys, and we pray that now, in our Jubilee Year, some more young boys and girls will join you!
SPECIAL THANKS for a very generous and welcome donation of €10,000 to the parish this week. It is greatly appreciated and is a great start to our Jubilee Year in the parish! Thank you very much for your kindness.
JUBILEE YEAR MEETING:
A Meeting of the ‘Jubilee 24’ Working Group will take place this Wednesday, 10 January, at 7.00pm in Murlog NS, to finalise the parish calendar of events for our jubilee year ahead. I ask that as many as possible attend this meeting, please, which will last no longer than one hour.
DO THIS IN MEMORY:
Our next Do This in Memory Mass for the First Holy Communion children is next Sunday, 14 January, at 10.00am. As always, it is important that all the children have the opportunity to participate in this parish-based preparation to receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
The Gospel next Sunday reminds us that we can ask Jesus to help people who are sick and, so, the children are asked this week, with the help of their parents, to write out the names of some people they know who are sick (first names will do), perhaps a family member, neighbour or friend, and bring the names along to Mass next Sunday. The children will be invited on Sunday to bring forward the names they have written and place them in a basket on the sanctuary. During our Prayer of the Faithful at Mass, we will ask God’s healing on all those for whom the children are inviting prayer.
BIG BINGO in Clonleigh Social Centre, Lifford, today, Sunday 7 January, at 3.00pm. All welcome!
START OF YEAR REMINDERS:
SACRAMENTAL DATES – CONFIRMATION AND FIRST HOLY COMMUNION:
Confirmation: Lifford N S and Murlog N S: Saturday 20 April 2024, at 11.00am
First Holy Communion: Cloughfin N S and Lifford N S: Saturday 11 May 2024, at 11.00am
Murlog N S: Saturday 18 May 2024, at 11.00am
Please keep the children and their families in your prayer as they prepare
to receive the sacraments.
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM:
Baptisms in our parish are 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, and as part of the preparation for the children to receive the sacrament, I shall arrange to visit the parents of the children ahead of the day.
ANNIVERSARY MASSES / MONTH’S MIND MASSES, 2024:
In so far as possible, all bookings for Anniversary Masses should be for one of the Masses in the existing schedule for the parish (ie, one of the two Sunday Masses – Saturday evening Vigil, 6.30pm, Sunday 10.00am, or one of the five weekday morning Masses). Bookings should be made through Lorna in the parish office, who will be happy to help you. 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 (ie, for a Mass that is not part of the normal schedule), please contact me directly to arrange a suitable day and time.
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 subsequent Month’s Mind Mass request. It is very much hoped, of course, that any such inconvenience will be minimal.
Thank you very much for your co-operation. I am always most encouraged by the great tradition in our parish of honouring deceased loved ones through the celebration of Anniversary Masses and in prayer via our parish newsletter. It is always a privilege for me to join in your prayer for your deceased loved ones through the celebration of Mass. Fr Colm.
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