Parishes of Camus, Clonleigh and LeckpatrickSecond Sunday of Lent – Year C – 16th March 2025 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.comEmail: strabaneparish@derrydiocese.org; Website: www.camusparish.com Email: clonleighparish@derrydiocese.org; Website: www.clonleighparish.comLifford Parish Office: tel: 003537491 42001Treasure The MomentLast Sunday’s gospel represented the struggles of Christian life in the temptations of Jesus by the devil. In today’s gospel, we are taken up the mountain of light where Peter, James and John experienced a vision of Jesus transfigured into his heavenly glory – a memory that would help to sustain them during the challenges and the agonies ahead. This gospel passage about the transfiguration of Jesus into his glorified state is intended to do for us what it was to do for Peter, James and John. These three would be with Jesus in the darkness of the agony in the garden. They also would be associated with the agonies of the Church in the first century. Peter would need the strength he received from experiencing Jesus transfigured so that he could be a rock to support the others. James, the first of the apostles to face martyrdom, would draw from the transfiguration of Jesus a strong expectation and hope for the transfiguration of our mortal bodies after death. John would survive long after the others and inspire the deep meditation on the incarnation – which is his fourth gospel. All three would draw hope, inspiration and strength at various times in their lives from the experience they had with Jesus that day on the mountain.Lent represents the pilgrimage of life. Sometimes our days are with the Lord in the barren wilderness of conflict. Sometimes he draws us to the mountain of prayer and to the experience of light, perspective, distance, connections and sureness. When God grants the moment of insight, it is given to us for our future strengthening in the struggles and challenges of life. When God reveals his light and presence we must do all we can to receive the moment, to be aware of it and to own it.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Congratulations to the children who received the Sacrament of Confirmation in our parishes recently. May this sacrament deepen your faith and bring you closer to the heart of Christ. Our special thanks to Mgr Andrew Dolan, Fr Noel McDermott and Fr Chris McDermott for celebrating the sacrament. Heartfelt thanks to the teachers, parents / guardians and sponsors who prepared the girls and boys so well to receive the sacrament. We acknowledge also the hard work and skills of those who provided decorations for the chapels. Do This in Memory The next Mass in the Do This in Memory programme for children in 2nd class in Murlog parish schools preparing for First Holy Communion will take place today (Sun) at 11 am Mass in St Patrick’s, Murlog.Requiescant in Pace As a parish community we offer our sympathy to the family and friends of Stephen Gallagher, Townsend Terrace Sinead McHugh, Belfast & Greenlaw Pk, Ballymagorry Leon Kelly, Beechwood Grove Jayne Kennedy (nee Mallon), Retreat Heights, KillyclogherAnniversaries Mary Sarah Doherty, Patrick Mc Elroy, Annie & Willie Mc Gowan, Sara Ann Hegarty, Ellen Mc Dermott, Belle Patton, Ethna Duffy, Alice Howard, Neil Doherty, John Friel, Frances Mc Ginley, Patsy McElroy, Kathleen Melaugh, Sadie Myers, Anne Connolly, Eileen Conwell, Alice Coyle, Mary Ann Elliott, Sean Kavanagh, Lorna McGranaghan, Michael Canavan, Mary Catherine McGettigan, Sarah Browne, Michael McRory, Tom Doherty, Fr Peter Raftery, John Hendron, Bridget Hendron, Josie Gallagher, Packie & Dan McShane, Sarah O’Donnell, Lorna Kildea (Month’s Mind). May they rest in peace.Mass Intentions for St Patrick’s, Murlog on Monday 17th March at 11.00 am: Frances (Fran) McGinley, Letterkenny Rd (1st anniversary); Saturday 22nd March 6.30 pm: Annie May Harte, Corner House (Month’s Mind); Pat Gibbons, Tir O’Neill; Sunday 23rd March at 11 am: Kathleen Keeney, Legandara; Hugo Hannigan, Letterkenny RdThank You for your generosity to the collections last