Recent Death: Eileen O’Meara, Mullinahone & Windgap
Anniversaries: Windgap: Pauline Comerford, Lamogue;
John Phelan, Seskin
Tullahought: Mary & Edward Morrissey, Ballygowan
Mass Times (weekend):
Windgap: Saturday, 7.30 p.m.
Tullahought: Sunday, 10 a.m.
The Epiphany (6th Jan.):
Windgap: Tues., 5th, 7.30 p.m.
Tullahought: Wed., 6th, 10 a.m.
Windgap: Wed., 6th, 12 p.m. (for school)
Windgap: Readers: December: 26, Sean Foley; January: 2, Ann Foley; 9, Rita Phelan; 16, Caoimhe O’Shea; 23, Martin O’Shea; 30, Michelle O’Brien..
Eucharistic Ministers: December; 26. Joan Watters; January: 2, Liz Jackson.
Tullahought: Eucharistic Ministers: Leo Conalty; Patricia Power; Mary Walsh; Eileen Grace.
World Youth Day 2016, Kracow, Poland, July 2016. Pope Francis will attend. Ossory Diocese is inviting young people (over 18 years) to attend; contact wyd@ossory.ie or Fr Richard Scriven (rscriven2009@gmail.com / 087 2420033) or Derek Dooley (087 938 4242).
New Year: In Ireland 1 January was not counted as New Year’s Day until it was designated as such by law in 1751. Up to then the legal year began on 25 March (and in England but not in Scotland which had 1 January). New Year’s Eve was known as Oíche na Coda Móire (the night of the big portion) because of the belief that eating a very large supper on that night ensured food aplenty for the coming year. There were other unusual customs associated with New Year’s Eve. At the beginning of the 18th century there were at least 35 holydays of obligation in Ireland (not counting the local patrons or parish celebrations – the local patterns). The first of January - the feast of the circumcision of Christ - was one of these holydays of obligation.
Epiphany: The name Epiphany comes from the Greek evpifa,neia [epiphaneia] which means manifestation or appearance or epiphany. The feast refers to the manifestation of the Christ child to the representatives of the Gentiles – the wise men from the east in ch. 2 of Matthew’s gospel. The Greek word for the wise men in the gospel is ma,goi, [Latin magi] which means wise men or astrologers. They are described as coming from the east (avpo. avnatolw/n/apo anatolón). In a 6th century Latin tradition the wise men are called Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. Later they are depicted as kings (dei heilige drei Könige), and Cologne Cathedral claims to have their relics. The feast of the epiphany has a long and complex history going back probably to the 4th century. It is commonly known in Ireland as “Little Christmas” and in Irish as “Nollaig na mBan” perhaps because cake, tea & wine were more in evidence than on Christmas Day (marked by beef and whiskey – men’s fare!). There is an Irish proverb associated with it “Oíche na dTrí Rithe ‘Sea deintear fíon den uisce”; it links the night of the three kings to the miracle at Cana. An old custom that was once widespread in Ireland was the lighting of candles on this night.
Westcourt News: January Mass for the blessings and for the canonisation of Blessed Edmund Rice will take place in Westcourt on Monday 4 January at 7.30 p.m.. Callan Active Retirement is hosting the Mass. All are welcome. Br. Damien wishes all in Windgap athbhliain faoi mhaise.
Vocations: January 3, 2016 - The light of Christ shines upon you. How will you share that light with others? Consider the gift of a vocation to the priesthood. If you think God is calling you to priesthood, call Fr. Willie Purcell Ossory Vocations Director. 056 7770261 or email ossoryvocdir@gmail.com. www.ossory/vocations.
Priests of Windgap: John Lyng was born in Tintine, in the parish of Inistioge in 1801. The Lyngs were originally a Wexford family who had moved into Kilkenny. John studied for the priesthood in Birchfield, beginning in 1828, and was ordained priest in 1833. In February 1834 he was appointed CC in Windgap where he remained for the next eleven years. He was transferred to Mooncoin in 1845 and about 1 October 1854 was appointed PP Clara. In January 1859, on the transfer of Fr Hayden to St. Patrick’s, he was presumably at his own request appointed PP Windgap and thus was able to return to the scene of his former labours. His pastorate in Windgap was brief – just over four years. He died on Monday, 5 January 1863, after a protracted illness. In his obituary in the Kilkenny Journal he is described as most zealous in the discharge of his sacred duties, as gentle and considerate, particularly to the poor, and most attentive to the education of the young, and it adds that he was greatly esteemed by his brother priests. He was buried in the cemetery adjacent to the chapel in Windgap.
