By Marian Harnett
PROLOGUE: They are not gone from us but gone before us. Ní imithe uainn atá siad, ach imithe romhainn.
PRAYERS IN THE GRAVEYARDS: Prayers for all who are buried in our parish graveyards will take place on Sunday, November 7 beginning at St Mary’s graveyard at 2.00pm, the Old Graveyard at 2.20pm and Reilig Íde Naofa at 3.00pm. Even through the prayer ceremonies are outdoors, parishioners attending are advised to maintain a safe distance from one another and for additional safety are encouraged to wear a face mask. This year, the Vatican has decided once again to grant a plenary indulgence to Catholics who visit a cemetery to pray for the dead on any day in the month of November.
HAVE A BREAK: Daughters of Charity – Disability Support Services. Would you like to share your home and your heart with a child with disabilities? Have-a-Break is a Home-Based Respite Service which facilitates children with disabilities going to the home of a Carer for Short Breaks. This could be for a day, a night or even a few hours depending on your availability; Experience of caring in any capacity is not essential but can be beneficial , Training and Support is provided. Payment will also be provided depending on level of involvement. For more information please contact Catherine O’Sullivan, Have-a-Break Coordinator Daughters of Charity Lisnagry, on 087-4132888 or 061-501438 or email
[email protected]
QUIT MID WEST: Stop Smoking for 28 days and you’re 5 times more likely to stop for good. Quit Mid-West is a free service for providing tips, tools and support to help you stop smoking. For further information contact 065-6865841. A counselling service to support parishioners who wish to stop smoking is now available at St. Ita’s Hall, Abbeyfeale. For an appointment contact 065-6865841.
COLLECTION: Hunger Crisis Looming: Trócaire appeal to address humanitarian crisis in East Africa. Trocaire is appealing to all of the people of Ireland to support its special East Africa Appeal to help Trócaire’s vital work meeting the alarming increase in humanitarian needs in East Africa. There is ‘deep concern’ at the sharp rise in the number of people in East Africa who have fallen into poverty and hunger. Trócaire CEO, Caoimhe de Barra, said: “A deadly mix of climate change, conflict, Covid-19 and desert locust infestation have pushed millions of people across East Africa to the very edge of starvation. “Large-scale assistance – including food, nutrition, and water – must be delivered to save lives. Trócaire is responding in East Africa targeting the most vulnerable, including children, the elderly, people with disabilities and those who have been displaced from their homes by climate change and conflict.”Parishioners who wish to donate can do so by putting your donation into an envelope, write Trócaire East Africa Collection on the outside of the envelope and drop the envelope into the collection boxes in the Church at all Masses next weekend. You can also donate directly by visiting https://www.trocaire.org/
ABHAILE: This is a service to help homeowners find a resolution to home mortgage arrears. It’s 100% State funded, to qualify you must be: In mortgage arrears on your home. Insolvent. At risk of losing your home because of arrears. Contact local Mabs office 0761072000.
COVID-19: Those attending Mass are still required to wear face masks as we are in an enclosed area and all visitors to the church should continue to sanitize their hands. Windows will remain open for ventilation purposes. As the autumn approaches and the temperatures drop, parishioners are urged to wrap up well. Some seats will remain
closed off to help maintain some distance between people attending Mass. Any person with COVID-19 symptoms should not attend Mass. You should self-isolate and contact your doctor. We need to remind ourselves not to become complacent as we try to return to life with fewer restrictions. Religious services and weddings can proceed without capacity limits as existing measures remain (social distance/no physical handshakes/no full choir/no holy water in fonts/one way entry and exit/to Communion/Communion in hand only etc.) All advised to be responsible as the incidence rate is very high at the moment. Dispensation from Sunday Mass and Holy Days obligation remains while Mass during the week is encouraged in lieu. Thanks to everyone for your continued support and understanding.
BE WINTER READY: Keep warm, eat well and avoid unnecessary travel. You should eat regular hot meals and drink plenty of fluids, this will keep you warm and will give you energy to keep active. Ensure you have sufficient supplies of food and of any prescription medicine you may need. Keep active indoors. Have sufficient fuel supplies to maintain adequate heating in your home. Ask your relatives and neighbours for help if you need it. Keep their phone numbers on a list beside your phone. In icy weather, wear well-fitted shoes with non-slip soles if you have to go out but try to limit walking outside during the cold weather. Consider wearing a personal alarm so that family or neighbours are alerted if you fall. If you have a fall, even a minor one, make sure you visit your doctor for a check up. Leave a low energy light on at night time, preferably one with a high light output. Use a non-slip shower or bath mat. Make sure wires or cords from lamps, telephones etc. do not trail where you walk. Arrange furniture so that you can easily move around all your rooms. Remove rugs or use non-slip tape or backing so rugs will not slip. Consider installing hand rails on both sides of the stairs. We are getting daily warnings of scams. So, don’t answer the phone unless you recognise the number, if they want you let them leave you a message and then you can return the call. Never, ever give banking details to anyone, on the phone or by email or text and this includes your pin number which you should memorise. When you go out wear a high viz jacket no matter what hour, make yourself visible to motorists. If you are driving put on your lights and especially if it is raining. Lock your car when parking it up, leave nothing of value visible, if driving alone lock the doors. Get a house alarm, buy a timer for lights so that the house looks occupied when you are out. These are all sensible things to do and will help to deter the criminal. Ring Abbeyfeale Gardai on 068 30010 (Three hundred ten) if you have concerns over callers, if the phone is unattended the call will be answered in NCW and the local squad car will be notified.