weekend: Leckpatrick: £1,190.79 (offertory), £480 (Holy Land); Clonleigh: €1,990 (Euro); Camus: £2,300 (offertory), £1,006 (Holy Land). Thanks also to those who pay by standing order.Readings for Sunday 23rd March: 1st reading Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15; Psalm 102: 1-4, 6-8, 11; 2nd reading 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Gospel Luke 13:1-9Saints of the Coming Week: Monday: St Patrick, Bishop; Tuesday: St Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and doctor of the Church; Wednesday: St Joseph, Husband of Mary; Friday: St Enda of Aran, abbotBaptism Dates in St Patrick’s, Murlog March 29th; April 5th, 12th, 26th at 2.00 pm__________________________ Monday 17th March is St Patrick’s Day. Masses for the holy day are:Immaculate Conception Church: 9.45 am & 12.15 pmSacred Heart Church, Derry Road: 12 noonSt Patrick’s Church, Murlog: 9 am & 11 amSt Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan: 9.45 amSt Mary’s Church, Cloughcor: 8.30 am Patrick’s MessageMore than 1,500 years of history separate us from the man Patrick, but the message he devoted his life to spreading remains the same. Despite his painful experiences during his youth in our country, he saw the hand of God at work in everything that happened to him. That alone is a very powerful message. He came to realise that the worst slavery of all is to be bound in darkness and have no knowledge of the saving power of Jesus which can transform lives.We owe so much to Patrick and successive generations for keeping the flame of faith alive down through the centuries. We have faith because they, each in their turn, nurtured it, safe-guarded it and passed it on. The chain of faith between yesterday and tomorrow depends on the link that we are today. The old saying that ‘a chain is only as strong as its weakest link’ fits perfectly here.The voice of Patrick speaks in every generation with the invitation to share the faith he brought by living lives of loving service. The completeness of his commitment to God was lived out in day-to-day trials, sufferings and failures. Our commitment to our faith must be lived out in the same way. The Annual Clerical Education Collection will be taken up on St Patrick’s Day.Blessed Shamrocks on sale at St Patrick’s Day Massesin aid of Sr Consillio’s Cuan Mhuire Addiction CentresOur Lenten JourneyPlease note that weekday Masses in Lent are as follows:Church of the Immaculate Conception: Monday – Friday 7.00 am, 10.00 am; Saturday: 11.00 amSacred Heart Church, Derry Road: Monday – Friday 12 noonSt Patrick’s Church, Murlog: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 9.30 am, Wednesday 7.00 pm, Friday 7.00 am, 9.30 amLenten Prayer Cards available. You are invited to join in prayer each day, praying for various areas, schools, ministries associated with our parishes.Murlog Wednesday Evening Lenten Mass – Wednesday 19th March at 7 pm. This week’s reflection is on the theme, Blessed Carlo Acutis, symbol of Hope for Youth and the Church. It will be given by James Tourish, a First Year Student at Queen’s University who has promoted devotion to the soon to be Saint. Please join us as we continue to journey through Lent this Jubilee Year of Hope.A Short Time of Prayer & Reflection with Taizé Chant each Sunday of Lent at 7 pm in Sacred Heart Church, Derry Rd. Prayer focuses on the theme of hope.Eucharistic Adoration takes place during Lent as follows:Immaculate Conception Church, Strabane: Tuesday 10.30 am – 1.00 pmSacred Heart Church, Derry Road: Wednesday 9 am – 11.45 am & 12.30 — 5 pmSt Patrick’s Church, Murlog: Friday 7.30 am – 9.15 am & 10 am — 12.30 pmYou are invited to come and pray quietly before the Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to commit yourself to be present for a half hour / hour to ensure someone is always present in the churches. Thank you for your prayerful support.Save us, Lord, while we are awake; protect us while we sleep; that we may keep watch with Christ and rest with him in peace.Stations of the Cross are recited publicly each Friday after10.00 am Mass