Clonmacnois Parish

February 20th 2022

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time(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)

 
 SEVENTH  SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME
‘Love your enemies’
The desire for revenge is a built-in feature of human nature. Our natural instinct is to strike back in response to some perceived harm or wrongdoing by another party, to give as good as we get, to ‘get even’, but Jesus offers us a different approach when He says: ‘Love your enemies’. It’s probably the most difficult command He gave us. It goes against the grain and challenges conventional wisdom. It calls us to turn away from the path of revenge, which is ugly, dark, dreary and self-destructive. ‘If you seek revenge you should dig two graves, one for yourself’ (Confucius). Hate has caused many problems in the world, but it has not solved one yet. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. The great 16th century Spanish Carmelite mystic St. John of the Cross caught the beauty of the Lord’s teaching when he said: ‘Where there is no love pour in love and you will draw-out love’. It’s not easy to pardon the unpardonable, to love the unloveable. Christian love hurts, but the rewards are out of this world!
 
  SHANNONBRIDGE
Sat. 19th Feb 7pm Tommy, Geraldine & Simon McManus
Mon 21st Feb 9:00am
Tues 22nd Feb  10am Service
Wed 23rd 10am  Mass St Polycarp, Bishop and Martyr (Memorial)
Thurs 24th 7:00p.m  Mass James Harrington & dec’d family members
Fri 25th 10:00a.m. Booked Intention International Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Sexual Abuse
Sat 26th Feb  7pm Vigil Mass of Sunday
CLONFANLOUGH  
Sun. 20th Feb 10:30  Ciarán (Harry) Kearns (M/M)
Sun 27th 10:30am  Sarah Darcy (M/M)
 
CLUAIN CHIARAIN
Wednesday 23rd Feb 2022 7:30pm
(please note no Mass in Cluain Chiarain Ash Wednesday March 2nd)
 
RECENT DEATH - Mary (Sis) Gunning, Clonlyon Belmont
OFFERTORY  February 13th €790 TRÓCAIRE LENTEN CAMPAIGN - Trócaire boxes available for collection.
REOPENING IN CHURCH
From our last opening on May 10th 2021 we adopted a practice of concluding Mass and then having Holy Communion. The reason was to facilitate a 1 way movement of people to receive and exit the Churches. With narrow aisles and no wall aisle in Clonfanlough– this helped social distancing. We plan to lift this as of Lent 2022 March 2nd.
Measures like suspending Sign of Peace & Holy Water Fonts are still retained
FEAST DAYS
Feb:21st St Peter Damien (1007-1072) He was a hermit and later became Cardinal Bishop of Ostia (Italy).
Feb: 22nd The Chair of Peter (Apostle) This ancient feast relates to the Roman custom at this time of the year of remembering the ancestors of the family, those who presided over the family fortunes. The feast celebrates Peter as bishop of Rome and the focus of unity in the communion of one faith
 DESTINATION SHANNONBRIDGE: COMMUNITY CONVERSATION: Thursday 24th February 2022 at 7pm, Community Centre, Shannonbridge  As you may be aware, Shannonbridge Action Group has been working with a broad range of people both within and beyond Shannonbridge to develop the potential of the area.
Shannonbridge contains a wealth of natural and cultural heritage assets, is strategically located in terms of the opportunities now being taken forward to develop the wider visitor destination and is already establishing itself as a key hub in a network of greenway and blueway routes. A core aspect of the Shannonbridge Destination Development Plan, recently commissioned, is to find ways to convert all of this into compelling experiences for visitors, realise tangible benefits for people locally and manage the environmental, social and cultural impacts of any proposed interventions. Louise Browne Associates has been commissioned to work with you and many others in taking the development of this Plan forward.
We are conscious that much work is already underway, business ideas are being developed and more is planned. This initiative isn't about starting from scratch. It is very much about building on the achievements and findings to date and, within the context of the Plan, to collaboratively explore, agree and resource the strategic interventions that will not only enhance the experience of visitors to Shannonbridge, but will also grow its visitor economy in line with your ambition and hopes for the area.
If you would like to offer your understanding, expertise and experience in this process, please come along to our Community Conversation (confirmation of attendance required … see below)  to explore from your perspective what the issues are, where the opportunities lie and what we need to take into account in our work.Thursday 24th February at 7pm in the Community Centre, Shannonbridge
If you would like to be involved and to help us with planning the event, please confirm your attendance to louise@louisebrowneassociates.com or call/text me on  0044 7411081000 
Alternatively, you can let any member of the Shannonbridge Action Group know or email shannonbridgeactiongroup@gmail.com
 Exploring Priesthood—Zoom with Seminarians and Priests: On Tuesday 1st March at 8.00 pm there will be an opportunity for young men to join in on a Zoom to find out more about priesthood and to hear directly from two young men who are currently studying for the priesthood in our National Seminary in Maynooth. The event is being run by the National Vocations Office. Further information and registration details can be obtained by emailing info@vocations.ie or by visiting vocations.ie/zoom
THOUGHTS ON PARISH COUNCILS
 PPC’s are not about “doing things”- they mobilise people, harness gifts, it marries parish needs with gifts. The faith community are key as the PPC identifies the needs & then calls for the gifts in the faith community to respond to those  needs.
Some images to help 1)PPC as “Navigator” charts the route, ensures all are “on board”
2) PPC as “Midwife”- the mother has the baby, not the midwife. The midwife is there to accompany, assist and reassure. Similarly the PPC “leads” by guiding & encouraging people
3) PPC as “Engine”. The engine drives the car forward, it gives movement & momentum. PPC  gets faith community moving
 PALM: Traditionally, Palm from the previous Palm Sunday  (we used Spanish Palm Crosses in 2021 as we were closed)  is burned and the ashes are used to mark the foreheads of Parishioners on Ash Wednesday.  Please return palm from previous year(s) and place it in the basket in sanctuary. Ashes from these palms will then be used at Masses on Ash Wednesday.
 
SHANNONBRIDGE  GAA Membership is now due for the coming year. Existing members please log in to your Foireann account to renew. New members welcome also just log in to foireann.ie and select Shannonbridge club to register! New walking track member option this year for only €20. Register as above and select the walking track member option and avail of this fantastic community facility with parking and lights from 6-10pm daily!
VOLUNTEERING If you are interested in registering your voluntary organisation or becoming a volunteer contact 083 – 0154669 for more information or register on www.volunteeroffaly.ie
SHANNONBRIDGE EXERCISE CLASSES  Pilates Class Thursday 11am. More Details phone 087 2410587
DATES FOR SACRAMENTS
First Communion Sat May 7th 2022
[Service of Light May 12th 2022]
Confirmation Dates:  Sat May 21st 2022
CLONMACNOIS  N.S. ENROLMENT  -Now enrolling for September 2022. Please phone the school on 0909674150 for an enrolment form.
PRAYER FOR PEACE - We continue to pray for peace in Europe in response to the request of Pope Francis.
LOTTO DRAW  Feb 14th 2022 Numbers drawn on Facebook Live  17-19-23-28 No winner, Four Match 3 Jackpot now €3,800
Lotto can be played online also at clubforce
. MINISTRIES  IN CHURCH              
 CHURCH CARE Martha Murphy, Marie McManus Clonfanlough: Bridie Coughlan Maureen Claffey READER Feb 26th 2022 @ 7pm Kieran O’Connor Feb 27th @ 10:30 Darcy Family member  Eucharistic  Minister Feb 26 Sinead Ryan  (S/B), Feb 27th  Linda Donaghy   Church Counters S/bridge (Feb)