community notices 20th Dec 2020

PROLOGUE:  Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born Of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires,
[here mention your request]
through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

DEATHS:  Sincere sympathy is offered to Nuala and the family of the late John Sheeran, Graigue whose funeral was held on Saturday.   We also offer sympathy to Padraig, the late John’s brother, whose wife Margaret nee Keane died on Sunday and to the Lyons family on the death of Ann, The Square who also died on Sunday. Abbeyfeale is heartbroken  after losing so many of our people in the last few months.   May they all rest in peace.

NEW COURSES AT THE 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’.

SMART RECOVERY:   www.smartrecovery.ie have daily online meetings throughout the Christmas period.

COME TO BETHLEHEM:  An Invitation to all Families in our parish.  Due to the restrictions on Mass attendance it is not possible to accommodate all who would like to attend Mass this Christmas. As an alternative we are inviting all families to make a short visit to the Church on Christmas Eve, to visit and pray as a family at the Crib. You are also encouraged to bring the baby Jesus from your own home Nativity set to be blessed. On returning home the youngest member of the family can place the baby Jesus in the family crib. The Church will be open on Christmas Eve from 1.00pm to 4.00pm Fr Tony & Fr Dan will be there to greet you and to give your family a blessing for Christmas.  Entrance through the front door of the Church.

.ABBEYFEALE FOR AFRICA:  The weather obliged and the rain stayed away on our first outing to the Square where the annual fundraising cake sale took place this year and we raised the bones of €1,000.  The monies have been lodged in the Credit Union and the a/c is always open for people to make donations.   Many thanks to all those who baked and also to  those who purchased and supported.  Fr. Tim is presently trying to build a secondary school as education is the only way for people to pull themselves out of poverty and he will be delighted with this addition to his funds and as always he continues to include the people of Abbeyfeale in his prayers.

SERVICE OF RECONCILIATION: During the current pandemic it has been difficult for us to assemble as a Christian community to celebrate the sacraments. This year because of the pandemic there will be no parish Reconciliation Service. However, a service of preparation for an act of perfect contrition in the season of Advent will be celebrated online only, on Tuesday evening next at 7.00pm. Parishioners can join us on the parish webcam at www.churchservcies.tv or on www.abeyfeale.ie It will be an ideal way to prepare for Christmas in the current circumstances.

CHRISTMAS MASSES IN ABBEYFEALE: We are delighted to welcome some parishioners to Mass on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. Tickets have been distributed to those who have requested them. For those who have tickets we would ask them to follow the instructions below.·Arrive on time. Be in your seats at least 10 minutes before Mass begins.·Follow the instructions of the stewards at all times. ·On entry to the church sanitize your hands. Masks must be worn at all times while in the church.·Go to the seats you are directed to by the stewards·If you are from the same household you must sit together.·Individuals must sit two metres apart from other individual members of the congregation. ·Remain in your seat at all times. When coming to receive Holy Communion wait for instructions from the stewards.·Holy Communion will be distributed on the hand only.·Leave the church in an orderly fashion and remember to sanitize your hands as you make your exit. ·We ask parishioners not to gather around the doors of the church or to congregate with other people who are not from your family in the car park. ·Wrap up well as windows will be open for ventilation.·Be mindful of safety at all times -Thank you for your cooperation.  Masses on Christmas Eve will be celebrated at 11am, 5.00pm,  8.00pm. and 9.30pm and on Christmas Day at 8.00am, 10.00am and 12 noon with admission strictly ticket only. There will be no Mass on St. Steven’s morning at 11am but the Vigil Mass will be celebrated at 6.30pm.  During Christmas, all Masses will be livestreamed on the Church Services webcam. The 10.00a.m Mass on Christmas day will also be broadcast live on West Limerick 102FM. In addition, a parish radio system will be installed to enable those who wish to attend Mass in the car park to tune into the Mass on 106fm while remaining in their cars.  Holy Communion will be distributed at the Grotto. Unfortunately, it is not possible to accommodate all who would wish to attend Mass this Christmas, but we invite you to join us on the church webcam system and on local radio.

CHRISTMAS DUES:  The Christmas Dues Collection will be taken up at all Masses on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. Fr Tony thanks you for your generosity and support during the last year.

CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER:   A special Christmas Newsletter will be available on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

RIBBON CEREMONY:  There will be no ribbon ceremony in Relig Ide Naofa this Christmas.  The committee have put up Christmas Trees and people can put up their own ribbons in memory of their loved ones at their convenience.

SOLDIER RETURNS:  Christmas Eve 1961 was a joyous day for Cpl Tadhg Quinn of Port, Abbeyfeale, when he came home to Abbeyfeale from army duty in the Congo. Older people in the community recall the Siege of Jodotville, where he was stationed at the age of 18.  He told me that he actually arrived between 4-6am on Christmas morning and there was snow when he reached Mountmahon. ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT: Plug out Christmas Tree Lights going to bed and always close all doors so that if God forbid fire does break out then it will be confined and give you time to get out.  Make sure your smoke alarm is working and everyone should have a carbon monoxide alarm in the kitchen or in any room with a stove or open fire.  No harm too to have an idea of an escape route in your head.   If you want to consolidate your loans do not contact companies on line entitled Euro Loans or Euro Lending.  They will look for all your banking details and will then take money out of your account rather than put it in.  If you have reached the age and wish to get a panic button you will need to provide contact numbers for three people who live in the vicinity.  There are people all over the world sitting by computer screens trying to come up with new ideas for removing your hard earned money from your bank accounts so put no information such as your mother’s maiden name which is frequently used as a security question up on FB.  There’s no need to put up your date of birth either.  Never divulge pin numbers to anyone either.  Do not send details of your credit card by email.  An Garda Síochána are hoping that by raising awareness of some simple crime prevention measures, such as locking up and lighting up, less Irish families will have to endure the pain of being burgled this winter.  If going out, Irish homeowners should endeavour to make sure their home looks occupied – to Lock Up and Light Up. Use timer switches to turn on lights, lock all doors and windows, store keys away from windows and letterboxes, and use your alarm.  Taking these simple steps will lessen a home’s vulnerability, deter burglars and protect homes.   ( Lock up, light up campaign).   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.   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.  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.

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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.

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.