Clonmacnois Parish

December 13th 2020 (Gaudete)

Fr. Tom Cox (Adm) Tel. 090 9674125/  0868319500  Radio 106.5FM

Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com

     WEB  shannonbridge.blogspot.ie

FACEBOOK https://fb.me/saintciarans

 

MASS SCHEDULE & INTENTIONS
St. Ciaran’s Church Shannonbridge
Sunday, 13^th Dec 3^rd Sun in Advent  Vigil Mass 7p.m. (Sat). .   Acknowledgement & Thanksgiving Mass for intentions of all who sympathised at death of late June Gilson mother of Alan Gilson  & family(Glebe)
Monday, 14th December. St. John of the Cross.  10am Mass
Tuesday, 15th December. 10am Mass   Maura Moran (8th Anniv)
Wednesday, 16th December. 7pm Mass
 Special Intenti   on (Confession 6-6:45pm)
Thursday, 17th December. 10am Service of Word & Communion
Friday, 18th December. St. Flannan. 10am Mass
Saturday 19th December 7:00p.m. Eileen Higgin (Anniv.)
  St. Ciaran’s Church  Clonfanlough
Sunday 13th December 10:30a.m.
Kieran & Mary Daly & Tom Mannion
Fri 18th 7pm Mass Confession 6-6:45pm
Sunday 20th December 10:30a.m. Devery Family, (Clonlyon) Nancy & Sonny Egan
 
YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH (December 8th 2020- December 8th 2021). Pope Francis has proclaimed this year as a ‘Year of St. Joseph’. It marks the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. St. Joseph, pray for us.
OFFERTORY   December 5/6th €890
RECENT DEATHS Please pray for the repose of the souls of Aidan Quigley, Banagher Street and formerly of Kilkerley, Dundalk  father of Teresa Downey, Carrowkeel also Dan Egan (Ballyduff) uncle of Kieran Coakley (Clondelara)..
PRAYER CARD A Prayer Card featuring St. Ciaran as depicted in the side porch of St. Ciaran’s Church, Clonfanlough and a Prayer of Hope will also be distributed with Parish Calendars and the 2021 Offertory Envelopes this coming week.
CHRISTMAS MASS BOUQUETS are now available
BOOKING MASSES 2021  The Diary is open. It’s not something I’ve discussed but with present public Mass capacity set at 50, there is a lot more capacity at weekday Masses for people to attend an anniversary.
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. 
 THIRD  SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Rejoice the Lord is near’
This is ‘Gaudete’ Sunday. The pink candle is lit on the Advent wreath. It is a call to rejoice because the Lord is near. Is it possible to be joyful in a world laden with bad news, groaning under the shadow of Covid 19? It is possible and the surest way to find it is through building a friendship with Christ. With Him we can look at the world through a different lens, see His fingerprint even in the messiness of things and know that all moments can be healed and that all shall be well. John the Baptist, the ‘greatest of the prophets’ came to understand this truth during his time of prayer, fasting and reflection in the wilderness and when he emerged he constantly and steadfastly directed the attention of his followers beyond himself to Christ. In so doing, he was actually pointing the way to true joy. He had discovered the pearl of great price and from then on, his words and deeds would bear eloquent witness to that discovery. For us, as for John, the pathway to joy will always look like this:
Jesus first; Others second. Yourself last.
 
