CLONMACNOIS PARISH NEWSLETTER APRIL 14th 2019
Today we begin the journey that celebrates the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This week people enter into a deep spiritual relationship with the One who came to save us and give us eternal life in paradise. The meaning for Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Confession, Holy Matrimony, Ordination and Anointing of the Sick, finds its source in Jesus. Many of us may get lost in the preparation for these sacraments, but the real preparation happens this week as we journey with Jesus and recall once again how he gave his life for love of us. He is the reason why you are a Christian and a member of His Church. He calls us out of darkness, into baptism and new life. On Holy Saturday night, at the Easter Vigil come and renew your faith in God. Take note of the times of the ceremonies and join us in prayer.
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
TUESDAY 16th April 7.00pm: Mass of Chrism (St. Mel's Cathedral)
HOLY THURSDAY, 18th April
-6.30pm: Shannonbridge
-8:00p.m. Clonfanlough
Mass of the Lord’s Supper. Followed by a period of silent adoration concluding with Night Prayer.
GOOD FRIDAY, 19th April
-12 Noon Stations of the Cross Shannonbridge
[We hope to have some Children’s Liturgy Activity today]
-3.00 pm: Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (Shannonbridge)
-7:00p.m. Celebration of the Lord's Passion (Clonfanlough)
HOLY SATURDAY, 20th April
Confessions Ferbane : 11am to 4pm A number of priests will be available.
8.00pm: Parish Easter Vigil Mass (Shannonbridge)
5:30a.m. Easter Dawn Mass for Pastoral Area ( Clonmacnois)
10:30a.m. Easter Mass (Clonfanlough)
ST. CIARAN SHANNONBRIDGE
Sat 13th April 6:30p.m. Tom & Bina Nugent [Do This in Memory Group]
Mon 15th April 7p.m. Mass
Tues 16th April 10:00a.m. Mass
Wed 17th April 10:00a.m. Mass David Macklin (20th Anniv.)
Easter Triduum begins Midnight Wednesday
See Panel to right for schedule
ST. CIARAN CLONFANLOUGH.
Sunday, Sunday 14th April 10:30a.m.
Wednesday 17th 7:00p.m. Mass
Sunday, Sunday 20th April 10:30a.m
OFFERTORY April 6/7
€ 604 Shrine €61
APRIL MONTHLY ENVELOPE being returned ..many thanks.
CLUAIN CHIARAIN Next Mass Wed. May 1st 2019 @ 7:30p.m.
SUICIDE AWARENESS COURSE: ASIST 2 day course -27th – 28th April in Shearwater Hotel. Places limited. Book: Mary McGrath, Suicide Resource officer, HSE (090)6665071 or email mary.mcgrath@hse.ie. Further info email brian_derrane@hotmail.com. Closing date 23rd April.
ARK OF DIVINE MERCY will host Divine Mercy Sunday at Clu ain Ciaran Clonmacnoise on Sunday 28th of April starting at 2.00pm. With Procession of the Image of Divine Mercy Adoration,Rosary. Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
Concluding with Holy Mass.
Celebrant Fr Luke. All are most welcome. Details from Kathleen O'Connor or Paul Woods on 087 7828283.or arkofdivinemercy@gmail.
SHANNONBRIDGE ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION Meeting Tuesday, 16th April 10:45a.m In Hall
WEST OFFALY TRAINING - Are running some great courses: Computer Camp for Kids over the Easter holidays 23rd – 26th April (including coding); Working with Autism
starting the 30th April; Digital Skills/Manual Handling/ Abrasive Wheel Training (weekly). We are also taking names for Makeup/Hairdressing/Train the Trainer, Mindfulness
courses and ECDL. Call 057 9152003 to find out more
.
BAPTISM PREPARATION - The next meeting for parents in our pastoral area who have a child for baptism will be held in the Parochial House in Ballinahown on Thursday 16th May from 8pm to 9pm. . Please contact me beforehand
STATION MASSES have concluded. A very warm thank you to all who hosted.
REENEACTMENT OF THE WAY OF THE CROSS AND CRUCIFIXION with the Clara Drama Group called the PIC Players will take place in the Green Field in Clara on Good Friday starting at 2:15 lasting approx 30 minutes. Please come and join us to participate in this moving re-enactment and prayers
BAPTISM We welcomed Neasa McManus into the Christian Community last weekend
MINISTRIES Shannonbridge:Sat 20th April @8 p.m. Servr:Grp 3 Michael & Rachael C, Paddy R, Cliodhna F, Niamh C (Group 2 on Holy Thurs/Good Fri; Group 3 on Holy Saturday 8pm)
Reader: Ffionn Anderson
Euch. Minister Dympna Fitzpatrick
CCare:Paula Claffey,Deirdre Kenny,Colette Quinn
Clonfanlough:Sun 21st April @10:30am
Server Grp 2 Neása & Tadhg T, Eva S. (Group 1 on Holy Thurs/ Good Fri, Group 3 Sunday)
Reader: Anne Rohan Euch Min.:Declan McEvoy
Ch Care–April Bernie Kenny/Margaret Lantry
FERBANE DIOCESAN DISPLAY DAY - You can sponsor a sacred vessel which will go to the Missions with your intentions. A list and contact numbers in Ferbane Church porch. All items may be seen at the Apostolic Work Display Day on Sunday 28th April in St. Cynoc’s N.S. after 11am Mass. Refreshments, gifts and Cake Sale will also be part of the occasion. Please support.
