Clonmacnois Parish

December 26th 2021

Holy Family (C)

Fr. Tom Cox (Adm) Tel. 090 9674125/  0868319500 

Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com

     WEB  shannonbridge.blogspot.ie

FACEBOOK    https://www.facebook.com/tomas.macconchoille  (Live)

https://fb.me/saintciarans  (saved to it afterwards)

 

CHRISTMAS REFLECTION

 ‘They will call Him Emmanuel, a name which means God-is-with-us’

We can’t help remembering at Christmas, because Christmas is about remembering and memories are never indifferent. At Christmas all roads lead to home and our minds turn to everything and everyone we have ever loved. We gather the victories won, the defeats suffered, the opportunities taken or missed. We come face to face with who we are and where we came from and, surrounded by those we love or have loved, whose presence we enjoy, or whose absence we feel, we are drawn to the crib, the place that holds all time together. The message of the manger is Emmanuel. God is with us. When Christ was born so was our hope, a hope that never dies. Christmas isn’t just a day. It’s a frame of mind that should inform our whole year. ‘Peace on earth will come to stay when we live Christmas every day’ (Helen Steiner Rice)

 THANK YOU

Throughout the year so many people have worked together so that we could be open and worship together keeping each other safe. They have shown a huge commitment to being here to steward (Anne, Della, Dolly, Eileen, Vivienne)and  the many people in Church Care who clean/sanitise the Church. This has given people great confidence to return to Mass and throughout the year it has been great to see people back again when we were able to open on May 10th.

In our preparations for Christmas, the Kelly and Kenny families faithfully put up the Crib in both Churches.  Parish Readers, eucharistic ministers,  Sr. Margaret Mary and choir members who helped us to pray so much better with  word & music. Fr. PJ Fitzpatrick who adds so much to our community. Dympna and Kay helped so much with flowers and our prayer space. Mary, Della, Anne (x3!) who open/close the Churches. George and Martin with Drill and ladder ready when the need arose. Members of the Parish Council for their dedication and care,  our assembly delegates, parishioners who distributed the parish envelopes– which in the circumstances we are in– kept our parish actually functioning.  School staff & parents. My heart is full of thanks… you’re great and God bless you. Forgive me if my memory is faulty and I left somebody out.

To all who do so much in their own quiet way, we thank you for the way in which we all work together. We wish you and your families a very happy Christmas and every peace, joy and blessing for the new year

 SHANNONBRIDGE &

CLONFANLOUGH

CHRISTMAS MASSES 2021

Dec 24th Christmas Eve: Sh/bridge 5pm & 9pm;Clonfanlough 7p.m.

Dec 25th Christmas Day: Clonfanlough 10:30am; Shannonbridge 12 noon

Sunday Dec 26th Feast of Holy Family (St. Stephen’s Day) Clonfanlough 10:30am, Shannonbridge 12 Noon

Mon. 27th: 7pm  Kieran Kelly (1st Anniv.) Leharrow

 Tues. 28th: 7pm   Seamus Grennan

Wed. 29th:10am  Mass

Thurs. 30th: 10am  Service

Fri. 31st: 10am   Mass

 Sat. 1st Jan. 2022: 12 Noon Mass  World Day of Peace

Sat 1st Jan 2022  7pm Shannonbridge

Sun 2nd Jan 2022  10:30am Clonfanlough

 

RECENT DEATH Please pray for the repose of the soul of Lottie (Loretta) Horan of Banagher (formerly Darcy, Shannonbridge) sister of Oliver who died

 

PARISH CALENDARS  are available  in both Churches

UPCOMING  FEAST DAYS

Sunday 26 Dec, Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

Monday 27 Dec: St. John

Tuesday 28 Dec: The Holy Innocents.

Wed. 29 Dec. St. Thomas Becket.

Friday 31 Dec. St. Sylvester 1.

Saturday 1 Jan. Mary, The Holy Mother of God.

Monday 3 January Most Holy Name of Jesus. St. Mainchin.

Thursday 6 January The Epiphany of the Lord.

Friday 7 January St. Raymond of Penyafort.

Sunday 9 January Baptism of the Lord.

Welcome Home: Céad míle fáilte to all who have come home to be with family and friends. Our thoughts and prayers are also with those who are unable to travel home this year.

