Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 26th Feb 2012 – 1Lent 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; Adoration on First Fri: 4-5pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €540. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: A.Ryan, L.Turley, M.Mitchell
Ministers of Holy Communion: Group 4
Readers for next Weekend: Group 1, D.Finnerty, P.Corbett
Altar Servers for this week: Group 1, Andrea, Stephanie, Jenny, Ciarán
Mass on next Sat eve for the late Tom Nugent
Mass on next Sun for the late James McBride & parents
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Clonfanlough
Mass for Lent & First Fri on Thurs @ 7pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €228. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: J.& C. Rigney
Readers for next Sunday: E.McEvoy
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 3
Minister of Holy Communion for next Sunday: D.McEvoy
ARD CHIARAIN PRAYER CENTRE
Lenten Prayer each Mon @ 8pm. All welcome
“Where 2 or 3 meet in my name I shall be there with them”
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Meeting of Parish P.C. on Tues @ 8pm in Shannonbridge
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Ian Callinan, composer & musical director will conduct a workshop on music for the Eucharist in Ballinasloe on this Sun 26th Feb, 2-6pm in Gullanes Hotel, and in Ferbane Church on Mon 8th March @ 8pm. A small charge will apply.
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Social Services Ballinasloe
Table Quiz in Killeens on Wed 29th Feb @ 9pm. All welcome
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Oesophageal Cancer Fund: Church Gate Collection next weekend.
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A Eucharistic Congress is an international gathering of people which aims to promote an awareness of the central place of the Eucharist in the life and mission of the Catholic Church, to help improve our understanding and celebration of the liturgy and to draw attention to the social dimension of the Eucharist.
The Congress normally takes place every four years. The daily celebration of the Eucharist is at the very heart of the Congress. The wider programme of the Congress includes other liturgical events, cultural events, catechesis and testimonies, and workshops during the week of the Congress. The most recent Congress was held in Quebec in 2008 and was a source of encouragement and renewal for the many thousands who took part.
Most people in Ireland are familiar with the fact that a Eucharistic Congress was held in Ireland in 1932. Our parents and grand-parents speak of it as a significant event in their own experience of Church.
Each parish has been allotted tickets for the final Mass in Croke Park on 17th June according to population. This Parish will receive 7 tickets. If you wish to go please let me know before 4th March, as booking must be done through the Parish, ASAP. If the number is greater than 7 we will draw ‘from the hat.’
More information on the Congress can be found on www.iec2012.ie
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Ballinasloe Town Hall presents ‘The Martin O’Connor Band’ on Thurs 1st March @ 8pm. Tickets €15. Booking @ 9643780.

Shannonbridge GAA Club Notes

Race Night.
Don’t forget race night in Killeen’s Village Tavern this Saturday 25th February at 9.00pm. Please come along on Saturday, support the club and have a great night out.

Shannonbridge / Doon Lottery.
There was no winner of last week’s jackpot. The numbers drawn were 4, 9, 11 and 20 and there were five match three winners. This week’s jackpot is €9,400.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 19th Feb 2012 - 7B
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
Ashes will be blessed & signed during Masses on Wednesday
Please make a special effort for Lent, which begins next Wed.
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €350. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: K.Price, C.Curley, P.Anderson
Ministers of Holy Communion: Group 3
Readers for next Weekend: Group 6, A.Hynes, D.O’Carroll
Altar Servers for this week: Group 3, Sarah, Alisa, Jack, Katie
Mass on next Sun for the late Gerry & Eddie Egan
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Clonfanlough
Mass on Ash Wed @ 7pm
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €231. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Claffey, B.Coughlan
Readers for next Sunday: E.McEvoy
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 2
Minister of Holy Communion for next Sunday: B.Coughlan
Mass on next Sun for the late Michael & Mary Kelly & family
Commitment Ceremony for Confirmandi on next Sunday.
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.
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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EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS – 10th -17th June
The Theme: ‘Communion with Christ and with one another’
The Eucharistic Congress is like a festival of faith. Consisting of seminars, concerts, workshops, exhibitions, teachings, testimonies & daily Mass.
The main events of the Congress will take place in the RDS, with the closing ceremony (Statio Orbis) in Croke Park on June 17th. The RDS will be laid out as a "Eucharistic Village". The central focus for each day will be the celebration of the Eucharist and a keynote address given by a visiting bishop or catechist. There will be testimonies given by lay people from around the world who have a story of faith to tell. Workshops in various languages as well as theatrical and musical performances will be on offer throughout the week. The Congress venue will also include a prayer space, a youth space and an exhibition space. A more detailed programme of activities will follow in the coming months as the programme takes shape.
More than 80,000 people are expected to attend the final Mass in Croke Park on 17th June. Each parish has been allotted tickets for this according to population. This Parish will receive 7 tickets. If you wish to go please let me know before 4th March, as booking must be done through the Parish, ASAP.
If the number wishing to go is greater than 7 then we will draw ‘from the hat.’

