Relaxing during Pattern Day at Ballyheigue on Sunday were Mary Kiely and Tom Ahern from Athea with friends Breda and Tim Browne. Photo Moss Joe Browne.
Athea Drama Group
AGM postponed
Athea Drama Group AGM which was supposed to take place on Thursday 12th. will now take place on Thursday September 19th at Con Colbert Hall at 8pm. Apologies for any inconvenience caused. New members are most welcome.
Community Council Survey
Thanks to everyone who has returned the hardcopy survey, or has filled in the survey online. Please continue to fill in the survey and return in the letter box at Athea Community Council Office or complete it online via https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QGQWF6R.
Next meeting Wednesday, Sept 25th
Duck & Swan
Friday 13th, Batt’s Bar at 9pm.
Everyone welcome to a night of music, song and craic.
The Way I See It
By Domhnall de Barra
We learned in school that, before ever the world came into being, there was a big row in Heaven between God and the Devil. Up to that, apparently, there was harmony until Lucifer challenged God for control. The end of the conflict was the defeat of Lucifer and the creation of Hell which was to be his home from then on. We were told it was the triumph of good over evil but, even though he had been banished from heaven, the devil still had great power and would be constantly tempting us to commit sin. We lived in fear of dying in mortal sin and being cast into the fires of Hell forever. We have to take much of this with a pinch of salt because there is absolutely no proof of what Heaven was like or indeed is like today. Before advances in modern science, scholars thought the world was about 5,000 years old. This was based on studying the old testament and tracing the generations backwards. We now know of course that this was not accurate and the Earth is billions of years old and certainly was not made in seven days. We have to be very careful with material from long ago. Much of this was handed down by word of mouth and translated into different languages and, as we know, word of mouth can change from one person to another. There is the old story from the first world war when a commander in the trenches gave a message to a soldier to pass on down the line. It said: “send up reinforcements, we are going to advance.” The message was passed from mouth to mouth until eventually an answer came back. “ Here’s your three and fourpence, where is the dance”. Whatever about the validity of the conflict in Heaven, there is no doubt that evil does exist and is very evident in the world today, particularly in the place where Christian religions have their roots. Man’s inhumanity to man knows no bounds with widespread death, torture and cruel deeds more common than acts of mercy. We hear every day of more innocent civilians, especially children, being killed by rockets, drones and gunfire. The homeland of Jesus Christ has been raised to the ground by Israeli attacks. They will say they are rooting out Hamas fighters but the figures speak for themselves. There is absolutely no justification for what is going on. The same thing is happening in other parts of the world where there are wars mainly because somebody wants to gain or retain power. Why did Putin invade Ukraine? The reason he gave to his own people is that Ukraine was controlled by Neo-Nazis and he was saving the world from a repeat of the second world war. In Russia this is the only version of events allowed to be broadcast despite the fact that there is no truth whatsoever in it. He yearns for the days of the Soviet Empire and wants to restore it. His attacks on Ukrainian cities is a war on civilians, an attempt to kill as many people as possible to break their will. If I was putting him into a camp it would definitely be on the Devil’s side. Unfortunately, he is not alone. The world is full of dictators who have no problem murdering and maiming their own people to hang onto power. Those who support them with finance or military equipment are just as culpable. A blind eye is turned to many atrocities if a country has oil reserves or something else that’s valuable or is a friend in a strategic area. Apart from wars we have the attempts at mass murder by young people with rifles in America, the latest one just last week. What causes somebody to try and shoot as many as possible? It is difficult to fathom but it is not difficult to try and stop it. It is easier for a young person in America to buy a gun than an alcoholic drink or tobacco. How man more must die before they come to their senses and ban guns altogether. Most of the world prohibits the use of firearms by civilians and there isn’t much gun crime as a result. Then we have the abuse of pupils, here ay home, by teachers, most of them religious, in schools all over the country over the past few decades. It is difficult to comprehend how men of God could act in such a despicable way and how their superiors covered it all up just to protect the Church. There are so many more examples of evil I could include but I would need a much bigger newsletter to include it all. Sufficient to say that maybe in that big conflict in heaven long ago, the Devil wasn’t really the loser and has far more influence on the world today than the God of love. On the other hand we have many, many people who do great work in the world for no personal gain. I think about the doctors, nurses and other medical professionals who risk their own lives every day in war zones to help the sick and the wounded, the volunteers who do the “soup runs” every night to give sustenance to the down and outs who populate all the major cities in the world and the great work done by some religious orders who built hospitals and schools all over the world. Yes, many of the orders have transgressed but we must never tar them all with the same brush. The battle between good and evil goes on but evil will only win if we allow it to. It is up to all of us to call out injustice when and where we see it. Evil will prosper if good people do nothing. It is my fervent hope that things will change, maybe not overnight, but over a long period of time. We have to hang onto hope because without it all we have is despair.
Church Notices
Parish Pastoral Unit (Athea/ Abbeyfeale/ Mountcollins/ Templeglantine/ Tournafulla).
Canon Tony Mullins 087 2600414, Fr. Willie Russell 087 2272825, Fr. Denis Mullane 087 2621911.
Masses this week- Tuesday morning 9.30am and Thursday evening 7pm.
Eucharistic Adoration and The Devine Mercy Chaplet on Tuesday morning after mass.
Mass Intentions: Saturday Sept. 14th at 7.30pm: Mary Casey O’Sullivan (USA/Upp.Athea), Jack Casey & Sr. Eileen Casey. Peg O’Keeffe & Timmy. Patrick Hayes, Bill & Mary Hayes, Tom Hayes, Tommy Danaher & Johnny Collins. Mary & William Broderick
All masses are streamed live on https://www.churchservices.tv/athea
Baptisms take place on the fourth weekend of the month. Parents who wish to baptise their child in the next few months should contact Siobhan on 087-3331459.
Farewell to Fr. Tony Next Saturday night (Sept 14th) is Fr. Tony’s last weekend mass with us. We will be making a presentation to him and we invite you to the Con Colbert Memorial Hall after mass for a cuppa and a fitting send off. If you would like to contribute to a collection in his honour, please pick up an envelope at the church or local businesses and return on/before Sept 14th during any mass or contact the parish office for further details. 087-3331459
Parish Administration: Tues-Fri 11am-1pm. call Siobhan on 087-3331459, outside of these hours text or email [email protected] Facebook: Athea Parish Church Community
Athea Community Council
Lucky Numbers Draw 09/09/2024
No’s Drawn: 3, 8, 9, 30. No Winner
Lucky Dips
Aggie Barrett, Mrk. Park
Leo & Eilish, Athea
Ned White, Athea
Nora Matthews, Athea
Sellers Prize: Damien Ahern & White’s Bar
Next Draw: 16/09/’24 Venue: Brown Joe’s
Jackpot €22,500