Clonmacnois Parish Bulletin January 8th 2023

 

Clonmacnois Parish

January 8th 2023

Baptism of the Lord (A)

Fr.  Tom Cox (Adm) Tel. 090 9674125/  0868319500 

Email: clonmaacnoiseparish@gmail.com

     WEB  shannonbridge.blogspot.ie

FACEBOOK    https://www.facebook.com/

 

FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

‘Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptised by John’

The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord brings to a conclusion the Christmas season. The momentous event at the river Jordan is reported in all four Gospels. It marks the bridge between the hidden life of Jesus in Nazareth and His public ministry. The word Baptism is a transliteration of the Greek word ‘baptizo’, which means to immerse. As He enters the waters of the river, He immerses Himself in our story, which is now raised to a new dignity. He goes to the place where life begins, and He emerges to offer His followers new life. When we went through the waters of Baptism we were drawn into this new life, which is the very life of God. We took the first step on a lifelong walk with Him. We committed ourselves to follow the way He showed us, and to be His witnesses always. We never leave our Baptism behind. We try to live it out every day, and we learn every day. In our often feeble efforts we can identify with the saint of old, who, when asked near the end of his life if he was a Christian, replied with great humility: ‘not yet’! ‘Celebrate the date of your Baptism every year in your heart. Do it.’ (Pope Francis).

Congratulations to all who were welcomed into the Christian Community in our Parish during the past 12 months

 

 SHANNONBRIDGE  (Eircode N37 FV05)

Sat 7th Jan 7pm Joan Farrelly (2anniv)

Mon 9th 10am Mass

Tues 10th 10am Mass

Wed 11th 10am Mass

Thurs 12th 10am Mass

Fri 13th No Mass

Sat 14th 7pm  Seamus Grennan Anniv;

Michael & Stephen Shrahan Anniv.

 

CLONFANLOUGH (N37 XR81)

Sun 8th  Ann (1st Anniv) & Jimmy Egan

(Communion Children Monthly Mass)

Sun 15th Jan 10:30am Ciarán Kearns 1A

CLUAIN CHIARAIN  Wednesday January 11th 2023  @ 7:30pm                     

OFFERTORY  Dec 31st/Jan 1st  €500.

Christmas Dues Envelopes for the Priest of the Parish: Sincere thanks for your kindness and generosity. This collection is forwarded to a central fund and each priest gets a monthly allowance.

 

Courage Give me courage, Lord, today to face what comes along. Give me the faith and love I need to fill each day with song. Give me courage, Lord, today to follow in your way; Help me to do what I should do, And hear me when I pray. Give me courage Lord, today And strength to do your will; Lead me and guide me, precious Lord, For I need your presence still. Come, take away my pain You are my Master, Lord, and King and ever shall remain.

MINISTRIES

Readers: 14/1/23 @7pm Grennan Family (SB)/ 15/1/23 @10:30am Kearns Family (Cf) Communion 14/1/23 @7pm Dympna Fitzpatrick 8/1/23@10:30am Anne Rohan Church Care Paula Claffey, Antoinette Kelly, Deirdre Kenny SB:Mary Guinan, Ann Guinan (Jan) (CF) Counters: Clonfanlough  (Jan)  Servers; 14/1/23 @ 5pm Shannonbridge  Hannah M, Oisin K, Jack O’D  15/1/23 @ 10:30am Clonfanlough Mark O’S, Alannah D, Caoimhin D, Saoirse T.   

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – Wed. 18th to 25th January 2023.

Catholic Schools Week – Sunday 22nd to 29th January 2023.

  

 A Prayer for the New Year Lord in this New Year which we have begun, may we have enough happiness to keep us agreeable, enough trials to keep us strong, enough sorrow to keep us human, enough freedom to keep us happy, enough failure to keep us humble, enough success to keep us eager, enough wealth to meet our needs, enough faith to banish depression, enough hope to look forward, enough love to give us comfort, And enough determination to keep us going

