Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter

Sunday  28^th Dec 2014 –Holy Family B

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

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

Weekdays, 10am.                  Clonfanlough – Sunday, 10.30am

Shannonbridge

Next Thurs 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 @ 10am (except Thurs)

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

Church Cleaners: D.Fitzpatrick, D.O’Carroll, E.Anderson

Ministers of Holy Communion: Group 4

Readers for next Weekend: Group 4,  K.Kelly

Altar Servers for this week: Group 2, Ffion, Fiacre, Seán

Anniversary Mass for Paul Kelly on next Sat eve

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Clonfanlough

Mass on Thurs for New Year’s Day @ 10.30am

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €259.   Many Thanks

Church Cleaners: K.Norton, H.Darcy

Readers for next Sunday: D.Fitzgerald

Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 2, Rosanna, Jane, Charlie

Minister of Holy Communion for next Sunday: L.Quinn

Gifts Without Cost

Some gifts you can give this Christmas are beyond monetary value:

* Mend a quarrel, dismiss suspicion, tell someone, "I love you."

* Give something away-anonymously.

* Forgive someone who has treated you wrong.

* Turn away wrath with a soft answer.

* Visit someone in a nursing home.

* Apologize if you were wrong.

* Be especially kind to someone with whom you work.

* Give as God gave to you in Christ, without obligation, or announcement, or reservation, or hypocrisy.                      (C. Swindoll, Growing Strong, pp. 400-1)

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Jesus

Read at least the first two lines....Ever thought of it?

Jesus died over 2000 years ago.

Nobody has ever referred to HIM as the ‘late Jesus’,

Not even the heathens.

Nowhere in history.

Nowhere has HE ever been referred to in the past tense

HE 'is' the Living God!

When Jesus died on the cross HE was thinking of you!

Annual Mummer’s Festival

In New Inn leisure centre on Sat 3^rd Jan @ 7.30pm for senior groups;

On Sun 4^th Jan @ 2.30pm for junior groups.

“As long as we have memories, yesterday remains

.As long as we have hope, tomorrow waits.

 As long as we have friendship, tomorrow is beautiful.”

 Happy New Year!

The three year restoration of St. Mel's Cathedral is recalled on film in a special hour long RTE documentary entitled 'The Longford Phoenix' to be broadcast  on RTE 1 television on Tuesday next December 30th at 6.30pm

  Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter

Sunday 21^st Dec  2014 –4Adv 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: Each day @ 10am

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €505.    Many Thanks

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

Ministers of Holy Communion: Group 3

Readers for next Weekend: Group 3, K.O’Connor, O.Costello

Altar Servers for this week: Group 1, Jenny, Róisín, Adam, Matthew

Mass on Christmas eve for the late Stephen, Brigid & Marie Daly

Mass on next Sat eve for the late Richard Hynes

¨¨¨¨

Clonfanlough

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €185.   Many Thanks

Church Cleaners: M.Halligan, D.Fitzgerald,

Readers for next Sunday:  K.Guinan

Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 1, Conor x 2, Eoin

Minister of Holy Communion for next Sunday: N.O’Shea

Mass on Christmas for the late Michael Kelly (Lakefield)

Sacrament of Reconciliation on Mon 22nd Dec, in Clonfanlough @ 7.30pm; & Shannonbridge @ 8pm, preceded by Carol singing

TIMETABLE FOR CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS

Shannonbridge                                          Clonfanlough     

24th  December                                           24th December    

Christmas Eve night mass @ 9pm

Carol singing @ 8.45pm                              Christmas Eve night mass @7pm                                                                                                               

Wed  25th December                                  Wed 25th December

Mass for Christmas Day @ 12 Noon         Mass for Christmas @ 10.30am

                                                                                                 

Thurs 1st Jan 2015- New Years Day            Thurs  1st Jan 2015

Feast of Mary Mother of God                       Feast of Mary Mother of God

Mass for peace @ 12 Noon                         Mass for peace @ 10:30 am

Blessing for Christmas Morning        (Henry van Dyke)

 “The day of joy returns, Father in Heaven, and crowns another year with
peace and good will. Help us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the wise men. 
Close the doors of hate and open the doors of love all over the world…
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every
greeting. Deliver us from evil, by the blessing that Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clean hearts.
 May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,
And the Christmas evening bring us to our bed with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus’ sake.”

