Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 7th Dec 2008 - 2nd Sun Adv B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge - Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12noon Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough - Sunday, 10.30am
Shannonbridge
Masses: Tues-Thurs, Sat @ 10am; on Fri @ 6pm
Mon, 8th Dec, Feast of the Immaculate Conception - a Holy Day:
Mass on Mon @ 12noon & 8pm.
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €688. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Moran, M.Murphy, M.McManus
Eucharistic ministers: Group 4
Readers for next Weekend: Group 2, C.Casey, E.Quinn
Altar Servers for this week:
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Denis Lyons.
Mass on next Sun for the late Elizabeth McManus
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Clonfanlough
Mass for the 'Immaculate Conception' on Mon @ 10.30am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €120. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: E.Egan, A.McEvoy
Readers for next Sunday: C.Norton
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group A Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: D.McEvoy
Mass on next Sat @ 12noon for the late Earl & Petie Kelly
Mass on next Sun for the Late Anne & Ciaran Pillion

Carol Service: in Clonmacnois next Sun @ 4pm. All welcome.
Christmas Party in Shannonbridge Hall
Fri 12th Dec, starting with Mass in the Church @ 6pm.
Please reply quickly, as the organisers need to know how many are coming, by calling 087-2410587.
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Ballinasloe Flower & Garden Club,
A Christmas Demonstration, by J. & G. Donnelly,
Wed 10th Dec @ 8pm, in Gullanes Hotel
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Youth 2000 Christmas Retreat
For young people aged 16 - 35 @ Newbridge College, Co Kildare from Fri 19th Dec to Sun 21st Dec; "an opportunity not to be missed to experience the Catholic faith and meet many new friends.
Call the office on 01-6753690, or Mark on 086-8550417 for more info. Donations only, no charge." Visit www.youth2000
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Holy Hour of Quiet & Reflection for young people
Ferbane Church, Sat 20th Dec, 8-9pm. 'We invite all young people to a space of peace in the presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist' - "Come to me … and I will give you Rest."
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Irish Cancer Society
Presentation on 'Understanding the emotional effects of a cancer diagnosis.' In Mullingar Park Hotel on Tues 9th Dec @ 7pm.
For more info call 01-2310533.
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The weight of a snowflake (Appleseds.org)
Not too long ago in a place not too far away, a field mouse asked a wise old owl what is the weight of a snowflake. "Why nothing more than nothing," answered the owl. The mouse went on to tell the owl about the time he was resting on a branch in a fir tree, counting each snowflake until the number was exactly 3 million, 471 thousand, 952. Then with the settling of the very next flake—crack. The branch suddenly snapped, tumbling mouse and snow to the ground. "Humph …Such was the weight of nothing," said the mouse
So the next time you think your contributions, your acts of charity, your works for justice, your gifts of love, and your talents are nothing, or that they are small in comparison to those of others, remember that when one is added to another, and then to another and so forth, great things can happen from nothing. In the same way, what seems to be ordinary can be transformed into something extraordinary with just a little extra nothing. Your mission is to create great things once again out of nothingness, to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.