Clonmacnois Parish
Fourth Sunday of the Year (B)
January 28th 2024
Fr. Tom Cox (Adm) Tel. 090 9674125/ 086-8319500
Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com
WEB shannonbridge.blogspot.ie
FACEBOOK www.fb.me/saintciarans
4th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
‘There was a man possessed by an unclean spirit’
In the first chapter of St. Mark’s Gospel we are given an insight into a day in the life of Jesus as He moves from prayer to active ministry. We find Him teaching in the synagogue, visiting the home of Peter, healing those who were sick and finally, praying in the wilderness. On entering the synagogue, He is confronted by a man possessed by an unclean spirit. It is His first encounter with the Kingdom of Darkness and marks the beginning of a ferocious battle that will continue from Capernaum to Calvary. Good and evil are very hard to explain or understand. What we do know is that each of us is a mixture of both. ‘The battle line between good and evil runs through the heart of every person’ (Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn). The struggle is essentially an internal one. Consequently, we s hould make it our constant care to nourish our hearts with all that is good, beautiful, noble and worthwhile so that the light may triumph over the darkness. The greatest threat to our efforts occurs when the lines become blurred, when the unacceptable is seen as acceptable, the indefensible as defensible, the inappropriate as appropriate. This blurring of lines is sadly, a hallmark of our increasingly secular world. To see evil and call it good, mocks God. To see the good and choose the good, gives Him glory.
SHANNONBRIDGE
Sat 27th 7pm Michael & Stephen Shrahan Anniv. [Mass with parents Closing of Catholic School Week]
Mon 29th 10am Mass / Tues 30th 10am Mass
Wed 31st 10am Mass Margaret, Michael & Denis Kelly Anniv.
Thurs 1st Feb 10am Mass If you are able to make St. Brigid’s Crosses, please leave them at the front of the Altar
Fri 2nd Feb 10am Mass “Candlemas” Blessing of Candles during Mass
Sat 3rd Feb 7pm Annie Anderson (M/M) & Edel Anderson (7th Anniv.) [including Blessing of Throats ]
`CLONFANLOUGH N37 XR81
Sun 28th 10:30am John Loonam & family. Dan Edwards & dec’d family members
Fri 2nd Feb 7pm Jack & Mary Maloney, Pat Maloney, Francis Moran, Kathleen Maloney
Sun 4th Feb 10:30am Padraig Devery (Clonlyon) [including Blessing of Throats ]
CLUAIN CHIARAIN Mass 31/1/24 @7:30pm
OFFERTORY : Jan 21st €470
FEAST DAYS
St Aidan St Aiden was born around 550 probably in Co Cavan. He founded a monastery in Ferns, Co Wexford.
Jan 31st St John Bosco (1815-1888) Born in Piedmont, Italy, he founded the Salesian order. He is the patron saint of youth.
St Blaise Feast day February 3rd Saint Blaise lived in the 4th century at a very difficult time for Christians under the emperor Diocletian. Christians were persecuted resulting in thousands of executions. Blaise was a Bishop in present day Armenia and eventually was executed by the authorities. The tradition of having our throats blessed on his Feast day has continued because of his kindness to a child who was choking with a fish bone. “Through the intercession of St Blaise Bishop and martyr may you be free of sickness of the throat and takeaway the evil through Christ our Lord. Amen.
PARISH COUNCIL MEET: The New Parish Pastoral Council will meet on Thursday night next, February 1st @8pm in Presbytery
SHANNONBRIDGE LOTTO Jan 22nd 2024 numbers drawn 4-11-16-24 No Winner, Six Match 3 Next Draw 29th Jan Jackpot stands at €5,000
“Operation Transformation” WALKING CLUB continues at GAA ground Mon/Wed/Fri at 8pm for 5 more weeks. Please spread the word everyone in the community welcome including non members!
We are also registered for the walking challenge again this year. To register, download the "my life" app from the playstore. Open the "every step counts" link in the app and register with shannonbridge GAA. There are good prizes to be won if we reach a target of steps required we will be in the draw.
FOOT CARE: MOBILE Foot Health Practitioner Service House Calls Available Daytime and Evening:Maura (086) 8053671 for appts
FEBRUARY FEASTS - St. Brigid: Thursday 1st February. St. Brigid’s Blessing May Brigid bless the house wherein we dwell. Bless every fireside, every wall and door. Bless every heart that beats beneath its roof. Bless every hand that toils to bring its joy.
Friday February 2nd Presentation of the Lord - Candlemas Day: Blessing of candles during all First Friday Masses. 10am Shannonbridge 7pm Clonfanlough
Feast of St. Blaise - Saturday 3rd February. Blessing of throats will take place in: Ferbane: after 7pm Masses on Saturday 3rd February (Shannonbridge) . Clonfanlough after 10:30am Mass
CLONMACNOIS N.S. Board of Management Tues 30th Jan 2024 at 7:30pm
You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore (William Faulkner)
CLONFANLOUGH HALL:
-Zumba for kids - boys and girls aged 4 to 10, starting in the hall Monday 12th Feb 4.45 to 5.30
-Music Generation Offaly: Music lessons in Clonfanlough Hall every Wednesday
Times: 4-5pm ages 8-12 (primary school) 5-6pm ages 13+(secondary school).
