22nd January, 2023

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 21st & Sun 22nd January 2023 

Volume 23   Number 3

ADAMSTOWN LOTTO

The next draw in the Adamstown Lotto takes place this 

 Monday 23rd Jan in the Community Centre for a Jackpot of 

€15,000. A huge amount of money – do buy a ticket and be in with a chance. Please leave books back in Cullen’s Gala by 8pm on draw night.

ADAMSTOWN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION

There will be a meeting of Adamstown Development Association in Brad Og’s, this Wednesday night 

25th January at 8pm.

All members are asked to please attend.

ADAMSTOWN GAA NEWS

‘Ireland Lights Up” ‘Walk – Tuesday nights @ 7pm

A massive turn out for our Irelands lights up walk on Tuesday 17th despite bitterly cold conditions. 80 walkers in total so well done everyone and thanks to our well-being committee for organising it. The walk will continue every Tuesday for 8 weeks in total, so hopefully in better weather conditions, we can grow the group even further.

Dinner Dance: We are holding our Club Celebratory Dinner Dance on Bank Holiday Sunday February 5th at 7pm in The Brandon House Hotel, New Ross.

Dinner & Dancing to top band Divine Invention with DJ till late. Tickets €50.

ADAMSTOWN NATIONAL SCHOOL 

Teachers and pupils from Adamstown N.S./Raheen N.S and Coláiste Abbain attended the launch of their Creative Clusters Ukulele Mentoring Project recently with facilitator Eamonn Barrett.  We are so excited to start playing the ukulele.

Enrolments:

We are now taking enrolments for the 2023/24 academic year. Enrolment forms and admissions notice are available on the school website. 

adamstownns.ie/enrolment..html

Adamstown N.S. Parent’s Association.

Thanks everyone for your support, the Clothes Collection fundraiser amounted to €200.

SHAMROCK VINTAGE CLUB AGM

The Annual General Meeting of the Shamock Vintage Club will be held on Tuesday 7th February in Raheen Hall at 9.00pm. New members welcome.

COLÁISTE ABBÁIN NEWS

We’re going to the Final!

Congratulations to our U-17 soccer team who defeated Coláiste Raithin, Bray in the semi-final on Thursday last.

A fiercely competitive match that went to penalties.

Bring on the final!!! Thanks to coaches Mr. McDonnell and Mr. Ellard for their continued committement to the team.

ADAMSTOWN I.C.A NEWS

Adamstown ICA Guild held their first meeting of 2023 on Wednesday January 11th in the local Community Centre.

Our President Anne Stafford welcomed everyone and hoped we had a lovely Christmas and wished us a Happy and Healthy 2023. After the prayer and singing of My Land, the business of the meeting was discussed. Secretary, Mary Lawlor had a detailed report of our activities during 2022 and Treasurer Breda Bolger gave a positive account of our financial situation. Helen Furlong our Sports Rep, encouraged us all to keep active and keep safe especially when walking on icy conditions and be seen, wear reflective or bright clothes. Hope to have bowling back shortly and line dancing. The Aqua Aerobics group continues to meet three mornings each week in the Maldron Hotel. Sheelagh Delaney, Women’s Refuge Rep thanked everyone for their lovely Christmas gifts and €80 in vouchers donated to the Refuge which the guild did in lieu of Kris Kringle. She distributed the ribbon to make stars for the project, 

‘A Million Stars to Stop Violence against Women’  Women’s Refuge hope to display a tree covered in stars in the Bullring, Wexford on March 5th – International Women’s Day.  One of our members Mary J. Furlong introduced her daughter Eve to the guild, she works in Enniscorthy Castle and wants to do a presentation on the ICA and how members got involved and what ICA means to us. She listened intently to our experiences and took notes and will get back to us when things progress.  A lovely tea was served up by hosts Dympna Rochford and Sheelagh Delaney. The raffle was won by Breda Bolger and competition for nicest Christmas card was won by Anne Stafford. Next meeting is Wednesday February 8th at 8pm in the Community Centre, new members very welcome.

SYMPATHY

We extend our deepest sympathy to Philip Rothwell and all the family, Groveside, Adamstown on the death of his sister-in-law Annette Nolan, Kilcloran, Camolin on Thursday 12th January. Our sympathy also to her sons John and Patrick, daughter Aideen, extended family and friends. Her funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Columba’s Church, Ballyduff on Wed 18th Jan, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. May she rest in peace.

WEXFORD PARISH CARE FOR THE EARTH GROUP

Christian spirituality proposes moderation and simplicity that allows us to stop and appreciate the small things, to be grateful for the opportunities life affords us, to be spiritually detached from what we possess, and not succumb to sadness for what we lack.

CATHOLIC SCHOOL WEEK: 

Catholic Schools Week  Sun 22nd Jan – Sun 29th Jan 2023 

The Theme this year is: Walking Together in Faith and Love

Celebrating the gift of Catholic education & recognising the love and generosity of the entire school community, student, staff & home.

