Clonmacnois Parish
December 17th 2023
Third Sunday of Advent (B)
Fr. Tom Cox (Adm) Tel. 090 9674125/ 086-8319500
Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com
WEB shannonbridge.blogspot.ie
FACEBOOK www.fb.me/saintciarans
CONFESSIONS
Clonfanlough Friday 22nd after 7pm Mass
Sunday 24th after 10:30am Mass
Shannonbridge: Saturday 16th & 23rd after 7pm Mass
Sunday 24th 12:30-1:30pm
Christmas Eve/ Day Masses
Sunday 24th
5pm Shannonbridge
7pm Clonfanlough
Monday 25th
10:30 Clonfanlough
12 Noon Shannonbridge
`SHANNONBRIDGE
Sat 16th 7pm Damien, Josephine & Brian Kenny
[Christmas Confessions after Mass & on 23rd]
Mon 18th 10am Communion Service
Tues 19th 10am Communion Service
Wed 20th 10am Mass
Thurs 21st 10am Mass
Fri 22nd 10am Mass
Saturday 23rd 7pm Eileen Higgins (6th A)
[Christmas Confessions after Mass & on 23rd]
`CLONFANLOUGH N37 XR81
Sun 17th Dec 10:30am Kieran & Anne Pillion (Carrowkeel) Anniv.
Fri 22nd Dec 7pm Mass & Confessions
Sun 24th Dec 10:30am Devery Family (Clonlyon) Nancy & Sonny Egan
[Confessions after: Both General & individual]
Bambinelli Sunday Blessing of baby Jesus figures at Masses on Dec 16/17th A custom from Pope Francis’ time of wrapping & bringing the family crib Jesus figure to Mass for blessing & placing it safely till Christmas as the first “Gift” to be unwrapped.]
Cluain Chiarain Mass 13/12/23 @ 7:30pm
RECENT DEATHS Please pray for the repose the souls of Michael Fitzpatrick Shannonbridge Nuala Maloney, y née Windsor, late of England & Birr, sister of Kay Fitzpatrick
FEAST DAYS Dec.18 St Flannan St Flannan lived in the seventh century. He was a son of the king of Thomond. He is the patron saint of the diocese of Killaloe.
Weekly Envelopes Distribution continues for the 2024 envelopes. Thank you to all who take on this task. A summary of the 2022 Accounts in porches Dec16/17 (all parish accounts audited by RBK Accts every year)
CHRISTMAS EVE NATIVITY PLAY in both churches
5pm Shannonbridge
7pm Clonfanlough
all families welcome and children are welcome to dress as shepherd or angels for this mass.
Main characters are being drawn fairly.
the nativity story replaces the readings of the night
MOORE NEWS 49th edition of the Moore News is on sale now. Books available locally including Moran's of Shannonbridge €10 per copy. Lots of great news, photos, stories, interesting pieces of history & local advertisers.
PARISH CALENDARS are available. This year shows the John Paul II Award Participants with our new Bishop Paul Connell on Pattern Day last
Third Sunday of Advent: Gaudete (‘Rejoicing’) Sunday. We get it into our heads and our hearts, that to celebrate Christmas properly, we have to be happy and jolly, merry and joyful, and that’s exactly backwards! We forget that Christmas is firstly for the lonely the abandoned, the grieving, the lost and the burdened, for those who seek mercy, who hunger for peace, consolation and real joy. We look for something greater to come, our lives an Advent of expectation, of spirits anointed, lifted and blessed. And if you will, Lord, in kind measure, in this time of Christmas prayer and hope, give us what our hearts and lives truly need
Advent Week 3 (JOY) Candle name: Shepherd's Candle. Remind us: The Joy at the coming birth of Jesus. Joy is more substantial than happiness. It is deeper and, in many ways, more subtle
Prayer to the Infant Jesus Infant Jesus meek and mild look on me a little child. Pity mine and pity me, suffer me to come to Thee. Heart of Jesus I adore You, Heart of Mary I implore you, Heart of Joseph pure and just, in these three hearts I place my trust
PARISH CRIBS In this 800th anniversary of the first Crib, thank you to the Kenny & Kelly Families of both communities for our beautiful crib in both churches & to a parishioner for patiently repairing & renewing the 50year old figures
Sunday 17th Dec Cloghan ST. MARY’S CHURCH CHOIR ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE - Will take place in St. Mary’s Church, Cloghan at 8pm. All donations from this Service will be donated to the Irish Red Cross. Wishing you and your families a very happy Christmas
Enjoy this year’s digital Advent 2023 calendar To celebrate this holy season, the 2023 digital Advent calendar on the homepage of www.catholicbishops.ie, offers userfriendly resources for schools, parishes and in the home. Each day, open virtual double-doors to reveal short video and audio messages, seasonal crafts and prayers, to assist people of all ages in keeping Christ at the centre of our Christmas preparations.
