Clonmacnois Parish

December 27th 2020

Fr. Tom Cox (Adm) Tel. 090 9674125/  0868319500  

Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com

     WEB  shannonbridge.blogspot.ie

FACEBOOK https://fb.me/saintciarans

 
FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY
The Feast is well-placed because Christmas is above all the season of the family. During the past extraordinary year we have come to appreciate in a new way that family is actually the most important thing in our lives. It is the cradle of our life and love which draws us back again and again. Family is forever. It is a Gospel in itself. It is good news for society. It is one of nature’s masterpieces. While parents stand at the centre of family life, we are reminded in the persons of Simeon and Anna in today’s Gospel extract that grandparents are a precious gem at the heart of the household too. They are the keepers of traditions and memories; the link between the generations and, as American author Alex Haley described so beautifully: ‘They sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children’. On the threshold of another year, we raise up in prayer our families, young and old, living and sleeping. May our departed ones sleep in peace and through the intercession of Jesus, Mary and Joseph may our homes continue to be circles of strength, schools of faith and communities of love. Athbhliain shuaimhneach orainn uilig.
RETURN TO LEVEL 5 RESTRICTIONS
ALL MASSES ONLINE from Dec 26th onwards
 
Saturday 26th December (Stephen’s Day)
7p.m. Mass Vigil of  Sunday 27th December (Holy Family)  Anniv: Damien Kenny
Monday 28th Dec (Public Holiday) 10a.m. Mass  Online (The Holy Innocents)
Tuesday 29th Dec (St. Thomas a Becket)
No Online Mass–  parish Wedding
Wednesday 30th Dec 10a.m. Mass Online
Thursday 31st Dec. 10a.m. Mass Online
Friday 1st Jan 2021 NEW YEAR’S DAY
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God.
10am Mass of Peace
Saturday  3rd January 2021
Vigil on Sat 2nd Jan 7pm Paul Kelly (7th anniv).
ST. CIARAN’S—CLONFANLOUGH
Sun 27th Dec (Holy Family) 10:30am   
Sun 3rd Jan 2021 @10:30a.m.  (Holy Family)
Bridget Rigney & Dec’d family members January 3rd 2022
OFFERTORY  December 19/20th €500
HOPE PRAYER CARD are available in both Churches. Very few Calendars leftBOOKING MASSES 2021 Diary is open.
NEW BOXES OF ENVELOPES 2021
Should have arrived. Thank you to all!
Mobile Foot Health Practitioner Service - House Calls Available Daytime and Evening. Contact Maura at 086-8053671 to arrange an appointment.
Christ, Candle of Hope  God, our loving Father, you sent your Son, Jesus Christ, into this world to counter all the forces of evil: sin, suffering and death, and to overcome evil with the force of good; hatred with the power of love, your great love for us in Jesus. Help us never to curse the darkness, but to join with you in bringing Your light into this world, the light that is your Son, born of the Virgin Mary, in Bethlehem. Help us to be instruments of your light and love by doing one special act of kindness or by being your special instrument of reconciliation this New Year. May the Christ Candle we light symbolize our desire to bring light into a world of darkness and hope into a world of despair. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree." Roy L. Smith

