CLONMACNOIS PARISH  NEWSLETTER MAY 3rd 2020

CHURCH COLLECTIONS I continue to pray for you all and am very thankful for your support. In the last few weeks since April 17th   I’ve received  Offertory €1,945 Shrine €295  Easter Dues €1,335. [I’ve also lodged €602 since public masses ceased.]  You can either 1)hold on to envelopes until we open (when?) or 2) leave them in Moran’s Gala 3) Or in Clonfanlough 10:15am -12:15pm in boxes at gate as I say Mass inside.

MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS

Sat 2nd May  7:00p.m. Sunday  3rd May 10:30

Monday May 4th to  Friday May 8th 10:00a.m. (Wed 6th for “Seamus O’Brien”  Sat May 9th  7p.m. Sunday May 10th 10:30a.m. All Masses streamed & available on Facebook  “Tom Cox” and “Parish of Clonmacnois” 

SUNDAY May 3rd Day of Prayer for Vocations Lord Jesus The ministry of priests is a sign of your unfailing care. Call from among us the priests needed for the church today and tomorrow. Bless all students for the priesthood and religious life, Brothers and Sisters. Grant them joy, wisdom courage and a generous spirit. Sustain priests with a real sense of your love and the support of those they are called to serve. Keep them faithful to their calling. Bless those who minister in your Church in any way. Amen If you would like to talk with our Vocations Director Contact:

 Fr. Seamus O’Rourke : 071-96 20054

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

I am the door of the sheepfold

The TV series ‘One Man and His Dog’ makes compelling TV viewing, the pivotal moment coming when the sheep, guided by the dog reach the gate of the fold. Will they enter or turn back? The choice, ultimately, belongs to them. Choice is at the core of the Christian journey as today’s gospel extract reminds us. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who guides, invites and leads us, His flock, to the Father’s house, but the choice remains with us, the sheep. Religion is not a matter of chance but of choice. My decisions are my destiny. On this Vocations Sunday we ask for the grace to steer the path He has chosen for us from the beginning, that will lead us to choose the only gate that leads to the fullness of life.

 A Story: A little boy was chosen to memorise Psalm 23, ‘The Lord is My Shepherd’ in order to recite it for parents, staff and priests at the grand assembly to mark the end of the school year. When the big night came the little lad stood on centre stage and began, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’, and then his mind went blank. The people waited anxiously while he struggled to remember the next line. Finally, he started again, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’. He paused for a moment, and then said, ‘And that is all I need to know’. At first, there was an uneasy silence, and then sustained applause rang out around the hall. The child was right. The Lord is our Shepherd, and that is all we need to know.

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”

UDEATHS - We pray for the souls of  Seamus O’Brien (died 14/4/20)  UK & formerly Cloghan. Brother of Cora Kelly (Shannonbridge) & Tina Groome (Trim) Funeral 6/5/20 in UK.

Frances McHale Chorley, Lancashire, (sister of Myra Flannery Creevagh). Died 20/4/20      Robert Naughton Dunstable,Luton, (brother of Ronnie Naughton Clonmacnois).Died 27/4/20.May they rest in peace.

POPE FRANCIS & A PRAYER FOR MAY he asks that  families in these time of pandemic restrictions to “rediscover the beauty of praying the Rosary” in the Month of May. He offers two prayers that could be used at the end of your prayer.

FIRST PRAYER

O Mary, You shine continuously on our journey

as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick, who, at the foot of the cross, were united with Jesus’ suffering, and persevered in your faith. You know our needs, and we know that you will provide, so that, as at Cana in Galilee, joy and celebration may return after this time of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the will of the Father and to do what Jesus tells us. For he took upon himself our suffering,

and burdened himself with our sorrows to bring us, through the cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.

We fly to your protection, O Holy Mother of God;
Do not despise our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always
from every danger, O Glorious and Blessed Virgin.

FOUND-THREE DONKEYS  If anyone knows anything about three donkeys found in Rahrabeg a couple of weeks ago– contact Tom on 086 8989864

ASK THE LIBRARIAN – E-MAIL SERVICE LAUNCHED BY OFFALY LIBRARIES Offaly Libraries have  a new service called Ask the Librarian via e-mail to answer your questions about our services and to signpost other useful resources. E-mail your question to askthelibrarian@offalycoco.ie & a library staff member will seek the answer. You might want to know how to access e-books, e-magazines, online newspapers. Forgotten your library PIN? Have a local studies query?Wonder what online activities we are planning. Whatever query it is we will aim to answer it. We look forward to hearing from you.

PEDDLING FAITH Thanks to all who welcomed me on my cycle through the parish. It was lovely to see you. You’re great

WHEN ARE WE BACK? It seems from the Govt announcement on Friday (May 1)  there MIGHT  be a gradual reopening of Churches with social distancing applied  from July 20th  as part of Phase 4 reopening of our country.  We await Diocesan & HSE Guidelines for such public gatherings. Mass will possibly be very different, more formal (assigned & fewer seats, protocols on entering/exiting/communion lines/sanitising )experience.

West Offaly Training: In order to keep everyone safe, West Offaly Training are offering FREE one to one sessions with people, teaching them to go online, banking, shopping, revenue, video conferencing etc. Some classes are also being delivered online – such as Excel, Train the Trainer (commencing May 11th),

Kids coding and more. For more information, call 0579152003/0868413082 or

email westoffalytraining@gmail.com. Stay safe!

May Altar: The tradition of erecting a May Altar during this month is very much part of our Catholic faith. I invite you to

put up a May Altar and ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to bless and to intercede for you and your family and our world in

these challenging times. Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us. Our Lady of Fatima, Pray for us. Our Lady of Knock,Pray for us.

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 – 8 p.m. Mon- Fri.

NEW MEALS ON WHEELS SERVICE Anyone who would like to avail of this new service or knows of anyone  that would like to avail of it can contact 087 2410587

COVID-19 SUPPORT LINE FOR OLDER PEOPLE: ALONE has launched a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line is open Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm, by calling 0818 222 024.

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

THANK YOU to all who help our churches to be open and an oasis of  prayer for people in these challenging times.