Booking of Masses
If you would like to book an anniversary mass for your loved one during the months of January, February or March then bookings will take place after both masses this weekend Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th. If you have a First Anniversary or Months Mind during these months then please contact Linda Spillane before the bookings so that you can get your prefered date. You can contact Linda on 087-9838392 or spillanelinda2017@gmail.com
Tractor Run
A big well done to all involved in the organising and running of the recent Pat Whelan Memorial Tractor Run in aid of The Mater Foundation Heart and Lung Transplant Unit. Over 170 vehicles took part on the day and many took part in the Monster raffle and auction afterwards. I know many people from our area travelled over to take part and a grand total of €11,415 was raised. This was a huge success and great praise must go to the organisers and all who took part.
Carols for Christmas
St. Nicholas’s church choir would like to invite you all to join them for a wonderful night of song and music
to welcome in the festive season. On Wednesday December 11th at 7.30pm our local choir will perform some beautiful carols and will also be joined by some fantastic guests on the night, pianist Damien O Brien, flautist Ger Dowyer, Liam Daly on French Horn and the Dulcet Vocal Trio. Admission to the event is free but during the interval a collection will be taken up in aid of The Solas Centre. I dont have to tell any of you about the wonderful work that The Solas Centre do not only for patients but for their families. The support and comfort they give to people is second to none and so we ask that you be as generous as possible.
This concert promises to be a night of beautiful music, song and harmonies. Come along and sit and relax and enjoy the festive feast of carols.
Community Alert News.
Our local community alert group invite you all to join them as they get ready to celebrate the Christmas season. On Sunday December 15th the talented duo Teddy and Cathal Barry will provide the music for an afternoon of social dancing in Ballyduff Community Centre from 2pm to 5pm. You are all invited to come along and please tell all your friends. This event is open to all, you don’t have to be from our area, the only requirement is that you know to have fun. Some light refreshments will be served so you can sit and enjoy a chat over a nice cuppa and some nibbles.
After a fun afternoon of dancing, our community alert group will host their final meeting of 2019 on Monday December 16th at 8pm. The group are delighted to welcome guest speaker Jamie O Keeffe along to the meeting and he will give a short presentation on local history including some wonderful photos. Jamie’s Facebook page “Butlerstown and Kilmeaden History and Photo Archive” is hugely popular and the group are delighted that Jamie can come along to the meeting and share his story. Please spread the word and encourage friends and neighbours to come along and support your local Community Alert Group. The group continue to go from strength to strength and provide great security and piece of mind within our area. It is important that we all work together to keep our area safe for all its residents and visitors.
Church News
As we approach the Christmas season we are all busy making sure we are prepared, presents are bought, cards are written and dinner is planned but are we prepared inwardly for the beautiful season of Christmas. To help us prepare spiritually a Christmas penitential service will take place during both masses on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th . Both priests will be at both masses and during the mass you simply come forward and tell the priest a fault or worry that is on your mind and receive absolution and piece of mind for Christmas. This is a beautiful ceremony and a good way to wipe the slate clean, turn back to God and enter the Christmas season with a fresh outlook.
The third Sunday of Advent is also known as Bambinelly Sunday. This is an old Italian custom which is spreading around the world and we here in our parish will honour the custom. On the weekend of Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th you are invited to bring the infant figure from your crib along to mass where the priest will give them a special blessing.
GAA News
The U15 Deise Og Footballers recently attended a presentation of medals and jerseys in honour of them winning the Dermot Early Plate in 2019. Beating Westmeath in the final this young team deserve great praise and of course it is a very proud moment for one local family as Jack O Donnell was a vital member of the team. His family and club are extremely proud of him.
A reminder to the many wonderful people who contributed to our development funding by opting to pay by yearly instalments that the second instalment is now due. Please contact the member you paid your first instalment to and they will sort out the second for you. The development would not have been possible without your generosity so the club would like to thank you very much.
Ballyduff AFC
Mark your diary for Friday December 20th when Ballyduff AFC will host a childrens disco in Ballyduff Community Centre from 7pm to 9pm. Entrance fee is €5 per child. Come along and join in the fun and start off the school holidays having fun with your friends.
The club would like to congratulate Sophie Power U13 and Zoe Spinks U15 who both made the Waterford Development Squads. Both girls deserve this just reward after a brilliant season with the club.