Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
27th February 2022
Day of Prayer for Temperance
Lent 2022
Ash Wednesday, 2 March, sees the beginning of the
season of Lent, the period of 40 days when we are encouraged to give more time
to prayer, to do acts of penance, to say we are sorry for our sins, to remind
ourselves that our earthly life doesn’t last for ever and to give to Trocaire
and other charities as a way of helping people for whom fasting is not
something that they have the luxury to do voluntarily.
For the first time since 2019, we hope to be able to
do a complete Lent in the church and then to be able to come together to pray
the three great days that we call the Easter Triduum, Holy Thursday, Good
Friday and Easter Sunday. The parishes of Camus, Leckpatrick, Clonleigh, Sion
Mills and Melmount have joined together to provide a timetable of early
morning, mid-morning and evening Masses for those people who make that extra
effort to come to Church during Lent. We are also offering the possibility of getting
absolution through the Sacrament of Confession on the Sundays of Lent. You can
read more about that elsewhere in the bulletin.
Ash Wednesday is our starting
day. Worries about the continuing and rapid spread of Covid prevent us from
giving ashes in the traditional way of tracing the cross on the forehead but we
have adapted the format used in some continental churches by sprinkling a
little ash on individuals who will be at Mass on Ash Wednesday. How it will
work will be explained when you come to Mass, but it will be individual and
meaningful and will start us on our forty-day pilgrimage.
Announcements
Last week’s collection
amounted to £2436.00. Thank you.
Those who pay to the weekly collection or any special
collections, including Priests’ Collection, by cheque are asked that all
cheques should be made payable to ‘Melmount Parish’.
Parishioners can still leave their contributions in
the Parish Office during this time of uncertainty. Contributions can be made by
cheque made payable to Melmount Parish or cash. If the Office is closed please
use the letterbox.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will
take place in the church on Monday 28th February after 10.00am Mass until 6.00pm.
Ash Wednesday.
Lent begins this week. Masses on Ash Wednesday
are at 7.00am; 10.00am &7.00pm.
Today is a day of fast and abstinence. Trocaire
boxes are available at the back of the church.
First Friday: Friday of this week is the First Friday. Masses will
be at 7.00am; 10.00am & 7.00pm. Confessions will take place on the Thursday
before the First Friday after 10.00am Mass.
We welcome into God’s Family through the Sacrament of
Baptism:
Hayley Gallen, Tadhgain Jackie Queenie Smart-Farrell, Cillian Patrick McLaughlin
May they Rest in Peace
Deaths
Michael Dunnion, Clady
Bridie
Cairns, Clady
Anniversaries
Thomas McGranaghan, Peggie
Burns, Ann McGarvey
Harry McDermott, Fidelma
Kerr, Maureen Monteith
Sadie McGowan, Charlie
McGowan, Eddie
McCay
Mary Nelis, Molly
Mullin, Kathleen O’Kane
Declan Coyle, John
Anthony Madden, Helen McGoldrick
Paddy Duffy, Shane
Arbuckle, Billy Murphy
John Grenham, Kathleen
Grenham, Eamon
McColgan
Liam McCosker, Nancy
Cunningham, Patricia O’Hagan
Joseph Patton, Alice
McCormick, Brian McCormick
Mass Times this Week
Monday: 10.00am.
Tuesday: 7.00pm.
Wednesday: 7.00am; 10.00am & 7.00pm. (Ash
Wednesday).
Thursday: 7.00am & 10.00am.
Friday: 7.00am, 10.00am & 7.00pm.
Saturday: Vigil 7.00pm.
Sunday: 10.30am & 12.30pm.
There will be 7.00pm Mass in the Sacred Heart Church,
Derry Road on Mondays and Thursdays during Lent and in the Church of the
Immaculate Conception on Wednesdays.
The Collection for Holy Places will
be taken up on Ash Wednesday at all Masses.
Opening of the Church:
During Lent the Church will open at 6.30am Monday - Friday.
Lenten Services and Confessions
Each of the five parishes in the Strabane pastoral
area is taking part in a series of Sunday evening services during Lent. The Devotions
will begin on the First Sunday of Lent at 5.00pm and will consist of prayer, a
homily on the theme the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) and
finish with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. A priest from a neighbouring
parish will lead this service.
On the following Sundays, at least three priests will
be available for Confessions between 5.00pm and 6.00pm.
Sunday 6th March Venue:
Services in all Parishes
Sunday 13th March Venue: Murlog
Confessions
Sunday 20th March Venue:
Immaculate Conception Confessions
Sunday 27th March Venue: St
Theresa’s, Sion Mills Confessions
Sunday 3rd April Venue: St
Mary’s, Melmount Confessions
Lenten Booklets: ‘Walk with
Me - A Lenten Journey of Prayer’ these booklets, which proved very popular
over the last few years, are available at the back of the Church priced £1.00.
They provide a prayer guide for Lent, almost a personal mini retreat.
Lent - A Time for Fasting
Abstinence - Everyone 14 years and over is expected to abstain
from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
Fasting - Everyone 18 years of age and under 59 years of age
is expected to fast (that is to cut back on amount of food eaten) on Ash
Wednesday and Good Friday. As a form of penance many people keep this fast or
some make some other sacrifice for the whole of Lent.
Baptism Dates
April: Sunday
3rd; Sunday 17th
May: Sunday
1st; Saturday 7th; Saturday 21st; Sunday 29th
June: Saturday
4th; Sunday 12th; Saturday 18th; Saturday 25th
July: Sunday
3rd; Saturday 9th; Saturday 23rd; Saturday 30th
Baptisms will be at 4.00pm on a Saturday and 1.15pm on
a Sunday.
To book a Baptism contact the Parish Office on
71383777 during office hours.
Parish Draw 2022
Promoters should make their returns for March to the
Parish Office on Monday 21st March from 2.00pm - 4.30pm. The draw for
March will take place on Thursday 24 March at 10.30am in the Parish Office.
Parish Draw 2022. The New
Parish Draw for 2022 got underway on Thursday 24th February 2022. The winners are
as follows:
January Draw
£500: 1522 Maureen
Duffy – Katrina Houston
£250: 1585 Paul &
Ita Kelly – Katrina Houston
£250: 1320 Thomas
Doherty – Michelle Langan
£250: 1209 Christopher
Moore – Michelle Langan
£150: 1276 Lisa Devine
– Katrina Houston
£150: 1324 Jordan
& Oran O’Doherty – Carolann Stewart
£150: 1134 Vincent
Hegarty – Ann Donaghey
£100: 1149 Lizzie
McGarrigle – Bosco McCready
£100: 1452 Doreen
Doherty – Elizabeth O’Hare
£100: 1375 Breege
McGrath – Sheelagh McKelvey
February Draw
£500: 1103 Liz
McCauley – Pauline Wilson
£250: 1282 Dinny
McCrossan – Bosco McCready
£250: 1545 Hilary
McGonigle – Katrina Houston
£250: 1437 Catherine
Quigley – Carolann Stewart
£150: 1215 Dominic
McGavigan – Elizabeth O’Hare
£150: 1393 Eilis
Rooney – Ann Donaghey
£150: 1183 Teresa
McGlinchey – Bosco McCready
£100: 1300 Peggy
McCafferty – Pauline Wilson
£100: 1395 Mary
Gallagher – Elizabeth O’Hare
£100: 1263 Kellie
Sharkey – Brenda Brolly
