CHURCH: Happy Christmas to all. Best Wishes to all. It’s been a time for me of settling in and thank you all for your support and patience. I pray that 2022 brings us all abundant Blessings and a new horizon for Moyvane Knockanure Parish. Happy Season!! Fr. Brendan.
In case of an Emergency, Weekday Evening Rota starts at 5pm on the day to 9am the next day For Listowel/Moyvane/Lixnaw/Duagh Monday and Wednesday, Fr. Anthony O’Sullivan 087-2461749
Tuesday and Saturday, Fr. Declan O’Connor 087-0908949; Thursday and Friday, Fr. Brendan Carmody 087-9601549.
RADIO Transmission as you may know was damaged in the storm. The engineer has promised to fix it but for various reasons, it is unlikely to be in working order for some time. Apologies for the inconvenience. Please note the Parish Office will be closed from Thursday 23rd Dec. and will reopen Tuesday 4th Jan.’22.
BOOKS of Condolences in Church of the Assumption, Moyvane, and Corpus Christi, Knockanure, in remembrance of Fr. Kevin. Rest in peace Fr. Kevin. Fr. Kevin will be reposing in the Church of the Assumption, Moyvane on Sunday evening, 26th December (St. Stephens Day) from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm. https://www.facebook.com/
TRAFFIC disruption and delays due to works continuing on Bridge Road, Listowel, is forcing travellers to take various diversions, some along narrow back roads and others diverting through Abbeyfeale. Many complain that the trip through Listowel, now takes 30 minutes longer.
DEATH on Tuesday 21st December 2021, of Fr. Kevin Mc Namara of Killarney, Kerry / Cooraclare, Clare. Son of the late Mary and Tom and survived by his sister Geraldine Condren, his brother-in-law Dave, niece Niamh, nephew Caimin, his extended family, neighbours, the Bishop and Priests of the Diocese of Kerry, Conferees in the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, his parishioners in Glenflesk and a wide circle of friends. Fr Kevin reposing in St. Agatha’s Church, Glenflesk on Sunday 26th December 2021 from 10.00am to 12 noon and in the Church of the Assumption, Moyvane on Sunday evening from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm. Requiem Mass on Monday, 27th December in St. Senan’s Church, Cooraclare at 2.00 pm, burial afterwards in Dromelihy Cemetery.
Bishop Ray Browne expressed the shock and sadness on the death of Fr Kevin: There is widespread shock and sadness at the sudden death of Fr. Kevin McNamara, parish priest of Glenflesk. Currently he was parish priest of Glenflesk, having served previously in Kenmare, Killarney , Rathmore and Moyvane. Fr. Kevin was in hospital for a number of days, when Tuesday morning he suddenly took ill and died. Fr Kevin was a man of huge energy and colour. We all regret his passing. Rest in peace, Fr. Kevin. Fr Kevin was born in 1955 in Cooraclare Village in Co. Clare. He was ordained as a Missionary of the Sacred Heart in 1981. He joined the diocese of Kerry in 2004 and spent a short while in Kenmare. Killarney was his next parish in July of that year. Rathmore followed in 2012 till 2015 when he moved to Moyvane. His current parish was Glenflesk. Fr. Kevin was a gifted writer and communicator. He put great work into his parish newsletters. See more on diocese of Kerry site.
DEATH of Sr. Colette Stafford (Mercy Sister) Mercy Convent Balloonagh and our Lady of Fatima Home and formerly of Wellington Street Waterford City. Funeral arriving to Our Lady & St. Brendan’s Church, Tralee on Monday 27th December at 10.30 o’clock where the Requiem Mass for Sr. Colette will be celebrated at 11 o’clock (streamed on www.stbrendansparishtralee.net ). Interment afterwards in New Rath Cemetery, Tralee. Dear daughter of the late Patrick & Alice (Fennell) and sister of the late Joan, Lily, Maureen & Sr. Philomena (Mercy Convent- South Africa). Sadly missed by the Mercy Sisters and her cousins, relatives and friends.
