Christmas Newsletter

25 December 2010
‘Phone 00 353 56 7728173 Dunamaggan,
Mobile 00 353 87 2257498 Co. Kilkenny.
Fax 00 353 56 7728173 Ireland
e mail: napflavin@eircom.net 14 – 12 – 2010

Dear Parishioner,

I wish to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a very happy, peaceful, holy and enjoyable Christmas. I wish to express my gratitude and thanks for your great support during the past year. Each year new residents come to the parish of Dunamaggan, you are all very welcome. It is hoped that you will integrate fully into the parish community and take an active part within the parish in whatever activity/activities attract you most. The people of Dunamaggan are a very welcoming community. Each of the various organisations within the parish would welcome new active members from all parish residents (new and old). The parish facilities are for the service of the parish community. Thus St. Eoghan’s Centre in Kilmoganny and St. Leonard’s Hall in Dunamaggan are for the use and benefit of the community. You are very welcome to make use of them. I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to all groups who use these facilities for the respect they have shown to them, especially in ensuring that the facilities are clean and tidy after each function. I would like to thank John Kelly for his availability at all times and his work in ensuring that St. Eoghan’s Centre is available at all times. Your weekly support of the DKK Parish Lotto which supports the facilities in the villages of Kells, Dunamaggan and Kilmoganny as well as the G.A.A. ensures that these facilities are not a financial burden. The DKK Lotto, which is independent of parish finances, is one of the great community self helps and supports. I would like to express my thanks to the many ticket sellers and the lotto committee for their dedication and weekly commitment to the venture. It is hoped that you will continue to support then by purchasing the weekly DKK Lotto tickets in the future.

This January will mark the fifth anniversary of the first meeting of the first meeting re the compiling and publishing a History of Dunamaggan Parish. The group has met on 36 occasions since then. At its first meeting is set itself a target of having material gathered in a five year period. The group is now in the process of editing material. A significant amount of material is promised but has not yet been presented to the group. If you have any photographs, documents, stories or material which, in your opinion, should be considered for inclusion in the publication it would be very helpful if you either attended a meeting in the near future or handed the material to any member of the group or dropped it into the presbytery. The group is very interested in any material which reflects the social history of the parish. A lot of work has been done during the past five years. It is hoped that during the coming year the final publication will take shape. The dates of meetings are published in the Parish Newsletter and in the Dunamaggan Notes in the Kilkenny People. You are very welcome to attend any meeting, even if you just want to listen.

The Parish Mission will take place from Sunday 27th February to Friday 4th March 2011. The last Parish mission took place in 1996. Rev. John Hanna C.S.Sp will lead the mission. It is expected that the missioners will speak at week-end masses on the weekend of the19th & 20th February prior to the mission. The Parish Mission is an opportunity not only for individual but also for community renewal of faith. The challenge for each individual is to participate in the mission by attending the morning masses and/or services each evening. There is an open invitation to every parishioner to participate in the mission. Each individual is very welcome.
The details of the parish Mission Programme will be circulated to all prior to the commencement of the mission.
I would like to thank very sincerely all those who thoughtfully filled in and returned the Questionnaires. The information in them will form the basis of the Mission Themes.
Some of the major themes from the questionnaire analysis are: Faith, Youth, Personal Prayer, Spirituality, Hope, Return to Practice of Faith, Future of the Church, Abuse and the Church, Masses for Children, Youth, Healing, Commitment, Community, Sacraments, 10 Commandments, Christian Vision, Family, Jesus’ Teaching, Love, etc.
The questionnaire returns also focused on the importance of music in the liturgy, enjoying the experience, a positive outlook on life and relationships.
The answers re Dunamaggan Parish were very positive as were those on Church services.
The importance of voluntary involvement in Parish activities was expressed strongly.

