10th September, 2023

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Sat 9th & Sun 10th ~September 2023 

Volume 23. Number 34.

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ADAMSTOWNL LOTTO RESULTS

The winning numbers in the Adamstown Lotto Draw on

Monday 4th Sept were: 2 – 3 – 11 – 26. There was no Jackpot winner including online players and one lucky match three player – Emma Murphy, Coolnagree who received €200. The next draw is on 18th September in the Community Centre for a Jackpot of €15,000. Keep on buying the tickets – it will be won and it could be you.

ADAMSTOWN GAA

Super fun was had on Monday evening last by our U8s Football & Camogie girls.  Thank you to all our amazing coaches for your hard work & dedication to this group. Also, thank you to our special guests, Lizzie Kent, Niamh English & Leah Furlong, from Wexford LGFA, for taking the time to have fun with the girls & present them with their certs.

Congratulations also to our U6 girls who had their last fun training session on Mon also and received their certificates.

Huge thanks to all coaches & parents whom have put in huge work all year to ensure that each girl had fun.

Your efforts are very much appreciated.

ADAMSTOWN ICA NEWS

A group of ladies from Adamstown ICA Guild enjoyed a lovely outing recently to the JFK Arboretum Kennedy Park.

The occasion was The Kennedy Summer School Afternoon Tea Party & nine members attended. We had a wonderful afternoon of entertainment & music played by The Nomads, a film from 2013 was shown celebrating the 50th Anniversary of President Kennedy’s visit to New Ross. We had a delicious tea, confectionary supplied by Mary Kelly, Camross Guild, all served up by the hard working ladies from Duncannon & Camross Guilds, thank you ladies.

RTE Newsreader Eileen Whelan was interviewed about her life & how she started working in RTE. She had her voice trained & was involved with the Bunratty Singers before she worked in TV. She treated us to a couple of her favourite songs & posed with the guild for a group photo, a lovely lady. Our first meeting since the summer break takes place next Wednesday 13th Sept in the Community Centre at 8pm. The Competition on the night is an Apple Tart, any size on a plate of your choice. Items for the Women’s Refuge would be greatly appreciated, particularly toiletries, they have very limited space to store clothing. We would love to see you at our next meeting & be involved in our guild for fun & friendship, so come along – you have nothing to lose, but lots to gain.

ADAMSTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB NOTE

Open Cross Country at Camross on Sunday 17th September, first race at 11.00am.u

PRAYER AT THE PLOUGHING

There is always a time for prayer – even at the enormous 700-acre site hosting the annual National Ploughing Championships. The festival, reputedly the largest outdoor rural event in Europe, is expansive, colourful and noisy.

But every year, in the midst of this giant festival, a tiny space is retained on site for quiet prayer. That tiny spot has been located in the Kildare & Leighlin (K& L) tent for seven of the last ten years. This diocesan stand is only one the 1,700 stands which, along with the ploughing competitions, attracts about 300,000 people annually over three days. The K& L tent is a hive of activity attracting a steady stream of callers from 8am – 6pm, for tea, biscuits and chat.

Inside the K& L tent, visitors see St. Brigid crosses being weaved, a religious tapestry being created, people are collecting blessed salt, prayer cards and religious wristbands, and a wall is maintained for petitioners to write their own prayers. The atmosphere is frequently enlivened by young dancers and professional singers volunteering a song. But central to the K& L marquee is the quiet space where the din and the tumult can be blotted out. In a reserved corner a doorway opens to a small room with six seats where visitors can step away from the bustle and take time out for private prayer. A traditional plough is placed nearby. An open bible and flowers help create a sense of the spiritual. A candle and bowl of blessed salt remind visitors that Christians are to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. (Mt  5). Some people quietly read scripture, others recite a silent decade of the rosary, occasionally small prayer services are held. Bishop Denis Nulty remarked: ‘Everybody is busy and on the move at the ploughing. There ‘s so much to see. We are present to show that the Catholic Church is a vibrant and welcoming community. But we also emphasise that prayer is an essential expression of our faith journey. By having our prayer space, we show that even in the busiest times God is present and we can make time to speak to him’ For several years, the motto at the K& L tent has been

 ‘Ploughing a prayerful path’

Co-incidentally, the Ploughing Championships are held during the ‘Season of Creation’ observed by Christians each year from 1st September to 4th October to promote the care for our common home, the earth. Care for the environment is an ongoing theme at our tent especially since the publication of Pope Francis’s widely acclaimed encyclical Laudato Si ‘

which calls for unified global action to combat the problems of climate change. On one occasion at the Ploughing, Bishop Nulty organised a poll to find Ireland’s favourite prayer. The ‘Hail Mary’ won. But there was also a section seeking new prayers for the environment – and scores of adults and school children enthusiastically submitted their own litany on how we can preserve the planet for future generations. This year the theme is for the increase of vocations, that more will consider devoting their lives to work in one of the 26 dioceses in Ireland.

