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We welcome into God’s family: LUCAS HARKIN CONNLÁ BRENDAN McGONIGLE WEEKLY COLLECTION: £5,170 Thank you for your continued generosity and support. SYMPATHY We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of: EILEEN McLAUGHLIN, Derry who has died recently.

ANNIVERSARIES

Mary (Molly) Brolly, Kevin Clarke, Mary Mullan, Bert McGerty, Jessie Gilloway, Tillie McLaughlin, Elizabeth Whitty, David Whitty, Sally Turpin, Catherine McGonigle, Patsy Canning, Charlie Newland, Vincent Magee, William McGill, Annu Matthews, Johnny McCullagh, John Ward, Ann Mullan (McWilliams), Leo Kealey. MONTH ’S MIND MASSES: The Month ’s Mind Mass for Bridie Devine will be celebrated on Saturday 19 September at 6.00pm in St. Finlough ’s Church. TRIDUUM OF MASSES FOR BISHOP MICHAEL ROUTER: As the diocese and parishes prepare to celebrate the joyous occasion of the Installatio n of Bishop Michael Router as Bishop of Derry on Sunday 20 September , a Triduum of Masses will be celebrated in parishes throughout the diocese, on Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September. In our parish, the se Masses will be celebrated: on Friday 18 September in Christ the King Church at 10.00am on Saturday 19 September in Christ the King Church at 4.30pm and St. Finlough’s Church at 6.00pm on Sunday 20 September in Christ the King Church at 9.00am and 12 noon andin St. Mary’s Church at 10.30am. All are welcome to attend as we come together as God’s people to pray for Bishop Router and the people of the diocese, that we may walk together in faith and hope, guided by the Holy Spirit.

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ADULT CROTCHET CLASS in ST. FINLOUGH’S HALL resumes on MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER at 7.30pm. New members welcome! Could you Host for Hospice? October is officially Foyle Hospice Coffee Morning Month! We are calling on supporters to help us raise vital funds by hosting a Coffee Morning. Whether it’s at home, work or in your local community, you can support your local hospice by bringing your friends together and putti ng the kettle on - it’s a piece of cake! To request your FREE host pack or for more info, please call Ailbhe McDaid, Community Fundraiser, Foyle Hospice, on 028 7135 9888 or email: ailbhe@foylehospice.com FEAST OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL: Mass will be offered for all members of St. Vincent de Paul Society (past and present) at 9.00am on Sunday 27 September in Christ the King Church . EUCHARISTIC ADORATION: Derry Diocese is renewing and developing its Diocesan Adoration Lay Committee in order to increase the practice o f Eucharistic Adoration in parishes throughout the diocese. You are welcome to attend an Information Meeting on: Wed 30 Sept, 8.00pm, in The Drummond Hotel, Ballykelly, Registration and light refreshments from 7.30pm. WEEKLY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION has resumed in St. Mary’s Church and takes place each Thursday from 1.00pm to 6.00pm. All are warmly welcome to come and spend some quiet time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament.

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LCDI VOLUNTEER DRIVERS AND VOLUNTEER ASSISTANTS Meals on Wheels – Limavady Area Help us deliver hot meals to the Limavady area. Monday to Friday: 2 hours per week. No experience needed, just a friendly face and a little time. Telephone: Karen Cochrane (028) 703 65438. THE COLUMBAN YOUNG ADULTS areanew group for those aged 18 - 30 in the diocese, who are seeking a community of like-minded young adults who have Christ at the centre of their lives. Our September event will be a Holy Hour and meditation on Thursday 17 September, 7:00pm at our Lady of Lourdes Church, Steelstown, Derry, delivered by Fr Declan McGeehan. The meditation will be followed by Solemn Benediction and light refreshments. We are actively seeking new members- please co me along and bring a friend! SAFEGUARDING NOTICE If you have any concerns with regard to the Safeguarding of children within the Church please contact Marie O ’Kane, the Diocesan Designated Liaison Person (DLP) on +447596500793 or email: dlp@derrydiocese.org Northern Ireland emergency services PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) 101 Social Services: Gateway Services, Western HSC Trust, 028 7131 4090 (and ask for the Duty Social Worker) Gateway Services, Northern HSC Trust 028 9442 4459 Regional Emergency Social Work Services 0800 1979 995 QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY reopens for the new academic year on Monday 14 September , with weekday Masses and our semester programme resuming. The first Sunday Mass will be celebr ated on 20 September atthenew, earlier time of 7.00pm. Please note the new time! New or returning student? Find out about what’s on, ways to connect and get involved, and student accommodation at Ryan Hall at qubcatholic.org andonour socials. Staff and alumni are always welcome too. Visit our newly renewed Chaplaincy at 28 Elmwood Avenue for Mass, Confessions or candle-lighting — and call into Mosaic for some of the best coffee, hot lunches and home-baked treats in South Belfast!

