Clones Parish Bulletin

Imlitir Pharõiste Chluain Eois

25th November 2007

Christ The King

PRIESTS OF THE PARISH
Larry Duffy P.P. 047-51048
John Kearns C.C. 047-51064
Martin O’Reilly 048 67751231
Priest on duty this week: Fr Kearns

Silence & Solitude

Nature provides many sounds, even some noises. Birds chirping, claps of thunder, the sounds of rain, the roar of the surf, the whistle of the wind in the trees, but always against a background of silence, a silence to which nature returns whenever possible. More than any of the sounds of nature, it is the uncanny silence of nature that speaks to us most loudly. Silence is as necessary to us as sound is. And yet, how many of our waking moments are silent, without sound? It is the sound of the alarm clock that wakes us from sleep, quickly to be followed by the radio or TV with morning news, talk shows etc. And as if traffic noises are not enough, there is the car radio to protect us from getting too close to silence. And so on through the day, with television and varying noises of the workplace. It would be a valuable exercise to count up the minutes of actual silence we experience in the waking hours of our day. For many silence is virtually unheard of.

The wonder-full advances of technology keep finding new & more effective ways of delivering to us information & entertainment. When Paul said “the eye has not seen nor the ear heard” he could just as well have been speaking about the marvels of technology of this age. The problem is no one has yet found a way to redesign the human organism & the human psyche to keep up with the developments of technology. These were designed to handle a certain level of inputs per day. Above the level is sensory, mental, and emotional overload. Overload causes stress. Stress generates anxiety. And what do we do about anxiety? Plug in the earphones, turn up the TV. We avoid silence and we have the technology to do so with stunning efficiency. One of the main reasons for this is silence’s inseparable companion, solitude. But for many solitude is synonymous with loneliness: to be silent, to be alone, is to be lonely, to feel empty. What does this say about their connectedness with the in-dwelling God?. It is only in silence and solitude that we are able to hear the inner voices which tell us we are not alone, God is dwelling within us. But if lonely feelings so frighten us that we cannot bear to be alone, to be silent, we never give ourselves the chance to come to know more about ourselves.

We have been conditioned to think that loneliness is an affliction that only others & their company can relieve us of, yet some of our most painful & lonely experiences occur when we are in the midst of others. Could it be that the primary reason for loneliness is our lack of a satisfactory relationship with ourselves? Our lack of self-knowledge, self possession?. Silence & solitude are prerequisite for encountering ourselves. Without such encounters we can never truly make friends with ourselves.

PARISH NEWS, MEETINGS AND EVENTS

Baptisms By arrangement with Priest on Baptisms for month.
Nov...Fr Kearns
Dec Baptisms will take place on Sat 15th @ 2pm Contact Fr Duffy

Marriages: By arrangement. 3 Months notice is essential.

Sick Calls: Always send for the priests to anoint the Sick

Deaths
Please pray for the dead, especially:
Marian Paul, Belfast
Jack Davin, Firhouse, Dublin

Marriage
We wish God’s blessings to newly-weds:
Enda Connolly & Lisa Lynch,
Bill Flynn & Karen Von Lancker

Adoration in Sacred Heart Church
For the Winter months Adoration will be held in the Sacristy, commencing on Wed 28th Nov.

Clones Faith & Light
Christmas Fiesta on Sun 2nd Dec in Scoil Chroi Ro Naofa @ 3pm. Please try to be there on time.

SACRED HEART CHURCH , CLONES

Weekend Masses: Sat 7 pm (Vigil) Sun 9.30 am and 11.30am.
Confessions: Sat 10.20am; Sat 6.30—6.50; 1st Fri. 9.40am
Baptisms: By arrangement with the priest on Baptisms for the month
Marriage: By arrangement. Three month’s notice is required
Anointing Sick: At any time.

Masses for Week of November 25th to December 2nd
Sat 7.00pm All for whom Anniversary Masses were celebrated during the week

Sun 9.30am Mass
11.30 People of the Parish

Mon 10.00 Owen & Bridie Martin, McCurtain St

Tues 10.00 9th Novena Mass
8.00pm Peggy Mohan, Fermanagh Tce (Celebrant—Fr Mohan)

Wed 10.00 William Culligan, Fitzpatrick Sq
Adoration 10.30 — 10pm

Thurs 10.00 Mass for Deceased Benefactors

Fri 10.00 Edward & Elizabeth Sweeney, Cherry Pk
Evening Mass in Aghadrumsee at 8pm

Sat 10.00 Nuala & Francis Farrell, Clonfad
7.00pm (Vigil) All for whom Anniversary Masses were celebrated during the week

Sun 9.30am Months Memory Sr Monica Mooney, Arklow

Sun 11.30 People of the Parish

Altar Society: M Connolly, K McPhillips, Sr Loreta Mary, A M Greenan

ST. MACARTAN’S, AGHADRUMSEE

Masses: Sat 8pm(Vigil); Sun 10am. Fri 8pm;
Confessions: First Sat 7.30 pm. 1st Fri 7.30 pm
Baptisms: By arrangement with priest on Baptisms for month (See above)
Adoration : Wednesday 7.30pm—9.30pm

