Clonmacnois Parish

December 26th 2021

Holy Family (C)

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

Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com

     WEB  shannonbridge.blogspot.ie

FACEBOOK    https://www.facebook.com/tomas.macconchoille  (Live)

https://fb.me/saintciarans  (saved to it afterwards)

 

CHRISTMAS REFLECTION

 ‘They will call Him Emmanuel, a name which means God-is-with-us’

We can’t help remembering at Christmas, because Christmas is about remembering and memories are never indifferent. At Christmas all roads lead to home and our minds turn to everything and everyone we have ever loved. We gather the victories won, the defeats suffered, the opportunities taken or missed. We come face to face with who we are and where we came from and, surrounded by those we love or have loved, whose presence we enjoy, or whose absence we feel, we are drawn to the crib, the place that holds all time together. The message of the manger is Emmanuel. God is with us. When Christ was born so was our hope, a hope that never dies. Christmas isn’t just a day. It’s a frame of mind that should inform our whole year. ‘Peace on earth will come to stay when we live Christmas every day’ (Helen Steiner Rice)

 THANK YOU

Throughout the year so many people have worked together so that we could be open and worship together keeping each other safe. They have shown a huge commitment to being here to steward (Anne, Della, Dolly, Eileen, Vivienne)and  the many people in Church Care who clean/sanitise the Church. This has given people great confidence to return to Mass and throughout the year it has been great to see people back again when we were able to open on May 10th.

In our preparations for Christmas, the Kelly and Kenny families faithfully put up the Crib in both Churches.  Parish Readers, eucharistic ministers,  Sr. Margaret Mary and choir members who helped us to pray so much better with  word & music. Fr. PJ Fitzpatrick who adds so much to our community. Dympna and Kay helped so much with flowers and our prayer space. Mary, Della, Anne (x3!) who open/close the Churches. George and Martin with Drill and ladder ready when the need arose. Members of the Parish Council for their dedication and care,  our assembly delegates, parishioners who distributed the parish envelopes– which in the circumstances we are in– kept our parish actually functioning.  School staff & parents. My heart is full of thanks… you’re great and God bless you. Forgive me if my memory is faulty and I left somebody out.

To all who do so much in their own quiet way, we thank you for the way in which we all work together. We wish you and your families a very happy Christmas and every peace, joy and blessing for the new year

 SHANNONBRIDGE &

CLONFANLOUGH

CHRISTMAS MASSES 2021

Dec 24th Christmas Eve: Sh/bridge 5pm & 9pm;Clonfanlough 7p.m.

Dec 25th Christmas Day: Clonfanlough 10:30am; Shannonbridge 12 noon

Sunday Dec 26th Feast of Holy Family (St. Stephen’s Day) Clonfanlough 10:30am, Shannonbridge 12 Noon

Mon. 27th: 7pm  Kieran Kelly (1st Anniv.) Leharrow

 Tues. 28th: 7pm   Seamus Grennan

Wed. 29th:10am  Mass

Thurs. 30th: 10am  Service

Fri. 31st: 10am   Mass

 Sat. 1st Jan. 2022: 12 Noon Mass  World Day of Peace

Sat 1st Jan 2022  7pm Shannonbridge

Sun 2nd Jan 2022  10:30am Clonfanlough

 

RECENT DEATH Please pray for the repose of the soul of Lottie (Loretta) Horan of Banagher (formerly Darcy, Shannonbridge) sister of Oliver who died

 

PARISH CALENDARS  are available  in both Churches

UPCOMING  FEAST DAYS

Sunday 26 Dec, Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Monday 27 Dec: St. John

Tuesday 28 Dec: The Holy Innocents.

Wed. 29 Dec. St. Thomas Becket.

Friday 31 Dec. St. Sylvester 1.

Saturday 1 Jan. Mary, The Holy Mother of God.

Monday 3 January Most Holy Name of Jesus. St. Mainchin.

Thursday 6 January The Epiphany of the Lord.

Friday 7 January St. Raymond of Penyafort.

Sunday 9 January Baptism of the Lord.

Welcome Home: Céad míle fáilte to all who have come home to be with family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are also with those who are unable to travel home this year.

CALLS TO THE HOUSEBOUND As priests we are very conscious at the moment that some people are anxious that we call, others are anxious that we don’t and it’s hard to know the right thing to do in such a volatile time. You can let me know if you’d like a call… don’t be shy I won’t bite!

