Happy New Year!! I take this opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to all our readers and parishioners. In a remarkable year thank you for being good neighbours. Thank you for showing the resilience and discipline needed, and still needed, because of Covid-19. Thank you to the people who have been on the front lines – in our hospitals and shops. Thanks to all who see to essential services- the Gardai, our postal deliverers, our bin collectors, the people working on our streets and roads, those who see the electricity comes on and the water flows through our taps, our undertakers and grave digger Billy Davis, and many more. I think of the various Church groups, such as the Parish Council, with Chairperson Kevin Kelly, and of the Parish Finance Committee, with Chairperson Fionnula Taylor. I really appreciate their wisdom and energy. I think too of the Vincent de Paul Society. Thanks too to the staff and Board of Management of our Parish School. Thanks to all who serve in our Churches – sacristans, choirs, musicians, servers, collectors, readers, Eucharistic ministers, children’s liturgy leaders, ‘do this in memory’ leaders, co-ordinators of Adoration, cleaners, florists, and many more., even if services have been restricted during the last 20 months. Thanks to envelope distributors and money counters. Thanks to our Church stewards. While congregations have been able to gather for Mass, they ensure that our gatherings are carried out properly. A Thanks to the Community Scheme workers at the Church grounds and Cemetery. Thanks to Deirdre and Marian at the Parish Office. You all make a difference. Thank you!! Each year we invite new people to actively lend a hand.

Please God 2022 will see some closure to the challenges of 2020 and 2021. And I assure you of a place in my prayers and am very happy each week to offer Mass for all the people of the Parish – one of the responsibilities of the Parish Priest. Fr. Dan Bollard.