Mass Bookings.
The booking of anniversary masses for the months of January, February and March will take place after both masses next weekend December 9th and 10th. If you have a First anniversary mass or Months mind mass due within these months please contact Linda Spillane 087-9838392 before the bookings so that you can get your prefered date.
Coffee Morning
Our local community alert group will host a coffee morning on Sunday December 10th from 10am to 12 noon in Ballyduff Community Centre. All proceeds on the day will go to the very worthy Touching Hearts charity. I have heard on the grapevine that there will be many special guests dropping in on the day and I have even overheard that the main man of the season Santa Claus himself has contacted the group and asked if he can come along. Come along and enjoy a nice hot cuppa and a chat and a laugh with old friends and new.
If you would like to help the group by baking a few little treats for the occasion they would be very grateful indeed. If you are willing to help please let one of the committee know or you can let me know and I will happily pass on the message for you.
Bridge News.
The Ballyduff/Portlaw bridge group meet in Ballyduff N.S every Monday night and the results of the latest game are as follows:
1st: Kathleen Collins and Brenda Cummins
2nd: Mary Kennedy and John Fitzpatrick
3rd: Mary Flahavan and Anne Kennedy
4th: Mary O Brien and Ann Cox.
Birthday Boy
Heartiest congratulations and birthday wishes to Pat Hennessy, Dooneen and of course of Hennessys Garage fame who recently celebrated his 70th birthday. I have heard rumours of many celebrations and I am reliably informed that the partying hasn’t stopped. We hope Pat enjoyed his day with his family and friends and wish many more happy birthdays.
Festive Evening
St. Nicholas parish choir invite you to join them on Wednesday December 13th at 7.30pm in Ballyduff church for a candlelit concert of seasonal carols for Christmas. The night will include some seasonal readings and festive carols. The choir are delighted to announce that they will be joined on the night by soprano Lupita De Bhaill. Damien O Brien will be the pianist for the evening and will be joined on the night by musicians Rebecca McCarthy Kent on violin, Ger Dower on flute and Liam Daly on horn.
Admission will be free on the night but there will be collection at the interval with all proceeds going to the Touching Hearts charity. After the concert refreshments will be served in the community centre.
This is always a lovely evening and a perfect way to start the Christmas season so treat yourself to a relaxing night of music and song.
Starstruck Theatre Production.
Starstruck Theatre School will host their production of Cinderella in Ballyduff Community Centre on Thursday December 7th, Friday 8th and Saturday 9th at 7pm each night. Tickets are €10 for adults and €8 for children. A family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) costs €30 and all tickets are available on the night. This production consists of boys, girls and young teenagers from the Ballyduff/ Kilmeaden areas and promises to be a great show of drama, dancing and singing so come along and enjoy the show.
November Masses
Our special Wednesday night masses for the Holy Souls have now ended and a big thank you to all who attended and all who placed offerings in the box. The last of these masses was offered especially for those who died during the past 12 months and this was a beautiful ceremony in which a lighted candle was placed at the altar for each of the 44 people named on the list. The choir enhanced the occasion beautifully and the readings and prayers were read by some of the peoples family members while 4 very special children and grandchildren brought forward the gifts. We hope that the friendship and togetherness on the night will give some comfort to all those who mourn.
21st Birthday Wishes
I know you will join with me in sending very happy 21st birthday wishes to my good friend Sean Ryan in Gortaclode. I have no doubt that his mam Carmel and all the family made sure he celebrated in style and actually he is probably still celebrating. I havent had a chance to give him his birthday kiss yet but I’ll make it my business to catch up with him. We wish Sean many more happy birthdays.
Church Dates
As we make all the preparations for Christmas we must also remember to prepare ourselves spiritually. A service of reconciliation will take place during both masses on Saturday December 16th at 7.30pm and on Sunday December 17th at 10am. Both priests will be in attendance at both masses.
Over the past several decades on the Third Sunday of Advent people would bring their Baby Jesus figures from their cribs to St. Peters Square where the Pope would bless both the people and the figures. This became known as Bambinelli Sunday and we will celebrate it this year in Ballyduff at the 10am mass on Sunady December 17th. You are invited to bring along your baby Jesus figures from your crib for a special blessings. There will also a blessing of all children on the day.