Clonmacnois Parish

April 3rd 2022

5th Sunday of Lent (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)

 

 

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

 ‘Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more’

A woman is caught in the act of committing adultery. The penalty is death by stoning. The self-righteous mob gathers. Then Jesus arrives and a dark and ugly scene is transformed by the radiance of His tender mercy. In her grim moment of public exposure, ‘in full view of everybody’, the unnamed woman of the streets is surprised to be touched by gentleness and so enter the world of redemption: ‘neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more’. The prodigal daughter, having been overwhelmed by guilt and shame, now rises with dignity to the wonderful realisation that, in God’s kingdom past mistakes are meant to guide you, not define you. It is a place where sin is not overlooked or approved but where the wrongdoer is understood and afforded the opportunity to begin again. The parable underlines what Graham Greene called ‘the awful strangeness of God’s mercy’. Mercy always trumps vengeance. Jesus literally loved the woman into goodness. We would like to think that she seized the opportunity to turn her life around. I wonder what became of the man?

 

 SHANNONBRIDGE

Saturday 2nd April 7pm Paddy & Mary Martin  (Anniv.)

Mon 4th April 10am Michael, Margaret & Debus Kelly (Anniv.)

St. Isidore, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Memorial)

Tues 5th April 10am

St. Vincent Ferrer, Priest (Memorial)

Wed 6th April 10am

Thurs 7th April 10am

Fri 8th April 10am

St. John Baptist de la Salle, Priest (Memorial)

Sat 9th April 7pm (Absolution afterwards)

CLONFANLOUGH

Sun 3rd April 10:30am Pro Populo

Fri 8th April 7pm (Absolution afterwrds

Sun 10th April 10:30am Michael J. Molloy & parents Michael and Annie

[Do This in Memory Mass ]

 

CLUAIN CHIARAIN

Mass Wednesday, April 6th @ 7:30pm

 

OFFERTORY 26th/27th March €565.50  Lenten Alms €264.50

Special Collection for Ukraine The proceeds of the Special Collection taken up at the Masses last weekend realized €990. A cheque will be forwarded to Caritas International this week. Thank you

DEATH  Pray for the repose of the soul of Oliver Hilliard (St. Ciaran’s Park & Dublin) died 28/5/21 whose funeral took place during the week. May he rest in peace.

UKRAINE APPEAL FUNDRAISER

Moore & Clonfad Drama Society (back by popular demand), will present the hilarious 3 act comedy ‘The Stations', by Carole King, on Sunday, 10th April at 8.00pm in Moore Community Hall. Lots of laughs guaranteed. All proceeds in aid of Unicef Ukraine Appeal.

 

GAA LOTTO  Draw of 28.3.22, n umbers drawn were 1-14-26-27 No Winner, One Match 3.  Jackpot now at €5,000

 CEMETERY DAY 2022

We plan to have our Cemetery Mass on Saturday 30th July at 7p.m. in Clonmacnois Cemetery

 CEMETERY I’m afraid I need to remind people that dumping is not to happen in any cemetery. As I went around recently, I was so ashamed to see items dumped here and there and (even worse) over the boundary wall  to an adjacent field– posing a danger to livestock among others.  We have a persistent problem in Clonmacnois like many other places. It’s such a shame and draws from the good work of our SES scheme workers and other parishioners who routinely remove dumped grave material. I really don’t know what to do or say. It can’t be simply “other” people.  Do we leave the gates open (Council prefer not)  and  hope people remove items to their adjacent vehicle? Would providing bins be any help? Or is it a matter of direct enforcement with CCTV cameras? And who does the enforcing! You see the problem. So let’s tidy up our act.  I will be writing to other parishes as well. Our dead deserve a clean environment not just our prayers.

 April 10th Palm Sunday Palms will be blessed before the Masses next weekend.

Census: The National Census is taking place this Sunday 3rd. It will generate a detailed picture of social and living conditions in Ireland and aid planning for the future.

LOURDES DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE  The annual pilgrimage is going ahead this year, from May 23- May27, four nights. The total cost is €679 (Hotel Agena) or €699 (Hotel La Solitude) For further details call- 090 6481180. Cemetery Sunday Cemetery Sunday will be celebrated on Sunday June 25th with Mass in the cemetery at 12.00 noon.

FREE electrical recycling collection in Shannonbridge school yard for anything with a plug or a battery April 1st 2nd 3rd.

OFFALY LADIES GAELIC FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION - Church Gate Collection takes place this weekend Sat. 2nd and Sun. 3rd April at churches all over County Offaly

A PRAYER

We pray for peace in Ukraine, Russia and their neighbouring states.

Loving God: Give us a change of vision to see the injustice of killing.

Give us a change of language to replace threats with dialogue.

Give a change of mind to grasp the emptiness of war.

Give us a change of hearing to heal the broken relationship

Give us a change of purpose, to silence the guns forever.

Give us a change of compass, to open a pathway to the handshake.

Give us a change of hear, to be agents of God’s love and mercy.

O God, In Your mercy lead the people of Ukraine and Russia to reconciliation and peace. Amen (Catherine McAuley)

 

Pope Francis’ message for Lent 2022 invites us to sow seeds of goodness

 Found at a 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)

CONFESSIONS: The few years have been very different for everyone. Some things have not happened for example – Penitential Service and Confessions. In preparation for Holy Week, on Saturday  next 9th April at the very end of Mass by way of Reflection I will lead a Penitential Reflection followed by the end of Mass Blessing.  You are welcome then to come up .. Simply say “I am sorry for my sins”- I will pray the prayer of absolution individually over you. No questions, no dialogue and off you go.  We encourage you to avail of this opportunity. God’s word today from John: ‘No need to recall the past… I am doing a new deed’. In the Gospel ‘Neither do I condemn you, go away and don’t sin anymore”

HOLY WEEK 2022

We are back in person after a gap of 2 years.

We include here the times of the ceremonies for Holy Week. Because of the presence of the virus so prevalent at this time, we will omit the Washing of Feet on Holy Thursday & invite people to bow (not kiss) to the Cross on Good Friday. No Dawn Mass for this year.

 Holy Thursday 14th April: 6:30 Shannonbridge/ 8:00pm Clonfanlough

Good Friday 15th April : 12 noon Stations of the Cross: Shannonbridge 3.00 p.m. The Lord’s Passion (Shannonbridge) 7pm (Clonfanlough). Holy Saturday 16th April 8.00 p.m. Easter Vigil (Shannonbridge)

Easter Sunday 17th April 10.30 a.m. Clonfanlough 12 Noon  (Shannonbridge)

MINISTRIES IN CHURCH

 CHURCH CARE Paula Claffey, Antoinette Kelly, Deirdre Kenny  Clonfanlough: Bernie Kenny/Margaret Langtry  READER April 9th 2022 @ 7pm Ruth Quirke April 10th  @ 10:30 Bridie Coughlan  Eucharistic Minister April 9th  Martha Murphy (S/B), April 10th  Anne Rohan   Church Counters Shannonbridge(April)

 

CEMETERY DAY 2022

We plan to have our Cemetery Mass on Saturday 30th July at 7p.m. in Clonmacnois Cemetery