February 14th, 2021

Adamstown Parish  Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 13th & Sun 14th February 2021  

Volume 22.  Number 6.                                                                          www.saintabbans.com

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COVID VACCINE FOR OVER 70’s

Covid Vaccine for those who are 70 years old & over in Adamstown GP Surgery.

We are delighted to be now actively planning for the above.

Rollout will commence over the next few weeks as per national guidance. We are in the process of contacting our patients who are 85 & over to arrange their vaccination.

Subject mainly to vaccine delivery systems, this will be followed at 2 weekly intervals by those who are 80 & over, then 75 & over, then 70 -75.

This process is expected to take 3 months to complete. Hopefully, as time goes by, we will have ongoing information nationally re vaccine rollout for everybody else.

Up to date information is available online at:

http://www2.hse.ie/covid-19-vaccine/

Dr. Catherine O’Donohoe, adamstownmedicalcentre.ie

Wednesday 10th February 2021.

ENROLMENT IN ADAMSTOWN N.S.

If you have a child due to start in Adamstown National School this coming school year, we are now open for Enrolments. Please e.mail the school at

scoilabbain@gmail.com. or phone 053 9240694 to have one posted out to you.

SHROVE TUESDAY – Pancake Day

Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday, the day on which pancakes are traditionally eaten, falls on Tuesday 16th February this year. It is the day before the beginning of Lent. Pancake Day was originally a way of using up eggs and butter before the long fast began. The humble pancake predates Christianity, however, having its origins in ancient time. In the early 15th century, the first pancake recipe appeared in England. In addition to the three basic ingredients, we use today, honey or sugar was added. The early settlers made pancakes from cornmeal and called them Indian cakes, while the Dutch substituted buckwheat for cornmeal, and called them Buckwheat cakes. It was the English settlers, however, who introduced Pancake Day, previously known as Shrove Tuesday, to the United States. In the 18th century, American pancakes were called Hoe Cakes, because they were cooked over an open fire, on the blade of a hoe. It wasn’t until the 19th century that the word “pancake” came into general use. There are a number of customs and traditions attached to Pancake Day, one of which is “pancake flipping”. Dean Gould, an Englishman held the world record for pancake flipping, achieving 349 flips in 2 minutes in 1995. The largest pancake ever made and turned was 15 metres in diameter, and weighed 3 tonnes. This remarkable event took place in Rochester, Greater Manchester.

However you like your pancake, enjoy it on Tuesday.

(Áine O’Malley – Ireland’s Eye)

LOOKING BACK: MISSION IN ADAMSTOWN 1857

(The People Newspaper, October 17th 1857)

The unceasing labours of the Redemptorist Fathers in this parish are crowned with the same signal success, and bring forth the same heavenly fruits as in all other places where the sunlight of their presence has shone. The Fathers are Rev. Messrs. Petcherine, Theunis, Bradshaw and Vauderas. Passing through Adamstown on last Tuesday evening, I stopped there same night, and during my stay was informed that the faithful travel all night, distances from six to ten miles, in order to gain at early dawn, the object of their souls dearest desire. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered up at half-past five o’clock each morning and truly, on Wednesday, I was pleased and surprised to observe the crowds that were assembled at that hour to assist at the most tremendous offering. The devotion of these unsophisticated people was most sublime. At ten o’clock, the Rev Parish Priest, ascended the High Altar, and having given the blessing, descended and administered Holy Communion to a large number of regenerated souls. The confessionals are surrounded with prostate penitents long ere the sun has blessed this hemisphere with its glorious light, and long after he has gone to shed his golden beams on our antipodes. The Mission opened on Saturday week, and is expected to close on Tuesday the 21st instant.

ST. VALENTINE’S DAY  (Ireland’s Own)

The origin of St. Valentine’s Day is rather uncertain. However, it’s believed the date came from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity.  Valentine died on 14th February 269 AD -the day devoted to love lotteries. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius set aside Feb 14th in St. Valentine’s honour. However, it is widely believed that St. Valentine’s Day actually started in the days of the Roman Empire. In those days, Feb 14th was a holiday in honour of Juno, Queen of the Roman Gods and Goddesses.  Juno was also known as the goddess of women and marriage. In the US a Miss Ester Rowland is credited to having sent the first Valentine card. In Ireland, the first commercial Valentines were introduced in the 1800s.  It is reckoned the custom of sending verses on St. Valentine’s Day dates back to the time of Charles, when

the Duke of Orleans was captured during the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. He was taken to England and imprisoned in the Tower of London. However, for St. Valentine’s Day he managed to send his wife a rhymed love-letter from his cell.

It’s reckoned the Pharaohs of Egypt originated the ring as the true symbol of eternity. The circle was a heavenly sign – that life, happiness and love have no beginning or end.

A Smile: “Before marriage, a man declares he would lay down his life to serve you. After marriage, he won’t even lay down his paper to talk to you” – Helen Rowland

Have a lovely St. Valentine’s Day – even the sceptical!

