SUNDAY 5th March 2023:
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
The Lenten journey invites us to accompany Jesus on the road to Calvary. On the Second Sunday of Lent, we are strengthened on our journey in the Gospel story of the Transfiguration of Jesus. The Transfiguration was a dramatic event in which God allowed chosen apostles, Peter, James and John, to have a privileged spiritual experience that would strengthen their faith in anticipation of the Passion Jesus would later endure. We thank God for the times when we too experience special moments of grace, precious times of transfiguration, that give us strength in the difficulties that we face. We pray that these special moments will open our hearts and minds to God’s powerful presence in our lives and His Plan for our eternal glory in His heavenly home.
MASS AND CONFESSIONS SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:
Monday, Masses: 10.00am, Tuesday, Mass: 9.30am
Wednesday, Mass 10.00am; Thursday, Mass: 10.00am
Friday (and every Friday of Lent): Confessions, 6.00pm; Mass, 6.30pm (please note, no 10.00am Mass).
Rosary commences 20 minutes before morning Mass.
Saturday: Confessions, 11.00am – 12.00noon and 5.30pm – 6.15pm (before Vigil Mass)
Sunday Masses: Vigil, 6.30pm; Sunday, 9.00am and 11.00am.
All Masses are livestreamed on our webcam; 11.00am Mass on Sunday is broadcast by Finn Valley Radio, 95.8FM
†
Seamus Behan late of Butcher Street, Lifford
As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy and our prayerful support to the relatives and friends, and all who mourn the death of Seamus, whose Funeral Mass took place in St Patrick’s on Friday, with burial at Melmount. May he rest in peace.
MASS INTENTIONS:
Monday 6 March, 10.00am: Fonsie Brennan, Coneyburrow
Thursday 9 March, 10.00am: Maisie Matthewson, Lurganshannagh
Friday 10 March, 6.30pm: Gertie McDaid, Letterkenny Road – Month’s Mind Mass
Saturday 11 March, 6.30pm: Neily Doherty, Gortgrannagh
Sunday 5 March: 11.00am: Martin Tourish, The Roughan; john Friel, Lancaster / Coolatee
Sunday 12 March, 9.00am: Martha & John Mitchell, St Johnston.
ANNIVERSARIES:
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they rest in peace:
Annie & Willie McGowan, Glenties; Liam Tourish, Curraghalane; John O Brien, The Roughan
Martin McBrearty, Croaghan Heights; Martin Tourish, The Roughan; Johnny Rushe, Ballybun
James McFeely, Porthall; Hugh Rooney, Convoy; Rachael Brennan, Strabane
Detta Gallagher- Anderson, Strabane; Margaret Crawford, Porthall; Fonsie Brennan, Coneyburrow.
THANK YOU as always for your generosity in last week’s collection, which amounted to €2,138.00 Thank you also to those who contribute by Standing Order.
DO THIS IN MEMORY PROGRAMME:
Our next Mass is next Sunday, 12 March, at 11.00am. I hope all the children and their families are checking out what is in Grapevine ahead of this Mass and, as always, checking out the activities in Thumb. Parents are asked to encourage and support their children in using Grapevine and Thumb. We look forward to full attendance, as it is important that all the children have the opportunity to participate in the programme. Many thanks, as always, to the co-ordinators and to the parents who help.
CONFIRMATION:
We look forward to welcoming Bishop McKeown, who will administer the Sacrament of Confirmation in St Patrick’s next Saturday, 11 March, at 11.00am. All children should be in their seats by 10.45am at latest. Parents are asked to co-operate in facilitating this. Please keep the children in your prayer in this coming week as they make their final preparations to receive the Sacrament.
CHURCH OF IRELAND – CLONLEIGH PARISH CHURCH FESTIVAL:
An afternoon of music, exploring the history and meaning of popular hymns, will be held in Church of Ireland, The Diamond, Lifford, today, Sunday 5 March, at 3.00pm. Light refreshments will be served. Everyone welcome. Proceeds in aid of Church Repair Fund.
