SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER 2022:
FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
St Matthew’s Gospel passage today looks at Mary and Joseph, especially at the role they play in the great Mystery of the Incarnation.
There are not many references to Joseph in Scripture, but he is depicted as a quiet, humble and hardworking man of simple lifestyle, and not of material wealth and possessions. And yet, it was Joseph to whom God our Father entrusted the extraordinary wealth and privilege of the fatherhood and daily care of His Son on earth.
Neither are we told much about Mary in Scripture but, again, Mary is depicted as a person of similar virtues to Joseph, dignified and exemplary in her total trust and faith in God’s plan for her and for the world.
Joseph and Mary allowed their lives to be influenced and directed by God’s will for them. We pray today that, with Joseph and Mary as our models in faith, we too will always allow God to direct our ways.
MASS SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 10.00am.
Friday, 7.00pm: First Anniversary Mass for John Roulston
Tuesday: 9.30am
Christmas Eve – Saturday – Vigil Mass, 6.30pm.
Christmas Day – Sunday – Mass at 9.00am and 11.00am.
Rosary commences 20 minutes before Mass (morning Masses)
For those who are unable to come out to church, all our Masses continue to be available on our parish webcam:
MASS INTENTIONS:
Friday 23 December, 7.00pm: First Anniversary Mass for John Roulston, Raphoe
Saturday 24 December, 6.30pm: Susan Arthur, Townparks
Sunday 25 December, 11.00am: Ray Jarett, Tober.
ANNIVERSARIES:
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they rest in peace:
Kathleen Porter The Common; John Foley, Tober; Annie Whyte, Gallows Lane;
Edmund Patton, Rathmullan; Jamsie Simpson, Coneyburrow; Patrick Mc Granaghan, Strabane;
Willie Doherty, Cloughfin.
COLLECTION:
THANK YOU for your generosity in last week’s collection, which amounted to €1,178.00
ST VINCENT DE PAUL:
The SVP helpline number, 087 4647 991, is available at all times to take calls.
Please know that all calls are in the strictest confidence.
PLEASE NOTE:
Requests for prayers for anniversaries over the holiday period (for Sun 25 Dec and Sun 1 Jan) should be submitted by 12.00noon on the Wednesday of both these weeks, as the newsletter will be printed early. If possible, please submit anniversary requests and Mass Intention requests for this next couple of weeks by email, rather than telephone (email: clonleighparish@derrydiocese.org), as the parish office will be closed. Thank you.
CONFESSIONS:
You are encouraged to avail of the Sacrament of Confessions for Christmas. Confessions will be heard on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday morning this week, in St Patrick’s, immediately after Mass.
A Penitential Service and Confessions will be held in St Mary’s, Melmount, this evening (Sunday), at 6.00pm. Visiting priests will be available.
Well done again to our First Holy Communion children last Sunday, and thank you to your parents for ensuring you came along to our 11.00am Do This In Memory Mass, on such an icy morning. You will see today that the Jesse Tree symbols which the children presented now adorn our Tree in the sanctuary for Christmas.
Our next Do This In Memory Mass is on Sunday 22 January. You will each be provided with a little bottle of Holy Water at that Mass, which I will bless and which you can then you can bring home for your use and your family’s use. I look forward to that but, in the meantime, I very much hope you will all be able to come along to one of our Masses each weekend.
FOR ATTENTION OF PARENTS OF CHILDREN BAPTISED IN OUR CHURCH IN 2022:
You are invited to collect your child’s Baptism Leaf from our Baptism Tree in the church; it is suggested that you hang in on your Christmas tree (this year and in future years).
You are asked to take note of the date Sunday 8 January 2023: on that Sunday, which is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we will have a special Blessing of the Babies who were baptised in our church during 2022, at our 11.00am Mass. Parents and family members are warmly invited to come along to our 11.00am Mass on that day for this special blessing of these new members of our parish faith community.
FESTIVAL OF CHRISTMAS PRAISE:
– this evening, Sunday 18 December, at 7.00pm. Venue: Ballindrait Presbyterian Church. Music by Strabane Brass Band and Church Choir. There will be a special collection in aid of Donegal Hospice, for those who would like to contribute. Everyone is welcome for a cup of tea and mince pie in the hall afterwards.
ST PATRICK’S NATIONAL SCHOOL, MURLOG, will be holding their Christmas performance in St Patrick’s Church this Tuesday, 20 December, at 1.00pm. All parishioners are welcome to attend. Your support will be greatly appreciated.
EVENING OF SONG AND STORY with Crampsey & Cavanagh, in the Social Centre, Lifford, Monday 16 January 2023, at 8pm. Admission €10. Take a note of the date! Contact 087 9153248, 087 6194303 or 087 6125114.
LOURDES 2023 – Preliminary Notice:
The Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage, led by Bishop McKeown, will go direct from City of Derry Airport: 3 to 7 July, four nights full board in the Hotel Agenda: £745 sharing, £35 single supplement. Travel insurance up to age 79-£39. Age 80 to 94-£78. (Pilgrims may wish to use their own insurance). Further details and payment arrangements will be available in the new year via the Lourdes Pilgrimage Office, 164 Bishop Street, Derry, derrypilgrim@outlook.com, tel 02871 260 293.
THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS:
A Christmas Prayer Resource for the twelve days of Christmas is available to download on the Diocese of Derry website for private prayer at the church or home, to share with a neighbour who may have no online access or for a time to gather each day with your family. The booklet can be downloaded at: https://www.derrydiocese.org/news/12-days-of-christmas-2022
The “O” Antiphons of Advent:
In the Octave leading into the celebration of the Birth of Jesus, the “O” Antiphons shape the Church’s liturgy (17-23 December). The “O” Antiphons are seven short verses, of ancient origin, said/sung on each of these days during Evening Prayer of the Church. They are also echoed in the verses of the Gospel Acclamation on these dates. In each Antiphon, Jesus is invoked by a different title, there is a reference to one of the Old Testament prophecies (taken mainly from the prophet Isaiah) and there is a plea for the Messiah to come. The seven “O’s” are:
O Wisdom O Adonai (Lord) O Root of Jesse O Key of David
O Rising Dawn O King O Emmanuel
The “O” Antiphons are the inspiration for the familiar hymn, ‘O come, O come, Emmanuel.’ When we listen to the verses of the hymn, we will hear that each verse parallels one of the Antiphons.
OUR FRIENDS, KATH AND QUMEN, who have been helping our First Holy Communion children to prepare for the sacraments in their ‘Learning about the Mass’ conversations each week, are now taking a well-deserved break for Christmas. They will be back again in the New Year with further conversations and, in the meantime, they wish all the boys and girls a very happy and holy Christmas.
SACRAMENTAL DATES 2023:
Confirmation: Saturday 11 March, at 11.00am. First Holy Communion: Saturday 13 May, at 11.00am.
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 Twitter: @clonleighparish
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