Clonmacnois Parish
Second Sunday of the Year (B)
January 14th 2024
Fr. Tom Cox (Adm) Tel. 090 9674125/ 086-8319500
Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com
WEB shannonbridge.blogspot.ie
FACEBOOK www.fb.me/saintciarans
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
‘What are you looking for’?
‘What are you looking for’? These are the first recorded words of Jesus in St. John’s Gospel as He addresses His disciples. It is the most fundamental question in life. One could say that the rest of the Gospel contains a series of responses to that question. For those seeking nourishment for the soul, Jesus says ‘I am the bread of life’. For the many longing for hope in the darkness that surrounds us, Jesus says ‘I am the light of the world’. For those searching for a means to a more authentic life, Jesus says. ‘I am the Way’. For all who crave truth in a world of ‘fake news’, Jesus says ‘I am the Truth’. For the young and old of every nation who need reassurance in the face of death, Jesus says ‘I am the resurrection and the life’. Having posed the question Jesus invites His listeners to ‘come and see’. By spending time with Him they not only come to see who He is, but they come to see who they could be. ‘Come live with me and you’ll know me’ (C.S. Lewis). Having begun as seekers they move to being followers and end as disciples. If we want to go beneath the surface of our lives and find answers to our deepest questions, we must spend time in His presence. He alone is the answer. If He is not the answer there is no answer, but we must ‘come and see’
SHANNONBRIDGE
Sat 13th 7pm Christy Mooney M/M
Mon 15th 10am Mass
Tues 16th 10am Mass/ Service TBC
Wed 17th 10am Mass
Thurs 18th 10am Mass
Fri 19th 10am Mass/ Service TBC
Sat 20th 7pm. Christeen Reynolds (4A) Barney Reynolds (6A)
`CLONFANLOUGH N37 XR81
Sun 14th Jan 10:30am Ciarán Kearns (2A)
Sun 21st Jan 10:30am (Opening Mass with Children for Catholic Schools Wk)
-Rigney Family dec’d (Clonlyon)
-Peetie & Earl Kelly (Carrowkeel)
CLUAIN CHIARAIN Mass 17/1/24 @ 7:30pm
OFFERTORY : Jan 6th (Epiphany) & Jan 7th €1,105
FEAST DAYS Jan 17th St Anthony (251-356) This Anthony is not Anthony of Padua, the Franciscan preacher who lived in the thirteenth century. Today’s St Anthony is often refered to as “the father of modern monasticism” He lived a life of solitude but also attracted many others to form communities of hermits.
Parish Calendar for 2024— A few copies available in the Church porches.
NEWS AROUND THE WORLD
FRENCH CHURCH: A poll found that 78 per cent of French Muslims think the legal separation of Church and State is prejudiced against them. In contrast, the traditionally Catholic (albeit non-practising) majority generally supports that policy - and about two-thirds of them think it is under attack
BELGIUM CHURCH: Belgium’s data protection agency has ruled that the Diocese of Ghent must remove from its baptismal records a person who wanted to leave the Church in protest The diocese argued it could only add a note saying the person had decided to leave, as it had to keep such records to avoid administering the sacrament twice.
POPE’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE: Pope Francis encouraged Vatican officials to “learn the art of listening” in his annual Christmas address to the Curia-He warned against “rigid ideological positions” This is consistent with his emphasis on synodality
Popes Prayer Intention for January: For the gift of diversity in the Church.
CLONFANLOUGH HALL: -Music Generation Offaly: Starting music lessons in Clonfanlough Hall. Registration Information: Date: Wednesday 17th January Times: 4-5pm ages 8-12 (primary school) 5-6pm ages 13+(secondary school). Come along to registration evening where your son/daughter can meet the tutor and try out an instrument. Lessons will cost €5 per week, plus an additional €10 instrument hire (if applicable).More information on the evening.
-Pilates with Ger: Monday’s 8.00-9.00pm
-Women’s Fitness class with Nicky: Wednesday’s 7.30-8.30pm .. Workout to music suitable for all fitness levels. No need to prebook.