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 21st – Joe Crosbie, Misterin & New Ross (A)

Also Josie Galway, Catherine & Patrick Doyle, Breezemount (A)

Sun 22nd – Mary Flood, Oldcourt (Month’s Mind)

Also     Shay O’Brien, Rathkyle(A)

Sat 28th – Deceased members of Adamstown GAA

Also   Pat Martin, Woodview Drive (Month’s Mind)

Sun 29th – Mogue & Mary Kealy, Ellen, Johnny, Jim and Sonny Kehoe, Tom & Liz Murphy, Rathurtin & The Leap (A)

Pray for Noel McCarthy, Tomgarrow (A)

May they rest in peace.

READERS OF THE LITURGY

Sat 21st – Anthony McGee.   Sun 22nd – Kathleen O’Connor

Sat 28th – Annette English     Sun 29th – Kay Whelan

Sat 4th March – Cáit Bradley. Sun 5th – Betty O’Shea

Morning Mass each week day at 9.30am

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Thursday from 10.00am – 1.00pm

A THOUGHT –

Be Kind – Things May not be what they seem:

“My friend handed me a very old metal match box car today. Then he said I found this yesterday and it reminded me of a major life lesson. I held it in my hand and looked at it while he talked. He said “when I was in elementary school, we did a Secret Santa in my class room at school. All the kids drew a name and then we exchanged presents the last day before Christmas break.” He said, “my parents went out and bought me a nice new toy to give to the child I had drawn. My mom wrapped it up and the kid loved the present that received it” He then said, “I went and found my present from a boy in my class that I didn’t really know. It looked like it had been 

wrapped with news paper” He said “I opened it and it was that little car you are holding in your hand,” He said…. but when he gave it to me it was dirty and looked well played with”. He said “I was mad I had given such a nice gift and he had put so little effort into his! I felt cheated.

He said, but later I learned the kid lived in a very run down 

shack. His mom was sick and his daddy had left them years before. He said they barely had enough money to have heat and food, he said “when I realized he had given me one of his only few toys. I felt ashamed for the way I treated him when I got the gift”. He said I only learned how poor he was after he quit coming to school and we were told his mom had died and he had been sent to into foster care. I never saw him again. He said I kept this little car all these years because I know it was the best present I have ever gotten.

MARY’S MEALS – Online Quiz

Mary’s Meals Online Quiz, which feeds over 2 million hungry children in 20 countries, will be held this Friday 27th January at 8pm. To take part or simply donate go to;

www.bit.ly/quizforMM or contact Martin Colfer at 

087 2596159

REFLECTION – (Sr. Ann Gray – Far East Magazine)

As we look back on the past year and begin a new year, it can sometimes be quite a challenge to put into practice the saying of former UN Secretary General, Dag Hammarskjold: “For all that has been, thanks. For all that will be, yes! 

The year we are leaving behind has shown us how precarious life can be. So many wars have displaced thousands of people and sent them fleeing in search of safety. The continued destruction of the planet resulted in drought, flooding, famine and untold suffering for those living in the southern hemisphere.  How challenging it is to put into practice what Pope Francis tells us, “We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and a far-sighted vision” 

For the last several months, our trees have been stripped of their leaves and our gardens have displayed few, in any, flowers.  Our days have been short, with darkness falling early in the evening. But already the days are gradually brightening with darkness slowly decreasing by the length of a cock’s step as the old Irish saying reminds us: Tá coiscéim coiligh ar an lá. Winter is now giving way to Spring and although we may not feel it ourselves there must be some heat in the earth as the snowdrops are beginning to appear and brighten our days. According to one legend about the Garden of Eden, the snowdrop was connected to Eve’s shedding of tears when God banished her. To comfort Eve in her despair, an angel picked up a snowflake and threw it on the earth to cheer her up. As the snowflake shattered, it became a symbol of new beginnings and of hope because everywhere the snow landed, snowdrops grew. The appearance of snowdrops is usually our first sign of Spring. Despite its delicate appearance, the bulbs often sprout flowers when snow still lies on the ground. They are a symbol of rebirth and the ability to overcome challenges in life, a great sign of hope, a sign and gift that our world today is in desperate need of. As we wish one another “Happy New Year”, let us do our best to put into practice the words of Jean Pierre de Caussade, “The past must be left to God’s measureless mercy, the future to his loving providence and the present must be given wholly to his love through fidelity to his grace”

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK – Friends

Lord, I thank you for my friends, who bear with me in my moods, who love me when I am difficult to love, and are patient with me in my sorrows and my joys.

Lord, my friends are a priceless gift from You, 

Who are the greatest friend of all. Amen.

POSTSCRIPT TO CHRISTMAS – Howard Thurman

When the song of the angels is stilled.

when the star in the sky is gone

when the kings and princes are home

when the shepherds are back with their flocks

the work of Christmas begins:

to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry,

to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations

to bring peace among the people

to make music in the heart.