November 22 2020

McCABE FAMILY THANKS
The family of the late John McCabe, Ballyvergin would like to thank most sincerely all those who sympathised with us on our great loss and equally to those who couldn’t be present in the light of current circumstances, we thank you for the many ways you have shown and continue to show your love and support. We offer our heartfelt thanks to the many friends, wonderful neighbours and well-wishers who provided emotional and practical support for us at this difficult time. We found great comfort in the many condolences we received through cards, letters, phone calls, personalised messages on rip.ie and to those who sent floral tributes. Thanks to the various clubs and sporting organizations for their lovely gesture of respect to John.
A special word of thanks to Dr. Catherine O’Donohoe and staff of Adamstown Medical Centre, to oncology unit SVPH, to nurse Janet Tobin (Wexford Hospice Homecare) and to Brian Hogan and staff of The Faythe Pharmacy who showed such exceptional care and kindness to John. Thank you to Pat Power, Funeral Director and to the men who attended to John’s grave. Heartfelt thanks to Fr. Robert Nolan, and Fr. James Cullen for the very personal and thoughtful Mass and to Cáit for preparing the Church. To those who helped in any way, your contribution made our loss more bearable and your presence, thoughts and kind words were a fitting tribute to a much loved husband, father, grandfather, brother, son-in-law, cousin, neighbour and friend.
Please accept this acknowledgement as a token of our sincere appreciation.
Kind Regards, McCabe Family.
 
CHRISTMAS WREATHS
Adamstown Tidy Towns Association will have beautiful hand-crafted Christmas Wreathes on sale from Monday 7th December costing €10.00. These wreaths will be available in Cullen’s Gala.
 
SYMPATHY
We extend our deepest sympathy to Angela & Tom Furlong, Castleview and all the family on the death of Angela’s sister, Louise Ryan, Tralee, Co. Kerry on Friday 13th November.
A private family funeral took place in Our Lady & St. Brendan’s Church, Tralee on Monday 16^th followed by burial in Réalt na Mara Cemetery. May she rest in peace.
 
SPLIT THE POT
Adamstown N.S. Parents’ Association once off Split the Pot Draw takes place this Friday 27th November. Envelopes cost €2 and can be purchases in Cullen’s Gala, Brad Og’s Takeaway or in the school. All funds raised will be used for upgrading of the school’s playground. Your support is much appreciated.
 
POST EARLY FOR CHRISTMAS
Note from our local Post Office – reminding everyone to please post their parcels and letters early for Christmas as post to overseas countries may be delayed due to Covid-19 air travel restrictions. By posting early you avoid queues and help in keeping social distancing in place.
 
REMEMBRANCE MASS AT KNOCK SHRINE
A Remembrance Mass for all those on the Island of Ireland who have died from the Covid-19 will be held at Knock Shrine this Sunday 22^nd November at 12 noon. People are asked to log on to www.knockshrine.ie and join with them in remembering all families who have lost a loved one at this sad time.
 
AWARENESS – (Vincent Travers OP. St. Martin’s Mag)
A story is worth a thousand words. Two stories are worth two thousand words. I’d like to share a woman story and a man story. Hopefully they will give food for thought and help us to be more aware of how blessed we are.
Woman Story –
A woman was married to a man whom she could never
please. If she gave him orange juice he wanted apple juice. If she gave him tea he wanted coffee. She decided it was time to teach him a lesson. She took out two eggs. She fried one and scrambled the other. He came to his breakfast and looked at them and then at her and said, “You fried the wrong egg”. Many a truth is said in jest. There are some people and no matter how hard you try you will never please them. That is not how life is meant to be lived. We are called to be life givers not life drainers.
Man Story –
A depressed middle aged man visited his doctor. “Doctor” he said “I am suffering from a hopeless disease. I’m frightened to death. I think I am going to die. Nothing gives me pleasure anymore. Nothing amuses me. I don’t know what’s wrong. I have lost interest in life. The doctor tried to reassure him that all would be well. You can be cured. You need to get out of yourself, do something that will make you forget your troubles, put a smile on your face and make you laugh again. “Doctor, tell me what I must do”. “The circus is in town. Grimaldi the clown is performing, He will get you out of yourself. He will make you laugh again. There was a slight hesitation and the sad-faced man said “Doctor, I am Grimaldi” The special people in our lives, the miracle people, the people who are always there for us have needs too even if they do not talk about them. They too have a breaking point. We never know how thin the ice is that our loved ones are walking on until the ice breaks. Sadly, by then it is too late and they’re gone and no one is there to take their place, and life is never the same again. What matters is not what others do for us but what we do for them.
 
