Saturday, March 06, 2021

 Clonmacnois Parish
March 7th 2021
Third Sunday of Lent


Fr. Tom Cox (Adm) Tel. 090 9674125/  0868319500 
Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com
     WEB  shannonbridge.blogspot.ie
FACEBOOK https://fb.me/saintciarans
 
St. Patrick’s Day Novena.
St. Patrick’s Day is ten days away, the anniversary of Lockdown as I write, “a Novena Time”. It was this time last year (March 12th)  our Churches closed….. all changed, changed utterly. “The normal” became “A new normal”, a changed normal for everyone, everywhere and at every age. Patrick is the Patron of our Country. In the recent past St. Patrick’s Day has become “Paddy's Day”, a day of secular celebration and sadly at times a day of excess alcohol consumption. It had become a day that had lost its roots of faith and hope, the faith of our fathers and our mothers. Patrick was a real person. He was strong, humble, brave and prayerful. He had a passionate love for the Irish people. His Breastplate Prayer is a powerful prayer of protection.
 Christ be with me
Christ be beside me
Christ be before me
Christ be behind me.
Christ be at my right hand.
Christ be at my left hand.
Christ be with me everywhere I Go.
Christ be my friend for ever and ever . Amen.
This year let us turn again to Patrick and rediscover his faith, friendship and protection for all of our land and for all of our people who are far away. This week I invite you to do two things. I ask you to pray St. Patrick’s Breastplate printed above as a prayer of novena during the coming days. In the Lenten Pack (still some in Churches) there is a St. Patrick’s Day Card. Use it or get more to write to your friends, neighbours or family abroad or to peoples  in Nursing Homes (post free even-see details below!)  and Hospitals and people who have not been home in ages.
We will also place a book in the Church for the coming week. I invite you to write the names of family or friends living abroad this St. Patrick’s Day, writing the name of the country where they are. We will place their names on the Altar for our Mass on St. Patrick’s Day in order to remember them in a prayer of peace and protection, the prayer of Patrick for them.
 
AN POST CARE HOMES COMMUNITY FOCUS
An Post will ensure free delivery of all card and letter mail posted to and from residents of Nursing and Care homes in the State until March 31st 2021.
By writing FREEPOST where the stamp would normally be affixed, An Post will carry cards, letters large envelopes and packets weighing up to 2KG without a postage stamp.
Customers can send these items through the Post Office network and post boxes across Ireland.
  
Customers can send these items through the Post Office network and post boxes across Ireland.
  ALL MASSES ONLINE—LEVEL 5
Sat March 6th 7:00p.m. Mary, John & Francis Smyth (Anniv.)
Sun March 7th 10:30a.m. John Joe Maleney (Anniv.)
Mon March 8th  10am Mass
 St John of God (1495-1550) He devoted his life to the care of the poor and the sick. Seeing the good he was doing many people began to back him with money and provisions. The utter humility of John of God, which led to a total selfless dedication to others, is most impressive.
Tues March 9th 7p.m. Maureen Rock
 St Frances of Rome (1348-1440) Born of wealthy parents, Francis found herself attracted to the religious life during her youth. She longed for a life style of prayer and service to the poor of the city, so while raising a family, she organized a group of women to minister to the needs of the poor.
Wed March 10th  10a.m. Mass James & Ellen Crowe (Clongowney)
Thurs March 11th  10a.m. Mass
Fri March 12th 10a.m. Mass
Sat March 13th 7p.m.  Anniv. Tom & Bina Nugent
Sun March 14th 10:30a.m. Peoples Intention
ADORATION Shannonbridge 12-6p.m.
****** 
RECENT DEATHS  Brendan Dee (Ahascragh & Shannonbridge) 2./3/21
 OFFERTORY Feb. 28  €747
Feb. Shrine €560  Feb. Monthly €505  Shrove Dues Envelopes   €1,680 
CHURCH COLLECTIONS We are extremely grateful and greatly appreciate your generosity in these challenging times. Thanks to Moran’s Gala Fergal & Linda Moran  and staff for kindly facilitating the collection of the envelopes.Other Options include
-Presbytery Letterbox
-Clonfanlough Box Sunday 10:30-12:15 at pier.
ALSO Clonfanlough Church Porch Box There is now  a secure box in the Church Porch in Clonfanlough for ease of submitting Parish Envelopes any time. It’s just inside the front door to the left.
Bank Transfer (Do give your Box No. or name in bank narrative)   Name of Account Clonmacnois Parochial Account.
BIC-BOFIIE2DXXX    
IBAN-IE90BOFI90368011629381
 