 CARRYING CHRIST

 Into the hillside country Mary went carrying Christ, And all along the road the Christ she carried Generously bestowed grace on those she met. She has not meant to tell she carried Christ. She was content to hide his love for her. But about her glowed such joy That into stony hearts love flowed, And even to the unborn John, Christ’s grace was sent. Christ in the Sacrament of love each day, Dwells in my soul, a little space, And then I walk life’s crowded highway, Jostling those who seldom think of God. To these I pray that I may carry Christ, For it may be some would not know of Christ Except through me. Ruth Mary Fox

 

PRAYER FOR YOUR CRIB AT HOME  God of every nation and people, from the very beginning of creation you have shown us your love: when our need for a Saviour was great you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary. To our lives he brings joy and peace, justice, mercy, and love. Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus, and raise our thoughts to him, who is God-with-us and Saviour of all, and who lives and reigns forever and ever

 

CHRISTMAS VARIES “There are lots of Christmases. There's the quiet one, which seems to occur for most people every year, and yet always seems to be spoken of as if it arrived as a mighty surprise: ‘Wasn’t it a very quite Christmas this year?’, ‘Oh indeed sure it's over before you know it, after all the preparation.’ Then of course there’s the child’s Christmas, and not quiet at all, but a Christmas of glistening eyes, and lit faces, and hopes, and excitement that turns to tiredness and crying, and overeating that satiates or sickens children of all ages. There’s the drinking Christmas too, excuse for some, tiring round for others, habitually cited as ‘exhausting and rarely satisfying,’ as an American writer put it. There’s the homecoming Christmas too which touches in its way the Christmas that God began. At this time above all, Christ achieves some sign of his promise to the world.” -The late Fr. Tom Waldron.

 CHRISTMAS AT CLONONY CASTLE - A word of sincere thanks to all who visited Santa Claus during his recent visit. Happy Christmas to you all!

KEN SMOLLEN FOOD APPEAL Helping Offaly Families Drop off points in both Churches (Shannonbridge & Clonfanlough) from Saturday Dec. 18th to New Year (Breakfast Cereals, Tea, Sugar, Pasta & Pasta Sauce, Tins of Beans, Spaghetti hoops, Dessert Rice, packets of Soup, Boil-in-the-bag Rice, Biscuits, Treats for children)

SHANNONBRIDGE GAA LOTTO DRAW Dec 20th 2021 Numbers drawn on FB Live 5– 10-16-18 Winner!! Aisling Devereux  8 Match 3 winners. 5 Christmas Draw Jackpot €2,000

CHARITABLE DONATIONS SCHEME - Reminder to return forms as soon as possible. Only your Name, PPS Number, Address, Phone Number and email [if applicable] Nothing else. Any queries? Contact me please

COVID-19 Support Line for Older People ALONE manage a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). If you or someone you know needs support this Christmas, please call our National Support and Referral Line on 0818 222 024 from 8am – 8pm, seven days a week. ALONE operates 365 days a year so we will be there to take your call when you need us most

COLLECTIONS - Thank you for your continuing support. Moran’s Gala still receive envlopes, or the secure box in the Main Porch of both Churches, or the presbytery Letterbox. If anybody wants to offer financial support you can do so by electronic transfer

Bank Transfer (Do give your Box No. or name in bank narrative)   Name of Account Clonmacnois Parochial Account.

BIC-BOFIIE2DXXX    

IBAN-IE90BOFI90368011629381

  MINISTRIES  IN CHURCH              

 CHURCH CARE Maureen Mitchell, Patricia Anderson Clonfanlough:   Kathleen Norton,  Helen Darcy (Dec.) READER Jan 1st 2022 @ 7pm Ffionn Anderson. Jan 2nd  @ 10:30  Rita Molloy Eucharistic Minister   Sinead Ryan (S/B), Jan 1st /Mary Kelly (C/f) Jan 2nd

Church Counters Shannonbridge (Dec.)

 

Clonmacnois Parish Bulletin Dec 19th 2021

   

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT The exact birthday of Jesus is unknown. In the fourth century Christians selected the 25th December to celebrate His coming into the world. It was a pagan festival in honour of the ‘sun god’, and since we believe Jesus to be the ‘Light of the World’, the date seemed especially appropriate. Take Christ out of these days and we are back in the pagan space. We should guard against returning to where we were! Let us, rather, be possessed by the mystery and message of these days. Our God is with us. As we stand before the crib, may we find there again the gentle reassurance of His presence, and may we understand with utter confidence, that we are loved. Then, let us fall silent and rest secure in the heart of God. Nollaig Shona.

