20th April, 2025

ADAMSTOWN LOTTO

The next draw in the Adamstown Lotto takes place on Tuesday 22^nd April (due to Bank Holiday Monday) in Cullen’s Pub for a Jackpot of €4,400. Please note from now on the Draw night has been changed back to Monday nights. Please leave books back in Cullen’s Gala by 8pm on draw night. Thanks for your continued support.

THURSDAY NIGHT CARD GAME

The Thursday night Card Game continues in the Community Centre at 8.30pm each week. Card winners on Thurs 17^th were: John Hanley, Martin Cahill, Johnny Nolan, Ger Sweeney, Matty Sullivan, Pat Murphy, Paddy Furlong.

All the Card players wished Matt O’Neill a Happy 96^th Birthday on Wednesday last & many more years of good health.

ADAMSTOWN PHARMACY NOTICE

From 7^th April to 30^th May 2025 Adamstown Pharmacy will be offering Covid-19 spring booster vaccinations to the following patients:

• Those aged over 80 (must be at least 3 months since last vaccination or covid-19 infection)
• Those aged 70-79 yrs. who have not had a vaccine since 30^th June 2024

Please phone 053-9240460 or 053-9240454 to arrange an appointment.

ALZHEIMER’S TEA DAY

Ellie Walsh & family will host an Alzheimer’s Tea Day at their home in Tomgarrow on Saturday 3^rd May from 2pm – 4.30pm

Your support will be really appreciated.

ANCCR AREA DEVELOPMENT CLG

We are recruiting for the following position on our Community Employment Scheme:

• Childcare Assistant in ‘A Place to Grow’ based in Raheen/Rathgarogue -full training provided.
• General Operative/Handyman in Raheen.
• Caretaker/Groundsperson for Community Hall and Grounds in Camross. This position will be available in August 2025

CE provides a great opportunity to get back into the workforce, full training is provided. 19.5 hours per week.

Contact Ruth on 087 4144313 for further information or to check eligibility.

ADAMSTOWN AFC

WEXFORD & DISTRICT SCHOOLBOYS LEAGUE

U 14 Boys League Champions

Our U 14 Boys clinched the League title on Saturday last with a 4-2 win at home to Shelbourne. A nail-biting game where we found ourselves 2-0 at just after half time, but as they have done all season, they stayed composed and worked their way back into the game. Liam Prendergast headed our first goal & and the second came shortly afterwards by Paul Ille to make it 2-2.

Again, Paul got a great header and now with determination they weren’t done yet, Finn Doran making it 4 – 2 with a lovely strike. A great title win for the boys and their coach Tommy Elmes. Fully deserved after all the work they have put in over the last few seasons. Well done boys.

ADAMSTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB

Well done to Sean 1^st Junior Boys walk & Emma 2^nd Junior girls walk at the South Leinster Secondary Schools championships on Thursday last.

Well done also to our athletes Aaron, Tadgdh, Ruby, Kevin, Cillian, Ella, Alfie, Mia, James Ciara, Molly & Eddie who competed at the Enniscorthy AC Open on Sunday last. – special mention to our medal winners: Arron u8 boys 2^nd  60m; 2^nd turbo javelin & 3^rd 200m, Alfie u10 boys 1^st turbo javelin: Cillian u12 boys 2^nd turbo javelin, and Ruby u13 girls 1^st shot putt.

PICK OF THE WEEK

THE PRIESTS – DON’T GIVE UP THE DAY JOB

RTÉ One Easter Sunday 6.30pm.

Excellent programme – Frs Martin and Eugene O’Hagan and

Fr David Delargy, and the record executives who signed them

reveal the story of how ‘The Priests’ were discovered and catapulted to fame.

PILGRIMAGE: ROAD THROUGH THE ALPS

BBC Two Easter Sunday -Tuesday, 9pm

Seven celebrities of differing faiths and beliefs take on a pilgrimage through the Austrian and Swiss Alps to Einsiedeln Abbey, a pilgrim destination for over a thousand years.

OUR DIVINE SPARKS

RTÉ Radio 1 Easter Monday, April 21^st, 3pm

In a special hour-long Easter programme, Dearbhail McDonald explores the history and legacy of the Nicene Creed.

