December 12th, 2021

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 11th & Sun 12th December 2021
Volume 22. Number 47

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ADAMSTOWN LOTTO RESULTS
The winning numbers in the Adamstown Lotto draw on Monday 6th December were: 1 – 15 – 22 – 24. There was no Jackpot winner and no match three winners. The following Lucky Dip winners were: Mary Galway, Misterin, Lisa Walker Bradley, c/o Cáit; Catherine Walsh, Brocurra, Lisa Walker Bradley, c/o Cáit. The next draw takes place in the Community Centre on Monday 20th December for a Jackpot of €11,400. Keep on buying the tickets, it’s still there to be won in time for Christmas.

COLAISTE ABBAIN – CHRISTMAS RAFFLE
Tickets are currently on sale for our Christmas Raffle with some lovely prizes on offer, twenty-eight prizes in total. Books of 3 cost €5.00. Draw will take place in the College on Friday 17th December. All proceeds going to school funds.
Your support is much appreciated.

MESSENGER MAGAZINE SUBSCRIPTION DUE
A gentle reminder that the Messenger Magazine subscription for the coming year is now due.

ST. VINCENT de PAUL ANNUAL COLLECTION
Just a reminder of the St. Vincent de Paul annual collection following Masses this Saturday 11th & Sunday 12th December. Please be as generous as you can.

SYMPATHY
We send our heartfelt sympathy to Ashling, Joe, Marie and Colette Bolger, and the extended Bolger and Ó Cualáin families, neighbours and friends on the very sad death of Lorraine Bolger, Ballynagrallagh, Adamstown recently. Lorraine’s funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Mary & Michael’s Parish Church, New Ross on Tuesday last with burial afterwards in Raheen Cemetery.
May her gentle soul rest in peace.

ADAMSTOWN GAA NEWS
A huge congratulations to one of our former players Padraig Lawlor on his appointment as CEO of air purification company Puradigm LLC in the USA. Padraig & his brother Jason were among a cohort of prominent players to take the club into the Senior Football ranks in the 90’s and no surprise to see him scale the heights of corporate America. Continued success Forest!!

Well done to our U20 Footballers who showed true Adamstown ‘never say die’ spirit to secure a victory against a gallant Kilmore side on Sunday last. The sides were level 0-04 each at half time before Kilmore completely took over to lead by 10 points at the 2nd water break. Our young men could have very easily thrown in the towel at that point but instead they threw the kitchen sink at their opponents to pull the game out of the fire to win by 3-10- to 3-07.
Well done all.
SOME IRISH RECORDS IN THE GUINNESS BOOK OF RECORDS (Ireland’s Own Nov 19th 2021)
The largest gathering of people dressed as leprechauns:
1,263 people dressed as leprechauns 17th March 2012 in
Bandon.
Most sausages produced in a minute: Butcher Barry John Crowe from Cavan producing 78 in a minute on RTE’s Big Week on the Farm in April 2017
Largest gathering of people dressed as St. Patrick:
882 people at St. Brigid’s N.S. Castleknock 14th Mar 2013
Largest traditional Irish dance: Involved 10,036 people at the Dublin Irish Festival in Dublin, Ohio, USA 4th Aug 2007
Largest gathering of people dressed as nuns:
1,436 people on Nunday, Listowel, Kerry on 30th June 2012
Most jump racing Champion jockey titles: A.P. McCoy holds the most titles – 20 times between 1996 – 2015
Best selling act with no concert appearance: Singer/songwriter Enya, has sold 70 million albums since going solo in 1988, never having performed a solo concert.
Largest breakfast cereal consumption per capita:
In 2011 Ireland consumed an average of 8.1kg (17lb 13oz) per capita. Between 1998 and 2000 Ireland also had the largest tea consumption per capita with 2.69kg (5lb 14oz) which is approx 1,184 cups per person each year before the country lost the record to Paraguay.
Tallest windmill: The tallest windmill in the world is the St. Patrick’s Distillery Mill, Dublin. It is 45.7 m (150 ft) tall.
Oldest moon map: A series of carvings on a rock at Knowth in the valley of the River Boyne, has been identified as the most ancient Moon map, it is estimated to have been carved around 5,000 years ago.
Tea: And yes – the most cups of tea made in one hour by a team of 12 is 1,848 and was achieved by Lidl (Irl) on 22nd Sept 2015 at the Ploughing Championships. The record was completed in 43 mins.
Largest attendance at a Rugby Union World Cup:
In 2015 Irish rugby fans helped achieve this record when Ireland played Romania in front of 89,267 spectators at Wembley Stadium.
Brian O’Driscoll also held the record for the most international appearances in Rugby Union at 133 times for his country & for the British & Irish Lions for a further 8 matches between 1999 – 2014. This record was beaten in 2015 by New Zealand’s Richie McGaw he played 148 matches for the All Blacks.

