Clonmacnois Parish

September 12th 2021

24th Sunday in OrdinaryTime(B)

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)

 

24th SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
‘Who do you say I am’?
Caesarea Philippi is situated twenty-five miles northeast of the Sea of Galilee. At the time of Jesus it was a significant centre of pagan worship and it was here that He chose to pose a searching question to His disciples and by extension, to His followers of every generation: ‘Who do you say I am’? In other words, do you really know me, and does it show in your life? Many know about Jesus, but few actually know him. It is one of the great tragedies of our time that many have walked away from their faith without ever having encountered the Person at the centre of it all. And all the while, He stands, waiting to be found. English painter William Holman Hunt captured this truth beautifully in his evocative work ‘The Light of the World’ where Jesus is depicted with lantern in hand knocking on a closed door. The message is clear. He can only enter our house if we allow Him in. It begins in little ways. Dutch artist Vincent Van Gough, a contemporary of Hunt, once said that ‘the best way to know God is to love many things’. It is certainly true that, if we begin to see Him in little things, we will come to see Him in all things. He will make His home with us, and we will live in such a way that those who know us, but don’t know Him, will come to know Him because they know us
 
OPEN DAY at the Orthodox Monastery of the Life-giving Spring Ard Ciaran, Shannonbridge  Sr. Iosifie & Sr. Nimfordora would like to invite you to their Open Day on  Saturday 18th September 2021 from 2-5pm.(14:00 to 17:00 hours). Just to drop in, pass bay, have a cup of tea or a chat, or stroll on the gr ounds. If Saturday doesn't suit you, call some other time. Queries to Sr. Iosifia at 089 4831802
RECENT DEATHS  Joe Boyce (Ballynacargy, Westmeath) father of Claire (formerly Killeens Pub)  Sonny (Joseph) Keenaghan Ferbane, father of Deirdre Keenaghan, Shannonbridge
MARION HIGGINS (nee Donegan) Shannonbridge & UK. The Ashes of Marion, sister of Olive and Martin who died  June 2020 will be interred in Clonmacnois on Sat 18th Sept at 2pm. All welcome, please follow Public Health Guidelines
MINISTRIES  IN CHURCH              
 CHURCH CARE   S’bridge Martha Murphy/Marie McManus Clonfanlough: Anne McEvoy/ Eilish Egan (Sept)       READER Sept 18th @ 7pm Ffionn Anderson Sept 19th@ 10:30 Kathleen Guinan
Church Counters  Clonfanlough  (September)
 
SHANNONBRIDGE(50% Capacity)
Sat 11th September   Eileen, Sonny & Dessie Keena
Mon 13th Sept 9:30am St John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor of the church
Tues 14th Sept 10am Triumph of Cross
Wed 15th Sept 10am O.L. of Sorrorw
Thurs 16th Sept 10am Service Ss Cornelius, pope, and Cyprian, bishops, martyrs
Fri 17th Sept 8p.m. Teresa Rocke & Deceased Family Members  
Optional Memorial of St. Robert Bellarmine, bishop and doctor of the church
Sat 18th
 
CLONFANLOUGH  (50% Capacity)
Sun 12th Sept 10:30am
Fri 17th 7p.m. Larry & Brigid Rohan
Sun 18th Sept 10:30am
 
OFFERTORY September 5th 2021 €575
Baptism: We welcomed into the Christian Community Liam Davis Kelly  son of Hilary & Aidan Kelly (New York), who was baptised in our parish  last weekend.
SAINTS FOCUS
Tues 14th Sept Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross celebrated on Tues. 14th Sept. We remember the redemption that Jesus won for us by His Cross and Resurrection. Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi – “We adore you, O Christ, and We praise you. Because by Your Holy Cross, You have redeemed the World”.
Wed 15th Sept Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows Prayer to Our Lady of Sorrows  Our mother of sorrows, with strength from above you stood by the cross, sharing in the sufferings of Jesus, and with tender care you bore him in your arms, mourning and weeping. We praise you for your faith, which accepted the life God planned for you. We praise you for your hope, which trusted that God would do great things in you. We praise you for your love in bearing with Jesus the sorrows of his passion. Holy Mary, may we follow your example, and stand by all your children who need comfort and love. Mother of God, stand by us in our trials and care for us in our many needs. Pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
 
 
 
