SUNDAY 25th February 2024:
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
On the Second Sunday of Lent each year, the Gospel moves on from the temptations of Jesus in the desert to Mark’s Gospel account of The Transfiguration of Jesus. The Transfiguration took place in the presence of three of His disciples—Peter, James and John. On one hand, it was a frightening and confusing experience for the disciples but, on the other hand, this privileged spiritual experience, the glimpse of the glory of God, was a changing moment that would strengthen them in faith and give them the courage and hope they needed for the challenging and dark times ahead.
All of us will have had the experience of things happening in our lives (or the lives of others) that can leave us confused or frightened and maybe even discouraged; we may even wonder where God is in all of it. Like the three disciples, however, we too may experience special moments of God’s grace – precious, inexplicable moments of transfiguration that bring new light to our understanding of Christ’s loving presence in our lives, helping to strengthen and sustain us in faith and thereby embrace the challenges and complexities of our daily lives. Staying close to God through prayer and through the sacraments helps us to experience His loving presence, especially in times of fear and doubt. This sacred season of Lent offers us opportunities to ‘transfigure’ our relationship with Jesus. We ask God today for the grace to use these opportunities well.
MASS SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:
Monday, 10.00am
Friday, 10.00am and 7.00pm (Month’s Mind Mass for Benny Porter)
Please note there is no Mass in our parish on
Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday of this week.
The Rosary is prayed before each weekday Mass, starting twenty minutes before Mass.
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
†
Mary McBrearty (nee McDaid), late of 9 Letterkenny Road, Lifford, formerly Magheracloy, St Johnston
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support to all who mourn the death of Mary: to Danny, Liam, John, Kay and Eileen, to the grandchildren, great-grandchildren and wider family circle and friends of Mary, whose Funeral Mass took place in St Patrick’s on Tuesday. May she rest in peace.
ANNIVERSARIES:
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they rest in peace:
Billy Brown, Coolatee; Seamus Devenney, Porthall; Kathellen Friel, Lancaster
Noel Gallagher, Croaghan Heights; Sadie Gallagher, Liskey; Bridget Huston Clarke, Moneen
John & Margaret Crawford, Raphoe; Jimmy Crawford Snr, Block Five; Patrick & Jean Galbraith, Curraghalane Solly McGhee, Castlefin; Annie & Willie McGowan, Glenties; Liam Arthur, Townparks
Terry O’Doherty, Coneyburrow; Martin McBrearty, Croaghan Heights; Seamus Behan, Butcher Street
Edward Crawford, Brickfield.
MASS INTENTIONS:
Friday 1 March, 7.00pm: Month’s Mind Mass for Benny Porter, Letterkenny Road
Saturday 2 March, 6.30pm: John & Mary Rose Colhoun, Ballindrait; Martin Tourish, The Roughan.
FIRST CONFESSIONS in our parish will be on Wednesday 20 March, at 6.30pm. As the children continue to prepare to receive the sacrament for the first time, parents are asked to help them by spending some prayerful time with them each evening during Lent, at the family’s Sacred Prayer Space, reflecting on the ways in which everyone in the family might have distanced themselves from each other and from God that day through their words or actions, and praying together the Act of Sorrow from last month’s Grapevine:
O my God, I thank you for loving me.
I am sorry for all my sins, for not loving others and not loving You.
Help me to live like Jesus and not sin again. Amen.
Trócaire is the official overseas development agency of the Catholic Church in Ireland, set up by the Irish Catholic Bishops fifty-one years ago, in 1973. Trócaire has been working on our behalf since its foundation to seek justice for the world’s most vulnerable people – the oppressed, the outcast, those forced to flee from their homes and all who suffer from the injustices of economic and political structures.
This year, the focus is on Malawi. The Trócaire Lenten Box features Malita with two of her six children, 12-year-old twins, Patricia and Patrick, at their home in Malawi. Their story is unfortunately one that is typical in Malawi as they struggle every day with the many problems relating to access to water – going from drought to flooding. You are encouraged to read Malita’s remarkable story of what she does to ensure her family survives., and to share her story with children.
Trócaire boxes are available at the back of the church. You are asked to pick one up today, please, if you haven’t already done so.
THE DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES takes place from Monday 1 July to Friday 5 July, leaving from City of Derry Airport. It will be led by Bishop Donal McKeown. Full board £799, single room supplement £150. The pilgrimage office is now open from 11am to 1pm on Thursdays and Saturdays. You can phone 048 71260293 or email derrypilgrim@outlook.com
Remember, as part of our Parish Jubilee celebrations 2024, it is hoped that a number of people from our parish will participate in the Diocesan Pilgrimage and, as part of the pilgrimage, we will hold our own parish celebrations while participating in the diocesan pilgrimage in Lourdes. I will be honoured to guide and lead parishioners in making it a very special time for us as a parish in our Jubilee year. If you have any queries at all (over and above booking arrangements above), please contact me. Please let me know if you are intending to participate in the pilgrimage!
THANK YOU for your generosity in last week’s collection, which amounted to €2,343. Thank you, as always, to those who contribute by Standing Order.
THANK YOU FROM THE LOURDES HOSPITALITE for your contributions to their recent appeal for donations. The total raised in our parish was €588. The Hospitalite money goes towards the costs attached to taking the sick to Lourdes on the Diocesan Pilgrimage.
STRABANE HISTORY SOCIETY will meet this Thursday night, 29 February, at 7.30pm in the Strabane Brass Band Music Rooms, John Wesley Street (off Railway Road). This month’s Talk will be “Strabane Canal.” This is an illustrated talk by John Dooher and Michael Kennedy. Everyone is welcome.
MICHAEL ENGLISH Gospel & Country Concert will be held in St Patrick’s Church, Castlederg on Friday 8 March, 8.00pm, in the church. Doors open 7.00pm. Tickets £30 each (unallocated seating). Tickets available via eventbrite.co.uk or email the parish office on castledergparish@derrydiocese.org
LOUGH DERG RETREAT FOR YOUNG ADULTS (18 – 30-year olds):
The Knights of St Columbanus, Omagh, are organising this Retreat, which will take place on Saturday 27 April, from 10.00am – 4.00pm. Guest Speakers, inspirational talks, reflective time and concluding with Mass. This event is FREE OF CHARGE. For further information, email info@knightsofstcolumbanusomagh.co.uk
OUR JUBILEE 2024 CELEBRATIONS will be launched on St Patrick’s Day. Our church and grounds will be suitably decorated and the sacramental children from our three schools will provide displays for our church which will, of course, be on the theme of St Patrick, to celebrate the patron saint of our country and the saint to whom our beautiful church is dedicated.
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