November 1st 2020

LIBRARY SERVICES IN CO. WEXFORD IN LOCKDOWN
Library buildings in Co. Wexford are closed under Level 5 restrictions but library services remain open to the public.
You can continue to use your library 24/7 and free of charge online to: – join the library download eBooks and eAudiobooks; read magazines, take eLearning or language courses; watch or listen to story times; or take part in other activities like online book clubs. Do you know someone who is isolated and unable to use online library services? Would they like library staff to select some books and deliver them to their door? If so, please get in touch with library staff on 053 9196566. Visit www.wexfordcoco.ie/libraries for more information.

COLÁISTE ABBÁIN SUCCESS IN THE ANNUAL STUDENT ENTERPRISE PROGRAMME
Congratulations to Ms. Nessa Murphy who was awarded 2019/2020 Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year, she has
been a key part of the Student Enterprise Programme in
Coláiste Abbáin for many years. Congratulations also to students, Ella Fitzpatrick (Junior/Intermediate Best Poster), Slate Stylists – Tara Murphy, Philippa Coleman (Junior/Intermediate Best Interview) and Molly O’Reilly (Art by Molly) Junior Category runner-up. Well done everyone.

GOING LOCKDOWN BONKERS? HAVE A GAME OF CONKERS (CHESTNUTS)
Back when I was knee-high to a nettle, boys used to obsessively search for the perfect specimen for conker fights, boring a hole to connect a string before seeing who could hit and smash the other’s first. Serious business indeed, with the battle wounds to prove it, for a missed swipe could badly bruise knuckles and hands. Yet today these treasures lie untouched on country lanes, save for the sacrilege of those squashed under car wheels. Many are still in their prickly green casing, a split revealing a chestnut like an egg about to be hatched. An annual conker-competition was held in the village of Freshford for many years and finished up just five years ago with people travelling from all around Ireland for the event. The village green is edged by 52 horse chestnut trees. The event used to take place over the October bank holiday weekend, but conkers are coming out earlier now, they might be too hard by Halloween.
It is a perfect game for the year that’s in it, you play it outdoors, everyone can take part in it and anyone can win.
It doesn’t cost anything; you don’t have to buy expensive gear for it. It might be an idea to resurrect the custom on this fascinating fruit rather than Facebook and mobile phones, perhaps starting earlier in October, adding blackberry picking and other field trips to open young eyes to the natural world around us.
(Fiona O’Connell – Lay of the Land, Sunday Independent)

WINNING RETURN FOR JONATHAN
We extend our good wishes to Jonathan Moore who returned to racing on Friday 23rd following a fall six weeks ago. He rode a winner in Bettyville on Sunday last on Gavin Cromwell’s Clonguile Way the 11/4 favourite. Continued good luck to Jonathan.

ARE WE LOSING OUR LOVELY PRAYER GREETINGS?
(Sean Ua Cearnaigh – Pioneer Magazine)
By prayer greetings, we mean the use of such phrases as ‘God bless the work’; ‘God save all here’ and ‘God bless you’
There are no suitable equivalents for such expressions in secular society or among those who deny the existence of a Supreme Being. Today, sadly, the scene is changing. Prayer greetings have become unfashionable in most quarters.
Secular societies have little time for prayer greetings or, indeed for prayers of any kind. The race for wealth, for a place among the so-called elite, the lack of neighbourliness, once a basic component of life in our country, have all undermined the soul of Ireland. The lovely prayer wishes for the past, both in Irish and English, are quickly fading.
However, in Gaeltach areas pious wishes are still uttered.
And, indeed, how different is the charming greeting, ‘Bail ó Dhia ort, from the hollow, featureless, ‘hello’
The late great Micheál O’Hehir – beannacht Dé leis – always prefaced his radio commentaries of Gaelic games with the words, Baill ó Dhia oraibh go léir, a chairde’ What a wonderful introduction to stirring games! And why do we seldom hear similar greetings nowadays?
Some of our Irish poets have used prayer greetings in their verses, some of the finest examples may be found in the writings of Brian O’Higgins’ ‘ A Wish’, and hope that it will inspire many other similar sentiments.

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – A WISH
(Written by Brian O’Higgins’ A Wish’)
Some Days may be dark and dreary.
Some clouds in the sky must rise;
Some hearts must be sad and weary.
And tears must bedim some eyes.
God guard against all sorrow
Wherever your footsteps roam:
Till at last on the glorious morrow,
He leads you to Him and home.

Religious Calendars for 2021
Religious Calendars are now available in the Church porch costing just €2.00 each, if you would like one please put money in the candelabra box. These calendars would make a lovely gift for family or friend for Christmas.

Pictures of Divine Mercy are available in the inner Porch of the Church. I would like to see one in each home for protection against Covid-19 and also a call to true repentance.
CHURCH NOTICES
Mass from St. Abban’s Church will be available to view on their new Facebook page every Sunday morning at 10.30am. Please search for Adamstown Parish Church on Facebook and send a friend request to be able to view Mass on Sunday and other activities in the church during level 5 Lockdown.
Sun 31st – Kathleen Rothwell, Groveside (A)
Fr. Robert will continue to offer Anniversary Masses during lockdown. Please contact him if you wish to have an Anniversary Mass said. Thank you.

