December 13th 2020

ROADWORKS FINISHED AT GLENOUR

The very necessary road works on the Glenour road and Glenour cross are now finished. This work is one of many road works completed in the Adamstown area in recent times. The road has been completely resurfaced. The stone work at the bridge has been beautifully restored (this bridge is named as ‘Aughaphort Bridge’ in the 1925 map published by the Director General of the Ordnance Survey Office, Phoenix Park, Dublin) The previous very dangerous junction at the cross of Glenour is now much safer for traffic coming off the road, with a new fence on the right hand side making it much easier to see traffic coming down from Adamstown. Well done to Wexford County Council for this welcome work in our area.

PARISH COMMITTEE LOAN TO COMMUNITY CENTRE

Adamstown Parish Committee has agreed to an Interest Free loan of €10,000 to Adamstown Community Centre to aid them in providing a vital heating system and the necessary up grade of the electrical works involved in this project. The Community Centre Committee has a number of young, interested and hard working people who are prepared to give of their time in ensuring that the Centre will be able to provide for our youth as part of the many clubs and organizations that avail of the facilities. The Parish Committee felt that they deserved a helping hand. The money loaned over a 5-year period came from their Credit Union account which has built up over many years profits from the Friday night Card Game. Most of the card players came from areas outside our Parish and we hope that the games will begin again at some time in the future. The Community Centre has signed an agreement to repay the loan on a monthly basis paying back €166.67 each month, from their income accruing from the Childcare facility there.

We wish the committee the very best for the future and hope that they will get the support of Adamstown parish in their endeavours to make the Community Centre a vibrant place for the future.

PARENTS ASSOCIATION FUNDRAISER

Adamstown N.S. Bumper Christmas Raffle on 18th Dec.

https:/www.idonate.ie/raffle/adamstownnsraffle

Great prizes to be won! Thanks to all our sponsors – full details can be seen online.  Prizes include Christmas Turkey, Oil, Photography, Hardware, Grocery, Leisure Max Vouchers. Power Washer, Scarf Set, Hampers, IRFU Supporter’s Rugby ball & Backpack – signed by Tadgh Furlong. Espresso Machine, Desk Lamp, Pottery Mugs, Football, Dog Accessories Gift Bundle, Pizza Stone Serving Rack, Hampers and much more. Tickets are 3 for €5.00; 7 for €10; or 15 for €20. Your support is much appreciated.

 All profits going to the upgrade of school playground.

.

IN A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER  – 2020

The All Ireland Hurling Final 13th December.

Hurler’s Prayer (Seamus Redmond Blarney GAA Club)

Grant me O’Lord a hurler’s skill,

With strength of arm and speed of limb,

An unerring eye for the flying ball,

And courage to match what’er might befall,

May my aim be steady,

My stroke be true,

My actions manly and my misses few,

And no matter what way the game may go,

May I part in friendship with every foe.

When the final whistle for me is blown,

And I stand at last at God’s judgement throne,

May the great referee when he calls my name,

Say ….. “You hurled like a man, you played the game”

We also remember the Ladies who play in the Senior Camogie Final & the ladies who play in the FAI Woman’s Cup Final both matches on Saturday.

DONATION OF ALTAR CLOTHS

A sincere word of thanks to Catherine Hanley and Josie Booth who donated Altar Cloths to St. Abban’s Church in memory of Nicholas & his father Matthew, uncles Jack and Nicholas who made the Stations of the Cross in St. Abban’s Church and also the Pulpit. 

CANDLES OF MASS DESTRUCTION

(Margaret Silf – Compass Points)

The X-ray machine at the airport reveals an unexplained object in my carry-on baggage. We go through the usual routine. Is this my bag? Yes! Did I pack it myself? Yes!