In preparation for the Parish Mission it is expected that volunteers will be required for a variety of tasks. These may include publicising the parish mission, presenting the message of the mission through word and/or action, music, catering etc.. If you believe that you have the ability to assist in these or in other ways then your help would be greatly appreciated. You may contact any member of the Parish Pastoral Council (Ned Kirwan, Chairperson, Pascal Grace, Secretary, Paddy Reade, John O’Brien, Siobhan O’Donovan, Noel McDonald, Johno Reid and Rev. Nicholas Flavin) indicating your availability or further suggestions re the Parish Mission or and Parish Pastoral Matters.

It is important that each person not only prays for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life but also encourages young people to listen to the way God is calling them to live out their lives. If that call is of service in the priesthood or religious life then it is important that they are encouraged and supported to respond to the call. We are all called to live out our Christian commitment whatever our vocation. It is important that we recognise that whatever way God call us to serve in the Church and live in the world is for us our vocation and way of making Christ’s Love alive where we live out our lives. There is a variety of vocations, each one is necessary for the well being of the Church. Each vocation (the way we are each called to live out our lives) has equality but is different.

As the number of priests available to serve in the Diocese of Ossory will decrease in the coming years (unless there is a significant increase in vocations to the priesthood) co-operation between parishes will not only a likely development but a necessity. It is very important that all members of parish communities are involved in this development. The matter has been mentioned but not yet discussed at the Parish Pastoral Council. Your views on this matter are very important. Your responses to the questionnaire are a first step in the process. It is important that you reflect carefully on what parish or parishes would form a natural link with Dunamaggan in the future. The clustering of parishes together in the future is a likely development. Your voice is very important in this decision making process which will take place within a few years.

The Parish Finances are provided through the weekly envelope collection and the plate collections at weekend masses. I would like to thank all who generously support these collections. Without your continual generous support the parish would not be financially viable. During the last full accounting year (2009) €53,503 was contributed in these collections. The main expenditures were: Diocesan contributions €10,651; Insurance: €5,845; Repairs and Maintenance €8,044; Light & Heat €3,495; Missalettes etc.: €7,023; Office expenses €3,759. A variety of other expenses brought the total expense to €46,970 for the year 2009. During the year 2009 an interest free loan of €146,000 was made to St. Leonard’s School for the provision of the All Purpose Room. During the current year the first repayment of €10,000 has been made.
As many of you are award the parish lands in Kilmoganny were is need of major remedial work. This work was carried out during the past year. It involved major work on the, ditches, dykes and the upgrading of the drainage system. The reseeding of the land will take place on a phased basis. Some of this has already taken place and the great improvement in the land is very evident. This work cost in excess of €55,000. Thus when the parish accounts are available for the year 2010 they will show a deficit but the surpluses from previous years will ensure that the parish accounts are not in the red.
The six envelope collections for the clergy are for the upkeep of parish clergy in Dunamaggan and also contribute, where necessary, to the clergy in the diocese and to retired clergy. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generous support of all parish collections. In addition I am indebted to those who distributed parish envelopes and other material to the houses of the parish during the past year.
Envelopes may be handed in during the collections at weekend masses, to the presbytery or to Bob’s the Shop in Kells.

