SUNDAY 1st October 2023:
TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME
PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS – ST MATTHEW 21:28-32
On this twenty-sixth Sunday of Ordinary time we enter the final stage of Jesus’ public ministry, in Jerusalem, having moved on from Galilee. Today we listen to the first of three parables of judgement – the Two Sons, the Tenants, and the Wedding Feast, each of which is told to the Jewish religious leaders. Each illustrates their rejection of Jesus. In today’s Parable of the Two Sons, the leaders of Israel ‘represent’ the second son, who claimed obedience but did not do the will of his father.
The parable of the father and the two sons challenges us to put God’s will into action, rather than concur with it verbally and not carry it out. This requires that, like the first son, we are continually open to the possibility of conversion in our lives and honest and humble enough to change our decisions when we recognise that they are wrong.
OCTOBER – MONTH OF MISSION
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:
Arthur McNally, Finnside Close; Tommy & Lily McDermott, Porthal
Bernard Kearns, Mullaghanney.
MASS INTENTIONS:
Sunday 8 October, 9.00am: Sun 8th Oct 9 am: John Canny, Rossgier
Sunday 8 October, 11.00am: Margaret Friel, Braide.
THANK YOU for your generosity in last week’s collections: €1,500. Thank you also for your contributions to the Trust Fund for Retired Priests collection, £280
WELCOME to the First Holy Communion children and their parents to our 11.00am Mass today. Today, the children presenting for the Sacraments of First Confession and First Holy Communion will be enrolled for the sacraments and, with their families, will enrol for the Do This In Memory parish programme. The home and parish preparation for receiving the sacraments is an important part of the children’s preparation and, indeed, the prayerful presence of the congregation – the parish family – at our Do This In Memory Mass is an important support for the children.
JUBILEE YEAR MEETING will take place in Murlog School tomorrow night, Monday 2 October, at 7.30pm. I would like as many as possible to come along, please, so that, together, we can have a chat and come up with some ideas about how we might celebrate our Jubilee Year in our parish in 2024. Thank you.
ENVELOPE BOXES FOR THE COMING YEAR:
The new boxes for 2023/2024 begin today, Sunday, 1 October. The envelope boxes have been distributed to your homes this week. If you have not received your envelope box, please let us know.
If there is anyone who has not had an envelope before and is now in a financial position to start contributing to the weekly collection, please let Lorna in the parish office or myself know this week and we will be glad to provide you with an envelope box. The envelope collection is, as you know, our main source of income and is essential to the day-to-day running costs of the parish. Thank you, as always, for your ongoing generous support of the parish.
ANAM CARA DONEGAL is holding it’s monthly Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Thursday 12 October at 7.15pm, in the Raddison Blu Hotel, Letterkenny. This event is free and open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of death, or whether the death was recent. An online service is also available. For more information, call the Information Line on 01 4045 378.
OCTOBER – MONTH OF MISSION:
October is traditionally known in the Church as Month of Mission. Mission Sunday will be celebrated on Sunday 22 October.
Today, 1 October, is the Feast Day of St Thérèse of Lisieux (1873 – 1897). Thérèse, having been declared a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1925, was declared by him as co-patron of the missions in 1927, along with St Francis Xavier. Thérèse, who died at the tender age of 24, was declared Patroness of Missions, not because she ever travelled abroad to do specialised missionary work, but because of her prayerful support of missionaries and her own simple acts of charity. She believed in doing the ordinary things of life with extraordinary love – a smile, a kind word, a note of encouragement, a little act of penance, a simple task to brighten the life of another: in short, she believed in the little saintly things that we all have the opportunity to do every day!
St Thérèse of Lisieux, pray for us. St Francis Xavier, pray for us.
Wednesday of this week, 4 October, is the Feast of St Francis of Assisi, patron saint of the environment and animals. Appropriately, it is also the close of the Season of Creation.
Francis’ devotion to God was expressed through his love for all of creation. Reforming himself by repenting of his pride and materialism, and surrendering his whole life to the providence, will and purpose of God, Francis publicly lived in radical detachment from the goods of the world. He cared for the poor and sick, he embraced poverty and simplicity of life. He redefined authority – away from power and towards service; he put the example of Jesus, taught to us in the Gospels, into action. This is the call to all of us. St Francis of Assisi, pray for us.
Saturday of this week, 7 October, is the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. October is a month of special devotion to Our Lady and, in particular, to praying the Rosary. The Rosary invites us to reflect on the great mysteries of the life, death and resurrection of, Jesus son of our blessed mother, Mary. You are encouraged to make special effort to recite the Family Rosary in your homes during this month. Parents, in particular, are encouraged to teach and pray the Rosary with their children.
The Rosary is recited in our church by our faithful Rosary Group each morning of our weekday Masses, starting twenty minutes before Mass. In this Month of October, I encourage as many people as possible to come along and join in this time of prayer and blessing for our parish.
Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us.
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