By Marian Harnett

TEN QUOTES FROM PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S SPEECH TO REFLECT UPON:  On Wednesday, January 20, Joe Biden was inaugurated as the 46^th 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, neighbours, 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.

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.

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 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.

ABBEYFEALE COMMUNITY ALERT: Beware of text messages looking for your DOB, Address, Banking details.  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 i.e. 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.