 Christmas Message 2021 Two thousand Christmases have come and gone since the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. There, in the midst of danger, uncertainty and among strangers, the infant Jesus, son of God and son of Mary, took his first breath. We are familiar with the story, the main characters, the events leading up to this birth and the events that followed it. Depending on our experience in life, we each can have our own personal reaction to this coming of God among us, as one of us. This year we face into Christmas with uncertainty about the future. We can look back on a second year when so many people continued to carefully provide services, when our front line workers continued to look out for others, especially those who were isolated and in need of assistance. In writing of Mary and all that happened to her in the lead up to Bethlehem, Saint Luke tells us that Mary, “treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Lk 2: 19). It is an image of Mary in the midst of all the excitement and the danger, calmly recognising that something special was happening to her and to her son. We often reflect on what we treasure: spouse, partner, children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren and those who are very close to us, they are our treasures because their lives impact on our hearts. Since March 2020, with so much curtailment and threats to livelihoods, many have reflected on what they treasure, what is important to them. Sadly, sometimes our treasure is gone: bereavement can leave us feeling empty and at a loss. We all know the difficult circumstances in which illness and death and bereavement have taken place in recent times. People have risen to the occasion and continue to stand by the roadside and on the streets in silent solidarity with the bereaved. The absence of another treasure, family members who are away, can leave our Christmas celebration a little sad. Technology can help us to keep in touch, and that is important. Inevitably, as we look at the crib, we think about Jesus in Bethlehem and wonder what this tells us about God and about being human? It has to do with the treasure that God is to us, the treasure that we are to God and the treasure that we can be to each other. I hope the message of Christmas, that God loves each one of us, will bring us peace and joy and help us treasure what is important. As we give thanks for the baby in Bethlehem, God’s gift to us, and the treasure each peson is, I wish you and your family and friends every blessing and happiness this Christmas and a peaceful 2022. + Francis Duffy Administrator 

Clonmacnois Parish December 19th 2021 Fourth Sunday of Advent (C) Fr. Tom Cox (Adm) Tel. 090 9674125/ 0868319500 Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com WEB shannonbridge.blogspot.ie FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com

SHANNONBRIDGE Sat 18th Dec 7pm Mass Damien Kenny, Josephine & Brian Kenny` Mon 20th 9:30am St. Fachanan Tues 21st 10am [St Peter Canisius] Wed 22nd 10am Thurs 23rd 10am St John of Kanty Fri 24th (Christmas Eve) 5p.m & 9p.m. Saturday 25th Dec. –Christmas Day 12 [Because Christmas Day is Saturday there will be NO 7:00 pm Vigil Mass ] Sun. 26th Dec –St. Stephen’s Day 12 CLONFANLOUGH Dec 19th 10:30am People’s Intentions Mon Dec 20th 7pm Mass Friday 24th Dec Christmas Eve 7p.m. Saturday 25th Dec. Christmas Day 10:30a.m. Sunday 26th Dec. St. Stephen’s Day 10:30a.m. 

 OFFERTORY Dec 8th ( Holyday ) & Dec 11/12th €852 As you are aware because of Covid -19 restrictions, we are not allowed to pass around the baskets for the Offertory Collection at Masses. We have a secure Box in each Church (Main Porch), Moran’s GALA kindly hold envelopes safely and there are our online options.

 ST. VINCENT DE PAUL Envelopes have been left in both Churches. This is the only means of fundraising for St. Vincent de Paul in our area and all monies raised will go directly to helping people in our community coming up to Christmas and throughout the year. 

 SHANNONBRIDGE LIGHTS Thanks to all who helped put up the Christmas lights and helped to make the village look so well for Christmas. 

ELECTRICAL ITEMS (W.E.E.) Collection, Free– anything with a plug or a battery at the old schoo(Shannonbridge) in early January. Date to be confirmed. ST. PAUL’S SUNDAY MISSAL 2022 available freely for Parish Readers. €5 Cost Price for anyone interested otherwise. 

