Parish Newsletter- 22nd February 2026
| Mass times for the week ahead | MASS INTENTIONS |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21st February @7.00pm Clara | Deceased Members of Fianna Fáil. Tom & Bridie Minnock. Trevor Cornally. Chloe Coyne. Susan Melia. Jimmy, Peter, Molly & deceased of Dolan family. |
| Sunday 22nd February @10.00am Horseleap | Michael Lynam. |
| Sunday 22nd February @11.30am Clara | Brian Boland. Marie Hiney. Sonny Bracken. Alice Clynes. Annie Graham & deceased of Graham & Concannon families. Shane Rabbitte. |
| Tuesday 24th February @7.30pm Clara | John, Josie, Martina, Frank & PJ Power. |
| Wednesday 25th February @7.30pm Clara | Jeremey Goode. Joe & Nancy Dunne |
| Thursday 26th February @10.00am Clara | Tom, Mary Alice & deceased of Maloney family. |
| Friday 27th February @10.00am Clara | Bernard, Pat & Amelia Dunne. |
| Saturday 28th February @10.00am Clara | No Intention. |
| Saturday 28th February @7.00pm Clara | Theresa Mannion (Month’s Mind). Craig Real. Eamonn & Margaret Fleming. Sheila Fleming-Dixon. |
| Sunday 1st March @10.00am Horseleap | Thomas Nally. |
| Sunday 1st March @11.30am Clara | Kathleen Cornally. James Kennedy. |
Adoration of the Blessed Eucharist
CLARA: Monday & Friday – 5.00pm-6.00pm
CLARA: Tuesday & Wednesday – after 7.30pm Mass to 9.00pm.
HORSELEAP: Tuesday – 7.00pm-9.00pm
All are welcome!
Come and find peace in the Lord.
Jesus fasts for Forty Days and is Tempted!
A huge mistake would be for us to imagine that the three temptations in today’s Gospel were once-off events, where Jesus was tempted, overcame the temptation, and then moved on. It would be wonderful if temptations worked like that! But no, temptations, if they are real, return again and again, choosing moments of tiredness or weakness to assault us. Jesus knew his own power and saw very clearly the possibilities it gave him. If he had given-in to the temptations of this Gospel, then he would have opted to join the Kingdoms of this world, swapping forgiveness, compassion and tolerance for power, wealth and domination. It is difficult to stand alone against the powers of this world, yet Jesus did so. When Jesus says to us today, “Come, follow me.” he does so knowing that he is asking a lot from us. Navigating our way through the Kingdoms of this world, while working for the Kingdom of God, would be impossibly difficult if left alone. But Jesus does not leave us alone. At Pentecost he sent us the Holy Spirit – his own Spirit – to dwell within us, “praying on our behalf to God…when we are unable to pray ourselves.” Jesus knew exactly what temptation was like. He struggled with temptations just as we do. He is with us in our own temptations, helping us if and when we ask. Finally, we must never think that we can overcome all temptations and live without sinning. What pride and arrogance that would be. Sin, evil, ‘badness’ is part of our world and is a part of each of us. With God’s help we do what we can to work for the Kingdom of God in our world. When we fail – and fail we will – we remind ourselves that the Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of mercy, with forgiveness at its centre. So, we say sorry and begin again…and again…and again… as often as is necessary. This is, after all, the Kingdom of God!
Please pray for Sr. Immaculata Barrett, recently deceased. R.I.P.
Collections 14th/15th February – Development Fund: €1,320; Plate: €605; Offerings: €10.
Thank You Very Much!
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Dates for Your Diary!
Confirmation: Monday 9th March.
First Holy Communion:
Boys School, Clara: Sunday 3rd May.
Girls School, Clara: Sunday 10th May.
Horseleap & Streamstown Schools: Sunday 17th May.
Blessings of Graves in Clara & Horseleap: Sunday 31st May.
Clara Town Band Table Quiz– Friday 6th March in Dolan’s Pub. Table of 4= €40.
Carmelite Church, Moate Wednesdays in Lent: Stations of the Cross: 4th March @8.00pm; Taize – prayer around the cross: 11th March @8.00pm; Reconciliation service: 25th March @ 8.00pm
In Ireland today, over 45,000 people live with Epilepsy. Information on www.epilepsy.ie. Purple Day (Epilepsy Awareness Day) will take place on Thursday 26th March.
Veterans Support Service for retired members of the defence forces in the Arden Family Resource Centre, Tullamore. Open to retired members within Offaly- every Thursday 10.30-12.30.
Lent 2026 – St. Brigid’s Parish, Clara & Horseleap
‘SEVEN LAST WORDS’
Wednesday 25th February Mass, @ 7.30pm followed by guided quiet reflection.
Wednesday 4th March Mass, @ 7.30pm followed by guided quiet reflection.
Wednesday 11th March Mass, @ 7.30pm followed by guided quiet reflection.
Wednesday 18th March Mass, @ 7.30pm followed by guided quiet reflection.
Tridium of Masses for Lent: 24th, 25th & 26th March @7.30pm.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation – during 7.30pm Mass on 26th March.
Horseleap: Mass every Tuesday morning @10.00am during Lent.
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