19th February, 2023

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 18th & Sun 19th February 2023

Volume 23.  Number 7.

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ADAMSTOWN LOTTO DRAW

The next draw in the Adamstown Lotto takes place this Monday nigh 20th February in the Community Centre for a Jackpot of €15,000. Well worth a €2.00 ticket it could be your lucky night!  Please leave books in Cullen’s shop by 8pm on draw night.

ADAMSTOWN Coiste na Nog Meeting – Adamstown Community Centre.

We are looking to establish a Coiste Committee/working group to focus on underage activity within our club and are inviting all members, parents and trainers with an interest in the underage structure of our club to submit their names to our Coiste secretary – Susan O’Shea at email address:

secretarybng.adamstown.wexford@gaa.ie or phone number 086 1942991. Alternatively we would invite you to attend our meeting on Tuesday 21st February at 8pm in the Community Centre where you are more than welcome to get involved.

The aim will be: to promote Gaelic Games among the young people of our community with a focus on player development and increasing participation rates through inclusivity and engagement. It is not intended to be administrative in nature.

BOOK LAUNCH

On Friday 3rd March 2023 at 8pm in Adamstown Community Centre there is a Book Launch. This book is about the ‘Rise and Fall of the Dance Halls of Ireland’ and also the hundred years Anniversary of the Civil War in the Adamstown area. It was written by local man Danny Doyle, Glenour. All proceeds are gong to Sister Helen’s Uganda Fund. On stage on the night will be ‘Theresa and the Stars’.

Light refreshments will be served and it’s open to anyone free of charge.

ANCCR Area Development GLG

(CE. Programme)

Brilliant opportunity to get back into the workforce/training

We have vacancies for the following positions.

• Community Employment General Operatives in the following areas, Adamstown, Newbawn, Cushinstown/Terrerath and Caroreigh.
• Community Employment Childcare Assistant in Adamstown/Raheen
• Office Administrator in Raheen

In order to apply for any of the above positions you need to be over 21 years and in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for 12 months. If interested in any of those positions, please contact your local Intreo Office or phone

Kay, CE Supervisor at ANCCR on 087 4144313.

We would love to hear from you.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – Helen Keller.

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart

SYMPATHY

The death occurred on Saturday 11th Feb of Mrs Maria O’Gorman, Kellystown, Adamstown wife of the late Jack.

 We extend our deepest sympathy to her sons Patrick, Sean, Richard, her daughter Anne, grandchildren, extended family, neighbours and friends. Maria’s funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Abban’s Church, Adamstown on Monday 13th, followed by burial in Adamstown Cemetery.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.

We extend our deepest sympathy also to Sadie English and Mary Margaret Roche and all the Doyle family on the death of their brother Martin Andrew Doyle, Priory Lodge, Ballylane West, New Ross on Sunday 12th February. His funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Mary and St. Michael’s Parish Church, New Ross on Tuesday last, followed by burial in St. Stephen’s Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

WELL DONE GRAHAM

We extend our congratulations to Graham O’Reilly, Coonogue who has just signed with Kerry FC.

Kerry FC announced the signing of Graham ahead of the 2023 SSE Airtricity First Division season, which kicks off this week. Well done Graham and continued success.

ADAMSTOWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION MEETING

Following a public meeting of Adamstown Community Development Association on Thursday night last, there will be a follow up, open meeting of ACDA next Thursday 23rd February in Adamstown National School at 8pm.

The meeting on Thursday night last gleaned a very positive response with relevant and impactful items on the agenda for next week. An active committee was elected with most positions filled on the night. There are a couple of roles left to be filled, so please come along if you would like to be part of this dynamic, effective group and make a real difference to the locality.

ALL FOR THE WANT OF A NAIL!

Eugene Cullen (son of Bridie & the late Seán) formerly of Adamstown and now resident in Newbury, England paid a brief visit to Adamstown during the week. Eugene is a farrier and is still very busy shoeing for the Balding family. Eugene went to England in 1979 and went to work for John Dunlop who at that time was training 100 horses. Then he went to work for Con Horgan as an apprentice jockey, Eugene actually had his first winner for Horgan. Later he became an apprentice farrier and he has continued to work in this trade.

 We wish him the best for the future.

A SMILE (Ireland’s Own)

One day the teacher asked a class of 8 year olds if any of them knew what a girdle was. “I do, said little Mary, It’s the thing Mammy puts on to keep herself in when she’s going out”

CHURCH NOTICES –IN MEMORIAM

Sat 18th – Paddy O’Connor,  Newtown (A)

Sun 19th – Pat & Ann Byrne, Raheenduff (A)

Sat 25th – Peg, Jay & Michael Roche, Ballyshannon (A)

Also –        John & Elizabeth French & deceased members of the French family, Oldcourt (A)

Sun 26th – Gillian Bradley Ballyvergin (A) & Julian Rothwell

Also –         Aidan Hickey, Kellystown (A)

Pray for Alice & Mary Connors, Woodview Drive (A)

May they rest in peace.

