December 6th 2020

THE STORY OF VACCINATION
The Edward Jenner Institute for Vaccine research
has as it’s Director, Dublin born Adrian Hill.
Edward Jenner was born in Gloucestershire in England in 1749 the son of the Vicar of Berkeley; he went to London at 21 years of age to work in St. George’s Hospital. After two years he returned home where he set up his own medical practice. In 1796 a milkmaid with symptoms of Cowpox came to see him. He discovered that an inoculation against smallpox was successful in treating Cowpox. He used pus from the infected udder of a cow delightfully called ‘Blossom’. Earlier in the 18th century a Dorset farmer named Benjamin Jestey and two of his milkmaids contracted Cowpox. Country people noticed that milkmaids infected with Cowpox generally speaking did not contract smallpox. A smallpox epidemic broke out, Jestey and his wife and two sons set off to town for safety. He used a darning needle to inoculate his family with the pus of an infected udder. Many neighbours lost their lives during the epidemic. Jestey’s family were saved. Jestey had no medical background but he is remembered for his erudite observations which are part of the story of Vaccinations.
Appropriately, the word vaccine comes from the Latin word for a cow and so Blossom will also be remembered with Jestey and Jenner in the story of vaccination.
 
MESSAGE FROM ADAMSTOWN I.C.A.
Dear Friends,
Our Annual Senior Citizen’s party was due to be held this Sunday December 6th in the Horse & Hound. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 the party had to be cancelled this year.
Our Christmas party was the highlight of the year for so many of us, when we could meet our Senior Citizens and other invited guests for a feast of Christmas fare and entertainment. The entertainment was always second to none, music, singing, dancing, story-telling and not forgetting our jokers and all provided by local talent. We may not be able to hold a Christmas party this year, but whenever it is safe to do so we will have a party, be it Spring, Summer or Autumn. So we hope you are all keeping safe and well and we want you to know we are thinking of you and looking forward to meeting again, for a party and a catch up.
We have asked Fr. Nolan to remember all our wonderful Senior Citizens, past and present, friends, entertainers and sponsors, of our Annual Christmas Party and all ICA members this Sunday’s 10.30am Mass.
God Bless you all, from Adamstown I.C.A.
 
GIFT OF A CHRISTMAS TREE FOR ST. ABBAN’S CHURCH
We thank most sincerely Aidan Doyle, (Rowan Christmas Trees), Courtnacuddy for the gift of a Christmas Tree for our Church. He has in stock Christmas trees from 2ft. – 12ft, Christmas wreaths, table centres & kiddies attractions. Situated off the N.30 road.
ADAMSTOWN NATIONAL SCHOOL NEWS
Our school is very excited to welcome artist Aileen Lambert to the school to launch our engagement in the Creative Schools Initiative, Aileen will work with us as our Creative Friend over the next two years on this exciting programme which is supported by the Arts Council and Creative Ireland.
We also had a wonderful day with Conor Moore from Sound Out Rhythm who ran a drumming workshop with all classes. Conor brought many instruments including bodhráns, snare drums, & hand percussion drums. Pupils really enjoyed this workshop and lots of drumming was heard throughout the classrooms. As we can non participate in choir this year due to Covid-19 this was a really welcome workshop for our students.
We had lots of lovely entries in the Credit Union Art ‘Imagine More’ Competition. Imagine More is influenced by the creative role art plays in Irish society. Many of the entries were very inspiring and creative, we were delighted to hear that Lauren Moran, 2nd class won 2nd prize in her category.
Congratulations Lauren.
PARENTS ASSOCIATION FUNDRAISER
Adamstown N.S. Bumper Christmas Raffle on 18th Dec.
is now ONLINE:
https:/www.idonate.ie/raffle/adamstownnsraffle
Great prizes to be won! Thanks to all our sponsors – full details can be seen online.
Tickets are also on sale through the schoolchildren.
Prizes include: Christmas Turkey, Oil vouchers, Espresso Machine, 100 bar Electric Power Washer, Part Two Scarf, Pharmacy Hampers, IRFU Supporter’s Rugby Ball & Backpack – signed by Tadgh Furlong, Photography Voucher, Hardware Voucher, Grocery Vouchers, Desk Lamp, Leisure Max Voucher, Mugs from Stoneside Pottery, Signed Adamstown Football, Dog Accessories Gift Bundle, Jamie Oliver Pizza Stone Serving Rack and many more……….
Tickets are now on sale online, should you wish to buy online. Prices are 3 for €5.00; 7 for €10.00 or 15 for €20.00.
Please feel free to share the online link with your friends and family to support our first school raffle fundraiser. All funds raised will go towards the upgrade to the school playground.
 
FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF IRELAND
You and your farm and the winter
Farming is a dangerous occupation and it is ever more so when severe weather arrives.Before going out on your land always tell someone you are going and how long you will be gone for.
Wear suitable layers of clothing.
Carry a charged mobile phone and a torch.
Never use a stand-by generator indoors as the fumes from the engine can be lethal.
Be sure that equipment for example – chain saw, which you may not have used for some time is fully serviceable and that you use it correctly.
See www.hse.ie for more details.
CHURCH NOTICES
In Memoriam
Sat 5th – Martin & Anna Mai Furlong, Knockreigh (A)
Sun 6th – Our Senior Citizens (past & present)
I.C.A. members and friends.
Pray for Aidan O’Brien, Ballyvergin (A)
Tue 8th 10.30am: Edward, Mary, Luke Whelan, Oldcourt (A)
May they rest in peace.
Tuesday 8th Dec Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
Vigil Mass Monday 7th at 7.30pm
Mass Tuesday 8th at 10.30am.

Feast Days this week:
Saturday 12th – Feast Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe

RE-OPENING OF CHURCHES -.
In response to queries from the Bishop’s House, the
following clarifications are offered re arrangements from 1st December 2020
1. Funerals and Weddings
Numbers permitted at these events remains at 25 (as per level 3) for ceremony and reception.
2. Public Mass
Up to 50 worshippers to attend services with the following protective measures:
2m social distancing guidelines adhered to (members of the same household can sit/stand close together)
Wearing of face coverings. Where possible separate points of entrance and exit, clearly marked.
No congregating by people outside the premises before and after any service.
Where the size of the premises allows for a capacity of greater than 50, this may be permitted with social distancing guidelines adhered to.

ANNUAL ST. VINCENT de PAUL COLLECTION
Following a meeting of Bishop Denis Brennan with members of the St. Vincent de Paul conferences within the diocese of Ferns on Thursday 26th November, the decision to proceed with the annual church gate collection was agreed.
The St. Vincent de Paul Society are facing acute challenges this year due to Covid-19 with very reduced resources,
and the ever increasing demand for their services, many from families who in normal times would never have need for their help. The collection in St. Abban’s Parish will take place on the weekend of Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th December. Please be as generous as you can to help out
families in our local area.

A LISTENING EAR
It’s Good to Talk – 053 9126596
Talk to Tom – 081 8303061
The Cornmarket Project – 053 9155817
Aiseri – 053 9141818
Samaritans – 116123
Teen Line Ireland – 1800 833634
Pieta House – 1800 247247
Aware – 1800 804848
HSE Community Mental Health – 053 9123899
Let’s all join together to prevent Suicide in Wexford.
WALL OF A THOUSAND CROSSES AND A MILLION TEARS – (Messenger Magazine)
(Fr. Peter Byrne, parish priest of Balally Parish, Dublin)
‘Wall of crosses and a million tears’ is the name given to the space in Balally Church where we placed a cross for each person who had died with Covid-19 on our little island. The community felt that there had to be something we could do to bring these people into our hearts and prayers. We wanted to support families that were grieving the loss of a loved one. Those who died were other ‘selves’ and held those titles that we hold so dear: grandparents and parents, spouses and siblings, sons and daughters, friends and neighbours. The crosses became an icon to speak to everyone who went by, a reminder that every life is precious, beautiful, unique, wonderful. Lives were not to become numbers or statistics on the news. Placing the crosses became a ritual, a liturgy, a powerful reminder every day that we were in an emergency. It also was a plunge into the freezing depths of grief. At night prayer we would light a candle for each one who had been lost and we would pray the beautiful ‘We Shall Remember Them’
We counted the number of deaths from the North and the South of Ireland together. A man-made line on a map wasn’t going to determine who we would pray for and who not. Borders became so meaningless in this pandemic. There was one day when we had to light ninety candles and put up ninety crosses. On the 22nd April the number of crosses had reached a staggering 1004. On the 18th May our wall had 2000 crosses and we couldn’t count the tears. As time moves on we will take the crosses down and give them to members of the parish to mind so that all the victims of
Covid19 on our island will always have a home in Balally.

CHRISTMAS WREATHS
Adamstown Tidy Towns Association will have beautiful hand-crafted Christmas Wreaths on sale from Monday 7th December costing €10, available in Cullen’s Gala.

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Do not run through life so fast that you forget,
Not only where you have been but also where you are going.
Life is not a race but a journey to be savoured each step of the way.

WORDS TO LIVE BY
‘The cares of tomorrow must wait until this day is done’

CHRISTMAS – LORE & LEGENDS
Christmas not Xmas!
The common abbreviation from Christmas to ‘Xmas’ was derived from the Greek alphabet. X is the letter ‘Chi’, and the first letter of the Greek word for Christ – Xristos. Early Christians, most of whom were literate in writing and speaking the Greek language, used the word to signify ‘Christ’s Mass’ Centuries on, fewer people understood, let alone spoke Greek. The use of the ‘X’ in ‘Xmas’ today appears lazy and some believe it promotes a certain disrespect for the name of Christ whom Christmas is all about.