Christmas Masses.
Our church always looks very beautiful but it is most certainly breathtaking decorated for the Christmas season, the glistening of the lights on the Christmas tree, the poster depicting the Nativity scene, the serenity of the crib, glorious flower and candle arrangements and counting us down into the season A A. E our beautiful Advent wreath. All these things do not just appear by chance so a huge word of thanks to all the volunteers who give their time and creativity to making sure our church looks so wonderful. A big word of thanks must go however go to our sacristan Ann Nolan who week after week tends to our church as if it was her own home. She takes care of all the daily and weekly needs and has everything in place for every ceremony. We are all very grateful to her for her devotion and dedication to the church.
Please God many of you will be able to welcome family home for Christmas and so masses have been spread out over Christmas week, to ensure that everyone is kept safe and all restrictions are followed. Any of these masses will suffice as your Christmas mass and all will have h same identical readings, prayers, music etc. The following is a list of the masses and we thank Fr. Richard and Fr. Mick for keeping everyone’s safety so important.
Monday December 20th at 10am
Tuesday December 21st at 7.30pm
Wednesday December 22nd at 7.30pm
Thursday December 23rd at 7.30pm
Friday Christmas Eve at 7.30pm
Saturday Christmas Day at 9.30 am and 10.30am
Sunday St. Stephens Day at 10am
Week day masses for the week after Christmas will be at 11am.
Fr. Richard and Fr. Mick have asked me to wish each and every one of you the peace and happiness of Christmas. They thank you for your cooperation throughout the year and ask you to continue to keep yourself and those around you safe. They will be keeping you all in their prayers and ask for you to remember them in yours.
Christmas Wedding.
The Majestic Hotel in Tramore was the venue chosen for the beautiful wedding of Sally O Brien and Michael Power. This happy couple were determined to have their special day and so despite all the obstacles put in front of them because of Covid and having to cancel their plans several times, they finally got to gather their family and friends together to watch them exchange their wedding vows. Sally is a native Ballyduff girl and is the daughter of the famous Tommy and Mary O Brien while Michael hails from the Fantastic Fenor. This lovely couple have been sweethearts since their teen years and so their wedding day was very special to them and also to their daughter Ruby who celebrated her 12th birthday the day before. I got to have a sneaky look at a few photos from the day and everyone looked so beautiful and handsome with Sally’s parents Tommy and Mary looking like Hollywood stars. We wish this happy couple all the love and happiness that life has to offer and may they and daughter Ruby have a wonderful happy life together.
Recent Engagement
Another young couple have taken that all important step towards marriage by announcing their engagement. Local man Gary Flynn from Adamstown asked that all important question to his girlfriend Yvonne Power from Tramore . This happy couple have also been sweethearts for a number of years and I know that their families are delighted to hear their great news and are looking forward to their plans for the future. We wish them all the very best and wish them a long and happy future together.
Tom Power Ardeenlone
You may remember me telling you about the death of Tom Power from Ardeenlone last week and how he and his family were a very important part of our community and parish life. I was delighted to receive some more information about Tom and I wanted to share it with you. Tom was born on December 1st 1930 to his parents Michael Joe Power and Agnes Queally. He was baptised in Ballyduff Church on the same day he was born and this began his lifelong devotion to his church and parish. He lived a happy life in Ardeenlone with his siblings Mary Jo, Cathy, Philly, Michael, William and Peter . He had a great love of the land and farmed all his life with Philly and his brothers, always loving to have good cattle. As I have mentioned before the Power family were wonderful people to attend mass and never missed a funeral. Tom and his brothers loved Gaelic games and would often speak of the great Waterford teams of the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. Tom also liked a pint or two in Haughtons and in Louis Dunne’s in later times. Tom was also a lovely singer and when he got his copy of the Irelands Own he would give a song or two. Tom is the last of the Power family of Ardeenlone but they will never be forgotten.
As I arrived at mass last week Fr. Mick called me into the sacristy to show me the wonderful photo, The Power family had gifted to the church. This is a photo of Fr. Tom Hearne who was a granduncle of the Powers and was priest here for many years. He was also the man who had the bell tower built in our church. This is a fantastic photo to have especially since our church will next year celebrate its 200th birthday. It will be proudly displayed for all to see.
Christmas Wishes
As this will be the final publication before Christmas I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas. I know it has been a very strange and hard year but we should bring to the forefront of our minds all the good things in our lives. We have much to be grateful for and this year has shown us all that tomorrow is not promised to any of us and that being kind and receiving kindness in return is wonderful. I count myself very lucky always to be surrounded by a fantastic family, wonderful friends and I have never made any secret of the fact that I love my community and where I live. I am always aware that I am one of the fortunate ones and that there are many who dread the arrival of Christmas because it brings back painful memories of loss,worry, stress and much more. I ask you all to do your best to be that glimmer of light in people’s lives, pick up the phone and make that call or send that text that you keep meaning to do, bake that cake and drop it around, open your heart and listen. See the beauty and wonder of the season in your children’s and grandchildren’s eyes, smile and receive smiles, love and receive love and above all give yourself a break, don’t be hard on yourself, you are allowed to smile and be happy and you are allowed to let those tears flow if you want, you won’t be the only one.
I thank all the contributors to these notes and look forward to working with you all again in 2022. Thank you all for all the lovely comments I receive and if you wish to have something put in the notes or want to pass on any ideas or if you just fancy contacting me then you can on 087-9838392 or spillanelinda2017@gmail.com
May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve