Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 14th Dec 2008 - 3rd 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: Each day @ 10am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €510. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: G.Brennan, D.Deeley, V.Hynes
Eucharistic ministers: Group 1
Readers for next Weekend: Group 3, M.Killeen, O.Costello
Altar Servers for this week: Michaela, Oisín
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Damien Kenny.
Mass on next Sun for the late James F. & Leo Coakley
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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €273. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: K.Kenny, A.Kearns
Readers for next Sunday: A.& L.Devery
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group B Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: N.Egan
Mass on next Sun for the Devery family deceased

Station Mass
Mon @ 7.30pm at the home of C. & M. Claffey, Aughincabe

Carol Service: in Clonmacnois this Sun @ 4pm. All welcome
Sacrament of Reconciliation on Fri 19th Dec, in Clonfanlough @ 7pm; Shannonbridge @ 8pm, preceded by a Carol Service
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A special word of thanks & appreciation is due to the kind people who organised & facilitated the recent Christmas Parties in both Shannonbridge & Clonfanlough. It demanded much hard work by many people; but the enjoyment given and shared by the guests is its own reward!
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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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Questions people ask (Fr O'Flynn - Intercom)
Q. What is the Jesse tree and its relationship to Advent?
A. Jesse was the father of King David. The Jesse tree refers to the line of Jesus’ human ancestors. ‘A shoot shall spring forth from the stump of Jesse, and a branch out of its shoots’ (Isaiah 11:1). In Advent, as we prepare for the coming of Jesus, a tree, or a banner representing a tree, may be erected. Each day, or once a week, something is attached to recall a person or event from the time before Christ. In the Middle Ages it was a popular way of teaching Old Testament history. It is much closer to the real meaning of Christmas than the popular Christmas tree.

Q. The parents of Mary were Joachim and Anne. What of Joseph? Q. The names of Mary’s parents are not given in the Bible but come from Christian tradition. Matthew 1:16 lists Jacob as the father of Joseph, whereas Luke 3:23 calls Joseph the son of Heli. It is possible that Jacob and Heli were different names for the same person, something not unusual at the time. These genealogies were not compiled for reasons of historical accuracy. Matthew’s purpose was to trace Joseph back, through David, to Abraham. The universal scope of the Gospel of Luke prompted him trace Jesus back to Adam. Neither written texts nor popular devotion tell the name of Joseph’s mother.
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Prayer Centre Clonmacnois: Prayer Vigil 19/20th Dec, 11pm to 4am, starting with Mass. All welcome. Enquiries to Dave on 085-7746763