Parishes of Camus, Clonleigh and Leckpatrick
First Sunday of
Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) Year C – 15th December 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
In the gospel today John the Baptist describes Jesus as ‘standing among you, unknown to you‘.
In John’s time this was because Jesus had not yet begun his ministry, but in our own day these words have a particular relevance. We live by faith in Jesus the crucified and risen Lord present in our world. In preparing for Christmas we want to renew our awareness of that presence and to help others be aware of it. In Advent we, like John, are called to be witnesses to the light he brings. In small but important ways we can bring light into the lives of those around us. Simple acts of kindness, sharing our time, talents or resources with those in need, is the only way Christ’s light will shine for many people this Christmas. In our time, through the gift of the Spirit, the Word becomes flesh in us.
Do This In Memory Masses Sunday 15th December The children of 2nd Class in the schools of Clonleigh Parish and their families are invited to our Advent Season Do This In Memory Mass today (Sunday) at 11 am in St Patrick’s Church, Murlog. Please note the 11 am Mass time.
Children from St Catherine’s PS and their families are invited to 12.15 pm Mass today (Sunday) in Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane.
Preparing Through Advent & Christmas You are invited to a time of prayer on Wednesday 18th December from 8–9 pm in Sacred Heart Church, Derry Rd. The theme of Leckpatrick Parish Mission earlier this year was ‘reach’. Once again, we reach out to each other and invite you to a time of prayer, to reflect on this special time of year. As we celebrate Advent Season, we also think of the Jubilee Year to come. Aware that we are all ‘pilgrims of hope’, we journey together in prayer through Advent in preparation for Christmas and the Jubilee Year. Please take time to come along.
A Penitential Service will take place in St Mary’s Church, Melmount on Sunday 22nd December at 6 pm. People are encouraged to come along to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation in preparation for Christmas. Priests from surrounding parishes will be available to celebrate the sacrament. Please feel welcome to come along.
Bambinelli Sunday Each year, on the Third Sunday of Advent. Pope Francis invites people to bring the baby Jesus figure from their crib at home to be blessed at Masses. At all Masses this weekend in our parishes, we’ll celebrate this beautiful tradition. You are invited to bring your Bambinelli to Mass for a blessing on your crib and your home this Christmas. Families can make their own bambinelli if they wish.
Trocaire Gifts of Change will be on sale at
St Joseph’s, Glenmornan 15th December;
Sacred Heart, Derry Road 15th December;
Immaculate Conception, Strabane 10th – 15th December inclusive;
St Patrick’s, Murlog 21st & 22nd December.
When you buy a Trocaire Gift of Love, you are not just giving, you are helping communities in some of the world’s poorest places to work their way out of poverty.
Requiescant in Pace As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy to the family and friends of
Pat Donnelly, Magirr Park / Newtownkennedy St;
Hugh Crawford, Coolatee, Lifford;
Joe Breslin, Fountain St;
Frankie Dunne, Butcher St;
Alex Kelly, (son of the late Patrick & Kitty Kelly, Braide & Main St, Lifford), who died in America;
Rose Kelly, Omagh (mother of Damien Kelly, Ballindrait);
Johnny Devine, Main St, Lifford;
Adrian Gallagher, Springhill Park;
Michael McCrossan, Barrack St;
Marie Maxwell, The Crescent, Clady;
Mary Gormley (nee Moran), USA (first cousin of McGonigle family, Glenmornan)
Anniversaries May O’Neill, Geraldine Stevenson, Alex McNulty, Patsy McNulty, Denis Hegarty, Danny Harkin, Hugh Doherty, Eileen Hoynes, Michael O’Connor, James Elliott, Kathleen & Joseph Quinn, Bobby Porter, John McCallion, Maurice McNulty, Vera Crossan, Willie Doherty, Donald MacLochlainn & family, Conleith Tourish, Richard McBrearty, Seamus McBrearty, Jamesy Simpson, Akey Carlin, May O’Neill, Jim McNally, Ann McNally, Seamus McNally, Geraldine Stevenson, Matthew Tighe (Sen), Jimmy Hamilton
Mass Intentions in St Patrick’s Church, Lifford Saturday 21st December at 6.30 pm
Hugh Devine, Catherine Devine, Paddy Devine
Sunday 22nd December at 11 am Sarah Gallagher, St Columba’s Grove (1st ann)
Visitation of the Sick and Housebound Fr McCaughey will visit sick and housebound in the coming days. If you have a family member or neighbour, please make them aware of this. Thank you.
