Saturday, September 04, 2021

Clonmacnois Parish
September 5th 2021
23rd 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)


 
Starting afresh It will be hard going for the Church… It will make her poor and cause her to become the Church of the meek… But when the trial of this sifting is past, a great power will flow from a more spiritualised and simplified Church. Men in a totally planned world will find themselves unspeakably lonely. If they have completely lost sight of God, they will feel the whole horror of their poverty. Then they will discover the little flock of believers as something wholly new. They will discover it as a hope that is meant for them, an answer for which they have always been searching in secret. Pope Benedict
 23rd SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
‘He makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak’ Today Jesus encounters and heals a deaf man who also has an impediment in his speech. The Lord’s gesture reminds us that the gifts of hearing and speech are among God’s greatest gifts, and are closely connected. Many talk, but few actually listen. Research has found that we only listen at twenty five per cent of our capacity. If we do listen, it is most often with the intent to reply, not to understand. One of the most sincere forms of respect is to listen to what another has to say. The esteemed German theologian, Paul Tilich went so far as to say that ‘the first duty of love is to listen’. It is interesting to note that the words ‘listen’ and ‘silent’ are composed of the same letters! We would do well, then, to heed the wisdom of the Turkish proverb: ‘listen a thousand times and speak once’. In that way, we will be more likely to use the precious gift of speech to lift-up, not to tear down; to heal, not to wound; to help not to hurt. At a recent audience in Rome, Pope Francis concluded his remarks on the theme of listening with a beautiful prayer: ‘May the Lord give us the grace to discern when we should speak and when we should stay silent’.
 
MINISTRIES  IN CHURCH              
  CHURCH CARE   S’bridge Anne Ryan/Maureen Mitchell Clonfanlough: Anne McEvoy/ Eilish Egan (Sept)       READER Sept 11th @ 7pm Dympna O’Carroll Sept 12th@ 10:30 Ann Guinan
Church Counters  Clonfanlough  (September)
PATTERN SUNDAY Regrettably we are not as  yet in a position to have a Public Pattern on Sept 12th
SHANNONBRIDGE(15 seats/Max 50
 Sat 4th Sept 7:00p.m. Optional Memorial of St. Mac Nissi, Bishop
Mon 6th 7pm Mass Jim  Downey (4A)
Tues 7th Centenary of founding of Legion of Mary.
Wed 8th 10am Service
Shannonbridge ARA group outing to Knock…
Thurs 9th 10am Mass
Fri 10th Sept 10am
Sat 11th September   Eileen, Sonny & Dessie Keena
CLONFANLOUGH   (Max 50)
Sun 5th Sept 10:30am
[The annual diocesan pilgrimage to Knock will not take place this year due to the continuing restrictions. Bishop Duffy will celebrate Mass at Knock Shrine on Sunday 5th September 2021 at 3.00pm.  The Mass will be livestreamed at www.knockshrine.ie]
Sun 12th Sept 10:30am
 DEATHS: Please Pray for Monica Darcy USA, wife of the late Christopher Darcy (Recently Deceased)  USA & Shannonbridge
OFFERTORY August 29th 2021 €422.70  Online in August €145
SAINTS FOCUS
Sept.8 th Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Scripture does not give an account of Mary’s birth. The church has celebrated Mary’s birth since the sixth century. “She is the flower of the field from which bloomed the precious lily of the valley”
Sept. 9th St Ciaran St Ciaran was born in Roscommon around 512. He came to Clonmacnois in 545 where he founded a monastery which was to become one of the most renowned in Europe. He, along with St Mel is patron of our diocese.
 
Examination Results Congratulations to the girls & boys who got their exam results on Friday, after a difficult year. Best wishes as they plan their future courses in the days ahead
 
The Irish Catholic: The Irish Catholic newspaper is available each week in our parish from local Distributors. It costs €2.50.
Also the Sacred heart Messenger If you would like a copy, let me know to forward your details.
  
The Faith Café for Grandparents The Faith Café is an initiative of the Catholic Grandparents’ Association which was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic as a social and spiritual space 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 been a lifeline for so many people during this time of pandemic and has connected Grandparents across the world from Ireland to the USA, from the UK to Australia. 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.
BISHOP’S LETTER - The latest health advice from the Government, dated 31st August 2021, is that First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies may proceed from Monday 6th September. From that date the number of participants at religious ceremonies will be 50% of the church’s capacity. The number of guests at a wedding remains at 100 during September. As the vaccination programme for younger people continues, side by side with large numbers of infections, it is important to maintain the current high standard of safety in our churches. Social distancing, face coverings, hand sanitisers, one way systems, omitting the handshake as a sign of peace and communion on the hand, continue as protective factors. Francis Duffy, Bishop of Ardagh & Clonmacnois
MY OWN NOTE While we are not restricted to 50 people in the church from Sept 6th, we still are being asked to maintain social distancing of 2 metres. Given our size of Church in Shannonbridge & Clonfanlough-this will naturally limit numbers.  I am grateful for your continued cooperation and for the immense work that has been in place since March 2020 in sanitising and cleaning  our churches and to the  small group of ushers that have ensured we kept compliant with Health Protocols.  Oct 22nd is being signalled as the possible/probable date of lifting all remaining restrictions & a shift to taking more personal responsibility and judgement.  T. Cox
Up to 22nd October the following health & safety practices remain
-Wear a face mask (u12s don't have to do this)
-sanitise your hands at provided dispensers as you enter
-keep a 2m distance from others when seated in the Church (2m between individuals or family groups)
Ventilation is very important- please God it will be mild!
Sanitising after Mass (big thank you to parishioners)
We have come this far together and looked after one another, let us keep going and this through to the end.
 
SHANNONBRIDGE GAA LOTTO DRAW  30th August 2021 Numbers drawn on Facebook Live  7-8-13-22 No winner,  Five  Match 3  Jackpot now €14,200  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
 


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