“As soon as Jesus was baptised, the heavens opened and He saw the Spirit of God

descending like a dove and coming down on Him”.

PARISH NEWSLETTER

Sunday 8th January 2017

Give me one good reason for going back to the sacraments: All seven sacraments proclaim and enable us to own a love that is already

present to us. Take a few minutes to look at the seven sacraments that are

symbolised in mosaic on the floor of the sanctuary in our Church. They

all offer to us the gift of life and God’s presence of love in the monotony,

pain and ordinariness of our daily lives. We gather every week-end for

Mass, not because our lives are empty of God’s presence, but because we

need to celebrate and honour all the moments of our ordinary lives that

are touched and blessed by the presence of God’s love and healing for our

human lives, often dark and hidden in our hurting hearts and also some-

times shining like hope in the face of challenges and difficulties that we all

encounter. We learned that the sacraments bless every event in our lives.

We experience God’s presence in the mess and mystery of every day. We

are beloved by God. The sacraments are a sign of that love and they draw

out of us, what God is, in a sense already doing everywhere in the world,

not solely in Roscommon, but in Roscrea, Romania, Rwanda and Russia!

Without the sacraments we would not be able to appreciate the amazing

grace that is the gift of God’s presence of love. Pope Francis reminds us

that ‘the Eucharist (Mass) is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful

medicine and nourishment for the weak.’ In other words the tangible

presence of God is in the everyday efforts of people who keep families to-

gether, people who work at staying in love and in the middle of all the

worries about money, mortgages, health, loss of faith and face, in

depressions and temptations in the experiences of death and loss, they

place their trust in knowing and believing that they are truly beloved by a

God who is always near, nearer to us than we are to ourselves. This is a

good reason for not giving up on Mass or any of the sacraments.

John Cullen.

Mass Intentions for this weekend & coming Week.

Sunday: 10.30 am Nicholas Smyth (Month’s Mind)

12.15 pm Mary T. Finnegan (Month’s Mind)

8:00 am 10:30 am

Monday: Morning Mass Nicholas (Nicky) Ward

Tuesday: Morning Mass Des & Margaret Keane & deceased

of Keane & Dever families

Wednesday: Morning Mass Tom Mullen

Thursday: Madge & Jack O’Gara Caroline Noone

Friday: Thomas & Anna Bent Anthony McCormack

9:30 am (Note time change ) 7:00 pm (Note time change)

Saturday: Patrick Cunningham Delia Dolan (Month’s Mind)

Sunday: 10:30 am Piotr Pietrzak (Month’s Mind)

12.15 pm Marie Somers (Month’s Mind)

We also remember Brian Gerard Mongan, Patrick Mongan and deceased members of the Mongan family, whose anniversaries occur around this time.

RECENT DEATHS: Please pray for the happy repose of the souls of :-

Evelyn Wilson (Nee Harlow) who died in England, formerly Henry Street, aunt of

John Kerrigan, Henry Street.

Sean Crean who died in New York and formerly of Lanesboro Street.

Peter McDermott, Tulsk brother of Julia McDermott, Golf Links Road.

James Molloy, Rathgar, Dublin and formerly of Castle Street.

Michael O’Connor, Thornfield Drive, Lisnamult.

We offer sincere sympathy and the assurance of our prayers to their bereaved families

and friends.

Mass Time Changes, 2017: All Saturday Masses will be at 9:30 am and Vigil Mass will be

at 7 p.m. First Friday Masses 8 am & 10:30 am (No evening Mass). For the months of

July and August + 1st September. Week-day Masses will be at 9.30 am only. Holy Day

Masses - Vigil 7 pm and Masses on the Holyday will be at 8.30 am & 10:30 am.

To GIVE AWAY: The following are available in the sacristy for any parishioner who

would like to take home 1) Picture of The Sacred Heart 23” (59cm) L X 18” (46cm) W and

2) Statue of The Infant of Prague 17” (42cm) high.

Vita House Family Centre will be commencing its 6-week

‘Parenting when Separated Course’ on Wednesday 11th January

6.30—8.30 pm. This course aims to solve co-parenting problems in a

positive way that helps both parents and children. For more information, pop

into Vita House for a brochure or call 090 66 25898.

Roscommon Stroke Support Group Runs every Tuesday 12 noon -

2 pm in Hannon’s Hotel. If anyone would like to support the group by

volunteering or fundraising or just want more information, please

contact Martina Greene, Stroke Group Co-ordinator on 087 605 7696.

