Firstly to give you details of the funeral of the late Johnny Collins who is being brought home to Athea for burial this weekend. There will be Mass on Thursday 28th at 12.15 in Quex Road Church, London – followed by refreshments in the nearby Kingdom Bar. Johnny’s remains will be arriving in Shannon on Friday at 12.30pm, then on Friday evening friends and anyone who may have known Johnny might like to come along to Kelly’s funeral parlour from 7 – 8pm. Requiem Mass on Saturday will be at 12 mid-day and burial afterwards in Holy Cross. Great credit is due to all those who have put in a lot of work since Johnny died in an effort to have him brought home for burial in Athea and all the volunteers who are giving of their time and energy free gratis – to give him an Irish burial ‘Go ndeana Dia trocaire le na hanam’

Well done to Ciara O’Shea (daughter of Maireád and Sean) Templeathea along with twins Noelle and Michelle Curtin who were the U12’s winners of the Larkin Shield at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick last week – all three are members of the Athea Ladies Football Club.

Get fit for Christmas on Thursday evenings; Colm Hassett will be at the hall from 8 – 9pm with his health and fitness regime – open to men and women, a full body workout also on Wednesday mornings from 10 – 11am. Details from Colm on 085 1111617

Athea Going Strong/Vincent de Paul are holding their Annual Christmas Party on Wednesday December 11^th at The Top of the Town. Mass is at 12 noon followed by dinner. This being a hot-meal it is necessary to hand in your name with your €10 before Friday Dec 6^th to any of the committee or to Collins’ or Rose’s Shop, Top of the Town or Mary T. Mulvihill. There will be great music with Jim Connery, loads of spot prizes and a raffle for the door prize. In all a great day is anticipated. Donations of spot prizes would be gratefully received.

At last something for our U16’s and what a great Youth night it turned out to be on Friday night last at St. Ita’s Hall in Abbeyfeale – when boys and girls from Athea, Abbeyfeale and surrounding parishes brought along their musical instruments, had a sing-song, games, fun – pizza and soft drinks, all enjoying new  friendships made and just enjoying themselves. It is hoped to have another such night later on and all U16’s boys and girls are welcome.

Congratulations to Davey Noonan, son of Carol and Dave in Clounleharde, who was one of three lads, now living in Melbourne Australia, who raised donations and an awareness of football in two orphanages in Nepal. Most of the children who stay at these orphanage are victims of the caste system, or have lost their families due to a variety of reasons.  So Davey and his friends who wanted to experience the trip of a lifetime to Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas decided to combine some charity work into their trip. They collected funds to buy footballs for these disadvantaged children in Kathmandu. To use Dave’s own words “The goal (pardon the pun) was to bring some cheer to the street kids of Nepal through the vice of football.” To date they have 8240 Australian dollars and numerous footballs collected and donated to the orphanages.

The Killeaney AFC Awards night in Knockdown last Saturday night was enjoyed by all. Congratulations to all who received awards as follows: Stephen Shine – Player of the Year; Joe Sweeney – Hall of Fame; Pat Massey and Diarmuid Mulvihill – joint Clubmen of the Year; Pat and Noreen Madigan – Supporters of the Year. The committee thanked John Shanahan who was the main sponsor of the night; they also thanked all who continue to support them by buying the weekly lotto tickets.

In this day and age when the structure of families seems to be changing Pope Francis has announced that, in October 2014, an Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will take place in the Vatican to discuss the theme of ‘The pastoral challenges for the family in the context of evangelisation’. Bishop Leahy and Limerick Diocese would like to hear from all people on this matter, either personally or through your parish. The topics are as follows:

• The Diffusion of the Teachings on the Family in Sacred Scripture and the Church’s Magisterium
• Marriage according to the Natural Law
• The Pastoral Care of the Family in Evangelization
• Pastoral Care in Certain Difficult Marital Situations
• On Unions of Persons of the Same Sex
• The Education of Children in Irregular Marriages
• The Openness of the Married Couple to Life
• The Relationship Between the Family and the Person
  • Other Challenges and Proposals

For more information, if interested, look up the website www.limerickdiocese.org or talk to your Parish Priest.

Athea Community Council

Lucky Numbers Draw 23/11/ ‘13

No’s Drawn: 7,  13,  17,  22. No Winner

Lucky Dips         

€50-Ned & Pat, Athea

€30-Francie Flavin, Hillside Drive

€20 each

John Scanlon, Upper Athea

Liz & Donie, Donie’s Bar

Noreen Barry, Cratloe

Patrick & Sean Mahony, Athea

Sellers Prizes:  Lal Browne & D. De Barra

Next Draw:  30/11/’13  Jackpot: €6,000 Venue: Batt’s