Parishes of Camus, Clonleigh and Leckpatrick
First Sunday of
Second Sunday of Advent – Year C – 8th December 2024
Parish Clergy
Fr Michael McCaughey, PP: (028) 71882274 / (028) 71883293
Fr Eddie Gallagher, CC: (074) 91 42022 Fr Declan Boland (priest in residence)
Email: leckpatrickparish@derrydiocese.org; Website: www.leckpatrickparish.com
Email: strabaneparish@derrydiocese.org; Website: www.camusparish.com
Email: clonleighparish@derrydiocese.org; Website: www.clonleighparish.com
Thoughts on the Gospel
Today’s gospel reading introduces us to the bold ministry of John the Baptist. In the wilderness, John echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Prepare the way for the Lord; make straight paths for Him . . .
John’s proclamation was not merely a call to physical preparation but a deep invitation to spiritual readiness. The imagery of levelling mountains, filling valleys, and straightening paths symbolises removing obstacles that hinder our relationship with God.
In our lives, what are the mountains of pride, valleys of despair, or crooked paths of sin that need realignment? Preparing the way for the Lord means examining our hearts honestly. Are there areas where we have grown complacent? Are we clinging to habits, attitudes, or fears that block us from experiencing God’s fullness? The first step to transformation is acknowledging these barriers and allowing God to help us tear them down. Like John’s audience, we are called to repentance — a turning away from sin and toward God’s grace.
This Advent season offers an opportunity to recommit to God’s transformative work. Like John the Baptist, we can become heralds of hope, pointing others to the Saviour. And as we prepare His way, we can trust that His salvation will shine brighter than ever in our hearts and in the world.
God of our salvation, you straighten the winding ways of our hearts and smooth
the paths made rough by sin. Make our conduct blameless, keep our hearts watchful in holiness,
and bring to perfection the good you have begun in us, Amen.
_________________
Do This In Memory Masses – Sunday 15th December
The children of 2nd Class in the schools of Clonleigh Parish and their families are invited to our Advent Season Do This In Memory Mass next Sunday at 11 am in St Patrick’s Church, Murlog. Please note the 11 am Mass time.
Children from St Catherine’s PS and their families are invited to 12.15 pm Mass in Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane next Sunday.
Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception This year, because 8th December falls on a Sunday, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is transferred to Monday 9th December. It is not a Holy Day of Obligation.
Preparing Through Advent & Christmas You are invited to a time of prayer on Wednesday 11th & 18th Dec from 8–9 pm in Sacred Heart Church, Derry Rd. The theme of Leckpatrick Parish Mission earlier this year was ‘reach’. Once again, we reach out to each other and invite you to a time of prayer, to reflect on this special time of year. As we celebrate Advent Season, we also think of the Jubilee Year to come. Aware that we are all ‘pilgrims of hope’, we journey together in prayer through Advent in preparation for Christmas and the Jubilee Year. Please take time to come along.
Christmas Mass Bouquets are available through our parish for a Triduum of Masses in the Christmas Season. Donation is £2.
Requiescat in Pace As a parish faith community, we offer our sympathy to the family of Mary Caulfield, Glen Road
Anniversaries Kathleen Patterson, Emma Harper, Jim Douglas, Roy Houston, Edward Doherty, Seamus Hoynes, Gerard Devine, Teresa Conway, Annie Melaugh, Michael McGinty, Noel Smyth, Jim Coyle, John Coyle, Rose Peoples, Patrick McGee, Molly Colhoun, Bernadette Simpson, Vera Porter, Jimmy Diver, James Woods, Anne Stewart, John McMenamin, Danny & Annie Donnelly, Jim Douglas, Brian McLaughlin
Mass Intentions in St Patrick’s Church, Lifford
Saturday 14th December at 6.30 pm Anna French, Boyagh (Month’s Mind);
Conleith Tourish, Curraghalane; Donald MacLochlainn & family
Sunday 15th December at 11 am
Richard McBrearty, Chestnut Grove; Seamus McBrearty, Tamnawood
Thank You for your generosity to the offertory collections last weekend:
Leckpatrick: £1,032.22; Clonleigh: €1,965.26 (Euro); Camus: £1,650
Thank you also to those who contribute by standing order.