On Sun 1st Nov Bishop Brennan will lead a service of remembrance at the Cathedral in Enniscorthy at 3pm to remember the dead of the Diocese and those who grieve.
Prayers for the Holy Souls 3.00pm Sunday 1st in St. Abban’s Church. Please say the Rosary at home at 3pm.

Sunday 1st Nov – Feast of All Saints.
Monday 2nd Nov – Feast of All Souls
November – Remembering the Holy Souls
At the waning of the year November comes dark and sombre. The days shorten and the nights grow long. The fields lie bare and the trees stand skeletal and gaunt against a bleak sky. With the falling leaves we remember the Holy Souls – those who toiled amongst us and whom we reluctantly let go, wondering how we would endure without them. We realise too that in the not too distant future we too will be remembered in the same way. When someone dies we say she or he has ‘passed away’. And for a moment we may wonder where she or he has gone. But we know in our hearts that our loved one has died. For her or him life has changed and is not taken away. The physical body has completed its purpose on earth. The spiritual soul has gone to an Eternal resting place “which eye hasn’t seen nor ear heard nor has it entered into the mind to understand what God has in store for the one who believes in Him. November is a very sacred month. It brings us an abundance of spiritual energies and meaning. It reminds us not to fear the winter season as spring will soon follow.
(Sr. Abbie O’Sullivan)
Prayer:
Remember, Lord, those who have gone before us with the sign of faith and sleep in the sleep of peace, especially those for whom we now pray. Grant, we pray you, to them and to all who rest in Christ, a place of restoration, light and peace through Christ our Lord: Amen.

To Make You Smile! (Fr. Brian Darcy)
During a Bible lesson on the Parable of the Prodigal Son, the teacher asked: ‘in the middle of the celebration for the return of the Prodigal Son, there was one for whom the feast brought no joy, only bitterness. Can you tell me who that was? One bright boy put up his hand and was pleased to be asked. ‘The fatted calf’ he replied.

ASSISTED SUICIDE (Prof Theo Boer, Dutch News 2015)
1 in 5 of people who have died by Assisted Suicide in Holland came under pressure from family to do so.
SOCIAL DISTANCING
One of the brand-new terms that has entered our daily conversation is ‘Social Distancing’. It is shorthand, as we know, for practical physical precautions that we all must take in order to protect ourselves and others in the time of Covid. Some people are now suggesting that we use the term ‘Social Distancing’ sparingly. Language is a powerful shaper of thinking. And the last thing we need at present is a mindset of mutual distancing. We actually need to be thinking in the opposite direction and be trying to establish contact with one another in any way we can in these days of lockdown. Every hand that we don’t shake should become a phone call that we make. Every embrace that we must avoid should become a verbal expression of warmth and concern. Every inch and every foot that we must physically place between ourselves and another, should become a thought as to how we might be of help to that other person, should the need arise. It is obvious that ‘Social Distancing’ properly understood is necessary at this time. It is equally true that
”distancing’, if misplaced or misunderstood, will weaken our bonds with one another. Our spiritual commitment to one
in our community is the source of our strength and resilience. Let’s stay safe. And let’s draw one another closer in a way that we’ve never done before.

Bilateral Meeting between the Taoiseach and Catholic Church Leaders. (From Bishop’s House, Wexford)
On 28th Oct, the Taoiseach met with leaders of the Catholic Church – Archbishops Eamon Martin, Diarmuid Martin, Michael Neary, Kieran O’Reilly SMA and Bishop Dermot Farrell. Discussion focused mainly on the effect which the current Covid-19 restrictions are having on the health and well-being of the faith community and the great desire to return to worship as soon as possible. The Archbishops emphasised that they are fully supportive of the Public Health messages but highlighted that coming together in prayer and worship, especially for Mass and the Sacraments, is fundamental to Christian tradition and a source of nourishment for the life and well-being of whole communities. The importance of gathering for worship as a source of consolation and hope at Christmas time was stressed. The Taoiseach thanked the Archbishops for their support and acknowledged the major role that Religious leaders have in supporting people and giving hope at this time of stress and worry. He also acknowledged the challenges of those suffering bereavement at this time, particularly as we enter the traditional time of remembrance in the month of November. All agreed the importance of ongoing constructive engagement and solidarity in facing and overcoming the challenges of Covid-19 together.
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Archbishop Eamon Martin speaking on RTÉ Radio News at One, criticised the imposition of the ban on all public worship and said this had been done “without any meaningful consultation with religious leaders right across the island – north and south. In Northern Ireland all of the Christian traditions, all of the faith leaders have ongoing contact with the Executive Office. However, the Taoiseach gave no commitment to the bishops that the current ban would be overturned.