Clonmacnois Parish
Nov 18/19 2023
33rd Sunday Ordinary Time (A)
Fr. Tom Cox (Adm) Tel. 090 9674125/ 086-8319500
Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com
WEB shannonbridge.blogspot.ie
FACEBOOK www.fb.me/saintciarans
Sat 18th Nov 7pm Michael Anderson
Sun 19th 4pm Bereavement Service
Mon 20th 10am Mass
Tues 21st 10am Mass
Wed 22nd 10am Mass
Thurs 23rd 7pm Deceased Staff of ESB Shannonbridge/West Offaly Power Station
Fri 24th 10am Mass
Sat 25th Nov 7pm Celine Grennan M/M
`CLONFANLOUGH
Sunday 19th Nov 10:30am Mary Kate Dolan & dec’d family members
Fri 24th Nov 7pm
Sun26th Nov 10:30am Kathleen & Patrick Kilduff (also a “Family Mass” cf Notice)
Cluain Chiarain Mass 22/11/23 @ 7:30pm
33rd SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
‘I hid your talent’
‘It isn’t the thing you do dear,
it’s the thing you leave undone,
which gives you a bit of heartache
at the setting of the sun’.
These lines from the poem ‘Sin of Omission’ by American poet Margaret Sangster rhymes perfectly with the parable of the talents in today’s Gospel. The poet goes on to chide us gently by mentioning the tender word we failed to utter, the letter we should have written; the stone we could have lifted; the acts of kindness we might have performed. The servant in the Gospel who buried his talent committed the sin of omission. He was a cautious man, lacking ambition, courage and confidence. His failure to take a risk calls to mind the old adage: ‘if you are careful enough nothing bad or good will ever happen to you’. The Christian must be prepared to take risks in building up God’s kingdom. It’s a question of using our gifts creatively to make His face seen and His voice heard. We are all gifted differently, but the gifts must be nurtured. ‘The artist is nothing without the gift; the gift is nothing without the work’ (Emile Zola). No talent can survive the blight of neglect. Hell is full of the talented! It’s worth noting that the other two servants in the parable are rewarded for being ‘faithful in small things’. In the fourth century, St. John Chrysostom proclaimed that ‘faithfulness in little things is a big thing’. There is nothing small in the service of God. ‘Little things on little wings bear little souls to heaven’. That is what the poet wrote two hundred years ago. That is what Jesus taught two thousand years ago.
FEASTS THIS WEEK
Sunday 19 Nov.World Day of the Poor The poor we see with the eyes of flesh; they are there and we can put finger and hand in their wounds and the scars of the crown of thorns are visible on their foreheads; and at this point incredulity no longer has place and we should fall at their feet and say with the Apostle, Tu est Dominus et Deus meus (You are my Lord and my God!). You are our masters, and we will be your servants. You are for us the sacred images of that God whom we do not see, and not knowing how to love Him otherwise shall we not love Him in your person’? Pope Francis
Tuesday: Presentation of Our Lady Wed 22nd : St. Cecilia, Patroness of Musicians and Choirs St. Cecilia According to legend, Cecelia was a young Christian betrothed to a Roman named Valerian. Prayer to St Cecilia for our Parish Choir Feast Day Eternal God, you gave us the gift of St Cecilia, a powerful protector and patron of music. We strive to pass our days faithfully and innocently like holy St. Cecilia so that we may come to Heaven where we may praise You in concert with her. God the Holy Spirit, Have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, Have mercy on us. St Cecilia, special patron of singers, musicians and authors. Pray for us!
Thursday: St. Columban (543-615) He was one of the greatest Irish missionaries. He died at Bobbio (Italy) Prayer to St Columban O Blessed Columban, who in your zeal to follow Christ left your homeland as a wanderer and spent your life in suffering and exile. Help and protect, we humbly ask you, the missionaries of our day who have devoted their lives to preaching the Gospel throughout the world. Obtain for them, we ask you, that same wisdom and fortitude by which you overcame the dangers, which beset your path. Assist and protect us dear St Columban to live for God’s glory that when our pilgrimage is over, we may share with you in the joy of our heavenly home, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Friday24th Nov: Fr. Andrew Dǔng-Lac and Vietnamese Martyrs.
MEALS ON WHEELS if you would like to receive these (4 meals delivered twice weekly Mon & Wed) contact 087-2410587
FAMILY MASSES If You would like to be involved. In bringing forwards Masses that would be attractive to younger families (simplified readings, prayers, involvement, crafts etc), contact us at 086-8319500
CLONFANLOUGH Family Mass Sunday 26th November @ 10:30am . We welcome all children and especially children for Communion & Confirmation.