Give the gift of Lough Derg this Christmas The online Lough Derg Christmas Shop is now open at: www.loughderg.live/shop Mass Bouquets, Christmas Cards, the limited edition Lough Derg Christmas Candle, and a large range of Nativity Sets and other gifts. The Christmas shop provides much needed financial income to support the mission and ministry of Lough Derg outside the Pilgrimage Season.
Parish Calendar for 2024— copies available in the Church porches. You are welcome to take extra for people who cannot attend Church and for family members who are living abroad.
Sunday Dec 17th Christmas Social Gathering for Adults. Sunday Dec 17th from 4pm in Moore Community Hall N37 HT68 Music-Song-Refreshments-Craic. Entry €5
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
‘Rejoice the Lord is near’
This is ‘Gaudete’ Sunday. The pink candle is lit on the Advent wreath. It is a call to rejoice because the Lord is near. Is it possible to be joyful in a world laden with bad news, groaning under the shadow of environmental catastrophe and brutal war? It is possible and the surest way to find it is through building a friendship with Christ. Joy is not the absence of suffering; it is the presence of God. With Him we can look at the world through a different lens, see His fingerprint even in the worst circumstances on earth and know that all moments can be healed and that all shall be well. John the Baptist, the ‘greatest of the prophets’ came to understand this truth during his time of prayer, fasting and reflection in the wilderness and when he emerged he constantly and steadfastly directed the attention of his followers beyond himself to Christ. In so doing, he was actually pointing the way to true joy. He had discovered the pearl of great price and from then on, his words and deeds would bear eloquent witness to that discovery. For us as for John the pathway to joy will always look like this:
Jesus first; Others second; Yourself last
COLLECTION FOR SYRIA, TURKEY & GAZA
Local Man Tom Corbett is helping to as part of a a group collecting (via Trócaire) to alleviate suffering due to natural (February 2023 earthquakes in Turkey/N.W. Syria) & current suffering in Gaza. Please make a donation if you can to Syrian Refugee Appeal A/c No. 31997 Ballinasloe Credit Union. All information & progress can be viewed on creideamh.ie See Porch notices
SHANNONBRIDGE LOTTO Dec 11th ’23 numbers drawn 8-14-23-29 No Winner, One Match 3 Next Draw 18-12-23 Christmas Draw 5 x €50 next week. Jackpot stands at €3,800
ADVENT MONDAYS The Way of Gentleness: A personal enrichment journey for Advent on Monday 8 p.m. 18th Dec. in St. Patrick’s Church, Strandhill. Online attendance also at churchservices – stpatricksstrandhill.
PILATES with Ger Murray in Clonfanlough Hall will resume on January 8th 2024 at 8pm €10 per Class. Eircode (next door!) N37 D950 All Welcome
OFFERTORY: Dec 8th & Dec 9/10th Offertory €1,400
Thank you for your financial support. You can also support using electronic transfer if it is more convenient. Bank details are : Clonmacnois Parochial Account.
BIC-BOFIIE2DXXX
IBAN-IE90BOFI90368011629381
CLOTHES COLLECTION in aid of the Meals on Wheels. Please leave any bags of clothes, paired shoes, handbags, bed linen. (No blankets, duvets or pillows) into Shannonbridge Hall. Your support is appreciated.
CAROLS at Shannonbridge Church—SINGING in aid of Offaly hospice will take place on Sat 16th and 23rd Dec before 7pm Mass
MINISTRIES Readers: 23/12/23 @7pm Eileen Quinn 24/12/23 @10:30 Ann Guinan (CF) Communion16/12/23 @7pm Deirdre Kenny 24/12/23@10:30am Kay Kelly Church Care Dolly Deeley/ Veronica Hynes (SB) Helen Darcy, Kathleen Norton(CF) Counters Shannonbridge (Dec) Servers; 23/12/23 L. Fitzpatrick, J. Darcy (SB) 24/12/23 Clonfanlough E & D. Seery, O & E. Shrahan
CHRISTMAS MASS BOUQUETS I have some available for people who wish signed Cards.
BIBLE DIARIES available at reduced cost €10
SUNDAY READINGS freely available for parish reader readesr
Beannachtaí na Nollag
Wishing one and all in the parish a very Happy & Peaceful Christmas
Fr. Tom
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