Sat 8pm Kathleen, Willie & Eamon Little & Elizabeth McQuaid, Gorteen
Sun 10am John Thomas, Margaret & Jim Quinn, Lisnamallard
Fri 8pm Joe & Kathleen McGinnity, Gorteen
Sat 8pm Mass
Sun 10 Ann Quinn, The Diamond, Clones

Eucharistic Adoration: S Mulligan, W McGinnity, McCabe Family, A & J Kearns

Eucharistic Ministers: M Maguire, M O’Neill

Servers: Team C Shannen Flanagan, Louise Flanagan

Collectors for Dec:
(Vigil) Breege Grew, Deirdre Grew, Michael Grew, Patsy Beggan
(10am) Brian Boyle, Stephen Flynn, Rose Beggan, Shane Boyle

Altar Society for Dec: Helen McManus, Marie O’Neill

GFC. Lotto No Winner. Winning No’s: 2, 8, 9, 20, jackpot now £6,700, thank you.

Service of Rememberance
In Aghadrumsee Church on Tues 27th Nov @ 8pm. All those from the area who died within the last year will be especially remembered. Everyone welcome. Tea afterwards in Fr Martin’s house.

ST. ALPHONSUS, CONNONS

Masses: Sun 11.00 am.
Confessions: 1st Sun 10.40
Baptisms: By arrangement with priest on Baptisms for the month

Sun 11am. (25th Nov) Deceased Members McDermott Family, Cloncloughey
(2nd Dec) Frank & Bridget Morrow & Deceased Members Conlon Family

Altar Servers: (2nd) Rebecca Murphy, Daniel Maguire

Eucharistic Minister for Dec - Joan McEniff

Reader (2nd) Mary Rafferty

Gift Bearers (2nd) Morrow Family

Currin Lotto: No Winner. Winning No’s: 3, 6, 19, 22, jackpot now €5,150, thank you.

Collectors for Dec: Margaret Connolly, Joe Cadden

Altar Society for Dec: Ita Maguire, Catherine Connolly

St Comgall’s N.S: The Board of Management, staff & pupils would like to extend an invitation to the ‘Connons Community’ to the official opening of our school extension by the Minister for Education & Science, Mary Hanafin, T.D. on Fri 30th Nov @ 11.30am. All welcome. The newly elected parents representatives on the Board of Management are John Joe Gavin, Lorraine Fitzsimmons.

Irish Catholic on sale today.

COMMUNITY NEWS, ACTIVITIES, EVENTS

Collectors for Dec
(Vigil) Liam Doherty, Tom Kelly, Michael Fox (Jnr), Gary Neeson
(9.30) Atty Cunningham, Raymond Hickey, Elizabeth McDonald, Marie Flanagan
(11.30) Eugene McCaughey, Kevin Hickey, Sean McNaughton, Michael Fox (Snr)

Scoil Chroi Ro Naofa
The newly elected parents representatives on the Board of Managment for Scoil Chroi Ro Naofa are.Pat McCabe & Miriam Hamill.

Cairde Activation Centre Clones
Christmas Craft Fair: At Canal Stores, Cavan Rd, Clones on Fri 30th Nov from 5pm—10pm, Sat 1st & Sun 2nd Dec from 10am—6pm,
Mon 3rd, Tues 4th & Wed 5th Dec from 10am—5pm. Handmade gift ideas for all the family. Please support.

Drop In Morning
Clones Community Forum’s Drop In Morning continues every Wednesday morning in the Forum’s Diamond Meeting Rooms. Dates to keep free - Wed 5th Dec - Candle display & how to arrange one for your Christmas Centre piece. Also Wed 12th Dec - floral demonstration by Sandra Irwin with a Christmas Theme.

Citizens Advice Information
An Officer from Citizen’s Advice Information will be in attendance every Friday morning in the Forum’s Diamond Meeting Rooms from 10am—12.30pm. This is a free & confidential service.

Santa is coming to Town
So have those lists ready for Sat 15th Dec when Santa visits the Cassandra Hand Centre, Clones from 2—5pm. Local photographer Eugene Hamill will be on hand to photograph that special moment.

Clones ICA
Demonstration of Christmas decorations takes place on Mon 26th Nov. Please note this will be in the Cassandra hand Centre and not our usual venue.
The Winter Federation meeting takes place in Threemilehouse on Tues 27th Nov. Guest speaker is Seamus McDermott, Co-Coordinator, Monaghan Trust Fund.
Guild members have been invited to a thanksgiving Service in Killeevan Parish Church on Thurs 29th Nov @ 7.30pm, to celebrate their 150th Anniversary.

Community Leadership Awards 2007
On Mon 26th Nov @ 7pm in the Iontas Centre, Castleblaney. Guest Speaker—Fr Aidan Troy, Everyone welcome.

Monaghan Partnership
Is holding an information session on Effective AGMs for community groups on 5th Dec @ 7.30pm in the Enterprise Centre, Castleblaney. To book a place, contact Regina on 042 9749500.

Monaghan Carers
Monthly Support Group Meeting on Wed 28th Nov @ 8.30pm in the Community Centre, Broad Rd, Monaghan.

The Family that prays together
Stays together.

Father, you promised that there would be
Faith and Strength and Hope to meet life’s problems.
Father, give that strength to those whose
Anxieties have buried their dreams,
whose illnesses have hospitalized their hopes,
whose burdens are bigger than their shoulders.