Clonmacnois Parish Bulletin February 26th 2023

 

Clonmacnois Parish

February 26th  2023

1st Sunday of Lent (A)

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

Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com

     WEB  shannonbridge.blogspot.ie

FACEBOOK www.fb.me/saintciarans.

 

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

 ‘He fasted for forty days and forty nights’

The curtain rises again on the Lenten drama that takes us from the bleakness of the desert to the bleakness of Golgotha, a drama that deals with the clashing themes of light and darkness, good and evil, death and life. We are drawn into the opening scene today as Jesus, prepares for the trials and tribulations ahead. As He enters the solitude of the Wilderness, He beckons us in, so that, together we may encounter the Father, and grow stronger through the testing. Lent is springtime for the soul. It provides us with the opportunity to give up what we have been for what we can become. May the season ahead enable us to bring peace to our past, purpose to our present and hope to our future. ‘Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy’ (Pope Francis). ‘Lent is like a long retreat during which we can turn back into ourselves and listen to the voice of God’ (Pope Benedict).

 

A LENTEN PROGRAM FOR MEN has been developed by an Irish priest to help men make this Lent different. The program contains 4 pillars - Prayer, Penance, Spiritual Reading & Charity. To find out more and join an online group a zoom information meeting is scheduled for Sunday Feb 19th at 8.30 p.m. Meeting ID 494 625 9738 Password: 997298. Email desertfathers40@gmail.com for a copy of program

LENTEN SCRIPTURE INITIATIVE drawing on St. Paul’s letters to the Corinthians will run in Clonfert Family Centre, Ballinasloe, for five Sunday evenings (8 – 9.15/9.30 pm) beginning Sunday 26^th February.  For more details see www.creideamh.ie/lent2023 .  Early booking advised as places are limited.

FOR YOUR VIEWING Lenten Reflections on First Sunday in Lent: aired from the Slipper Chapel at the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham, and presented by Fr. Paul Burch, Tues 28th, 5: 30pm. Rome's Hidden Churches: A Lenten Pilgrimage. Visit the Lenten Stational churches of Rome with Dr. Timothy McDonnell of Christendom College - Santa Sabina, Wed 22nd, 12:05pm St. John Lateran, Sun 26th, 12:05pm St. Peter- in- Chains, Mon 27th, 12:05pm. (EWTN Sky 586

 

 SHANNONBRIDGE  (Eircode N37 FV05)

Sat 25th Feb 7pm Vigil Pro Populo

[Sun 26th Feb 12 Noon to 5pm Adoration]

Mon 27th 10am Service

Tues 28th Feb Mass

Wed 1st March  Mass

Thurs 2nd March 10am Mass : James McBride & deceased parents

Friday 3rd March 10am Mass

6pm Stations of the Cross

Saturday 4th March  7pm Vigil

CLONFANLOUGH (N37 XR81)

Sun 26th Feb 10:30am Michael & Mary Kelly (Currow, Clonfanlough) & dec’d members

Friday 3rd March 7pm  1st Friday Mass

Sun  5th March 10;30am John Joe Maleney (Anniv) & daughter Cathryn (Kate) Glynn (Memorial Mass) 

[Adoration for Lent  12 Noon—5pm ]

CLUAIN CHIARAIN 1/3/23 @ 7:30pm

ONE YEAR ON  On the First Anniversary of the terrible war in Ukraine, we remember all our friends from Ukraine among us in the prayer of hope, solidarity and tears

OFFERTORY  Feb 19th    €960

SHROVE DUES Thank you for your contributions to the Lenten Shrove Dues Collection envelope (Feb 19). If you don’t have a Box simply mark “Dues” on an envelope.

First Friday celebrated on Friday 3rd Communion Calls: Friday. 3rd March –

FEAST DAYS FOR COMING WEEK

Mar. 1st St David St David is a Welsh bishop of 6th century and is the patron of Wales.