ANNIVERSARIES: Michael Flannigan, Bea Galvin, Michael Moore, Julia McCarthy, Der O’Connor, Cathy Scannell, Jackie McNamara, Breda Enright, John Joe Hanrahan, Sr. Magdalene Harnett, Paddy Curtin, Tom Enright, Maureen Egan, Irene O’Keeffe, Fr. Brendan Dalton, Peg O’Shea, Sr. Felicitous Joy, Sr. Noella Crowley, Fr. James Hannon, Margaret Beardsley,
MASS; Sat.25th Dec.’21 Knockanure for Christmas Day at 9.30am, and Mass Moyvane for Private Intention at 11.00am; Sun.26th Dec.’21 Knockanure for People of the Parish at 9.30am, and mass
Moyvane for Ned and Maureen Sheehy (Anniv.) Leitrim Middle 11.00am; Mon.27th Dec.’21 NO MASS in Church; Tues.28st Dec.’21 Moyvane a Private Intention at 10.00am and mass for Jerry Fitzmaurice (1st Anniv.) Lower Aughrim at 7.30pm; Weds.29th Dec.21 in Knockanure a Private Intention at 10.00am; Thurs.30th Dec.’21 Moyvane for Bridie Shine (Month’s Mind) at 10.00am;
Fri. 31st Dec.’21 Knockanure a Private Intention at 10.00am; Sat. 1st Jan.’22 Moyvane for Martin and Mary Mulvihill, (Anniv.) Leitrim East at 7.30pm; Sun. 2nd Jan.’22 Knockanure for Teresa & Michael Bambury (Anniv.) Gortagleanna at 9.30am, and mass Moyvane for Margaret O’Connor, Month’s Mind, Formerly Aughrim, Late of Coolaught at 11.00am.
CHRISTMAS Mass ; Listowel Christmas Eve, 4pm, 6pm, and 8pm; Christmad Day, 9am, 11.30am; Sunday 26th 9am, and 11.30am. Christmas Eve- Asdee @ 8pm- Ballybunion @ 7pm- Ballydonoghue @ 7.30pm-Ballylongford @ 7pm and Tarbert @ 6pm; Christmas Day- Asdee @ 9.30am- Ballybunion @ 11.30am- Ballydonoghue @ 11am- Ballylongford @ 10.30am, and Tarbert @ 11.30am; Sunday 26th Dec.- Asdee @ 9.30am- Ballybunion @ 11.30am – Ballydonoghue @ 11am – Ballylongford @ 10.30am, and Tarbert @ 11.30am.
ATHEA Christmas Eve mass, Friday Dec 24th: 4pm, 6pm and 8pm. Christmas Day, Saturday Dec 25th: 9am and 10.30am. St. Stephen’s Day, Sunday, Dec 26th 10.30am. All masses are streamed live on https://www.churchservices.tv/
FEAST of the Holy Innocents, the children who were put to death by King Herod as he attempted to kill the baby Jesus celebrated on Tuesday 28th Dec. 1st January is the Feast of Mary the Mother of God and is a day of special prayer for peace in the world.
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION Moyvane: Fun Run/Walk on St. Stephen’s Day. As a mark of respect, to Fr. Kevin, the Fun Run/Walk scheduled to take place on St. Stephen’s Day will NOT go ahead and will instead take place on Tuesday, December 28 at 12 noon. We have two routes, one is a 6km run around the local area or you have the option of a 3km walk. Registration from 11am until 11.50am at the Community Sports Hall, with the run/walk kicking off at 12noon, from the Community Sports Hall. There will be a prize for the best dressed runner and walker.
DUAGH LIVE CRIB: is open daily 11.00 a.m. to 9.00 p.m. thanks to Duagh Tidy Towns Committee. We ask you to adhere to all protective public health guidelines at the moment. All proceeds are in aid of local charities.
RACES at Ballyheigue Beach on Monday the 27th December 2021.
SWIM: New Year’s Day on Saturday 1st January 2022 “Connie Hartnett Memorial Swim” in aid of Milford Care Centre at the Ladies Beach Ballybunion at 1pm. Donations to www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/
ICA Writing a Short Story , entitled “The Window” max 2,000 words, closing date 28th January.
