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.