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

Beannachtaí na Nollag agus Síocháin san Ath Bhliain do gach duine

Shannonbridge GAA Club Notes

Annual General Meeting 2014.

            At the AGM last Friday night Club Chairman, Jim Killeen, thanked all those who contributed to the running of the club in 2014.  In particular he thanked club sponsor Kieran Hynes, Deerpark Windows, Athlone for his continued generous support and also Dermot McDermott, Kinlbridge Construction, for his much appreciated financial assistance.  He thanked the Intermediate Team Management, the Underage Mentors, the Committee, the club supporters and especially those who contributed to or assisted in fundraising during the year, with particular mention of Frank Guinan for his work with the Lotto sales.  He congratulated the successful minor and under 14 championship winning players with Ferbane / Belmont, for whom a presentation night is being arranged shortly.  

            Officers for 2015:

            Presidents: F. Guinan, K. Rohan, Rev. Fr. F. O’Hanlon.

            Chairman:                           Jim Killeen.

            Vice Chairman:                   Colm Kenny.

            Secretary:                             Lucy Quirke.

            Assistant Secretary:           Olive Costello.

            Treasurer:                            Vincent Costello.

            Asst. Treasurer:                  Trevor Mahon.

            PROs:                                     Declan and Rose Ryan.

            Registrar:                              Damien Brazil.

            Minor Club Chairman:      Pakie brazil.

            Minor Club Secretary:      Sile Ryan.

            Club Executive:                   John, Ryan, Philip Egan, Frank Flannery, Tony Rohan, Vincent Darcy, Christian Brazil, Ronan McEvoy.         

 

Shannonbridge / Doon Lottery.

            Last week’s numbers were 7, 14, 21 and 22.  There were nine match three winners.  The Jackpot this Monday night is €15,200.

 

Christmas Greetings to all Shannonbridge Supporters.

            A big thank you for your support during 2014.  Best wishes for a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and here’s hoping for a good year for all in 2015.      

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter

Sunday 14^th Dec 2014 –3 Adv 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: Each day @ 10am

Last Sunday's Offertory collection:.    Many Thanks

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

Ministers of Holy Communion: Group 2

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

Altar Servers for this week: Group 3, Katie, Lauren, Kate

Mass on next Sat eve for the late Damien Kenny

¨¨¨¨

Clonfanlough

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: Many Thanks

Church Cleaners: C.Healy, T.Milner

Readers for next Sunday: A.Guinan

Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 3, Conor, Adam, Róisín

Minister of Holy Communion for next Sunday: P. Trainor

Mass on next Sun for the late Anne & Kieran Pillion

‘Do this in Memory’ Mass for First Communicants on next Sun

‘Confessions’ for Christmas on Mon 22^nd Dec, in Clonfanlough @ 7pm, In Shannonbridge @ 8pm.

Ard Chiaráin– Carols on Tues 16^th Dec @ 8pm. All welcome.

Many thanks from the SVdeP for all your lovely gifts brought last Sun for children in need.  Special thanks to those who organised the event and to all who made any contribution to the occasion.  Be assured that all your gifts will be given to the most needy.