COMHALTAS: FleadhFest is an exciting initiative being undertaken by Comhaltas Units during 2021, in circumstances when normal Fleadh Cheoil activity is not possible. FleadhFest is the story of Comhaltas told from the point of view of each County and Province – the story of the people, community and culture which sustains our traditions of music, song, dance, storytelling and language, ensuring it is a living tradition which can be passed on to future generations. Watch at youtube.com/comhaltas
WRENBOYS: Due to Covid-19 restrictions the annual tradition of hunting the wren St. Stephen’s Day unfortunately will have to be curtailed for the second year in a row. However, the good news is the Carrigkerry Wrenboy Group, weather permitting, instead of their usual house to house visits have decided to perform outdoors at various locations on St. Stephen’s Day. Their opening performance will take place in Carrigkerry at 11.00 a.m. sharp, followed by Knockdown at approximately 12 noon. Kilcolman 1.00 p.m. Creeves Cross 2.15 p.m. Ardagh at 3.15 p.m. with a final performance in the Square, Newcastle West at approximately 4.15 p.m. recall past year’s Wrenboys, tune into West Limerick 102fm on Saint Stephen’s Day at 6pm, for a one hour and 15-minute programme on the history of the Glensharrold Wren Group from 1956 to 1998. The programme contains music song and story from the archives and from people who are no longer with us. It is researched by Tom Aherne and presented and produced by Shirley O’Regan. It is available also as a Podcast.
GRANTS are available for Community Development Committees. Apply before end of January.
RUN: St Stephen’s Day “Ballylongford Tidy Towns Fundraising Festive Run” Sunday December 26th. Registration, between 11am and 12noon on the day, starting time of 12noon.
ALONE manage a COVID-19 Support Line for Older People, a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). If you or someone you know needs support this Christmas, please call our National Support and Referral Line on 0818 222 024 from 8am – 8pm, seven days a week. ALONE operates 365 days a year so we will be there to take your call when you need us most.
ANAM Cara Kerry, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding its monthly Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Tuesday 11th January at 7:20pm in the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee.
HOLO- Museum, students can virtually visit museums across the world, see www. Holo-museum.com
BOOK: Castleisland District Heritage book, entitled John Twiss Judicial Murder in Castleisland.
The drawings and artworks featured in this book are the work of Noel Nash.
METERS: Kerry County Council to end coins at parking meters in 2022, switching to cashless and contactless payment system.
COVID: government and the HSE spent a total of €40m in taxpayer money on Covid-related advertising. Earlier today I had an unexpected chance to ask questions of Graham Medley, the chair of the Sage modelling committee. He’s a professor at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) which last weekend published a study on Omicron with very gloomy scenarios and making the case for more restrictions. But JP Morgan had a close look at this study and spotted something big: all the way through, LSHTM assumes that the Omicron variant is just as deadly as Delta. ‘But evidence from South Africa suggests that Omicron infections are milder,’ JP Morgan pointed out in a note to clients. Adjust for this, it found, and the picture changes dramatically:
“Bed occupancy by Covid-19 patients at the end of January would be 33% of the peak seen in January 2021. This would be manageable without further restrictions.
Ireland has the youngest population in Europe; according to the 2016 census, 13.4% of the population was over 65 years of age. The population has since increased by about 200,000 and now those over 65 years is about 14% at 696,000.
In Sweden, over-65 years olds constitute 19.9% of the population at 2,049,000.Therefore, in Sweden, there are about six more high-risk people per 100 of the population than in Ireland.
The mortality rate in over-65s is very similar in the two countries; 0.62% in Ireland and 0.61% in Sweden.
https://gript.ie/dr-martin-
COVID regulations are spreading the virus in practice in some cases. People are travelling while infected and often sick to get tested, when they should be in bed. They put others in danger transporting them, then when in town, they have to stock up with supplies and the people who have to isolate, having been close contacts, get bored at home and, many will go to a distant town to pass the time. The most vulnerable have died in many cases over the past year, and thousands have already got infected and are substantially immune and do not need another dose of the vaccine, while in poor countries, new variants are emerging, because we may be wasting the vaccine.
MUSIC: Over 55s in Kerry called on to take part in music project. Music Network and St John’s Theatre & Arts Centre, Listowel are inviting over 55s to work with the Marble Collective, featuring musicians Laoise O’Brien, Michael O’Toole, and Maria Ryan. Participants, who must have some experience of playing music, can apply to receive free tuition on either the recorder, violin, or guitar between March and May. The closing date is January 26th, and for more from musicnetwork.ie or phone 083 016 2718.
ATHEA Credit Union will closed on Thursday, December 23rd at 8.30pm and will reopen on Wednesday, January 5th.
CARERS: Affordable Live-in Homecare provides live-in Carers for the elderly in your area. If you are looking for a live-in Carer for your relative, please call Eileen or Tom on 087 991 6791 or 087 744 0729. Our website is www.alhomecare.ie
SAMARITANS can be contacted 7 days a wk, 24 hrs a day. Free Call 116123.
