PROLOGUE: "If you want to celebrate a happy occasion, do it by helping those who are in need."
– Mohith Agadi

DEATH: We offer our sympathy to the family of Eileen Broderick, Upper Purt whose funeral took place on Saturday. We also offer our sympathies to the family of Gerard Ahern, Convent Street and Chicago whose funeral took place on Sunday last. We also offer our sympathies to the Lynch family, Railway Rd and the Fitzgerald family, The Hill on the death in New Jersey of Tom Lynch. May they all rest in peace.

DIAMOND WEDDING WISHES: Best wishes to Timmy and Nancy Woulfe, Gortnagross who celebrated 60 years of marriage recently. Nancy is an O’Donnell from the Hill and Timmy is the best dance teacher in the West and as soon as the lockdown is over we hope to hit the floor again.

NOONAN’S LIGHTS GO FUND ME PAGE: A reminder that the page is still active and further donations will be much appreciated.

A SPARK FOR TIM GO FUND ME PAGE: Fr. Tim Galvin is presently engaged in building a secondary school in his new parish in South Sudan and a go fund me page entitled ‘A spark for Tim’ has been set up by one of his West Limerick cousins. The page will be closing down shortly as it has nearly reached its target.

OBITUARY NOTICE FOR TOM LYNCH FROM RAILWAY ROAD: Thomas Pierce Lynch Sr., Railway Road, Abbeyfeale, formerly of Union Township and Spring Lake Heights, NJ, died at the age of 74 on January 13, 2021. He was predeceased by his parents, Patrick and Mary Lynch; sister Mary O’Brien and her husband, Dr. Maurice O’Brien; brother Michael Lynch; sister-in-law Maria Lynch; sister-in-law Margaret Mac Lean; sister-in-law Noreen Hayes and her husband, Willie Hayes; and brother-in-law Tom Fitzgerald. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Dora Fitzgerald, The Hill, son Thomas Lynch Jr., and his wife Jillian Lynch (Dempsey) Wall Township; daughter Elissa Tierney Ventnor and son-in-law Jason Tierney of Marlton; daughter Ashley Lynch Spring Lake Heights; brother Tony Lynch Ballybunion, ; brother Noel Lynch and his wife Nancy Bedminster and Railway Rd; brother Patrick Lynch Melbourne, Florida; brother John Lynch Union Township; sister Kathleen Kelly and her husband, Ian Kelly, Dublin, sister Nora Lynch Abbeyfeale, ; brother-in-law Tim Fitzgerald and his wife Kathleen Fitzgerald, The Hill, Abbeyfeale, sister-in-law Carmel Fitzgerald, Corbally, I brother-in-law Douglas Mac Lean and his wife Hilde Mac Lean of Wayne. Tom adored his grandchildren, Avery Tierney, Logan Tierney, Finley Lynch, and Pierce Lynch. He was also a loving uncle to his many nieces and nephews in his adopted country and in Ireland. Tom Lynch was born on May 3, 1946, in Abbeyfeale. . As a young man, Tom took great pride in serving honourably in the first Abbeyfeale Fire Brigade and was an accomplished rugby player for the Abbeyfeale Rugby Club. As a rugged and skilled forward, he helped Abbeyfeale win the 1964 and 1966 Junior Munster Cup Championships. In the spring of 1969, Tom emigrated to the United States and quickly became a life-long, and at times suffering, fan of the New York Mets and New York Jets. Raising his family in Union Township, Tom retired to Spring Lake Heights after 38 years as a brewer for Anheuser-Busch in Newark. An avid golfer all his adult life, Tom won many tournaments post-retirement with his easy down-the-middle swing, including most recently the 2013 Monmouth County A Flight Men’s Champion at his home course, Shark River. A proud American and Irishman, Tom was a 50-year member of the John F. Cryan Association and was honored to receive their Man of the Year Award in 2014.Kind-hearted and warm to all who knew him, Tom will be missed by his many d friends and family. He was a great listener who enjoyed good stories and cheer; any time spent with friends and family would never be complete without Tom cajoling all to stay a little bit longer by saying, "Let’s have one more for the road."

