14th April, 2024

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 13th & Sun 14th April 2024

Volume 24.  Number 15

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ADAMSTOWN LOTTO

The next draw in the Adamstown Lotto takes place this Monday 15th April in the Community Centre for a Jackpot of 

€9,400. Please leave books back in Cullen’s by 8pm on draw night. Thanks for your continued support and do keep on buying the tickets and helping local parish and clubs.

SHAMROCK VINTAGE CLUB

The Shamrock Vintage Club and Parents Association would like to thank everyone for their help for the Pat Byrne Road Run on Sunday 7th April. Those who donated money, food and worked on the day, the stewards and bike marshals, the Community Centre and the Hall Committee and anyone else that helped in any way. The proceeds at present are at €3,600 which are being given to the Parents Association of Adamstown N.S., and if anyone would still like to donate can do so by contacting any member of the committees.

FROM ADAMSTOWN N.S PARENTS ASSOCIATION

The Parents Association of Adamstown National School wish to  thank each and everyone in our community who donated money, contributed food, their time, hard work and effort  towards the Pat Byrne Memorial Road Run. It is heart-warming to see how much our community cares, and can work together and get things done. We are thankful and proud of you all.

ADAMSTOWN PHARMACY NOTICE

Adamstown Pharmacy will be offering the latest COVID 19 vaccine as part of the HSE spring booster campaign to all individuals over 70. The campaign will run from 22nd April to 31st May 2024. Anyone looking for a vaccine please contact Adamstown Pharmacy on 053 9240454 or 053 9240460 or at adamstownpharmcay@gmail.com

DANCE CLASSES IN ADAMSTOWN COMMUNITY CENTRE

Dance classes will begin in Adamstown Community Centre this Tuesday 16th April from 4.45pm  – 5.45pm. All ages welcome.

Contact Joelle White at 087 9768864 for more information. 

WEEKLY THURSDAY NIGHT CARD GAME

The weekly Card Game continues in  the  Community Centre at 8.30 pm. Winners on Thurs 10th April were: Matt O’Neill, John Hanley, Owen & Sammy Elmes, Jim & Trish Wickham, Jer Sweeney & Tom Wickham.

ADAMSTOWN ICA NEWS

The A.G.M of Adamstown I.C.A was held on Wednesday night last. There was a large number in attendance. After the usual business was  dealt with Gretta O Connor Federation Information Officer was there to oversee the election of officers and gave us some very useful information and tips. The following officers were elected… President Helen Furlong. Secretary Liz Furlong, Treasurer Dympna Rochford. P.R.O Helene Forde, Grants Officer Mary Lawlor. The competition was won by Helen Furlong who will go on to represent the guild at county level. Raffle was won by Mary Lawlor, Ann Ryan and Dympna Rochford. A lovely tea was served by Ann Mc Donald and Frances Gallagher. Next meeting May 9th, new members always welcome

Michael Fortune to visit Adamstown 

Join Michael Fortune (folklore.ie) for a relaxed and informative talk on some of the traditions and customs surrounding the month of May in Ireland. Michael is the man behind the popular folklore.ie page on social media and also the author of “The Folklore of Wexford”. So if you have an interest in May Bushes, pisheógs, traan water and other May customs from Wexford, please come along to Adamstown Community Centre at 8pm on Thursday next 18^th April 2024. Admission is €5 and everyone is welcomed. Michael will be joined on the night by his wife Aileen Lambert and their three girls who will sing a May related song to end proceedings.

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 13th – Joe Kidd, Oldcourt (A)
Sun 14th – People of the Parish
Sat 20th – Lena Doyle, Ballagh and Pat Doyle &
Julie Cullen, New Ross (A)
Sun 21st – Ephraim Cloney (A)

Pray for Martin Nolan who died in New Jersey this week.

May they rest in peace.

Mass each week day morning at 9.30am.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every.
Thursday from 10am – 1.00pm.

PRAYER GROUP

The Prayer Group will meet this Sunday evening 14th in St. Abban’s Church at 7pm. Our guests will be Faye Hynes & Megan Martin – 2 young students who have recently visited Lourdes.