The security official conscientiously unpacks every item one by one. The culprit is a little candleholder – a gift for a friend. There’s no problem with the ceramic holder, but a tiny tea light offends and is confiscated. The official explains that explosives could have been mixed into the wax. We look at each other in mutual disbelief at the absurdity of it all, but he has his orders. I proceed to the boarding gate, wondering what is happening to a world that feels threatened by a little Christmas candle. The light shines in the darkness. Let not our irrational fears become the darkness that extinguishes it.

’20 YEARS OF NEWSLETTERS’ IN BOOK FORM

A book covering 20 years of Adamstown Newsletters is being published and will be on sale next weekend, dedicated to the late Terry McDonald, who compiled the first Newsletter. Comprising of items taken from 1999 – 2019, this is a mini history of events in Adamstown and further afield during those 20 years. Covering all aspects of life – church, schools, social, sporting, variety and all other happenings in our community.  In total items from 1650 sheets of Newsletters are included in this book.  The book costs €8.00 and will be available from next weekend.  To order contact Ellie Walsh at 087 2480964, further details in next week’s issue.

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 19th – Kit O’Connor, Newtown (A)

                Josie Thorpe, Newtown (A)

Sat 20th – Gerry Bradley, Ballyvergin (A)

May they rest in peace.

ADAMSTOWN PRAYER GROUP

Adamstown Prayer Group will meet this Sunday night 13th December at 7.00pm with a special Christmas theme.

All are welcome.

MASS CARDS OR ANNIVERSARY MASSES

If you need a Mass Card signed, or Anniversary Mass offered, please contact Fr. Nolan at the Parochial House,

He will be glad to oblige.

RELIGIOUS BOOKS

There is a variety of Religious Books, Prayer Cards etc., on the Booklet Stand in the inner Church Porch to purchase for meditation or private prayer in your home over the winter months.

CHRISTMAS HIT

Congratulations to Molly & Maisie O’Reilly, Brocurra on their beautiful ‘Wexford Christmas’ record, which has reached

No 6 on Tony Kehoe’s Country & Irish South East Radio Top 10. A wonderful achievement for two young singers. Well Done.

PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS

God our Father,

We trust in Your loving kindness.

Bless our Diocese of Ferns with many

priestly and religious vocations.

Give the men and women You call the light to understand Your gift and the love to follow always in the footsteps of Your Son.  Amen.

LETTER IN THE IRISH TIMES

Sir, Nowadays, with us wearing masks, I find myself replying to “How are you? with “Hello, Ehm, who are you”?

COLD SNAP AND EXIT FROM LOCKDOWN RESULT IN RECORD ELECTRICITY DEMAND –

Barry O’Halloran, Irish Times

Christmas lights, cold weather and data centres helped drive electricity consumption in the Republic to a new record of more than 5,100 megawatts (MW) for a period between 5pm an 6pm on Thursday, beating a previous record of 5,090 set in December 2010. According to Eirgrid there are now 66 data centres operation in the Republic, which at full capacity, require a total of 834 MW, the equivalent of two power plants. However, their actual demand is calculated to have been around 630 MW, as they generally do not operate at full capacity. Government targets require that renewable energy is used to generate 70% of the electricity used in the Republic by 2030.

ST. VINCENT de PAUL COLLECTION

A gentle reminder that the Annual St. Vincent de Paul Collection is being taken up in St. Abban’s Parish this weekend of 12th & 13th December. Please be as generous as you can.

THE CHRISTMAS WREATH

Long ago, when people were unsure as to whether they would survive the difficult dark bleak harsh winter or not, they developed rituals to help them cope during those days, with one of these symbols being a Christmas wreath.