 A SHORT LENTEN PRAYER .....
May there be peace within you today. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you embrace endless possibilities that will always come your way. May you use the gifts that you have received and pass on the love given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God.
May you feel unburdened, free and energised by a sense of God in your life. May you know that it's ok not to have it all worked out and that God will also help you work it out too!
May you treasure this day as a precious gift and be open to some surprise along the way. May you finish today with a sense of gratitude, knowing you have done your best and that no more is asked of you. Amen
STAY STRONG When things get hard, have strong roots. Do not let rough times beat you down. Stress is just temporary, like a winter and wind are for a tree. It goes away after sometime. In the end, all will be well. Stay strong, stand tall and keep on being the amazing person you are.
GROW IN LOVE” SERIES ONLINE Just to let you know that the Religious Education programme is available freely online during the Covid—19 lockdown by Veritas. Simply login on www.growinlove.ie website with these details: Email: trial@growinlove.ie Password: growinlove
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
"Stop turning my Father's house into a market"
When Jesus shows anger, we should take notice. What gave rise to His deep anger in this  episode in the Temple? Firstly, ordinary people coming as pilgrims for the Feast of  Passover were being exploited by the moneychangers. Secondly, the trading in the Court of the Gentiles was preventing these people from finding a space to worship in what should
be a House of Prayer for all people. In all of this, the House of God was being disrespected greatly. In Old Testament Times, God always had a designated
place in which to meet His people from Abraham a Bethel to Moses at the burning bush to  Solomon in his temple. The meeting place within garden as people was always holy ground. It still is. While it is true that God can be in the "book of creation" and
in the faces of people, we should have a heightened sense of awareness, reverence,  dignity and respect for His special presence in His house. It’s beannaithe Tigh Dé. 
“The House of God is not a place where people meet in a trivial spirit of  festivity. There should be religious awe in being face to face with God" (Cardinal Robert Sarah).  When Jesus shows anger we need to take notice.
 
 TROCAIRE BOXES
Trocaire boxes available in all Churches and Post Offices.  You can donate to Trocaire in the following ways- (1) Donate securely online to: www.trocaire.org (2) Return your box or envelope to your church or parochial house. (3) Give by Callsave to: 1850 408 408 (4) Post your donation by return envelope to: Trocaire, Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
KNOCK LENTEN CONVERSATIONS  Baroness Nuala O'Loan, Senator Ronan Mullen discuss their own faith, how it informs their public service and the challenges people of faith encounter in the public sphere today. www.knockshrine.ie/watch-live or on Facebook @knockshrine
DOG FOULING IN CEMETERY I have received concerned comments from parishioners upset at encountering dog fouling/urinating  in Clonmacnois Cemetery. I realise that more people are visiting cemeteries in our present circumstances– but we need to remember it’s a shared space and sacred to our memory of our deceased family members. People are understandably sensitive to this. Thanks to some locals for bringing away grave materials dumped (no other word fits it is dumping) there. There are bags of clay and stones abandoned which is unfair as there is no agency to collect them.  I must check now for remaining Christmas holly wreaths before the Easter Lilies arrive!! 
MOTHERS DAY 14th March  I have ordered some items for our young friends in the parish to get “crafty” (literally) for Mother’s Day.. I’m just hoping they arrive in time in the post!     
COVID 19 SUPPORT LINE  ALONE is the name of a support line for older people who have concerns relating to the virus Covid 19. Professional staff are available to answer queries, and give advice and reassurance when necessary. This service is open 7 days a week, 8.00am to 8.00pm. Phone 0818222024.
 SHANNONBRIDGE GAA  Lotto Results March 1st 2021 19-22-26-28 No Jackpot Winner. Two Match 3  Next Weeks Jackpot is €8,800. Draw on FB
Mobile Foot Health Service - House Calls Contact Maura  086-8053671 to arrange an appointment.      
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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