Local Notes: Feast of St John the Baptist at historic church, hurling club news, Déise Draw and more
Rev Fr Tom Rogers in Crooke Cemetery at the ruins of the old church on Monday, June 23 with some Knights of Malta and and on the left, Sacristan from St John's Eddie Gaffney and on the right, Server, Stan Bergin
Masses in Crooke and Faithlegg this week will be on: Wednesday, July 2 - Faithlegg 11.30am; Thursday, July 3 - Crooke 10am; Saturday, July 5 - Faithlegg 6.30pm (Vigil Mass); Sunday, July 6 - Crooke 11.30am.
Mass in Crooke Church on the eve of the feast of St John the Baptist took place on Monday evening, June 23. The inaugural mass was celebrated at the Church of St John the Baptist in Crooke, Passage East. The location for the celebration was chosen not only because the parish church is dedicated to the Saint but also because the ancient ruined church at Crooke Cemetery once belonged to the Knights of Malta. They received it after the suppression of the Knights Templar, the original owners. St John the Baptist is the principal patron of the Order of Malta and his feast is always celebrated with great solemnity within the Order. The celebrant was Rev Fr Tom Rogers PP, St John's, Waterford, Chief Chaplain of the Order of Malta in Ireland. Before his sermon Fr Fr Rogers thanked Rev Fr PJ Breen PP, Crooke/Killea/Faithlegg for his kindness to him in providing the church for the Mass. He also thanked those locally involved in many ways who helped out, the Crooke Church Choir and organist Siobhán Keappock, and also Hannah Hutchinson, Passage GAA Secretary for providing the clubhouse for refreshments after. He then went through the history of Knights of Malta who for centuries, in the main, provided help to the less well off all over the world and of course the Order of Malta at a local level with many volunteers providing medical assistance to many different sports events and competitions. They are also very visible wherever help is needed. Many of them were present on the night with their ambulance. After the mass a procession was held from Crooke Church to the cemetery in Crooke where Benediction was given by Rev Fr Rogers in the presence of a large number of Knights of Malta, including people from other parts of Ireland. It was a lovely occasion and well done to Fr Tom Rogers and all his crew from the order of Malta. In the years ahead when news is spread around hopefully a much larger crowd will attend.
Congratulations to children from Lios na nÓg Playschool in Crooke who Graduated on Friday, June 27. These were Alex Cozman, Ali Hammond, Caolan Phillips, Ella Heffernan, Roisin Heffernan, Eoin Hutchinson, Harry Doran, Jane Pepper, Kol Carey, Mehal Maria Ronak, Stepan Ziborov and Thomas Hearne. The best of luck in national school.
Fixtures coming up for Passage hurlers are: Minors away to Erins Own /Sacred Heart in Poleberry Wednesday, evening July 2 at 7.30pm and Junior C at home to St Molleran's at 12 noon in Passage on Sunday July 6. It was a good week last week for Passage teams in under age games. In the U12 City league in Passage there was a win by Passage over Ballygunner. In the U14 league a comprehensive win over Affane/Cappoquin/Tourin/Naomh Brid in Cappoquin and in the U16 league Division 3, a win away to Dungarvan by two points. Coming up this week are the following under age games: Tuesday, July 1 - U13 City League Division 1 final v Ballygunner at 7.30pm in Walsh Park; Thursday, July 3 - home v St Saviour's at 6.15pm and Monday, July 7 - U14 Division 2 home v Brickey Rangers at 7pm.
Passage Hurling Club's Annual Deep Water Fundraising 600 metres Greenvolt sponsored swim from Ballyhack to Passage is on Sunday next July 6, at 2.40 pm. Entries for competent swimmers over 15 years are on passagehurlingclub.com at 'Fundraising Beat The Ferryman Swim'. Please note online registration closes on Saturday, July 5, at 1pm and entries are online only. Headquarters for the day will be Passage Community Centre from 12 noon. On the day in the community centre will only be for swimmers signing on, for food after the event and for marshalls for food after the event. There will be a raffle for a piece of Waterford Crystal and a few other prizes, lots of food available and music in Passage and Ballyhack before the event. Lots of help on the river guiding the swimmers safely over the course. The final ferry to bring swimmers over to Ballyhack leaves at 2.10pm but those wishing to get over well in time can use the ferry anytime before that. Prizes for first three male and three female swimmers home and please note they exit from the water on Passage Strand for timing purposes and not further up the beach.
All clubs in Waterford have been allocated tickets for the upcoming Déise Draw. The tickets are €20 per month or five for €100. The first draw is on Friday, July 4 and the last in November. A large amount out of each ticket comes back into the clubs
