Clonmacnois Parish
December 25th 2022
Christmas Day (A)
Fr. Tom Cox (Adm) Tel. 090 9674125/ 0868319500
Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com
WEB shannonbridge.blogspot.ie
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/
FEAST OF CHRISTMAS
When Jorge Bergoglio ascended the throne of Peter on 13th March 2013 and assumed the name of Francis, we all looked again at the life of the man from Assisi, how he loved nature, cared for the poor and renewed the Church. His most enduring legacy was surely the creation of the crib, when in 1223 he gathered some local people in a cave in the small town of Greccio to depict the stable scene. From those humble beginnings people have erected cribs down the ages in all kinds of shapes, sizes and places. The Italian city of Naples is a case in point. In the heart of the ancient city lies the much-visited ‘Via Gregorio Armeno’, which for obvious reasons is known as ‘Christmas Alley’. From early in the year artists and craftsmen spend hours in their workshops along that street designing cribs with a difference. They have come up with the ingenious idea of placing the Bethlehem scene in ordinary settings. Consequently, their unique cribs contain not only the figures of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, but also the figures of ordinary people going about their everyday chores. The message is strikingly clear. Jesus is to be sought and found in the ‘bits and pieces’ of every day. When the celebration of Christmas ends and the work of Christmas begins, we need to be aware of His presence in ordinary people and places and in surprising people and places too.
Christmas is tenderness for the past, courage for the present and hope for the future.
CHRISTMAS GREETING We offer our Parish family, at home and abroad, a blessed and joyful Christmas. We thank you most sincerely for your unfailing kindness, warm friendship and generous support during 2022. On the threshold of a new year we turn to Him, to whom all time belongs and all seasons. May He bless us, may His face shine on us and may He grant us His peace. Beannachtaí na Nollag agus na hÁthbhliana.
THANK YOU A very full, enjoyable Carol Service. Funds raised by the Parents for Clonmacnois N.S. was €5,803. Thank you to all.
Sat 24th Christmas Eve 5pm & 9pm
Sun 25th Christmas Day 12 Noon
Mon 26th Mass 12 Noon
Tues 27th Mass 7pm
Wed 28th Mass 10am
Thurs 29th Mass 7pm Kieran Kelly (Leharrow) 2nd Anniv.
Fri 30th Mass 10am Steven Kenny (Months Memory) Rita Kenny (5th A)
FEAST DAYS FOR COMING WEEK
Mon. 26 Dec.: St. Stephen’s Day.
Tues. 27 Dec.: St. John the Evangelist. Wed.. 28 Dec.: The Holy Innocents.
Thurs. 29 Dec.: St. Thomas Becket.
Fri.30 Dec.: Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
Sat. 31 Dec.: St. Sylvester1.
CLONFANLOUGH (N37 XR81)
Sat 24th Dec Christmas Eve 7pm
Sun 25th Dec Christmas Day 10:30am
Sun 1st Jan 2023 10:30am John & Agnes O’Shea
CLUAIN CHIARAIN 11/1/23 @ 7:3pm
OFFERTORY Dec 18th €585
DEATHS - We pray for the repose of the souls of Tommy Flaherty (Ferbane) brother of Eilish Kelly, Leharrow May he rest in peace.
2023 Parish Envelopes are delivered thanks to our wonderful organiser & distributors. A very big thank you to all who contribute to the Parish. Like everywhere costs have risen steeply. It is reassuring to see such solid support for Clonmacnois parish in these uncertain times.
.MINISTRIES
Readers: 31/12/22 @9pm Kieran O’Connor (SB)/ 1/1/23 @10:30am Noelle Daly (Cf) Communion 31/12/22 @9pm Sinead Ryan 1/1/23@10:30am John Mitchell Church Care Marian McManus, Catherina Slattery, Ann Corbett SB:Helen Darcy, Kathleen Norton (Dec) (CF) Counters: Clonfanlough (Jan) Servers; 31/12/22 @ 5pm Shannonbridge H. Mitchell, O. Kenny, J. O’Duffy 1/1/23 @ 10:30am Clonfanlough H. Guinan, A Hennessy, R. Daly, H. Maloney
DOON/SHANNONBRIDGE GAA LOTTERY
-Draw of Dec 12th 2022. Numbers drawn 15-16-23-26. No Winner . Three Match 3 . Five x €50 Christmas Draw winners . Next draw 27/12/22
