Clonmacnois Parish
February 12th 2023
6th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Fr. Tom Cox (Adm) Tel. 090 9674125/ 0868319500
Email: clonmacnoiseparish@gmail.com
WEB shannonbridge.blogspot.ie
FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/
SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
Commentators today can be utterly dismissive about the Ireland of the 50’s. In fifty years time they will, most likely speak condescendingly about our time. Balance is needed. We shouldn’t look on life as a battle between the past and the present. No generation has all the answers, but every generation has some of the answers. The past then should be a stepping stone, not a millstone. The past is filled with learning opportunities for our present and future. As the African saying goes: ‘The young walk faster, but it is the older folk who know the way’. Building the future and keeping the past alive are one and the same thing. Jesus had the utmost respect for the Law of His ancestors, but His teaching moved His hearers to a different level. The Law was given to help people to love God with all their hearts and minds. By Jesus’ time religious leaders had turned the Law into a confusing mass of rules and regulations. Jesus was actually trying to bring people back to the Law’s original purpose. He sets before people not the Law of God, but the love of God. We could say that the Law of the Old Testament is the Gospel in bud. The New Testament is the Gospel in full flower.
Sat 11th Feb 7pm Edel Anderson
Mon 13th Feb 10am
Tues 14th Feb 10am Special Intention
Wed 15th Feb 10am
Thurs 16th Feb 10am
Fri 17th Feb 10am
Sat 18th Feb 7pm Vigil Shared
-Margaret Noone & Martin Egan (Beech Park Athlone & Aughinacabe)
-Mary Duffy-Bermingham
-Mary Gunning (Clonlyon) & husband Paddy & dec’d family members
CLONFANLOUGH (N37 XR81)
Sun 12th Feb 10:30am People’s Intention
Sun 19th Feb 10:30am Kieran Flynn M/M
CLUAIN CHIARAIN Wed. Feb. 15th @ 7:30pm
RECENT DEATHS
Your prayers are requested for the soul of Mary Halligan Chapel Street, Clonfanlough also Jimmy Norton Tullabeg, Clonmacnois
Feast Days
Tuesday Feb. 14th SS Cyril, (monk) & Methodius (bishop) The brothers, Cyril and Methodius lived in Thessalonica in Greece in the ninth century. They are honoured as apostles of the Slavic people and in 1980 Pope John Paul 11 declared them Patrons of Europe.
Tuesday Feb. 14th St Valentine St Valentine was a 3rd - century Roman saint. His relics are in a shrine in Whitefriar St Church in Dublin. Today, he is recognized as the patron saint of love, couples and happy marriages.
Friday Feb. 17th St Fintan St Fintan is mostly associated with Co Laois where he died in 603.
OFFERTORY Feb 5th €585
PRAYER FOR NEW BISHOP:God, shepherd and guide, in your mercy, give your Church in our diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois a shepherd after your own heart who will walk in your ways, and with loving care watch over your people. Give us a leader of vision and a teacher of your truth. So may your Church be built up and your name glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
MINISTRIES
Readers: 18/ 2/23 @7pm Cliodhna Fitzpatrick (SB)/ 19/2/23 @10:30am Flynn family reader (Cf) Communion 18/2/23 @7pm John Mitchell 19/2/23@10:30am Ann Guinan Church Care Dympna Fitzpatrick, Dympna O’Carroll, Linda Moran SB:Bridie Coughlan, Maureen Claffey (Feb) (CF) Counters: Shannonbridge (Feb) Servers; 18/2/23 @ 7pm Shannonbridge Liam Fitzpatrick, James Darcy 19/2/23 @ 10:30am Clonfanlough Eva Seery, Daragh Seery, Oisin Sharhan, Ella Shrahan,
Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2023 June 2-7th Full details from JWT. I understand we will be able to take assisted pilgrims with us this year.
A Prayer for Turkey/Syria and our World Jesus You are The One, who brings God spirit of healing for all the heartbroken tears of our world. This week we bring you the unimaginable sorrow of the people, our brothers and sisters in Turkey and Syria, suffering the devastation of an earthquake in wintertime compounded with the effects of war and famine, a pain beyond our understanding. Jesus, allow the pain of our community this week, open our hearts to the suffering of all parents and families devasted by the loss of their homes, their lives and their dreams shattered. Jesus we place all this pain, beyond words into Your heart of Compassion and Your Word of Hope, Healing and Love. Amen.