 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 receive You sacramentally, c ome at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You have already come, and unite myself entirely to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen
 CHUR CH  MINISTRIES   READERS S/bridge Dec 19 Family Anniv Reader  Clonfanlough Dec 20 Bridie Coughlan  CHURCH CARE  S’bridge:  Martha Murphy, Marie McManus  Clonfanlough  Dec K. Norton, H. Darcy
 FOOD APPEAL is ongoing.  Non perishable Food items may be left into our churches at your convenience.
CONFESSIONS FOR CHRISTMAS
S’bridge Wed 16th  December  6-6:45pm
Clonfanlough Fri 18th December: 6.00 pm - 6.45 pm
 BAPTISM: The celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism has now resumed. If you
are seeking to have your child Baptised in the immediate future please contact to arrange a date.
Mobile Foot Health Practitioner Service - House Calls Available Daytime and Evening. Contact Maura at 086-8053671 to arrange an appointment.
MASS AT CHRISTMAS
I want to thank you for your understanding in making the preparations for Christmas Masses this year. Nobody could have envisaged a situation where we would have to ask people to book their church seats in advance; unfortunately, the circumstances this year are very exceptional, and the safety and welfare of parishioners must be a priority. I want to thank all those who have been in contact requesting tickets. At present the Clonfanlough 7p.m. (Dec 24^th) and Clonfanlough 10:30am (Dec. 25^th) are at the permitted capacity of 50. Shannonbridge 5p.m. (Dec 24^th) is also at capacity but we have some space at Shannonbridge 9p.m. (Dec 24^th) and 12 Noon (Dec 25^th). 
Please remember the Sunday Mass Obligation is relaxed. People can come to the Church and listen outside on speaker or sit in their car and view via Facebook Live and I’m trialling a 106.5FM radio broadcast form each Church over Christmas. Range & Reception varies. Holy Communion will be brought  outside.
 
 Joyful Sunday Today being Gaudete Sunday, here is a thought on joy: A lot of people confuse joy with pleasure, but there is a world of difference between them and, unless you know this difference, you have not yet begun to live. People who have tasted real joy are suspicious of pleasure, because pleasure sometimes can be the death of joy. Joy consists in having a love affair with life. It is having a heart aglow with warmth for all your companions on the road to life. It is a blend of laughter and tears. It is knowing that big packages are few and far between. It is making the most of the present, enjoying what is at hand right now. Joy is love bubbling over into life. And, surprisingly, it can coexist with pain. Joy is the flag that you fly when Christ, the Prince of Peace, is in residence within your heart.
 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 7th 2020 15-28-29-31 No jackpot winner, no match threes. Next week's jackpot will be €5,800. 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.
 MAYNOOTH COLLEGE CAROL SERVICE from Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, will be livestreamed for the first time on Wednesday 16 DeC. at 7:30pm on www.maynoothcollege.ie .
YOUTH 2000 CHRISTMAS  E-RETREAT will take place from the 18th – 20th of December.Registration  on www.youth2000.ie
ONLINE CHRISTMAS CONCERT with
Banagher Trinity Gospel Choir  which can be viewed this Mon. 14th Dec. at 7.30 p.m. on their Facebook page. For more info. Contact Corrinne 087 3364418.
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.
2021 CALENDAR will be delivered to your home this week. It features the Power Station in its image.  In a very sad week, phrases like “end of an era” were oft repeated as West Offaly Power (Shannonbridge) came off-grid after 55 years of supplying electricity. Many of you have your own unique memories and concerns for the future. As a small tribute to the unique contribution of ESB/BNM to our region the feature of the Calendar is the Power Station taken from the Shannon River Crossing Bridge. You will see the turbulent waters but also a Rainbow overhead– in some ways in an image it captures our gratitude for the past and our hopes for the future as we bridge the uncertain waters of our times
ADVENT CANDLES  for your Advent prayer space available at Masses.

THIRD  SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Rejoice the Lord is near’
This is ‘Gaudete’ Sunday. The pink candle is lit on the Advent wreath. It is a call to rejoice because the Lord is near. Is it possible to be joyful in a world laden with bad news, groaning under the shadow of Covid 19? It is possible and the surest way to find it is through building a friendship with Christ. With Him we can look at the world through a different lens, see His fingerprint even in the messiness of things and know that all moments can be healed and that all shall be well. John the Baptist, the ‘greatest of the prophets’ came to understand this truth during his time of prayer, fasting and reflection in the wilderness and when he emerged he constantly and steadfastly directed the attention of his followers beyond himself to Christ. In so doing, he was actually pointing the way to true joy. He had discovered the pearl of great price and from then on, his words and deeds would bear eloquent witness to that discovery. For us, as for John, the pathway to joy will always look like this:
Jesus first; Others second. Yourself last.