2020 has been a very difficult and traumatic year for everyone. It has been a difficult year when churches were closed for public celebration of liturgy - the antithesis of all we profess and believe. Yet it had to be done in the interests of the health and safety of our Parishioners and community. Hopefully 2021 will be different and we will see some return to “normality”. There were negatives and positives in the lockdown. Lets take our positives forward so that we will rediscover our sense of Faith, prayer and community. Let’s hope and pray that 2021 will be a watershed in the rediscovery of all who live in Clonmacnois  Parish, of their need for God, prayer and community worship. Hopefully the Covid 19 restrictions on celebration and participation will come with the lifting of lockdown, a new sense of the need to gather together on a Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist. Let’s hope that the confinement of the Covid 19 restrictions when lifted will lead to full, engaged and participating congregations. Lets pray that Covid 19 has been a re-awakening of our need for God, Church and prayer
 Pope Francis’ 8 Tips to Improve Family Life.
Dear all: Here are some 8 practical tips from Pope Francis to improve family life taken from ROME REPORTS with a little restructuring to facilitate reading.
1. NEVER END THE DAY WITHOUT MAKING PEACE. I always give this advice to newlyweds: ‘Argue as much as you want. If the plates fly, let them. But never end the day without making peace. Never!” (October 4th, 2013)
2. MAKE PEACE AND BEGIN AGAIN TOMORROW. “It isn’t necessary to call the United Nations to come to one’s home to make peace. A small gesture, a caress, a hello is sufficient! And until tomorrow – and tomorrow one begins again.” (April 2nd, 2014)
3. LEARN TO FORGIVE. To learn about FORGIVENESS, there is nothing better than the BIBLE, something that the Pope recommends to improve family life. “It is not for putting in a shelf, but rather for having it at hand. It is for reading it often, every day, either individually or in groups, husband and wife, parents and children; maybe at night, especially on Sundays. That way, the family can move forward with the light and the power of the Word of God!” (October 5th, 2014)
4. DIFFICULTIES? MOVE FORWARD. STRIVE. IT’S PART OF LIFE: He speaks to engaged couple on the beauty of marriage but is also very sincere with them. To move forward, they must strive. “It is a journey full of challenges, difficult at times, and also with its conflicts, but that is life.” (February 14th, 2014)
5. A life filled with CHILDREN. The Pope never tires of denouncing a culture that does not favour the family. For this reason, he invited couples to throw themselves into the adventure of parenthood. “This culture of comfort has, in the last 10 years, convinced us that it’s better to not have children! It’s better! You can go explore the world, go on vacation, you can have a villa in the countryside, you can be care-free.” (June 6th, 2014)
6. SPEND TIME WITH YOUR CHILDREN: And when the children are already here, family life can be complicated at times. Pope Francis has asked to reflect on the frantic life that families sometimes experience. “When I confess young couples and they talk to me about their children, I always ask one question: ‘And do you have time to play with your children?’ And many times the father tells me: ‘But Father, they are sleeping when I go to work in the morning and when I come back at night they are already asleep in bed.’ This is not life.” (June 16th, 2014)
7. PRUDENT USE OF TECHNOLOGY: He also has advice for children. Misused technology, he said, has become one of the elements that separates a family. “Many children and young adults waste so much time on hollow things: Chatting on the internet, playing with the cell phone, seeing soap operas. High tech products are meant to make life simple and to improve the quality of life. But often, they distract us from what’s really important.” (August 6th, 2014)
8. SEEK WISDOM AND LOVE OF THE GRANDPARENTS: For the Pope, a fundamental pillar of family life are the elderly. They are the future of the people because they are its memory. For this reason, Pope Francis knows the imprint left by grandparents. “One of the most beautiful things in the life of a family, of our lives, is to caress a child and to let them be caressed by a grandfather or grandmother.” (September 28th, 2014) Striving, forgiveness, prayer and dedication are the ingredients that Pope Francis offers to strengthen family life.
 
 
 DOON/SHANNONBRIDGE GAA CLUB
Results Dec 14th 2020 3-6-8-18 No jackpot winner, 3 match threes. Next week's jackpot will be €6,400. Thanks to everyone for their continued support!  While we're at it...
As a possible Gift for Christmas you could purchase a long term GAA lotto ticket from www.clubforce.com     Search for "shannonbridge" in the "find my club" box and you will be brought to the "Doon & Shannonbridge GAA Lotto"  you can purchase in blocks of 1, 10, 25 & 52 weeks.
THANK YOU  We would like to thank all our generous sponsors for their support throughout 2020. We would like to acknowledge the efforts of all our volunteers and committee members and thank them for their commitment and hard work throughout the year. We wish them and all our club members a very Happy Christmas and we look forward to some exciting developments in 2021!
Shannonbridge Senior and Underage GAA
Shannonbridge Senior and Underage GAA
 
 
 
 
 