Our pastoral area hopes to run a bus to the RDS on Tues 12th June and also on Fri 15th June;

if you wish to travel please ler us know ASAP.

Congress Prayer
Lord, Jesus, you were sent by the Father to gather together those who are scattered. You came among us, doing good and bringing healing, announcing the Word of salvation and giving the Bread which lasts forever. Be our companion on life's pilgrim way.
May your Holy Spirit inflame our hearts, enliven our hope and open our minds, so that together with our sisters and brothers in faith we may recognize you in the Scriptures and in the breaking of bread.
May your Holy Spirit transform us into one body and lead us to walk humbly on earth, in justice and love, as witnesses of your resurrection.
In communion with Mary, who you gave to us as our Mother, at the foot of the cross, through you, may all praise, honour and blessing be to the Father in the Holy Spirit and in the Church, now and forever. Amen.

Ian Callinan, composer & musical director will conduct a workshop on music for the Eucharist in Ballinasloe on Sun 28th Feb, 2-6pm in Gullanes Hotel, and in Ferbane Church on Mon 8th March @ 8pm. A small charge will apply.
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Clonmacnois Regional Pioneers will hold their Annual Social in Ballinahown Hall on Fri 24th Feb, 9.30pm-12.30am. Music by J & S Sound. Tickets €10.
Everybody welcome.

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter
Sunday 12th Feb 2012 – 6 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
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €490. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.McManus, C.Slattery, A.Corbett
Ministers of Holy Communion: Group 2
Readers for next Weekend: Group 5, ? C.Doolan
Altar Servers for this week: Group 2, Oisín, Saul, Siobhán, Ffion
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Clonfanlough
Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €201. Many Thanks
Church Cleaners: M.Loonam, A.Egan
Readers for next Sunday: N.Kenny
Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 1
Minister of Holy Communion for next Sunday: A.Rohan
Mass on next Sun for the late Mick Rocke
"Do not write so that you can be understood;Write so that you cannot be misunderstood." (Epictetus)

Questions people askQ. The new translation of the Apostles’ Creed says that Christ descended into hell. What does that mean? A. This is not hell as the place of eternal damnation but hell as the abode of those who had died but were awaiting the glorious vision of God to be won by Jesus the Saviour. ‘Jesus did not descend into hell to deliver the damned nor destroy the hell of damnation, but to free the just who had gone before him’ (Catechism, 633). Two important beliefs are being stated: that Jesus really died; and that he opened heaven’s gates for all who were awaiting redemption. The old translation, ‘he descended to the dead’ was less confusing.

Q. Why did Jesus tell some of the people he cured to tell nobody? Surely we are called to give witness to the works of God?
A. There are two reasons for what is called the ‘messianic secret’. The Messiah was popularly expected to be a political leader at the head of an uprising, an expectation that would have impeded his true mission. Secondly, too much excitement about miracles would only generate a mass hysteria, making it very difficult to get his teaching across; especially his mission to suffer and die on our behalf, and his message to us to ‘take up our cross and follow him’. Fr O’Flynn – Intercom
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GAA Race Night
Shannonbridge GAA Club will hold a fund raising Race Night on Sat 25th Feb. Tickets are now on sale & your support would be very much appreciated.
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Liam Lawton – Public Lecture
“How Music Enhances The Eucharistic Liturgy.”
27th Feb @ 7.30pm, Woodlock Hall, All Hallows College. Adm. €10.00.
This is part of a Seminar, 27th & 28th Feb: ‘Reflecting on & developing creative ways of engaging with the Eucharist as the Body of Christ.’
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Night Prayer Vigil in Clonmacnois Prayer Centre
Fri 17th Feb, beginning with Mass @ 10pm. Adoration follows and finishes at 3.10am. All welcome. Enquiries Dave 085-7746763

Shannonbridge GAA Notes

Division Two Football League.
No luck for Shannonbridge in their first competitive game of 2012. In a low scoring game, in very difficult conditions, the difference between the teams was a goal for St. Rynaghs ten minutes from time. Final score: St. Rynaghs 1-6; Shannonbridge 0-4. Team: D. Kelly, J. Deeley, P. Moloney, M. Darcy, S. Flannery, N. Price, D. Corbett, J. Egan (0-2), C. Killeen, T. Mahon, A. Kelly, P. Egan, P. Kelly, K. Kearns (0-1), K. Flannery (0-1). Subs: R. Ryan and D. Fitzgerald.

Shannonbridge / Doon Lottery.
There was no winner of last week’s jackpot. The numbers drawn were 8, 20, 25 and 27 and there was one match three winner. This week’s jackpot is €9,000.

Championship Groupings.
Intermediate: Shannonbridge are drawn in Group Two with St. Brigid’s, Rhode, Bracknagh, Durrow and Kilclonfert.
Junior C: There is one group with Clonbullogue, Shannonbridge, Bracknagh, Doon, Lusmagh and Walsh Island.