LOURDES TICKET DRAW

Our Lourdes Ticket Draw is back again this year, volunteers are currently calling to houses in the Parish with tickets costing

€5.00. The Pilgrimage takes place from 20^th May – 25^th May 2025. The draw will be held after 11.00am Mass on Sunday 27^th April. Please support this draw, and hopefully we will able to give three parishioners the chance to visit Lourdes.

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 19^th – Lena Doyle, Ballagh, and Pat Doyle &

Julie Cullen, New Ross (A)

Sun 20^th – People of the Parish.

Sat 26^th – John & Josie Barden, Doononey (A)

Sun 27^th – Bill Bradley, Woodview Drive (A)

May they rest in peace.

Mass Bank Holiday Monday (21^st) at 11.00am

READERS OF THE LITURGY

Sat 26^th – Cáit Bradley.  Sun 27^th – Amelia Swierczynska

Sat 3^rd May – Annette English.  Sun 4^th – Neasa Cloney

Sat 10^th – T. J. McDonald          Sun 11^th – Ann Ryan

Sat 17^th – Liam Whelan              Sun 18^th – Kathleen O’Connor

THE PALM – THE SYMBOL OF CHRISTIAN HOPE

Norman C. Schlichter (quoted in the Irish Catholic) tells some of his impressions of his visits to catacombs in Rome. “One memory is of the letters often carved on tombs in the pagan cemeteries; ‘NF, F, NS, NC’. Every Roman of that day knew that these letters meant Non Fui, Fui, Non Sum, Non Curo. In English: ‘I was not, I was, I am not, I do not care’. The contrast of these symbols with those found in the Chrisitan catacombs made a deep impression on my mind. “Above the dead, on the walls of those underground passages, early Christians painted fruits, flowers, doves and palm branches to symbolize Paradise and the satisfactions of Heaven. The palm branches were commonly used as marks of distinction over burial places of martyrs.  “Another common symbol of Christian hope, impressive in the catacombs, as almost nowhere else, is the anchor. How quickly it calls up to all believing minds those precious words.  ‘which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm’. (Hebrew 6,19) The raising of Lazarus is pictured frequently on those underground walls and, and the Latin word spes—hope—is often found”  

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

We remember in our prayers the children from Adamstown National School who will make their First Holy Communion in St. Abban’s Church on Saturday 17^th May at 11.00am.

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

In a society that has you counting money, pounds, calories, and steps, be a rebel and count your blessings instead.

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter

I SEE HIS BLOOD UPON THE ROSE –

I see his blood upon the rose

And in the stars the glory of his eyes,

His body gleams amid eternal snows,

His tears fall from the skies.

I see his face in every flower;

The thunder and the singing of the birds

Are but his voice – and carven by his power

Rocks are his written words.

All pathways by his feet are worn,

His strong heart stirs the ever-beating sea,

His crown of thorns is twined with every thorn,

His cross is every tree.

(Joseph Mary Plunkett (1887 – 1916)

Joseph Mary Plunkett was an Irish poet and nationalist, many of whose poems have a religious theme. As one of the planners of the 1916 Rising he was executed on 4^th May 1916, just a few hours after marrying Grace Gifford in the chapel of Kilmainham Gaol.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK – EASTER BLESSING

Lord, bless us this Easter time;

Bless us with faith, guard us in doubt;

Bless us with hope, uplift us in despair;

Bless us with love, keep us from harm;

Bless us with peace, calm us in trouble;

Bless us with mercy, help us to forgive;

Bless us with joy, comfort us in sorrow;

So, our hearts may rejoice in You,

the Risen Lord. Amen.

RUSSIAN MISSILES KILL 32 ON WAY TO CHURCH

At least 32 people were killed and nearly 100 injured in a Russian ballistic missile strike in the Ukrainian city of Sumy as people were going to church for Palm Sunday, in the worst attack on civilians this year. Two missiles landed in the crowded city centre on Sunday morning. One hit a trolley bus full of passengers. Footage from the scene showed bodies lying in the street, burning cars and rescue workers carrying bloodied survivors. Two of the dead were children. Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of carrying out an act of deliberate terror and said tough reaction was needed from the US, Europe and the rest of the world. (Luke Harding)

This Easter, let us remember all casualties of war and pray for peace in our world. 

PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING BACK YOUR TRÓCAIRE BOX