GOD’S WORD 2022 Giving the Readings for each Day & a Reflection. Cost price €12.50 Christmas Mass Bouquets Mass Cards available. 

KEN SMOLLEN FOOD APPEAL Helping Offaly Families Drop off points in both Churches (Shannonbridge & Clonfanlough) from Saturday Dec. 18th to New Year (Breakfast Cereals, Tea, Sugar, Pasta & Pasta Sauce, Tins of Beans, Spaghetti hoops, Dessert Rice, packets of Soup, Boil-in-the-bag Rice, Biscuits, Treats for children) Christmas at Clonony Castle: Due to popular demand Santa Claus will be making one final visit to Clonony Castle this Sunday 19th December from 12 noon to 4 p.m., more sweets and treats for all! 

 SHANNONBRIDGE GAA LOTTO DRAW Dec 13th 2021 Numbers drawn on FB Live 9– 12-23-30 No winner, 3 Match 3 winners. Jackpot €17,200 

CHARITABLE DONATIONS SCHEME - Reminder to return forms as soon as possible. Only your Name, PPS Number, Address, Phone Number and email [if applicable] Nothing else. Any queries? Contact me please 

 MINISTRIES IN CHURCH: CHURCH CARE D. Fitzpatrick, D O’Carroll, L. Moran Clonfanlough: Kathleen Norton, Helen Darcy (Dec.) READER Dec 25th (No Dec. 25th eve Mass). Dec 26th @ 10:30 Bridie Coughlan \EUCHARISTIC MINISTER Dec 25th S/bridge (no eve Mass on Dec 25) Dec 26th @10:30am (C/f) Linda Donaghy

 Christmas Carols from St. Patrick’s Cathedral, newly restored in time for its 800th anniversary, takes place on Christmas Eve at 8.15 p.m. on RTE one television. Welcome Home: 

Céad Míle fáilte to all who have come home to be with family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are also with those who are unable to travel home this year 

BULLETIN NOTICES For Dec 26th Issue: Deadline Wednesday Dec 22nd 5pm 

CHRISTMAS MASSES 2021 Christmas Eve: Sh/bridge 5pm & 9pm;Clonfanlough 7p.m. Christmas Day: Clonfanlough 10:30am; Shannonbridge 12 noon St. Stephen’s Day: Clonfanlough 10:30am, Shannonbridge 12 Noon

 CONFESSIONS: After 10am Mass Tues/Wed 21st/22nd (Shannonbridge) After 7pm Mass Mon 20th (Clonfanlough) Christmas Eve Confessions: 12:30-2pm (Shannonbridge) Note: Even with Friday’s Government announcement there are no changes in Churches. The 8pm Curfew doesn’t apply for one. Like many churches we have voluntarily halved capacity to about 88 in Clonfanlough (22 seats x 4 in each) and 120 in Shannonbridge (20 seats x 6 in each) Unlike Christmas 2020, we are (mostly) double/treble vaccinated, there is no restriction to 50 capacity, so on balance, we will operate on a first come basis for Masses. To have a Lottery for seats or a booking system like last year has many disadvantages. Thank you for your understanding in all this. 

Clonmacnois Parish December 12th 2021

 

Clonmacnois Parish

December 12th 2021

Third Sunday of Advent (C)

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

Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com

     WEB  shannonbridge.blogspot.ie

FACEBOOK    https://www.facebook.com/tomas.macconchoille  (Live)

https://fb.me/saintciarans  (saved to it afterwards)

 

THIRD  SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Rejoice the Lord is near.’

This is ‘Gaudete’ Sunday. The Latin word means ‘rejoice’. We light the pink candle on the advent wreath today to remind us that, while this is a season of quiet reflection it is also a time to be joyful. There is good news in the air. The Lord is near. Joy is something deep and lasting. It is totally different from pleasure. It can co-exist with suffering and struggle. We have only to consider the scene in Bethlehem to grasp the truth of this statement. Despite the dire surroundings, real joy filled the lowly stable. Joy is the most certain sign of the presence of God within us. John the Baptist tells us today that this joy is nourished most powerfully, when we reach out generously in the service of others. ‘If anyone has two tunics he must share with the man who has none’. The key to joy, then, is service. ‘The secret of joy is living to serve.’ (Pope Francis). Those who are happiest are those who do most for their brothers and sisters. Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud this Christmas, and experience true joy.

