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