Clonmacnois Parish
Second Sunday of Lent (B)
February 25th 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 OF LENT
‘He was transfigured’
Mountains in Scripture are places of revelation. We think of Nebo, Sinai, Tabor, Calvary. Mountains provide a different perspective. From the height, we see things in a new way. The Tabor event happened 1,800 feet above the plain, when Peter, James and John had withdrawn from the crowd, recalling the wilderness experience of Jesus, which was recounted in last Sunday’s Gospel. The disciples had been accompanying Jesus for a long time. They had walked with Him, talked with Him, listened to Him, but it was only in the quiet space that they saw Him in a different light. Jesus showed His disciples His glory, a glory that had been there all the time. We miss things that have been there all along. Most people spend their time ‘looking at’ life, but not actually ‘seeing into’ it. Children see magic, because they look for it. If only we opened ourselves to the world around us with the eyes of wonder we would notice the fingerprint of God in ordinary things from the spider’s web to the robin’s nest; from the rising of the sun to its’ setting; from the milky way to the ebb and flow of the tide. The glory of heaven is constantly bre aking-in. Earth is the place where heaven unfolds. Heaven is very near. All we need is perception. ‘Nature is a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants to us a glimpse of His infinite beauty and goodness’. (St. Francis)
LOVE SONGS,POETRY AND LIGHT BITES Join the Bara singers & friends for lunchtime entertainment on Leap Day Thursday, Feb 29th 12:45-1:45pm in Ballinasloe Town Band Hall. Admission €10
PARISH COUNCIL: The Next Parish Pastoral Council meeting on Thurs Feb 29th at 8pm in Presbytery. Items for consideration can be dropped in letterbox in porch of either church
CASH4CLOTHES Fundraiser for Clonmacnois National School Drop off Days : Monday April 8th - Friday April 12th at the school The Final drop off date is Monday 15th April at approx 9.30am We accept All Womens, Mens and Childrens Clothing Paired Footwear, handbags, Belts Soft toys(teddies) Curtains, Towels, Bedlinen(duvet covers, sheets, pillowcases, Blankets, throws)
NO PILLOWS OR DUVETS OR CARPETS
All Support is greatly appreciated.
SHANNONBRIDGE N37 FV05
Sat 24th 7pm Tommy, Geraldine & Simon McManus
Mon 26th 10am Mass\
Tues 27th 10am Mass
Wed 28th 10am Mass
Thurs Feb 29th10am Mass
Fri March 1st 10am Mass(Stations of Cross)
Sat March 2nd 7pm People’s Intentions
`CLONFANLOUGH N37 XR81
Sun 25th Feb 10:30am Michael Kelly & Wife Mary (Currow) & dec’d family members
Fri March 1st (First Friday)7pm (Stations)
Sun March 3rd 10:30am Sarah Darcy (2a)Joe Darcy (16A) & dec’d members of Darcy family
CLUAIN CHIARAIN Next Mass 28/2/24 @7:30pm
OFFERTORY Feb 18th €575 Shrove Dues €760 Feb Monthly €367
ST. BRIGID’S CROSSES A total of €302 was raised for Church Funds. Our thanks to all who made Crosses and supported this initiative.
RECENT DEATH Please pray for the soul of Joe O’Leary Lecarrow & Clonascra
MINISTRIES Readers: 2/3/24 @7pm Eileen Quinn 3/3/24 @10:30 Declan McEvoy (CF) Communion 2/3/24 @7pm John Mitchell 3/2/24 @10:30 Kay Kelly Church Care Gemma Moor, Doris Claffey (SB) Maureen Claffey, Bridie Coughlan (Feb) CF) Counters Shannonbridge Servers; 2/3/24 Liam F, Keelan R, Daithi O’D (SB) 3/3/24 Clonfanlough Ted R, jack R. Keelan K, Kara K.
FEAST DAYS
Thur Mar 1 st St David March the 1st is St David’s Day. St David is the patron saint of Wales where he was an abbot and bishop in the sixth century. Several Irish saints were his pupils and he influenced monastic developments in Ireland. He died around 601.
First Friday March 1st is the First Friday. The usual house calls will be made
the Trócaire Lenten Appeal this year aims to highlight the challenges faced by families in Malawi due to the effects of climate change in Southern Africa. Don’t forget Malita and her family this Lent.
TRÓCAIRE BOXES are available in both Churches.
Shannonbridge Action Group invite you to a public meeting on Wednesday the 28th February in the hall at 8:00. Agenda will include
1. JTF projects current and future.
2. Destination Shannonbridge
3. Greenway
4. BNM Solar farm
5. ESB
6. AoB
We would welcome your views on a general constructive discussion on the theme “Shannonbridge - Where to from here?”
