Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion

13th April 2025

Holy Week

Palm Sunday

6.00pm: Penitential Service and Confessions in Church of Immaculate Conception

Monday

Masses: 7.00am; 10.00am

Tuesday

Masses: 7.00am; 7.00pm

Confessions: After 7.00pm Mass

Wednesday

Masses: 7.00am; 10.00am

Confessions: 10.30am

Holy Thursday

4.00pm: Mass for School Children & Elderly

7.00pm: Mass of the Lord's Supper, followed by Adoration at the Altar of Repose in the Day Chapel until 9.00pm

The 7.00pm Mass is the principal Mass for Holy Thursday and is the beginning of the Easter Triduum. Strictly speaking it should be the only Parish Mass today. We encourage people to come to this Mass.

Good Friday (A Day of Fast and Abstinence)

10.00am: Morning Prayer

11.30am - 12noon: Confessions

3.00pm: Celebration of the Lord's Passion

4.00pm - 4.30pm: Confessions

7.00pm: Stations of the Cross

Holy Saturday

10.00am: Morning Prayer

11.30am – 12 noon: Confessions

8.30pm: Mass of the Easter Vigil (Please bring a candle)

Please Note: There will not be Mass at 7.00pm this evening.

Easter Sunday

Masses: 10.30am; 12.30pm

Holy Week and Easter are the most important times in the Church year. Possibly your Lent never got off the ground or maybe you failed in your resolutions at an early stage. Why not make the extra effort during this week to come to daily Mass or make some special sacrifice. May the Lord bless all those who attended Mass in such great numbers during Lent.

We welcome into God’s Family through the Sacrament of Baptism:

Reighna Laura Kearney           

Dan Michael Deery

May they Rest in Peace

Deaths

Peter Devenney, 6 Five Acres            

Colm Logue, Brighton formerly Burndennett

John McGaughey, Plumbridge 

Mary Rose Doherty, Letterkenny

Anniversaries

Neil McBeth, Margaret McDonald, Brian McDonald

Pat Smyth, Tish Smyth, Bernadette Kelly

George Moore, Chris Patterson, Isobel McColgan

Tommy Brennan, James O’Neill, Mary O’Neill

Kathleen Coates, Grace Shields, George Brad Doherty

Alice Quigley, Francis McElwee, Hugh O’Neill

Grace Sweeney, Robert McNulty, Eileen McNulty

Mary Callaghan, Robert Moore, Ruby Gallagher

Baptism Dates

May: Saturday 3; Sunday 11; Saturday 24.

June: Sunday 1; Saturday 7; Saturday 28.

July: Sunday 6; Saturday 12. Saturday 26.

August: Sunday 3; Saturday 16; Saturday 23.

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.

Vocations We pray for those called to serve as priests of the diocese that they will bring their people to honour the Holy Name of Jesus, the name above all names, and ‘…acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ (St. Paul, 2^nd Reading)

Blessing of Graves The Annual Ceremony of the Blessing of Graves will take place here in Melmount on Sunday 25 May 2025 at 4.00pm.

Parish Draw Promoters should make their returns for April to the Parish Office tomorrow Monday 14 April from 2.00pm - 4.30pm. The Draw for April will take place on Wednesday 16 April at 10.30am in the Parish Office.

Derry Diocesan Youth Department, along with young people participating in Pope John Paul II Awards, invite you to a Lenten Reflection with music and prayer. This will take place in St. Mary’s Church, Maghera on Monday 14 April at 7.00pm. All are welcome. The event can also be viewed on Maghera Parish webcam.

Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock will take place on Sunday 15 June. Further details will be available in the coming weeks.

Many thanks for an anonymous donation received from one of our parishioners. We have made donations to the various organisations that you requested.      

Announcements

Last week’s collection amounted to £3791.00. 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. 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 14 April after 10.00am Mass until 6.00pm.

Notices for the Bulletin Due to the Bank Holiday on Good Friday all anniversaries and notices for next week’s bulletin must be notified by 12 noon on Tuesday 15 April.

Trócaire Trócaire Collection boxes should be returned to the Church at any of the ceremonies for Holy Week or on Easter Sunday. It would be a great help if small coins could be changed for notes or pound coins. Because of banking requirements all cheques should be made payable to ‘Melmount Parish’.

Mass of Chrism will take place on Holy Thursday, 17 April at 10.00am in St. Eugene’s Cathedral, Derry. Bishop Donal McKeown will be the Principal Celebrant. All priests and people of the diocese are invited to come and join in this celebration of the Eucharist. The bishop will bless the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick and the oil of Chrism, all of which are used for the celebration of the sacraments during the year. Everyone is welcome to attend the Mass or it can be viewed via the webcam: www.steugenescathedral.com/webcam.html

Graveyards We would ask that when you are having headstones and surrounds erected in the graveyards or having any work carried out to existing graves that you put any ornaments or flowers etc that are on the grave in a safe place while the work is being carried out. The parish is not responsible for any damage or loss of these items. A reminder that there are specific measurements for surrounds and headstones in the newest of our graveyards and benches are not permitted. Please ensure that whoever is erecting the headstone and surround for you in this graveyard, contact the Parish Office on 71383777 before any work commences.

Easter Monday Pilgrim Path Walk at Lough Derg Join the Team at Lough Derg for a guided walk along the ancient Pilgrim Path around Lough Derg on Monday 21 April at 10.30am. 8km & 12km option available. Free event. Booking is essential. For more information log on to www.loughderg.org

Masters in Catholic School Leadership The Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre, working in partnership with St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, offers the Masters in Catholic School Leadership. This is a post graduate degree dedicated to the professional development and spiritual formation of catholic school leaders. It is a great opportunity for those currently in leadership roles and those who aspire to, or have an interesting, leadership roles within the Catholic School System. If you are interested in registering for the Masters in September 2025 or you require any further information, please contact the Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre on 02871 264087 or email tferry@derrydiocese.org