 SHANNONBRIDGE

Sat 11th Dec 7pm Kieran & Mary Ann & Brian Flannery

Mon. 13th 10am Mass Rose & Jim Coakley; Leo Coakley & Dan Egan

Tues 14th 10am Service

Wed 15th Dec 10am Mass

Thurs 16th Dec 10am Mass

Fri 17th Dec  Mass 8pm  Eileen Higgins

[Confessions Beforehand  from 7pm]

Sat 18th Dec 7pm Mass  Damien Kenny, Josephine & Brian Kenny

CLONFANLOUGH 

Sunday 12th Dec 10:30a.m. Kieran & Mary Daly & Tom Mannion [ Mass with our First Communicants also]

Sunday 19th Dec 10:30am People’s Intentions

OFFERTORY   Dec 4/5th  €426 Monthly €140

THANK YOU: Sincere thank you to all who continue to return weekly envelopes. I am most grateful  for your generosity, support and help.

DEATHS - Please pray for the repose of the souls of Jimmy Egan Cork (formerly Glebe) 

SAINTS THIS WEEK

Dec. 13th  St Lucy St Lucy was martyred in 304 in Sicily during a period of anti-Christian  persecution. St Lucy is the patron saint of sight. “O St Lucy, preserve the light of my eyes so that I may see  the beauties of creation, the glow of the sun, the colour of  the flowers and the smile of the children. Amen”

Dec. 14th   St John of the Cross (1542-1591) He was a poet and a man of prayer and a spiritual writer. He was  responsible for reforming the Carmelite religious order.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL COLLECTION There are envelopes at the church doors for anyone who would like to donate to the Local branch of St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal. You never know who is in need at this time of the year.  Your support is hugely appreciated

Envelopes for 2022 The boxes of envelopes for 2022 will be distributed shortly. If there are any updates, additions or omissions, please let us know. I’m very grateful to parishioners who take on this task of compiling and distributing the envelopes every year.

COVID & WORSHIP: as and from 4th December  For clarity following most recent updated Covid-19 guidance, Religious Services in Places of Worship are unchanged regarding capacity, with all other protective measures in place to ensure the safety of the congregation. —Likewise, there are no changes to attendance at funeral services; however, any post-funeral service gatherings must comply with hospitality rules including no multiple table bookings.

- With regard to wakes in private homes, general advice on household mixing is 3 other        households (4 in total) applies. 

World Mission Sunday - 24 October This year we will celebrate World Mission Sunday over the weekend of 24 October. Its theme ‘We Cannot Remain Silent - We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard (Acts 4 20)' is twofold. It is message of hope - Jesus Christ is risen and we cannot keep his love compassion and mercy to ourselves. It also challenges us to stand-up and speak on behalf of those whose voices are too small to be heard We all have the potential to be champions for those who are weaker For them we cannot remain silent All offerings and donations made for World Mission Sunday become part of the Holy Father's Universal Solidarity Fund. This Fund is essential not only for missionaries but for the future of the Church. It supports missionary activities in over 1,100 mission dioceses, mostly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. However, World Mission Sunday is far more than an appeal for financial help. Missionaries also need your spiritual support. On this universal celebration missionaries can take great strength in knowing that the faithful of the world are keeping them in their thoughts and prayers.

 

 Don’t keep Christ in Christmas.

Let him out.

Let him out of the box of decorations stored in the attic.

Let him out of prayers you only say at Midnight Mass.

Let him out of carols as background to your shopping.

Let him out of a sentimental story cleansed of violence and pain

Let him out of the creche, where he remains a helpless infant

… where the only woman present is silent and meek

… where poverty is romanticized with no threat and no smell

… and shepherds are cuddly and everyone is white

…and there is no messiness to obscure the miracle

Let him out of December’s candle-lit coziness

… where his heat melts the wintry ice of our selfishness

… and his buds unfold amidst the mud of injustice

… and his flowers overtake the borders of manicured gardens

… and his harvest fill barns with fruits we never knew existed

Don’t keep Christ in Christmas.

Let him out.

