Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter

Sunday 30^th De 2012 – Holy Family C

Tel (090) 9674125.  Email: jimboclonmacnois@gmail.com

Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;

Weekdays, 10am.                  Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am

Shannonbridge

Next Tues is New Year’s Day – A day of Prayer for peace --

Feast of Mary Theotokos; Mass @ 12noon

Adoration on First Fri 4 -5pm

Masses: Each day, except Tues, @ 10am

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €502.   Many Thanks

Church Cleaners:  A. Ryan, L.Turley, M.Mitchell

Ministers of Holy Communion: Group 4

Readers for next Weekend: Group 3, M.Killeen, O.Costello

Altar Servers for this week: Group 3, Alisa, Jack, Katie

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Clonfanlough

Mass for New Year’s Day @ 10.30am

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €224.   Many Thanks

Church Cleaners: N.Egan, A.Rohan

Readers for next Sunday: H.Coughlan

Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 1

Minister of Holy Communion for next Sunday: P. Darcy

I will visit the sick & housebound on Thursday

Questions people ask                                      (Fr O’Flynn – Intercom)
Q. Easter is supposed to be the high point of the Church’s year. How is it that Christmas seems to mean more to people?
A. In the realm of theology Easter is the most important feast but it seems to pass over the heads of many people. Christmas appeals more powerfully to the human heart. The Christmas story touches the familiar world of family, birth, animals, travelling, looking for accommodation, rejoicing and rejection (Herod). It brings the story of God’s intervention into human history with the naming of Roman rulers and local bosses. It locates the incarnation in places that can be visited to this day. Christmas appeals to the child within each of us.

Q. When Jesus was growing up in Nazareth did Mary and Joseph knows that he was the Son of God?
A. The revelation of the divinity of Jesus was not yet complete. Because of the virgin birth and the Annunciation by the angel Gabriel, Mary and Joseph certainly knew that Jesus was a very special person sent from God. Yet we read in the Gospel that they did not understand what the twelve year-old Jesus meant in saying that he must be busy about his Father’s business. Mary and Joseph went forward in faith, accepting the mystery of what they did not fully understand.

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 Athlone Community College
Open eve on Thurs 10^th Jan @ 7pm. Pupils in their year in Primary Schools, together with their Parents/ Guardians are invited to attend.

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Annual Mummer’s Festival

In New Inn leisure centre on Fri 4^th Jan @ 7.30pm for junior groups;

On Sat night 5^th Jan for senior groups.

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Congratulations & best wishes to Micheál Molloy and Rita Gorman, who were married last weekend in Twomile House. Ad multos annos!

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The name "January" comes from the Roman god Janus, the god with two faces, one looking to the past and the other looking to the future. This is indeed a time to look back at the year that has just ended and to look forward to the New Year ahead of us.  Happy New Year!

Shannonbridge GAA Club

Shannonbridge / Doon Lottery.

Congratulations to Michael Molloy, Glebe, winner of last week’s jackpot of €3,400. There was no jackpot winner, or match threes, this week. The numbers drawn were 1, 12, 15 and 16. An extra €200 has been added to make next Sunday’s Jackpot €2,400.

Gallen Community School, Leinster Champions.
Congratulations to Gallen Community School, Ferbane, who won the Leinster Vocational Schools Junior Championhip last week, when they overcame the challenge of Cnoc Mhuire, Granard by 4-14 to 2-5.

Christmas Greetings.
A Very Happy Christmas from Shannonbridge GAA Club to all, especially to those club members and parishioners who are away from home at this time. Many thanks to everyone who helped in any way during 2012 and here’s looking forward to a successful New Year.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter

Sunday 23^rd Dec 2012 – 4 Adv C

Tel (090) 9674125.  Email: jimboclonmacnois@gmail.com

Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;

Weekdays, 10am.                  Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am

Shannonbridge

Masses: Mon,Thurs-Sat @ 10am; Tues, Wed @ 12noon

Mass on Christmas Eve @ 9pm, on Christmas Day @ 12noon

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €520.   Many Thanks

Church Cleaners:  K.Price, C.Curley, P.Anderson

Ministers of Holy Communion: Group 3

Readers for next Weekend: Group 2, M.Anderson, E.Quinn

Altar Servers for this week: Group 2, Ciarán, Róisin, Saul, Ffion

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Clonfanlough

Mass on Christmas Eve @ 7pm, on Christmas Day @ 10.30am

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €266.  Many Thanks

Church Cleaners: A.Walshe, R.Gunning

Readers for next Sunday: A.& L.Devery

Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 3

Minister of Holy Communion for next Sunday: N.Egan

 Mass on Christmas day will be said for the late Michael Kelly (Lakefield)