RALLY FOR LIFE:
Saturday 11 March, gathering in Custom House Square, Belfast, at 2.00pm. Buses travelling from various locations. For further information, contact Precious Life on 075922 80522, 048 9027 8484, or email info@preciouslife.com
SACRAMENT OF CONFESSIONS:
During Lent, Confessions are available in our church each Friday evening, 6.00 – 6.25pm (before Mass),
each Saturday morning, 11.00am – 12.00noon and each Saturday evening, 5.30 – 6.15pm (before Vigil Mass).
You are encouraged to avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation this Lent.
ALMSGIVING – TRÓCAIRE LENTEN CAMPAIGN:
Somalia is the focus of this year’s Trócaire campaign. Somalia is in the grips of a devastating food crisis, as a prolonged drought grips the country. For three decades, Trócaire has run the health services in the Gedo region of south-central Somalia, an area larger than Ireland, providing lifesaving healthcare and nutrition, supporting over 200,000 people. But the worsening crisis is putting intolerable strain on medical resources in the area, making the efforts to treat more and more severely malnourished children even more difficult. The story being highlighted in this year’s campaign is that of Nasteha, an eight-year-old girl who, with her family, had to leave their home village in search of help and a better life after the last of their goats died, leaving them with no food or income. Nasteha’s mother, Ambiyo, was six months pregnant at the time, but travelled with Mahet, her husband, their two-year old twins and their four other children. The family had a three-day walk to the Gedo region, where they had to build a new shelter made from scraps of wood and plastic gathered by the children of their new neighbours.
Whatever you can give, your support to the Trócaire Lenten campaign will be very much appreciated.
Do This In Memory:
So, boys and girls, we’ll have our Do This In Memory Mass next Sunday, 12 March. I very much look forward to it. Very soon, you will be receiving the Sacrament of Confessions for the first time, and I know that you are all getting ready for that day. I see Kath and Qumen are talking about the Peace prayers at Mass this week. Qumen seems to have received good advice from her mum, about trying to be friends with everyone but poor Kath is struggling with the idea. We all struggle to keep at peace with people at times, so we’re very lucky to have the Sacrament of Confessions to help us to make good our friendships with others and with Jesus.
‘LEARNING ABOUT THE MASS’ CORNER:
QUMEN: After the Our Father, Kath, the priest leads a Peace prayer, at the end of which he says, “The Peace of the Lord be with you always” and we answer, “And with your spirit”. We used to shake hands with the people beside us at the end of the Peace prayer but, since Covid, the most we do is just make a little gesture to the people beside us.
KATH: Just as well we don’t shake hands, Qumen – imagine shaking hands with all the ones we fight with in the playground! We couldn’t be seen shaking hands with them!
QUMEN: I know, Kath, but my mum always tells me that I should make extra special effort to be nice to the children who are not my friends. She says that’s a really good way of being a friend to Jesus. And she was reminding me the other day that I’ll be receiving the Sacrament of Confessions soon and that that’s a good opportunity for us to let go of all the times when we don’t behave too well towards other children and to try and be friends with everyone.
KATH: Hmm…..I suppose you’re right, Qumen – as always. But it’s not that easy.
QUMEN: No, but just think, we are going to be receiving Jesus in the Sacrament of Holy Communion soon, and we really want to be at peace with everyone for such a special occasion. Even you would agree with that.
KATH & QUMEN: Well, we’re doing well at remembering to say the Our Father every day, so maybe now we’ll add on another little (bigger) task for Lent – to be friends with everybody in the playground! We’re really taking Lent very seriously!!
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
Find us on Facebook:. Clonleigh Parish
SAFEGUARDING NOTICE:
If you have any concerns about safeguarding children or adults in need of protection within the Church, please contact Marie Gormley, the Diocesan Designated Liaison Person, on 07596 500793 or by email on marie.gormley@derrydiocese.org