“Stay awake, because you do not know either the day or the hour,” Jesus said to

his disciples.

PARISH NEWSLETTER

3rd December 2017.

A Retreat on the run….for people on the go…

Here is something practical to do, as you journey through Advent. It will take five

minutes every day.

1) Find a place that is quiet. Leave the phone and the ipad aside!

2) Take a few seconds to be aware that you are in the loving presence of God.

"My God, you love me. Help me to spend these few moments with you in

prayerful reflection."

3) Read slowly and prayerfully a line from one of the Sunday readings for Advent.

"Lord, you are our Father, you are the potter, we the clay, we are the work

of your hand."(Isaiah)

"God, by calling you has joined you to his Son, Jesus Christ; and God is

faithful." (St. Paul)

"Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will

come." (Gospel)

4) In the silence of your heart, speak with God about everything. Stay still. Be silent.

5) As your prayer time draws to a close, offer thanks to God's loving presence at this

time.

6) Take a word, a phrase form the readings and carry it with you in your heart as

you go about the activities of your day. "Father, potter, clay, shaped by God.

Called by God. Stay awake."

We will use this six step guide for our Advent Newsletter and link it with each of the

Sunday readings. Advent is a time to prepare, to pray and to ponder. George Harrison,

often called the quiet Beatle, reminds us that life is lived in the shadow of

impermanence. In his song "All Things Must Pass", he makes the point: "A sunrise

doesn't last all morning. A cloudburst doesn't last all day. And all things must pass, all

things must pass away."

John Cullen

Mass Intentions for this week-end & the coming Week.

Saturday: 7:00 pm Delia Dolan (1st Anniversary)

Sunday: 10:30 am Mary Scott (Month’s Mind)

12:15 pm Nicholas Smyth (1st Anniversary)

8:00 am 10:30 am

Monday: Corry Quinn & deceased of the Frank & Mary Lynch

Quinn & Wilson families

Tuesday: Joe Gallagher Catherine & Dominic Raftery

Wednesday: Robert & Kathleen Derby Brian Neilan

8:00 am 10:30 am 7:00 pm

Thursday Annie & Joe Keegan (Snr) Frank Lannon James Gleeson

& Joe Keegan (Jnr)

8:30 am 10:30 am

Friday: Deceased of the McGlynn Nora Keane

(Immaculate & Regan families Conception)

9:30 am 7:00 pm Saturday: Jim McDermott Margaret (Madge) Farrell

(Month’s Mind)

Sunday: 10:30 am Tomasz Olejniczak (Month’s Mind)

12:15 pm Piotr Pietrzak (1st Anniversary)

We also remember Declan Harrington whose anniversary occurs around this time.

RECENT DEATHS: Please pray for the happy repose of the souls of Baby Zac Lohan, Shankill,

Dublin, grandson of Catherine McDonnell, Stonepark. Robert Hill, Abbey Street. Lena McHugh,

Strokestown, mother of Maeve Mullen, Ardsallagh. We offer sincere sympathy and the assurance

of our prayers to their bereaved families and friends.

Preparing for Christmas: Small groups of people are meeting during Advent to pray and to reflect on the following Sunday’s Gospel. If you would like to be part of one of these groups, please phone any of the following. A welcome will await you!

Lisnamult &

Crubyhill 66 25844/0878251122 Please contact for day and time.

Henry Street 66 25069 Wednesday 11 am—12 noon

Convent Court 66 28917 Tuesday 8—9 pm

Goff Street 66 25880 Thursday 8 p.m.

Lanesboro Street 66 26790 Thursday 7 p.m.

St. Coman’s Club 66 26649 Wednesday 11—12 noon

Ard-Na-Greine 66 26087 Friday 8 p.m.

Celtic Avenue 66 26569 Tuesday 7—8 p.m.

St. Coman’s Club 66 26570 Thursday 8 p.m.

Carrowmore 087 221 2010 Sunday 7 p.m.

On Wednesdays at 8 pm in the Parochial House, Cloverhill. Contact 090 66 26275.

The Sacrament of our Daily Lives: Roscommon parish has ‘hosted’ Adoration for

twenty-eight years. This time of 24 hour prayer before the Lord is an acknowledgement

of the Real Presence that accompanies us in the monotony, pain, and ordinariness of

daily life. Our 24 hour prayer of quiet presence, celebrates the ‘Light from Light’ that is

God’s brightest presence - hidden in our darkest places. Our 24 hour prayer honours all

the grace-filled moments of our lives that are sometimes eclipsed by darkness, but it is

here that we discover a hidden holiness of our humanity. Please consider volunteering

for one hour a week and add the gift of your presence to a unique mosaic of prayer:

Contact: 090 6626649.

PERMANENT ADORERS URGENTLY REQUIRED: For the Blessed Sacrament Chapel to cover

Mondays 1 - 2 am, & Wednesdays 4 - 5 am. As we have been looking for some time for Adorers for above hours, you might please consider doing one hour per week in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, please phone Parish Office on 090 66 26298 or contact any of the Clergy.

ROSARY: During the month of December fifteen decades of the Rosary will be recited on

Wednesday mornings at 9.20 am for the Pope's Intention. Pope's Intention: The elderly. That the

elderly, sustained by families and Christian communities, may apply their wisdom and experience

to spreading the faith and forming the new generations.