Visitation of the Sick and Housebound will take place this week at follows:
Monday 11.00 am: Ballindrait, Tober, Cloughfin
Thursday 2.00 pm: Rossgier, Coolatee, Porthall, Cavan Hill
Friday 2.00 pm: Murlog, Lifford, Coneyburrow, Letterkenny Rd,.
Please note: visitation will start on Monday 11.00 am, Thursday & Friday at 2.00 pm.
Fr Gallagher asks that you let your family member, relative or neighbour who is attended know that he will be calling and the change of time for Monday. Thank you.
Thank You for your generosity to the offertory collections last weekend:
Leckpatrick: £1,548.39; Clonleigh: €2,730.30 (Euro); Camus: £1,790
Thank you also to those who contribute by standing order.
Readings for Sunday 22nd December:
1st reading: Micah 5:2-5;
Psalm: Isaiah 79: 2-3, 15-16; 18-19;
2nd reading: Hebrews 10: 5-10;
Gospel: Luke 1: 39-45
Baptism Dates in St Patrick’s, Murlog December21st/28th & January 11th/25th at 2 pm.
Christmas Mass Bouquets are available through our parish for a Triduum of Masses in the Christmas Season. Donation is £2. Mass cards / Mass bouquets are also available.
Thank You St Vincent de Paul committee is very grateful for all your support at the annual collection last weekend. It was gratefully appreciated.
St Vincent de Paul Helpline 07711156924.
Vocations With St Paul we pray for our diocesan seminarians and those discerning their vocation, that “… the peace of God will guard their hearts and thoughts…”
Family Prayer for Advent available at https://www.derrydiocese.org/publications/advent/advent-prayers-2024.pdf
Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Workshops 2025 The following dates available: January 24th/25th, February 21st/22nd, March 28th/29th, April 11th /12th, May 30th/31st and June 20th /21st. Visit www.accordni.com. These courses are in person.
Digital Advent 2024 Calendar with the theme of ‘Hope’ is available daily throughout Advent on the Irish Bishops’ Conference website, www.catholicbishops.ie .
Christmas Mass times will be printed next weekend.
Parish of Leckpatrick December Draw Winners
Winner Promoter
£500 Mrs O’Neill Geraldine Murphy Promoter’s Prize (£50)
£200 Aidan & Conor Devine John Devine Geraldine Murphy
£100 Tracy Harpur Hegarty family
£100 Teresa Dunbar Gabrielle Dooher
£100 Linda & Dickie McGinley Hegarty family
Christmas Draw Winners
£3,000 Colm Clarke Hegarty family Special Christmas
£2,000 Aoibheann Doherty Mary Doherty Promoters’ Prizes
£1,000 Margaret McNulty Marjorie McNulty (£350) Winifred McGonagle
£500 Noah & Cahir Quinn Hegarty family (£100) Annemarie McMenamin
£250 Rian & Jamie Devine John Devine (£50) Anne McCrory
£100 Margaret Gallagher John Devine
Camus December Draw Winners
1st Rita McKeever Marion Cooke
2nd Sean Devine Muesi Boggs
3rd Martin McAneaney Moira Coyle
4th Brianan Harron Eileen Canning
5th Brigid Winters Moira Coyle
6th Aine & Joe Fr Boland
7th B Crossan Marion Cooke
8th John & Ann McElwee Siobhan McDevitt
Camus Special Draw for December
1st John & Attracta Lynch Paul Mullan
2nd Catherine Breslin Nuala Kerr
3rd Marie O’Doherty Paul Mullan
4th Attracta Johnston Nuala Kerr
5th Sister Benedict Fr Boland
Contemplative Prayer Group meets on Mondays at 8.00 pm in the Meditation Room at the Parochial House, Barrack St, Strabane. Newcomers very welcome.