OLD TECH: The following free classes are starting up in January: Beginners Woodturning, Beginners Art, Craft class (Papermaking, paper crafts, felting and more!), Knitting for beginners, Experimenting with art (drawing, painting making etc), Basic cooking, Cookery for blokes, baking (Breads, pastry’s & Desserts), Healthy eating made easy, taste of Italy cookery class, Easy entertaining/summer cookery class, Machine sewing, Furniture Upholstery, Grow your own vegetables class, Beginners Sign Language, Childcare Level 5 & 6, Healthcare Level 5, Beginners Computers, intermediate computers. If you wish to register for any of the above free classes, please call Mary in the office: 06831198 or log onto www.learningandskills.ie, click on ‘our courses, and select the location as ‘Abbeyfeale’

HEARTBEAT ZOOM MEETING: HeartBeat presents a special night with Neurologist Dr. Helena Moore on Monday, January 25 at 8pm. Dr Moore will talk about Stroke avoidance -Stroke treatment -Stroke after-care. Dr. Helena will answer your questions and bring clarity to procedures and field worries people may have in this area. Access to this meeting can be had by texting for the codes to 085 1773 910 or emailing heartbeatkillarneykerry beforehand.

MEMORY CARD DISPLAY IN FUNERAL PARLOUR: James Harnett has told me that if anyone wants a copy of one of the memory cards on display in the window of the funeral parlour he’ll sort them out. Contact him on 087 2500929.

ABBEYFEALE FARMERS MARKET: Jon Nolan returns to the Square on Friday morning next at 8.30am.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 18 -25 JANUARY: The theme for this week’s prayer for unity is "Abide in my love… You shall bear much fruit" from the Gospel of John, chapter 15. During this coming week, we invite parishioners to pray for Christian Unity.

TAKEOUT AVAILABLE: We all need something to look forward to during these months of pandemic so why not treat yourself to a meal from Leens Hotel. Available from 1-8pm seven days a week.

CHURCH CLOSURE: Fr Tony Mullins 0872600414, Fr Dan Lane (Retired) 087/2533030, Fr Denis Mullane 087/26219. Due to current restrictions around Covid-19 parishioners are not allowed to attend Mass inside the Church Building but you are more than welcome to attend Mass in the Church Car Park in the comfort of your own car and listen to Mass on the Car Park Radio on 107fm. Due to current restrictions only 6 people are allowed to attend weddings and 10 to attend funerals. The Blessed Sacrament chapel is open every day from 11-6pm for private prayer. Mass Intentions: Wednesday 10am Jean Rathenbury. Thursday 10am Daniel Francis & Nell O’Connor, Main Street. Friday 10am Mame Harnett, Knockbrack. No Saturday morning Mass. Saturday 6.30pm Lily O’Keeffe, St Ita’s Road. Anne Lyons, The Square Month Mind. Sunday 10am Denis McEnery. 12noon Patrick & Hannah Marie Broderick, Dromtrasna Collins. Anna Mai Lane, Killarney Road.

KERRY DIOCESAN MISSION: It begins next Sunday January 24 and runs to the following Friday. The Mission, ‘Be Christ’s Joy,’ offers an opportunity for people to gather in reflection and in prayer, online and in the home. Like the traditional Parish Mission, all are welcome to participate. You are invited you to register on www.dioceseofkerry.ie, for the Mission and to encourage others to do the same. On registration you will get an email each morning of the Mission offering links to all the daily Mission Activities. THE ELEMENTS OF THE MISSION * A Mission Booklet available online on dioceseofkerry.ie * A Schedule of Mission activities for each day Sunday to Friday Morning Reflection – online * Daily Prayer – outlined in The Mission Booklet Mission Mass at 10.30 am – live-streamed from 6 different locations in the diocese * Children’s Pray and Play – online * Evening Reflection – online A Mission Talk each evening at 8 p.m. • John Connell from Soran in North Longford – author, journalist and farmer – Sunday 24 • Martina Lehane Sheehan, spiritual guide, psychotherapist and author – Monday 25 • Fr Peter McVerry, social activist, advocate for the homeless and Jesuit priest – Tuesday 26 • Jane Mellet the Laudato Si’ Officer with Trocaire – Wednesday 27 • Br Richard Hendrick, Franciscan brother, spiritual teacher, poet and blogger – Thursday 28 • Olive Foley, widow of Axel Foley and ambassador for Children’s Bereavement Services, Limerick – Friday 29. For Primary and Post-primary level students Schools in the Diocese will be provided with class/activity plans. The focus will on Mission, what is Mission, and what it means to be Christ’s joy? There will also be proposed actions that students can participate in from home. For youth and young adults – YouthDoK Instagram Competition 16 to 30 year olds, are invited to submit their Vision of the Future to our competition in one of the following categories: Art, Poetry, Photography or 1 minute Video. There is a prize for each category. Their art works will be displayed throughout the Mission. The Mission will be central to our ongoing Radio Kerry Programming Horizons at 9 am Sunday, Sunday Mass at 10 am Sunday Just a Thought at 7.30 am and 12 noon Monday to Friday There is an opportunity to make online Mission Petitions. Mission 2021 can be followed on the website, on Instagram.

ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT: Wear a high viz jacket every time you go outside on the road especially on a country road, I am in danger of having a heart attack when I am practically on top of people before I see them between low sun, fog, rain and mist. If you have a panic button, check to make sure it is working by pressing it and speaking to the monitoring service – that’s why they are there 24 hours a day and why you are paying a yearly monitoring service fee. Gardai are asking people to let them know when people call selling goods or offering services on 068 30010. Try and make a note of their general description ie height, accent, hair colour, tattoos etc. Write down the vehicle reg. colour and make. We are all being asked to make only essential trips to the shops, chemist etc. for the next few weeks to help break the cycle of Covid. If you need messages collected contact our local Garda Station on 068 30010 and they will organise someone to do them for you. When 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 €72. There may be some confusion over the word free – the equipment which costs in the region of €400 is provided free of charge by Pobal as is the first year of monitoring but after that you will be charged by the installing company for the monitoring. I have not included the phone numbers of the committee in this notice but if you want to get a panic button then ring Abbeyfeale Garda Station on 068 30010 and they will contact one of us. Should you not have a landline the installing company Task provide a sim card at a rate of €7.50 per month payable from day one with a deposit of 6 months payable on the day of installation.. Then, in year two you will also receive a bill for the monitoring fee so in year one the bill will be €90 and in year two and every other year after it will €162 approx. If you wish you can arrange a direct debit and pay this amount off monthly. Committee members are Michael O’Kelly N.T., Chairman Seamus Stack, Secretary Mossie Gleeson, Assistant Treasurer Kathleen Collins, Assistant Secretary Mary McArthur, John O’Sullivan, Billy Quirke N.T., Cllr. Francis Foley, Catherine Daly, Maurice O’Connell, Assistant Treasurer Marian Harnett.

.HELPLINES: Text 50808 to receive support from a volunteer. Hospice Bereavement Line 1800807077 Monday to Friday 10am – 1pm. Jigsaw support line is now up and running on freefone 1800 JIGSAW (544 729). It will provide free mental health support and advice to young people aged 12 to 25 years old, and parents or concerned adults who live in the Republic of Ireland. A helpline for Men suffering domestic abuse operates 36 hours a week on 1800816588. Men’s Aid (Amen) 01 5543811 Monday – Friday 9-5pm. 24 hour helplines for women suffering domestic abuse 1800 341900 or Adapt 1800 200504. 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 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 affected by mental ill health) 01 860 1620 061 – 412111 or Free phone 1850609090 A.A. 061-311222. ACCORD; are now offering over the phone counselling for couples, Individuals & family members during this time of unprecedented stress & pressure during these weeks of COVID-19. Call: 01 5313331. Al-Anon 086-8143425 Bereavement Support: 068 / 31203 068/ 31262 068/51984 St Vincent De Paul Tel 087/1213560. Counselling Appointment 061/314213. ALONE; has launched a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line is open Monday to Friday, 8am- 8pm, by calling 0818 222 024. Hours may be extended to meet the demand.

Virus-free. www.avast.com

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