January 31st, 2021

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 30th & Sun 31st January 2021 

Volume 22.  Number 4                                                                                    www.saintabbans.com

______________________________________________________________________________________________

THE A – Z OF COVID  (Written by a parishioner)

Anxiety and fear

Businesses decimated

Children confused

Distancing the new norm

Education online

Figures soaring daily

Grieving families

Homes transformed into work stations

Isolation

Jobs lost at an alarming rate

Kisses & hugs on hold

Lockdowns ongoing

Masks the new fashion item

No escape, its all over the world

Older people feeling lonely and fearful

Pressure on our health systems

Quiet Ceremonies conducted behind closed doors.

Restrictions

Shock at the daily death toll

Two metres the new measure

Unrelenting workers on the front line

Vaccine on its way!!

We are in this together

eXtra vigilancerequired now

You have the power

Zap it ……………….

THE ALPHABET PRAYER  (Author Unknown)

Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged with man. Now the story goes, a little shepherd boy was watching his sheep one Sunday morning and he heard the bells of the church ringing. And watching the people walk along the pasture where he was, he happened to think to himself, “I would like to communicate with God!

But, what can I say to God” He had never learned a prayer. So, on bended knee, he began to recite the alphabet. Repeating this prayer several times, a man passing by, heard the boy’s voice and peeked through the bushes. He saw the young boy kneeling with folded hands, eyes closed, repeating the alphabet. He interrupted the boy. “What are you doing little one?” The boy explained, “I don’t know any prayers, sir. But I want God to take care of me, and to help me care for my sheep. And so I thought, if I said all I knew, He could put the letters together into words, and He would know all that I want and should say!”  The man smiled and said, “Bless your heart, God will”. And he went to church knowing full well that he had heard the finest sermon he could possibly hear that day. Maybe if we thought like little children and let God ‘put together the letters, what we should want and what we should say’, things would probably work out a lot better than we planned!!!

A PARISH TRIBUTE TO REVERNED NOEL HARTLEY

It was with great sadness that the Parish of Adamstown received the news of Fr. Noel’s death on New Year’s Day.

He came to Adamstown in the summer of 1979 and became deeply involved in our community. With his kind and gentle nature he endeared himself to young and old and knew the first name of every person the met in the parish child or adult alike. He was deeply involved with the Senior Citizens; he was Spiritual Director of Adamstown Pioneer Association he attended many Regional Council meetings with local members and took part in the many activities of the Club, as well as travelling throughout the country on Pioneer outings. He was also involved with Adamstown Community Centre, and he said at the Opening Ceremony some forty years ago, ‘a dream became a reality in Adamstown today’ following many years of hard work and dedication and community spirit. He organized a 6-week course for young parents in the parish, which was hugely enjoyed and a great success. He was the driving force with the Board of Management of Adamstown National School in getting the £250,000 extension to the school in 1987. He was at the forefront of many initiatives in our community that are now an important and valued part of our lives.  He loved being involved with the Youth Club and in the 80’s Fr. Hartley is fondly remembered for his organization of Youth trips by bus to Killarney. “The hostel in Fossa was booked in advance and the food was brought along. These trips were most enjoyable. Visiting all the tourist attractions. In the evening we tucked in & cooked up a storm (Those burgers & sausages really did taste good!) We then took a stroll before retiring to bed in anticipation of the events of the following day. Great memories made. If memory serves me right I think Fr. Jimmy Moynihan travelled with us on one of these trips. He was in the Seminary at the time. (From a parishioner). 

Fr. Hartley approached the Parish Committee with an idea about making a small chapel out of what was then the vestry, and because of this, look at what we have today. Our beautiful ‘Little Chapel’ in St. Abban’s Church, which has served our community so well on the many different occasions down the years. He also organised with the Cemetery Committee huge improvements in our cemetery. 

He was Chaplin in Coláiste Abbáin and many of the messages on social media following his death, were from former students who remembered him so well and the encouragement and words of wisdom he offered them stayed with them through life.  He was deeply involved in the sporting community in Adamstown and fully supported all their endeavours. He treated everyone with dignity and respect and would always be there to help and support families and parishioners at any time they needed it.

He was a pure gentleman.

His work has left an indelible mark on Adamstown and for that we will be forever grateful.

