By Kathleen Mullane

ON THE ROAD TO RECOVERY

Well today was a great day for so many in our country as things started to re-open again having been closed for so long. Hairdressers were booked out for many weeks and so many of us had been going around with unusually LONG LOCKS for the past while. We won’t know ourselves when the scissors gets going.

Again it was great to see our churches re-opening for mass, our own here in Athea celebrating mass on this Friday evening, however we must be so grateful to have had our WEBCAM with our masses and funerals streamed LIVE all during the pandemic. Incidentally I note we have a green envelope in our weekly offering box for this weekend for a donation for the cost of providing the Webcam which is quite expensive annually. It is indeed a great asset especially for our elderly who are unable to make mass.

Let’s hope that everything goes according to plan now and that there will be no more lockdowns. With the vaccine being  given to many more things are looking a lot BRIGHTER.

Another of our senior citizens was laid to rest this past week. Noreen Horgan of Upper Athea passed away. She will be deeply regretted by her sons, sister Joan, her grandchildren, great grandchildren and many friends. She was laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetery on Thursday last. May she dance in heaven as she danced on earth.

Margaret White of Coole was laid to rest today Monday, following her illness. A lovely gentle family woman, she will be missed by her daughter Val and her three sons, along with her relatives and friends. She was laid to rest in Holy Cross. May the light of heaven be hers.

Sincere sympathy to Sean McMahon of Gortnagross on the death of his father Jackie and to the extended family. Jackie was laid to rest after requiem mass in Knockanure celebrated by his brother Fr. Tom. May the light of heaven be his.

Only a few days left to book your TIME SLOT for the great FUNDRAISER organised by Athea GAA  in order to raise funds to lay tarmac on the walking track at the pitch. This will be a huge asset to everyone who uses the track and during COVID it was a LIFESAVER for so many. The safety was enjoyed by all, no traffic, a safe HAVEN and now with benches and signage for positive thinking etc. it will be great if enough funds are raised to lay the tarmac in the not too distant future

I met a WISE man walking the other day who gave me two THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK – so here goes:

It’s nice to be important – but more important to be nice.

And the other one he said was to do with individuals being GREEDY-

And to quote-There is no ATM in HOLY CROSS- or indeed in any graveyard for that matter.

Indeed FOOD FOR THOUGHT.