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24th Sunday in Ordinary Time 13 September 2026 Let It Go! Peter thinks forgiving seven times is generous. Jes us says seventy- seven. Which means: stop counting! Then Jesus tells a story about a servant who owed a fortune he could never repay. He begged, and the master wiped thewhole thing out. Minutes later that same servant found amanwho owed himafew months' wages and took himbythe throat. Look at him closely. He has just been handed thegiftofa lifetime and he cannot seeit. Heisso buried inhisown materiali sm, hisown rights, his own small world, that the master's mercy hasnotto uched himatall. He walked out of that room exactly themanhe walked i n. Forgiven, but not free. That is the danger for every oneofus. Wecan rece ive God's mercy again and again, in confession, at the altar, and still walkout clutching the old grudge. The neighbour. The sibling. The house. The land. The job promotion. Theonewholetus down. The First Readi ng puts it bluntly: resentment is a thing we nurse, and it eats the one holding it. It narrows our vision until, like that servant, we cannot see past the debt. Jesus ends the parable with one condition: we must forgive from the heart. Not through gritted teeth. Not a cold truce that keeps the old score sheet handy in a drawer. Forgiveness is not pretend ing the wrong did not matter, butitisa real letting go, deep down from where the grudge lives. And the most powerful thing is that the moment weletitgo, wearethe one set free. The weight lifts. We can breathe. Melmount (& Camus) https://www.melmountparish.com

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So this week, as you receive mercy from God, goandbe mercy in action. Name it. Letitgo from the heart. Then you will enjoythe freedom God's love haswonforus, nowand forever. Announcements Triduum of Masses for Bishop Michael Router As the diocese and parishes prepare to celebrate the joyous occasion ofthe Installation of Bishop Michael Router as Bishop of Derry on Sunday 20 September, a Triduum of Masses will be celebrated in parishes th roughout the diocese, on Friday 18, Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September. In our parishes, these Masses will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Churc h at 10.00am on Friday 18 September; St. Theresa’s Church at 10.00a m on Saturday 19 September and St. Mary’s Church at 11.30am on Sunday 20 September. All are welcome to attend as we come together as God’s people to pray for Bishop Router and the people of the diocese, thatwemay walk together in faith and hope, guided by the Holy Spir it. We welcome into God’s Family through the Sacrament of Baptism Siofra-Mai Ellen Patton May they Rest in Peace Deaths Sr. Rose Ann Mulholland , St. Joseph’s Convent of Mercy Kathleen O’Hagan , Lifford Albert O’Neill , 15 Sycamore Avenue David Mullan , Omagh Mickey McAleer , Woodmount Nursing Home

Anniversaries

Sonny Magee, Bridie Rouse, Mary Gormley Donna Coulter, Hugh Gallagher, Bridget French

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Agnes Walker, Tommy McGlinchey, Jimmy Coyle Marcella Edginton, Eric Adams, Sarah McGettigan-Por ter Ellen Clarke, Clare McGonigle, Rebecca Coyle Denis Sweeney, Patsy McElroy, Eileen McBride Cissie Donaghey, Brian Semple, Willie Falconer John Hegarty, Eugene Hegarty, Charlie Foley Elizabeth Molloy, Daniel Molloy, Helen Callaghan Noel McBride, Jim Patton Last week’s collections amounted to: Melmount: £3315.00; Sion Mills : £1135.00. Thank you. Those whopaytothe weekly collection or any speci al collections, including Priest’s Collection by cheque are asked thatall cheques should be made payable to ‘Melmount Parish’ or ‘Sion Mills Parish’ depending on the Parish. This is a banking requirement. Parishioners can still leave their contributions in the Parish Office. Ifthe Of fice is closed, please use the letterbox. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place in St. Mary’s, Melmount tomorrow, Monday 14 September after 10.00a m Mass until 6.30pm. The Blessed Sacrament can be adored in the Adoration Room, St. Theresa’s, Sion Mills anytime while the church is open. Collection for Retired Priests The Annual Collection for Retired Priests will be taken upatall Masses today Sunday 13 Sept ember. This is a collection to help assist priests who have retired from active ministry. There is an envelope marked ‘Clergy Retirement Fund’ in your box of envelopes for this collection. Anyone contributing to this collection by cheque should make it payable to ‘Melmount Parish’ or ‘Sion Mills Parish’ depending on the Parish .