ADAMSTOWN N.S. CHRISTMAS RAFFLE
Adamstown National School Bumper Christmas Raffle 2021 with great prizes to be won. Tickets are currently on sale in the community and also tickets can be bought online by going to idonate.ie and put Adamstown NS in the search.
Please support if you can our wonderful school and our children. The Parents Association would like to thank all our sponsors for such great prizes. Draw will take place in the school on the 21st December.
CHURCH NOTICES
IN MEMORIAM
Sat 11th – People of the Parish
Sun 12th – Gerry Bradley, Ballyergin (A)
Sat 18th – Kit O’Connor, Newtown and
Josie Thorpe, Newtown
Sun 19th – Jim Connors, The Hill & Mooncoin (A)
May they rest in peace.

CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES
Fri 24th – Vigil Mass of the Nativity at 7.30pm
Sat 25th – Christmas Day: Mass of The Nativity of the Lord at 10.30am
Sun 26th – Feast of the Holy Family & St. Stephen’s Day Mass at 10.30am.
Confessions following 9.30am Mass each morning this coming week, Mon 13th – Fri 17th December.
Also before 7.30pm Mass on Saturday 18th December.

PRAYER GROUP
The final meeting of the Prayer Group for this year takes place in St. Abban’s Church this Sunday December 12th at 7pm. The theme will focus on the real meaning of Christmas. All are welcome. Please observe the usual Covid protocols.

READERS OF THE LITURGY
Sat 18th – Liam Whelan. :Sun 19th – Callie Doyle

MARY’S MEALS
Mary’s Meals is a charity which feeds more than 2 million hungry children every day in a place of education. It costs just 9c per meal or €18.30 to feed a child for a year. The special Christmas edition of the monthly online quiz, which has raised over €14,500 to date, will we held on Friday, 17th December at 8pm. To take part or simply make a Christmas donation go to www.bit.ly/QuizforMM or contact Martin Colfer on 087 2596159. Thank you for your wonderful support during the year.

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Eucharistic Adoration takes place in St. Abban’s Church every Thursday from 10.00am – 3.00pm. Perhaps you might consider spending a little time in Adoration.

MY ‘FIVE’ POINT PLAN FOR CHRISTMAS
 Outreach to a friend or neighbour who needs my help.
 A prayerful visit to the parish crib for Christmas.
 A donation to the Annual St. Vincent de Paul collection.
 Quiet time spent in prayer and reflection, open to the Christmas message of warmth and of hope.
 To form a resolution to engage more deeply and more generously in parish and church life when the threat of Covid-19 fades, and as opportunities present themselves in the coming year.
May 2022 be a year where we grow closer as a diocese and a holy people.

RAINBOW CONGREGATION THRILLED BY POPE’S CYPRUS VISIT
(Michael Jansen – The Irish Times Dec 4th 2021)
The faithful flocked to Nicosia’s stadium on Friday,
December 3rd not to cheer a football match but to celebrate an open-air papal Mass. A rainbow congregation of Catholics – white, brown and black – were joined by Cypriot Orthodox, Anglicans and Evangelicals to welcome Pope Francis, the gentle rock star of the Christian faith.
Bearing Covid passes and wearing masks, old, young, hearty and halting, prelates and politicians, rich and poor, 7,000 came by bus, car, motorcycle and bicycle from all over the island, where apostles Paul and Barnabas preached 45 years after Christ. Ahead of the Mass, Pope Francis visited Cypriot Orthodox Archbishop Chrysostomos to deepen relations between the two churches, which have been divided and often at odds since the 11th century.
During his final gathering at the Holy Cross Church, the pope heard testimony from migrants who have faced prejudice and rejection as illegal immigrants. Cyprus hosts the largest number of asylum seekers per capita in the European Union and like Greece and Italy, seeks aid and understanding when dealing with the influx. This reached 11,000 this year, half from countries at peace. Pope Francis has pledged to resettle 50 in Italy.

THE LITTLE JOBS SERVICE
This service is operated by theTús Programme and aims to provide small maintenance jobs in the homes of older people throughout the County Wexford. To qualify for this service you will need to be in receipt of a State Pension or a non-contributory pension. Cost of the Little Job Service is a yearly subscription of €50. For more information phone
087 2499699 or email – littlejobsservice@wld.ie

THE IRISH GARDEN BIRD SURVEY
(Jim Hurley, Nature Trail, New Ross Standard)
Sponsored by Ballymaloe, the Irish Garden Bird Survey is organised each winter by BirdWatch Ireland. The very popular citizen science survey runs from the end of November to the end of February. Participants record on a simple form the maximum number of birds they see in their gardens each week. One of the remarkable findings from last year’s survey was how successful Great Spotted Woodpeckers are doing. They have spread from their stronghold in Co. Wicklow to almost nationwide. Last year they were recorded in 105 gardens in 20 counties compared to 37 gardens in 11 counties during winter in the previous year. Last year there was a remarkable 72% increase in the number of households taking part in the survey due to Covid restrictions and people working from home. All anyone would ever want to know about the event is freely available online at bit.ly/IrishGardenBirdSurvey

A THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
(Ireland’s Own – Author unknown)
Life isn’t about being right; it’s about being understanding, compassionate and kind towards one another regardless of our differences.