SOCIAL DANCE taking place on Easter Sunday 21st of April from 9.30pm-12am in Moore Hall. All are welcome
ELECTRICAL RECYCLING COLLECTION in Shannonbridge schoolyard on Friday, April 19th. (Good Friday) Anything with a plug or battery– no other dumping please.
S’bridgeLibrary open Thurs7-9pm
ANNUAL PILGRIM WALK: CLONBONNY, ATHLONE TO CLONMACNOIS
SATURDAY 20th April , 2019
11.00 am Assemble at Clonbonny. Walk across bog (16km) to Clonmacnoise led by an experienced Leader from Athlone Walking Club.
Directions to Clonbonny: Take the road by Aldi, Athlone. Drive 5km straight to “T junction”. Turn left and park by bog railway crossing.
Bring walking shoes/boots; backpack; waterproof clothing; water and picnic lunch.
3.00pm Inter church service at Clonmacnoise 3.30pm Bus to Shannonbridge for refreshments
Bus returns to Clonbonny by 5.30. To book seat on bus (€6) text 087 212 8842
CLONMACNOIS N.S.
SCHOOL CLOSES Easter Break April 12-28th
We’d like to wish our young friends a lovely Easter break. We want to keep our school safe and well maintained, so we would ask passers-by & local residents to be vigilant and to report any suspicious activity. Just to remind that apart from school hours, the school and grounds are closed to public access.
-FUN RUN/WALK Sunday, May 26h for School Funds, Clonfanlough Hall 12 Noon.
GOOD FRIDAY - Is one of two days of fast (less food) and abstinence (no meat) in the year, Ash Wednesday being the other.
PLEASE NOTE - No Sunday evening Mass in Ferbane on Easter Sunday.
RECONCILIATION - A Mass of Reconciliation will be celebrated in Ferbane Church on Monday 14th April at 10am with individual absolution for those who wish to receive it. A priest will be available in Ferbane Church on Holy Saturday from 10am to 4pm
It was on the Friday that they ended it all.
Of course, they didn't do it one by one.
They weren't brave enough.
All the stones at the one time or no stones thrown at all.
They did it in crowds.... in crowds where you can feel safe
and lose yourself and shout things you would never shout
on your own, and do things you would never do if you felt
the camera was watching you.
It was a crowd in the church that did it,
and a crowd in the civil service that did it,
and a crowd in the street that did it,
and a crowd on the hill that did it.
And he said nothing.
He took the insults, the bruises, the spit on the face,
the thongs on the back, the curses in the ears.
He took the sight of his friends turning away,
running away.
And he said nothing.
He let them do their worst until their worst was done,
as on Friday they ended it all....
and would have finished themselves had he not cried,
"Father, forgive them all."
Broken – the jar of precious perfume,
broken – the promises of loyalty,
broken – the adulation of the crowds,
broken – the Passover bread,
broken – the dreams of disciples,
and Jesus is left alone
to face his death sentence.
Broken – in body and spirit,
broken – and crying out in anguish,
broken – the dream of the Kingdom,
broken – and far from home,
broken – and giving up his life,
and Jesus dies before soldiers,
and a few weeping friends.
Broken – the veil of the Temple,
broken – the power of sin and death,
broken – the power that oppresses,
broken – the sealed entrance to the tomb,
from all life’s broken places
life rises up again and sings Alleluia
You were surrounded by love, by grief and by fear as the women prepared Your body for burial.You show us the way. May we feel the comfort of Your love for us.And may we turn outwards to share that love with ours neighbours, with the same generosity and gentle loving kindness that You showed to all.
It is Holy Week again. We take our place beside the cross and begin the lonely road with Jesus that leads to the Hill of Calvary. It is a week of contrasts, shot through with moments of acclamation and condemnation, betrayal and loyalty, despair and hope, darkness and light, sadness and joy. It is a week that gives meaning to all suffering and shows that it is the price of love and the path to glory: ‘no thorns, no throne; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown’.
The drama of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday is the story of the Triumph of Failure and the Triumph of Love. We have heard the story a thousand times, but we need to be reassured again that our God is near; we do not walk alone; our journey has meaning; death is not a voyage into the unknown, but, rather a journey home. By His cross and resurrection He has set us free.
and he is not crucified alone today.
Are you ill? He suffers in your illness.
Are you lonely? He suffers in your loneliness.
Are you homeless? He suffers in your homelessness.
Have you been neglected? He suffers in your neglect.
Have you been abused? He suffers in your abuse.
Have you been despairing? He suffers in your despair.
He has no body now on earth but yours.
He was consoled by the look of Mary - His mother,
by the touch of Veronica - His consoler,
by the helping hand of Simon - His cross-carrier,
by the quiet presence of John - His friend.
You are Jesus.
And you are Mary, Veronica, Simon, John, His helpers on the way of the Cross.
You are the body of Christ.
He was not crucified alone, and he is not crucified alone today.
Jesus we thank you for your great love, and we thank you for holding on for us. When the cross is heavy, help us to hold on. When we fall down, help us to hold on. When we feel abandoned or rejected, help us to hold on. By your cross and resurrection you have set us free.
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