Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 22nd Feb 2009 -7 B
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am




Shannonbridge
Masses: Each day @ 10am; also on Ash Wed @ 8pm;
With the blessing & signing of Ashes at both Masses.
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €501. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Ryan, L.Turley, M.Mitchell
Eucharistic ministers: Group 3
Readers for next Weekend: Group 2, C.Casey, E.Quinn
Altar Servers for this week: Sarah, Siobhan
Mass on next Sun for the late James Joseph McManus

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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €249. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Walshe, R.Gunning
Readers for next Sunday: A.& L. Devery
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group A
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: B.Coughlan
Mass on Ash Wed @ 7pm with the blessing & signing of Ashes
Mass on next Sun for the late Francie Devery

Station Mass
Fri 27th Feb at the home of C. & N. Daly, Ballyhearth @ 7.30pm
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Questions people askQ. What would you recommend me to do for Lent?A. The gospel mentions three areas of life, prayer (God), fasting (self) and almsgiving (others). Make more time for God each day, time for prayer, Mass, reading scripture, availing of a retreat or good lecture. By fasting we discipline our appetites. Lent is a great time to motivate ourselves to cut back on anything harmful to health like smoking or too much drink. Almsgiving is a call to be more responsive to the cries of the hungry and needy. A collection box at home or in the place of work can be a daily reminder that even to give a little can help a lot. Fr Silvester O’Flynn OFM Cap
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TEMPERANCE SUNDAY
‘Proverbially, Ireland is a land that combines the smile and the tear.’ So said Pope Pius XII in 1956. He went on to lament the fact that, as a result of intemperance, more tears were shed in Irish homes than ought to have been the case.
Many of us are only too well aware from painful, personal experience that the Pope’s observation was true. Like every gift of God, alcohol is good. It has its place in times of celebration and relaxation. However, it is also a drug that can be devastating in its consequences. What comes to us as a gift can be a curse for some, unless it is wisely used.’ (from a statement of the Irish Bishops)
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Youth Holy Hour & Prayer
Sat 28th Feb in Ferbane Parish Church, 8 – 9pm. All welcome
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Fundraiser for Re-Hab
Fri 27th Feb in Scannells, Cleaghmore, Ballinasloe, 10am – 4pm
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"Lord, grant me the hindsight to know where I have been,the foresight to know where I am going, andthe insight to know when I have gone too far."