by Kathleen Mullane

OUT AND ABOUT 

Well the countdown is on to both the Junior and Leaving cert exams which start in a few weeks time, so its an exceptionally stressful time for all students, but there is something for everyone out there and if they do their best at the end of the day, that’s all that matters. On Saturday June 1st all the exam students are invited to a special Mass at 7.30 which will be offered up for their exam success. Also on the night Margaret Carroll will lead her newly formed Youth Choir  to sing at the Mass, indeeed well done to Margaret and her group. All are welcome so spread the word.

Unfortunately the Community Games which were to have been held here in Athea on Sunday last, had to be postponed as the pitch was too wet. No doubt they will be held in the very near future weather dependant of course.

This weekend sees the Sacristans Collection being taken up at the Evening Mass. I’m sure everyone will agree that Siobhan and Teresa do tremendous work week in week out, a lot of it we don’t see that goes on behind the scenes along with organising readers rotas and so much paperwork, to opening and closing the church 365 days of the year, to doing our beautiful altar displays that are much admired , so your generosity would be very much appreciated by them.  I’m sure they deserve it.

It might seem a little old school but the benefits of putting Pen To Paper are timeless.——

It increases your levels of CREATIVITY.

Improves one’s SELF -CONFIDENCE.

Improves your VOCABULARY greatly.

Improves one’s MEMORY no end.

Strengthens SELF-DISCIPLINE and ROUTINE.

Helps achieve your GOALS.

And it’s very THERAPEUTIC also.

So maybe we should all take out the pens and paper and drop someone a few lines now and then and in days gone by wasn’t it lovely to get a letter in the post, more especially if you were far away from home. Actually there is a generation gone that will never come back. In days gone by families played board games and cards. The kids did homework alone to get out to play in the fields as quickly as possible. One played hide and seek till dark and came in when the hunger caught them. And they ate whatever was going and definitely no choice.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

HAPPINESS is not in our CIRCUMSTANCES

but in OURSELVES.

It is not something we see like a RAINBOW or feel like

the heat of a fire. HAPPINESS is something we are.