MINISTRIES Readers: 4/3/23 @7pm Pattie Corbett  (SB)/ 5/2/23 @10:30am Maleney family reader (Cf) Communion 4/3/23 @7pm Dympna Fitzpatrick 5/3/23@10:30am Leanne Quinn Church Care Paula Claffey, Antoinette Kelly, Deirdre Kenny SB:Bridie Coughlan, Maureen Claffey (Feb) Josie Egan/Betty Dolan (March) (CF) Counters: Shannonbridge (Feb)  Servers; 4/3/23 @ 7pm Shannonbridge  Liam Fitzpatrick, James Darcy  5/3/23 @ 10:30am Clonfanlough Ted Rohan, Jack Rohan, Keelan Kelly, Kara Kelly,

CONGRATULATIONS - To the pupils of 5th and 6th Class in our friends  High Street N.S. on the phenomenal achievement in coming joint second place in Ireland in the Robotics Team Work Challenge held in Cork on Wednesday last.

ST PATRICK’S EVE CONCERT, BASILICA A special concert celebrating Irish music, heritage and culture is to be held in the Basilica on the eve of St Patrick’s Day, 16th March at 8.30pm. Admission free and all welcome.

ADULT ART CLASSES - Lusmagh, for beginners and advanced. Tuesday 7th March 10am-1pm and 8pm-10pm; Wed. 14th March 10am-1pm. €100 for 5 weeks. All materials supplied. Contact 087 3217089 or email lisaglynn50@gmail.com Eircode R42 YK61

MASS OF REMEMBRANCE - On Tuesday 28th February in St. Paul’s Church, Mullingar at 3pm in memory of the people buried in St. Loman’s Cemetery from 1907 - 1970 and all who died at St. Loman’s Hospital and Cluain Lir Centre. Mass will also be livestreamed on www.mullingarparish.ie.

FILM TIME An Cailín Ciúin needs no intro and will be played at Birr Theatre & Arts Centre Thursday 02 March 8pm. Tickets are selling fast. Frankie Gavin, the legendary fiddler will be joined by pianist Catherine McHugh, 04 March 8pm. www.birrtheatre.com

TABLE QUIZ  FUNDRAISER  for The Irish Association of Lourdes Volunteers in Corrigan’s Bar on Fri. 3rd March at 9 p.m. Table of four €40. Your support would be greatly appreciated.

ACCORD is currently recruiting volunteers to train as marriage preparation facilitators. Marriage facilitators are part of a team that prepare couples for the sacrament of marriage. Couples find our courses fun, engaging and very relevant, while facilitators gain valuable life skills. If you are interested, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact marriagepreparation@accord.ie for more information

 

Clonmacnois National School Fundraiser
CASH FOR CLOTHES
All Women,Mens & Childrens Clothing. Paired Footwear, Handbags, Belts, Soft toys (teddies), Curtains, Towels, Bedlinen (duvet covers, sheets, pillowcases, Blankets, throws)  NO PILLOWS OR DUVETS OR CARPETS Items may be dropped off at Shannonbridge Hall & Clonfanlough Hall Wednesdays from 5pm-9pm / Saturdays 9am -2 pm from March 1st  until April 15th. Final Drop off date at Clonmacnois School Monday 17th April .
Please support . Thank you

 MASS OF THANKSGIVING:  To mark the occasion of the departure of the Marist Brothers from Champagnat House, Athlone, a Mass of  Thanksgiving will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church, Athlone, on Sunday 26th February at 2:30 pm. All are welcome to join us as we express our  profound gratitude to the Marist Brothers who served in our parish over a period of 138 years

ATHLONE LITTLE THEATRE presents 'Philadelphia, Here I Come!' by Brian Friel from Thursday, March 9 to Thursday, March 16 next. Sunday Matinee on March 12 at 3pm. All other performances take place at 8pm. Booking is open at Eventbrite or via  www.athlonelittetheatre.ie. Tickets are €15.

