Parishes of Camus, Clonleigh and Leckpatrick
Third Sunday of Easter – Year C – 4th May 2025
Parish Clergy
Fr Michael McCaughey, PP: (028) 71882274 / (028) 71882215
Fr Declan Boland (priest in residence)
Lifford Parish Office: tel: 003537491 42001
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
One of the most tender and powerful moments in Scripture is the restoration of Peter in love by the Risen Christ. After Peter’s threefold denial during Jesus’ trial, here we see Jesus offering Peter a threefold invitation: “Do you love Me?”
This passage is not just about Peter’s redemption; it is about every one of us. It speaks to our calling, our failures, and, most importantly, the relentless love of Jesus that both forgives and sends us forth.
Notice the heart of Jesus. He does not shame Peter for his failures. Instead, He invites Peter back to the core of discipleship — love. Before we are called to serve, to lead or to do anything for God, we are called simply to love Him. The work we do must flow out of love for Christ, not duty, ambition, or guilt.
Jesus asks, “Do you love Me?” not to learn something He doesn’t know, but to help Peter re-centre his life on the right foundation. Love for Christ is what sustains us through trials, suffering, and even our own mistakes.
Jesus’ final words to Peter in this scene are simple and profound: “Follow Me.” These are the same words He spoke when He first called Peter years before. No matter how far we stray, no matter how great our failures, the call remains the same: “Follow Me.” Not perfectly, not without weakness, but with a heart that trusts in His love.
Today, Christ asks you the same question: “Do you love Me?” It is not a demand for perfection, but an invitation to relationship. If you love Him, He will teach you to feed His sheep — to care for others, to serve, to lead — not in your own strength, but in His. And if you stumble, He will meet you on the shore again, with breakfast ready and arms open.
Let this passage remind you: You are not disqualified by your failures. You are not forgotten in your brokenness. You are called by love, restored by grace, and sent out in purpose. Follow Him, wherever He leads, trusting that He who calls you is faithful and will complete the work He has begun in you.
First Holy Communion We pray for the children in our pastoral area who will receive First Holy Communion next weekend. The children of St Catherine’s PS on next Friday 9th May in Immaculate Conception Church and the children of Lifford National School and Cloughfin National School next Sunday 11th May at 12 noon in St Patrick’s Church, Murlog.
Requiescat in Pace William McLaughlin, Burndennett
Anniversaries Kevin McGonigle, Tony O’Connor, Christine McMenamin, Hugh McGettigan, Danny Busby McLaughlin, Dannyboy McLaughlin, Betty Stewart, Elsie Duncan, Jack & Elizabeth Carron. May they rest in peace.
Thank You for your generosity to the collections last weekend:
Leckpatrick: £1,657; £1,123 (restoration)
Clonleigh: €1,563 (Euro)
Camus: £1,910; £1,010 (restoration).
Thanks also to those who pay by standing order.
Baptism Date in St Patrick’s, Murlog Saturday May 10th.
Readings for Sunday 11th May:
1st Reading Acts 13:14, 43-52
Psalm 99: 1-3, 5
2nd Reading: Revelation 7:9, 14-17
Gospel John 10:27-30
Mass Cards / Mass Bouquets are available from the parish office.
Prayer for Discernment The College of Cardinals has requested that all Catholics pray for them so that they may listen to the Holy Spirit as they discern who to choose as the next Pope. ‘Prayer’, they added, ‘is the true focus that in the Church promotes the unity of all the members of one Body of Christ.’ They continue to say, ‘May the Blessed Virgin Mary accompany these prayers with her maternal intercession’.
St Pio Mass will be celebrated on Wed 7th May at 7 pm in Immaculate Conception Church. All welcome to come along and invoke the intercession of St Pio.
Vocations Society of St Joseph The St John Vianney branch will meet on Tuesday 6th May in the Immaculate Conception Church with rosary after 10.00 am Mass and continue in St Pat’s Hall. New members welcome.
Encounters with the Heart of Jesus Retreat that dives deeper into the Sacred Heart Spirituality, led by the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, takes place from 16th – 18th May. Join us at the peaceful Termonbacca Retreat House in Derry. Time for prayer/chat. Cost: £90 (full board). Email termonbaccaderry@gmail.com
Derry Diocesan 3-Day Pilgrimage to Lough Derg takes place from Friday 25th – Sunday 27th July. For those wishing to avail of transport, a bus will depart after 10 am Mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral on the Friday travelling via Lifford / Ballybofey. Cost: £95/€110 (including transport). Pre-booking required. Please contact tony.brennan@derrydiocese.org or the Diocesan Office: 0044 28 71262302 for a booking form. Alongside Knock Shrine and Croagh Patrick, Lough Derg is one of three esteemed traditional pilgrimage locations to be designated by the Irish Bishops’ Conference as national places of pilgrimage in the present Jubilee Year.
Anam Cara, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, will hold its monthly Parent Support Evening on Thursday 8th May at 7.30 pm in the Radisson Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. This event is free and open to all bereaved parents. We also offer an online support group meeting. Call 01 4045378 or email info@anamcara.ie
Long Tower Parish is Organising a Columban Camino in Derry and Donegal from 5th – 7th June. Participants will walk from Derry to Buncrana, from Rathmullan to Milford and from there to Gartan. All sponsorship raised will go to Children in Crossfire. Accommodation at Inishowen Gateway and Mulroy Woods Hotel. Contact Aishling on 028 71278955 or Aishling.cunningham@childrenincrossfire.org
Franciscan Friary, Rossnowlagh Healing Service today (Sun). Rosary at 2.45 pm followed by Mass / Healing Service at 3 pm. Confessions 2 pm – 5 pm.