(Joe O’Brien – The Messenger Magazine)

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 9th – Josie & Mick Whelan, Tomgarrow (A)

Also       Phyllis Bernie & Fred O’Brien, Dublin.

Sun 10th – Joe Bradley, The Hill (A)

Sat 16th – Aoife Kelly,Doononey (A)

Sun 17th – Tommy Furlong, Raheenduff (A)

May they rest in peace.

READERS OF THE LITURGY

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

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

Sat 23rd – Cait Bradley        Sun 24th – Kathleen O’Connor

Sat 30th – T.J. McDonald. Sun 1st Oct – Callie DoyleJ.

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will resume this Thursday 14th September beginning at 10.00am and concluding at 1.00pm.

PRAYER GROUP

The Prayer Group will gather in St. Abban’s Church this Sunday 10th September at 7.00pm. Speaker on the night will be James Weldon (Cáit’s nephew) James was a Naval Officer on the Samuel Beckett Navy ship, and he will speak of his experience of rescue missions of refugees

in the Mediterranean Sea. All welcome to come along.

ADAMSTOWN PATRON

Our Annual Patron took place on Sunday last in beautiful sunshine. Mass was celebrated in St. Abban’s Church by Fr. Robert Nolan, Fr. Odhran Furlong & also present was Fr. Jim Furlong.  There was a huge attendance, and those who choose to celebrate within St. Abban’s Church were welcome to do so, many others stood at the graves of their loved ones. Following Mass Fr. Jim Furlong recited the Rosary and Fr. Robert & Fr. Odhran blessed the graves in the Cemetery with Holy Water. Thanks to the Choir & Folk Group who greatly enhanced the Ceremony with their music & hymns. Thanks also to  the Readers & Eucharistic Ministers.

The Cemetery looked splendid and thanks to everyone for the wonderful care and attention to the graves of loved ones not just on Patron Day but also throughout the year.

Thanks to the Fás workers who help to keep the Cemetery in a fitting manner. Thanks to T.J. for facilitating the online relaying of the Mass. Also thanks to John Kehoe who kindly left a trailer in the Cemetery for people to leave the debris from the graves the week prior to the Patron.  A big thanks to Cáit & Joe for their help in the preparations for the Patron.

The Cemetery Committee were in attendance for car parking and the usual Patron Day collection, which is used for the continued upkeep of the Cemetery. 

The Cemetery Committee wish to acknowledge with sincere thanks the generosity of people who contributed to this

collection, which amounted to €4,562.20. This money will be put to good use by the Committee in looking after our Cemetery with such care and dedication, and we know many families appreciated the work being done by the voluntary committee over the years.

We apologise for the breakdown of the P.A. system during the celebration of Mass on Patron Sunday.

SYMPATHY

The death occurred on Wednesday last of Mary Whelan (Junior), Kellystown, following an illness borne with great dignity and courage. We extend our deepest sympathy to her mother Mary, sisters Christine, Nancy, Margaret, Patricia, Bernie and brothers Jay, Richard and Padge.

Our sympathy also to her extended family, neighbours and many friends in Wexford and work colleagues at Crumlin Hospital.

Mary’s funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Abban’s Church on Friday last followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery.

May her gentle soul rest in peace.

THE SEASON OF CREATION

On Friday 1st Sept, we began the official ‘Season of Creation’ in the Church that runs until 4th October, the feast day of St. Francis, the patron saint of the environment. More and more, we are coming to realise that the moral duty of Christians is to care for the earth and to engage with concern and courage to address issues like climate justice where the lifestyles of some are affecting the survival of others in our world. The Care of Creation has now become an integral part of the Social Teaching of the Church, often referred to as the ‘Church’s best kept secret’.

PRAYER FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

Dear Lord,

As our students begin a new school year,

I pray that you will keep them in your care.

Send your Sprit to open their minds to all

that is true and beautiful and good.

Help them to see the gifts and talents

You have given them and to use them well.

Help them to grow in knowledge and wisdom.

Help them to be kind to others and lead

others to be kind to them.

Give their teachers patience and understanding

and help them teach what is just and true.

Send your angels to give and guard our children

and keep them from all harm.

Open their young hearts to your presence and

Enfold them in your peace and protection.

Hold them in the palm of your hand

and bring them home safely at day’s end.

Amen.

POPE’S INTENTION FOR SEPTEMBER

For people living on the margins

We pray for those persons living on the margins of society, in

inhuman conditions, may they not be overlooked by institutions and never considered of lesser importance.

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

If you want peace, work for justice! (Pope Paul VI)