OUR BIRD AND SAVIOUR
The Tir Na Mona AGM was held on
Wednesday 14th November in which the past year was judged to
be a resounding success for the community. Many thanks to all
involved. Also, a new committee was voted in for the coming
year. Special thanks and appreciation to outgoing officers Feargal
Mac Eoin and Margaret Kane for a job well done.
The new committee is now in
place and the new officers are:
Dolores Kennedy - Chairperson
Pauline Finnegan - Secretary
Pat Mc Loughlin - Treasurer
Alan Byrne - PRO
The various community groups under
the Tir Na Mona umbrella are always looking for new blood. You
are the community and your views matter and are always welcome.
If unable to attend meetings, please contact your local committee
member or Morna at the Tir Na Mona office on 045 869 977.
On St. Stephen` Day, the Wren will
return to Donadea Forest Park and we invite all children from
Coill Dubh, Timahoe, Staplestown, Tiermohan and Newtown schools
to come along in fancy dress and help in the hunt for the Wren
and fight the Straw Boys. While we are popping corks and munching
pud `n` pies, let us all remember the Birthday we are celebrating.
There will be no January MONA but
we will be back as usual in February. I would like to wish you
all a happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Dolores Kennedy,
Chairperson, Tir Na Mona
ALLENWOOD & DISTRICT INFORMATION/RESOURCE
CENTRE
The following Services are now available to the Public:
Photocopying
Fax Laminating
C.V.'s
Typing facility
Binding
Accessing information form the internet
Scanning Services
We will provide
help/assistance for people for the Motor Taxation Office, Kildare
Co. Council, and Department of Social Welfare.
For further information contact Denise or Bernie
at Allenwood Enterprise Park, tel. 045-870804.
CHRISTMAS CAROL SERVICE
The Rev. David Frazier warmly invites you to a Christmas Community
Carol Service in St. Michael's Church, Millicent, on Sunday
23rd Dec at 7 p.m
.
COMPUTER COURSE
Now we have funding from the Department
of Social, Community and Family Affairs to cover part of the
costs, our long awaited computer course for beginners will commence
in Allenwood Enterprise Center on Saturday 12th January 2001.
The course will last six weeks
and the will be a weekly charge of £5 to participants. Places
are limited to 12, so contact Morna at 869977 if you are interested
in taking part in the course. We apologise for the long delay
involved in getting this course off the ground.
MILLENIUM CHOIR
The choirs rehearse on Thursday nights in Staplestown church.
The junior choir meets from 7.30 - 8.30 all children from 6
-12 years are welcome. The senior choir meets 8.30 - 9.30 and
new members, male and female from 14yrs and upwards are most
welcome.
PARENT & TODDLER GROUP
Don't forget that the Parent and
Toddler group meets every Tuesday morning from 9.30 - 12.30
in the drama room at Elaine Kane's in Hodgestown.
PHARMACY IN PROSPEROUS
The community in Prosperous is currently gathering signatures
for a petition in support of the application by Philip Blake
to open a Pharmacy in the village. Copies of the petition are
in the local shops and post offices so be sure to sign (once
only) if you would like to see this service available in the
locality.
SANTA
Children, don't forget to write
your letters to Santa!
SCOUTS
Don't forget that enrolment
for scouts is on Dec 15th between 11-12 noon in St. Kevin's
GAA clubrooms, Staplestown.
SLOVAKIA
Slovakia is a small country
in central Europe, bordered on the north by Poland, on the east
by Ukraine, on the south by Hungary, on the southwest by Austria,
and on the northwest by the Czech Republic. Its capital is Bratislava.
For many centuries Slovakia belonged to the kingdom of Hungary;
more recently it was part of Czechoslovakia. It became independent
on January 1st 1993. Susan Mihalcikova from Slovakia is presently
living and working with the Presentation Sisters at Shalom,
Kilcock. In this article she shares with us some of her experiences
of life as a catholic in Slovakia. I come from Slovakia, a small
country in the heart of Europe.
