SUNDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2022
SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR C)
GOSPEL: ST LUKE 6:27-38
With today’s Gospel following on from last week’s teaching of the Beatitudes, compassion, forgiveness and love remain at the heart of Jesus’ teachings today. We ask God for the grace and inner strength needed to enable us to model our response to challenging situations in our lives to the self-giving love and example of Jesus.
Compassionate God, help us to take to heart the teachings of Jesus,
that love without limit may be our rule of life.
Pour out Your love upon us that, with good and generous hearts,
we may keep from judging others and learn Your way of compassion.
MASS SCHEDULE FOR THIS WEEK:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 10.00am
Tuesday: 9.30am
The Rosary will commence 20 minutes before weekday Masses.
Sunday Masses: Vigil, 6.30pm, Morning, 9.00am and 11.00am
For those who are unable to come out to church, all our Masses continue to be available on our parish webcam:
and our 11.00am Mass is also broadcast live each Sunday on Finn Valley Radio, FM95.8.
MASS INTENTIONS THIS WEEK:
Tuesday 22 Feb, 9.30am: Kathleen Friel, England/Gortgrannagh
Thursday 24 Feb, 10.00am: Liam Arthur, Townparks
Saturday 26 Feb, 6.30pm: Martin McBrearty, Croaghan Heights
Sunday 27 Feb, 11.00am: Gabrielle Sharpe, Ispwich.
ANNIVERSARIES:
We pray for the following, whose anniversaries occur at this time:
Annie and Willie McGowan, Glenties; Tony Crotty, Gallows Lane; Sadie Gallagher, Liskey
Gerry O’Doherty, Derry; John McGettigan, Tamnawood/Strabane; Geraldine Duddy, Derry/Rossgier
Margaret Dolan, Ardnasool; Margaret Lannon, Co Mayo; Kathleen Friel, England/Gortgrannagh
Sally McDonald, Coneyburrow.
May they rest in peace.
COLLECTION:
THANK YOU as always for your generosity to the collection which, last week, amounted to €2,781. Thank you also to those who contribute by Standing Order and online.
Download our Standing Order Form here.
You can also request envelopes by simply clicking on this link: ‘Get in Touch‘ and then select Parish Envelopes from the drop-down menu.
PARENTS OF CONFIRMATION CHILDREN, please note:
You are asked to bring your child’s Baptism Candle along to the Mass and Service of Light Ceremony next Monday night (28th), if you still have it. If you don’t have the Baptism Candle, don’t worry about it – you can bring along any blessed candle if you have one or, if not, we can provide you with a candle on the night.
SVP Thrift Shop, Castlefin, is making a special appeal for donations of clothing. They will be very grateful for your support in this appeal. Anyone wishing to have items collected can phone the shop on 074-9146726. Also, items of furniture would be welcome and deliveries / collection can be arranged.
UPCOMING DATES OF NOTE:
Monday 28 February, at 7.00pm: Mass with Service of Light for Confirmation children & parents
Wednesday 2 March: Ash Wednesday – first day of Lent
Thursday 17 March – Feast Day of our Patron Saint, St Patrick
Saturday 26 March: Sacrament of Confirmation in our parish
Saturday 21 May: First Holy Communion in our parish
Monday 13 June, at 7.00pm: Blessing of Graves in our parish
Sunday 19 June, Feast of Corpus Christi:
Corpus Christi Procession for the First Holy Communion Children of our parish.
THE DERRY DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES will resume this year, from 3 – 8 July 2022. Cost: £689 per person sharing, with single room supplement £150. Price includes flights, transfers and full board. The pilgrimage will be suitable for pilgrims who do not require medical, nursing or personal assistance as, unfortunately, this cannot be provided this year. The intentions of the sick of the diocese can be taken to Lourdes. The Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop Street, Derry, will be open for enquires and application forms on Thursdays and Saturdays, 11.00am–1.00pm, from 3 March. Telephone: 028 71 260293 or email derrypilgrim@outlook.com
EXPLORING DIOCESAN PRIESTHOOD – Zoom with Seminarians and Priests:
On Tuesday 1 March, at 8.00pm, there will be a Zoom meeting for those who would like to find out more about diocesan priesthood and to hear directly from a priest and from two young men who are currently studying for the priesthood in our National Seminary in Maynooth. The event is being run by the National Vocations Office. Further information and registration, email info@vocations.ie or visit vocations.ie/zoom The Zoom session should end by 9.30pm at the latest. There will be a short time spent watching YouTube videos on priesthood and vocation, and a Questions & Answers session with the seminarians and the panel.
