Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 19th Dec 2010 – 4Adv A
Tel (090) 9674125 Fax (090) 9674267
Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;
Weekdays, 10am. Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am
Shannonbridge
Masses: Mon - Fri @ 10am; Christmas Eve Mass on Fri @ 9pm
Mass on Christmas Day @ 12 noon (No evening Mass on Sat)
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €567. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.McManus, C.Slattery, A.Corbett
Eucharistic ministers: Group 2
Readers for Christmas: D.O’Carroll
Altar Servers for this week: Athene, Saul, Jack
Carol Singing & Service of Reconciliation: Mon eve @ 8pm
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Clonfanlough
Mass on Christmas Eve @ 7pm; on Christmas Day @ 10.30am
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €340. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: B.Kenny, M.Lantry
Readers for Christmas, D.Norton, for Sun,A.& L. Devery
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group C
Eucharistic minister for C.Day, K. Kelly, for Sun, A.Rohan
Sacrament of Penance on Tues @ 7pm
Children’s Carol Service on Wed eve @ 7.30pm in the Church.
All welcome.
Mass on Christmas Day for the late Michael Kelly (Lakefield)
Mass on next Sun for the Devery family deceased (Clonlyon)

Shannonbridge A.R.A. Social is postponed for the present.

Questions people ask Q. Mary was betrothed to Joseph. Was this like being engaged or was it more? A. Marriage customs at that time and place were different from ours. Betrothal meant that the couple were married with full conjugal rights but the woman still lived at her parents’ house under the male authority of that house. Joseph knew that the child of Mary’s pregnancy wasn’t his. In planning a divorce he was observing the law but he would do it with total respect for Mary. Perhaps, knowing the depth of Mary’s holiness, he already suspected some divine mystery was involved.

Clonmacnois N.S.
As you know Liam Broderick is resigning as Principal of Clonmacnois N. S. The members of the B.O.M. are organising a celebration of Liam’s career on Wed 22nd Dec with a Mass in Clonfanlough Church @ 11.30am. A reception will follow in the School, where a presentation will be made to Liam. If you would like to join in the Mass and/or reception, you are very welcome.
If you wish to show your appreciation in any other way, please do.

St. Ciaran’s Community Alert: The committee would like to inform people that our application for funding has been approved and installation of personal and home security equipment will commence early in the New Year. We would like to thank everyone for their help and support during the year and wish a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year to all.

"Life is a constant Advent season: we are continually waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfil. Hope, struggle, fear, expectation and fulfilment are all part of our Advent experience. The world is not as just, not as loving, not as whole as we know it can and should be. But the coming of Christ and his presence among us—as one of us —give us reason to live in hope: that light will shatter the darkness, that we can be liberated from our fears and prejudices, that we are never alone or abandoned.
May this Advent season be a time for bringing hope, transformation and fulfilment into the Advent of our lives."
(CONNECTIONS, 11-28-93)