Congratulations and good wishes are extended to Helena Collins of Templeathea (daughter of Mary Ellen and Denis) who recently became engaged to Arthur Mooney of Kildare. Wishing them all the best for the future.

Next weekend the Annual Friends of St. Ita’s will hold their Church Gate collection before all Masses. It is hoped they will start the new 20 bed rehab unit in the very near future which will be a great asset to St .Ita’s. Your support as always would be very much appreciated.

What glorious weather we are continuing to have these past few days, lawns are still being given “the final cut” before the winter sets in – the last few flower bulbs are being put in before the onset of spring when hopefully they will start peeping out, and even a spot of painting here and there is still ongoing. Only a couple of the colder evenings did one notice the streams of smoke coming out of the village and surrounding chimneys – fires are few and far between yet, long may the dry warm spell last to shorten our winter.

Well we have Confirmation this year – in 2014 I mean, so my grandchildren tell me, in May. In America where my grandson Jack gets his Confirmation (not until they are 14 yrs old, I may add). All the children getting Confirmation have to do about 16 hours of community service – from helping the elderly by getting their groceries or mowing their lawns, pulling weeds around their church and their school. Chatting and keeping people living on their own company. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring this idea to our country, don’t you think.

Another thing, it would be a good idea to teach children the basics of everyday life and that not everything is learned from a book – like a teenager recently didn’t know what side of the envelope to stick the stamp on!!

A recent “Teen Creed” I came across, “Don’t let your parents down, they brought you up. Be humble enough and obey, you may give orders someday. Choose companions with care, you become what they are. Guard your thoughts, what you think – you are, Choose only a date who would make a good mate. Be master of your habits or they will master you. Don’t be a “show off” when you drive – drive with safety and arrive. Don’t let the crowd pressure you – stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.