SHANNONBRIDGE LOTTO Feb 19th 2024 numbers drawn 1-9-22-32 No Winner, Two Match 3 Next Draw 26th Feb Jackpot stands at €5,800
MEALS ON WHEELS : If you would like to avail of this service contact 087 2410587
Ardagh & Clonmacnois Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2024 takes place 31st May – 5th June 2024. For information and bookings contact Joe Walsh Tours 01 2410800 or email info@joewalshtours.ie
Dates to remember in 2024
Thurs March 7th Confirmation (Shannonbridge) & the first official visit of 11am Bishop Paul Connell to the parish.
Sat May 25th – 12 Noon First Holy Communion. Clonfanlough
NATIONAL PIONEER BALL- Calling Pioneers and Friends to the 25th Pioneer National Ball on Saturday 6th April beginning with Mass at 6 pm. in the Cathedral of Christ the King, Mullingar, followed by guest speaker, dinner and dancing at the Annebrook House Hotel. For details contact 0857201646 or 0876544626.
OUR PARISH - FACING THE FUTURE - An
opportunity to explore the challenges facing Parishes
today. This will be of interest to Parish Pastoral Councils. A series facilitated by Rev. Dr. Eugene Duffy at St. John’s Welcome Centre, Knock Shrine from 8-9.30pm featuring guest speakers by Videolink commencing on Mon. 26th February: “Who are we as a local faith community?”, Prof. Rafael Luciani, Boston College, USA. This series is FREE of charge. Booking advisable. Email: faithrenewal@knockshrine. ie. Tel: 094 9388100.
MOATE BUSINESS COLLEGE Adult Education Night Classes - Learn new skills and hobbies at our night classes starting on Tuesday 27th February in Moate Business College. Check out our full range of night classes on our website www. moatebusinesscollege.com or our Facebook/Instagram pages.
THE POOR CLARES IN GALWAY - Are holding a Monastic Experience Day for young women who might be interested in their way of life from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 2nd March. The day is designed to help those who may be exploring the possibility of a religious vocation to find out more about the Poor Clare way of life. Anyone wishing to book a place should email vocations@poorclares.i0
CLONFANLOUGH HALL
Zumba for kids - boys and girls aged 4 to 10 ,continuing in the hall Mondays 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
FIRST CONFESSION CONGRATULATIONS to ..
Jack Quinn– Anna Pillion-Mia Duffy– Rian Duffy– Joshua Kelly– Mia Kelly– Katie Guinan– Indie Maloney– Darragh Shrahan who made their First Confession on Thursday Night 22nd in Clonfanlough Church.
“It is my experience that once you return to the Joy Giver, joy isn’t far behind.” ― Wendy Speake
Irish Bishops on the voting on March 8th Upon his arrival in Ireland for the World Meeting of Families on 25 August 2018, Pope Francis met at Dublin Castle with representatives of civil, cultural and religious life, including the Taoiseach and members of the Government. Pope Francis said he was visiting Ireland “to help families reaffirm their commitment to loving fidelity, mutual assistance and reverence for God’s gift of life in all its forms, but also to testify to the unique role played by the family in the education of its members, and the development of sound and flourishing social fabric.” In this context, we, the bishops of Ireland, wish to comment on the two important referendums on family and care which are taking place on the 8th of March 2024.
MARRIAGE & FAMILY REFERENDUM: “We believe, however, that the commitment of marriage contributes to the common good in a unique way, by bringing stability to the family and to society, and that it consequently deserves the protection of the State, which is currently guaranteed in the Constitution. The Constitution of Ireland rightly qualifies the Family as a moral institution and one that enjoys "inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law". We are concerned that the proposed ‘family amendment’ to the Constitution diminishes the unique importance of the relationship between marriage and family in the eyes of Society and State and is likely to lead to a weakening of the incentive for young people to marry. While ‘Marriage’ entails a public and legal commitment, the term ‘durable relationship’ is shrouded in legal uncertainty and is open to wide interpretation. It does not make sense that such an ambiguous reality would be considered ‘antecedent and superior to all positive law’ and acquire the same 'inalienable and imprescriptible' rights as those ascribed to the ‘family founded on marriage.’ Various commentators have suggested that the term ‘durable relationship’ risks leading to unforeseen and unintended consequences.
CARE REFERENDUM It is right to recognise that care within the family and the wider community takes many forms.. In the words of Pope Francis at Croke Park (25/8/2018)"in any family celebration, everyone's presence is felt: fathers, mothers, grandparents, grandchildren, uncles and aunts, cousins, those who cannot come and those who live too far away". The proposed amendment would have the effect of abolishing all reference to motherhood in the Constitution and leave unacknowledged the particular and incalculable societal contribution that mothers in the home have made and continue to make in Ireland. The present constitutional wording does not in any way inhibit women from working or taking their proper place in social and public life. It does, however, respect the complementary and distinct qualities that arise naturally within the Family. The role of mothers should continue to be cherished in our Constitution
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