COVID -19 Causing CONSTERNATION:

CHOMHBHRON:

Sympathy to the family of Christy Noonan, Ballyelan, Ballingarry, who died on March 12th, pre deceased by his brother Mick and sister Anne. Beloved husband of Mary Rose (née Hartigan) and dearest father to Brendan, Louise and Rosemary. Deeply mourned by his family, sons-in-law Stephen and Vincent, grandchildren Diarmuid, Eoghan, Óran and Niall, sisters Betty and Mary, brother Paddy, sister-in-law, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

He was reposed at his residence in Castletown on Sunday, March 15th. Funeral arriving at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Ballingarry on Monday, March 16th, for Requiem Mass. Burial afterwards in Granagh Cemetery.

Our sympathies to the family of Johnny Sheahan, Ballyvologue, who passed peacefully on March 17th 2020 in the loving care of the staff of Beech Lodge Nursing Home, Bruree. Survived by his brother William, nephews Joe and Pat, niece Ann Marie, sister-in-law Eileen, cousins, relatives and friends. Uncle of the late Liam and Ann.

Requiem Mass was celebrated in St Joseph's Church, Granagh on Thursday March 19th with burial afterwards in the local cemetery.

Go dtuge Dia suaimhneas siorai doibh.

COVID-19: The plain and simple message is " Stay At Home " - You are saving lives by doing so. Of course necessary trips to the shop and chemist are ok but limit them as much as possible. The statistics speak for themselves. In Italy last weekend, they had 800 deaths on Saturday, 651 on Sunday and over 600 on Monday 23rd. A whole generation being wiped out.!! We have been warned. O'GORMAN's STORE: Please note that O’Gormans Food Store is now closing at 8pm daily, for the duration of Covid 19. You can contact 061/399226 or 086 3344630 if you need any Deliveries and they can also take Orders from your car - if you don’t want to go into the shop. Stay safe everybody. DvD's: ' The Government Inspector' Dvd is now in stock in the shop, it might brighten up your day at the moment.

REMEMBERING OUR DECEASED: For the month of March, we remember our family, friends and neighbours, whose mortuary cards are displayed on the Church noticeboard:- Tom Treacy and David Conway, Killoughty. David Clifford, Kilmacow. Mai & Michael Hourigan & Johanna (Bob) Daffy, Knockfierna. Stasia O'Regan, Graigacurra. Eileen Noonan, Granagh. Kitty Fitzgerald and Margaret Boyce, Kilmore. Edward Sheehan, Lisduane. Fr. Ronald Costello, PP. Tom O'Regan, Liskennett. Margaret McEniry, Derryclough. Ellen Flynn, Ardagh. Leo O'Connell. Morgan & Maria Power, Pallasgreen.

ONE COMMUNITY: If anybody in the community needs their medicines, groceries or fuel, collected from the Shop, Pharmacy or Creamery and delivered to their door, please contact one of the following co-ordinators. They will organise with one of the many volunteers to carry out the collection and delivery. Steven Stapleton; 086-1960301, Theresa Noonan; 085- 8875585, Anne O'Grady; 087-8561898, Andrew Holmes; 087- 9429228.

ON-LINE MASSES: Masses available online and on the radio in the Diocese of Limerick. St John’s Cathedral : Sunday Masses - 6pm Saturday, 10:30am and 12 noon- ( The 12 noon mass will be celebrated by Bishop Brendan). Web Link: https://www.churchservices.tv/limerickcathedral. Abbeyfeale: Saturday, 9:15am and 12 noon. Sunday Masses - 6:30pm. Weekday Masses - 10am (from Wednesday 18th March). Web link: https://www.churchservices.tv/abbeyfealeparish Augustinians: Sunday Masses: - 9am, 11am and 7:30pm. Weekday Masses: - 7.30am, 8:30am and 4pm. Web link: - https://augustinianslimerick.com/mass-service/ Redemptorists: Sunday Masses: - 7:15pm Saturday (Novena Mass), 8am, 12 noon and 7:15pm. Weekday Masses: - 8am, 10am and 7:15pm (Monday - Friday). 10am and 7:15pm Novena Mass (Saturday). Web link: - https://www.redemptoristslimerick.ie/web-cam/ West Limerick 102fm - Online Mass every Sunday at 10.00am. Missionaries of the Sacred Heart: - www.mscmissions.ie Kilmallock Church - Weekday Mass will be broadcast at 9.30am followed by The Stations of the Cross. Each evening the Rosary and the Angelus will be prayed at 5.30pm. Weekend Mass will be broadcast at 6pm on Saturday and 12noon on Sunday. Web link: - www.kilmallockparish.ie or through Facebook -Kilmallock Church.

MARCH 23rd: It is possible, you may not have realised the significance of Monday's date. " Choctaw Indians collect money to donate to starving Irish Famine victims ". The story of the Choctaw’s donation is an extraordinary one. In 1847, the Choctaw community collected $170 to send to the Irish victims of the Famine – a sum equivalent to approximately €5,000 in today’s money. This was despite the Choctaws having undergone their own hardship sixteen years earlier when they were forced to move west of the Mississippi by the government of Andrew Jackson, in a journey that became known as the “Trail of Tears”.

WE NEED TREES: One thing that is emerging clear from Covid-19 is the importance of trees in purifying our air and reducing respiratory illness. We need our trees more than ever to keep us strong and healthy and be able to withstand viruses like this. Ireland has the second lowest number of trees in Europe and correspondingly the 4th highest levels of respiratory illness in the world with over 475,000 current asthmatics. We also have the third highest rates worldwide of cardiac illness and cancer. It’s more than a theory that trees, especially urban trees, benefit health. It’s no coincidence that Northern Italy, which is known to have the highest levels of air pollution in Europe, is the area most affected by the coronavirus. To compound the issue, the area was the worst affected in Italy by the November 2018 storms resulting in the loss of millions of trees. While more data would be needed to draw definitive conclusions, it’s clear, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that trees play a hugely important role in human respiratory health. It is a great idea for Birthdays, Anniversaries, Births etc to plant a tree to mark the event - it's a reminder forever.