Parish Newsletter- 2nd August 2026
| Mass times for the week ahead | MASS INTENTIONS |
|---|---|
| Saturday 1st August @7.00pm Clara | Derek Mee. |
| Sunday 2nd August @10.00am Horseleap | No Intention. |
| Sunday 2nd August @11.30am Clara | No Intention. |
| Tuesday 4th August @7.30pm Clara | St. John Vianney Jimmy Rabbitte. |
| Wednesday 5th August @7.30pm Clara | Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major No Intention. |
| Thursday 6th August @10.00am Clara | The Transfiguration of the Lord No Intention |
| FIRST FRIDAY Friday 7th August @10.00am Clara | Mass for All on the Parish List of the Dead. Tom. Delia, Joe, Alberta & deceased of Boland family. |
| Saturday 8th August @10.00am Clara | St. Dominic No Intention. |
| Saturday 8th August @7.00pm Clara | Michael & Bridget Kelly. Sean Colleran. Isaac & Elizabeth Kelly. |
| Sunday 9th August @10.00am Horseleap | Billy, James & Mary Fitzgerald. |
| Sunday 9th August @11.30am Clara | David & Kathleen Kavanagh. John & Annie Rochford. Deceased of Rochford & Kavanagh families. |
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-8.00pm
All are welcome!
Come and find peace in the Lord.
Please pray for Vicky O’Meara, The Green; recently deceased. R.I.P.
The Feeding of the Five Thousand.
There is so much more in this Gospel to comfort and challenge us. We might consider the challenge issued by Jesus to his disciples when they advised him to send the crowd away so they could get food for themselves. Jesus said very plainly to them “You give them something to eat.” There is more than enough food produced each year to feed everyone who lives. So why do so many children have to die of starvation each year. Surely, we can’t avoid the challenge here… God shouting to us from Heaven, “don’t just send them away and tell them to feed themselves, and don’t ask me to do what you can do yourselves.” Maybe Jesus trusted his disciples more than they trusted themselves, and maybe God trusts us more than we trust ourselves. After all, he created us “in his own image and likeness.” God did not create us helpless and dependent on him for everything. He gave us freedom, and choice and power over his creation. We are trusted by God to work with him; we are not his puppets, dancing to his music, in a lovely world where we have no freedom and no choices. The wonder of our God, the awesome beauty of his creation is that he made us in ‘his image and likeness’ and he gave us the freedom, and independence to choose for ourselves how we live. So much to reflect upon in one single story of the Gospel. And the truth is that God is the one speaking to us through the words and actions of Jesus. Believing this, trusting that “he who sees me sees the father” is the challenge and it is also the comfort Jesus offers us. We are not alone any longer. The resurrection of Jesus proves that. When Jesus said before his ascension, “I am with you always, to the end of time” we can be certain that this is what God whispers to us each moment of each day… to the end of time!
Collections 25th/26th July – Development Fund: €1,165; Plate: €960; July Offerings: €215.
Thank You Very Much!
For less than the cost of a cup of coffee, you can support our parish with a quick and simple donation, by simply clicking the button below:
The Irish Synodal Pathway: What is Discernment?
Spiritual discernment is at the core of the Irish synodal pathway. Discernment is an intentional practice of becoming aware of and understanding the Lord’s voice. As Pope Francis highlighted, synodal discernment is an exercise in “giving the microphone to the Holy Spirit”. Throughout the Irish synodal journey, quiet awareness, self-examination, and patient discernment were used extensively. Last year the Meath Diocesan Synod Team offered five sessions across the diocese for Parish Pastoral Councils to train them in a method for discernment called Conversation in the Spirit. This approach helps support authentic, prayerful listening and decision making, so as to discern together what God is saying.
Lough Derg Programme of Retreats and Pilgrimages for August & September. “A pilgrimage has a vital part to play in our life of faith for it removes us from our homes and our daily routines and gives us time and space to encounter God more deeply.” Pope Leo XIV. Further info on www.loughderg.org, email or Tel: (071) 986 1518.
Meath Diocesan Pilgrimage to Knock, Sunday 9th August.
Global school feeding charity Mary’s Meals ‘Step By Step to Feed the Next Child‘ – Walk to Knock 7th-15th August. Walkers will arrive at Clara around 3.30pm on Monday 10th August on their way to Knock and leave at 8.30am on Tuesday 11th, heading towards Athlone. Please come out and encourage the walkers, and if you’re able to do so, donate in the buckets or visit marysmeals.ie to donate online. It costs just €22 to feed a child for a whole school year, and 11c provides one school meal. All donations, big or small, are very welcome.
Dear God, In this summer season of vitality, we pray for the gift of good health and happiness. May our bodies be strong, our minds at peace, and our hearts filled with joy. Bless us with the energy to embrace every moment and the gratitude to cherish each day. Amen.
Image: detail from The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes (La multiplication des pains) by James Tissot
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