The logo shows four stylised figures to indicate all of humanity from the four corners of the earth. They each embrace one another, indicating the solidarity and brotherhood that must unite peoples. The first figure is clinging to the cross. The underlying waves are choppy to indicate that the pilgrimage of life is not always on calm waters, but the lower part of the cross becomes an anchor of hope.
St. Saran, a seventh century Saint, travelled from Clonmacnoise and founded his Church on the bank of the River Brosna in Moystown Demesne. The original Gaelic name for this Church was “Tigh Saran” meaning the House of Saran. It is from this origin that the area of Tisaran in our Parish gets its present day name. This site is also the burial place of Fr. Stephen Daly, a native of the area, who was the first Capuchin Priest to serve in Ireland. St. Saran’s Holy Well “Tobar Saran” is also to be found nearby in Moystown Demesne, not far from where the beautiful Moystown House once stood. These two sites, St. Saran’s Church and St. Saran’s Holy Well would have been major places of worship and pilgrimage in earlier Christian times. St. Saran died in 661 AD.
‘Do whatever He tells you’
There are seven miracles of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of St. John. They are referred to as ‘signs’. The spectacular drama of the Wedding Feast of Cana is a case in point. It teaches us that, when Jesus is invited into a situation, He transforms it for the better. He alone can restore hope when the wine of life runs out. It is deeply significant that the water in the stone jars was no ordinary water. It had been used by the guests to wash their feet as they entered the wedding hall. It was this foul water which Jesus changed into the choicest of wines. The ugly becomes beautiful in His hands. The abundance of wine in the story points to the limitless generosity of God. He takes delight in granting us all we need. The contribution of the servants who filled the stone jars and served the wine reminds us that the Lord relies on us to be His instruments in the world. And finally, we take note of Mary’s instruction to the servants, which are her last recorded words in the Bible: ‘Do whatever He tells you’. It would make a wise New Year’s resolution!
Our Lady of Clonfert
PRAYER FOR UKRAINE
Loving God we pray for the people of Ukraine, for
all those suffering or afraid, that you will be close to
them and protect them. We pray for world leaders, for
compassion, strength and wisdom to guide their choices.
We pray for the world, that in this moment of crisis we
may reach out in solidarity to our brothers and sisters
in need. May we walk in your ways so that peace and
justice become a reality for the people of Ukraine and
for all the world. Amen.
“May the Queen of Peace preserve the world from the
madness of war.” (Pope Francis
Clonmacnois Parish: Fr. Michael Alanga 090 9674125
Leamonaghan Parish: Fr.B.O'Sullivan 090 6430124
Banagher / Cloghan Parish: Fr.P.Kiernan 057 9151338
St.Ciaran's Pastoral Area
Weekend Masses
| Church | Saturday | Sunday | ||||
| Ferbane | 7:00pm | 11:00am | ||||
| Boora | 9:30am | |||||
| High Street | 12:00Midday | |||||
| Shannonbridge | 7:00pm | |||||
| Clonfanlough | 10:30am | |||||
| Ballinahown | 11:30am | |||||
| Boher | 10:30am | |||||
| Pullough | 6:30pm | |||||
| Cloghan | 8:00pm | 9:30am | ||||
| Banagher | 6:30pm | 11:00am |