 CLONMACNOIS PARISH DECEMBER 20th 2020

Clonmacnois Parish
December 20th 2020
Fr. Tom Cox (Adm) Tel. 090 9674125/  0868319500  Radio 106.5FM
Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com
     WEB  shannonbridge.blogspot.ie
FACEBOOK https://fb.me/saintciarans
 
FOURTH  SUNDAY OF ADVENT
‘The Word became flesh’
In the heart of the ancient city of Naples lies the much visited ‘Via Gregorio Armeno’, which for obvious reasons is known as ‘Christmas Alley’. From early in the year artists and craftsmen spend hours in their workshops along that street designing cribs with a difference. They have come up with the ingenious idea of depicting the Bethlehem scene in ordinary settings. Consequently, these unique cribs contain not only the figures of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds and the Wise Men, but also the figures of ordinary people going about their everyday chores. The message is strikingly clear. Jesus is to be found not only in the manger, but also in the market place. Wherever people gather to pray, work or play He is there. When the celebration of Christmas ends and the real work of Christmas begins we need to be aware of His presence in ordinary people and places and in surprising people and places too.
 
CHRISTMAS MASS ARRANGEMENTS
By now all masses (bar 10 seats for 12 Noon Dec 25th in Shannonridge) have been filled. If you have booked and your seating needs have changed– we would need to know how many. Capacity is set at 50 plus essential staff. 
Updated HSE advice counsels that people not come too early, that they wear face coverings, avoid physical contact (hugging/handshakes etc). The use of printed materials (booklets) is discouraged-  you may wish to bring your own Missal if you have one.  Music wise bar erecting Perspex screens for a soloist (no choirs)– it’s instrumental/organ with no woodwind instrument. Congregational/Carol Singing is ruled out in the guidelines.  As Celebrant I will wear a face covering as I move but not at altar as I am 3-4 metres away from nearest person.  I have the full HSE document of 24 pages if you like to consult.  I hope to broadcast on a local link 106.5FM to a 4 mile radiues– but as we go to print, it’s simply  not working except on Facebook. I will update.
If you are coming to the Church after attending online, be aware of social distance, a Eucharistic Minister or myself will be available. Masses will be streamed online at https://www.facebook.com/tomas.macconchoille and shared thereafter on
 https://www.facebook.com/saintciarans
 
MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS
ST. CIARAN’S– SHANNONBRIDGE
Saturday 19th December 7:00p.m.
Eileen Higgin (Anniv.)
Monday 21st December 7p.m. Mass
Confessions 6-6:45pm
Tuesday 22nd December 10a.m. Mass
Wednesday 23rd December Mass
Thursday 24th December (Christmas Eve)
 
CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY
5:00p.m.  Mass of Christmas Eve
9:00p.m. Mass of Christmas Night
Friday 25th December (Christmas Day)
12 Noon Mass of Christmas Day
Saturday 26th December (Stephen’s Day)
7p.m. Mass Vigil of  Sunday 27th December (Holy Family)  Anniv: Damien Kenny
ST. CIARAN’S—CLONFANLOUGH
Sunday 20th December 10:30a.m. Devery Family, (Clonlyon) Nancy & Sonny Egan
Tuesday 22nd December 7p.m. Mass
Confessions 6-6:45p.m.
CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY
Thursday 24th December 7:00p.m.
Friday 25th December 10:30am
Sun 27th Dec (Holy Family) 10:30am   
 