-Pilates with Ger: Monday’s 8.00-9.00pm
-Women’s Fitness class with Nicky: Wednesday’s 7.30-8.30pm
Brigid is one of Ireland's earliest recorded saints, and along with St. Patrick, one of our most famous. It is thought she was born sometime between 452 and 456 AD in Faughart, a few miles from Dundalk in Co. Louth. Brigid's father was a wealthy chieftain named Dubtach. Legend has it that she caused him great annoyance with her generosity, giving away his valuable goods to the poor and needy. It is thought by some that Brigid's mother, Brocseach, was a slave in Dubtach's household. Eventually, Dubtach became so frustrated with his daughter's behaviour that he decided to try to remove her from his household. He approached the King of Leinster and offered to sell Brigid to him. However, while Dubtach was negotiating the deal with the King, Brigid, who was waiting outside, managed to give away her father's valuable sword to a beggar.
Saint Brigid Hearth Keeper Prayer [Courtesy of SaintBrigids.org]
Brigid of the Mantle, encompass us,
Lady of the Lambs, protect us,
Keeper of the Hearth, kindle us.
Beneath your mantle, gather us,
And restore us to memory.
Mothers of our mother,
Foremothers strong,
Guide our hands in yours.
Remind us how to kindle the hearth,
To keep it bright, to preserve the flame.
Your hands upon ours,
Our hands within yours,
To kindle the light,
Both day and night.
The Mantle of Brigid about us,
The Memory of Brigid within us,
The Protection of Brigid keeping us
From harm, from ignorance, from heartlessness,
This day and night,
From dawn till dark,
From dark till dawn.
Candlemas Day February 2nd Friday next is the Feast of the Presentation Candlemas Day . Traditionally on this day candles are blessed for use at home & in church . People very generously donate candles for Church use. Benediction candles are the most suitable (Blessed candle). This also is a day of prayer for religious women&men.
Prayer for Religious
-‘Being for others’ is the core vision of their lives.
-‘Being for others’ follows a life of radical simplicity lived in a vowed promise of freedom.
-‘Being for others’ follows a single-hearted love that is inclusive of all, especially the poor.
-‘Being for others’ follows a shared community life of service, availability and hospitality.
-‘Being for others’ follows a communal discernment and prayer of quiet stillness and silence.
-‘Being for others’ follows new ways to be credible and convincing witnesses of the Gospel.
-‘Being for others’ follows like Mary, the suffering sword which is heart-rending and painful.
-‘Being for others’ follows and believes in the faithful promise of a God who visits his people. May we ‘be for others’ as a kind and gentle light in dark times of doubt and fear. John Cullen
OFFALY PROLIFE - Prolife Conversation Evening in Dooly’s Hotel, Birr at 7pm to circa 9pm on Monday 29th January
ST. BRIGID’S CREDIT UNION LTD. – Notice of 56th Annual General Meeting. The 56th AGM of St. Brigid’s Credit Union Ltd. will take place on Monday 29th of January at 8pm in the Scouts Den, Clara. There will be a FREE DRAW for those in attendance and refreshments provided. All members welcome!
MIDLANDS WHEELIE BIN CLEANING SERVICE - contact 087 1460414.
LIKE TO START YOUR OWN BUSINESS but not sure how to do it? Offaly Local Development Company are meeting unemployed people NOW for places on their next Business Development Programme. Contact Des Regan on dregan@offalyldc.ie or call 057 9352467 / 087 9699998. Website: www.offalyldc.ie. Closing date 29th February 2024
LÁ FHÉILE BRÍDE | ST. BRIGID’S DAY February 1st marks St. Brigid’s Feast Day and the first day of Spring. Continue the tradition of making St. Brigid’s Crosses by making your own Cross in preparation for her feast day
FINAL CALL (for 1 more week) for Clothes Collection in aid of Meals on Wheels. Bags can be left at Shannonbridge Hall
Progressive 25 Card GameArdscoil Mhuire Parents Association are holding a Progressive 25 card game on Sunday 28th January @ 8pm in Gullane's Hotel. Admission €10.00pp. Raffle on the night.
Ignatian Spiritual Exercises for Men, led by Fr. Stephen Kennedy Friday 2nd to 5th February in De La Salle Retreat Centre, Castletown, Laois. Cost €200 which includes all means and en-suite single rooms. Call Sr. Constancy 089 2152307.
Dates to remember in 2024
Tues Feb 13th Shrove Tuesday 7pm Clonfanlough & Confirmation Service of Light
Feb. 14 – Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent and also St Valentines day
Feb 22nd First Confession 7pm Clonfanlough
Thurs March 7th Confirmation (Shannonbridge) & the first official visit of Bishop Paul Connell to the parish.
Sat May 25th – First Holy Communion.
Cemetery Masses
Fri 2nd August 7pm Mullinakill (Glebe)
SatAugust 3rd 7pm Clonmacnois Cemetery
Friday August 16th Cloniffeen 7pm
Parish Pattern Day Monday Sept 9th @7pm
Clonmacnois Pattern DaySun Sept 15th@3pm
MINISTRIES Readers: 3/2/24 @7pm Anderson intention reader 4/2/24 @10:30 Rita Molloy (CF) Communion 3/2/24 @7pm Dympna Fitzpatrick 4/2/24 @10:30 Mary Kelly Church CareJacinta Kelly, Ann Keenan (SB) Maureen Claffey, Bridie Coughlan (Feb) CF) Counters Clonfanlough Servers; 3/2/24 Liam Fitzpatrick, Keelan Rocke (SB) 4/2/24 Clonfanlough Ted & Jack Rohan, Keelan & Kara Kelly
Meals on Wheels: If you would like to avail of this service contact 087 2410587