Clonmacnois Parish
December 12th 2021
Third 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/tomas.macconchoille (Live)
https://fb.me/saintciarans (saved to it afterwards)
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Rejoice the Lord is near.’
This is ‘Gaudete’ Sunday. The Latin word means ‘rejoice’. We light the pink candle on the advent wreath today to remind us that, while this is a season of quiet reflection it is also a time to be joyful. There is good news in the air. The Lord is near. Joy is something deep and lasting. It is totally different from pleasure. It can co-exist with suffering and struggle. We have only to consider the scene in Bethlehem to grasp the truth of this statement. Despite the dire surroundings, real joy filled the lowly stable. Joy is the most certain sign of the presence of God within us. John the Baptist tells us today that this joy is nourished most powerfully, when we reach out generously in the service of others. ‘If anyone has two tunics he must share with the man who has none’. The key to joy, then, is service. ‘The secret of joy is living to serve.’ (Pope Francis). Those who are happiest are those who do most for their brothers and sisters. Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud this Christmas, and experience true joy.
Sat 11th Dec 7pm Kieran & Mary Ann & Brian Flannery
Mon. 13th 10am Mass Rose & Jim Coakley; Leo Coakley & Dan Egan
Tues 14th 10am Service
Wed 15th Dec 10am Mass
Thurs 16th Dec 10am Mass
Fri 17th Dec Mass 8pm Eileen Higgins
[Confessions Beforehand from 7pm]
Sat 18th Dec 7pm Mass Damien Kenny, Josephine & Brian Kenny
CLONFANLOUGH
Sunday 12th Dec 10:30a.m. Kieran & Mary Daly & Tom Mannion [ Mass with our First Communicants also]
Sunday 19th Dec 10:30am People’s Intentions
OFFERTORY Dec 4/5th €426 Monthly €140
THANK YOU: Sincere thank you to all who continue to return weekly envelopes. I am most grateful for your generosity, support and help.
DEATHS - Please pray for the repose of the souls of Jimmy Egan Cork (formerly Glebe)
SAINTS THIS WEEK
Dec. 13th St Lucy St Lucy was martyred in 304 in Sicily during a period of anti-Christian persecution. St Lucy is the patron saint of sight. “O St Lucy, preserve the light of my eyes so that I may see the beauties of creation, the glow of the sun, the colour of the flowers and the smile of the children. Amen”
Dec. 14th St John of the Cross (1542-1591) He was a poet and a man of prayer and a spiritual writer. He was responsible for reforming the Carmelite religious order.
ST. VINCENT DE PAUL COLLECTION There are envelopes at the church doors for anyone who would like to donate to the Local branch of St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeal. You never know who is in need at this time of the year. Your support is hugely appreciated
Envelopes for 2022 The boxes of envelopes for 2022 will be distributed shortly. If there are any updates, additions or omissions, please let us know. I’m very grateful to parishioners who take on this task of compiling and distributing the envelopes every year.
COVID & WORSHIP: as and from 4th December For clarity following most recent updated Covid-19 guidance, Religious Services in Places of Worship are unchanged regarding capacity, with all other protective measures in place to ensure the safety of the congregation. —Likewise, there are no changes to attendance at funeral services; however, any post-funeral service gatherings must comply with hospitality rules including no multiple table bookings.
- With regard to wakes in private homes, general advice on household mixing is 3 other households (4 in total) applies.
World Mission Sunday - 24 October This year we will celebrate World Mission Sunday over the weekend of 24 October. Its theme ‘We Cannot Remain Silent - We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard (Acts 4 20)' is twofold. It is message of hope - Jesus Christ is risen and we cannot keep his love compassion and mercy to ourselves. It also challenges us to stand-up and speak on behalf of those whose voices are too small to be heard We all have the potential to be champions for those who are weaker For them we cannot remain silent All offerings and donations made for World Mission Sunday become part of the Holy Father's Universal Solidarity Fund. This Fund is essential not only for missionaries but for the future of the Church. It supports missionary activities in over 1,100 mission dioceses, mostly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. However, World Mission Sunday is far more than an appeal for financial help. Missionaries also need your spiritual support. On this universal celebration missionaries can take great strength in knowing that the faithful of the world are keeping them in their thoughts and prayers.
Let him out.
Let him out of the box of decorations stored in the attic.
Let him out of prayers you only say at Midnight Mass.