CALLS TO THE HOUSEBOUND As priests we are very conscious at the moment that some people are anxious that we call, others are anxious that we don’t and it’s hard to know the right thing to do in such a volatile time. You can let me know if you’d like a call… don’t be shy I won’t bite!

 CARRYING CHRIST

 Into the hillside country Mary went carrying Christ, And all along the road the Christ she carried Generously bestowed grace on those she met. She has not meant to tell she carried Christ. She was content to hide his love for her. But about her glowed such joy That into stony hearts love flowed, And even to the unborn John, Christ’s grace was sent. Christ in the Sacrament of love each day, Dwells in my soul, a little space, And then I walk life’s crowded highway, Jostling those who seldom think of God. To these I pray that I may carry Christ, For it may be some would not know of Christ Except through me. Ruth Mary Fox

 

PRAYER FOR YOUR CRIB AT HOME  God of every nation and people, from the very beginning of creation you have shown us your love: when our need for a Saviour was great you sent your Son to be born of the Virgin Mary. To our lives he brings joy and peace, justice, mercy, and love. Lord, bless all who look upon this manger; may it remind us of the humble birth of Jesus, and raise our thoughts to him, who is God-with-us and Saviour of all, and who lives and reigns forever and ever

 

CHRISTMAS VARIES “There are lots of Christmases. There's the quiet one, which seems to occur for most people every year, and yet always seems to be spoken of as if it arrived as a mighty surprise: ‘Wasn’t it a very quite Christmas this year?’, ‘Oh indeed sure it's over before you know it, after all the preparation.’ Then of course there’s the child’s Christmas, and not quiet at all, but a Christmas of glistening eyes, and lit faces, and hopes, and excitement that turns to tiredness and crying, and overeating that satiates or sickens children of all ages. There’s the drinking Christmas too, excuse for some, tiring round for others, habitually cited as ‘exhausting and rarely satisfying,’ as an American writer put it. There’s the homecoming Christmas too which touches in its way the Christmas that God began. At this time above all, Christ achieves some sign of his promise to the world.” -The late Fr. Tom Waldron.

 CHRISTMAS AT CLONONY CASTLE - A word of sincere thanks to all who visited Santa Claus during his recent visit. Happy Christmas to you all!

KEN SMOLLEN FOOD APPEAL Helping Offaly Families Drop off points in both Churches (Shannonbridge & Clonfanlough) from Saturday Dec. 18th to New Year (Breakfast Cereals, Tea, Sugar, Pasta & Pasta Sauce, Tins of Beans, Spaghetti hoops, Dessert Rice, packets of Soup, Boil-in-the-bag Rice, Biscuits, Treats for children)

SHANNONBRIDGE GAA LOTTO DRAW Dec 20th 2021 Numbers drawn on FB Live 5– 10-16-18 Winner!! Aisling Devereux  8 Match 3 winners. 5 Christmas Draw Jackpot €2,000

CHARITABLE DONATIONS SCHEME - Reminder to return forms as soon as possible. Only your Name, PPS Number, Address, Phone Number and email [if applicable] Nothing else. Any queries? Contact me please

COVID-19 Support Line for Older People ALONE manage a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). If you or someone you know needs support this Christmas, please call our National Support and Referral Line on 0818 222 024 from 8am – 8pm, seven days a week. ALONE operates 365 days a year so we will be there to take your call when you need us most

COLLECTIONS - Thank you for your continuing support. Moran’s Gala still receive envlopes, or the secure box in the Main Porch of both Churches, or the presbytery Letterbox. If anybody wants to offer financial support you can do so by electronic transfer

Bank Transfer (Do give your Box No. or name in bank narrative)   Name of Account Clonmacnois Parochial Account.

BIC-BOFIIE2DXXX    

IBAN-IE90BOFI90368011629381

  MINISTRIES  IN CHURCH              

 CHURCH CARE Maureen Mitchell, Patricia Anderson Clonfanlough:   Kathleen Norton,  Helen Darcy (Dec.) READER Jan 1st 2022 @ 7pm Ffionn Anderson. Jan 2nd  @ 10:30  Rita Molloy Eucharistic Minister   Sinead Ryan (S/B), Jan 1st /Mary Kelly (C/f) Jan 2nd

Church Counters Shannonbridge (Dec.)