27th August, 2023

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 26th & Sun 27th August 2023  

Volume 23.   Number 32

ADAMSTOWN LOTTO RESULTS

The winning numbers in the Adamstown Lotto draw on Monday 21st were: 3 – 11 – 13 – 14. There was no Jackpot winner including online players. There was one match three player – Carol Lee, The Boola who received €200.

The next draw is on Monday 4th September in the Community Centre for a Jackpot of €15,000.

Do keep on buying the tickets – it could just be you next time!

ADAMSTOWN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION  (ACDA)

ACDA handed out surveys a number of weeks ago to all households in the parish. We appreciate summer is a busy time for everyone. We would like to remind households who have not yet returned their surveys to leave them into Cullen’s shop the weekend of the Parish Patron 1st -3rd September. This is the final week for submission. We would like to acknowledge those who have submitted their surveys as this allows us to see the needs of our parish and put a plan in place to meet some if not all of these needs.

We look forward to working with everyone in the coming months and years.

SYMPATHY

The death occurred on Tuesday 22nd of Francis Kent, Levittstown, Duncormick and formerly Adamstown.

We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Bernie, son Aidan, daughters Annette, Sarah, his sisters Bridget, Stasia, Gabriel, Mary, Annie, brother Walter, nephews, nieces,

 extended family, neighbours and friends. His funeral Mass was celebrated in the Church of St. Mannon & Assumption, Cleariestown on Thursday last followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. May he rest in peace.

SYMPATHY – Maureen Roche R.I.P.

We extend our deepest sympathy to Maureen’s family and friends on her unexpected passing on Monday 21st.

She was a regular visitor to our Parish and attended Mass in St. Abbans on many occasions. Her funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Fintan’s Church, Taghmon on Wednesday last followed by burial in Kilgarvan Cemetery.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.

50th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Congratulations to Seamus & Nancy Bradley, Adamstown on the occasion of their 50th Wedding Anniversary.

Seamus & Nancy celebrated this special event with family and friends last weekend.  We wish them all the best & many more years of celebrations.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

Bethany Bereavement Support Group are there if you need to call them. The volunteers have a private meeting room if you wish to share your grief. They hold a Drop-in-Service on the first Thursday of every month at 11.00am at St. Michael’s Pastoral Centre, Michael Street, New Ross.

The confidential telephone number is 087 3846577

A BIT OF NATURE – (Calvin Jones, Ireland’s Own)

THE IRISH HARE- Giorria (meaning  a short deer)

Old Irish name ‘Mil maige’ – animal of the plain/open spaces

Two species of hare occur in Ireland: the Irish hare and the brown hare. Brown hares were introduced from mainland Europe and are only found in lowland areas of the northeast, whereas Irish hares are true natives and are found throughout the country. The Irish hare is an endemic subspecies of the mountain or blue hare found throughout northern Europe. At first glance hares look similar to rabbits, especially when seen from any distance, but the hare has noticeably longer black-tipped ears, is generally bigger and has much longer, more powerful hind legs. Hares live all their lives above ground and young hares, or leverets, are born in the open complete with fur coat and open eyes. The only shelter a hare has is a shallow depression in the ground

called a “form”. Hares scrape these out of the earth, making one end deeper than the other to accommodate their powerful hind legs. Most forms are orientated so that their occupants can sit with their backs to the prevailing wind.

The Irish hare weighs between 2.3 and 4.3 kg (5 and 9.5 lbs)

and grows to about 55 cm (21 inches) long. Living out in the open the hare relies on its thick coat of fur to keep warm. The coat is white on the underside and a russet brown above, flecked with tawny, black and white to afford some camouflage. Hares rely on their acute sense of hearing and smell to give them early warning of approaching predators, and use their incredible running prowess to make their escape. Estimated running speeds for the Irish hare range from 32 to 48 km/h (20 to 30 mph), and their powerful hind legs can propel them up to 2m into the air. They also have tremendous stamina, and can run for up to 6 km (4 miles) without tiring. Irish hares are primarily nocturnal creatures, and spend some 40% of their time resting, usually during the day, and about 30% of their time feeding, mostly at night. The remainder is occupied by activities such as scent making, grooming and mating. In general the Irish hare’s diet consists of mainly grasses, with a selection of other herbs, shrubs playing a greater or lesser role depending on habitat. Hares can reproduce two or three times in a year with two to five leverets in each litter. As with many young mammals mortality is high, and leverets tend to make easy prey for predator. Only about 25% will make it through their first year. For those that survive average life expectancy is around nine years.  In the breeding season hares can often be seen competing with other males (or Jacks) for females (or does) resulting in characteristic chasing and boxing behaviour that led to the expression “mad as a March hare”

Note: The Irish hare is legally protected since 1930 in the Republic, initially under the Game Preservation Act (1930), then by the Wildlife Act (1976) and Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. However, it is also classified as a game or quarry game species and may be hunted under licence during the open season. Under license hares are captured for coursing.