Dochas Offaly Cancer Support Group – Fundraiser Glamourous Buttons and Bows – Sunday 5th March 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. in Mucklagh Community Centre. €5 entry for shoppers on the day with all proceeds to Dochas 

ATHLONE MUSICAL SOCIETY present "CHESS" The Musical from Fri 3rd to Sat 11th March 2023 (No show on 6th/7th) Book now at www.deancrowetheatre.com. Box Office 090 6492129 (Mon to Fri 12pm-3pm)Follow Athlone Musical Society on Facebook & Instagram for more details

LENT: As this is the first Sunday in Lent, parishioners are reminded that packs containing a Trócaire box and information on this year’s Lenten campaign are available in the Church porch - please take one home and make a contribution to help those suffering hunger and injustice in many parts of the world. This year’s Trócaire box features the Mahat family who were forced to flee their home in Somalia due to a fourth consecutive year of drought which has ravaged the country. This is one of 16 countries around the world where Trócaire - which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year - has long-term programmes  

TROCAIRE BOXES are in St. Ciaran’s Clonfanlough & Shannonbridge Churches. Please take one home for season of Lent.

CLONMACNOIS N.S. ENROLMENT  ongoing for the school year 2023-2024 in Clonmacnois N.S. Please phone the office on 09096-74150 for an enrolment form

OFFALY FOLLIES & GOD IN A BOTTLE feature on RTE’s Nationwide Programme on Wednesday, March 1st at 7pm. “God in a bottle” are handcarved wooden crucifixes which are placed in glass bottles.  Featuring the craft of Ned and Eddie Hendrick (Shannonbridge)

DOON/SHANNONBRIDGE GAA LOTTERY -Draw of  Feb 20th 2023. Numbers drawn 4-22-26-27.  No Winner. 2x Match 3 Next draw 27/2/23 Jackpot €4,800

 

 

 

 

Clonmacnois Parish Bulletin February 19th 2023

 

Clonmacnois Parish

February 19th  2023

7th Sunday Ordinary Time (A)

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

Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com

     WEB  shannonbridge.blogspot.ie

FACEBOOK www.fb.me/saintciarans.

 

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR

‘Love your enemies’

 When taken seriously, Christianity is enormously demanding. To be expected to go the extra mile, turn the other cheek and love your enemies is the stuff of heroes, a call to respond to the worst with the best. It may seem utter foolishness to humans, but it is the wisdom of God. Nelson Mandela ‘got it’ when he refused to allow prison to sour him. Abraham Lincoln ‘got it’ when he appointed his arch-critic Edwin Stanton to his cabinet relying on his irreproachable logic: ‘Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends’? At the end of every conflict the protagonists ‘get it’ when they must sit around a table to make the peace. When boiled down to its’ essence, unforgiveness is hatred. It is rooted in the past and emerges from the seed-bed of unresolved issues. The enemy is within. It is only the Lord who can help us to unlock the prison door, heal what is within and allow us to make our grievance but a small chapter in our life, rather than make our life a chapter in our grievance. ‘The glory of Christianity is to conquer by forgiveness’.

 

Trócaire Appeal for Turkey and Syria As the death toll continues to climb from the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, desperate, grieving survivors have been left homeless and injured with no food and no shelter in freezing sub-zero cold. Trócaire has joined with other leading Irish aid agencies to create a united response through the Irish Emergency Alliance. With your kind donation and your love right now, together we can ease suffering for survivors. Please help rush emergency food, shelter, water, and healthcare, plus warm blankets and clothes to little children, women, and men traumatised by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. Your compassion right now will save lives. Please help with your donation now www.trocaire.org Thank you.

A Prayer To Begin My Lenten Journey (Ash Wednesday) Loving Jesus, as I place on my forehead the sign of your loving cross. You say to me, repent and believe in the Gospel. Walking into Lent my heart is set on you. May my fasting fill me with hunger for you, may my prayer draw me deeper into your presence, may my acts of charity bring your love to my home and community. Lord of Life, grant that by turning back to you in these 40 days I will reawaken the joy of my Easter faith; for you raise me up from fear and despair and call me to hope and trust in God who is with me always. With you, I will rise again Amen

 

 SHANNONBRIDGE  (Eircode N37 FV05)

Sat 18th Feb 7pm Vigil Shared-Margaret Noone & Martin Egan (Beech Park Athlone & Aughinacabe)                                 

