Masses for 8-13 November: Windgap: Monday, 9.30 am; Friday, 9.30 am
Tullahought, Thursday, 7.30 pm
Windgap: Readers: 31 Oct. Rita Phelan; 7 Nov. Caoimhe O'Shea; 14 Nov. Martin O'Shea; 21 Nov. Michelle O'Brien; 28 Nov. Sean Foley; 5 Dec. Larry O'Shea
Eucharistic Ministers: Oct., 31, Ann O'Shea; Nov. 7, Breda O'Shea; 14, Margaret Mackey; 21, Joan Watter; 28, Liz Jackson.
Tullahought: Eucharistic Ministers: Leo Conalty; Patricia Power; Mary Walsh; Eileen Grace.
November List for the Dead: Please leave your list in the basket on the altar. They will be remembered in the masses celebrated during the month.
THE JOHN SMYTH MEMORIAL TRACTOR RUN in aid of Windgap N.S.and the Kilkenny Home Care Team takes place on Saturday 14th November at 12 noon in Windgap; entrance fee €20 per tractor; to book a tractor ring 0872527722 or just turn up on the day with tractor. At the stop in Killamery refreshments will be provided and an auction and raffle will take place; the tractors will return to Windgap via Oldcastle passing by John Smyth’s house. Those wishing to donate home produce - buns, cakes, vegetables, jams, etc for the event, should leave same in Windgap Hall by 11am on Sat. 14th November.
Right4UFitness – Windgap Parish Hall Hall, 10.30 am; 8 weeks to get fit for Christmas from Wed., 11 Nov. & every Wed. thereafter. Ladies only. All fitness levels welcome. Kettlebells, dumbbells, steps & mats will be used. Classes will work through 3 components of fitness - cardio/muscular endurance (tone & strength) & flexibility. You pay as you go – so turn up & join in; bring mat & bottle of water. Enquiries to Emer (086)3743763.
Annual Fair Camphill, Kyle – change of date: The Annual Fair of the Camphill Community, Kyle, Coolagh, will take place on Sunday, 15th November 2015, from 1pm to 5pm. Crafts, Wheel of Fortune, Children’s games & activities, vegetable stall, live music etc.
Knit and Stitch Show in RDS: A Bus will be travelling to the Knit and Stitch Show in the RDS on Thursday, November 12th. Cost, €30, including entry fee.
St. Brigid’s College, Callan 5k Fun Run: Sun 8th Nov at 12.30. Registration from 10.30 am. Beat radio are hosting the event with giveaways, face painting and promotions, etc..
Irish Catholic: Please note the price of Irish Catholic has been raised to €1.80.
November Offerings: A Gentle Reminder that the November Offerings are now due.
Mount Carmel Open Day: Mt. Carmel is holding its Annual Open Day on Sunday 15th Nov. 2-5pm; with music, refreshments, raffle etc.; admission €2; the McCarthy Cup will be there with some of Kilkenny heroes reliving their experiences ar páirc na himeartha.
Coolagh Cards & Raffle: Pre-Christmas card games for hams and hampers get under way in Coolagh Hall on Thur. 17 Nov. and continue each Thursday night until Christmas.
Jubilee Year of Mercy: Talks in St. Patrick’s Parish Centre, 7.30 p.m. each night: Wed. 11th Nov. Fr. Albert McDonnell – “the new, less cumbersome marriage annulment process as ‘justice tempered with the sweetness of mercy’”; Wed.18 Nov. Fr. Sean McDonagh – “Pope Francis’ Encyclical on caring for the environment ‘Laudato SI’”; admission free.
Course for current and new Readers: St. Patrick’s Centre. Loughboy, 7.30 pm, Tues. 24 Nov. & Tues. 1st Dec.. The same course is being offered in Mullinavat Church at 7.30 pm Mon. 23 & 30th Nov. and Ballyragget Church: Wed. 25 Nov. & 2 Dec..
St. Mary’s Cathedral Fundraising: Monster Auction will be held on 29th November, in O’Loughlin Hall. Advertisements for the auction book and lots for sale are being sought costing €100 for full page, €60 half page and €40 quarter page. Concerts are planned for 2016 in Langton’s, John Street, Kilkenny, on 19 February, 15 March, 28 April and 18 May.
Free Electrical Recycling Day - Weee Ireland¬ www.recyclefree.ie - Carrick on Suir Fair Green Car Park (side of Library), Sat., 21 Nov. from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm TVs, Aerials / Microwaves /IT Equipment / Dishwashers / Fridges / Freezers / Power tools / Battery operated toys / Kettles, Toasters / batteries.
Special Collection: Sincere thanks for your continuing support for the Special Collection.
Priests of Windgap: Dr Richard Mansfield: was born in Rathbeagh (Lisdowney) or its immediate neighbourhood in 1744 and is said to have been the nephew of Mark Mansfield, P.P. Danesfort. He was ordained by Bishop Burke at Edward Staunton’s house in Leggetsrath, on 28 May 1768. He then went to France to the College of Nantes to read the usual five year course in Philosophy and Theology. It was customary at the time to ordain men before sending them to the continent to study so that they would be able to support themselves with mass offerings. Having completed his studies he was ordained but stayed in University of Nantes where he was for many years professor of Theology. He returned to Ireland about 1780 and was appointed parish priest of Muckalee. He was appointed parish priest of Windgap and Dunnamaggin on 15 November 1783. He was made Canon of Kilmanagh on 5 December 1783 and Chancellor of the diocese around 1790. When Bishop John Dunne visited the parish in 1788 Dr Mansfield gave the following account of what was in each of his chapels: “one blue vestment with linnen, altar stone and chalice etc. at the Chappel of Dangenmore, and one green vestment with linnen, altar stone and chalice at the chapel of Windgap, with a Missal belonging to each Chappel”.
Dr Mansfield was president of the diocesan college in Kilkenny from 1791-93. He was appointed to this post by Bishop Lanigan to oversee the beginning of a seminary course in the college, The course which began in 1792 was the first such course in Ireland after the repeal of some of the penal laws. He probably kept a watching brief over Windgap and Dunnamaggin from Kilkenny while curates looked after the spiritual needs of the parishioners. He returned to full duty in 1793.
Dr Mansfield was appointed Dean of Ossory in 1811. He was appointed Vicar Capitular after the death of Bishop Lanigan in 1812 and governed the diocese until the appointment of Kyran Marum (a native of Galmoy) as bishop in 1814. During his time in charge he became embroiled in a dispute with Fr Morrissey in Owning over the building of a new chapel in Templeorum. The dispute became very heated with Dr Mansfield favouring the building of a chapel that would cost £3,000 (the present chapel in Templeorum), while Fr Morrisey favoured a smaller chapel costing only £600. Dr Mansfield continued as vicar general and dean of the diocese under Bishop Marum. He was translated to the parish of Gowran and Clara in Aug. or Sept. 1815 but returned to Windgap and Dunnamaggin in March 1818.
Dr Mansfield seems to have lived at first in the townland of Shrughavadda - in a house occupied in 1890 by Mrs Crowley – but later moved to the house built in Kilmoganny by his predecessor Dr Phelan (now St. Joseph’s Home). He died in this house in Kilmoganny on 13 September 1826 in his 82nd year and was buried in Windgap chapel. After his death Windgap and Dunnamaggin, which had been united since the 1620s, were divided into separate parishes.