OFFERTORY  December 12/13th €890
RECENT DEATHS Please pray for the repose of the soul of Kieran Kelly Leharrow who was laid to rest on Dec 19th in Clonmacnois
BAPTISM  We welcome Clodagh Lynn Donaghy into the Christian Community
PRAYER CARD & CALENDARS are available in both Churches.
CHRISTMAS MASS BOUQUETS are now available
PARISH CHRISTMAS MESSAGE A sincere word of thanks to all who contributed to the life of our Parish during 2020, a very challenging year for us all. Your support, unfailing kindness and generous hospitality is greatly appreciated. Nollaig Shona agus Athbhliain Shuaimhneach. Fr. Tom
BOOKING MASSES 2021  The Diary is open.
NEW BOXES OF ENVELOPES 2021
Are being delivered. Thank you to all who deliver. If you haven’t received a Box or would like one– let us know.
Mobile Foot Health Practitioner Service - House Calls Available Daytime and Evening. Contact Maura at 086-8053671 to arrange an appointment.
 Christmas Message 2020
A year ago, in preparation for our Diocesan Assembly, I referred to “the joys, anxieties and hopes that come with family life”. Little did we know then the extraordinary challenges that 2020 would entail.
We have missed what we value most - people. We miss being with and among people, all the ordinary everyday encounters, free from restriction and anxiety. Christmas brings thoughts of people who are no longer with us, especially those who died during this year. We miss those we cannot visit as freely as usual, especially our family and friends who are in hospital or in nursing homes.
We cannot gather as a community to worship the Lord as we normally do; we long to be back. Priests and parishioners carry out Trojan work to keep our churches welcoming and safe and we are grateful to them for their work and care. Although we have experienced lockdown and restrictions the Lord is present with us in so many ways.
At Christmas we celebrate the arrival of God’s son among us. The story of the first
Christmas in Bethlehem was full of hope and joy. What was expected for so long had come to pass. The Christmas story always refreshes our joy and our hope. The joy that each human life is of vital importance to God because of the baby in Bethlehem. The hope that this baby has changed the way we see ourselves, one another and our destiny.
We hope that life will become safer and less restricted because, decisions taken by
individuals will, collectively, reduce the threat to health, lives and livelihoods. There is the hope that vaccines will assist in our great efforts to be safe. During 2020, there were times of sacrifice, when some of our normal freedoms were curtailed for the common good. There are many examples of great care and generosity throughout our parishes. We are grateful to all in leadership, essential services and in our communities whose work and sacrifice contribute
to our safety.
The candles on the Advent Wreath are lit one Sunday after another, ushering us closer and closer, week by week, to Christmas. We look forward with great hope to celebrating the birth of the Saviour. Our hope is in him.
I wish you and your family and friends at home and abroad a happy Christmas.
Francis Duffy
Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois
 BIBLE DIARIES 2021 We sold out last weekend and I can order more if you let me know €9 each St. Pauls Missals €5 (free for Parish Readers) Some people prefer to have their own  hard copy rather than use the Missalette.
DOON/SHANNONBRIDGE GAA CLUB
Results Dec 14th 2020 9-13-29-31 No jackpot winner, no match threes. Next week's jackpot will be €6,200. Thanks to everyone for their continued support!  While we're at it...
As a possible Gift for Christmas you could purchase a long term GAA lotto ticket from www.clubforce.com     Search for "shannonbridge" in the "find my club" box and you will be brought to the "Doon & Shannonbridge GAA Lotto"  you can purchase in blocks of 1, 10, 25 & 52 weeks.
 
THANK YOU
We would like to thank all our generous sponsors for their support throughout 2020. We would like to acknowledge the efforts of all our volunteers and committee members and thank them for their commitment and hard work throughout the year. We wish them and all our club members a very Happy Christmas and we look forward to some exciting developments in 2021!
Shannonbridge Senior and Underage GAA
 
SVP - As we are not allowed to have our annual Church Gate Collection and you would like to contribute– we would ask you to pop an envelope into the Offertory Collection simply marked SVP or via the Presbytery Letter box and it will be gratefully received.
ADVENT CANDLES  for your Advent prayer space available at Masses.
PRAYER AT THE CRIB
God our Father,
You sent your only son, Jesus, as a little child
To love us and to be our Saviour.
 
Your Holy Spirit came down on Mary
And gave wisdom to  Joseph
So that they could prepare for His birth.
 
As we pray here around the crib, open our hearts
To His love and to his gentle care.
 
Take away our fears and fill our hearts with joy.
Guide and care for our families and
Help us to care for one another
So that we can live as the people of God.
      
May we know His presence with us and
Find deep peace in our lives during
These days of Christmas and in the year ahead.
Amen
From  Dioceses of the Western Province, Ireland