Clonmacnois Parish

January 31st 2021

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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

Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com

     WEB  shannonbridge.blogspot.ie

FACEBOOK https://fb.me/saintciarans

FOURTH  SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
‘There was a man possessed by an unclean spirit’
In the first chapter of St. Mark’s Gospel we are given an insight into a day in the life of Jesus as He moves from prayer to active ministry. We find Him teaching in the synagogue, visiting the home of Peter, healing those who were sick and finally, praying in the wilderness. On entering the synagogue He is confronted by a man possessed by an unclean spirit. It is His first encounter with the Kingdom of Darkness and marks the beginning of a ferocious battle that will continue from Capernaum to Calvary. Good and evil are very hard to explain or understand. What we do know is that each of us is a mixture of both. ‘The battle line between good and evil runs through the heart of every person’ (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn). The struggle is essentially an internal one. Consequently, we should make it our constant care to nourish our hearts with all that is good, beautiful, noble and worthwhile so that the light may triumph over the darkness. The greatest threat to our efforts occurs when the lines become blurred, when the unacceptable is seen as acceptable, the indefensible as defensible, the inappropriate as appropriate. This blurring of lines is sadly, a hallmark of our increasingly secular world. To see evil and call it good, mocks God. To see the good and choose the good, gives Him glory.
 ALL MASSES ONLINE—LEVEL 5
Sat 30th (St. Aidan of Ferns)
Vigil 7:00p.m. Anniv. Tommy, Geraldine & Simon McManus
Sunday  31st 10:30a.m. 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time  Patrick (Paddy) Dolan Glebe, Belmont , his parents & dec’d family members.
[You could leave a cloth outside for Brigid’s blessing tonight..an old tradition. Bratach Bríd ]
Mon. 1st Feb 10am- Feast of St. Brigid.
Anniv Mai (31st A) & Sean Hamell
If you wish you may make a St. Brigid’s cross and at the 10.00 am Mass I will say a prayer of blessing over all the crosses that have been made and are in the homes of the Parish. 
Tues 2nd Feb. 10am  & 7p.m- Candlemas Day:Today is the feast of the presentation of Jesus in the temple. Normally people bring candles to the church for blessing. This year, you may have the candles in your home and I will say a prayer of blessing over the candles at 10.00  or streamed online from Shannonbridge Church at 7pm for Candles left
Wed 3rd Feb. 10am Feast of St. Blaise:
Thurs 4th Feb. 10am Peoples Intention
Fri. 5th Feb. 10am
Sat 6th Feb  7:00p.m. Edel Anderson
Sunday 7th February (St. Mel’s Day)
10:30a.m.  Anniv Padraig Devery (Clonlyon)
RECENT  DEATHS  John (Jack) Carry (Ballinasloe/Roscrea) uncle of Joe Kenny & Charlie Carry (St. Kieran's Park)
 OFFERTORY Jan 24th €480  Jan Shrine €320 Jan Monthly €845
. CHURCH COLLECTIONS via …
Moran’s Shop I am indebted to Fergal & Linda Moran of Moran’s Gala shop & Post Office who continue to offer a drop in facility.
-Presbytery Letterbox
-Clonfanlough Box Sunday 10:30-12:15 at pier
Bank Transfer  There is the option of Electronic Transfer  which some have chosen to use. I just leave the details below and a request that you put your name or box number in the reference section. Instructions below.Name of Account Clonmacnois Parochial Account.
BIC-BOFIIE2DXXX    
IBAN-IE90BOFI90368011629381
 1st February, St Brigid’s Day.
Weaver God, accept the offering of ourselves, of our separate strands, to be woven in and out, over, under and through. Grant us eyes to see the whole, of which we are a part, to see the tapestry you weave, calling us beyond our aloneness and security, to be surprised by miracles. Help us to perceive that it is out of parts that we weave a whole.
May Brigid bless us, possess us, caress us, with her ever faithful love. May Brigid hold us, enfold us, console us, with her ever faithful love.
A Naomh Bríd, a Mhuire na nGael, scar orainn do bhrat. A Naomh Bríd, a chroí na féile, stiúir sinn ar an mbóthar ceart. A Naomh Bríd, gheanúil ghrástúil, ar ár namhaid cosain sinn.  A Naomh Bríd, a bhean rialta álainn, ar uair ár mbáis glaoigh orainn.
 