CALLIING PAST PUPILS: CBS Primary (1937—1987) & Abbey BNS Roscommon (1987—2017) From Sept. 2017 primary boys and girls will sit side-by-side in St. Comán’s Wood Primary School, based on 2 sites, with Infants-3rd classes on the Convent site and 4th-6th classes on the Abbey site. We cannot let this significant event pass without commemorating the past with a stroll down memory lane in the form of a BOOK. Your memories, stories and photos would be so much appreciated, whatever you have no matter how small. Contact Teresa on 085 811 5811 090 66 25100 or email info@abbeyns.com as soon as possible.

Pilgrimage to Medjugorje from Knock on the 7th June.

€699per person, €100 off price if paid by the 23rd Dec.

2016. Please contact group leader Marita Concannon on 098

64017 /089 414 6331.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY—2017.

CONFIRMATION - Saturday 25th March @ 11 a.m.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION:

Abbey N.S. & Convent N.S. - Saturday 13th May @ 11 a.m.

Gaelscoil - Saturday 3rd June @ 11 a.m.

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MOST HOLY ROSARY: The 15 mysteries of the Most Holy Rosary will be recited on Wednesday mornings commencing at 9.20 am . For the month of January our prayers will be for Christian Unity. All welcome.

RECENT BAPTISM:

We welcome into the Christian family:

Oliver Jan Cylka

Vita House

News

Thank You

ALTAR SOCIETY: Group iv is scheduled for the coming week.

RHS HOME CARE : RHS Home Care urgently requires carers in the Castlerea, Boyle,

Elphin, Athleague, Ballyforan, Strokestown, Tulsk, Ballinagare, Frenchpark, Ballaghadereen,

Taughmaconnell, Athlone, Oldtown (Athlone), Roscommon Town and Four-Roads area. A

FETAC Level 5 Healthcare qualification, transport and flexible working hours are essential. To

apply email jobs@rhshomecare.ie or call 090 66 25988.

TRAINING PROGRAMME: Interested in working in childcare? Full training and work

experience provided to become a qualified Early years Educator. To be eligible for this

training and employment programme, you must be 21 yrs. or over and in receipt of a

Social Welfare/DSP payment for one year or more. Successful candidates will receive a

top-up payment in addition to your Social Welfare/DSP payment. Free childcare may also

be provided. Vacancies throughout Co. Roscommon. For further info., contact Kara or

Linda on 094 98 70111 or 087 648 6457.

Midland Warmer Homes In conjunction with the Sustainability Energy

Authority of Ireland are running a Warmer Homes Scheme. This project will be FREE to

individuals who are in receipt of one of the following - Fuel Allowance; or Family Income Supplement (FIS);

or Jobseeker’s Allowance (for more than 6 months with a child/ren under 7); or One Parent Family

Payment; and the person must own their own house and the house was built before 2006. Only homes that

have NOT received works can apply for this project. If you are interested, please contact 090-64 88292 for

an application form.

Roscommon Town Comhaltas Branch Music Classes Resume on Monday 9th January

in the Hyde Centre from 6 pm. The term will be for 13 weeks and there is room for a

few seniors from 8 pm. Tutors, as usual will be Mary Jo Fitzpatrick B.A. (Music) and

Michael Cully, another accomplished musician. Further info from Bill at 090 66 26729

or 086 3345 817.

NEW YEAR CLASSES: MONDAY: 9th Jan: Dale Centre, Derrane 9.30 am Kettlebells 10 am Physio Pilates. TUESDAY 10th Jan: C.B.S. School. Roscommon 7 pm Physio Pilates. THURSDAY 12th Jan: Quad Centre, Roscommon, 9.30 am Physio Pilates. Suitable for all

levels. All welcome. Phone Bonnie—087 2238 237

HOME CARE SUPPORT WORKERS Required in Counties Roscommon and Mayo areas.

Please contact 090 66 25852, ext. 2

RETIRED NURSES: A lunch will be held in Hannon’s Hotel, Roscommon on Monday 16th

January 2017 @ 2 pm. For further details, contact Teresa 086 127 2390 or Kathleen 087 298

0982 / 094 96 20495.

THANKS

TO ALL WHO CONTRIBUTED SO GENEROUSLY TO OUR CHRISTMAS COLLECTION.

THE PRIESTS OF THE PARISH WISH ALL PARISHIONERS A VERY HAPPY AND

PROPSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

Last Sunday’s Offertory Collection: €4,212.00

Thank You