Invitation to 33 Days of Family Prayer Bishop McKeown will lead the diocese in 33 days of Family Prayer towards Consecration to Jesus Christ through Mary, as part of a diocesan programme for the Jubilee Year of 2025, Pilgrims of Hope. It will be delivered online on the Diocese of Derry Facebook, each evening at 7.00 pm, starting on Thursday 9 January 2025 and concluding on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Tuesday 11 February 2025. Bishop McKeown explains, “It is a journey I set out to make to entrust myself and my priesthood to Christ through the Mother of God. I extend an invitation to you and your families from the parishes of the diocese to join me”.Details and times of the prayer programme with a video message from Bishop McKeown can be viewed at derrydiocese.org/consecration
The Mayor’s Christmas Tea Dance Tuesday 17th December from 2 pm – 4 pm in St Pat’s Hall, Strabane. Music by The Band Friends. For tickets, please contact the Mayor’s office – tel: 028 71376508 or Mayor@derrystrabane.com
Christmas Carols by Candlelight followed by Live Crib today (Sun) at 5 pm at St Patrick’s Church, Crossroads, Killygordon. Hot Chocolate will be served! All welcome. Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2025 led by Bishop McKeown from 30th June – 4th July, leaving from City of Derry Airport. Price £849. Gift vouchers available from the Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop St, Derry. Enquiries to derrypilgrim@outlook.com
Christmas Parish Draw
Tickets for our Pastoral Area Draw are now available at the parish offices. This is an ideal Christmas gift. Subscription: £5. Twenty-five 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 would be greatly appreciated.
Day 1: Christmas Day – 25th Dec 2024 1st Prize £325; 2nd Prize £225; 3rd Prize £125; 4th Prize £75; 5th Prize £50 Gift Voucher for McBride’s Spar, Strabane
Day 2: St Stephen’s Day – 26th Dec 2024 1st Prize £325 2nd Prize £225; 3rd Prize £125; 4th Prize £75; 5th Prize: £50 Gift Voucher for Fir Trees Hotel
Day 3: 1st January 2025 1st Prize: £325; 2nd Prize £225; 3rd Prize £125; 4th Prize £75;
5th Prize: Gift Voucher for a Treatment at the Gift Lodge, Derry
Day 4: 2nd January 2025 1st Prize £525; 2nd Prize £425; 3rd Prize £325; 4th Prize £225; 5th Prize £125
Day 5: 6th January 2025 1st Prize £2,025; 2nd Prize £1,025; 3rd Prize £425; 4th Prize Midweek break for two at the Great Northern Hotel, Bundoran 2 nights B&B and Evening Meal; 5th Prize £225.
Various Promoters’ Prizes
Please return ticket stubs and subscriptions to the parish office, St Pat’s Hall,
the parochial house, Ballymagorry or to sacristies after Masses. Thank you.
Parish Schedule
Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane
Mass: Saturday Vigil: 6.00 pm; Sunday: 9.45 am & 12.15 pm
Monday – Friday: 10.00 am; Wednesday: 7.00 pm
Eucharistic Adoration: 10.30 am – 1 pm
Leckpatrick
St Mary’s Church, Cloughcor
Mass: Saturday Vigil: 5 pm
Sacred Heart Church, Derry Rd
Mass: Sunday: 11.15 am; Monday – Friday: 7.45 am
St Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan:
Mass: Sunday: 9.45 am
Eucharistic Adoration in Sacred Heart Church: Wednesdays from 8.15 am–5 pm
St Patrick’s Church, Murlog
Mass: Saturday Vigil: 6.30 pm; Sunday: 11 am Mass:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9.30 am
Rosary: 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.