15th December, 2024

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 14th & Sun 15th December 2024      Volume 24   Number 50

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ADAMSTOWN LOTTO

The next draw in the Adamstown Lotto takes place this Thursday 19th December in Foley’s, Newbawn for a Jackpot of €2,700. Tickets available from GAA, Soccer, Parish Committee and in Cullen’s Gala. Please leave books back in Cullen’s by 7pm on draw night. Thanks for your support.

THURSDAY NIGHT CARD GAME

The weekly Thursday night Card game continues in the Community Centre each week at 8pm. Winners on Thurs 12th  were:  Chris Byrne, Bridie Dillon, May Pender, Kay Whelan, Tom Rochford, Pat Quinn, Jim & Trish Wickham.

ANCCR AREA DEVELOPMENT CLG –

Community Employment Scheme.

We are recruiting for the following position on our CE Scheme

Office Assistant in the ARC Family Resource Centre

19.5 hours per week. Basic Weekly Rate €271.50 (January 2025)

Community Employment eligibility and rates apply.

This is a developmental role. Great opportunity to get back into the workforce and learn new skills. Training support provided.

If interested, please contact Ruth on 087 4144313 and/or check eligibility with your local Intreo Office.

ADAMSTOWN ICA NEWS

The Senior Citizens Christmas party was held in the Horse & Hound on Sunday Dec 8th. Thanks to everyone who attended, it was great to see so many of our friends and neighbours. We had a wonderful afternoon, with a lovely dinner & spot  prizes. Thanks to Dermot Hynes & Joe Bradley for the music and the laughs and to our guest performers Callie Doyle & Larry Furlong. Thanks also to Dympna Rochford for making the gorgeous Christmas cake. Everyone enjoyed a slice with a cup of tea to round off the afternoon. A big thank you to all the sponsors & to Helen Furlong and the ICA ladies for all the work in organising the day.

Adamstown ICA held their last meeting of 2024 on Tuesday 10th Dec. After the usual business, we had a lovely supper from Bernie’s and a chance to catch up and have a laugh with a great bunch of ladies. Our next meeting will be on Wednesday 15th January 2025 in Coláiste Abbain. New members are always welcome. Remember, you don’t have to be from the area to join us.     Happy Christmas to you all.

SCOIL NAOMH ABBÁIN CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE

Scoil Naomh Abbáin will hold a Christmas Carol Service in St. Abban’s Church this Tuesday 17th Dec at 6.30pm.

No cover charge, donations towards school funds welcomed.

ADAMSTOWN PHARMACY OPENING HOURS FOR CHRISTMAS

Monday 23rd: 9am – 6pm     Tuesday 24th: 9am – 3pm

Wednesday 25th & Thursday 26th: CLOSED

Friday 27th: 9am – 6pm

Saturday 28th: 9.30am – 2pm

Monday 30th: 9am – 6pm

Tuesday 31st: 9am – 3pm

Wednesday 1st January: CLOSED

Thurs 2nd January: 9am – 6pm  Friday 3rd January: 9am – 6pm

CLOUGH ABBÁIN WINNERS

Congratulations to Cloughbawn/Adamstown Under 14 Camogie girls on winning the Roinn 1C Shield.  They defeated a strong Castletown/Liam Mellows team on a scoreline of 3-10 to 4.03.

The team was: Sarah Lillis, Lexi Hernan, Erin McMahon, Ruby Bennett. Emily English, Aoibhinn McDonald, Ava Wilson (2-2), Aoife McDonald (0-6) Aoibhinn Curtis (0-1), Alannah Purcell, Aimee Mcdonald (1-1); Sabhdh Cooper. Subs: Matilda Winters, Ella Buckly, Emily Murphy, Louise Murtagh & Michaela Kehoe.

Well done to all involved.

COLÁISTE ABBÁIN NEWS

Great football success this week – Well done to our 1st year football team on their brilliant win against Coláiste Eoin, Hacketstown Friday to secure their place in the South Leinster semi-final.

A massive congratulations to our senior footballers on their fantastic victory in the South Leinster semi-final against New Ross CBS. The lads showed incredible determination and teamwork to secure their place in the final after Christmas.  Well done to teams & mentors.

We were thrilled to welcome a group of Dutch educators and experts in education who flew from The Netherlands this week to observe excellence in teaching and learning in Coláiste Abbáin.

It was an inspiring visit filled with  meaningful exchanges about learning strategies, innovative practices, and fostering global connections in education.

MEDICAL MISSIONARIES OF MARY THANKS

Sr. Breeda Ryan, MMM (Stamp Department) sends her thanks for the support of the people of Adamstown in donating used stamps to the organisation. You will be included in a Novena of Masses offered by their Chaplain for your intentions. Thank you all. May the birth of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ bring you Peace, Hope, Joy, and an abundance of God’s blessings at Christmas and in 2025.

Sr. Helen also sends her thanks and good wishes to all this Christmas.