Prayer for the New Year: Lord, as I quench the lamp and close the door on the past year, may I find the words of gratitude to honour this passing time; the gift of your design. For all that’s come and gone, for decisions right and wrong, for unsung songs, I offer words of thanks. For days when life had plenty, for nights when hearts were empty; for undiscovered plains, when all was ventured but nothing gained. Through struggle and through pain, may we learn to rise again. Now at this threshold time make our hearts refined to dream new dreams beyond our imagining. May we step into places where courage will take us beyond our limited spaces. May we never lose the courage to seek for a better world where no child will cry hungry, while another is bored with too much. Where war is remembered in hushed tones, a memory of forgotten days. Where colour and creed can celebrate with pride in their different ways. And may your gentleness O Lord, exude from every heart. May this new year be a year of many blessings where new vision will transform the paralysed places of lonely hearts. Where we will discover the hidden beauty of each soul, all who cross our pathways and if we meet with sorrow may we find an inner light to guide us to the bright place in the company of friends and family, in the company of love. May each moment of every month unveil your abiding presence in beautiful surprises, reawakening the child within each one of us. Lord, bless all we hold so dear that you might guide our way at the birthing of the year (Liam Lawton).
Placenames:. Glencommaun = Gleann Comáin. The name is attested as early as 1300 and signifies “the crooked / winding glen”. According to the OS and Canon Carrigan there are two holy wells here Tobermathulla or St. Mocuille’s well (feast-day, 12 June), and Tobermamonine or St. Moninna’s well (Broderick’s well). Canon Carrigan probably collected the tradition of the pilgrimage or turas associated with the two wells when curate in Templeorum (1893-95). He mentions a field called Glownacunneen and a pattern field above it & a pattern held here up to about 1750. The turas or pilgrimage began at Tobermoninne, continued by the stream leading from it down to the glen below where it met the stream from Tobermocuille and then up that stream to Tobermocuille itself. There was apparently an ancient custom of taking away the water of Tobermoninne on 1 May or some day in May suggesting that the pattern may have been held in May.
Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoíbh go léir/Felice anno nuovo /Ich wünsche allen ein gesegnetes neues Jahr/I wish all our parishioners a blessed and prosperous New Year.
Recent Death: Eileen O’Meara, Mullinahone & Windgap
Anniversaries: Windgap: Pauline Comerford, Lamogue;
John Phelan, Seskin
Tullahought: Mary & Edward Morrissey, Ballygowan
Mass Times (weekend):
Windgap: Saturday, 7.30 p.m.
Tullahought: Sunday, 10 a.m.
The Epiphany (6th Jan.):
Windgap: Tues., 5th, 7.30 p.m.
Tullahought: Wed., 6th, 10 a.m.
Windgap: Wed., 6th, 12 p.m. (for school)
Windgap: Readers: December: 26, Sean Foley; January: 2, Ann Foley; 9, Rita Phelan; 16, Caoimhe O’Shea; 23, Martin O’Shea; 30, Michelle O’Brien..
Eucharistic Ministers: December; 26. Joan Watters; January: 2, Liz Jackson.
Tullahought: Eucharistic Ministers: Leo Conalty; Patricia Power; Mary Walsh; Eileen Grace.
World Youth Day 2016, Kracow, Poland, July 2016. Pope Francis will attend. Ossory Diocese is inviting young people (over 18 years) to attend; contact wyd@ossory.ie or Fr Richard Scriven (rscriven2009@gmail.com / 087 2420033) or Derek Dooley (087 938 4242).
New Year: In Ireland 1 January was not counted as New Year’s Day until it was designated as such by law in 1751. Up to then the legal year began on 25 March (and in England but not in Scotland which had 1 January). New Year’s Eve was known as Oíche na Coda Móire (the night of the big portion) because of the belief that eating a very large supper on that night ensured food aplenty for the coming year. There were other unusual customs associated with New Year’s Eve. At the beginning of the 18th century there were at least 35 holydays of obligation in Ireland (not counting the local patrons or parish celebrations – the local patterns). The first of January - the feast of the circumcision of Christ - was one of these holydays of obligation.