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sun 13th – Geraldine Ridgeway, Misterin (Month’s Mind)

Pray for:     Fr. Aidan Redmond P.P., Adamstown (A)

                  Mary Agnes Carey, Adamstown (A)

                  Philip Kearns, Galbally (A)

May they rest in peace.

ASH WEDNESDAY – 17th FEBRUARY

Mass will be streamed live at 9.30am. Ashes will be blessed and will be available in the Porch of the Church in sachets. Ash Wednesday is a day of fast and abstinence. We fast by having one full meal on Wednesday and two snacks. We also abstain from meat or soup made from meat.

Good Friday is also a day of fast and abstinence.

A sincere thanks to parishioners who donated candles for Church use which were blessed on Feb 2nd Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

A PRAYER FROM THE MASS ROCK AT TOBERNAULT, CO. SLIGO.

Pilgrims walk softly, this is holy ground.

It has been made holy by the feet of generations who came here to worship God. To hear Mass, to honour Our Lady, to pray for their needs and for peace.

Here are the memories of poor, persecuted people; they braved death, to come here. They walked barefoot through the woods to worship in secret.
Here are memories of hunted people offering Mass in this hallowed place at the risk of their lives.

Will their sufferings and sacrifices be in vain?

They have handed on a torch; let us keep their torch alive.

SYMPATHY

We extend our sympathy to Liz Furlong and family, Tomgarrow on the death of her aunt Kitty (Catherine) Gill, Ballyclemock, Newbawn who died on Wednesday 10th.

A private family funeral took place on Saturday last.

May she rest in peace.

We extend our sympathy also to the family of the late Pat Kehoe, The Maudlins, New Ross. To all the Kehoe family, Clonleigh who have had many connections with our Parish over the years our condolences too.  A private family funeral took place in the Parish Church New Ross on Wed 10th with burial in St. Stephen’s Cemetery.

May he rest in peace.

THE RIDGEWAY FAMILY SAY THANKS

We would like to thank Father Robert and Father Bernard and Cáit for a wonderful ceremony. A special thank you to Callie for her wonderful singing. We would also like to thank everyone for their warm, heartfelt condolences, support and cards. Thanks also to Cooney Funeral Directors for their professionalism in all the services they provided and arranged, also the Doctors and Palliative Care Team. And a special mention to the grave committee and grave diggers for all their hard work.   The Ridgeways.

KATHLEEN FLOOD

Local lady Mrs Kathleen Flood, Clonroche has been nominated for this month’s The Irish Field Breeder of the Month. Kathleen and her husband Sean lived in Adamstown village many years ago before moving to Clonroche.

If you would like to see her win this amazing award, vote breeder 3 to www.theirishfield.ie

WEXFORD PRIEST REMEMBERED IN USA

Fr. Peter Whelan, a native of Clongeen, was remembered in Savannah, USA on 6th February the 150th anniversary of his death. His story is a remarkable one:

Fr. Peter was born in 1802 in Clongeen, Co. Wexford and after emigrating to America, he was ordained a priest in 1830.  He went on to become the pastor of the first Catholic Church in Georgia. Following the death of Bishop Francis Gartland of Dublin, the first bishop of Savannah, in the yellow fever epidemic in 1854, Fr. Peter became the sole administrator of the entire parish of Savannah.  He was a supporter of the Confederacy, but he distinguished himself as a chaplain for both the Confederate and Union prisoners of war. He administered to Confederate troops, including an Irish company called the Montgomery Guards formed in Savannah. He volunteered to remain with them when they were imprisoned in Governor’s Island, New York in 1862.

About a year after he was released in a prisoner exchange, he was assigned to minister to the Union prisoners held in Andersonville. He worked tirelessly comforting the wounded, attending the sick, administering the last rites to the dying and doing whatever he could to improve conditions for everyone. He became known as ‘The Angel of Andersonville’. Before leaving Andersonville, Fr. Peter contacted a successful restaurant owner and a devout Catholic and borrowed $16,000 in Confederate money from him. With this, he purchased ten thousand pounds of wheat flour, had it baked into bread and distributed it at the prison hospital. The prisoner’s referred to it as ‘Whelan’s Bread’, and this gift was sufficient to provide the men with rations for several months. When the former prisoners were returning to their homes in the North, the stories about the horrors of Andersonville became known and there were calls to bring those responsible to account. General Winder, the commandant was dead, so Captain Wirz, who had been in charge within the stockade, became the focus of attention. On May 7th 1865, he was arrested and brought before a military tribunal in Washington. He was convicted and sentenced to death. Fr. Whelan was among the witnesses who testified, he spoke up for Wirz because he believed he was being used as a scapegoat, in spite of this Wirz was executed by hanging. He was the only officer in the Civil War executed for war crimes.  After the war, Fr. Whelan returned to Savannah as pastor of the new St. Patrick’s Church. He died a few years later from a lung disease. His funeral procession was two miles long and was said to be the largest that had ever been seen in Savannah.

There are plaques honouring him at his homestead and at Clongeen Church and there is also a plaque at the site of the former Andersonville prison which is now a historic site.

(St. Martin’s Magazine)  It is thought that Fr. Peter’s family may have connections to the Whelan family, Kellystown.