Clonmacnois Parish
March 19th 2023
4th 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.
FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT
‘I can see’
The Lenten gospels have common threads running through them. We heard about the disciples on Mount Tabor; the woman at the well; the blind man on the road. In all these cases Jesus takes the initiative; the encounter occurs in the solitude; people are changed. Today the blind man is healed but Jesus does much more than heal the man’s blindness. He takes him on a journey from darkness through sight to insight. He enables him to see with the ‘eyes of the heart’. As the story unfolds the blind man moves from referring to Jesus as a man to recognising him as a prophet to finally worshipping Him as Lord. In the end he comes to understand who Jesus is. The best vision is insight. In these strange and challenging days could our God be leading us from sight to insight? Is He asking us to think again; to listen again; to see with the eyes of the heart? Might He be calling on our world to make different choices; to walk different paths, to appreciate what really matters? Perhaps He is reminding us that life is very fragile, that we really have little control, that we are indeed our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers, that we are not masters of time, and, above all, that He alone is our Way our Truth and our Life. Lord that we may see.
SHANNONBRIDGE (Eircode N37 FV05)
Sat 18th March 7pm Vigil
Mon 20-24th Mass 10am
[Station of the Cross after 10am Mass Friday)]
Sat 25th 7pm Vigil
-Harry Gunning
-Oliver Hilliard
- Paddy & Mary Martin
CLONFANLOUGH (N37 XR81)
Sun 19th March @ 10:30am Children’s Communion Preparation Mass.
Thurs March 23rd 7pm Mass
Sun 26th 10:30am People’s Mass
CLUAIN CHIARAIN 22/3/23 @ 7:30pm
OFFERTORY March 12th €835
REST IN PEACE: Your prayers are requested for the happy repose of the souls of Liam Keoghan Shannonbridge and Anthony (Tony) Teehan Kilkenny & formerly “Maisies” Shannonbridge, whose funerals took place during the week.
FEAST DAYS FOR COMING WEEK
Mar. 20th St Joseph The Bible pays Joseph the highest compliment: he was a “just” man. He became holy by opening himself totally to God.
Tues. 21 March: St. Enda.
Thurs. 23 March: St. Turibius.
Fri. 24 March St. Macartan.
Mar.25th The Annunciation of the Lord The feast of the Annunciation goes back to the fourth or fifth century. Its central focus is the Incarnation. God has decided that the second person of the Blessed Trinity should become one of us. Mary has an important part to play in God’s plan. In this feast day the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was to be the mother of Jesus.
MINISTRIES Readers: 25/3/23 @7pm Ciara Macklin(SB)/ 26/2/23 @10:30am Mary Kelly (Cf) Communion 25/3/23 @7pm Dympna Fitzpatrick 26/3/23@10:30am Bridie Coughlan Church Care Eileen Quinn, Dolly Deeley, Veronica Hynes SB:Josie Egan/Betty Dolan (March) (CF) Counters: Clonfanlough (March) Servers; 25/3/23 @ 7pm Shannonbridge Hannah Mitchell, Oisin Kenny 26/3/23 @ 10:30am Clonfanlough Harry Guinan, Alyssa Hennessy, Rose Daly, Holly Maloney
ARDAGH & CLONMACNOIS ANNUAL LOURDES COLLECTION - Will take place on the 18th and 19th of March in all Parish Churches. All donations greatly appreciated.
RENOVATING CLONFANLOUGH CHURCH Next Meeting Thursday, March 23rd @ 7:30pm in Church. (after Mass) All welcome
Words to live by
-"The art of life is to know how to enjoy a little and to endure very much." (William Hazlitt)
-"If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." (Wayne Dyer)
POPE FRANCIS: This week marked the 10th anniversary of the election of Pope Francis as pontiff. The Irish Bishops have offered prayers of thanksgiving for the Holy Father, for his pastoral leadership of the Church and for his intentions. The Archbishop of Dublin Dermot Farrell says “Pope Francis continues to challenge us not to be closed in on ourselves, seeing things only from our own perspective, but to reach out, to welcome the Lord, to welcome our sisters & brothers left behind by the unfairness of life, and to proclaim the Gospel to a world hungry for that which will endure”
COMMUNION ON TONGUE OR IN THE HAND A message came from our Diocesan Administrator Fr. Tom Healy “A recent query has prompted me to clarify that all covid restrictions were lifted last Spring. Accordingly communicants are free to receive Holy Communion on the tongue or in the hand. “
"You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need."