PARENTS ASSOCIATION Thank you all for your generous support, contribution & help with Clonmacnoise School Christmas Carol Service fundraiser . A superb performance by the children set the tone for the evening. Christmas & community spirit came alive in hall afterwards . Total monies raised €5,510
MINISTRIES Readers: 20/1/24 @7pm Fiachra Anderson 21/1/24 @10:30 Della Fitzgerald (CF) Communion 20/1/24 @7pm Eileen Quinn 21/1/24 @10:30 Enda Molloy Church Care Paula Claffey, Antoinette Kelly, Deirdre Kenny (SB) Mary Guinan, Anne Guinan CF) Counters Clonfanlough (Jan) Servers; 20/1/24 L. Fitzpatrick, J. Darcy (SB) 21/1/24 Clonfanlough E & D. Seery, O & E Shrahan
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is held from 18th to 25th January. The theme is based on Luke 10:27 “You shall love the Lord your God….and your neighbour as yourself.”
Catholic Schools Week Jan 21-27th on the theme of Catholic schools as communities of Service. We acknowledge the pivotal
role our schools play in our community and in the nurturing Gospel values with our children.
Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. — Aristotle
New season - Film@BirrTheatre resumes every Thursday 8pm, commencing with the adorable title, Driving Madeline. Historical Entertainer Paddy Cullivan brings you the incredible story of the death of Ireland’s first Commander-in-Chief. An audio-visual spectacular featuring hundreds of images, shocking new research and incredible songs. The
Murder Of Michael Collins. Sat 20 Jan 8pm
www.birrtheatre.com
OFFALY PROLIFE - Invite you to a Prolife Conversation Evening with Senator Ronan Mullen chairing with guest speakers Vicky Wall of Everylife Counts; Síle Quinlan of the PLC and speakers from the Life Institute, Gianna Care and Gript Media 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!
CALLING PIONEERS AND FRIENDS TO THE 25th PIONEER NATIONAL BALL - An evening of celebration and fun on Saturday 6th April 2024. Mass at 6pm in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, followed by special guest speaker, dinner, music and dancing at the Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar. Extra activities on Friday night and Saturday and Sunday afternoons. For details/tickets contact Dermot Fagan 085-7201646 or Daisy Carey 087-6544626
Meeting re flooding in the Shannon Callows
The Save Our Shannon Organisation (S.O.S.O.) are holding an information evening in Lukers, Shannonbridge, Co. Offaly on Monday next, 15 th January at 7.30 p.m. All farmers that have been affected by flooding in the Shannon Callows from Athlone to Meelick/Lusmagh in summer/autumn 2023 are invited to attend. The items to be discussed are as follows; a) the effects of summer flooding on farmers in the Callows (rivers Shannon, Suck, Brosna, Little Brosna), b) the Shannon Callows Fodder Scheme, c) the problems that have arisen in the implementation of this scheme
by the Dept. of Agriculture.
MIDLANDS WHEELIE BIN CLEANING SERVICE - contact 087 1460414.
SHANNONBRIDGE LOTTO Jan 8th 2024 numbers drawn 5-20-30-32 No Winner, One Match 3 Next Draw 15-1-24 Jackpot staands at €4,600
“Operation Transformation” WALKING CLUB begins Mon 8th at GAA ground Mon/Wed/Fri at 8pm for 8 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: CONTACT Maura (086) 8053671 to arrange an appointment.
"St. Ignatian Spiritual Exercises for Men -
Led by Fr Stephen Kennedy, IVE, Fri Feb 2nd to Mon Feb 5th (bank holiday) in De La Salle retreat centre, Castletown, Laois, R32N6D8. Cost €200 - includes all meals and en-suite single rooms. Call Sr. Constancy 089 - 2152307 or c.puertadelaauroral@gmail.com"
SUNDAY READINGS freely available for parish reader (€6 otherwise)
Come And See by mike bullock
Come and see Me when you're able
Call by for a little chat
There is so much I must tell you
I'm concerned at where you're at
You have drifted from My purpose
Heading for a nasty fall
I can guide you back to safety
If on Me you kindly call.
Though My children number millions
I'm available for you
I have knowledge of your heartbeat
Know your rhythms through
and through I created you especially
For a purpose others lack
Call on me this very instant
Come right now, I want you back
Reflection
Lord, we thank you for people in our lives who guided us but did not try to possess us: parents, teachers, spiritual guides, friends.
For a time we stood with them.
Very simply, like John the Baptist,
they said to us, "Look, there is the one you should follow,"
and hearing this we followed that person.
Lord, there are many people who want to do great things for you,
to excel in mighty deeds that will win them glory. But from time to time someone comes into our lives and just by looking at them we can say,
"Look, there is a lamb of God,"
someone who is willing to do the humble things, to be patient and to endure. That is Jesus passing by. Amen
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