In order to assist new residents to the parish and others who may not be aware of organisations in the parish, a list of organisations, a contact person and its activities are given below. If you know of any other organisations or if the list needs to be updated please contact me.
ORGANISATION CONTACT PERSON ACTIVITY
Aghaviller Athletic Club Louise Maher Athletics
Bingo Jimmy McCormack Entertainment
Bridge Nicholas Flavin Card playing
Camogie Windgap Camogie Club Camogie all ages
Camphill Community Mark Dwan Caring for people with disability
Dunamaggan Gymkhana Larry Costello Yearly Gymkhana
Dunamaggan Hurling Club Eugene O’Donovan (Sec) Hurling
Dunamaggan Juvenile Club John Fitzpatrick Hurling & Football
DKK Lotto Eugene O’Donovan Fundraising
Dunamaggan DKK Web Page James Rossiter Web Page/ Information
Dunamaggan Development Association Tidy Towns
History of Dunamaggan Nicholas Flavin Compiling History
Kells Handball Club Jim Dalton/ Michael Delahunty Handball
Kells Childcare Deidre Knox Childcare & After School
Kells Resource Centre Joe Sheridan
Kells Scouts Scouting
Kells Tidy Towns Tidy Town
KRETE Vincent Dempsey Community Development
Kilmoganny Area Development Ass Nicholas Flavin/Ned Kirwan St. Eoghan’s Centre/Development
Kilmoganny Voluntary Housing Nicholas Flavin Housing for the Elderly
Kilmoganny Football Club Michael Lyons Football
Kilmoganny Gun Club Martin Butler Sporting
Kilmoganny Hunt Hunting
L’Arche Community Caring for those with Disabilities
I.F.A. Richard Gorey Farming
Parish Pastoral Council Ned Kirwan/Pascal Grace Parish Pastoral Matters
Snooker John Kelly Snooker
St. Joseph’s Home Kilmoganny Kathleen Kirby Home for the Elderly
St. Leonard’s Hall, Dunamaggan Nicholas Flavin/Noel McDonald Community Activities
St. Eoghan’s Centre, Kilmoganny Nicholas Flavin/John Kelly Community Centre
Progressive 25’s John Reid Card Playing
Pat Walsh Memorial Society Ned Kirwan Easter Memorial Parade
Shrughawadda Players Michael Dowling Drama


First Fridays: If you or a member of your family or a neighbour would like that I call on First Fridays with Holy Communion then contact me at any time.

Visiting the Sick: If any member of your family is sick or housebound and would like me to visit them, please let me know.

Baptisms are celebrated, as far as possible, at a time which is suitable for the parents and family of the child. Please contact me at any time to arrange a suitable time for the celebration.

House Blessings and/or House Masses for special occasions are a deep rooted Irish tradition. If you wish for either during the coming year then contact me at your convenience.

Corpus Christi Procession will take place on Sunday 26th June after 11.00 a.m. mass in Dunamaggan.

Additional Eucharistic Ministers, Readers and Choir Members are always required. If you are willing to engage in either of these ministries, you would be very welcome. If you are aware of others who are suitable for these ministries please encourage them. Voluntary participation in activities in the Parish is deep rooted. It is your Parish; I hope that additional volunteers will come forward for these important ministries at weekend masses. I wish to thank very sincerely those who undertake these ministries of service in the Church and look forward to others joining them in the near future. Please contact me or any member of the Parish Pastoral Council, if your are interested.

Parish Web Site: It was intended to launch a community website for Dunnamaggin, Kells and Kilmoganny at the Parish Dinner Dance on Saturday 27th November 2010. Due to the inclement weather the function was postponed until January 22nd 2010. This web site will be a portal for everything about and going on in Dunnamaggin, Kells and Kilmoganny. The Logo you see on the website has been designed locally and the three interlocking ellipses represent the connection that exists between the three villages. The address of the site is www.dkk.ie. Everyone from Dunnamaggin, Kells and Kilmoganny should have a look at the website and there is plenty to see that would be of interest to people from outside the area also. The website has information on all the schools, churches and clubs and societies in the area. For those interested in history, there are historical details of Dunnamaggin Hurling Club and Kilmoganny Football Club There will also be a comprehensive listing of the history of Dunnamaggin, Kells and Kilmoganny in due course. Contact details for local services are also available on the website. There is a photographic gallery showing local sights and various events that have happened in the area. The website will be updated with news and information about things that are happening locally on a regular basis. If you have a few minutes to spare or if you want to find out anything from what time the bingo is on in Kilmoganny or the weekend match results, then click on www.dkk.ie. You'll certainly find something that will be of interest to you. If you wish to contribute to the website please email dunawebsite@gmail.com.
Dunnamaggin GAA Club: Dunnamaggin Hurling & Kilmoganny Football club now have a very popular Facebook page check it out at http://www.facebook.com/dunnamaggin.gaa to keep up to date with all the news in the club.

