CLONMACNOIS PARISH BULLETIN APRIL 19th 2020

MASS INTENTIONS

Because celebration of public Masses (in or outdoors) is prohibited for the duration of the Covid-19 outbreak, Mass will be offered privately (with no congregation) for the intentions which have been booked already. I stream daily  Mass on Facebook “Tom Cox” . If you wish to book/cancel or defer a Mass feel free to contact me  please (details to right)  The following will be remembered in Masses this week

Saturday 18th April  7:00p.m.

Monday 20th April  10:00a.m. St. Beuno

Tuesday 21st April 10:00a.m.  St. Anselm of Canterbury

Wednesday 22nd April 10:00a.m.

Thursday 23rd April 10:00a.m. St. George

Friday 24th April 10:00a.m.St. Fidelix

Saturday 25th April 7:00p.m. Edward & Margaret Cogivan & deceased family members 

GROCERY DELIVERIES—MORAN’S GALA  In light of current situation & if you feel wary of coming into the Shop, phone us  090 9674124

Shannonbridge GAA Club is helping co-ordinate the local response.  if you need assistance, you can call 086 8822451 Many thanks to Brosna Press Print & Design for publishing a Covid Fact sheet and local contacts in  a widely available sheet in the Shannonbridge area. Copies being distributed and locally  in Morans shop 090-9674124

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY today. It was instituted by St John Paul Ⅱ in May 2000. The message and devotion to Jesus as The Divine Mercy is based on the writings of Saint Faustina a Polish nun who died in 1938 aged thirty three years. The message of God's Divine Mercy is nothing new. The Church has always taught through Scripture and through tradition that God is merciful, and that forgiveness is available for all sins. His mercy is much greater than any sin. We ought to come before God humbly and with confidence in his Divine Mercy.We can say this prayer today; O fount of Life, unfathomable Divine Mercy, envelop the whole world and empty Yourself out upon us.

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER  ‘Doubt no longer but believe’

The story of Thomas in today’s gospel reminds us that the journey to Easter faith was difficult even for the first disciples of Jesus. He doubted. Doubt is not a negative quality. It is actually the beginning of wisdom. ‘There lives more faith in honest doubt, believe me, than in half the creeds’, according to celebrated English poet of the nineteenth century, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and the renowned French philosopher of the twelfth century Peter Abelard offered a similar insightful reflection: ‘It is by doubting that we come to investigate and by investigating that we recognise the truth’. Healthy questioning leads to a healthy faith, a faith that does not provide all the answers, but which does provide us with enough light to live with the darkness; enough joy to live with the sorrow; enough certainty to live with the doubts. ‘One who does not ask questions’ according to Pope Francis ‘cannot progress either in knowledge or in faith’. When Thomas finally made the journey from doubt to faith his commitment was total and to the end. As we reflect on his honest struggle, we might dare to make our own the daily prayer of Auschwitz survivor, Elie Wiesel: ‘I pray to the God within me that He will give me the strength to ask Him the right questions’.

CHURCH COLLECTIONS - I would like to thank parishioners who so kindly continue to contribute to our collection. This past week I lodged Offertory €175 Shrine €240 Easter Dues €475  We are extremely grateful and greatly appreciate your generosity in these most difficult times. I continue to pray with and for you all each day.

* For those who don’t use the envelope system, you can still contribute using an ordinary envelope.

* In relation to the Trócaire Lenten Boxes, again I ask you to hold on for the time being or alternatively you can send directly to Trócaire using their envelope which is enclosed with their kit. If paying directly, I ask you to enclose a note naming our parish (Clonmacnois) and diocese (Ardagh & Clonmacnois). Thank you.

BROADCAST MASSES

RADIO  Ferbane 106.5FM 10a.m  ATHLONE 88.4FM 9:30a.m.  Radio Maria  (Saorview)

WEB  www.cloghanbanagherparish.ie livestream & Radio 106.6FM  (Sat 6:30p.m. Mon-Fri 9:30am. )

St. Mel’s Cathedral www.longfordparish.com each day 10a.m.

TV RTE News Now 10:30am. Saorview (channel 21), Sky (521), Virgin Media (200), Eir (517).

DEATHS Please pray for the souls of  

W Kevin Gavin (Kilbegley)12/4/20, Father of Mary Fallon, Shannonbridge  

W Joe Henry (Cloughal) 12/4/20 father of Marie Corbett (formerly Shannonbridge)

W Patrick (Pat) Coughlan 17/4/20 Moydrum Road, Athlone burial in Clonmacnois 

W Joan Murphy (Ferbane) 17/4/20 wife of late Dr. G.Murphy May they rest in peace.

Act of Spiritual Communion

 “My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You have already come , and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen”

Nesting Season
There is always
a choice.
Perhaps in these
strange moments
it is a simple one;
to dwell on
what has been taken away
or to dwell
in what we have been given;
to build our nests anew
weaving safe and soft
a chance to breathe,
with all the terrible
possibility that brings;
to reflect,
to wonder,
to sit anew
in the secret depths
of those actions
of holy ordinariness;
eating,
drinking,
walking,
sleeping,
cleaning,
being with,
being alone,
simply being.
Taking the time
to watch the earth
reset and heal,
to allow our inner
sky to clear of
all our worry weather,
often as grey
and insubstantial
as clouds,
until the
one thing necessary
shines through
at last,
and we see
the present moment,
sky blue,
and fragile
as a blackbird’s egg,
nesting secure
in the heart,
deep within
the brambled hedge
of our thorn tangled
thoughts,
awaiting the stillness
of a spring morning
when we grant ourselves
new greening,
awaiting the sunbeam
of divine attention
to warm it to life,
awaiting our
sitting breath,
faith feathered
and yielding,
to hatch within us
a new way.

Brother Richard Hendricks OFM Capuchin

MESSENGER MAGAZINE A combination of ‘cocooning’ and the travel restrictions currently in place all around the country mean that many readers of The Sacred Heart Messenger cannot access their monthly ‘little red book’. Therefore, during this coronavirus crisis we are delighted to make the digital edition of The Messenger available FREE OF CHARGE until we return to normal delivery. Please send email to c.henry@messenger.ie and a link will be sent to you whereby you can read the messenger on computer, tablet or mobile.
ACCORD, Covid-19 Couples and Relationships Support Line.  If you need to speak to an experienced couples or relationship counsellor during this time of unprecedented stress and pressure on family life, contact 01 531 3331, 9.00am – 8.00pm Monday to Friday.

REGINA CAELI (From Easter to Pentecost this prayer takes the place of The Angelus - occasionally we will pray it together .) Queen of heaven, rejoice, alleluia. The Son you merited to bear, alleluia, Has risen as he said, alleluia. Pray to God for us, alleluia. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia. Let us pray. God of life, you have given joy to the world by the resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Through the prayers of his mother, the Virgin Mary, bring us to the happiness of eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.