by Kathleen Mullane
MAKE ATHEA GLITTER —DON’T LITTER
Well its been a very Busy week in and around our little parish over the Easter period. The weather wasn’t as good as it had been the previous week but saying that it wasn’t too bad and could have been much worse. The Easter ceremonies began on Holy Thursday night with the Washing of the Feet Ceremony and Adoration until Midnight. Good Friday saw the Team Limerick Clean up and all over the County families were out picking up the rubbish so carelessly thrown out by people. It was a wet day unfortunately however everyone braved the rain and went out and about the various roads and depositing the bags at the GAA pitch which were collected by Mr Binman that evening. Actually Limerick is the only County in Ireland with a Team Clean Up, its hoped maybe in the near future to have clean up teams all over Ireland from Malin to Mizen Head ,with teams on every Good Friday . Holy Saturday had the lighting of the Pascal Candle outside the Church at Dusk and everyone renewed their Baptismal Vows on the night.
The Dawn Mass on Sunday again took place at Holy Cross at 5.30 am with a great crowd present and thankfully not a drop of rain fell .Pat Higgins brought one of his Lambs for the Ceremony, a Symbol of Easter ,which was indeed a lovely thing. The final Mass of the Easter Celebration was on Sunday at 11 am with a very big crowd present and the many visitors present were enthralled by the ceremony . Mike Hayes actually read out the beautiful piece that Pope Francis had recently written while he was ill in Hospital as a Reflection at this Mass. Little did everyone know that we would hear of Pope Francis passing not too long after. Actually I read it in Fr Brian Darcy’s column in the Sunday World this week and its well worth contemplating and makes food for thought ,in these strange times. Anyway a huge congrats to our Clergy who we are blessed to have, to our marvellous Sacristans, to our Choir, to all those who helped out in organising all the various Ceremonies, everyone who Volunteered in any way at all to make our Easter so special , everyone who visits Athea admires the different scenes on our Altar for the various times of the year , of course the floral displays and, in case I’ve left anyone or anything out you know yourself your Contribution doesn’t go unnoticed . So well done one and all and we look forward to what’s next to come . And hopefully the school kids will get a bit of Sunshine this week before they return to school for the last term and Exams for the Secondary students ,another school year nearly gone again .
Thought for the Week
LIFE MOVES PRETTY FAST. If You Don’t Stop And Look Around Once In A While ,you Could MISS IT.