PROLOGUE" Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo Da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein."
H. Jackson Brown Jr.

DEATHS; We offer sincere sympathy to the families of the late Miriam Joy Fitzgerald The Grove and Castleisland and Kitty O’Callaghan, Ballaugh. May they rest in peace.

MASS TIMES: Mass Times in the Pastoral Area Unit; Abbeyfeale – Saturday 6e.30pm and Sunday 9.15am & 12noon. Athea – Saturday 7.30pm and Sunday 10.30am. Mountcollins – Sunday 11am. Templeglantine – Saturday 6pm and Sunday 10.00 am. Tournafulla – Saturday 7.30pm.

ABBEYFEALE PARISH CHURCH: Fr Tony Mullins PP 087/2600414. Fr Brendan Duggan 087/0562674. Fr Denis Mullane 087/2621911. Parish Church 068/51915. Parish Office; Open 11:00 – 1:00 p.m. Tues. – Fri. (068) 31133 Email: fealechurch Limerick Social Services: 061-314111. AA 061/311222 Al-Anon 086/8143425. Parent Support worker 068/31019. Accord NCW 069/61000. Samaritans Freephone 116123 or text 087/2609090 or email jo Aware (Depression & Anxiety) 1980 303 302 National Suicide Helpline (Pieta House) 1800 247 247 Irish Advocacy Network (Peer advocacy in mental health) 01 872 8684 Pieta House (Suicide & self-harm) 01 623 5606 IACP (Counselling & Psychotherapy) 01 230 3536 Shine: (Supporting people effected by mental ill health) 01 860 1620 061 – 412111 or Free phone 1850609090 A.A. 061-311222 Al-Anon 086-8143425 Bereavement Support: 068 / 31203 068/ 31262 068/51984 St Vincent De Paul Tel 087/1213560 . Counselling Appointment 061/314213. Masses: No morning Mass Monday, evening Mass at 7pm. Saturday Masses 11am and 6.30pm. Sunday 9.15am and 12 noon. Mass Intentions: Wednesday 10am Garry and Elizabeth Davy. Thursday 10am Fintan Morris Longford. Friday 10am NO MORNING MASS. 7pm Memorial Mass Denis O’Donnell Cahir and Dublin. Saturday 11am Madeline and Dan Murphy Leens Hotel. Tom O’Brien, Collins Park. 6.30pm Peggy Woulfe, Ballaugh. Joan Aherne, Nora Keane, Moss Keane and Denis Keane. Jim Power O’Connell St. Ita’s Road. Joe Cotter Purt. John Hayes Fealesbridge/Ardagh. Sunday 9.15am Phyl O’Kelly, Killarney Rd. Sheila and Timothy Murphy. Patrick and Mai McEnery, Kilconlea. Bridie and Kathleen Dillian, England. 12 noon Eileen and Paddy Cahill and deceased O’Neill family members, New Street. William T Flynn and deceased relatives.

Advent Prayer “ Hail and Blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the pureVirgin Mary, at mid-night in a stable in Bethlehem in the piercing cold. At the same hour vouch safe O My God, hear my prayer and grant my petition.

THE DEATH OF MIRIAM JOY: No words of mine would suffice to say how much Abbeyfeale was rocked this week by the death of the late Miriam Joy Fitzgerald who grew up on Grove Road and who was a very popular teacher in Dromtrasna N.S. She also taught in the Boys N.S. and in Knocknasna after graduating. Over the days of her removal and funeral thousands of people paid their respects to her husband Pat, her sons, her parents, brothers and sister and to her in laws. The purity of the voice of one of |Miriam’s pupils singing ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ at her funeral Mass, the poem by Emily Dickenson ‘Hope is the thing with feathers’ which was read after Communion: Hopeis the thing with feathers. That perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all, and sweetest in the gale is heard; And sore must be the storm. That could abash the little bird. That kept so many warm. Her husband’s eulogy and her son straining on tippy toes to hold on to his mother’s coffin as she was carried to the waiting hearse brought the church to tears. May she rest in peace.

CONGRATULATIONS: Our own Patsy Sweeney, Killarney Road has just been elected to a second consecutive term as President of Castleisland Golf Club.

DREAMS: The Limerick GAA DVD is for sale in Ann Lyons’s, The Square.

YOUTH CHOIR PRACTICE: The choir will rehearse on Thursday from 4.15-4.45 in the church and we look forward to their performance on Christmas Day at Mass.

CANTATA: Scoil Mhathair Dé students will perform their annual Christmas Cantata on Thursday, December 13 at 7pm in the Church of the Assumption.

THE JOY OF CHRISTMAS: The church was packed on Sunday evening for the annual Carol Service under the direction of Senior Choir Director Dee Dennison. Dromtrasna, Meenkilly and the Boys N.S joined the church choir, Riona and Helen and the Lost Souls in performing carols and hymns for the Christmas season. Well done to all involved.

RAMBLING HOUSE: A Christmas rambling house will be held at Fr Casey’s club house Abbeyfeale on Thursday, December 20 in aid of the Chemotherapy Day Ward at Kerry General Hospital. Your support would be greatly appreciated and all singers, dancers, storytellers and musicians all welcome to attend. Doors open at 8.30 and show begins at 9pm. Spot prizes and Santa will also make a visit on the night.