Connect free help line; 1800 477 477, or www.connectcounselling.ie
SUPPORT: Anam Cara Kerry, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, is holding it’s monthly Parent Evening for bereaved parents on Tuesday 11th January at 7:20pm in the Meadowlands Hotel, Tralee Co. Kerry. This event is free and open to all bereaved parents regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death, or whether their death was recent or not. *Subject to change in accordance with government advise. For more information, see anamcara.ie or call our Information Line on 01 4045378.
SVP will deliver 300 dinners with volunteers this Christmas Day. Many more elderly will have a lonely Christmas, due to restrictions and the loss of young people from countryside.
A GARDA road safety operation aimed at intoxicated drivers will run until January 4 2022.
COP 26; The Irish Solar Energy Association has welcomed environment minister, Eamon Ryan’s announcement on December 21th that a new Micro-generation Support Scheme framework is to be introduced. The government are giving E30,000 for Christmas Lights in Limerick. Limerick City and County Council will plant over 1000 trees across the city and county over 2-3 years. Comment; Planting trees near houses and footpaths is a dangerous practice. All Christmas advertising should carry a carbon footprint and health warning on their promotions.
MART: Listowel Mart reopens on 12th January.
CAUGHT: Up to the end of October, 947 people were caught using their mobile phones while driving in the Kerry Garda Division 2021.
NEW YEAR RESOLUTION: Exodus 90 is a spiritual exercise for men. Challenging 90-day period, 17th Jan – Easter Sunday, 2022. See Exodus 90.com to learn more. Zoom information event on Thursday, 6th January – 8.00pm. Meeting ID 4946259738. Passcode 997298
BE INFORMED: Please go to the Catholic Website www.formed,org/signup. Pick of the Week – The True Meaning of Christmas by Dr. Michael Barber.
TYPHOON Rai has claimed more than 200 lives since making landfall in the Visayas and Mindanao region, Philippine authorities said. In response to the disaster, Caritas Philippines appealed for cash donations to bolster its efforts to send emergency aid to the region. (The Tablet)
TRIBUTE to Father Kevin McNamara from Killarney Advertiser 21 December 2021.
We are sad to report that Fr Kevin McNamara has passed away suddenly earlier today.
Fr Kevin was appointed to the Glenflesk Parish in July after previously serving in Killarney, Rathmore and Kenmare, and had been in Moyvane for six years just before taking over at St Agatha’s Church.
Fr Kevin was very active in his short time in Glenflesk and as recently as last October ran a concert in the Gleneagle Hotel to raise funds to re-furbish Barraduff Church.
His passing was confirmed to the Killarney Advertiser by Fr Kieran O’Brien of the Killarney Parish.
He passed away in Cork this morning after a short spell in hospital. He was 65.
“We are numbed by the suddenness and shock of it all,” Fr Kieran told the Killarney Advertiser. “He was an active man, and a man in active ministry until he was hospitalised quite recently. He served in Killarney too and is well known in the community. He was full of enthusiasm for doing up Barraduff church. He was a very active priest and achieved an awful lot in his short time in Glenflesk.”
https://northkerry.wordpress.
TRIBUTE from Knockanure N.S site
It was with great shock and sadness that we learned of the sudden and untimely passing of Fr. Kevin. He was without doubt a unique priest who served his people well. His energy for and enthusiasm in his ministry will forever be remembered by the people in this parish. When he joined us in Scoil Chorp Chríost, Knockanure for celebrations such as First Holy Communion, Graduation masses, Grandparents’ Day etc. he made each service personal for one and all. He had a very generous heart.
We thank you Fr Kevin for the interest and energy you gave your 40 years of priesthood. We all thought that you would have had many more. You gave 40 years of sterling service. May you now have your eternal reward in Heaven, reunited with your parents, Mary and Tom.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh d’anam uasal, cneasta
VALENTIA Island Development Company Ltd has applied for planning to develop a museum, advance offices and increased parking at the former cable station site. In 1858, Valentia and Newfoundland were connected by an undersea transatlantic telegraph cable.
from the station, with a permanent connection established in 1866.
HISTORY: Sean McGillicuddy of Listowel following in the footsteps of his great-grandfather PJ Corbett, continues the 100 years tradition of his family as shopkeepers, his late father Jackie carefully nourished the business over his lifetime also.