We have lived here for 90 years under the totalitarian
communist regime. World War 11 finished in 1945. In April
1945 Slovakia was occupied by Soviet Troops. The election
of 1946 was won by the Democratic Party, who tried to stop
the influence of Catholics. Catholics comprised that time
about 80% of the population of Slovakia. In February 1948
the communists seized control of the government.
From then until the late 1960's both the Slovak and Czech
lands were ruled by a rigid Stalinist dictatorship. Following
the brief thaw of the 'Prague Spring Government of the Slovak
reform communist leader Alexander Dubcesa (1968), the USSR
imposed a new hard-line communist regime. The communist system
was finally abolished in the 'Velvet Revolution' of 1989 and
Slovakia became independent on 1st January 1993.
During communism the official ideology was
both atheistic and materialistic. All the Catholic organisations
were abolished. There was very strict censorship of the press
- no spiritual literature was allowed. The Catholic news was
under the control of the government.
Crosses were taken from the schools and hospitals. The Priests'
Association, "Pacem in Terris" arose. There the communists
tried to get the priests to collaborate with them. They tried
to divide the priests and prevent communication with the Vatican.
The communists controlled what the priests spoke about in
the church. They controlled most very active priests. In 1950,
the communists closed all the churches for men and women.
The Greek catholic church was closed too. The government closed
13 diocesan seminaries. They reopened 1 seminary in Bratislava
under the control of the government. Many Catholic people
had to leave the schools, the universities, the offices, the
research institutes. Many bishops, priests and lay people
were put in prison. Some of them died there. The church was
silent and suffered. Religious lessons in the schools were
in the evenings. The children and parents who visited the
religion lessons or went to Mass were all the time under pressure
from teachers and government.
Everybody who wished to study had to write
about his ideology (materialistic or idealistic). Many young
people couldn't stay or be active because of their faith and
conviction. In this situation a very active underground Church
arose. There were many priests, lay people, nuns, brothers
and some bishops too. They worked and lived like ordinary
people, but during the evenings and the nights they fulfilled
their mission very secretly. They were very faithful and brave
people. Many of them were persecuted and died. I remember
my secret first Holy Communion. I was about 13 years old.
One evening we went with my parents and godmother for Holy
Mass outside my town. Nobody knew except the priest and us,
that it was my first Holy Communion day. My mother was a teacher.
She could not officially go to the church, so we went with
my parents, brothers and sister every Sunday for a holy mass
outside my town. My mother taught in the secondary school,
but because she went to the church, she had to leave her school
and changed for a different type of school.
I'm thankful to God and to so many sacrifices
of brave people for bringing a new life to my country.
ST. KEVINS G.F.C
Our Monster Christmas
draw will take place in the clubrooms on Saturday 8th December
2001. The draw is being held on the same format as the previous
ones. There are still a small number of tickets left so to be
in with a chance of winning £10,000 for Christmas contact any
committee member as soon as possible. With the number of tickets
limited to only 400 the chances of winning are very high, First
Prize: £10,000, Second Prize: £5,000, Third Prize: £1,500. Fourth
Prize: £1,000, Fifth Prize: £500 plus five prizes of £250.
This year the club has thankfully finished on a high note celebrating
some marvellous wins. Our U/15 team won the U/15 league on Sunday
the 25th November. They beat Caragh in the final. Congratulations
to Danny Lane, Frank Kilcoyne, John Casey & Niall Carew who
were selectors of this team. The main congratulations however
goes to the team themselves, they played very throughout this
league & deserved to bring the cup home. Well Done also to Alan
Mitchell who received the 'Man of the Match' award on Sunday.
Our Intermediate team also beat Caragh recently. This was probably
the most important game of the year for this team, they had
to win so that they would stay in Division 2. They finished
convincing winners beating Caragh O-11 to 0-7.