ICA: Mainistir na Feile are holding their annual Christmas Parts in Leens Hotel this Friday night. It is the culmination of a very successful series of meetings and activities since the Guild re-convened last September to an increased membership. Joe Weir was on hand with lots of exercises at their venue in the Adult Education Centre and some availed of his classes in Feale Fit Gym in Mountmahon. Carol O’Keeffe, Federation Officer brought a breath of fresh air with her Aerobic classes and later flower arrangement and Christmas decoration lessons. The Guild re-opens in February 2019 in the same venue. Meanwhile we wish all our readers a Holy, happy and peacefilled Christmas and New Year.

CHARITY CÉILÍ: A céilí will take place in Moyvane Hall on Thursday, December 27 from 3 – 6pm with music by Donie Nolan. It is a fundraiser for the Stack Family, Moyvane. Further information from Marie 087 9542102.

SUNDAY MASS IN DUAGH:Fr. Jack O’Donnell is offering an extra Mass at the weekend in Duagh Church each Sundayat 11.30 a.m. between now and Easter.It was a great success last Sunday and we thank those who are availing and supporting it. We appeal again for volunteers who will do the readings, Eucharistic ministers and counters etc. to help with the Mass.

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS: Abbeyfeale parish invite parishioners to make a commitment to doing some act of kindness in the lead up to Christmas. We have erected in the sanctuary of the church our Parish Random Act of Kindness Tree. We ask you to write your intended act of kindness on the cards provided and hang it on the tree. In this way we will all draw encouragement from one another, and hopefully be inspired to carry out some act of kindness between now and Christmas. Let us do our bit to make everyone a little happier.

GLÓRACH: The approach of Christmas is often accompanied by the usual dread of trying to think up of an original present for your loved ones. Here at the Glórach Theatre, we are marking the event by offering Gift Vouchers that will entitle the holder to entry to any concert/play/film/other event of their choice in the New Year. With many events ahead of us in January and February, they will have immediate options, and best of all, theY are visually, a beautiful voucher. To purchase a Glórach Christmas Voucher, please call 0871383940.

Bingo continues on Monday nights at 8.30 pm, with a break for Christmas Eve, thanks to all our loyal patrons, travel safely and we hope you continue to enjoy the night.

Tickets are almost sold out for our Seán Keane concert that takes place on Saturday, December 15th at 8 pm. To book or check availability for the legendary Galwegian singer, please call 0871383940.

ABBEYFEALE FOR AFRICA: The annual cake sale in aid of Fr. Tim Galvin’s Mission in South Sudan was a huge success last Sunday and we would like to thank all our loyal bakers for supplying the stock and all of you who called in and purchased. We raised in excess of €1,500 and you can be assured that Fr. Tim will put this to good use.

SHOP LOCAL: Vouchers are available this year in Abbeyfeale town to give as Christmas gifts and help encourage the shop local campaign. The Abbeyfeale Gift Voucher can be purchased at Abbeyfeale Credit Union in denominations of €10, €20 and €50. Abbeyfeale Community Council kindly asks that everyone throughout the Abbeyfeale area keep our wonderful Community in mind when thinking of shopping, doing business and/or socialising. It’s a hugely important time of year for business survival and job retention throughout the Abbeyfeale area and every euro spent locally is a vote of support to keep our Community alive. The writer is aware of a local small shopkeeper who is unable to sell popular boxes of biscuits this year because the price they can be bought at in the Cash and Carry is much more than they are being sold at in the multiples. Never forget that if you need a few messages on tick there is no point in approaching a multiple so give everyone a turn and keep our town viable and vibrant.

BOOK ON SALE: The Treaty Triumph celebrating Limerick’s All Ireland Hurling win is on sale at Ann Lyons’ in the Square.

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CHRISTMAS PARTY: West Limerick Set Dancing Club are holding a Christmas Party in Fr. Casey’s on Saturday, December 15 with music by Donie Nolan and Maura. Hot Food. Admission €20.

CHRISTMAS WALK: The annual Christmas Walk along the Great Southern Trail Greenway will take place on Thursday, December 27. Assembly is at the large carpark behind Leen’s Hotel, Abbeyfeale, Co.Limerick between 12.30pm and 1.30pm. The hotel is on the N21 and the public bus services stop a few hundred metres from the hotel. The Bus Éireann services from Tralee via Listowel at 11.00 and from Limerick at 11.35 are recommended. Walkers will be transferred by Coach House Travel courtesy shuttle coach from Leen’s Hotel car park to Tullig Wood/Devon Road from where they will have a choice of either a 5.75 miles [9km] or 4.5 miles [7km] stroll, mostly along the old railway, back to Leen’s Hotel where they can enjoy seasonal mince pies, whipped cream and tea/coffee at their leisure. All walkers must wear visibility vests as the final kilometre is through the streets of Abbeyfeale and involves crossing the busy N21 which must be crossed at the zebra crossing close to the hotel. Cyclists, with visibility gear and lights, are also welcome and we suggest that they also meet at the hotel at 12.30 and cycle outwards along the Greenway for approximately one hour towards Barnagh or beyond and then return in time to enjoy the refreshments. We recommend that cyclists also wear a helmet for their own safety. Nollaig Shona do gach éinne agus beidh fáilte romhat ar an 27ú.