CHRISTMAS MASSES
Shannonbridge Sat Dec 24th 5pm & 9pm/
Sun Dec 25th 12 Noon
Clonfanlough Sat Dec 24th 7pm Sun Dec 25th 10:30am
2023 CALENDARS available.
2023 BIBLE DIARIES in stock. Cost price €12.50. contains reading texts for year & short reflection
2023 SUNDAY MASS READINGS book available (freely) for Parish Readers.
OFFALY PRO-LIFE - Are organising a baby shower to coincide with Nollaig na mBan. We are asking supporters to donate their excess baby clothes, baby necessities and maternity wear etc. for mothers in need. We will have a van parked in the public car park outside the Heritage Centre in Ferbane from 11am to noon on Saturday 7th January where these items can be dropped off.
EMPLOYABILITY MIDLANDS - Do you have a disability, illness or injury and would like help to find a job? If the answer is yes, you can contact Liam on 086 387 3047 or Patricia on 086 145 1074 and we will be happy to tell you more about EmployAbility Midlands. For further information visit www.employabilitymidlands.com.
ARE YOU, OR IS SOMEONE YOU KNOW, LIVING WITH A LONG TERM HEALTH CONDITION? - If so, then you may be interested in the ‘Living Well Programme’. Living Well is a Free ONLINE, 6 week group self-management programme for adults living with long term health conditions, such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, heart conditions, stroke and others to name but a few. The Living Well Programme supports people to develop the skills and confidence to live with their health condition. There are spaces available on our January programmes. To book your place please contact Áine (041) 6850676 / (087) 1140371 or Joanne (041) 6860710 / (087) 4308735 or visit www.hse.ie/livingwell.
Christmas Greetings
I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our Parishioners a very happy and peaceful Christmas and I pray that 2023 will be a year filled with opportunity for you all.
During the past twelve months we have had many happy times in our parish, new births, children receiving the sacraments, weddings, momentous anniversaries of marriage and many other happy times. We give thanks to God for the ability to celebrate and for the gift of family and friends.
The past year has also brought great challenges for many as they have laid a loved one to rest, as relationships broke down, as serious illness visited your home, as your family members moved to far away shores, these examples and many others can make celebrating Christmas seem a little difficult. Despite the rushing about that comes with Christmas please be assured that you and your cares are held in our minds and in our prayers at this very sacred time.
May the joy of the birth of Christ fill your hearts and your homes with hope, happiness and the knowledge of Gods infinite love for each one of us.
May you have a very Happy and Blessed Christmas.
We think of him as safe beneath the steeple,
Or cosy in a crib beside the font,
But he is with a million displaced people
On the long road of weariness and want.
For even as we sing our final carol
His family is up and on that road,
Fleeing the wrath of someone else’s quarrel,
Glancing behind and shouldering their load.
Whilst Herod rages still from his dark tower
Christ clings to Mary, fingers tightly curled,
The lambs are slaughtered by the men of power,
And death squads spread their curse across the world.
But every Herod dies, and comes alone
To stand before the Lamb upon the throne.
~Malcolm Guite “Refugee”
CHRISTMAS GRACE AT MEALS
As a family or sitting on your own at dinner on Christmas Day, it would be nice to think of Jesus and invite him to the table with you. We encourage you to say this little pray together.
Our Father in Heaven, For this Christmas meal you have given We want to say thank you from our hearts. Bless the ones who prepared it And Lord as we share it Will you stay with us And be our guest of Honour.
Christmas Scene.
Waiting for Christmas /mundane and rain
no winter Israel sun /no camels or star from afar
trust that he knows best /amid addled minds of war and love/unthinkable suffering
and moments of sheer joy
the roughness of the pogues /the Eider down of silent night / lights without a source
are shiny worthless things
memories good and those of shame /rebellious youth-insane / a Mother who forgives
and prays for her kids
no constant peace here or there /until he comes on snow white mare / blinding rays and shining blade / justice to his enemies blaze
have we tossed him from the bath / have we hurt him so / have we thought of every excuse
to love him no
have we succumbed to hate his store /have we forgotten all before / can we change like Paul
the persecutor
why not love his cuts and bruises /why not sooth his throbbing head/kiss his holy swollen feet / his breast for all of us a bed.(from a parishioner)
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