 SEEKING OLD PHOTOGRAPHS -  Brosna Press are seeking old black and white photographs for inclusion in a forthcoming book of photographs from the early 1900s up to the 1960s. The photo can be of any subject, depicting life in West Offaly from the turn of the century onwards. Photographs will be carefully scanned and promptly returned to their owner.  If you have access to a scanner you can upload your photo at brosnapress.ie. All photographs to be supplied with captions. We are particularly interested in photos from Shannonbridge, Clonfanlough and Clonmacnoise. Call 090 6454327 Email diarmuid@brosnapress.ie  for more information.
 
SHANNONBRIDGE GAA  Lotto Results 25th Jan 2021  1-8-20-31  No match three’s and no jackpot winner  Next weeks jackpot is a whopping €7,600!
PTAA - TEMPERANCE SUNDAY falls this year on Valentine’s Day, 14th Feb. Parents with young children could make another pledge of love & give up alcohol for the 6 weeks of Lent.
 
FEBRUARY  St Brigid’s month, the beginning of Spring, month of the lambs, month of three kinds of weather: rain wind and snow . The gloomy days of Winter are over. This is the time of year when the plants thrive and grow and already the snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils are above ground.  Lord, be with us during the month of February and may we praise and glorify you forever. Amen
 
POPE’S INTENTION for this month is: We pray for women who are victims of violence, that they may be protected by society and have their sufferings considered and heeded.
MISSING DOG A 3 year old Rough Collie since Sunday, Jan 24th around midday in Clonmacnois. Family pet, dark brown with some white and black features. He is very friendly and is microchipped. Contact 087 1388344 if you have any information
CEMETERY & HOLLY WREATHS Every year we have an annual ritual of  January dumping these items at the walls or worse into the next field. Could I plead with you to please bring  all items to discard from plots home with you.
A THOUGHT  Each day I am thankful for Nights that turned into Mornings, Friends that turned into Family, Dreams that turned into Reality and Likes that turned into Love.
 
 Monday 1st Feb is the Feast of St. Brigid and the first day of Spring. May the mantle of Brigit's loving care stretch over and protect our people these dark and anxious days. We place all who are in Hospital and in our Nursing Homes and all who care and protect them in the care of St. Brigid. May she weave a cross of blessings by their bedside as she did long age.
Tuesday 2nd Feb is Feast of the Presentation of the Lord  (Candlemas Day). The official end of Christmas Season on this 40th Day.. On this day we celebrate the gift that is Religious Life.
We remember all from our Parish who entered religious life and who by the witness of their life proclaimed the Gospel message.  
Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. At this Mass all of your candles will be blessed. You may wish to leave your wrapped/labelled candles spaced apart on the steps of the Sanctuary . I can also bless the candles you have in your home via the Webcam at Mass .
Blessing of Candles: O God, true light, who create light eternal, spreading it far and wide, pour, we pray, into the hearts of the faithful the brilliance of perpetual light, so that all who are brightened in your holy temple by the splendour of these candles may happily reach the light of your glory. Through Christ our Lord.
 A Prayer to St. Brigid, Feast – 1st February
Brigid: You were a woman of peace,
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness.
You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace
cover those who are troubled and anxious,
and may peace be firmly rooted
in our hearts and in our world.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.  Brigid you were a voice for the wounded and the weary. Strengthen what is weak within us.  Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens. May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body & spiritAMEN
St. Brigid’s Blessing
May Brigid bless the house where you
dwell. Bless every fireside every wall and door.
Bless every heart that beats beneath its roof. Bless every hand that toils to bring it joy.
Bless every foot that walks its portals
through. May Brigid bless the house that shelters you.
A Prayer to St. Blaise  Feast – 3rd February
Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may the Lord deliver you/me/us from all ailments of the throat and from every other sickness, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.