Let him out of carols as background to your shopping.
Let him out of a sentimental story cleansed of violence and pain
Let him out of the creche, where he remains a helpless infant
… where the only woman present is silent and meek
… where poverty is romanticized with no threat and no smell
… and shepherds are cuddly and everyone is white
…and there is no messiness to obscure the miracle
Let him out of December’s candle-lit coziness
… where his heat melts the wintry ice of our selfishness
… and his buds unfold amidst the mud of injustice
… and his flowers overtake the borders of manicured gardens
… and his harvest fill barns with fruits we never knew existed
Don’t keep Christ in Christmas.
Let him out.
And then, when Christmas comes ’round again,
We won’t have to “keep him in it”,
For how could he not be “in Christmas” when he has been here, the whole time, keeping us? (Rev. Daniel Brereton)
CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT – KNOCK BASILICA: We are delighted to bring you our ‘Carols By Candlelight’ performance from Knock Basilica, taking place on Sunday 19th December at 8pm. Lift your spirits and spark the joy of Christmas with loved ones with ‘Carols by Candlelight’, performed against the soft glow of candlelight in the breath-taking surrounds of Knock Basilica. Featuring the Schola Cantorum Basilicae, the Knock Basilica Choir, together with the ConTempo String Quartet and Organist Mark Keane. The carol service will be streamed live to the world on our website www.knockshrine.ie/watch-live It is not necessary to book in order to attend the Carol Service, attendance will be on a first-come, first-served basis with ushers present to assist.
CHRISTMAS AT CLONONY CASTLE - Santa Claus will be making a return visit to Clonony Castle on this Sun. 12th Dec. from 12 noon to 4pm, more sweets & treats for all!
CHARITABLE DONATIONS SCHEME -
By Monday/Tuesday letters should arrive to your home by post about this. If you are a taxpayer and contribute €250 in any tax year to our parish then we can claim tax back on your donation. It makes your donation go further. Just fill in Name, PPS Number, Address, Phone Number and email if applicable on the form you received and send them back to me. . You can post forms, or via the Church Porch Box or drop them in to the Presbytery or to myself. If you have any queries, please contact me (Fr. Tom Cox) 086– 8319500. Thanks
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)
SAVE THE DATE—”SANTA IN SHANNONBRIDGE “ Sun Dec 19th 4pm-6pm*
Covid compliant community event
Spot prizes for raffle would be appreciated, drop off options; Ger Heavin, Pamela O'Duffy, Miriam Hynes, Noelle Daly, Jacki Hennessey
SHANNONBRIDGE EXERCISE CLASSES Wednesdays @ 7:30pm €7 per class Pilates Class starting Thursday 11am (€10)
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
CHURCH CARE Marion McManus, . Slattery, A Corbett Clonfanlough: Kathleen Norton, Helen Darcy (Dec.) READER Dec 18th @ 7pm Ffionn Anderson. Dec 19th @ 10:30 Della Fitzgerald Eucharistic Minister Marie McManus (S/B), Dec 18th /Enda Molloy(C/f) 19th
Church Counters Shannonbridge (Dec.)
Digital Advent Calendar: Now in its eighth year, the popular interactive Advent calendar is available on www.catholicbishops.ie This year’s calendar theme focuses on the theme of ‘Hope’. Each day during Advent a virtual door can be opened on the calendar containing faith content, including an audio/video reflection
Bambinelli Sunday A tradition on Gaudete Sunday, the third Sunday of Advent, children are invited to bring their baby Jesus figures from their nativity crib to Mass next week to have them blessed by the priest. After the blessing, place the baby Jesus figure in a gift box and have it be the first gift your family opens on Christmas Day when together you place the baby Jesus figure in the crib. Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus, and raise our thoughts to him, who is God with us and Saviour of all, and who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
Advent This is Gaudete Sunday. The joy of the kingdom is anticipated. The signs of the kingdom already come are given to the messengers of John the Baptist and the prophet Isaiah. Patient waiting for fulfilment is our Christian duty. We should not complain or give up heart. Joy, prayer and thanksgiving should characterise our Christian community
CHRISTMAS MASSES Christmas Eve: Shannonbridge 5pm & 9pm; Christmas Day: Clonfanlough 10:30am; Shannonbridge 12 noon St. Stephen’s Day: Clonfanlough 10:30am, Shannonbridge 12 Noon
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