  Benedict’s complex legacy                                            Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who tried to reawaken Christianity in a secularized Europe, died Dec 31st 2022, aged 95. But will forever be remembered as the first pontiff in 600 years to resign from the job, Benedict stunned the world on Feb. 11, 2013, when he announced that he no longer had the strength to run the 1.2 billion strong Catholic Church that he had steered for eight years through scandal and indifference. His dramatic decision paved the way for the conclave that elected Pope Francis as his successor. The two popes then lived side-by-side in the Vatican gardens, an unprecedented arrangement that probably set the scene for popes in future years. Francis presided and preached at Benedict’s funeral Mass on Thursday. He praised Benedict’s “kindness” and thanked him for “his testimony of faith and prayer, especially in these final years of retired life.” Benedict never wanted to be pope, apparently. Instead he planned at age 78 to spend his final years writing in the “peace and quiet” of his native Bavaria. Instead, he was forced to follow the footsteps of John Paul II and run the church through the fallout of the clerical sex abuse scandal. .His supporters say that as pope he forced the Catholic Church to make it easier to get rid of abusers. (over 400 laicised & dismissed from priesthood)  Others say he didn't go far enough.  Being elected pope, he once said, felt like a “guillotine” had come down on him. Loved by some, reviled by others. Nevertheless, he set about the job with a single-minded vision to rekindle the faith in a world that, he frequently lamented, seemed to think it could do without God. “In vast areas of the world today, there is a strange forgetfulness of God,” he told 1 million young people gathered for World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, in 2005. “It seems as if everything would be just the same even without him.” He echoed that theme in his final will released by the Vatican on Saturday night, urging the faithful especially in his homeland to “stand firm in the faith!” Two pages in length and dated 2006, the will also touched on a theme dear to his heart of the beneficial dialogue between faith and reason. With some controversial moves, he tried to remind Europe of its Christian heritage. And he set the Catholic Church on a conservative, tradition-minded path that often alienated progressives. He relaxed the restrictions on celebrating the old Latin Mass and launched a crackdown on others insisting that the church stay true to its doctrine and traditions in the face of a changing world. –I’ve always believed every Pope had a  Mission. John Paul II as the pope of  HOPE—his stirring words “Do Not be afraid” Benedict XVI was the pope of FAITH –developed the Universal Catechism & argued for the reasonableness of Faith with reason. Pope Francis (I feel) is the pope of CHARITY. God knows our world needs it now. (adapted from Fr. Dick Lyng OSA)

 

LOVELY TO  SEE  Rian & Miah Duffy of Clonmacnois on Thursday night on RTE Nationwide (Wed 4th Jan)   as part of Music Generation Roscommon   It’s still on RTE Player

 DOON/SHANNONBRIDGE GAA LOTTERY

-Draw of  Jan 2nd  2023. Numbers drawn 2-17-24-28.  No Winner. Four Match 3 Next draw 9/1/23

 

2023 CALENDARS available in Porches

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

Community Dinners return Jan 9th

 

Anam Cara Midlands, the support group for bereaved parents, will hold their January meeting in the Mullingar Park Hotel on Wednesday, January 11 beginning at 7:15pm. A welcome to all bereaved bereaved parents, regardless of the age of the child or circumstances of death, and their door is always open to new attendees.Bereaved parent in the Midlands area can contact Anam Cara on 085 2888888 or by email info@anamcara.ie

 

Offaly Alzheimer Café in The Bridge House Hotel, Tullamore on this Monday January 9th at 10.30 a.m. Special Guest: Beth Wogan from the Tullamore branch of Family Carers Ireland. She will give a talk about the different services that they offer. The Offaly Alzheimer Café provides a warm and welcoming space for people with dementia, their family and friends, social and health care professionals to meet, exchange ideas and learnings. Everybody welcome! For further details contact Claire Dolan 087 7151323 or email Claire.dolan@alzheimer.ie

 

BLESSING OF WALKING TRACK

There will be a blessing of the walking track by Fr Tom Cox on Wednesday 11th January at 7 pm. All members of our parish community are welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served on the night.
This takes place as part of the Ireland Lights Up Every Step Co unts Challenge. To partake in the challenge, and help our club be in with a chance of winning €5000, follow these 2 steps:
1. Download the My Life Irish Life app on the App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Join the challenge - TAP Social > Challenges > PendingTAP Leinster - Every Step Counts > Shannonbridge
We hope to see you there on the night and that everyone in our community who wishes to use this fantastic amenity can do so. The walking track is open until 9:30 pm every night