ASSOCATION OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL
Apparition of the Miraculous Medal
On the 27^th November 1830, our Blessed Mother Mary appeared to St. Catherine Labouré in the Chapel of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, 140 Rue de Bac, Paris. Our Lady revealed herself as “the woman” in the Book of Revelation (Chapter 12: 1) “clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars”, Mary was standing on a sphere with serpent under her feet – “ crushing the serpent’s head” There were brilliant rays flowing down from her out-stretched hands.
“O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you”.
Fr. Nolan has left Miraculous Medals in the inner Church Porch, please take one and if you need more, just ask him.
 
Feast Day this Friday 27^th November.
 
SPIRITUAL HOLY COMMUNION
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the Most Holy Sacrament,
I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,
Please come spiritually into my heart.
I embrace you now as if you were already there and I unite myself wholly to you.
Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
 
10 REASONS SHOP LOCAL THIS CHRISTMAS
1 Locally available great & unique products/services at affordable prices.
2 Staying local saves you money. Think of fuel costs!
3 Spending money in our local shops retains our
communities.
4 Support your own and retain our distinctiveness.
5 Staying local saves the environment, again think of
fuel saved!
6 Job creation for local employers.
7 More investment in our local communities e.g.
Infrastructure and voluntary organisations.
8 Local shops are for everyone
9 Enjoy a personal shopping experience from
relationships built up with local business people
10 Shopping local saves services.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
Bumble Bees are turning the effects of climate change to their own advantage to make plants produce more pollen.
Researchers have discovered that warmer springs are causing bees to emerge from hibernation earlier than usual, when there is hardly any food around for them. But the clever bees encourage plants to bloom earlier by nibbling their leaves. This causes a little damage that makes the plant think they are under threat, so they flower earlier as a survival mechanism. Some varieties have been seen to flower between two weeks and a month earlier than usual.
(Amateur Gardening)
 
THE APPLES HAVE FALLEN
The apples have all fallen and lie upon the ground,
Hidden in the greengrass of tall grasses all around.
No-one saw them falling, and no-one sees them lie,
Quickly turning soft and brown beneath the autumn sky.
 
Gone the broad back bending, gone the fingers sure,
No-one now to lift the fruit from the grassy floor.
Black and empty branches tell the empty air
Of an old man’s passing from his worldly care.
 
Once a seed of promise, once a child at play,
Sixty summers’ labour have brought him to this day.
Softly from the garden, no-one sees him pass,
To lie in Nature’s earthy bed and take his rest at last.
(Norah Woollard – Collins English Library)
 
 
A RIDDLE (Sarah M Hupp)
It costs nothing, but gives away much when used. It reflects and is reflected. The wealthy and powerful need it as much as the poor and weak. It enriches everyone who receives it without making poorer those who give it away. What is this miracle? A smile!
A smile can convey good will in business or bring happiness to a troubled home. A smile between friends can signal a shared secret or help heal a discouraged heart. And after an awful day, when there doesn’t seem to be anything to be happy about, the greatest gift you can receive from another
is the miracle of a smile.
Every language and dialect understands a smile. It cannot be bought or sold, squandered or stolen. In fact, a smile has no value until it is given away. And though a smile takes just a moment, its memory can last a lifetime, for who doesn’t remember a friend’s twinkle-eyed beaming or a family member’s toothy grin.
It takes 64 facial muscles to frown, but only 13 muscles to smile. Why work overtime? Give away a miracle. Smile!
 
PRAYER FOR THE WEEK (Harold F. Mohn)
The church is always open
To worship and to pray,
And give you faith and guidance
To face each newborn day.
 
Within this holy house of God,
You will find strength anew.
And inner peace will find its way,
In mind and soul of you.
 
Amidst its walls of silence,
You’ll find God always near,
To help you face each problem,
And fill your heart with cheer.
 
WORDS OF WISDOM
People are like wine. Age sours the bad and improves the good.
 
Work is the yeast that raises the dough.