Ark of Divine Mercy Athlone Annual Pilgrimage to Medjugorje will depart from Dublin Airport on Thursday 25 of May 2018 for 7Nights with J.W.T. Spiritual Director Fr Jim Candon. Cost €619 if Paid in full before mid December 2017. Full details from Kathleen O’Connor or Paul Woods on 087 7828283.

Consider the words of Pope Francis: “I invite all Christians to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an

openness to letting him encounter them....the Lord does not disappoint those who take this

risk....always capable of restoring our joy, which impels us onwards.” (The Joy of the

Gospel #3)

Team Hope Shoebox Appeal is a great opportunity to give a Christmas Shoebox gift to a child

struggling in poverty or with the effects of conflict in Eastern Europe or Africa. A shoebox filled with goodies

bring hope, lots of joy and excited laughter. To fill a shoebox put in an item like copy/colouring book with pencils/

crayons. Toothpaste/toothbrush, hair brush or hair bands etc. A toy like a ball, small game, musical instruments. A

hat/scarf. Finally some sweets. If you are not in a position to do a shoebox perhaps you could give some of the

above items or maybe you have some cuddly toys in good condition. Contact Jean at 086 3399430.

Grandparents’ Association (Roscommon Branch): Next Monthly Meeting of the Association will

take place in St. Coman’s Club on Tuesday next 5th December @ 11 a.m. New members welcome.

KINGDOM OF THE DIVINE WILL: An afternoon of talks by International Speaker TONY

HICKEY will speak on the KINGDOM OF THE DIVINE WILL on Monday, 4th December in

Hannon's Hotel, Athlone Road, Roscommon. The talk is an introduction to the servant of God Louisa

Piccarreta and living in the Divine Will. Talk commences at 12 noon followed by Mass at 3 p.m. and

ending at 6 p.m. Donations of €10. All are welcome.

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

CHRISTMAS CONCERT with Roscommon Solstice Choir & St. Brigid’s Choir

in aid of SHALOM, centre for Conflict Resolution & Reconciliation this Sunday

3rd December in the Sacred Heart Church at 7 pm. Shalom works to end conflict

and build inter-ethnic schools in Africa. Please support. Tickets €10. Available at

the door.

ROSCOMMON GARDEN CLUB - Christmas Charity Gala Night Thursday 7th December at 8PM at the

Abbey Hotel. Guest demonstrator Christine Hughes from Blessington Co Wicklow. Chosen charity -

Roscommon Alzheimer's Association. Tickets €20 include finger buffet. Raffle on the night . Available

from Pat O'Rourke on 0906625694 or 086 0774017, Noeleen Rudden from Western Alzheimer's in

Goff Street & reception desk at the Abbey Hotel.

Annual Ladies Night: Monday December 4th @ 8 p.m. (Mart Canteen). Flowers Arranging by

Anne Harlow, Signature Flowers. Holistic Massage & Aromatherapy by Marian Noone. Anne Quirke,

Nutritionist. Rachel Feeley, Designs Bespoke Hats & Jewellery. Free Admission – Refreshments

served- Raffle on the night – proceeds to Cuisle Holiday Centre Donamon, Roscommon.

Inspired – An exhibition of work by artists from Athlone and Roscommon- opens in The Core, Church Street, Roscommon at 7pm on Thurs. December 7th. The exhibition will be open from 10am – 6pm on Fri. 8th and Sat. 9th and from 12 noon to 5:30 pm on Sun 10th December. Mote Park artists look forward to welcoming everyone.

Roscommon Cancer Support Centre are holding their annual Christmas market in the Abbey Hotel

Roscommon on Sunday December 10th from 1pm-5pm. All the sights, sounds and aromas of the festive season will be there

and there will also be a special visit from Santa. Admission is free. For more information please

contact Veronica at 09066 25898.

English HL Leaving Cert Revision Course is being held in the Quad, Roscommon Town on Saturday 27th Jan

2018. . Paper 1 will be covered entirely. For Paper 2 will include Plays, Comparative, Poetry (prioritising the key

suspects for June), how to approach Unseen Poetry and answer all your questions. Further information and book-

ing on http://www.625points.com/2017/11/english-revision-day-roscommon.html.

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PRAYER FOR FAMILIES PREPARING FOR THE SACRAMENTS. God our Father, we ask your blessing on our family. We rejoice that we are blessed and called together

to follow the Gospel way of love. Help us to respond generously, as we hand on our faith in your

goodness to our children. Bless and protect them as they take steps in their own journey of faith in

preparing for First Confession, First Communion and Confirmation. May their presence be treasured

in the Sacred Heart parish to which they belong. May the Gospel seeds of your love bear fruit in the

precious soil of their lives. Hear our prayers. Protect our dreams. Listen to our silent hopes. Heal our

pain. Speak to our sadness. Shed your light where shadows are cast that we may know the caress of

your love. Give us courage to build our family home into a place of love, welcome, faith and care.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, you are robed in the light of God’s presence of love. Share with our

family the blessing of God’s consoling love. (John Cullen)

Last Sunday’s Offertory Collection: €3,175.00

Family Circle: €220.00 Prizes: €200.00 Thank You