MASS FOR GOOD WEATHER – Bishop Ger

Bishop Ger has expressed his support and compassion for those in the farming community and other sectors who are experiencing difficulties because of the prolonged spell of poor weather. He asks everyone in the Diocese of Ferns to join with him in praying for favourable weather and also in praying for all whose work or livelihoods depend on the weather conditions.

God our Father, we turn to you, the source of all goodness and grace. We come before you with humble hearts, seeking your divine intervention in the rhythm of the seasons. Bless us with the favourable weather which we so badly need at this time, especially for our farming community and all others whose livelihoods depend on it.

Grant them strength and perseverance in their work. In their labours may they find solace and fulfilment, knowing that their efforts contribute to the well-being of our communities.

Bless them with resilience in the  face of challenges and grant them moments of peace amidst the storms of life.

Help us, as faith communities, to support and uplift them, recognising the vital role they play in sustaining life.

Guide us, Lord, to be mindful stewards of the earth and compassionate neighbours to those who cultivate it.

May your loving presence be a beacon of hope and strength for all.

We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

ECUMENICAL SERVICE IN ST. ABBAN’S CHURCH

A Ecumenical Service will be held  in St. Abban’s Church this Friday 19th April at 7.30pm to pray for favourable weather.

All welcome to attend.

SONGS AND THE EMPTY CHURCH – 

There is a Welsh entertainer called Max Boyce, much of his material is based around the game of rugby, he speaks, sings and recites of games won and lost, of great outings in support of the team and the country and the highs and lows this brings to the fans. He also has written a song he called ‘Ten Thousand Instant Christians’. He sets it wonderfully. He speaks of leaving a rugby ground after an international game and of all  the enthusiastic singing he heard there – the Welsh fans are renowned for their singing and their ‘Male Voice Choirs’ He recalls coming around a corner and seeing an old church, shuttered and chained with the sign ‘For Sale’ on it. He describes a ‘dusty bible’ on the floor of the old building and wonders what  might God think of this. The ‘fans’ sing songs that are based on old hymns. Most of the original words to these hymns are forgotten.  Some of the fans chants are even to the air of the hymns that once praised God and called people into God’s house and into relationships with him.

He says, ‘The bar was filled with singing / Hymns came on a tray / Saturday was Sunday / I wonder what he’ll say’ … he contrasts the singing and the enthusiasm of the fans to the dusted silence of the shuttered church and asks, ‘When he sees that  empty chapel / With its locked and shuttered door / And sees that dusty bible / Cobweb covered floor / The numbers slowly dwindling / Much fewer now each day / Calfaria now a bingo hall / I’ll wonder what he’ll say? (Calfaria, I discovered, was once the biggest church in Wales and is now, as Boyce points out, a bingo hall) I like the song and was deeply moved by it. I admire his courage in singing it and maybe we need to reflect on what it means for us in our own ‘home place’. I am still working on that one myself!

(Fr. Vincent Sherlock – Messenger Magazine)

JOHN O’BRIEN DIED 5th MARCH 2024 RIP

John’s wife Anne would like to thank  Fr. Robert Nolan, Fr. Ódhran Furlong for celebrating John’s funeral Mass, also thanks to 

Stephen Murphy for the lovely singing and music. Thanks also to Jame Ryan Funeral Undertakers and the gravediggers.

A special word of thanks to all the doctors, nurses of Wexford General Hospital who looked after John in his final illness, thanks to  Dr. Catherine O’ Donohoe, Adamstown Health Centre. A word of thanks to my sister Marie and the extended family who supported me during John’s illness and death. Thanks to all who attended the wake in Wellington Bridge and St. Abban’s Church and everyone who  attended John’s funeral, and sent Mass cards. Also to my dear friends and neighbours for their help and support, and anyone else that I may have overlooked thank you all so much.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK (Jonathan Swift)

You should never be ashamed to admit you have been wrong. It only proves you are wiser today than yesterday.