January 3rd 2021

BIG WINNER FOR JONATHAN

Congratulations to Jonathan Moore who had his first Grade 1 winner on Gavin Cromwell’s horse Flooring Porter winning the Leopardstown Christmas Hurdle on Monday last coming in at 11-1. Continued success Jonathan in your career.

BIRTHDAY WISHES

We extend our good wishes to Kate Power who celebrated her 91st birthday on Christmas Day, and wishing her good health and happiness for 2021.

WEXFORD CO COUNCIL CHRISTMAS TREE SHREDDING

Wexford Co. Council will again be arranging for the FREE shredding of Christmas trees at the below locations throughout the county. If only bringing a Christmas tree for shredding at recycling centres there is no entry charge.

Christmas trees can only be left on the dates below.

€2 entry charge applies for all other waste accepted at the centres.

Enniscorthy Household Recycling Centre, Old Dublin Rd.

New Ross Household Recycling Centre, Hewittsland

Holmestown Recycling Centre, Barntown

All the above: Friday 1st Jan – Saturday 9th Jan

Open Tuesday – Friday: 8.15am – 12 noon.

                                       1.00pm – 4.00pm

Open Saturday –             8.15am – 12 noon

                                       1.00pm – 3.00pm

                Closed for lunch 12 noon – 1.00pm.

Please also recycle your Christmas empties.

Put beverage cartons into your green bin, as well as cardboard, paper, food and drink cans. Bring glass and cans to your local recycling centre. If a bring bank is full, don’t leave materials on the ground, come back another day.

‘KITTY THE HARE’

How many times in our youthful days and with the light of the candle did we stick our noses into two books: ‘Our Boys’ and Ireland’s Own. There to read the wonderful and enchanting tales of ghosts and banshees penned in vivid detail by our own Victor O’Donovan Power writing under the name ‘Kitty The Hare’. Victor was born at Chilcomb House, Rosbercon, son of prominent businessman Michael Power and mother Margaret O’Donovan from West Cork. Educated at Carlow College, the young Victor rapidly made his name in literary circles and became a prolific writer of newspaper articles, ghost stories and many plays performed locally and on the national stage from the White Stone at Ballycurran to Gougane Barra in West Cork. He used his undoubted talent to present his works in printed form to be eagerly read by his countless fans all over Ireland. Victor O Donovan Power died at his residence on December 30th 1933 and is buried in Shanbough Cemetery. May he rest in peace.

(The above is taken from a Display in Rosbercon Parish Church)

WELCOMING 2021

January is also a month of trust and hope. As bells ring out at midnight, and we sing Auld Lang Syne, we enter into 2021 with confidence that God will always be with us. May the roads and paths of 2021 rise to meet us all with a kindly direction; and may we find God’s warm hand in all the New Year brings:

And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:

“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown”

And he replied: “Go out into the darkness and put your hand

into the Hand of God.

That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way”

So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.

And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK – DO NOT BE AFRAID

Every year without fail, in the cold dark days of January, a quiet miracle takes place. In gardens, at the foot of tall trees or in forgotten corners, a small white flower emerges from the hard and often frozen earth. Like a secret long hidden in the dark, the snowdrop emerges without fuss or fanfare; a little white flower whose presence in these wintry days draws an ‘Aah’ from even the bleakest soul. Shortly afterwards the crocus comes, then daffodils, narcissi and all the wonderful flowers of spring. But it is the little snowdrop that first breaches the bleakness, that gently and silently hints of something or Someone beyond the deepest darkness. ‘I will give you treasures from the dark vaults, and hoards from silent places’ (Isa 45:3)

Seasons of growth take time. No one becomes fully human in an instant. ‘By waiting and calm you shall be saved: in quiet and in trust your strength lies’ (Isa 30:15). We do not lose hope in the darkness, nor do we give up the struggle. We trust as we reach out to, and work with our compassionate Creator and Father. We can be certain that, no matter how terrible our lives may seem, He will, in His own time, fill us with light. Then our life, like the snowdrop, will reflect something of His beauty.  (Far East Magazine)

A HAPPY AND BLESSED 2021

A sincere thanks to all who contribute to our ‘Weekly Newsletter’, it has been a very difficult year to keep the Newsletter going. We ask parishioners if they have items of history, sport, activities to please let us have them to help us continue with the weekly newsletter. To all our Parishioners and readers everywhere continued health and happiness in 2021, stay safe and hopefully in the not too distant future we can look forward to a more cheerful year ahead.