Ballinasloe Cycling Club Couch to 50km. Looking for a new challenge - then why not give cycling a go. Ballinasloe Cycling Club’s popular Couch to 50km programme which serves as a safe and fun introduction or reintroduction to cycling begins on Sunday March 26th. Contact .ballinasloecyclingclub@gmail.com
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
MOORE & CLONFAD DRASMA SOCIETY hilarious 3 act comedy ‘For Better, For Worse' by Jimmy Keary, concludes Sun 19th March at 8.00pm in Moore Community Hall. Lots of laughs guaranteed. Tickets at the door
RENOVATING CLONFANLOUGH CHURCH
By now a small group of Locals have had 2 meetings and reviewed the work needed prior to painting & decoration the interior. In summary the main issues needed to be addressed are as follows.
-Specific construct defect – water ingress
- the condition of the small flat roof at side porch junctions with the adjacent walls.
-Localized roof defects arising from missing/cracked slates/ and inadequate rainwater discharge. To audit the roof fixings as it were.
-Condensation accumulation on the main windows.
We invite trades people with skillsets in these areas to make contact before March 22nd. The work involved is by its nature subtle and specialist and also dangerous due to the heights involved.. Contact via 086 8319500
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
DOON/SHANNONBRIDGE GAA LOTTERY -Draw of March 13th 2023. Numbers drawn 6-10-19-25. No Winner. No Match 3.€400added to Jackpot Next draw 20/3/23 Jackpot €5,800
Shannonbridge GAA membership is now due. New members welcome! To renew or sign up log on to Foireann.ie or contact Paula Claffey 0876891036. Walking track option €20 per year
MINDFULNESS A ND YOGA Boost your wellbeing by joining us for mindfulness & gentle yoga with Antoinette Larkin on Tuesday 10am in Shannonbridge Community Centre. Booking essential Declan 087 6991226, David 087 1782899, Louise 087 6925276
COPIES OF THE IRISH CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER are available. Contact me if interested . Cost €2.50,
FOOT CARE: Mobile Foot Health Practitioner Service, House call available, daytime & eve. Contact Maura at 086 8053671 to arrange an appointment
Life Lessons Priest: Did you like my homily on ‘The Milk of Human Kindness’? Parishioner: Yes, but I wish it had been condensed!
DAFFODIL DAY - Friday 24th March. Volunteers please contact Mary 087 2919314.
ESB FISHERIES - Are hosting a Coffee Morning fundraiser for Offaly Hospice Tullamore on Friday 24th March from 9.30am until 3pm at the ESB Fisheries Conservation, Belmont, R42 YA37. Please support
MOATE BUSINESS COLLEGE - Places still available on our Introduction to Drawing, night classes starting Monday 20th March from 7-9pm in Moate Business College. Register today on our website or phone us on 090 6481178.
LOCAL BUS SERVICE it has to be said the Bus Service running twice weekly to Ballinasloe (departs Mon 10am, Wed 12) and Tullamore (departs village Tues 12, Thursday 10am) needs a lot more usage supported
PRAYER FOR NEW BISHOP:God, shepherd and guide, in your mercy, give your Church in our diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois a shepherd after your own heart who will walk in your ways, and with loving care watch over your people. Give us a leader of vision and a teacher of your truth. So may your Church be built up and your name glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CEMETERY CLEAN UP A persistent problem remains with grave materials dumped in the cemetery…sometimes at the “No dumping” signs which beats us! One affected grave of a lovely person who has no one locally to tend her plot really upset me. Only for our SES scheme & some locals who routinely bring away dumped materials– things would be much worse. I don’t even want to think about items being hefted over the wall to adjoining fields as if the items magically disappear instead of causing potential damage and hurt to livestock & machinery. Some people tell me it’s from others, others advise cameras –(but who prosecutes?). I appreciate I’m preaching to the converted here, but I wonder would people consider on their visits bringing a bag & taking away some away. In Zimbabwe the Shona people would say “little by little we make a heap”-In our case that’s not a positive!
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