SUNDAY 10th September 2023:
TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME
Today’s Gospel, taken as a ‘stand-alone’ passage, may be confusing in its message. But the last line, ‘Where two or three meet in my name, I shall be there with them’ (Matthew 18:20), brings a warmth and consolation. When we gather together for Mass, each of us comes with our own joys and blessings, our own worries, crosses, weaknesses and failings, but we come together as a community of believers, with one voice, to praise the Lord and to share in the Eucharist. We pray with and for each other, supporting, encouraging and strengthening each other on our faith journey. We are, in essence, a community blessed with faith, living out the message of today’s Gospel, in the presence of Jesus.
MASS SCHEDULE THIS WEEK:
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, 10.00am.
Tuesday: 9.30am.
(The Rosary is normally recited by the congregation 20 minutes prior to the midweek morning Mass).
Saturday: Vigil Mass, 6.30pm. Sunday: Mass at 9.00am &11.00am
All Masses are livestreamed on our webcam; 10.00am Mass on Sunday is broadcast by Finn Valley Radio, 95.8FM
ANNIVERSARIES:
We pray for those whose anniversaries occur at this time. May they rest in peace:
Maggie Doherty, Gortgrannagh; James Crawford, Burnsley; Nan McGettigan, Tamnawood; John King, Westport
Gerry Whyte, Gallows Lane; Mary McDaid, Porthall; Rose Brennan, Coneyburrow; Michael McElroy, Strabane
Anton Matthewson, Lurganshannagh; Danny Cassidy, Lurganshannagh; Carmel Devenney, Coneyburrow
Catherine O’Brien, The Roughan.
MASS INTENTIONS:
Tuesday 12 September, 9.30am: Anton Matthewson, Lurganshannagh & Danny Cassidy, Lurganshannagh
Thursday 14 September, 10.00am: Ned Rodgers, Croaghan Heights
Saturday 16 September, 6.30pm: Bridget McDermott, Braide, First Anniversary.
THANK YOU for your generosity in last week’s collections: €2,024. Thank you also to those who contribute by Standing Order.
VISITATION OF THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND: will take place this week, starting each day at 11.00am:
Monday – Ballindrait, Tober & Cloughfin; Wednesday – Rossgier, Coolatee, Porthall & Cavan Hill;
Thursday – Murlog, Lifford & Coneyburrow; Friday – Letterkenny Road, Croaghan Heights & Drumboy.
Please let your family member, neighbour or friend know that I will be calling. If there is anyone who is currently not attended but would like to be included, please let me know and I will be more than delighted to call with you and to bring you the Eucharist.
SACRAMENTAL DATES 2024 – CONFIRMATION AND FIRST HOLY COMMUNION:
Confirmation:
Lifford N S and Murlog N S: Saturday 20 April 2024, at 11.00am
First Holy Communion:
Cloughfin N S and Lifford N S: Saturday 11 May 2024, at 11.00am
Murlog N S: Saturday 18 May 2024, at 11.00am.
CLONLEIGH PARISH – JUBILEE YEAR 2024:
On 3 May 1964, our church was officially opened – 60 years ago next year. Clonleigh as an independent parish (formerly a part of the Parish of Camus and Clonleigh) was formed in 1974 – 50 years ago next year.
As mentioned last week, next year will be marked as a Jubilee Year in the parish, with a programme of celebrations. To organise programmes of events / celebrations, I invite volunteers who would be willing to be part of a Jubilee Working Group, to work alongside myself and the Faith Formation Group. In order to have the Jubilee Working Group up and running for October, I invite you to make contact with me before the end of September, if you would like to be part of it. I am hoping that our Group will have representatives from all age-groups and areas of the parish. Thank you to those who have volunteered to be part of the Group already!
ALTAR SERVERS:
Final call for altar servers! The parent(s) of any boys or girls from 3rd Class to 6th Class who would be interested in becoming an altar server are asked to leave their child(ren)’s name(s) in the sacristy after Mass, this weekend or during the course of the week. Please also leave your name and a contact number. Alternatively, you can ring me on the Parochial House number with these details. Training and rehearsals will take place this month. We very much look forward to having altar servers at our Masses again.
WELCOME BACK to our choirs this weekend, after your well-earned summer break. We are delighted to have you back again at our Masses. Both choirs welcome new members. If you would like to join one of the choirs, let me or one of the members know, and we’ll let you know when the practices are! All new members are welcome. “To sing is to pray twice”. St Augustine.
YOU ARE ASKED to keep in your prayers, Deacon Stephen Ward, who will be ordained to priesthood for the Diocese of Derry in Christ the King Church, Strathroy, Omagh, today (Sunday) at 3.00pm. St John Vianney, pray for him. Stephen will take up an appointment in the diocese later this month.
Please also keep in your prayers those who are commencing study for priesthood this year.
BLESSING OF BIKES – St Aengus’ Church, Burt:
St Aengus’ Church, Burt: Blessing of motorbikes and scooters on Sunday 17 September, at 1.00pm. Service in St Aengus’ Church at 1.00pm; prayers will be said for all our biker friends who have died since this time last year. Names can be emailed to gerardsweeney@ymail.com. A collection will be taken up for the RNLI. After the blessing, there will be a run to the RNLI Station at Ned’s Point, Buncrana. Mass will be celebrated at the Sacred Heart Church, Derry Road, Strabane at 11:30am, on the same day. The Mass will be in remembrance of all deceased bikers. Leaving immediately after Mass to go to St Aengus, Burt.
RELIC OF BLESSED CARLO ACUTIS will visit St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, this Thursday, 14 September. The programme for the day is as follows:
9.30am – Arrival of Relic to St. Eugene’s Cathedral
10.00am – Mass with Bishop Mc Keown, Archbishop Sorrentino and Monsignor Figueiredo
12.00noon – Rosary in the Cathedral
3.00pm – Divine Mercy Chaplet
4.00pm – Benediction followed by Closing ceremony and farewell.
There will be an opportunity to be blessed with the relic. Also, there will be an exhibition of Blessed Carlo’s life on display in the Cathedral Hall. Everyone is welcome.
SEASON OF CREATION 1 SEPTEMBER – 4 OCTOBER:
Theme: “Let Justice and Peace Flow,” “The Season of Creation allows us an opportunity to renew our commitment to cherish and conserve the natural world and its creatures, a world we have so taken for granted and which is now clearly reaching the limits of its capacity for exploitation and neglect…Whether we see a divine hand at work in the wonders that surround us in earth, sky and seas, as the Scriptures reveal and Aquinas sought to demonstrate, or whether we believe creation to have evolved in a series of random events, unfolding in a coincidently beautiful and harmonious way, most of us now realise the precarious point we have reached as nature’s harmony is disrupted and large sections of the natural world and its creatures disappear…in the face of human indifference or greed…All of these challenges to our humanity and faith are worthy of prayer in these weeks and beyond.” Fr Paul Clayton-Lea (September edition of Intercom).
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 X: @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