If you have items for inclusion please e.mail – elliewalsh1949@gmail.com or annemarieoshea@gmail.com

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 2nd Jan – Mick & Josie Whelan, Tomgarrow (A)

&  Phyllis Bernie, Dublin.

Sun 3rd Jan – James & Lila Kent, Adamstown (A)

Pray for Tom Galway, Tomgarrow (A)

May they rest in peace.

SYMPATHY

Pray for Sr. Mairéad Hayden, Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Cluain Mhuire, Carnew, who died on Mon 28th Dec in her 92nd year. She had spent over 70 years in her religious life. Sr. Mairéad was a cousin of Fr. Nolan to whom we extend our sympathy and to all her community and family. On her last visit to Adamstown last year she gave Fr. Nolan Miraculous Medals and she also brought a relic of Saint Catherine Labouré and all present at morning Mass were blessed with this relic. A private family funeral took place in Tomacork on Thursday last. May she rest in peace.

We also extend our deepest sympathy to Una and T.J. McDonald and all the family on the death of Una’s mother Mrs Maire O’Shea, Coolback, New Ross following a short illness. A private family funeral will take place on Monday 4th January.   May she rest in peace.

Fr. Nolan will continue to offer Anniversary Masses for our deceased family and friends, just contact him.

St. Abban’s Church is open each day for private prayer and reflection.

Feast Days this week:  Jan 6th – Feast of the Epiphany

SUNDAY ENVELOPES

If you wish you may use 365 Banking and transfer your contribution periodically to the parochial account, please put your Sunday Envelope number on your donation or your name.

Adamstown Parochial A/C Current Account

BIC:  BOFIIE2D

IBAN:  IE04 BOFI 9066 6276 8462 48

20 YEARS OF NEWSLETTERS IN PRINT

Adamstown Parish – A Look Back at 20 Years of Newsletters 1999 – 2019 available in book form – comprising of items from 1650 newsletter sheets, covering all aspects of life in Adamstown over 20 years. . Available at Cullen’s Gala or Ellie Walsh at 087 2480964 Cost €8.00

THE WEXFORD CAROL (Edward Power, Ireland’s Own)

“The Wexford Carol’ is said to date from mediaeval times.

It was included in a collection of hymns and carols published in 1684 by Luke Wadding, Bishop of Ferns. He was the Roman Bishop of Ferns from 1683 – 1692.

‘The Wexford Carol’ reached a new revitalised level of popularity, when Dr. William Gratton Flood, who was the organist at St. Aidan’s Cathedral in Enniscorthy, heard the carol being sung by a local singer, and carefully transcribed the words. The Carol, as Dr. Grattan Flood transcribed it

appeared in The Oxford Book of Carols, published in 1928, the year in which Grattan Flood died.

THE WEXFORD CAROL

Good people all, this Christmas -time,

Consider well and bear in mind

What our good God for us has done,

In sending His beloved Son.

With Mary holy we should pray

To God with love this Christmas Day:

In Bethlehem upon that morn

There was a blessed Messiah born.

The night before that happy tide

The noble Virgin and her guide

Were long time seeking up and down

To find lodging in the town.

But mark how all things came to pass;

From every door repelled alas!

As long foretold, their refuge all

Was but a humble ox’s stall.

There were three wise men from afar

Directed by a glorious star,

And on they wandered night and day

Until they came where Jesus lay,

And when they came unto that place

Where our beloved Messiah was,

They humbly cast them at his feet,

With gifts of gold and incense sweet.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep

Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep;

To whom God’s angels did appear,

Which put the shepherds in great fear.

“Prepare and go,” the angels said,

“To Bethlehem, be not afraid;

For there you’ll find, this happy morn,

A princely Babe, sweet Jesus born.”

With thankful heart and joyful mind,

The shepherds went the Babe to find,

And as God’s angel had foretold,

They did our Saviour Christ behold.

Within a manger He was laid,

And by his side the Virgin Maid,

Attending to the Lord of Life

Who came on earth to end all strife.

THE VERY REVERNED CANON NOEL HARTLEY RIP

It was with deep sadness that we received the news on  New Year’s Day of the death of Canon Noel Hartley, former Parish Priest of Adamstown. He was a huge part of our community for so many years and endeared himself to young and old alike. Our deepest sympathy to his family, Bishop Denis Brennan and fellow clergy of the Diocese of Ferns. His former parishioners and many friends in the Adamstown area and surrounds.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.