Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 31st Jan 2010 -4 C
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; Mon is feast of St Brigid;
Tues is feast of the Presentation - Candlemas Day: there will be a blessing of Candles and throats during Mass.
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: € Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Murphy, M.McManus
Eucharistic ministers: Group 4
Readers for next Weekend: Group 2, C.Casey, E.Quinn
Altar Servers for this week: Michaela, Oisin, Andrea
Mass on next Sun for the late Gerry & Eddie Egan.
Many thanks to all who supported the Lourdes invalid collection.
Total collected in Shannonbridge was €400.
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Clonfanlough
Mass @ 7pm, on First Fri which will include the “blessing of throats” & the blessing of candles.
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: € Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Kelly, Kelly
Readers for next Sunday: C.Norton
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group B
Eucharistic minister for next Sunday: D.McEvoy
Mass on next Sun for the late Padraic Devery

Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe
Annual Remembrance Service for bereaved parents of children who died, or who suffered miscarriages will be held in the Hospital Chapel, on Tues 2nd February @ 7.30pm
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I will attend the sick & housebound as usual on Friday.
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Catholic Schools celebrate their Mission -31st Jan – 7th Feb
‘This week recognises & celebrates the huge contribution that Catholic schools make to the mission of the Church & to the wider society. It is also seen as an opportunity for all those involved in schools to deepen their sense of what it means to be a Catholic school.
The theme for this year is: “Catholic Schools a light for every generation.” Thus we are linking the vision of Catholic education with the Church’s mission to bring the light of Christ to the world.’
This year, on Wed 3rd Feb, Grandparents are being remembered in a special way with gratitude for the values they have given us, and the part they play in handing on the light of our Faith.
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Some Special Feasts
1st Feb – feast of St Brigid, patroness of Ireland
A tradition associated with this day is the making of “St Brigid’s crosses”. The story behind the crosses goes like this: she was nursing a non – Christian chieftain who was dying; sitting by his bedside she picked up some rushes from the floor and started plaiting them, from which she wove a cross, and used it to explain Christ’s passion and death. Brigid then spent some time telling the chieftain about Jesus, and before his death, he became a Christian.
2nd Feb – The Presentation of the Lord – Candlemas
Today we bless candles, which remind us of Christ, the light of the world. They are used daily at Mass. Also at Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation, at death, and on Easter night, the candle is part of the celebration.
You are invited to bring candles for a blessing; then bring them home or leave them for use in the church.
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Shannonbridge ARA will resume Meetings on Tues 2nd Feb
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Mass every Wed eve @ 7.30pm in the Prayer-Centre Clonmacnois
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Many thanks for your contributions to the Haiti disaster Fund. So far we have sent €1,400.00 to Trócaire