FRIDAY 24TH FEBRUARY is International Day of Prayer for Survivors and Victims of Sexual Abuse.
Prayer to St. Valentine O St. Valentine, lover of Christ and of the Church, we ask your intercession that we may learn how to love God above all things, and to selflessly love one another. O glorious St. Valentine, pray for us, that we too may have the steadfast faith of the martyrs.
A Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes O Holy Virgin, in the midst of your days of glory, do not forget the sorrows of this earth. Cast a merciful glance upon those who are suffering, struggling against difficulties, with their lips constantly pressed against life's bitter cup. Have pity on those who love each other and are separated. Have pity on our rebellious hearts. Have pity on our weak faith. Have pity on those who weep, on those who pray, on those who fear. Grant hope and peace to all. Amen.
Temperance Sunday: RTÉ will broadcast Mass on Sunday 19 February 2023 at 11am to mark Temperance Sunday 2023. Prayers will be offered for all who are in treatment for addiction and for those who are in recovery.
HIGH STREET/BELMONT WOMEN’S GROUP - Return on Monday 13th February at 8pm in High Street Hall with Professor Humphrey O’Connor, Chairperson of the Offaly Hospice Association with presentation of money raised on the night. All welcome
TRÓCAIRE 1973-2023: 50th Anniversary We pray for God’s blessing on the work of Trócaire. We pray that all people may continue to work together for the respect of our shared human dignity and shared human rights. We thank God for the partners and generous supporters who have enabled Trócaire to continue their work for over fifty years, empowering communities to work together for a just world. We pray for peace and may that peace be mine and yours, and with all people experiencing crises in our world. Amen.
Note: To date the Clonmacnois Parish Trocaire Boxes have not arrived! I will have to hunt them down this week with Trocaire.
CLONMACNOIS N.S. ENROLMENT has now begun for the school year 2023-2024 in Clonmacnois N.S. Please phone the office on 09096 74150 for an enrolment form
PARENTAL HELP NEEDED !”Mission to families” is a diocesan initiative arising from our recent Diocesan Assembly to have our young children involved in Mass on a routine basis. By participating in the Mass, narrating, leading Prayer of the Faithful, Offertory Gifts, Reflection. If interested please let us know.
CONGRATULATIONS TO Mark Buckley, Emily Mitchell, Jayla Guenzi, James Kelly, Dáithi O Duffy, Olivia Daly, Éabha Malynn, Lana Butler Caitlin Mahon who made their First Confession last Thursday 9th February in our Parish.
WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SICK
Beloved Lord, breathe
Calm in my mind,
Peace in my heart, and
Silence in my soul.
In the silence let me hear your voice,
In the peace let me see your face.
In the calm let me know your love.
May Christ who cared for those
in need and healed those who
were ill, care for you and bring you
healing, Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes
The bells of the Angelus
Call us to pray
With sweet tones announcing / the sacred Ave.
Chorus: Ave, Ave, Ave Maria,(x2)
An angel of mercy,/ led Bernadette's feet,
Where flows the deep torrent, Our Lady to greet
She prayed to our mother / That God’s will be done /She prayed for his glory / that his kingdom come
Immaculate Mary,/ Our hearts are all thine. /Protect us, your children, / Who kneel at thy shrine.
THE SEASON OF LENT IS COMING
PALM: During Covid for the last few years I switched to using Palm Crosses rather than our evergreen version. People seem to like them, so I shall continue in 2023. Traditionally, Palm from the previous Palm Sunday is burned and the ashes are used to mark the foreheads of Parishioners on Ash Wednesday. If you like you can return your Palm cross (crosses?) from the past to the Church in the basket in sanctuary. I shall burn them to make Ash for our use on Ash Wednesday 22nd February 2023
Feb 24th 2023 marks the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. It would be a good time to extend the hand in friendship to our Ukrainian friends. Perhaps some might like to organise a gathering, music, food, art. Just putting it out there.
LOCAL BUS SERVICE it has to be said the Bus Service running twice weekly to Ballinasloe (departs Mon 10am, Wed 12) and Tullamore (departs village Tues 12, Thursday 10am) needs a lot more usage supported.
