Clonmacnois Parish
January 29th 2023
4thSunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Fr. Tom Cox (Adm) Tel. 090 9674125/ 0868319500
Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com
WEB shannonbridge.blogspot.ie
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/
The best portraits are those that convey something of the spirit of the subject. The Sermon on the Mount, which is probably a compilation of several sermons, takes us to the heart of Jesus. It’s the closest we have to a self-portrait of the Lord. All the sayings proclaimed in the Sermon become flesh and blood in Him. We are told that He sat down and began to speak. When a rabbi sat down he was about to deliver an important teaching. When he opened his mouth to speak, he was opening his heart. The teaching of Jesus, expressed in the form of nine ‘Beatitudes’ is an exaltation of the ordinary. It’s a blueprint for happiness. It’s a call to a way of life that is attainable, but it does stand the values of the world on their head. The poor, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers, the ‘nobodies’ of this world have built their house on rock and they will have their reward, while those who pursue power, prestige, possessions, pleasure, popularity have laid their foundations on sand and their house will crumble. The Beatitudes are the attitudes to which we should aspire.
St. Brigid’s Blessing
May Brigid bless the house where you dwell. Bless every fireside every wall and door.
Bless every heart that beats beneath its roof. Bless every hand that toils to bring it joy.
Bless every foot that walks its portals through. May Brigid bless the house that shelters you
MINISTRIES
Readers: 4/2/23 @7pm Ruth Quirke (SB)/ 5/2/23 @10:30am Rita Molloy (Cf) Communion 4/2/23 @7pm Dympna Fitzpatrick 5/2/23@10:30am Linda Donaghy Church Care Eileen Quinn, Dolly Deeley, Veronica Hynes SB:Bridie Coughlan (Feb) (CF) Counters: Shannonbridge (Feb) Servers; 4/2/23 @ 7pm Shannonbridge Liam F. James D., 5/2/23 @ 10:30am Clonfanlough Ted R., Jack R., Keelan K., Kara K.
Sat 28th 7pm Vigil Mass Tommy, Geraldine & Simon McManus
Mon 30th 10am Mass
Tues 31st 10am Mass Margaret, Michael & Denis Kelly
Wed 1st Feb 10am Mass If you are able to make St. Brigid’s Crosses, please leave them at the front of the Altar
Thurs 2nd Feb 10am Mass “Candlemas” Blessing of Candles during Mass
Fri 3rd Feb 10am Mass (First Fri.) St. Blaise’s Day, Blessing of Throats
Saturday 4th Feb 7pm Pro Populo
CLONFANLOUGH (N37 XR81)
Sun 29th 10:30am (Shared)
-Rigney family dec’d (Clonlyon) ;
-Liam Coolahan MM
Fri 3rd Feb 7pm Mass (First Fri.) St. Blaise’s Day, Blessing of Throats Jack & Mary Maloney, Pat Maloney, Francis Moran, Kathleen Maloney
Sun 5th Feb 10:30am Padraig Devery (Clonlyon) 21st Anniv.
CLUAIN CHIARAIN Wed. Feb. 1st @ 7:30pm (Celebrant Fr. T. Cox)
RECENT DEATHS Your prayers are requested for the soul of Mary Bermingham (née Duffy) formerly of this parish who died in Walkinstown also Teresa Ryan (née McEvoy) Portarlington, daughter of Frances (Claffey) formerly of this parish
Feast Days in Coming week
Jan. 30th St John Bosco (1815-1888) John Bosco, an Italian priest, founded the Salesian order. Also St. Aidan (Ferns)
Feb. 1st St Brigid, Abbess (454-524) St Brigid is a secondary patron saint of Ireland. She received her spiritual formation from St Mel and stayed for a while in Ardagh. She founded a convent in Kildare.
Feb. 2nd The Presentation of the Lord This is Candlemas Day. Candles will be blessed during Mass on Thursday. People are invited to place their candles on the table in front of the altar.
Feb. 3rd St Blaise The traditional blessing of the throats will take place after Mass on Friday 10am Shannonbridge, 7pm Clonfanlough
OFFERTORY Jan 22nd €754
On Line contributions welcome at Clonmacnois Parochial Account.
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Make sure to put your name and/or your envelope number in the reference section.
CHOIR welcomes new members We are lucky to have music to enhance our liturgies—if interested in joining contact Sr. Margaret Mary or any Choir Member.
