1st May, 2022

Adamstown Parish Newsletter

Weekend of Sat 30th April &Sun 1st May 2022 

Volume 22    Number 18

ADAMSTOWN LOTTO

The next draw in the Adamstown Lotto takes place this Monday 2nd May in the Community Centre for a Jackpot of €13,200. Do buy a ticket and be in with a chance.

ADAMSTOWN PHARMACY – COVID 19 BOOSTER

Adamstown Pharmacy are offering Covid 19 second booster vaccines to all people over the age of 65 years.

If it has been 4 months or more since your last Covid vaccine and you are over 65 years please contact Adamstown Pharmacy on 053 9240460 or 053 9240454 or at adamstownpharmacy@gmail.com to arrange an appointment.

ADAMSTOWN GAA CLUB

U6/U8 Camogie and Football returns this Tuesday May 3rd in Adamstown pitch 6.30pm – 7.30pm.

Open to all and new members most welcome.

Learn the skills of the games in a safe environment full of fresh air, fun and friendship.

COLÁISTE ABBÁIN NEWS

A big thank you to past student Paddy O’Shea of O’Shea Joinery for his generous sponsorship of a soccer kit for our soccer teams in Coláiste Abbáin.

A big well done to our student Katie Sweetman part of the

U-18 Wexford team on their recent Leinster title win over Carlow.

ADAMSTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB

Well done to Joe Mooney in Dudinska 35k Race Walk Slovakia – 2hr 48min 04sec.  A new pb 14mins off his previous best.  Continued success Joe.

SYMPATHY

The death occurred on Tuesday 26th of Mosey (Aidan) Furlong, Knockreagh, Ferns and formerly Coonogue, Adamstown. We offer our deepest sympathy to his wife Nora, sons and daughters especially to his daughter

Evelyn & Richard O’Gorman, and all the family, Kellystown, also his brother Rich, sisters Kathleen, Bena, Olive.

 extended family, relatives and friends. Mosey was predeceased by his brothers Jack and Michael.

Mosey’s funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Aidan’s Church, Ferns on Thursday last followed by burial afterwards in St. Aidan’s Cemetery, Ferns.

May his gentle soul rest in peace.

IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION

The family and Ann of the late Rev Canon Tom Doyle thank you most sincerely for your kind expression of sympathy in their recent bereavement, whether it was a card, flowers, your thoughts, a prayer or just being there, we thank you all very much.  The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has been offered for your intentions.

MATT TALBOT – A Man for All Seasons

Matt Talbot was born on 2nd May 1856. His father was a heavy drinker and so were his brothers and, as a result the family grew up in dire poverty. Back in those days in Ireland, children were not obliged to go to school. Matt left school after one year unable to read or write. He started work at the age of 12 in a brewery. That was where he got the taste for drink. He would drain the liquor dregs in bottles. At the age of 13 he was considered a hopeless alcoholic. By the time he was 16, he came home drunk regularly. Drink was his only interest in life. By the time he was 28 his life was in ruins. Then something happened that changed his life. He was standing outside a pub close to his home without a penny in his pocket, waiting impatiently for his drinking friends to come along and buy him a drink. They owed him! Whenever they had no money, and he had, he would buy them drinks. But, on that never-to-be-forgotten day, his drinking friends came along, one by one, and ignored him on their way into the pub. Maybe he had begged and scrounged money from them too often. Nonetheless, Matt was stunned and shocked and felt totally rejected. Afterwards on reflection, he said that was his moment of truth. He made his way home slowly. His mother was preparing the midday meal. When he arrived home sober she could not believe her eyes. He said, “Ma, I am going to give up the booze for life” He talked it over with a priest who suggested that he give it a go for 90 days, those 90 days were sheer hell. Towards the end of the 90 days, he passed a pub that had just opened. The smell of liquor was too much. He stepped inside. He stood at the counter waiting to be served, but the barman ignored him. He stormed out hurt and rejected and went to the Jesuit Church nearby, where he made a solemn pledge to abstain from drink for the rest of his life. He was employed as a labourer in Martin’s Timber Yard on the Dublin’s Docks Yard. In his youth he wasn’t a particularly religious man, but he began praying. He asked God to help him in his struggle to keep his pledge. He started going to Mass. His fellow workers noticed the change in him. His daily routine was work, prayer, penance, and daily Mass. He was a familiar figure in the streets of Dublin, humble and unassuming. Matt became an inspiration to countless people, just being true to himself. The ordinary people of Dublin’s inner city believed he was a saint. He is honoured in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where a long-term residential centre for men, who seek recovery from addiction is named after him. Matt died suddenly from a heart attack on Granby Lane on his way to 7am Mass in St. Saviour’s, Dominican Church, on the feast of the Blessed Trinity, 7th June 1925. A cross was placed on the wall opposite to mark the spot where Matt died. No one passed the cross without touching it and blessing themselves. His body now rests in Glasnevin Cemetery. 