Readings for Sunday 15th December: 1st reading: Zephaniah 3: 14-18a; Psalm: Isaiah 12: 2-3, 4 5-6; 2nd reading: Philippians 4: 4-7; Gospel: Luke 3: 10-18
Baptism Dates in St Patrick’s, Murlog December14th, 21st & 28th & January 11th & 25th
Mass Cards / Mass Bouquet Cards available at the parish office
SVdP Annual Church Collection will be taken up at Masses this weekend. This special collection will help us meet the increased spending required to help the many families in need, from our own parish community over the Christmas period. Thank you.
St Vincent de Paul Helpline 07711156924.
Vocations Prayer For the future priests of the Derry diocese that, like St John the Baptist, they will work to “ … Prepare the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight … So that all mankind can see the salvation of God”.
Thank You to everyone who supported our Christmas Parish Bazaar last weekend. This was my first experience of the bazaar and I was very impressed by the smooth running of this joyful, festive occasion. It was wonderful to see so many people join us for the event. Thank you to everyone who supported the bazaar by volunteering, buying raffle tickets and donating prizes. Congratulations to the prize winners and better luck next time to those who took part. Many thanks for your continued support, Fr Michael.
Family Prayer for Advent EachSunday of Advent, the gospel reading & reflection contemplating the mysteries of Advent and the coming of Our Lord, Jesus Christ are available: https://www.derrydiocese.org/publications/advent/advent-prayers-2024.pdf
Job Opportunity Derry Diocesan Trust seeks applications for the post of Administrative Assistant in the Parish of Buncrana (16 hours per week – 1 year fixed term contract with possibility of extension). For job description and application pack, please contact Bishop’s House, St Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry, BT48 9AP, tel: 028 71262302 or recruitment@derrydiocese.org. Closing date: 18th Dec 2024.
Online Advent Retreat for Parishioners The Dominicans will give an online retreat over Advent for anyone interested. The speaker is Fr Stephen Cummins OP. The link to sign up is: https://prioryinstitute.com/events/2024-online-advent-retreat.
Sharing the Good News, the weekly newsletter of the Irish Bishops’ Conference, can be viewed at https://catholicnews.ie
Parish of Camus November Draw Winners
Winner Promoter
£1,000 Thomas McDermott Paul Mullan
£300 Mark Kelly Marion Cooke
£200 Jimmy McNamee Siobhan McDevitt
£100 Celine McCrea Paul Mullan
£100 Marion Timoney Marion Cooke
£100 Emer & Maeve O’Kane Fr Boland
£100 Tracey Brown Moira Coyle
£100 Jimmy O’Neill Eileen Canning
Parish Draws for December for the Parishes of Camus & Leckpatrick will take place on Tuesday 10th December at 7.30 pm in St Patrick’s Parish Hall. All promoters are invited to observe the draws.
We thank you for your support over the last twelve months.
Give Blood, Save Lives NI Blood Transfusion Servicewill collect blood donations on Tuesday 31st December from 10 am – 3 pm at St Patrick’s Hall, 15 Castlefin Rd, Castlederg, BT81 7BT.
Visit https://nibts.bookinglive.com/book/add/p/6 or tel 08085534653 to book.
Saints of the Coming Week
Monday: The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Tuedays: Our Lady of Loreto
Wednesday: St Damasas I, pope
Thursday: Our Lady of Guadalupe; St Finnian, bishop
Friday: St Lucy, virgin and martyr
Saturday: St John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the Church
Contemplative Prayer Group meets on Mondays at 8.00 pm in the Meditation Room at the Parochial House, Barrack St, Strabane. Newcomers very welcome.
The Mayor’s Christmas Tea Dance Tuesday 17th December from 2 pm – 4 pm in St Pat’s Hall, Strabane. Music by The Band Friends. For tickets, please contact the Mayor’s office – tel: 028 71376508 or Mayor@derrystrabane.com
Trocaire Gifts of Change will be on sale at
St Mary’s, Cloughcor Vigil Mass Saturday 7th December;
St Joseph’s, Glenmornan 8th & 15th December
Sacred Heart, Derry Road 8th & 15th December
Immaculate Conception, Strabane 10th – 15th December inclusive
St Patrick’s, Murlog 21st & 22nd December.
When you buy a Trocaire Gift of Love, you are not just giving, you are helping communities in some of the world’s poorest places to work their way out of poverty. Gift brochures are at the back of the chapel for you to take home and decide which gift is appropriate for you. Please bring along correct cash, if possible. Thank you.