“Many thanks for your generous donations to the St Vincent de P:aul Soc, which realised €725 in Shannonbridge”

From Bishop Colm o’ Reilly

‘Some people who are promoting healthy eating habits like to tell us that “we are what we eat”.  At Christmas there is a different way of describing what we are which appeals to me.  It says: “You are what you give”.  This appeals greatly to me because it is close to the essential meaning of Christmas.  What we celebrate at this time is the greatest gift of all, the gift of the Son of God who gave himself to us.

It is my hope and best wish for all of you that whatever you give to others may contain something of yourselves.  Gifts and messages which clearly show our love, our care and even our forgiveness can be especially welcome.  When this truly happens both the giver and the receiver are the richer for the gift.

I wish you every blessing and happiness for your Christmas and for the year which follows’.

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 From Offaly Co Council

“This Winter, only the busier roads in Offaly will have salt applied during all ice and snowy weather. The salting operation can take up to 4 hours. If journeys must be undertaken in cold weather, drivers should try to plan their journeys to travel salted roads.

 But be Careful – The decision to salt or not is mostly dependent on the weather forecast. It should never be assumed that roads are salted and, even if they are, drivers should always drive with care during adverse weather conditions”.

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Beannachtaí na Nollag agus Síocháin san Ath Bhliain do gach duine

A special word of thanks to all who contribute to the various collections during the year, and to all who help out in any way in the Church and community.  It is much appreciated.

  

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter

Sunday 16^th Dec 2012 – 3 Adv C

Tel (090) 9674125.  Email: jimboclonmacnois@gmail.com

Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;

Weekdays, 10am.                   Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am

Shannonbridge

Masses: Mon-Thurs. Sat @ 10am: Fri @ 9.30am

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €446.   Many Thanks

Church Cleaners: M.McManus, C.Slattery, A.Corbett      

Ministers of Holy Communion: Group 2

Readers for next Weekend: Group 1, D.Finnerty, P.Corbett

Altar Servers for this week: Group 1, Andrea, Stephanie, Jennie

Mass on next Sat eve for the late Ciaran, Maryanne & Brian Flannery

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Clonfanlough

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €147.   Many Thanks

Church Cleaners: M.Guinan, A.Guinan

Readers for next Sunday: N.Kenny

Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 1

Minister of Holy Communion for next Sunday: D.McEvoy

Penitential Services

Wed 19^th Dec:  Clonfanlough, 7pm; Shannonbridge, 8pm

Night Prayer Vigil in Clonmacnois Prayer Centre

Fri 21^th Dec, beginning with Mass @ 10pm.  Adoration follows and finishes at 3.10am.  All welcome.  Enquiries Dave 085-7746763

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 'Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate.  It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.'                  (A survivor of Auschwitz)

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Pope Benedict XVI Sends out Inaugural Tweet

Pope Benedict XVI sent out his first tweets on Wednesday 12 on Twitter. The Twitter account, @pontifex, which was announced December 3 by the Holy See Press Office, is being used as a way for the Holy Father to communicate with the faithful and answer their questions on faith.

In two hours, the first papal message was re-tweeted, or shared by followers, over 27, 000 times. Currently, Benedict XVI has well over 700,000 followers since the account was opened a little over a week ago.
Shortly after his first tweet, Pope Benedict sent out a second tweet, relaying one of thousands of questions sent by his Twitter followers regarding the Year of Faith. "How can we celebrate the Year of Faith better in our daily lives?" was the question that was posed.
Responding to the question in a third tweet, the Holy Father stated: "By speaking with Jesus in prayer, listening to what he tells you in the Gospel and looking for him in those in need."
Questions people ask

Q. When John the Baptist baptised people, was it the sacrament of Baptism?

A. The sacraments as we know them did not exist before the ministry of Jesus. Baptism originally meant having a bath or a good wash. John was called the Baptiser, the Bath-man, because he used a ceremony of washing by which people might express a moral conversion from the ways of sin. Jesus took this ritual washing to a new level when he told the disciples to baptise ‘in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit’. Christians recognise this as the institution of the sacrament.

Shannonbridge GAA Club

Take Your Pick Draw.