Ash Wednesday – 22nd February is a day of Fast and Abstinence.

Mass at 9.30am & 7.30pm ashes will be distributed following both Masses.

WEXFORD-PEMBROKESHIRE PILGRIM WAY

What is the Wexford-Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way?

The soon to be launched Wexford-Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way follows St. Aidan’s sixth century journey from Ferns in County Wexford, to meet his teacher and mentor St. David, in Pembrokeshire, Wales. The impact of the meeting between these two famous Celtic saints was felt far and wide across Ireland, Wales and beyond, leading to the establishment of new churches and monasteries and a flourishing of Celtic culture in the Age of the Saints.

Pilgrims will soon be able to follow in St. Aidan’s footsteps on this 160km walking journey with nearly 100km winding through County Wexford; starting from St. Edan’s Cathedral and Mogue’s Well, Ferns. The route then winds its way south through Oulart, St. David’s Well in Oylegate, Forth Mountain and Our Lady’s Island, to the ferry crossing at Rosslare port. The Wexford leg is followed by a crossing over the Irish Sea and a 60km walk on the beautiful Pembrokeshire National Park Coast Path to St. David’s, cathedral city of Pembrokeshire.

For more details about the route, please visit the Wexford-Pembrokeshire Pilgrim Way website:

www.wexfordpembrokeshirepilgrimway.org

Part of the Ancient Connections project at Wexford County Council.

For further project details www.ancientconnections.org

Contact  eoghan.greene@wexfordcoco.ie

READERS OF THE LITURGY

Sat 25th – Ellie Walsh            Sun 26th – Kathleen O’Connor

Sat Mar 4th – T.J. McDonald.  Sun 5th Neasa Cloney

Sat 11th – Cáit Bradley           Sun 12th – Betty O’Shea

TEMPERANCE SUNDAY – 19th February 2023

Temperance Sunday Mass on RTE  TV & Radio at 11.00am will include prayers for all who are in treatment for addiction, for their families and for those who are in recovery.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

We pray a blessing from heaven on all families and individuals who are struggling because of addiction or substance abuse. We pray for all who receive spiritual support from Pioneers, the AA programme and NA meetings as they work one day at a time to maintain their resolutions. Amen.

RUNNING THE NUMBERS

(Excerpt from John L. Allen Jr: Irish Catholic)

A January 23rd post on a CARA-affiliated blog titled “1964”, edited by Mark Gray, presents data on Mass attendance rates in 36 countries with large Catholic populations. It’s based on the results from the latest cycle of the World Values Survey (WVS), which has studied trends in values in almost 100 countries since 1981. Unsurprisingly, the central finding is that Mass attendance is much higher in the developing world, especially Africa. In Nigeria, a reported 94% of Catholics say they attend Mass at least weekly, followed by Kenya at 73%, Lebanon clocks in at a robust 69% and the Philippines at 56%. By way of contrast, the highest percentage anywhere in Europe is in Poland, at 52%, and in Western Europe the best performer is Italy at 34%. If we use the Vatican numbers for Catholics in Nigeria as 32.5 million, if 94% attend Mass once a week it translates to 30.5 million Catholics.  By way of contrast, the five largest Catholic countries in Western Europe are Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Portugal. Using the percentages in the WVS data, collectively they have about 30.4 million Catholics who show up every Sunday. In other words Nigeria alone has roughly the same number of regularly practicing Catholics as all of Western Europe.  The two largest Catholic countries in the world are Brazil and Mexico, with Catholic populations of 123 million and 97 million respectively. Yet Mexico has a Mass attendance rate of 47% and Brazil just eight, which means that together they see about 55.4 million Catholics showing up for church every Sunday. It’s long being said that Africa is the future of the Church. Looking at the numbers in terms of who actually shows up, however, Africa isn’t the future. It’s the present, and it has been for a while.

ADAMSTOWN PARISH WELCOMED BISHOP GER NASH

Last Saturday night 11th Feb, our Parish welcomed Bishop Ger Nash for his first visit to Adamstown. In his homily, he spoke of his growing up on a small farm in Co. Clare, where he had a good and happy childhood, even though it was hard to provide for a family on a small farm. He spoke about the declining numbers of priests and the difficulties this will make in dioceses going forward. During Mass Bishop Ger presented the BENE MERENTI MEDAL to Frances Doyle and Ellie Walsh in recognition of their contribution to Church and Community life in Adamstown over many years.

Following Mass refreshments were served in Coláiste Abbáin and Bishop Ger was delighted to meet and chat with

many parishioners both on Saturday night and again following 10.30am Mass on Sunday morning.

A sincere thanks to all those who gave confectionery or helped in any way to facilitate this gathering. It was lovely to see so many of our community meet up again for a chat  and a cuppa, following long months of lockdown and isolation.

Thanks to Coláiste Abbáin Principal Mr. John Nolan for allowing us to use the facilities of the College.

Frances and Ellie would like to thank the many people for their good wishes and congratulations on their awards.