Crib Festival Returns to St Joseph’s Hall, Omagh Everyone is invited to come along to the exhibition on Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th December from 10 am – 7 pm. There will be a live nativity performance at 3.30 pm each day. Please note: this year three charities will benefit from your donations: MSF (Doctors without Borders), UNICEF and Mellon Educate. New and interesting nativities have been added to the collection of over 300 nativity sets. During Advent we will continue the virtual display of cribs on social media (Tattysallagh Crib Festival 2024). A warm welcome is extended to everyone to view the exhibition and enjoy morning coffee / afternoon tea.
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2025 led by Bishop McKeown from 30th June – 4th July, leaving from City of Derry Airport. Price £849. Gift vouchers are available from the Pastoral Centre, 164 Bishop St, Derry. Enquiries to derrypilgrim@outlook.com
Ballindrait Presbyterian Church warmly invites you to A Festival of Christmas Praise on Sunday 8th December at 7 pm. Music by Strabane Brass Band and organist, Dawn Stevenson. Special collection in aid of Donegal Hospice. Everyone welcome.
Strabane History Society meets on Thursday 12th Dec at 7 pm in the music rooms, John Wesley St (opposite library near back gate of post office). This month’s talk will be St Lugadius Church, Lifford. The speaker is Averil Meehan. Everyone welcome.
Marie Curie Community Carol Service in the Alley Theatre on Tuesday 10th December at 7.30pm. Music by Strabane Brass Band, Strabane Junior Brass Band, Class Act Singers. Featuring Soloist Ciara Quinn. All welcome.
Gamblers Anonymous Tel 71351329. Alcoholics Anonymous Tel 90351222
Christmas Parish Draw
Tickets for our Pastoral Area Draw are now available at the parish offices. This is an ideal Christmas gift. Subscription: £5. Twenty-five prizes will be drawn on 5 days through the 12 days of Christmas. The final draw will take place on 6th January 2025. Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Day 1: Christmas Day – 25th Dec 2024 1st Prize £325; 2nd Prize £225; 3rd Prize £125; 4th Prize £75; 5th Prize £50 Gift Voucher for McBride’s Spar, Strabane
Day 2: St Stephen’s Day – 26th Dec 2024 1st Prize £325 2nd Prize £225; 3rd Prize £125; 4th Prize £75; 5th Prize: £50 Gift Voucher for Fir Trees Hotel
Day 3: 1st January 2025 1st Prize: £325; 2nd Prize £225; 3rd Prize £125; 4th Prize £75;
5th Prize: Gift Voucher for a Treatment at the Gift Lodge, Derry
Day 4: 2nd January 2025 1st Prize £525; 2nd Prize £425; 3rd Prize £325; 4th Prize £225; 5th Prize £125
Day 5: 6th January 2025 1st Prize £2,025; 2nd Prize £1,025; 3rd Prize £425; 4th Prize Midweek break for two at the Great Northern Hotel, Bundoran 2 nights B&B and Evening Meal; 5th Prize £225.
Various Promoters’ Prizes
Parish Schedule
Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane
Mass: Saturday Vigil: 6.00 pm; Sunday: 9.45 am & 12.15 pm
Monday – Friday: 10.00 am; Wednesday: 7.00 pm
Eucharistic Adoration: 10.30 am – 1 pm
Leckpatrick
St Mary’s Church, Cloughcor
Mass: Saturday Vigil: 5 pm
Sacred Heart Church, Derry Rd
Mass: Sunday: 11.15 am; Monday – Friday: 7.45 am
St Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan:
Mass: Sunday: 9.45 am
Eucharistic Adoration in Sacred Heart Church: Wednesdays from 8.15 am–5 pm
St Patrick’s Church, Murlog
Mass: Saturday Vigil: 6.30 pm; Sunday: 11 am Mass:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9.30 am
Rosary: 8.40 am Confessions: Saturday: 6.00 pm – 6.15 pm
Eucharistic Adoration: 9.30 am – 12.30 pm
Weddings Please contact any of our parish offices. At least 6 months’ notice required.
Baptisms: Parent(s) are asked to contact any of our parish offices.
Safeguarding If you have any concerns with regard to safeguarding children or adults in need of protection within the Church, please contact Maire Gormley, the Diocesan Designated Liaison Person (DLP) at tel: +447596 500 793 or email: mairegormley@derrydiocese.org or PSNI (Police Service of N Ireland) 101 or Social Services: Western HSC Trust, +442871314090 (Ask for the Duty Social Worker) or Garda Síochána, Buncrana 074 9320540, Letterkenny HQ 074 9123672 or TUSLA Family & Child Agency Buncrana 074 9320420 or Letterkenny 074 9123672.