We are launching our fund raising “Take Your Pick” draw this week. Tickets will vary from 1Cent to €20.00 and prizes are as follows: 1st €1,000, 2nd €500, 3rd €200, 4th €100, 5th €100, 6th €100. Teams of ticket sellers will be calling and all support is greatly appreciated. The draw will take place on 29th December 2012.

Congratulations.
Congratulations and best wishes from all in the club to John Egan and Jacinta Digan who were married last Saturday.

Shannonbridge / Doon Lottery.
There was no winner of last week’s jackpot. The numbers drawn were 7, 11, 24 and 28 and there were six match three winners. This week’s jackpot is €2,200.

Shannonbridge GAA Club

Division Two League Final.

Shannonbridge lost out to Durrow by a six point margin, at Clara, on Sunday. After an evenly contested first half, Durrow led by six points to four. However, after the interval, they established a five point lead by the eight minute and maintained that to the end. Final score 0-7 to 0-13.
No thanks to the County Board for fixing this final at a venue with no spectator stand or dugout facilities.
Team: C. Kelly, W. Keena, P. Moloney, M. Darcy, R. O’Connor, N. Price, D. Corbett, J. Egan, P. Egan, P. Deeley (0-4), R. Ryan, K. Kearns, K. Flannery (0-3), E. Egan, K. Kelly. Subs: J. Ryan, Anthony Kelly, T. Mahon, J. Deeley.

Division Four League Final.
Raheen won this game on a score-line of 2-5 to 3-8. Shannonbridge opened their account with a good goal by Rory Walshe in the fifth minute. Two goals for Raheen in the first twelve minutes, one from a penalty, set them up for a half time lead of 1-2 to 2-5. A good committed team performance in the second half came up short and a stronger Raheen team held out for a six point win. However, Shannonbridge’s attempt to close the gap was not aided by a number of players playing their second final in twenty four hours and a number of bizarre refereeing decisions.
Team: C. Kelly, J. Deeley, C. Coughlan, P. Moloney, T. Mahon, A. Coughlan, R. Walshe (1-0), J. Killeen, P. Egan, W. Keena, R. Ryan (0-1), Adrian Kelly, Anthony Kelly (0-3), E. Egan, M. Corbett. Subs: C. Kenny, D. Corbett, D. Finn (1-1), M. Deeley.

Shannonbridge / Doon Lottery Won at €7,200.
Congratulations to Margaret Shanahan, Kilcormac, winner of last week’s jackpot. The winning numbers were 2, 7, 9, 23. There were four match three winners. This week’s jackpot is €2,000.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter

Sunday 28^th Oct 2012 – 30 B

Tel (090) 9674125.  Email: jimboclonmacnois@gmail.com

Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;

Weekdays, 10am.                   Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am

Shannonbridge

Masses:Mon-Wed, Fri, Sat @ 10am.

Thurs is the Feast of All Saints, a Holy Day.  Mass on Wed eve @ 8pm, on Thurs @ 12 noon.  Fri is All Souls Day.  There will also be Mass on Fri eve @ 8pm for our deceased.  Adoration on Fri @ 6.30pm

 Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €379.   Many Thanks

Church Cleaners: M.McManus, C.Slattery, A.Corbett

Ministers of Holy Communion: Group 3

Readers for next Weekend: Group 6, A.Hynes, D.O’Carroll

Altar Servers for this week: Group 3, Alisa, Jack, Katie, Ffion

‘Months Mind’ Mass for John Carty on next Sun

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Clonfanlough

Mass on Thurs for All Saints, a Holy Day, @ 10.30am

Mass on Fri, All Souls Day, @ 7pm 

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €232,   Many Thanks

Church Cleaners: B.Kenny, M.Lantry,

Readers for Holy Day & next Sunday: A.Rohan

Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 3

Minister of Holy Communion for next Sunday: B.Coughlan

Mass on next Sun for the late Alice & Martin Kilduff

I will attend the sick & housebound on Fri

Memorial Mass for Tom Rockett, Creevagh, on Mon 29^th Oct @ 10am, followed by burial of Ashes in Clonmacnois

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 Station Mass on Tues @ 7.30pm at the home of J.& M. Flannery, Creevagh

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Shannonbridge ARA will host a Coffee Morning in the Parish Hall on Sun 4^th Nov after Mass, together with a sale of homemade produce.  The proceeds will be given to the Offaly Hospice Association.  Please support.

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 Scripture Course- Year of Faith: ‘Let the Word of God dwell in you richly.’