Epiphany: The name Epiphany comes from the Greek evpifa,neia [epiphaneia] which means manifestation or appearance or epiphany. The feast refers to the manifestation of the Christ child to the representatives of the Gentiles – the wise men from the east in ch. 2 of Matthew’s gospel. The Greek word for the wise men in the gospel is ma,goi, [Latin magi] which means wise men or astrologers. They are described as coming from the east (avpo. avnatolw/n/apo anatolón). In a 6th century Latin tradition the wise men are called Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. Later they are depicted as kings (dei heilige drei Könige), and Cologne Cathedral claims to have their relics. The feast of the epiphany has a long and complex history going back probably to the 4th century. It is commonly known in Ireland as “Little Christmas” and in Irish as “Nollaig na mBan” perhaps because cake, tea & wine were more in evidence than on Christmas Day (marked by beef and whiskey – men’s fare!). There is an Irish proverb associated with it “Oíche na dTrí Rithe ‘Sea deintear fíon den uisce”; it links the night of the three kings to the miracle at Cana. An old custom that was once widespread in Ireland was the lighting of candles on this night.
Westcourt News: January Mass for the blessings and for the canonisation of Blessed Edmund Rice will take place in Westcourt on Monday 4 January at 7.30 p.m.. Callan Active Retirement is hosting the Mass. All are welcome. Br. Damien wishes all in Windgap athbhliain faoi mhaise.
Vocations: January 3, 2016 - The light of Christ shines upon you. How will you share that light with others? Consider the gift of a vocation to the priesthood. If you think God is calling you to priesthood, call Fr. Willie Purcell Ossory Vocations Director. 056 7770261 or email ossoryvocdir@gmail.com. www.ossory/vocations.
Priests of Windgap: John Lyng was born in Tintine, in the parish of Inistioge in 1801. The Lyngs were originally a Wexford family who had moved into Kilkenny. John studied for the priesthood in Birchfield, beginning in 1828, and was ordained priest in 1833. In February 1834 he was appointed CC in Windgap where he remained for the next eleven years. He was transferred to Mooncoin in 1845 and about 1 October 1854 was appointed PP Clara. In January 1859, on the transfer of Fr Hayden to St. Patrick’s, he was presumably at his own request appointed PP Windgap and thus was able to return to the scene of his former labours. His pastorate in Windgap was brief – just over four years. He died on Monday, 5 January 1863, after a protracted illness. In his obituary in the Kilkenny Journal he is described as most zealous in the discharge of his sacred duties, as gentle and considerate, particularly to the poor, and most attentive to the education of the young, and it adds that he was greatly esteemed by his brother priests. He was buried in the cemetery adjacent to the chapel in Windgap.
Prayer for the New Year: Lord, as I quench the lamp and close the door on the past year, may I find the words of gratitude to honour this passing time; the gift of your design. For all that’s come and gone, for decisions right and wrong, for unsung songs, I offer words of thanks. For days when life had plenty, for nights when hearts were empty; for undiscovered plains, when all was ventured but nothing gained. Through struggle and through pain, may we learn to rise again. Now at this threshold time make our hearts refined to dream new dreams beyond our imagining. May we step into places where courage will take us beyond our limited spaces. May we never lose the courage to seek for a better world where no child will cry hungry, while another is bored with too much. Where war is remembered in hushed tones, a memory of forgotten days. Where colour and creed can celebrate with pride in their different ways. And may your gentleness O Lord, exude from every heart. May this new year be a year of many blessings where new vision will transform the paralysed places of lonely hearts. Where we will discover the hidden beauty of each soul, all who cross our pathways and if we meet with sorrow may we find an inner light to guide us to the bright place in the company of friends and family, in the company of love. May each moment of every month unveil your abiding presence in beautiful surprises, reawakening the child within each one of us. Lord, bless all we hold so dear that you might guide our way at the birthing of the year (Liam Lawton).
Placenames:. Glencommaun = Gleann Comáin. The name is attested as early as 1300 and signifies “the crooked / winding glen”. According to the OS and Canon Carrigan there are two holy wells here Tobermathulla or St. Mocuille’s well (feast-day, 12 June), and Tobermamonine or St. Moninna’s well (Broderick’s well). Canon Carrigan probably collected the tradition of the pilgrimage or turas associated with the two wells when curate in Templeorum (1893-95). He mentions a field called Glownacunneen and a pattern field above it & a pattern held here up to about 1750. The turas or pilgrimage began at Tobermoninne, continued by the stream leading from it down to the glen below where it met the stream from Tobermocuille and then up that stream to Tobermocuille itself. There was apparently an ancient custom of taking away the water of Tobermoninne on 1 May or some day in May suggesting that the pattern may have been held in May.
Athbhliain faoi mhaise daoíbh go léir/Felice anno nuovo /Ich wünsche allen ein gesegnetes neues Jahr/I wish all our parishioners a blessed and prosperous New Year.
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