A date has been set for our 2001 A.G.M. It will be held in the
clubrooms on the 13th January 2002. All members are asked to
attend & anyone who is new in the area & would like to come
are more than welcome to attend. With our improved facilities
it is now even more enjoyable to be a member of the club.
Thank you to all who worked so hard throughout the year for
the club from doing officials during matches to just coming
to the clubrooms for a drink. All support is greatly appreciated
and it all helps in every way. A very special thanks to Pat
Cosgrove, for the sponsorship which he gave the club this year
also, both underage & senior. Also to Sean Flannery for the
sponsorship which he gave. To thank everyone would be difficult
but it does not go unnoticed!
Best wishes to all for the 2002 maybe this time
next year we will be finishing with some more silverware in
the club. We wish you all a very Happy Christmas & a Peaceful
New Year.
COILL DUBH - ST. KEVIN'S LOTTO
From 7th January 2001 our Lotto
prize-money & prizes will change. This is due to the Euro Changeover.
Tickets will be €1.50 =£1.18 (previously
£1)
4 weekly winners will win €35 = £27.56 (previously £25)
Jackpot will start at €1,500 =£1,18135 (previously £1,000)
Rising weekly, if not won, by €150 = £118.13 (previously £100)
Rules presently in place still
stand. For any enquiries please contact any member of the lotto
committee. We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely
thank buyers and sellers for their continued support.
STAPLESTOWN MILLENIUM CHOIR
The junior and senior choirs are
holding their annual christmas celebration in the church on
saturday 8th december At 8.00 o'clock.
They will be joined by a group of musicians to make what they
hope will be a night to be enjoyed by all their family and friends
Admission is free.
We look forward to your support.
THOUGHTFULNESS
Can you spare a moment?
Have you time to care?
Comfort for one who's lonely,
Someone's sorrow share?
Friendly thoughts are priceless
In this world today.
Spread a little kindness
As you pass this way
WORDS TO REMEMBER
To live long is everyone's wish
But to live well is in the ambition of a few.
TIMAHOE DRAMA WORKS
Timahoe Drama works is taking
a break for Christmas and will resume on Sat 12th Jan 02. Happy
Christmas to all the children and their parents.
TABLE OF EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY
8th Dec Millennium
Choir Christmas Celebration @ 8 pm.
8th Dec St. Kevin's Monster Draw.
12th Dec Staplestown Village meeting @ 7.30.
15th Dec Sign-up for Scouts in St. Kevin's @ 11-12 noon.
16th Dec Newtown Senior Citizens Tea Party 2.30 - 6 pm.
19th Dec Timahoe Active Age Christmas Party.
23rd Dec Carol Service in Millicent Church @ 7 pm.
26th Dec Wren Boys Concert Donadea Forest Park 2-3.30pm.
12th Jan Computers for Beginners course starts.
12th Jan Timahoe Drama Works recommences.
Articles for the MONA Newsletter can now be dropped
into the Tir Na Mona office at St. Kevin's G.A.A. club, Staplestown.
Tel 045 69977.
If possible please supply articles on disc
in Microsoft Word format. If you have an event happening during
the first week of the month please let us know about it in time
for the previous issue as it take approx. 10 days to
produce the MONA.
If you have an article, advertisement or news item
you would like to include in this newsletter, please contact:
- Staplestown, Mary Murphy 869416,
- Timahoe, Hugh Maher,
- Timahoe, Bernard Owens 863676,
- Coill Dubh, Rosaleen 860023 (school),
- Donadea, Bernadette Crean 869118,
Email:pgmhr@indigo.ie
The
views represented in this Newsletter are not necessarily
the views of the MONA committee. While every attempt
is made to print factual information, we are not responsible
for third party information that may be incorrect
at time of going to press. Where errors occur, every
attempt will be made to redress and amend. All parties
have the right to reply within the MONA Newsletter.
Thank
you.
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