Trócaire Boxes can be returned to our churches during the week. Thank you.
Saints of the Coming Week:
Monday: Blessed Edmund Rice, religious
Saturday: St Comgall, abbot; St John of Avila, priest and doctor of the Church.
The Little Way Novena in honour of St Thérèse of Lisieux will take place at St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, from Saturday 10th May until Sunday 18th May 2025. The Novena begins with Mass at 7.30 pm on 10th May with Anointing of the Sick. Sunday 11th May at 6.00 pm there will be Devotions and a talk. Monday – Friday (12th – 16th May) Novena Masses will be celebrated at 6.30 am & 10.00 am each morning and an evening service with a guest speaker at 7.30 pm. On Saturday 17th May 10.00 am Mass will be offered up for those who have died. The Novena will close on Sunday 18th May at 3.00 pm. This will be an opportunity to pray for a special intention and to ask St Thérèse to intercede for us. Everyone is welcome to St Eugene’s Cathedral for this time of prayer and petition.
Services of Intercession for the Dead will take place in various cemeteries within our parish pastoral area as follows. We take this opportunity to thank people for their ongoing commitment in remembering their loved ones by visiting and maintaining their graves.
St Patrick’s Church, Murlog – 23rd May at 7.00 pm
St Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan – 30th May at 7.00 pm
Sacred Heart Church, Derry Road – 1st June at 3.00 pm
St Mary’s Church, Cloughcor – 1st June at 7.00 pm
Strabane Cemetery & Camus – 8th June at 3.00 pm
Camus / Leckpatrick Draws Congratulations to all winners. Please note: the next draws will take place on Thursday 29th May. Draw returns for May may be made at St Pat’s Hall on Monday 19th May from 10.30 – 11.30 am or St Pat’s Hall / Parochial House, Ballymagorry on Wednesday 21st May from 7.30 – 8.30 pm. Thank you for your ongoing support.
Camus Parish Draw Winners – April 2025
Prize Winner Promoter
£1,000 Keelin Gormley Marion Cooke
£300 Bernie & Joan Nuala Kerr
£200 Paddy Gibson Neil Gallagher
£100 Maria Duffy Collette McKane
£100 Mark Neeson Paul Mullan
£100 Anne Austin Marion Cooke
£100 Gertie Kelly Patsy Barrett
£100 Brian Murray Eileen Canning
Leckpatrick Parish Draw Winners – April 2025
Prize Winner Promoter
£1,000 Mrs Harper Sadie Kerlin
£300 Ryan McAleer Nichola Hegarty
£200 Paula & Jonathan McIntyre Hegarty Family
£100 Mary Robinson Gabrielle Dooher
£100 Mairead Doherty Annmarie McMenamin
£100 Patsy Douglas Geraldine Murphy
£100 B Gallagher Blanche Gallagher
£100 Annemarie Hegarty Hegarty Family
Rosary on the Coast takes place today (Sun) at 3pm at Lisfannon Beach, praying for peace, Ireland and our unborn children. Everyone welcome.
‘Pilgrims of Hope Pilgrimage’ to Rome led by Thornhill Ministries takes place 16th October for 4 nights. Cost: £1,095 stg pps. Please text: 07736832458.
Lough Derg Quiet Day takes place on Saturday 10th May. Cost: €40. Visit Lough Derg – Sanctuary of Saint Patrick
Accord Marriage Preparation May 30/31st, June 20/21st. Visit www.accord.com
Diocesan Youth Pilgrimage to Fatima for young people aged 16 + from 14 – 18th July. Cost: £700. Names and deposit of £100 required. Please contact lizzie.rea@derrydiocese.org or 00 44 2871264087.
Micheál Ó Cléirigh Summer School 2025 Celebrating 400 years since an Irish College was established in Rome. This college was instrumental in preserving Irish history and culture. On Sat 10th May a stellar line-up of speakers will celebrate this legacy at the Franciscan Friary Hall, Rossnowlagh starting at 10.30 am. Tickets on the day or from info@mocleirigh.ie Visit: https://mocleirigh.ie/
Mary’s Meals – Pray in May Mary’s Meals is built on a foundation of prayer and the many little acts of love offered by those who believe in our mission. During the month of May, dedicated to Our Lady, we invite you to join us in praying for the 2.6 million children in 16 of the world’s poorest countries who receive our nutritious school meals daily and for all the children and families around the world living in poverty. For free prayer calendars and resources for individuals, families, schools, prayer groups or to sign up to our fortnightly prayer email for May, visit www.marysmeals.org.uk/prayinmay
Sharing the Good News The weekly newsletter of the Irish Bishops’ Conference can be viewed at https://catholicnews.ie/
Pope’s Prayer for May You are invited to answer the Holy Father’s request and to join with many people worldwide in praying for this intention: For Working Conditions Let us pray that through work, each person might find fulfilment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society might be humanized.
Hearing Aid Support takes place on Wednesday 7th May from 9.30 am – 11 am at Sion Mills Parish Hall, Primrose Park, Sion Mills, BT82 9QB. All welcome.
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.