SUNDAY NOV. 26th CLONFANLOUGH SOCIAL GROUP ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY in Clonfanlough Hall, starting with Mass at 1pm. If you would like to attend but have not received an invitation– contact any of the committee at the numbers below. Teresa Downey 086 8492041, Ann McEvoy 086 4043928, Phil Kelly 086 3581933, Patricia Anderson 087 1311607.
HIGH STREET / BELMONT WOMEN’S GROUP - - Mon. 20th Nov.: Dealing with all skincare conditions, treatments and information with Kelly Walsh, Beauty Therapist, Ferbane in High Street Hall at 8pm. All are welcome. Date for your diary: Christmas Market on Sunday 3rd December from 10am to 2.30pm. All local crafts, food etc. We ask for your support.
DECEMBER 3rd JOINT CAROL SERVICE of the RC and CofI Communities Sunday, December 3pm Teampall Ciaran. Clonmacnois Monastic Site
CLONFANLOUGH HALL (N37 FN29) INDOOR CHRISTMAS MARKET Sun 3rd Dec. 2023 from 3-6pm. Alison Holmes Handcrafted Jewellery, Anna Boles Art, Audrey White Cottage Crafts, Bloomhill Nurseries, Clonmacnois N.S. Christmas Cheer, Clonfanlough Hall Christmas Treats, Ferbane Totalhealth Pharmacy, Shannonbridge Pottery, Shannonbridge GAA, Tara’s Sweet Treats, Terence Casey Animal Adventure Books, Raffle, Complimentary Hot Chocolate, Tea & Coffee on Arrival.
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MINISTRIES Readers: 25/11/23 @7pm (anniv reader) 26/11/23 @10:30 Maura Molloy(Cf Communion25/11/23 @7pm J. Mitchell 26/11/23@10:30am M. Kelly Church Care Gemma Moore, D. Claffey (SB) J. Rigney D. Darcy CF) Counters Clonfanlough (Nov) Servers; 25/11/23 L. Fitzpatrick, J. Darcy (SB) 26/11/23 Clonfanlough E. Seery, D. Seery, O. Shrahan, E Shrahan
TALENTS Up at the pearly gates, there they stood/ waiting in line one fine day/ the lady with the angel's voice who sang only in her shower/ the painter-perfectionist who would never soil a blank canvas/ the actor who was too shy to try for roles in the theatre /the poet who scribbled notes all tucked in a drawer locked away/ and the scruffy young girl knew best to make people smile back at her / they took a big bite of humble pie
when they learned, there so anxious all would be asked how they made the most of their talents as they were ~
Line Gauthier
THE ANNUAL MASS for the Deceased Staff of E.S.B. Shannonbridge/West Offaly Power Station, will be celebrated in St. Ciaran's Church, Shannonbridge on Thursday 23rd Nov. at 7 p.m.
ATHLONE LITTLE THEATRE - Some laughter for the dark nights! Three one-act comedies directed by Paddy Martin, Clive Darling and Hélène Lepaon taking place in Athlone Little Theatre from November 29th to December 6th at 8pm. Sunday Matinee only on December 3rd at 3pm. Book now on www.athlonelittletheatre.ie
Carrig Riverstown & Killeen Drama Group is delighted to announce that on the 1st 2nd and 3rd of December 2023 they will perform Ray Cooney's 'Out of Order' at Carrig and Riverstown Community Hall. This hilarious comedy, directed by Brendan Hanamy promises to be another great production. Tickets are now on sale for €10 and are available by contacting 089 4042517
LAID TO REST SINCE NOV. 2022 Liam Coolahan 15 Dec 2022 Mary O’Brien (nee Foley) 30 Dec 2022
Kieran Flynn 16 Jan 2023
Jimmy Norton 4 Feb 2023
Mary Halligan 5 Feb 2023
Sabina Mannion 14/2/23 Annie Greally (nee Price) 9 March 2023
Liam Keoghan 12 March 2023
Phyllis Murphy 14 April 2023
Carmel Kelly Long 14/4/23 Patrick Daly 20 May 2023
Verona Greene 8 June 2023 Josephine Bailey 4th July 2023
Larry Murphy 5 July 2023
Mary Allen 8 August 2023 John Bogan 12th August 2023
Danny Farrelly 28 Sept 2023
Celine Grennan 13 October 2023
A Prayer of Remembrance God, thank you for the special people in our lives whom we are remembering in a special way during the month of November. We thank you for being a compassionate God who walks with us in the our dark moments of grief and loneliness. We are thankful for all who continue to love and support us through our grief. Lord, continue to be a light for us, giving us hope, direction and courage. May we now live our lives treasuring the memories of those special people we have known and loved and help us to bring light and hope to others
