PROLOGUE: "I tried every diet in the book. I tried some that weren’t in the book. I tried eating the book. It tasted better than most of the diets."
Dolly Parton.

DEATH: We offer our sincere sympathies to the family of the late JJ Forde, Knocknacrohy, Duagh whose death occurred recently. May he rest in peace.

BIRTHDAY WISHES: A huge congratulations to Thomas O’Connell, Ross Rd, Killarney and formerly of Meenkilly who celebrates his first one hundred years this Wednesday, January 27. Thomas is the last survivor of nine children of Tom the Master who was the headmaster of Meenkilly N.S. back in the day.

WEST LIMERICK RESOURCES: As a result of the Coronavirus, all West Limerick Resources events, Training Courses, Workshops and Face-to-Face Meetings are postponed until further notice. Staff are available to respond to clients and community groups by email or phone in relation to West Limerick Resources work and projects. Please check our Website on www.wlr.ie or Facebook on https://www.facebook.com/WestLimerickResources for further updates or contact the main office landline 069 62222 with any queries and you will be directed to the appropriate staff member.

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

TEN QUOTES FROM PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S SPEECH TO REFLECT UPON: On Wednesday, January 20, Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States. In his inaugural address he urged the American people to come together and to unite in working for their country. His words while addressed to the American people are words and sentiments that are relevant to all of us especially when relationships have broken down between us.. I ask every American to join me in uniting to fight the common foes we face: Anger, resentment, hatred. Extremism, Lawlessness, Violence. Disease, Joblessness, Hopelessness. Through the Civil War, the Great Depression, World War, 9/11, through struggle, sacrifice, and setbacks, our "better angels" have always prevailed. In each of these moments, enough of us came together to carry all of us forward. History, faith, and reason show the way, the way of unity. We can see each other not as adversaries but as neighbours. We can treat each other with dignity and respect. We can join forces, stop the shouting, and lower the temperature. For without unity, there is no peace, only bitterness and fury. No progress, only exhausting outrage. No nation, only a state of chaos. This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge, and unity is the path forward. Let us listen to one another. Hear one another. See one another. Show respect to one another. Politics need not be a raging fire destroying everything in its path. Every disagreement doesn’t have to be a cause for total war. We must reject a culture in which facts themselves are manipulated and even manufactured. Many centuries ago, Saint Augustine, a saint of my church, wrote that a people was a multitude defined by the common objects of their love. What are the common objects we love that define us? I think I know. Opportunity. Security. Liberty. Dignity. Respect. Honour. And, yes, the truth. In my first act as president, I would like to ask you to join me in a moment of silent prayer to remember all those we lost this past year to the pandemic. To those 400,000 fellow Americans –mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Let us say a silent prayer for those who lost their lives, for those they left behind, and for our country. Amen. I will give my all in your service thinking not of power, but of possibilities. Not of personal interest, but of the public good. And together, we shall write an American story of hope, not fear. Of unity, not division. Of light, not darkness. An American story of decency and dignity. Of love and of healing.Here is the thing about life: There is no accounting for what fate will deal you. There are some days when we need a hand. There are other days when we’re called on to lend one. That is how we must be with one another. And, if we are this way, our country will be stronger, more prosperous, more ready for the future. Abbeyfeale Parish Newsletter.

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.

DEAR HEALTH CARE WORKERS–‘YOU CAN’T FILL FROM AN EMPTY CUP’ Breathe, Reflect, Refresh : All Health care workers are invited to join Fr Chris O’Donnell and the Pastoral Team online on January 28 at either 3pm or 8pm for a short time of quiet reflection, nourishment, and peace. Those of all faiths and none are welcome to attend. Please register using this link https : //www.surveymonkey.com/r/healthcare_breather.

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.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK: Sunday, 24 January, marks the beginning of Catholic Schools Week 2021. During this week we aim to celebrate the unique contribution that Catholic schools, both primary and post-primary, make to supporting each other and living out Jesus’ message of the gospel. This year’s theme is ‘Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith and Resilience’. No one could have foreseen during Catholic Schools Week 2020 how different life would be just twelve months later. Life for all of us has changed so much that it is not recognisable, comfortable or easy. Our focus on faith and resilience is to remind us of the powerful role our Catholic schools have in the lives of so many young people. It is a source of comfort, care, belonging and strength. It was so important for our students to return to school, not simply to get back into the academic life, but, more importantly, to reconnect with their friends and teachers –to experience community. We have focused the week around the three theological virtues –faith, hope and love –while acknowledging the challenges that we are all facing at this present time and the need to feel a sense of belonging in our community again. Our prayer for each and every person in our school communities is: When evil darkens our world, give us light. When despair numbs our souls, give us hope. When we stumble and fall, lift us up. When doubts assail us, give us faith. When nothing seems sure, give us trust. When ideals fade, give us vision. When we lose our way, be our guide! That we may find serenity in your presence, and purpose in doing your will. Prayer by John D. Raynera

GRANDPARENTS DAY: It has become an important part of Catholic Schools Week. This year we will celebrate Grandparents Day with a special Mass at 10.00am on Wednesday,January 27 at 10.00am. This Mass will be streamed live through the Church Services TV network. You can link in by clicking on http://www.abbeyfealeparish.ieor www.churchservciestv.ie We will conclude Catholic Schools Week with a special Mass at 10.00am on Sunday, January 31. Prayer for Grandparents: Lord Jesus, you were born of the Virgin Mary the daughter of Saints Joachim and Anne. Look with love on grandparents the world over. Protect them! They are a source of enrichment for families, for the Church and for all of society. Support them! As they grow older, may they continue to be for their families strong pillars of gospel faith, guardian of noble domestic ideals, living treasuries of sound religious traditions. Make them teachers of wisdom and courage, that they may pass on to future generations the fruits of their mature human and spiritual experience. Amen.Pope Benedict XVI.

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 Eileen Broderick, Upper Purt who died recently. Thursday 10am Deceased members of the Barrett and O’Connor Family. Friday 10am Eileen & Billy O’Brien Bridge St. No Saturday morning Mass. Saturday 6.30pm Aoife Collins, Banard 1st Anniversary. Sunday 10am David Ward, Ballaugh Anniversary. 12noon Nicholas ( Nicky) Bowden 1st Anniversary. Paddy & Nancy Fitzgerald, Meenahela.

CARE OF THE EARTH : Laudato Si is the title of a letter from Pope Francis to the people of the world on the care of the earth. It was released five years ago. The Diocese of Limerick is organising a Laudato Si Book Club workshop on Zoom every Tuesday from January 26 – February 16 inclusive. The workshops will begin at 7pm and conclude at 8:15pm. Guest speakers: Jane Mellett; ecological crisis, Betty Baker; future generations, Niamh Brennan; our cosmic story and Donal Dorr; ecological conversion. If you wish to participate you need to register in advance at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LaudatoSiCall*Places are limited, early booking advised.

KERRY DIOCESAN MISSION: It runs to Friday, January 29. 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 8pm with Br Richard Hendrick, Franciscan brother, spiritual teacher, poet and blogger on Thursday, January 28 and Olive Foley, widow of Axel Foley and ambassador for Children’s Bereavement Services, Limerick on the final night.

ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT: Beware of text messages looking for your DOB, PPS. Address, Banking details, whether you live alone or not and purporting to be from the HSE offering you the vaccine. IGNORE ALL. Only answer phone calls from numbers you recognise, let the rest leave you a message and listen back at your leisure. Call none of them back unless they leave a message so you know who you are talking to. Wear a high viz jacket every time you go outside on the road. Be careful in the ice and frost and only go out these days if you really need to. 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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