KERRY PARENTS & FRIENDS Presents a Gala Christmas concert in association with Kerry Choral Union on Sunday, December 16 in St. Mary’s Church, Listowel at 7.30pm. Tickets from parish office & Whelan’s Shop €10.

HARNETT INTERNATIONAL REUNION 2019: Calling all Harnetts based West Limerick, North Cork and North Kerry. We are well into planning for our big weekend next July and we’d love you to get involved and be there to meet up with people from all over the world who share your DNA. We have a dedicated email address which you can use to get in touch; HarnettReunion2019 @gmail.com You can follow developments on our FB page too.

PARISH UNITS: At the diocesan Synod held in April 2016, it was decided by the

Delegates at the Synod to introduce a model of Team Ministry throughout the diocese. This weekend Bishop Leahy has issued a pastoral letter on this new approach to ministering in the diocese. Parishes will be working in Units and the list of Units was published last week. Abbeyfeale will be part of a Unit that includes the parishes of Templeglantine, Athea and Tournafulla/ Mountcollins parishes. From December 1, all priests working in the Unit are Co Parish Priests of all of the parishes in the Unit. Fr Denis Mullane has been appointed as Moderator of the Unit of Parishes. Fr Mullane’s role will be to coordinate the

Pastoral work in the Unit of Parishes. In the New Year a single Pastoral Council will be put in place for the Unit of Parishes. Each individual parish within the Unit will have a co- ordinating committee or local parish council. This new structure will see greater movement of the priests within the Unit of Parishes, especially for the celebration of the Vigil Mass and Sunday Mass.

WEDNESDAY PRAYER: Parishioners are invited to gather in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel on Wednesday afternoon at 3p.m to recite the Divine Mercy Chaplet for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. This prayer meeting will take place every Wednesday.

AFTERNOON TEA DANCE: This will be a fundraiser for Fr. Martin McCormack’s African Project and takes place on Sunday, January 13 at Fr. Casey’s with dancing to Donie Walsh and Jer Enright.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS SORTED: Much of the past fifty years is captured in a book especially complied to mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Church of the Assumption, Abbeyfeale. The book contains many wonderful coloured photographs that show off the splendour of the Church, its stained glass windows and general embellishment. The title of the publication is Moladh go Deo Le Dia. (Praise be to God forever). Price €10. The book is available in O’Donoghue’s, Marguerite’s, Ann Lyons’ Moss Harnett’s and following Mass.

COMMUNITY ALERT NOTES: Unfortunately there was a robbery recently between 4-5pm just outside town. We all need to be aware of strange vehicles and if you have any concerns ring Abbeyfeale Garda Station 068 30010 (if station unattended the call will automatically be forwarded to NCW station 069 20650) if you see something untoward. Contact any member of the committee should you wish to join our Text Alert Scheme. This was set up to immediately alert the community that an incident has occurred. The hope is that by raising awareness, people would keep a watchful eye out, contact the Gardai if they see something and thus help to deter criminal activity in our area. Once you reach the age of 65 and live alone or with a person/s aged over 65 you are entitled to receive a monitored alarm system. But if you have younger people living in the house who are out for long periods of the day then because you are spending hours alone you are also entitled to the system provided that you are over 65. The free equipment is provided by Pobal following an application from Abbeyfeale Community Alert, there will be a monitoring fee to be paid from the second year of installation to the installing company of €66. Should you not have a landline the installing company Task provide a sim card at a rate of €7.50 per month. Please note that this fee is payable in a lump sum each year after year one. Committee members are Sean Broderick, Micheal O’Kelly N.T., Seamus Stack, Mossie Gleeson, Kathleen Collins, Mary McArthur, Buddy and Brenda Barry, John O’Sullivan, Billy Quirke N.T., Cllr. Francis Foley, Mary Jo O’Connell, James Joy, Denis Collins, Marian Harnett.

OFFICE MOVE: Please note that the Abbeyfeale Office of West Limerick Resources has relocated to St Ita’s Hall, Convent Street, Abbeyfeale. If you have any enquiries, please call to the office and speak to Nora or you can call Mary on 087 9382883.

HOLY SPIRIT PRAYER MEETING: Janice and Moss Carraig will lead the Holy Spirit Prayer meeting on the second Sunday of each month in the Desmond Complex. Further information on 087 6174639.

SUPPORT GROUP FOR BEREAVEMENT: Abbeyfeale Bereavement Support Group Tel. 068/31230 or 068/51984 or 068/31262.

ST PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP: The first Friday of every month in Listowel. The ceremony begins with the Rosary at 6.45pm, followed by Mass at 7pm.for Saint Padre Pio with Exposition of Blessed Sacrament and Benediction after Mass.

KNOCKANURE RAMBLING HOUSE: Knockalougha, Duagh on the third Tuesday of every month.
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