DAIRY: China accounts for 20% of total global dairy imports, Irish production up 6%, overall European milk production has declined this year. Ireland’s strategic plan for the Common Agricultural Policy has received approval from Cabinet on December 21. Pat McCormack ICMSA president, said that the move by Cabinet “looked and felt premature across a range of issues”.
PEACE: The World Day of Peace — instituted by St. Paul VI in 1968 — is celebrated each year on Jan. 1, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The pope provides a message for the occasion, which is sent to foreign ministers around the world.
The pope’s message for the 2022 World Day of Peace, the 55th celebration, is entitled “Dialogue between generations, education, and work: tools for building lasting peace.”
In the text, Pope Francis outlined three “paths for building a lasting peace”: promoting dialogue between generations, investing in education, and improving labor conditions.
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM BISHOP RAY BROWNE:
No one has ever seen God; it is the only Son, who is nearest the Father’s heart,who has made him known. John 1:18
Dia dhiabh. Nollaig Shona dhiabh. The Son of God, the Almighty, the All -powerful, as helpless and dependent as a newborn baby. The pure love of the new-born baby Jesus proclaiming God’s eternal, unconditional love for the earth and all its peoples.
A word of thanks to all who through their work, their community and parish involvement, or their homes have responded so well to the great, great challenge presented by Covid. Again and again in the pandemic, we have seen the great love and selflessness of so many people, – all ages and all situations. You have been an inspiration to us all. Care for all people and care for the environment:
This year of Covid and of Cop26, the infant Jesus in the crib points to two appropriate Christmas responses: love and care for each other; love and care for our planet. More at
https://www.dioceseofkerry.ie/
LISTOWEL HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE 2022: We wish to confirm that flights have been confirmed – Departing from Dublin via Istanbul to Tel Aviv on 29th October 2022 and returning on the afternoon of Saturday, 5th November 2022. Turkish Airlines are holding the flights until 5th January at which point we have to pay a deposit. Total price €1,550.00 which includes bus to and from Listowel to Dublin. There are just a few places lest. More details from Premier Travel: 021-4277700.
THOUGHT: We need to make the family a confessional rather than a courtroom. A senior Judge of the Supreme Court congratulated the bride and groom in a marriage and gave them a pertinent piece of advice: “See that you never convert your family into a courtroom; instead let it be a confessional. If the husband-and-wife start arguing like attorneys in an attempt to justify their behaviour, their family becomes a court of law and nobody wins. On the other hand, if the husband and the wife — as in a confessional — are ready to admit their faults and try to correct them, the family becomes a Heavenly one.
https://wordpress.com/read/
For the fourth year running, the Vatican is hosting the ‘100 Nativity Scenes’ International Exhibition (Mostra dei 100 Presepi), bringing together over 100 cribs from across the world depicting the Nativity of the Lord.
(JTA) — Israel’s Health Ministry has recommended barring Israelis from traveling to the United States due to the outbreak of the Omicron coronavirus variant there. Health Ministry also recommended banning travel to Canada, Portugal, Turkey, Germany, Hungary, Morocco and Belgium.
WORLD Day of Prayer for Peace 1st Jan. 2021. New Moon Jan. 2. Public Holiday Jan 3rd and 4th.
1974-03-02 Irish People
IrishPP1974-03-02-003_page3
U.S. Immigrant Visas Show Slight Rise The Visa Office of the U.S. State Department has issued its annual report, a copy of which was recently forwarded to the American Irish Immigration Committee in New York. During fiscal year 1973 (from July 1972 to June 1973) 972 U.S. immigrant visas were issued in Ireland. This figure represents a slight rise over the 1972 figure when 881 visas were issued, but is far below the 1964 figure of 6,328 visas. That was the final year before the 1965 U.S. Immigration Law went into effect. The number of non-immigrant or visitor’s visas issued in Ireland in 1973 was 27,363, an increase of 2,000 over the 1972 figure. In 1964 only 8,307 visitor’s visas were issued to Irishmen. Allowing for the fact that improved economic conditions in Ireland allow for an increased number of tourists to the U.S., such a figure gives rise to speculation that a fair number of Irishmen are using the visitor visa circuit to attempt to enter the U.S. Recent legislation and administration changes should cut down on this means of entry in the near future. The top ten countries sending immigrants to the U.S. in 1973 were the Philippines (27,229), Korea (22,514), China (21,052), Italy (21,026), India (12,768), Greece (10,824), Portugal (10,790), Great Britain (10,003), Yugoslavia (7,905) and Germany (5,785).
https://indianamemory.