In 1975 the Holy See conferred the title “Venerable” on him,

(Vincent Travers OP – St. Martin’s Magazine)

CHURCH NOTICES

IN MEMORIAM

Sat 30th – Peter, Tommy, Joey & Aoife Kelly, Doononey (A)

Also          John & Josie Barden, Doononey (A)

Sun 1st May – People of the Parish.

Sat 7th – Breda O’Brien, Templeshelin (A)

Also      Michael Booth, Nicholas & Catherine O’Neill &

Maureen Donoghue (Misterin) Shane O’Neill, Carrigbyrne, and  deceased members of the Eustace family,

Eustace’s Corner. 

Also Michael & Maura Hanly, Ballylanders, Co. Limerick.

Sun 8th – Peg & Joe Kelly, Coonogue (A)

May they rest in peace.

READERS OF THE LITURGY

Sat 30th – Eoghan Greene.    Sun 1st – Betty O’Shea

Sat 7th – Ellie Walsh.             Sun 8th – Kay Whelan

Sat 14th – Liam Whelan         Sun 15th – Nessa Cloney

First Friday 6th May Mass at 9. 30am

First Sat 7th – Mass at 9.30am.

Mass on Bank Holiday Monday 2nd May at 11.00am.

MARY’S MONTH

The month of May is set aside by the Church for special devotion and exercises in honour of the Mother of God.

The Irish name for the month “Bealtaine” is associated with a pre-Christian festival celebrated at this time of year, while the English word “May” is derived from the name of the Roman Goddess who was Mother of all the Gods.

The custom of special devotions in May, originated in Northern Italy in the early nineteenth century. There May being the month of the Roses, the altars were always decked with these flowers. This brings to mind the title “Mystical Rose” and the devotion to the “Rosary”.

In Ireland there has always been a strong devotion to Our Lady as Mother of God: Ar Mhathair Mhic De.  Our love for the Mother of God was expressed during the month of May, with May altars in homes, schoolrooms and with Sunday evening processions. As Canon Sheehan has written: Somehow the fragrance and beauty of these May evenings hang around us, as incense hangs around a dimly lighted Church and often cling around a soul where faith and holiness have been banished.

O Mary we crown thee with blossoms today!

Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May.

Rosary at Knockreigh Grotto will be recited each weeknight for the Month of May at 8pm.

You are welcome to come along.

POPE’S INTENTION FOR THE MONTH OF MAY

We pray for all young people, called to live life to the fullest; may they see in Mary’s life the way to listen, the depth of discernment, the courage that faith generates, and the dedication to service.

CHURCH ALTARS & DECORATION

Thanks to the ladies from Adamstown for looking after the Church and Altars for the month of April, it is now the turn of parishioners from Newtown/The Leap for the month of May.

FROM THE DIOCESAN PASTORAL COUNCIL

This week’s reflection relates to dialogue. Our Parish is part of a wider community. The synodal way of living invites us to dialogue with society and with the wider Church community.

How can we promote dialogue between our Church and other communities, including the poor, the marginalized and non-believers?

HOLY WATER DISPENSERS

We are indebted to two parishioners who kindly donated two new Holy Water Dispensers which have been installed in the inner porch of St. Abban’s Church. The regular availability of Holy Water has been absent from the Church for sometime, parishioners will welcome the return of the ritual of blessing themselves with Holy Water as they enter the Church.

Easter time has always been associated with Blessed Water and reminds us of our Baptism and our sharing in Christ’s Redeeming Passion and Resurrection. Thanks again to all who offered to donate these dispensers.

WORLD AMATEUR SNOOKER CHAMPIONSHIP 2022

Congratulations to Adrian Morrissey, Rathsilla, who with Rodney Goggins, Alex Currid & Stephen Bateman won the World Team Championship in Reading, England last weekend. Adrian and his team are members of Liam Mellows Snooker Club in Wexford Town. Well done to all.

SYMPATHY

We extend our deepest sympathy to Catherine English, and Liz Moran and all the family on the death of their mother Mrs. Babs Wickham, Forestwood, Clonroche on Wed 27th April. Her funeral Mass was celebrated in Christ the King Church, Poulpeasty on Friday last followed by burial in Cloughbawn Cemetery. May her gentle soul rest in peace.

TRÓCAIRE LENTEN APPEAL

Donations received to date from the Trócaire Lenten Appeal amounted to €1022 from 22 boxes returned. Many thanks for your generosity. If you have a box still at home, please bring it back, every cent counts.

PRAYER GROUP VISIT TO GLENDALOUGH

Members of the Prayer Group went on a trip to Glendalough on April 27th. They had a beautiful guided walk conducted by Fr. Michael Rogers, founder and director of the Tearmann Spirituality Centre; in the afternoon they had Mass in God’s Cottage celebrated by Fr. Michael, and finished off the day with a meal in the Wicklow Heather, Laragh.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK – Evening Prayer

Thanks God for this day,

For all that was good in it.

Thanks for help in getting through difficulties,

Keep safe and well in your love all I care for, near and far.

Look after with love all who have no place to rest tonight,

Or who go to rest hungry.

May I help them as best I can tomorrow.  Amen

(Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network)