And then, when Christmas comes ’round again,

We won’t have to “keep him in it”,

For how could he not be “in Christmas” when he has been here, the whole time, keeping us? (Rev. Daniel Brereton)

 

CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT – KNOCK BASILICA: We are delighted to bring you our ‘Carols By  Candlelight’ performance from Knock Basilica, taking place on Sunday 19th December at 8pm. Lift your  spirits and spark the joy of Christmas with loved ones with ‘Carols by Candlelight’, performed against the  soft glow of candlelight in the breath-taking surrounds of Knock Basilica. Featuring the Schola Cantorum  Basilicae, the Knock Basilica Choir, together with the ConTempo String Quartet and Organist Mark Keane.  The carol service will be streamed live to the world on our website www.knockshrine.ie/watch-live It is not  necessary to book in order to attend the Carol Service, attendance will be on a first-come, first-served basis  with ushers present to assist.

 

 

 SHANNONBRIDGE GAA LOTTO DRAW   Dec 6th   2021 Numbers drawn on FB Live 11– 21-22-24 No winner, 6 Match 3Jackpot   €17,000 

CHRISTMAS AT CLONONY CASTLE - Santa Claus will be making a return visit to Clonony Castle on this Sun. 12th Dec. from 12 noon to 4pm, more sweets & treats for all!

CHARITABLE DONATIONS SCHEME -

By Monday/Tuesday letters should arrive to your home by post about this.  If you are a taxpayer and contribute €250 in any tax year to our parish then we can claim tax back on your donation. It makes your donation go further. Just fill in Name, PPS Number, Address, Phone Number and email if applicable on the form you received and send them back to me. . You can post forms, or via the Church Porch Box or drop them in to the Presbytery or to myself.   If you have any queries, please contact me (Fr. Tom Cox) 086– 8319500. Thanks

KEN SMOLLEN FOOD APPEAL

Helping Offaly Families

Drop off points in both Churches (Shannonbridge & Clonfanlough) from Saturday Dec. 18th to New Year (Breakfast Cereals, Tea, Sugar, Pasta & Pasta Sauce, Tins of Beans, Spaghetti hoops, Dessert Rice, packets of Soup, Boil-in-the-bag Rice, Biscuits, Treats for children)

SAVE THE DATE—”SANTA IN SHANNONBRIDGE “  Sun Dec 19th 4pm-6pm*
Covid compliant community event
Spot prizes for raffle would be appreciated,  drop off options;  Ger Heavin,  Pamela O'Duffy,  Miriam Hynes,  Noelle Daly,  Jacki Hennessey

SHANNONBRIDGE EXERCISE CLASSES  Wednesdays @ 7:30pm  €7 per class Pilates Class starting Thursday 11am  (€10)

ST. PAUL’S SUNDAY MISSAL 2022  available freely for Parish Readers. €5 Cost Price for anyone interested otherwise.

GOD’S WORD  2022 Giving the Readings for each Day & a Reflection. Cost price €12.50

 

 

  MINISTRIES  IN CHURCH              

 CHURCH CARE Marion McManus, . Slattery, A Corbett Clonfanlough:   Kathleen Norton,  Helen Darcy (Dec.) READER Dec 18th @ 7pm Ffionn Anderson. Dec 19th @ 10:30 Della Fitzgerald Eucharistic Minister Marie McManus (S/B), Dec 18th /Enda Molloy(C/f) 19th

Church Counters Shannonbridge (Dec.)

 

Digital Advent Calendar: Now in its eighth year, the popular interactive Advent calendar is available on www.catholicbishops.ie This year’s calendar theme focuses on the theme of ‘Hope’. Each day during Advent a virtual door can be opened on the calendar containing faith content, including an audio/video reflection

Bambinelli Sunday A tradition on Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, children are invited to bring their baby Jesus figures from their nativity crib to Mass next week to have them blessed by the priest. After the blessing, place the baby Jesus figure in a gift box and have it be the first gift your family opens on Christmas Day when together you place the baby Jesus figure in the crib. Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus, and raise our thoughts to him, who is God with us and Saviour of all, and who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Advent This is Gaudete Sunday. The  joy of the kingdom is anticipated. The signs of the kingdom  already come are given to the  messengers of John the Baptist and the prophet Isaiah. Patient waiting for fulfilment is our Christian duty. We should not  complain or give up heart. Joy,  prayer and thanksgiving should  characterise our Christian  community

CHRISTMAS MASSES Christmas Eve: Shannonbridge 5pm & 9pm;  Christmas Day: Clonfanlough 10:30am; Shannonbridge 12 noon St. Stephen’s Day: Clonfanlough 10:30am, Shannonbridge 12 Noon