 -Mary Duffy-Bermingham                     

-Mary Gunning (Clonlyon) & husband Paddy & dec’d family members

Mon 20th Feb 10am Mass

Tues 21st Feb 10am Mass

Wed 22nd Feb 10am Ash Wednesday

Thurs 23rd 10am

Fri 24th Feb 10am

Sat 25th Feb 7pm Vigil Pro Populo

CLONFANLOUGH (N37 XR81)

Sun 19th Feb 10:30am Kieran Flynn M/M

Tues 21st Feb 7pm Eve of Ash Wednesday (Ashes will be blessed & distributed)

-Fri 24th Feb 6pm Stations of the Cross

Fri 24th Feb 7pm Mass

Sun 26th Feb 10:30am Michael & Mary Kelly (Currow, Clonfanlough) & dec’d members

CLUAIN CHIARAIN 22/2/23 @ 7:30pm

OFFERTORY  Feb 12th    €690

RECENT DEATHS   Your prayers are requested  for the soul of Sabina Mannion Clonlyon & Arcadia Court (Athlone) and M  ary Rohan, St. Cynoc’s Terrace, Ferbane– both laid to rest in Clonmacnois Cemetery, Liam Scanlon, Athlone, br. of Fr. Michael Scanlon. 

FEAST DAYS FOR COMING WEEK Tues 21 Feb. St. Peter Danian.

Wed. 22 Feb. Ash Wednesday  is a day of fast and abstinence. Fasting means that the amount of food that we eat is considerably reduced. Abstinence means that we give up a particular kind of food or drink or form of amusement. Those over 18 are bound by the law of fasting until the beginning of the 60th year and all over 14 years are bound by the law of abstinence.

[Feb. 22nd The Chair of St Peter (Apostle) This ancient feast relates to early Roman custom at this time of the year of remembering the ancestors of the family. The feast celebrates Peter as bishop of Rome  & the focus of unity in the communion of one faith ]

Thurs. 23 Feb. St. Polycarp.

Fri.24 Feb. Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order. St. Fintan, Abbot                      Prayer for anyone in financial difficulty Our Gracious Father, You are the Great Provider Who supplies our every need according to Your glorious riches. I kneel before You, humbly asking for Your Gracious Hand in this time of  financial difficulty. Grant us the wisdom to better manage our  finances and lead us to ways we can augment our income so  that we can meet our financial obligations. Help us set our  priorities right and not be wasteful of Your blessings. We thank  You, Our Lord, for, despite our difficulty, You have never failed to  provide our needs. Amen.

 MASS OF THANKSGIVING:  To mark the occasion of the departure of the Marist Brothers from Champagnat House, Athlone, a Mass of  Thanksgiving will be celebrated in St. Mary’s Church, Athlone, on Sunday 26th February at 2:30 pm. All are welcome to join us as we express our  profound gratitude to the Marist Brothers who served in our parish over a period of 138 years

A LENTEN PROGRAM FOR MEN has been developed by an Irish priest to help men make this Lent different. The program contains 4 pillars - Prayer, Penance, Spiritual Reading & Charity. To find out more and join an online group a zoom information meeting is scheduled for Sunday Feb 19th at 8.30 p.m. Meeting ID 494 625 9738 Password: 997298. Email desertfathers40@gmail.com for a copy of program

ATHLONE LITTLE THEATREpresents 'Philadelphia, Here I Come!' by Brian Friel from Thursday, March 9 to Thursday, March 16 next. Sunday Matinee on March 12 at 3pm. All other performances take place at 8pm. Booking is open at Eventbrite or via  www.athlonelittetheatre.ie. Tickets are €15.

LENTEN SCRIPTURE INITIATIVE drawing on St. Paul’s letters to the Corinthians will run in Clonfert Family Centre, Ballinasloe, for five Sunday evenings (8 – 9.15/9.30 pm) beginning Sunday 26^th February.  For more details see www.creideamh.ie/lent2023 .  Early booking advised as places are limited.

LENTEN APPEAL- TROCAIRE BOX: Suffering for food, water, and a basic livelihood should never be part of anyone’s life. Yet it is for Thandekile and her family. Widowed by Covid, she is doing all she can to give her children a future. But in the grip of climate change and poverty, she’s losing ground. Your Lenten donation of any size now means more families like hers can eat, children can stay in school, lasting livelihoods can be built, and a better tomorrow can belong to us all. Please let your love be there this Lent. Please, give what you can afford:

TROCAIRE BOXES are in St. Ciaran’s Clonfanlough & Shannonbridge Churches. Please take one home for season of Lent.

