Parish of Clonmacnois

ST. CIARAN’S CHURCH, SHANNONBRIDGE

ST. CIARAN’S CHURCH, CLONFANLOUGH

Fr. Gerard Brady P.P.

Tel. 087 231 2353

E-mail: frgerardbrady@eircom.net

shannonbridge.blogspot.ie

www.shannonbridge.com

THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT

LÆTARE SUNDAY

5th/6th March, 2016

The Prodigal Son

Today’s gospel offers the picture of the God that Pope Francis might wish us to imagine during this Jubilee Year of Mercy, ‘Merciful like the Father’.  In the story of the Prodigal Son we see three faces of God the Father’s mercy:  The first face of mercy is the love that lets us be.  The Father takes the risk of giving us freedom of choice.  The second face of mercy is the love of God that waits.  See the patience, see that long-suffering in the heart of the father, see his eager expectation.  And then the third face of mercy is the love of God that welcomes. There is no judgement here, no condemnation, no ‘I told you so'.

And maybe that’s where the story should end because we like happy endings.  But it doesn’t.  There’s a twist in the tale because, remember, there’s an older brother.  The story ends on the outside.  Outside the door. This is the Door of Mercy.  Mercy always begins at the door. Welcome.  Welcome back.  Like the shepherd of another story who leaves behind the ninety-nine in search of the lost, here now the Merciful Father turns his back on the party for the returned exile to plead with the other who feels excluded.

Fr. Michael McGrath, “The Furrow”, February, 2016.

Mass times:- Shannonbridge, Saturday (Vigil), 8.00 p.m.; Sunday, 12.00 noon, Weekdays, 10.00 a.m.; Clonfanlough, Sunday, 10.30 am., Monday, 7.00 p.m.

Mass is celebrated at Cluain Ciaráin Prayer Centre, on Wednesday evenings at 7.30.

The Rosary is recited in church at 9.45 am. (before Mass) on the weekdays of Lent.

A Holy Hour is facilitated at Árd Ciaráin, Shannonbridge, on the Mondays of Lent, 7.30 - 8.30 p.m.

Mass for the Intentions of the People of the Parish, Missa pro Populo, in Shannonbridge this Sunday, 6th, at 12.00 noon.

Sunday 6th is the Feast of St. Colette, 1381-1447, a French nun who undertook reform of the Poor Clares.

Monday 7th, St. Perpetua, a young upper-class married woman, martyred at Carthage, (Tunisia), in 203.

Monday 7th, St. Felecity,  a slave girl also martyred at Carthage in 203.

Tuesday 8th, St. John of God, 1495-1550, native of Portugal; patron saint of nurses.

Tuesday 8th, St. Senan, Kilrush, Co. Clare, founded a monastery on Scattery Island, anamchara (soul-mate) of St. Ciaran and St. Brendan, died 544.

Wednesday 9th, St. Frances of Rome, 1384-1440, a married woman, outstanding in her devotion to the needy.

Thursday 10th, St. John Ogilvie, Jesuit, 1579-1615, Scotland, a convert to Catholicism,  preached in disguise in Glasgow because of the restrictions of the time, betrayed and hanged; canonised 1976.

Friday 11th, St. Aengus, Clonenagh, Co. Laois.  Abbot and bishop.  Died 830.

The Parish Pastoral Council will meet in the Health Centre on Wednesday 9th, at 8.00 p.m.  Items on the agenda include Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter, funding of the Parochial House refurbishment project.

Rosters:

Shannonbridge:- 

Church Cleaners: Anne Ryan, Lena Turley, Maureen Mitchell.

Altar Servers for this week: Group 1, Roisín, Darragh, Matthew, Emily.

Readers for next weekend: Group 1, Ffionn Anderson, Pattie Corbett.

Ministers of the Eucharist: Group 2, Saturday Evening, S. Ryan (M. Flannery). Sunday, Marian McManus.

Clonfanlough:- 

Altar Servers for Sunday next: Group 3, Conor, Adam, Charlie, Kelan.

Reader for next Sunday: Mary Kelly.

Minister of the Eucharist for next Sunday: Ann Guinan.

Newsletter. Items for inclusion in the Newsletter by 6.00 p.m. on Thursday, please.

A Fundraising Table Quiz for St. Ciaran’s National School, Clonmacnois, takes place in Clonfanlough Hall on Friday 11th at 7.30 p.m.  5 people per table including at least one child.  €20.00 per table.  All are welcome.

A Table Quiz in aid of Ballinasloe Social Services will be held in Killeen’s, Shannonbridge, on Wednesday 9th, at 9.00 p.m.  Support will be appreciated.

Contributions to the Monthly Collection for March, this weekend, please.

Recent collection totals:- Sunday last €675.00.

Monthly Collection, February, €615.00. Thank you very much.

Masses for the Dead:-

Sunday, 6th March, Clonfanlough, 10.30 a.m.,

Joseph, Kathleen and Gregory Mahon, Clonfanlough.

Saturday 12th, Shannonbridge, 8.00 p.m., Tom and Bina Nugent, Shannonbridge.

Sunday 13th, Clonfanlough, 10.30 a.m., John P. and Mary Margaret O’Shea, Lakefield.

Sunday 13th, Shannonbridge, 12.00 noon, Mai Fitzgerald, Dublin.

Please pray for John Joe Maleney, Glebe, Belmont, who died on Friday.  Removal this Sunday arriving at St. Ciaran’s Church, Clonfanlough, for Funeral Mass at 2.30 p.m.  Burial afterwards in Clonmacnois Cemetery.

 Happy Mothers Day to all Mums