by Kathleen Mullane

BEST OF LUCK

Well this Wednesday sees the start of the long awaited Junior and Leaving Cert Exams for all the pupils. It doesn’t seem that long that they started back to school last August but on the other hand I suppose they are all just anxious that the day  has at last arrived ,especially for those doing the Leaving Cert and finishing up their Secondary School years. We were always told in our youth that your schooldays are the best days of ones life. Our young people don’t agree I’m afraid . But now some of them will be heading out into the big world and fending for themselves paying bills etc  and then they get to realise that their schooldays weren’t that bad after all. Anyway we wish each and every one of them all the very best as they sit their exams and don’t stress or get too anxious as there’s something there for everyone at the end of the day whether it be College or an Apprenticeship, the main thing is that one is happy at what they are doing.

On Saturday evening last the Special Mass for all those doing their exams was held here in our church . To say the Youth Choir and Music led by Margaret Carroll and her young singers and musicians and helped by Jade Mc Mahon  was exceptional would be putting it mildly . They were unreal and visitors to our Church were astounded by their wonderful input into the ceremony. No doubt we will be hearing a lot more of them hopefully and to quote Fr Willie, he said —they were fit for Eurovision. Well done to each and every one of them who took part in this very Special Mass.

Congrats to Eoin O Shea of Templeathea who recently received the Premier Division Player of the Year Award in Soccer, such a talented footballer and well deserving of the award . Congrats also to Cillian O Connor of Lower Athea who received the Principals Award at Scoil IDE agus Iosef in Abbeyfeale last week . Well done to them both.

Sympathy is extended to Henry Moran of Knocknagorna on the recent passing of his brother in law Donie Murphy of Rathkeale and to Henrys sister Eileen and all the Murphy family . May he rest in Everlasting Peace.

Sympathy also to Nancy Woulfe of Gortnagross on the passing of her brother in law John Joseph Sorohan of Gortnagross who was buried in Abbeyfeale last week. May he rest in peace. Sympathy to all their families and extended relatives also.

This Saturday evening sees the Corpus Christi Procession taking place here in Athea. Last year was lovely and hopefully we will have dry weather on this occasion also. The Communion and Confirmation classes will be taking part after Mass and there will be traffic management in place for the duration of the Procession from the church to the Hall. Householders are asked to put out their holy pictures and little altars en route to the Hall. There will be tea etc in the hall after and the parents of the Confirmation and Communion Classes are asked to give a helping hand with that , also Parishioners are asked to maybe give in a bit of baking, biscuits or whatever to the hall before Mass. The hall will be open from 6.30 onwards then everyone can meet for a community chat and a cuppa following the Procession . All are welcome

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Make Your Life a MASTERPIECE ; imagine no limitations on what you can Be ,Have or Do.