==============================
PAGE 12- THE IRISH PEOPLE- SATURDAY, MARCH 2,1974
IRISH FIRMS GO EAST
A joint deal to sell Erin Foods vegetables and machinery manufactured by the Irish Sugar Company in mid-East states is understood to, be in an advanced stage of negotiations. The agreement could be worth 1 million pounds in the first year alone. The talks have been going on for some months between Erin and a Government-backed Lebanese combine and the hopes are that a lucrative business will be opened up to Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and the Lebanon. Trial shipments of soup and dried vegetables have been exported to Lebanon. After a visit to the Sugar Company’s Carlow machinery plant by a trade delegation, a number of vegetable harvesters were purchased and more are on order.
https://indianamemory.
—————————
1986-09-20 Irish People- page12.
VIEW FROM ENGLAND Emigration On The Rise Again By MARTIN COLLINS Census results published in July confirm fears that the 26-county state is suffering a new rise of emigration. Figures released from the Central Statistics Office based on the April 13 census show that from a population of 3.5 million more than 30,000 people left the twenty-six counties in the previous year. As the book Getting Into America by US immigration lawyer Howard Deutsch topped the best-seller list in June, speculation is rife that within a couple of years, the level of emigration will match that of the Fifties, when 42,000 were leaving each year. The Canadian embassy in Dublin reports that between 300 and 400 pre-application immigration questionnaires are being handed in every month. Whereas in the Fifties, unemployment stood at 100,000, today the figure is up to 232,000. Even this figure is kept artificially low by temporary work schemes and youth training projects which mask underlying trends.
——————————
8 ways to plan an eco-friendly wedding
Easy ways to eliminate waste at your wedding
https://www.hellomagazine.com/
——————————
Socially-distanced carols
Music is a massive part of Christmas, but this year we’re going to have to get inventive to ensure we’re rockin’ around the Christmas tree safely. So why not rally your neighbours and organise a socially-distanced singalong? Each household can stand at their window, doorstep or balcony (with a tipple of their choice) and organisers can provide backing tracks on their phone or mini speaker, if available. It’s a great way of getting people in the festive mood and including those who usually suffer from loneliness at this time of year.
https://friendsoftheearth.uk/
Country Living
——————————
CONCERT Dec 2021; Sisters attend ‘The Priests’ concert in Belfast
Enda McMullan SSL
Neither Storm Barra nor the emergence of a new strain of the Covid virus could stop ‘The Priests’, aka Fathers Eugene and Martin O’Hagan, and David Delargy, bringing their first concert in two years to the Europa Hotel in Belfast.
Fr David Delargy gave a warm welcome to the many St Louis Sisters in the audience. Ann McCourt SSL was there with Ita Heatley McDonald and Bronagh Jemfrey, two key team members in her youth ministry. She thoroughly enjoyed the entire evening and said it was ‘a great treat’ for them.
Dympna O’Daly SSL who has known Fr David since 2002, when he succeeded her as chaplain in the University of Ulster at Jordanstown, had this to say of the evening, “I so enjoyed the concert. It was really beautiful, the fun, the joy, the banter, the lightness of it, the lovely harmonies, the solemnity of the Latin – it was wonderful.“ The Twelve Days of Christmas, which ‘The Priests’ sang as an encore, with its accompanying actions was “a real hoot altogether.” Sr Dympna said the evening really lifted her spirits and made Advent very special for her. She thanked Fathers Martin, Eugene and David for giving everyone such a wonderful night, saying, “It was just glorious“.
Sheila McGovern SSL, aged 91, was there with her niece Oonagh. There were times when she felt quite emotional as she enjoyed the programme. She said, “Hopefully we will be around for next year. It really makes Christmas for all of us.”
======================
REGAN: It was forty years ago, on Dec. 23, 1981, that Reagan gave perhaps the most Catholic Christmas address any president ever has. He began by quoting Chesterton — “the world will never starve for wonders, but only for the want of wonder” — and the topic was urgent, namely the defense of the liberty of a proud Catholic nation, Poland.
He professed his belief in the “divinity of the child born in Bethlehem, that he was and is the promised Prince of Peace.”
Then the president turned to the need for peace in a troubled world.
Reagan’s first year in office was a terrible year. Economic pain was still widespread. The president acknowledged that “for some Americans, this will not be as happy a Christmas as it should be.”
Speak Your Mind