By Marian Harnett

FAREWELL TO FR. SHOJI: Mass at the weekend was very emotional as our PP Fr Tony Mullins said a fond farewell to our curate Fr. Shoji who arrived here on St. Patrick’s Day 2019 and made such an impression on all parishioners over the past 18 months with his gentle, prayerful manner, his sense of humour, his friendliness and his care for all the people he got to know and he did get to know a lot in a short time.  Fr. Tony told us about the hot spicy curries that his new curate cooked for him and how Fr. Shoji would always check with him the following day to make sure there were no side effects!  Fr. Shoji has been appointed to the pastoral care team in UHL and leaves us tomorrow, Thursday.  The pastoral council have invited Fr. Shoji back in a couple of weeks for a presentation and over the next week people who wish to be associated with the presentation can drop their donation to the boxes available in the church.

COFFEE MORNING FOR HOSPICE:  Thursday, September 24 is the National Coffee Morning For Hospice.  Mary McArthur is hosting one in the open air, at her home in Caherhayes ,commencing at 11am, and continuing  through until 4.30, observing HSE guidelines on Social Distancing.   Proceeds will be shared between Kerry and Milford Hospices. Donations gratefully accepted.  Further details from Mary on 087 6377310

MESSAGE FROM CLLR. LIAM GALVIN:  “Just to let you know that library in Abbeyfeale will re open on Tuesday 29th September. Work will be carried out next week comply with Covid restrictions”.

ABBEYFEALE TOWN PARK:  Congratulations to everyone concerned with the Town Park which, this week , received its second Green Flag.  The town park is a great amenity and is used by all sectors of the community.

HOLY HOUR:  Every Wednesday in Templeglantine church from 7-8pm.  All welcome.

DRIVE IN BINGO:  Glórach Theatre launched their On-Tour Bingo at the Fr. Casey’s car park in Abbeyfeale at the beginning of this month.  Due to its success it is planned to continue the Bingo for the Sundays in October, when gates will be open from 1pm and Game Time is 2.30pm.  Glórach are guaranteeing a minimum of €3,050 in prize money each Sunday.  Wheelchair friendly facilities are available.

ABBEYFEALE FARMERS’ MARKET:  Helga is back with a fine selection of locally grown vegetables which are chemical free. We also have a new stall holder – Máire Griffen from Beale who has set up a new company called OrganiGo making organic noodles from beetroot, butternut squash and courgettes and we hope you’ll all give her a turn.

ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT:  Now that the winter is on its way be sure and check that your security lighting is in working order.  Check the panic button 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.  We are still accepting donations of €10 to help run our text alert system as the funds we raised some years ago have now run out 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.  If you fulfil the criteria for a panic button the installing company will drop the gear to your door and then let you set up the connection yourself with assistance over the phone from their staff.  I have been assured that it’s only a matter of connecting a cable and anyone can do it.   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.    We recently received a query about the application of VAT to the monitoring charge, your bill shows VAT but it is included in the cost not extra to it.  Committee members are Michael O’Kelly N.T., Seamus Stack, Mossie Gleeson, Kathleen Collins, Mary McArthur, John O’Sullivan, Billy Quirke N.T., Cllr. Francis Foley, Catherine Daly, Maurice O’Connell, Marian Harnett.

WEST LIMERICK COMMUNITY RADIO PLAYING THEIR PART:  WL102fm has provided a great service throughout West Limerick since the lockdown began with Mass broadcast every Sunday morning at 10am to all the people who are cocooning .  Advertising and fundraising pay their expenses and like everyone else they need money to survive.  Please buy a ticket for their weekly draw and help them stay on air – it’s as simple as that – you’ll never miss the water ‘til the well runs dry.  Tickets on sale at Ann Lyons’s, The Square for €2 each.  Please be generous in your support.  They are also need volunteers to help run the station.

PROLOGUE:  It isn’t where you came from; it’s where you’re going that counts.”
Ella Jane Fitzgerald