Night Prayer Vigil in Clonmacnois Prayer Centre

Fri 19^th Dec, beginning with Mass @ 9pm.  Adoration follows and finishes at 2.10am.  All welcome.  Enquiries Dave 085-7746763

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Meanings of Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fr. Andrew Greeley

"It might be easy to run away to a monastery, away from the commercialization, the hectic hustle, the demanding family responsibilities of Christmas-time. Then we would have a holy Christmas. But we would forget the lesson of the Incarnation, of the enfleshing of God – the lesson that we who are followers of Jesus do not run from the secular; rather we try to transform it. It is our mission to make holy the secular aspects of Christmas just as the early Christians baptized the Christmas tree. And we do this by being holy people – kind, patient, generous, loving, laughing people – no matter how maddening is the Christmas rush…"

Message from Bishop Francis Duffy

During this season of Advent many children will be involved in preparations for Christmas liturgies.  It is a special time for them and for their families.  I wish to thank our Safeguarding Representatives in the forty-one parishes for their work in ensuring the safety of children in all church related activities. (In this Parish they are Eileen Quinn and Joey Rigney.)

I encourage anyone with concerns regarding the safety of children or anyone who suffered in the past to contact our Designated Persons: Sean Leydon(087-7431649) or RóisínO’Doherty(087-3327587) or Towards Healing (1800 303416)

 ‘The Meaning of Marriage’  a pastoral statement from the Irish Catholic Bishops is available in pdf or ‘Word’ format on the Irish Catholic Bishops’ website athttp://www.catholicbishops.ie/2014/12/03/meaning-marriage/

Clonmacnois Parish Newsletter

Sunday 7^th Dec 2014 –2 Adv 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: Each day @ 10am

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: € 546.   Many Thanks

Church Cleaners: J.Kelly, M.Killeen, A.Keena

Ministers of Holy Communion: Group 1

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

Altar Servers for this week: Group 2, Ffion, Fiacre, Seán

MON, 8^th Dec, Feast of the Immaculate Conception - a Holy Day:

Mass @ 12noon, which is the Anniversary Mass for Josephine Kenny

Mass on Mon eve @ 8pm for the late Peter & Nellie O’Connor

Mass on next Sat eve for the lat Brigid & Billy Duffy

Mass on next Sun for the late Maura Moran

¨¨¨¨

Clonfanlough

Mass for The 'Immaculate Conception' on Mon @ 10.30am

Last Sunday's Offertory collection: €187.   Many Thanks

Church Cleaners: B.Maleney, H.Hynes

Reader for next Sunday: M.Egan

Altar Servers for next Sunday: Group 2, Rosanna, Jane, Charlie

Minister of Holy Communion for next Sunday: A.Guinan

Mass on next Sun for the late Phil Coolahan

 

Gamblers Anonymous Ballinasloe, a new Weekly Meeting

Galway East Life Support (GELS) meeting room, every Tues @ 7.30pm from 2^nd Dec, Main St Ballinasloe. (down archway beside Credit Union).

For info call G.A. confidential line – 086-3494450

Youth 2000 Ireland annual Christmas Retreat in Newbridge College, Newbridge, Co. Kildare from Friday 12th to Sunday 14th December 2014. Many young people from across Ireland (aged 16-35) are expected at this donation only event, with all newcomers very welcome.   This is a great opportunity to find out what your faith is all about in a friendly, chilled out atmosphere.  Free buses available.  Online booking necessary, see www.youth2000.ie or phone 01 6753690. 

Ard Chiaráin– Advent Scripture Talk, by Fr Benny McHale 9^th Dec @ 8pm. Carols on Tues 16^th Dec @ 8pm. All welcome.

‘“The Landscape of Clonmacnoise”, by John Feehan & published by Offaly Co Council will be launched in Shannonbridge Hall on Thurs 11^th Dec, 7.30pm for 8pm.’

All welcome

Ballinasloe Flower & Garden Club

Christmas Flower Arranging demo by Christopher White, Dublin, in Gullanes on Wed 10^th Dec @ 8pm.  Adm for non members, €5.

Shannonbridge GAA Club AGM on next Fri @ 7.30pm in the Clubhouse

The Christmas Lights will be turned on next Sat 13th Dec  after eve Mass