SAFE TRAVEL to our Ukrainian guests who head off to Cliffs of Moher, Burren & Galway & thanks to all who donated to help fund a bus.
PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE - 9th - 16th August 2023, €725pps if booked before January 31st. €775pps thereafter. Contact Aodh & Carmel Horan (087) 2072982 or (087) 2072996.
ANAM CARA MIDLANDS - The organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding its monthly Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Wednesday 8th February at 7.15pm in the Mullingar Park Hotel. This event is FREE and open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death, or whether their death was recent or not. We also offer an online service. For more info call 01 4045378.
BOOK LAUNCH - The Poacher’s Yarn by Aidan Doyle, a history of essays of West Offaly and the wider world, will take place in Gallen Community School on Sat. 28th Jan. at 8pm.
The People's Theatre Company Presents – “I Spy with My little Eye” by Steven Lee in Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Thurs. 16th Feb 2.30 p.m. €12/10 Box Office 057 9122911 www.birrtheatre.com
DOON/SHANNONBRIDGE GAA LOTTERY
-Draw of Jan 23rd 2023. Numbers drawn 13-15-23-29. No Winner. Three Match 3 Next draw 30/1/23 Jackpot €4,000
TOTUS TUUS EUCHARISTIC CONFERENCE 2023 is live on Radio Maria Ireland from 2pm on Saturday 4th February. Speakers include Fr. Columba Mary Toman OP, Fr. Patrick Lagan (Derry diocese). Maura Murphy (Holy Family Mission. Radio Maria Ireland can be listened to by downloading the Radio Maria Ireland APP, Saorview Channel 210 or listen live at (01)4373277
OFFALY CAMINO CANAL WAY WALK & MASS: Sun 5 Feb, 9am, Fiona Pender Memorial Way to Croghan Hill, for Mass at 2pm - Everyone welcome at any stage. Proceeds to Self Help Africa. Details from 0866778807, 0870688530, 0830459377,/0878375407,/0876189094, ronan.scully@selfhelpafrica.org, ww.selfhelpafrica.org
CLONMACNOIS SCHOOL B.O.M. MEETING
January 31st @ 7:30pm
PRAYER TO ST. BRIGID You were a woman of peace You brought harmony where there was conflict You brought light to the darkness, You brought hope to the downcast. May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious, and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world. Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made. Brigid, you were a voice for the wounded and the weary Strengthen what is weak within us. Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens. May we grow each day into greater wholeness In mind, body and spirit. Amen
Wishing you all blessings for Saint Brigid’s Day.
A good attendance turned up for this meeting on Wed 25th Jan. with consultants Kevin Heanue and Ciaran Lynch and members of the architectural team appointed to undertake the design. The process has been steered by Shannonbridge Action Group and public funding has been obtained
The building ceased as a school in 2007. It’s a keenly felt loss. The main building is a protected structure, but sadly with time & no electricity or water allowed as it is vacated building (insurance requirement) deterioration was inevitable. Since Jan 2022 the Dept of Educ have surrendered the lease on the National School property.
The just transition programmes provides us with an opportunity & resources to identify a good use/ uses for this 1 acre site. Considerations was given to challenges like small size (thus probably too small to be a visitor centre), protected structure, fairly small level of local demand for any one use, the importance of tourism based accommodation, a very central location, possible field studies centre for 3rd Level students. The idea is to attract in people to a centre that is multi-use and flexible.
Some possibilities for usage are:
-A large room for education & community use
-2 units to accommodate 2x 6 person enterprises.
-A facility for 4 hot desks (where a person can book a fully serviced point (fibre broadband) to work remotely.
-a toilet/washing area facility
-a kitchen and dining facility with a mixture of double and single rooms and 24 bed spaces.
A camping/ glamping area as a second phase.
-Two 12 person meeting rooms as part of the facility
-Sensory gardens etc plus some parking.
The challenge is to ensure building design is flexible & capable of multi-purpose usage so that it can adapt & focus on best use as demand dictates, Each space should be designed so that it can pivot to meet the need. The need for management and marketing is critical in what might be a leased facility. Any views, ideas or feedback welcome to any member of the Action Group. Or I (T. Cox) can forward them
First Friday Feb 3rd is the First Friday.
Please Note: Anyone who is sick and housebound in the Parish who would like to receive Holy Communion on the First Friday’s, please contact
Feast of St. Blaise Prayer of Blessing of Throat “Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from all ailments of the throat and from every other sickness, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.”