DOON/SHANNONBRIDGE GAA LOTTERY

-Draw of  Feb 13th 2023. Numbers drawn 6-9-24-30.  No Winner. 2x Match 3 Next draw 20/2/23 Jackpot €4,600

FUNDRAISER FOR CYCLE AGAINST SUICIDE

Gerry O’Sullivan is taking part in the Cycle Against Suicide - N2 End to End Portugal Challenge to honour his nephew Ben’s memory, and to raise much needed funds for Suicide Awareness.The challenge covers 750km over 6 days from May 20th to 25th inclusive.
Any donation would be greatl y appreciated. Many thanks for your support.https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/GO98279073

CLONMACNOIS N.S. ENROLMENT  ongoing for the school year 2023-2024 in Clonmacnois N.S. Please phone the office on 09096 9974150 for an enrolment form

PARENTAL HELP NEEDED !”Mission to families” is a diocesan initiative arising from our recent Diocesan Assembly to have our young children involved in Mass on a routine basis. By participating in the Mass, narrating, leading Prayer of the Faithful, Offertory Gifts, Reflection. If interested please let us know.

 ASHES‘Ashes signify man’s overthrow by time. Our own swift passage, ours and not someone else’s, ours mine…everything turns to ashes, everything whatever. This house I live in, these clothes that I am wearing, my household stuff, my money, my fields, meadows, woods…whatever was great in my eyes upon earth, whatever small and contemptible, all without exception will fall back to dust’ Romano Guardini

Temperance Sunday (19th Feb)  Mass on RTÉ TV & Radio @11 prayers for all who are in treatment for addiction, for their families and for those who are in recovery. The Pioneer website www.pioneers.ie carries information for parishioners who wish to take the Lenten pledge.

A Prayer for Temperance Dear Lord. Let temperance grow in me and lead me to discover other virtues that bring deeper union with you. In your sacred name, I pray. Temper my desires, O Lord, and turn my focus towards you. Deliver me from the tendency to go to extremes that strain both body and soul. Free me from all that harms or enslaves me and turn my heart towards eternal joys. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

SHROVE DUES COLLECTION for the support of the priests of the Parish is due at this time.                                                     FRIDAY 24TH FEB is International Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Sexual Abuse. A Day marked since 2016 -lest we forget.

Lord, we are sorry for what some of us did to your children: Treated them so cruelly, especially in their hour of need. We have left them with a lifelong suffering. This was not your plan for them or us. Please help us to help them. Guide us, Lord, Amen. Prayer inscribed on commemorative stone unveiled at the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in 2012 in Dublin and now has a permanent home at Lough Derg

ATHLONE MUSICAL SOCIETY present "CHESS" The Musical from Fri 3rd to Sat 11th March 2023 (No show on 6th/7th) Book now at www.deancrowetheatre.com. Box Office 090 6492129 (Mon to Fri 12pm-3pm)Follow Athlone Musical Society on Facebook & Instagram for more details

SHANNONBRIDGE ACTION GROUP meetings are on 2nd Wednesdays of every month (8pm Health Centre) going forward. Email address for inputs/views/responses at shannonbridgeactiongroup@gmail.com

MINISTRIES Readers: 25/ 2/23 @7pm Eileen Quinn  (SB)/ 26/2/23 @10:30am Maura Molloy (Cf) Communion 18/2/23 @7pm Marie McManus  19/2/23@10:30am Jacqueline Hennessy Church Care Gemma Moore, Doris Claffey SB:Bridie Coughlan, Maureen Claffey (Feb) (CF) Counters: Shannonbridge (Feb)  Servers; 25/2/23 @ 7pm Shannonbridge  Hannah Mitchell, Oisin Kenny, Jack O’Duffy 26/2/23 @ 10:30am Clonfanlough Harry Guinan/Alyssa Hennessy, Rose Daly, Holly Maloney