Parishes of Camus, Clonleigh and Leckpatrick
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B – 3rd November 2024
Parish Clergy
Fr Michael McCaughey, PP: (028) 71882274 / (028) 71883293
Fr Eddie Gallagher, CC: (074) 91 42022 Fr Declan Boland (priest in residence)
Email: leckpatrickparish@derrydiocese.org; Website: www.leckpatrickparish.com
Email: strabaneparish@derrydiocese.org; Website: www.camusparish.com
Email: clonleighparish@derrydiocese.org; Website: www.clonleighparish.com
Thoughts on the Gospel
Today we hear a very famous gospel passage which we might dismiss easily because we feel we know it so well. Love God. Love your neighbour. It sounds simple, yet it can be so difficult. Loving God in our world today means being counter-cultural; often we are afraid to even admit that we are believers. Finding time for God can be impossible due to our hectic lifestyles; we are addicted to ‘busy’ and have become ‘time poor’. Yet we can learn to see God in the everyday, right before us, in each task, in nature, in our friends and family. We might ask ourselves today, what prevents me from loving God, for making time for God in my life? For nourishing my relationship with God?
The love of neighbour which Jesus speaks of is a controversial love. It involves a love of people we don’t know or like. It is a radical love of those that society wants to dismiss: love of the migrant, love of the homeless family, love of the drug addict, love of the prisoner, love of the earth, love of the climate refugee. Love God and Love Neighbour – it sounds so simple yet these are the toughest, most radical lines in the Gospel. It sounds like two commandments and yet they are one, interconnected and inseparable, for to love God we must love our neighbour. And by loving our neighbour we are loving God. Today let us all ask ourselves how we can live more fully this great commandment and be a shining example of Christ’s love in the world.
Lord Jesus, help me to live out the heart of the commandments
by loving God and my neighbour to the best of my ability.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Remembering our Deceased Loved Ones During this month of November as we pray for all our holy souls, we think in a special way of those who have died through the past year. We pray for them and so too, we think of their loved ones who grieve at this time.
Mass will be offered for all those who have died in our parish area in the past year. During each Mass, a list of names of those loved ones who have died in the parishes of our pastoral area will be read out (some people have added other names of those who have died in other places). A family representative or friend will be invited to bring a candle to the altar. Please note that this candle will be provided at the Mass.
Monday 4th November at 7.00 pm in St Patrick’s Church, Lifford
Tuesday 5th November at 7.00 pm in Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane
Thursday 7th November at 7.00 pm in Sacred Heart Church, Derry Road.
“Those who die in grace go no further from us than God and God is very near.”
Indulgences For The Holy Souls
1)From 12 o’clock noon on 1st Nov until midnight on 2nd Nov, all who have confessed, received Holy Communion, and prayed for the Pope’s intentions (one Our Father and Hail Mary, or any other prayer of one’s choice) can gain one plenary indulgence by visiting a church or oratory, and there reciting one Our Father and the Apostles’ Creed. This indulgence is applicable only to the souls of the departed. Confession may be made at any time within the week preceding or the week following 1st Nov. Holy Communion may be received on any day from 1st to 8th Nov.
2) faithful who visit a cemetery and pray for the dead may gain a plenary indulgence applicable only to the Holy Souls on the usual conditions once per day from 1st to 8th November. The conditions mentioned above apply also for this.
Prayer for All the Deceased
God our Father, Your power brings us to birth,
Your providence guides our lives, and by Your command we return to dust.
Lord, those who die still live in Your presence, their lives change but do not end.
I pray in hope for my family, relatives and friends, and for all the dead known to You alone.
In company with Christ, who died and now lives, may they
rejoice in Your kingdom, where all our tears are wiped away. Unite us
together again in one family to sing Your praise forever and ever, Amen.
Eucharistic Adoration takes place in our pastoral area as follows:
Sacred Heart Church, Derry Road: Wednesday 8.15 am – 5 pm
St Patrick’s Church, Lifford: Friday 9.30 am – 12.30 pm
Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane: Tuesday 10.30 am – 1 pm
You are invited to come and pray quietly before the Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to commit yourself to be present for a half hour / hour to ensure someone is always present in the churches. Thank you for your prayerful support.
Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep;
that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.
Christmas Draw Tickets for the Pastoral Area Draw will be available in the coming days. This is an ideal Christmas gift. Subscription: £5. 25 prizes will be drawn on 5 days through the 12 days of Christmas. The final draw will take place on 6th January 2025. Your support of this draw will be greatly appreciated. More details next weekend.
Requiescant in Pace
As a parish faithful community, we offer our sympathy to the family of
Kieran Doherty, Strabane / Cretland;
Jean Allen, 157 Lower Main St, Strabane;
Tony Friel, Ballindrait, Lifford;
Fr Liam Donnelly, Lavey;
Pearl McGillion, 52 Carrick Strand, Strabane;
Damien McClay, 2 Tamworth Grove, Strabane
Anniversaries Hugo Rooney, Lila Doherty, Ruby Hynes, Jenny Simpson, Nellie Doherty, Angus Stewart, Aidan Foley, Maggie Mary Rushe, Brendan McGlinchey, Tom Finlay, William Cooke, Patsy Conway, Hugh Moss, John James McCrossan, Fran Ward, Marcus Doherty, Charles Dooher, Olivia Kelly, Margaret Dunne.
May they rest in peace.
Mass Intention in St Patrick’s Church, Lifford
Sunday 3rd November at 10 am: Kathleen Patton, Conneyburrow
Thank You for your generosity to the offertory collections last weekend:
Leckpatrick: £2,224.25; Clonleigh: €1,437.26 (Euro); Camus: £1,445.
Thank you also to those who contribute by standing order.
Readings for Sunday 10th November:
1 Kings 17:10-16; Psalm 145:7-10, R/ v 2.Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44
Mass in Honour of St Pio will be celebrated on Wednesday 6th November at 7 pm in Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane. Again, in this Mass we will pray for all our Holy Souls in the spirit of St Pio. Everyone is welcome.
Baptism Dates in St Patrick’s, Lifford November 9th, December14th, 21st & 28th & January 11th & 25th
Vocations Society of St Joseph The St John Vianney branch will meet on Tuesday 5th November in Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane with Rosary after 10 am Mass and continue in St Pat’s Hall.
New members are welcome.
Leckpatrick Parish Draw Draw cards and draw money due in the parish office on Monday 4th / Tuesday 5th Nov from 9.30 am – 12.30 pm. Promoters reminded that if draw money is not submitted at these times, they will not be entered in draw.
Pioneer Pledge for November A short-term pledge gives spiritual support and encouragement to people and their families who are living under the shadow of addiction. Contact Pioneer Assoc: 003531 8054226 or via www.pioneers.ie/pray
Gamblers Anonymous Tel 71351329. Alcoholics Anonymous 90351222.
Mass Cards / Mass Bouquet Cards available at the parish office, Ballymagorry.
Mass for Deceased Children and Young People will take place in St Eugene’s Cathedral on Sunday 10th November at 7 pm with an opportunity to write down the name of your deceased loved one before Mass. You can also join the Mass on St Eugene’s webcam. If you are unable to attend but would like to have a child or young person remembered, please email lizzie.rea@derrydiocese.org by Friday 8th November.
Saints of the Coming Week:
Monday: St Charles Borromeo, bishop;
Tuesday: St Martin de Porres, religious;
Wednesday: All Saints of Ireland;
Saturday: The Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome
Vocations That those called to serve as priests of the diocese of Derry will reflect, in their words and actions, the holiness, innocence, purity, and sinlessness of Jesus Christ, the High Priest.
“DILEXIT NOS – He Loved Us” Encyclical of Pope Francis: Prayers and Reflections based on “the Human and the Divine Love of the Heart of Jesus Christ” available on www.pioneers.ie
Contemplative Prayer Group meets on Mondays at 8.00 pm in the Meditation Room at the Parochial House, Barrack St, Strabane. Newcomers very welcome.