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 26th – Bridie Wakeman, Newcastle & Raheenduff (A)

Sun 27th – Pat Power, The Leap (A)

Sat 2nd  Sept – Paddy & Molly Larkin, Adamstown (A)

Also                  Ann English,  Glenour (A)

Sun 3rd – Peg & Paul Kearns, Raheen (A)

Sat 2nd Sept – 9.30am Mass – Laurence Power,

Adamstown (A)

Pray for Margaret Mary Cash, Barntown

Teresa Wickham, New Ross & Raheen

Seamus Bradley, Carrigbyrne who all died during the week and we extend our deepest sympathy to their families.

May they rest in peace.

READERS OF THE LITURGY

Sat 26th – T. J. McDonald.  Sun 27th – Kathleen O’Connor

Sat 2nd – Eoghan Greene.  Sun 3rd – Sheelagh Delaney

Sat 9th – Anthony McGee    Sun 10th – Kay Whelan

Sat 16th – Liam Whelan.     Sun 17th – Ann Ryan

CHURCH ALTARS & DECORATION

Thanks to the ladies from Doononey/Rathkyle for looking after the Church & Altars for the month of August. It is now the turn of parishioners from Raheenduff for the month of September.

PATRON IN ST. ABBANS, ADAMSTOWN

Our Annual Patron & Blessing of graves will take place next Sunday 3rd September with Mass in St. Abban’s Church at 1.30pm followed by blessing of graves.

Please note: There will be a trailer left in the cemetery this coming week for any debris removed from graves.

 We are very grateful to John Kehoe for providing this facility

which will help to keep our cemetery neat and tidy.

The Patron Mass will be streamed live from St. Abban’s Church at 1.30pm – thanks to T.J. for facilitating this.

As is the custom a collection will be taken up at the cemetery gates on Patron Sunday for the continued upkeep of our cemetery.

ARE CEMETERY MASSES A GOOD IDEA?

(Fr. Bernard Cotter – Irish Catholic 24th Aug ’23)

Cemetery Masses abound in the summer throughout Ireland – but are they really such a good idea?  Rural cemeteries are often windswept, exposed, higgledy places, with little space for standing and no toilet facilities. Chairs have to be brought, amplification added and some shelter provided. And all the while, every parish has a building with all this laid on, i.e. a church. Wouldn’t it be better to have Mass in the comfort of the church, then adjourn to the cemetery for a short prayer service? Water blessed at Mass could be brought along, to forge a link between the two holy places.

ECUMENICAL SERVICE IN OUR LADY’S ISLAND

The Ferns Diocesan Ecumenical Society invites all to an Ecumenical Service in Our Lady’s Island on Tuesday 2nd September at 7.30pm led by Bishop Ger and Bishop Adrian.

Refreshments served afterwards.

(Fr. James Murphy)

OUR LADY’S ISLAND PILGRIMAGE SEASON

The Pilgrimage season in Our Lady’s Island continues.

Each weekday we have Mass at 3.00pm & 7.30pm with several speakers and musicians invited to take part. Please note the earlier time for evening Masses this year.

Divine Mercy and Prolife Pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Island

on Tuesday 29th August. Commencing with Rosary around the Island at 6pm. Mass at 7.30pm.

PRAYER FOR GOOD WEATHER – Bishop Ger Nash

“God our loving Father, we know that you care deeply for us. We ask you to bless us with the good weather we so badly need at this time.

Bless the work and efforts of all your people so that their endeavours may produce the results they need.

Grant success to the work of our hands.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord, Amen

ARC FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE

Join our Parent & Toddler Group for tea, chats and workshops. We meet Thursday mornings 9.30am -11.00am in the Raheen Hall and Friday mornings 9.30am – 11.00am in Adamstown Community Centre.

Community Education: We have workshops beginning in Adamstown, Clonroche & Raheen in September in Upcycling, Healthy Cooking, Sewing, Digital Skills, Mosaic & Mindfulness – Please call us on 051 442888 to register your place.

‘MESSENGER FOR GOD’ DONAL WALSH INSPIRING YOUNG PEOPLE’S FAITH

The example of ‘messenger for God’ Donal Walsh, the teen whose faith and poise as he battled cancer captivated Ireland, is inspiring interest in the Faith among young people today, his mother said. Young people are seeking “guidance for their faith and spirituality and see an example in Donal that they can relate to.” Elma Walsh told a packed Knock basilica on Sunday, Aug 20th. She warned that we have “lost the ability to harness and guide” young people’s spirituality due to our “fear of interference” Ms. Walsh, who visits schools, clubs and parishes across the country spreading Donal’s message of faith and life, said that interest in his faith journey comes up constantly. “Young people are not without spirituality,” she stressed. Donal Walsh died 10 years ago at the age of 16 after a battle with multiple bouts of cancer. The foundation his parents established in his name promotes his faith and his anti-suicide message among young people, reaching out to around 30,000 students a year.  A letter was left on Donal Walsh’s grave describing the young Kerryman as a “messenger for God” encapsulates his legacy, his mother said.  The anonymous letter made me see the light when I thought there was none. I’m forever grateful for what you’ve done for me. I pray for your soul, but I think you are in Heaven a long time now. I only hope I can be as good a messenger for God as you have been”

(Ruadhán Jones – Irish Catholic)

LEAVING CERT RESULTS

Well done to all students on their results & we hope you received the news you hoped for.  Best wishes as you go forward in your life’s journey.