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 14th – Gerry Bradley, Ballyvergin (A)

Also – Kit O’Connor & Josie Thorpe, Newtown (A)

Also – Jimmy Kelly, Tomgarrow (A)

Sun 15th – Jim Connors, Mooncoin & The Hill (A)

Sat 21st – Mary Flood, Oldcourt (A)

Sun 22nd – People of the Parish

Pray for Seamus Maher who died in England this week, brother in law of Michael Ridgeway.

Pray for Susan Long, who died in England this week, sister of Paddy Gethings. We offer our sympathy to both families.

May they rest in peace.

Morning Mass each weekday morning at 9.30am

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

READERS OF THE LITURGY

Sat 21st – Liam Whelan.  Sun 22nd – Sheelagh Delaney

Tue 24th – T.J. McDonald.  Wed 25th – Amelia Swierczynska

Sat 28th – Annette English.  Sun 29th – Ann Ryan

MASS TIMES FOR CHRISTMAS

Tues Dec 24th – Vigil  Mass of the Nativity at  7.30pm

Wed Dec 25th – Mass of the Nativity  at 11.00am.

Thurs Dec 26th – St. Stephen’s Day, Mass at 11.00am

Fri  Dec 27th – Mass at 11.00am.

Sat Dec 28th – The Holy Innocents: Mass at 7.30pm

Sun 29th – The Holy Family: Mass at 11.00am.

CHRISTMAS

My prayers and good wishes to you all in Saint Abbans Church for a Blessed Christmas.

The four weeks of Advent are a time of preparation for the arrival of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.

The best way to prepare is to make a good confession of our sins and be reconciled with God and one another.

I am available after 9.30 Mass each morning for confession, also

available in  the Friary.

Holy Mass will be celebrated in Adamstown on Christmas Eve at 7.30pm and on Christmas Day at 11.00am.

Happy Christmas to all.   Father Robert.

ST. VINCENT de PAUL COLLECTION

The amount donated in St. Abbans Church last weekend for the St. Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal came to €1151.60.

A sincere thank you to all who donated, it will make such a difference to local families this Christmas.

MESSENGER MAGAZINE

Just a reminder that the annual subscription is now due for the Messenger Magazine, please give subscription to Cáit if you have not already done so.  Thank you.

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Joy is not passive. It is active, current and we have agency to create it ourselves. We don’t have to wait for it to tap us on the shoulder. Some practical advice I share is:

If suffering is ‘like velcro’’ Negative experiences are apparently 2.5 times as impactful as positive experiences.

Perhaps the key, then, is to actively look at j joyful experiences 2.5 times more than negative ones?

Scientists have tested blood and found that acts of kindness have a demonstrable positive effect on health.

Desmond Tutu tells us that living from compassion and gratitude is the start.

Joy is spontaneous and natural. We can take ourselves too seriously.

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM POPE JOHN PAUL II

The truth is not always the same as the  majority decision.

Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.

Modern Society will find no solution to the ecological problem unless it takes a serious look at its lifestyles.

Social justice cannot be attained by violence. Violence kills what it intends to create.

Peace is not just the absence of war: Like a cathedral, peace must be constructed patiently and with unshakable faith.

(St. Martin’s Magazine)

THE REASON FOR MARY’S PRIVILEGES

There was once an old lady dying in Wapping, in the East End of London. Over her bed she had a picture of the Madonna. The doctor attending to her, probably meaning no harm but fairly young and ignorant, said: ‘Well, granny, who is the film star over the bed? ‘Film star?’ she said, ‘That is the Virgin Mother.’ ‘Virgin Mother?’ said the doctor. ‘Virgin Mother? Why,  there never was such a Mother,’ ‘Ah, doctor ,’ she replied, ‘there never was such a Son’

(Archbishop Heenan, As I was saying)

SYMPATHY – Tommy O’Connor, Misterin

The death occurred on Friday 13th December of Tommy O’Connor, Misterin. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Kathleen, sons John and  Philip, daughters Claire and Caroline, grandchildren, extended family, neighbours and friends.

Tommy’s funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Abban’s Church, on Monday 16th at 1.00pm followed by burial in the adjoining Cemetery.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.

WEEKLY ENVELOPE COLLECTION FOR NOVEMBER

Nov 4th – €323.00                    Nov 11th – €395.00

Nov 18th – €362.00                  Nov 25th – €278.00

A sincere thanks to all who contribute to the Envelope Collection and in doing so help in maintaining St.Abban’s Church.

WEEKLY ENVELOPE COLLECTION FOR NOVEMBER

Nov 4th – €323.00                    Nov 11th – €395.00

Nov 18th – €362.00                  Nov 25th – €278.00

A sincere thanks to all who contribute to the Envelope Collection and in doing so help in maintaining St.Abban’s Church.

DID YOU KNOW?

‘Goodbye’ is derived from “God Be With You’