Sycamore – Faith Discovery Programme is an informal course about our Catholic faith and its relevance for life today. It gives you space to meet other people, share ideas, explore your beliefs, and think about questions that really matter. In preparation for the Jubilee year 2025 the focus will be on the gift of prayer. Each session involves a short film and plenty of time for quiet reflection and discussion. The course will be run by Fr Peter O’Kane, Derry Diocesan Adult Faith Formator, on the following dates:
Monday: 4, 11, 18, 25 Nov & 1 Dec. Venue: Muff, Co Donegal 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm
Tuesday: 5, 12, 19, 26 Nov & 2 Dec. Venue: Dungiven 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm
To help facilitate venue please, please register at derrydiocese.org/sycamore. Refreshments will be provided. Everyone is welcome.
What is God’s Dream for your Life’ Retreat takes place on6th November 10 am – 3.30pm. Additional dates 11 December; 22 January, 19 February. Particularly useful for individuals and teams who want to take time away from the busyness of life and rediscover a sense of direction and purpose in their lives.
Advent Reflection Retreat: Preparing for the Birth of the Christ Child: Sunday 10 November, 1pm-6pm. Join us for a day of Scripture, song and silence that will equip us to go into Advent with plenty to fill our minds and hearts as we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus once more. Both days of reflection facilitated by Jim Deeds at Ards Friary and cost €65 (includes refreshments & lunch).
Walking with the Franciscan Mystics Retreat 22nd – 24th Nov. In this workshop we encounter some of the great Franciscan Mystics and find ways we can share in their wisdom and vision for a world renewed by the light of Christ and communion with creation. Facilitated by Br Richard Hendrick. Cost: €240. For more details on any of the above, please contact info@ardsfriary.ie or visit www.ardsfriary.ie
Rosary for peace, Ireland and our unborn childrentoday at 3pm at Lisfannon Beach.
Sharing the Good News, the weekly newsletter of the Irish Bishops’ Conference, can be viewed at https://catholicnews.ie/
Franciscan Friary, Rossnowlagh Healing Service today (Sunday). Rosary at 2.45 pm followed by Mass / Healing Service at 3 pm. Confessions 2 pm – 5 pm.
Pope’s Prayer Intention for November For anyone who has lost a child
We pray that all parents who mourn the loss of a son or daughter find support in their community and receive peace and consolation from the Holy Spirit.
St Vincent De Paul Helpline – tel 07711156924
Parish Schedule
Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane
Mass: Saturday Vigil: 6.30 pm; Sunday: 10 am & 12 noonMonday – Friday: 10.00 am; Wednesday: 7.00 pm Eucharistic Adoration: 10.30 am – 1 pm
Leckpatrick St Mary’s Church, Cloughcor: Mass: Saturday Vigil: 6 pm
Sacred Heart Church, Derry Rd: Mass: Sunday: 11.30 am; Monday – Friday: 7.45 am
St Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan: Mass: Sunday: 10amEucharistic Adoration in Sacred Heart Church: Wednesdays from 8.15 am–5 pm
St Patrick’s Church, Lifford Mass: Saturday Vigil: 6.30 pm; Sunday: 10.00 amMass: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9.00 amRosary: 8.40 am Confessions: Saturday: 6.00 pm – 6.15 pm Eucharistic Adoration: 9.30 am – 12.30 pm
Weddings Please contact any of our parish offices. At least 6 months notice required.
Baptisms: Parent(s) are asked to contact any of our parish offices.
Safeguarding If you have any concerns with regard to safeguarding children or adults in need of protection within the Church, please contact Maire Gormley, the Diocesan Designated Liaison Person (DLP) at tel: +447596 500 793 or email: mairegormley@derrydiocese.org or PSNI (Police Service of N Ireland) 101 or Social Services: Western HSC Trust, +442871314090 (Ask for the Duty Social Worker) or Garda Síochána, Buncrana 074 9320540, Letterkenny HQ 074 9123672 or TUSLA Family & Child Agency, Buncrana 074 9320420 or Letterkenny 074 9123672.