Ar dheis Dé go riabh a anam dilis

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sun 31st – Ellen, Johnny, Jim & Sonny Kehoe,

Liz and Tom Murphy, Mogue & Mary Kealy,

Rathurtin and The Leap (A)

Sat 6th Feb – Margaret Comerford, Oldcourt (A)

May they rest in peace.

BLESSING OF CANDLES

Tuesday 2nd February – Feast Day of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple.

Candles for use in the Church and home will be blessed at 9.30am Mass in St. Abban’s Church. As this pandemic continues, we would encourage parishioners to have these blessed candles in their home. The candles can be lit in times of prayer and at the streaming of live Masses, and on

the occasion of visits of the priest with Holy Communion for the sick.

“May Christ Our Lord, Light of the World,

Scatter the powers of darkness. Amen”

Mass on Tuesday 2nd will be streamed live and the Blessing of Throats will take place at this Mass.

Glorious St. Blaise:

O Glorious Saint Blaise,

who by your martyrdom

has left to the Church a precious witness to the faith,

obtain for us the grace to

preserve within ourselves this divine gift,

and to defend, without human respect,

both by word and example,

the truth of that same faith.

You who miraculously cured

a little child when it was at the point of death

by reason of an affliction of the throat,

grant us your powerful protection in like misfortunes;

and, above all, obtain for us

the grace of repentance,

together with a faithful observance of our Church,

and avoidance from offending Almighty God.  Amen.

Throat Blessing of St. Blaise

Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr,

may God deliver you from ailments of the throat

and from every other evil.

   in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

A sincere thanks to T.J. for this online service.

CHURCH ALTARS & DECORATION

Thanks to parishioners from Tomgarrow for looking after the Church & Altars for the month of January. It is now the turn of ladies from Doononey/Rathkyle for the month of February.

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

‘Volunteers don’t get paid

Not because they are worthless,

But because they’re priceless’

ST. BRIGID – FEAST DAY 1ST FEBRUARY

In ancient Ireland, February 1st was known as Imbolg (or Imbole) and signalled the beginning of spring. The word ‘Imbolg’ is thought to be derived from an old Irish word meaning ‘ewe’s milk’. At this time of the year, the sheep’s milk begins to flow in preparation for the lambing season. The scholar Seán O Sullivan, wrote: “The main significance of the Feast of St. Brigid would seem to be that it was a Christianisation of one of the focal points of the agricultural year in Ireland, the starting point of preparations for the spring sowing”. The most characteristic and most widespread Irish custom connected with St. Brigid’s Eve was the making of Críos Bríde (St. Brigid’s Cross) which was hung up in the dwelling house and often in the byre and stable as well, to honour the saint and gain her protection. In olden times on St. Brigid’s Eve the youngest of the family would go and gather rushes. She would kneel on the threshold and knock three times at the door and say ‘Down on your knees and let St. Brigid in’. Those inside would say ‘She is welcome’. The rushes were put on the table. A cross was made of the rushes. Each member of the family made a piece of the cross. According to folklore, St. Brigid loved birds and in County Armagh one will occasionally hear linnets described as ‘St. Brigid’s birds’

If on St. Brigid’s day the lark should sing, it is accepted as an omen for a good spring.

(Eugene Daly – Ireland’s Own)

THE ROWAN TREE  (LUIS)   20th Jan – 20th Feb

The rowan now appears poised between winter and the arrival of spring. The rowan is a tree of energy and protection because its flame red berries symbolise fire. Another name for it is the quicken or quickbeam as it was traditionally believed to be a tree that encouraged life to ‘quicken’. Traditionally rowan was used to protect animals by tying it to their tails or manes. At this time of the year many of us feel washed out after the long winter. It is a time when we need to look after ourselves and rebuild our reserves. Perhaps we are beginning to flag in some of our previous resolutions. Be patient and do not expect too much too soon. This is a time to nurture our efforts and rejoice in every hopeful sign. Spring is here and soon things will change for the better.

(Irish Trees – Myths, Legends & Folklore) Niall Mac Coitir

COMMON SENSE PRAYER

Give me a good digestion, Lord,

And something to digest.

Give me a healthy body, Lord

And sense to keep it at its best.

Give me a healthy mind, O Lord,

To keep the good and pure in sight.

When seeing sin is not appalled

But finds a way to put it right.

Give me a mind that is not bored,

That does not whimper, whine or sigh,

Don’t let me worry over much about

This funny thing called I.

Give me a sense of humour, Lord,

The grace to see a joke,

To get some happiness from life and
Pass it on to other folk.