Clonmacnois Room, St Mary’s Presbytery Athlone, presented by Fr Gerard McCarthy, S.V.D. – on Thurs Nights (starting on 1^st Nov) from 8 – 10pm

During this Year of Faith (which runs from Oct 2012 to Nov 2013) we are all asked to celebrate & renew our Faith.  One of the ways we can do that is by learning to pray with Scripture.

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 ‘If you wish to avail of personal safety equipment through the Seniors Alert Programme please contact a member of the Community Alert.’

‘Team Hope’ Christmas Shoebox Appeal is underway. If you wish to brighten up a child’s life this Christmas fill a shoebox.  Information leaflets are available in the Tourist Office, or log on to www.teamhope.ie

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We welcome into the Christian Community Martha Moran, son of Fran Moran & Tara Maguire, who was baptised last weekend in Shannonbridge Church.

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 Questions people ask

Q. In a recent newsletter you wrote about adult religious education. Are there any books you would recommend?

A. Top of any list must be the astounding story of Jesus Christ in the Gospels and other New Testament writings. Scriptural commentaries will enrich your reading. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a wonderful compendium of our religion. It has four parts: what we believe (creed); the celebration of faith (liturgy and sacraments); Christian behaviour (morality); and a beautiful section on prayer, especially a reflection on the Our Father. A simplified version of the Catechism, called YOUCAT, is now available. Any bookshop should be able to get it for you.                                                                                              (Fr O’Flynn Intercom)

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter

Sunday 21^st Oct 2012 – 29 B-Mission Sun

Tel (090) 9674125.  Email: jimboclonmacnois@gmail.com

Mass times: Shannonbridge: Weekend, 8pm (Sat), & 12 noon, Sun;

Weekdays, 10am.                  Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am

Shannonbridge

Masses: Each day @ 10am

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €560.   Many Thanks

Church Cleaners: G.Brennan, D.Deeley, V.Hynes

Ministers of Holy Communion: Group 2

Readers for next Weekend: Group 5, ? C.Doolan

Altar Servers for this week: Group 2, Saul, Ciarán, Róisín, Adam

Mass on next Sat eve for the late Christina Turley

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Clonfanlough

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €241.   Many Thanks

Church Cleaners: J.Egan, B.Dolan

Readers for next Sunday: H.Coughlan

Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 2

Minister of Holy Communion for next Sunday: A.Rohan

‘Months Mind Mass’ for Teresa Rocke on next Sun

Station Mass on Tues at the home of P.& E.Dolan, Glebe @ 7.30pm

Station Mass on Fri at the home of C.& N. Condron, Clonlyon @ 7.30pm

“What we do is less than a drop in the ocean;

But if it were missing, the ocean would lack something.”     (Mother Teresa)

Mission Sunday: “Growing in Communion and Service”

Today, Mission Sunday, Catholics worldwide are asked to recommit themselves to mission, to the gospel message. Many people think of missionaries as those who travel to so-called developing countries and dedicate their lives to serving the poor and spreading the gospel. Today we pray especially for them but we also recommit ourselves to following the gospel message in prayer, in our daily lives, in our relationships with others and in sharing that message.

Can we be missionaries to our own families and to the people around us? That is one of the more challenging tasks in our society today.

People are asked to be as generous as usual in the Propagation of the Faith collection which will be sent in its entirety to a Young Church.

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If you are interested in learning more about the Catholic Church or if you have a desire to become a Catholic, you are cordially invited to attend an information evening on Friday 26^th October 2012 at 8pm in The Pastoral Centre, St Mel’s College (Old building), Longford.

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 Questions people ask                                                  

Q. Why should the Catholic Church be pushing its teaching, given all the scandals that have come to light?

A. Yes indeed, the uncovering of scandals is a massive obstacle in the promotion of the mission to preach the word of God to all nations. Mission begins with constant personal conversion by each one of us. But we should not be so blinded by the bad news that we fail to see all the goodness in the Church. Catholic missionaries have made the world a better place in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ, in education, nursing, food aid, peacemaking and many other ways. May the Church never be short of courageous, generous people who respond to the call of Jesus Christ to bring his message and love to all nations.                                                                                           (Fr O’Flynn-Intercom)

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‘ Gerry McCabe – Rewalk- Fund (Cloghan).   Ticket sellers will be in the area, seeking your support, within the next few weeks.’  Call 087-1927462

Killimor Camoige Club will host The 3 Tenors in a candlelit concert on 9^th Dec

In St Joseph’s Church Killimor. For tickets call 085-2098781