in Immaculate Conception Church9.30 am Mass in St Patrick’s Church, Murlog12.00 noon Mass in Sacred Heart Church, Derry RoadTrócaire Lord, source of all wisdom, guide us during this Year of celebrating the Jubilee. Open our hearts and enlighten our minds so that we may understand and fully experience the gifts of mercy and forgiveness, renewal and restoration. You can support Trócaire’s vital work by taking a Trócaire box and using it at home or visit https://www.trocaire.org/ Vocations We ask God’s blessing on those being called to serve as priests of the diocese of Derry, that they will have the faith and trust of Abraham and St Patrick, and that they will listen to Jesus, the Son of God, the Chosen One. SSPX Resistance Ireland – note from Bishop McKeown. SSPX Resistance is a group holding Masses within the territory of the Diocese of Derry. Given their presence here in the Derry Diocese, I find it necessary to stress the following:-· The priests associated with SSPX Resistance Ireland are not in full communion with the Catholic Church and they do not accept the full teaching authority of the Church.· The priests of SSPX Resistance Ireland administer sacraments, but do so illicitly – that is, without the necessary faculties and approval of the Church.· The Catholic Church has no supervision whatsoever of the priests or ministers of SSPX Resistance Ireland, who have no connection with the Diocese of Derry in terms of Safeguarding practices and policies and are not overseen by the Bishop of Derry. Considering this information, I urge all the faithful to remain steadfast in communion with the Church, united with the Holy Father and the bishops who share in full communion with him. Let us continue to pray for the unity of the Church and for those who have distanced themselves from full communion, that they may one day be reconciled. Bishop Donal McKeown_______________Camus / Leckpatrick Draws We thank people for their wonderful response to our parish draws in the new format of prizes and the monthly subscription. Your support is very much appreciated. So too, a word of thanks to all our promoters and their generous commitment. The next draw will take place on Thursday 27th March 2025. Draw returns for March may be made at St Pat’s Hall on Tuesday 18th March from 10.30 – 11.30 am & Wednesday 19th March 6.30 – 7.30 pm andParochial House, Ballymagorry: Tuesday 18th March from 10.30 – 11.30 am & Wed 19th March from 6.30 – 7.30 pm. Again, thank you and every good wish to all.Leckpatrick Parish Draw Winners – February 2025Prize Winner Promoter£1,000 Kieron Stevenson Fr Michael£300 Farrah, Josh & Beth Kerlin Sadie Kerlin£200 Sheila McGonigle Gabrielle Dooher£100 Noeleen & Christy Toland Fr Michael£100 Cassie, Savannagh & Ruby McDermott Sadie Kerlin£100 Blathnaid McMenamin John Devine£100 Erin McNulty Sadie Kerlin£100 Aine Barclay Hegarty familyCamus Parish Draw Winners – February 2025Prize Winner Promoter£1,000 Fr Peter O’Kane Brian McCallion£300 Paddy Jack Collete McKane£200 Teresa McCaffrey Fr Michael£100 Joan Kelly Diane Flanagan£100 Philomena Duffy Eileen Canning£100 Christine Doherty Marion Cooke£100 M & B Duffy Maisie Boggs£100 Denise McDonald Maisie Boggs Parish ScheduleImmaculate Conception Church, Strabane Mass: Saturday Vigil: 6 pm; Sunday: 9.45 am & 12.15 pmMonday – Friday: 7.00 am, 10.00 am; Saturday: 11.00 amConfessions: Saturday 11.30 am; 5.15 pmEucharistic Adoration: Tuesday 10.30 am – 1.00 pmLeckpatrick St Mary’s Church, Cloughcor Mass: Saturday Vigil: 5 pm Sacred Heart Church, Derry Rd Mass: Sunday: 11.15 am; Monday – Friday: 12 noon Confessions: Monday 12.30 pmEucharistic Adoration: Wednesday 9 am – 11.45 am & 12.30 — 5 pmSt Joseph’s Church, Glenmornan: Mass: Sunday: 9.45 amSt Patrick’s, MurlogMass: Saturday Vigil: 6.30 pm; Sunday: 11.00 amMass: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 9.30 am; Wednesday: 7.00 pm; Friday: 7 am, 9.30 amRosary: 8.40 am; Confessions: Saturday: 5.30 pmEucharistic Adoration: Friday 7.30 am – 9.15 am & 10 am — 12.30 pmWeddings 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.