The word ‘wreath” describes a continuous circular shape and is dissolved with the Middle English word  ‘wrethe’ which means a ring of leaves or a twisted band. Each part of the Christmas wreath has a meaning. The circular shape is believed to be a symbol of everlasting life, or eternity, as this shape means the wreath doesn’t have a beginning or an end. It signifies the eternal presence of God and the hope of eternal life. It also stands for the cycle of the seasons, from spring to winter and back to spring again. Christmas wreaths

were made from evergreen materials and other bright-coloured coloured flowers and foliage. Evergreens represent continuity and surviving through difficult times. Each evergreen used on the Christmas wreath also has a meaning. For Christians, the presence of holly on the wreath represented the thorns on Jesus’ crown when he was being crucified. The presence of pine, holly and yew stood for eternal life. Laurel represented victory the pain and suffering, while cedar stood for healing. Pine cones, seeds and nuts were symbols of birth and rebirth. Green represents life and growth and the eternal life of the soul. Red, in the form of berries on the wreath, signifies the blood that Christ shed when he was crucified.

(Breandán O Huallacháin – Ireland’s Own)

CHRISTMAS MASS CELEBRATIONS – FOLLOWING COVID-19 REGULATIONS

The celebration of Christmas Masses in all churches will be very different this year due to Covid-19. With numbers being restricted, Fr. Nolan is celebrating 4 Masses, 2 on Christmas Eve and 2 on Christmas Day. With numbers being restricted, the following are the arrangements for St. Abban’s Church. We propose to allocate towns lands, as this has worked very well for the November Masses for the Holy Souls every year.

Vigil Mass Thursday 24th December at 5.30pm. –

Tomgarrow, Misterin, Rathkyle, Adamstown, Coolnagree, and Rathsilla.

Vigil Mass Thursday 24th December at 7.30pm.

Oldcourt, Brocurra, Doononey, Woodview Drive, Glenour.

Christmas Day, Friday 25th December at 8.30am

 Newtown, The Leap, Knockerigh, Coonogue, Fairfields.

 Christmas Day, Friday 25th December at 10.30am             

Kellystown, Chapel, Raheenduff, The Barracks, Ballyvergin.

One family per church pew to allow for extra space.

Thank you for your co-operation under difficult conditions.

Fr. Nolan will hear confessions after 9.30am Mass each morning.

HAVE YOU NOTICED?

Have you noticed that birds, crows in particular when perched on electricity/telephone wires, are socially distanced? Maybe they knew something, before humans did.

DECODING THE ‘TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS’

(Fr. Bernard J McGuckian SJ, Messenger Magazine) 

The twelve days of Christmas are those from 25th December to 6th January.  One opinion is that it was a coded message with multiple levels of meaning, invented by Jesuits at the time to communicate with recusants, the name given to people who would not accept the new religion. In those days people were very alert to symbolism. Through the apparently innocent words of such songs, information about things as the times and locations of Masses could be passed on, as well as reminding people about t he main obligations of their faith.

The twelve days of Christmas:

• Two Turtle Doves are the Old and New Testaments
• Three French Hens are Faith, Hope and Charity
• Four Calling Birds are 4 Evangelists with their Gospels.
• Five Golden Rings are Pentateuch, or first five books of the Bible giving the history of man’s fall from grace.
• Six Geese a’ laying are the six days of creation.
• Seven Swans a’ swimming are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments.
• Eight Maids a’ milking are eight beatitudes.
• None Ladies Dancing are the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.
• Ten Lords a’ leaping are the ten commandments.
• Eleven Pipers piping are the eleven faithful apostles.
• Twelve Drummers drumming are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed.

CHRISTMAS MASS CELEBRATIONS – FOLLOWING COVID-19 REGULATIONS

The celebration of Christmas Masses in all churches will be very different this year due to Covid-19. With numbers being restricted, the following are the arrangements for St. Abban’s Church. We propose to allocate towns lands, as has worked very well for the November Masses for the Holy Souls.

Mass 1 – Tomgarrow, Misterin, Rathkyle, Adamstown &.

               Coolnagree, Rathsilla.

Mass 1 – Oldcourt, Brocurra, Doononey, Woodview Drive

                Glenour.

Mass 3 – Newtown, The Leap, Knockerigh, Coonogue,

               Fairfields.

Mass 4 – Kellystown, Chapel, Raheenduff, The Barracks,

                Ballyvergin.