SHANNONBRIDGE GAA LOTTO DRAW  6th Sept 2021 Numbers drawn on Facebook Live  7-14-26-31 No winner,  Four Match 3  Jackpot now €14,400  Lotto can be played online also at clubforce
NEED TO UPSKILL?
FREE COURSES available in September at Athlone VTOS if you are over 21 and receipt of a DEASP payment for more than 6 months. We offer Art, Business and Computer Programming courses at Athlone Training Centre, Garrycastle, with excellent up to date facilities. Hybrid courses may be also available with a mixture of online and in class delivery. Ring Maria on 086 8522795 or email mryan@lwetb.ie "
WEST OFFALY TRAINING - Are commencing a Training Delivery and Evaluation Course, QQI Level 6 on Tues. 14th September. More About Autism Course starting Wed. 22nd Sept. Study Skills for Students for 5 Monday evenings from 6-8pm. For all details of the above courses please contact Josephine, West Offaly Training, Banagher 057 91 52003 josephine@ westoffalytraining.com.
GUIDED PILGRIMAGES ON THE LOUGH DERG PILGRIM PATH - Will be offered on Sunday 12th, Wednesday 15th, Saturday 18th, Sunday 26th September and Sunday 3rd October, with Mass outdoors, weather permitting. The full route is a 12km loop, with a shorter 8km option. Advance booking is essential. For further information email info@loughderg.org or telephone 00353 71 9861518. www.loughderg.org. Lough Derg Pilgrim Path, Pettigo, Co. Donegal, F94 N289
Accord Ballinasloe Going through a difficult time in your relationship? Maybe we can help…ACCORD Ballinasloe is open for face-to-face counselling in a safe environment. For more information call 09096 43573 or 086 4149033 or email accordballinasloe@gmail.com
ANAM CARA - Would like to invite yo to join us for an online Bereavement Information and Support Evening taking place on Thurs. 16th September at 7pm. This event will give you an opportunity to hear a bereavement professional talk about the difficult challenges and many milestones grieving a child of any age has on you and your family. If you would like to join us please register here https://bit.ly/3Dzyphc or contact us on info@anamcara.ie or 085 288 8888
Interested in working in Retail, Tourism or the Hospitality sector? Then this is the course for you! Retail Sales & Skills course commencing Sept. 27th in Banagher Further Education & Training Centre. For further info. contact Linda Hogan or Aoife Kelly phone 087 7385989 or lhogan@offalyldc.ie akelly@offalyldc.ie
A TIME OF HOPE  The latest health advice from the Government has relaxed restriction on Church attendance for Mass from 50 people to half the capacity of our church bearing in mind the need for social distancing. This is regardless of vaccination status and of course good cough etiquette, use of hand sanitiser and only if not showing symptoms.   In one sense “half capacity”  means 90 people for instance in Shannonbridge, (15 seats with 6 per seat) but of course this will vary if it’s a family, a couple or an individual who require a place.
-Face covering is still a  requirement (bar medical exemption and u12s)
You are still welcome to join us for Mass from the car park.
Mass will continue for the moment to be broadcast on the Facebook feed. for you who join us from your home.
 We are always conscious of your prayer and presence with us. As we begin to see a light of hope at the end of a dark tunnel, I ask for your patience and understanding . It has been a long hard road for many of you. I thank for your support, your sacrifice, your prayer and your generosity over the last 18 months. I will never forget the support and help of so many of you . Thank you again. (t.c.)
PRAYER AT CHURCH DOOR: “May the door of this be wide enough to receive all who hunger for love, all who are lonely for fellowship. May it welcome all who have cares to unburden, thanks to express, hopes to nurture. May the doors of this Church be narrow enough to shut out pettiness and pride, envy and enmity. May this sanctuary welcome all who seek serenity, renewal and truth, may it be, for all of us, the gateway to a richer and more meaningful life.” (Dr. Murray Watson).
PRAYER: Season of Creation (runs to October 1st) : Loving Father. Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world, and not prey on it .that we may sow beauty not pollution and destruction. Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Burren Weekend Retreat 24-26 September Would you like to come on a guided journey through the Burren? Experience the silence and beauty of this unique landscape through walking mindfully on ancient pathways or limestone pavements. Get to know some of the rare flora and appreciate our rich faith heritage in one of the many ancient sacred sites. Further information, contact Noirin 087 9459151 or Mary 087 9701130
The Faith Café for Grandparents :The Faith Café is an initiative of the Catholic Grandparents’ Association for Grandparents to meet online once a month to chat, to offer prayers and intentions and to just be together in the spirit of faith. It has be The next Faith Café will be on Tuesday 14th September from 7.30pm to 8.30pm and the speaker is Fr Richard Gibbons PP and Rector of Knock Shrine. Register for the Faith Café by email to info@catholicgrandparentsassociation.com. Once you register for the Faith Café, you will receive the details of how to connect in for the gathering on Zoom. We look forward to welcoming you to the Faith Café