ORGAN RECITAL & HYMN-SINGING MARATHON:
Clonleigh Church of Ireland, with Canon David Crooks: Sunday 6 March, 2.30 – 5.30pm. Feel free to drop in at any time and request a hymn, sing or play the organ. Donations in aid of the Church Repair Fund.
Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Abuse:
This annual Day of Prayer will take place in the Catholic Church throughout Ireland this Friday, 25 February. We will have special prayers to mark this day at our Mass on Friday morning.
COVID-19 – GUIDANCE FOR CHURCHES:
This week, Bishop McKeown issued fresh guidance to parishes, in light of the recent removal of government restrictions. While acknowledging the widespread lifting of restrictions, the bishop’s letter cautioned a gradual approach to easing of restrictions in Church, conscious that the Omicron variant of the virus is still rampant in communities and many members of congregations may be vulnerable. The bishop highlighted the need for everyone attending Mass to feel safe. He did, however, suggest the resumption of some roles in Church, including those of altar servers and collectors (but not with baskets being passed hand to hand), and removal of ‘barrier tape’ on seats.
Personally, I do not see a particular need at this time to remove the ‘barriers’ on every second seat in St Patrick’s, as our church comfortably holds the congregation at our three weekend Masses with it in place, but I would welcome your views on this.
Bishop McKeown still recommends the wearing of face coverings inside Church buildings, continued suspension of the handshake as the Sign of Peace and of the holy water in fonts for communal use at the entrance to church buildings. He also recommends continuation of good sanitising and cleaning arrangements: here, in St Patrick’s, we are indebted to Hugh, our sacristan, for the very fine job he does on sanitising and cleaning our church and for his attention at all times to keeping our church looking so well.
I welcome any suggestions or thoughts you may have with regard to the above matters – please do let me know so that, if and when any of the current restrictions are being removed in our church, it will be with your approval, guidance and support. The safety of everyone in church is paramount.
PARISH PRAYER:
Please continue to pray our Parish Prayer:
God our Father, pour forth Your Holy Spirit on our parish.
Guide us in Your ways, grant us Your vision.
Be our wisdom.
Open our hearts and minds to Your Holy Word,
strengthen us with the Holy Eucharist, our food for the journey.
Help us to be people of prayer, trusting in Your constant presence in the challenges that we face.
With Your help, may our parish always be a place where Your love is known, Your light shines
and our parish families grow together in faith and mission. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.
St Patrick, pray for us.
You can access the Readings on our parish website:
I hope that having the Readings available on our parish website is also helpful to our Scripture readers, for the purpose of checking them out in advance. The Daily Mass Readings are also on our website: https://clonleighparish.com/todays-mass-readings/ . Alternatively, just google Clonleigh Parish readings.
CHURCH CONTRIBUTIONS:
You can donate to the Church via The Parish Envelopes or by Standing Order. Download this easy to fill form: Standing Order Form – & send to or email the Parish Office: clonleighparish@derrydiocese.org
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 Twitter: @clonleighparish
Find us on Facebook:. Clonleigh Parish
Join our free Clonleigh Parish Text Service on WhatsApp. We will text you when we update our website with the Parish Newsletter etc. And you can link in to read the latest updates.
SAFEGUARDING:
The Derry Diocesan Liaison Person, to whom any safeguarding concerns or allegations should be
communicated is: Ms Marie Gormley, Email: marie.gormley@derrydiocese.org Tel: 0044 7596 500 793