The Parish Dinner Dance will now be on Saturday 22nd January 2011. All tickets purchased already will be honoured for that date. Additional tickets can be purchase for the new date. This is a Night out to look forward to in the New Year. The ticket price is 35 euro and tickets can be purchased from James Rossiter (7728836), Tom and John Hickey, Tonnie Moore, Patricia Coffey, Denis Walsh, Seamus Knox, Johno Reid, John O'Dwyer and Rachel O'Connor.

Items for inclusion in the weekly Parish Newsletter should be ‘phoned, faxed, emailed or handed in to the presbytery not later than the previous Friday night. The parish newsletter is available in St. Leonard’s Church, Dunamaggan and in St. Eoghan’s Church, Kilmoganny at all week-end masses. Copies of the Newsletter are also available in Bob’s the Shop in Kells each weekend.
Items for Inclusion in the Dunamaggan Notes in the Kilkenny People should now be ‘phoned, faxed, emailed or handed in not later than Sunday evenings. The Kilkenny People now has a new deadline.
The KCLR programme Over to You on each Tuesday at about 3.30 p.m. lists events and happenings from the Callan Electoral Area. Any item for inclusion in this list should be communicated to me before noon on Tuesdays.

There was a very positive response in the recent Questionnaire re living in Dunamaggan Parish. The friendliness, concern, willingness to help & assist, genuine good neighbourliness and the enormous amount of voluntary work undertaken by parishioners all contribute to this sense of belonging to and contentment with being part of Dunamaggan Parish. I wish to thank each person for their positive contribution to the parish and its many activities during the past year. These contributions were made through involvement in various organisations or on an individual basis. It is your contribution, however small or great, that has made and will continue to make Dunamaggan Parish an attractive place in which to live.
All organisations in the parish would welcome new members and volunteers. Any additional help to any organisation, however small, is always very welcome. The continued success and effectiveness of any organisation/group is dependent on the dedicated work of its committed members and the support of the broad community. Next year which is dedicated as the European Year of the Volunteer is an opportunity for each person to consider and, where possible, make a commitment to contribute in a voluntary way some time to ensuring that the quality of life in Dunamaggan is enhanced for all. A lot of small contributions will result in a major overall contribution.

The Celebration of Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus. We celebrate the event which is central to our faith. We celebrate God’s chosen way of communication His love for each one of us. Through Mary God, in Jesus, made Himself humanly present in our world. The message of Christmas is one of peace. As we strive to bring peace and harmony to creation it is important that we are first and foremost at peace with ourselves. This requires that we love and accept ourselves. In the creation story God saw all that he had made and indeed it was very good. God sees the goodness in each of us. It is important that we recognise the positive and potential in ourselves and in others. Building on the positive it should be possible to accept and recognise any shortcomings we may have and to ask God for healing and peace within ourselves. The sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is such an opportunity.
Christmas is also a time of home-coming. It is a time when family members are welcomed home. In our broader family of Parish and Church you are also very welcome. Together in celebrating the Birth of Jesus let us endeavour to make his message of Peace, Love, Joy, Hope, Optimism, Acceptance, Happiness, Forgiveness and Love a reality in our lives and in the lives of those we meet.

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: Kilmoganny Dunamaggan
Sat. 18th 6.45 p.m. 8.00 p.m.
Sun 19th 9.30 a.m. 11.00 a.m.
MASS TIMES FOR CHRISTMAS ARE: Kilmoganny Dunamaggan
Christmas Eve 7.00 p.m. 9.00 p.m.
Christmas Day 9.30 a.m. 11.00 a.m.

Parish Mission: 27th February – 4th March 2011

The Annual dates for the Cemetery Masses are: Kilmoganny Friday July 8th (2nd Friday); Kilree Wednesday July 13th; Dunamaggan Friday 15th July (3rd Friday). All masses at 8.00 p.m.

The Celebration of Family & Welcome in the Parish takes place in the grounds of St. Leonard’s Church, Dunamaggan on Thursday 21st July at 7.30 p.m. All are very welcome.

Nicholas A.P. Flavin P.P.