Newslettr 22nd June 2025. Issue 1551

Community Diary

Saturday 28^th June

Mass at 6pm Church of Our Lady Blessington, Confessions: After 6pm Mass

Mass at 7.30pm  Church of Our Lady Of Mount Carmel, Lacken

 

Sunday 29^th June

HILLBILLY TRACTOR & CAR RUN 20th Anniversary, June 29th Picnic Area, Ballyknockan, Registration From 10am. Departing At 12.30pm Contact Jack 0872863636

Mass at 10am  Church of Our Lady Blessington

Mass at 10am  St. Joseph’s Church, Valleymoun

Mass at 11am  St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride

Mass at 11.30am  Church of our Lady of Mercy, Crosschapel

Manor Kilbride Cemetery Sunday  29^th June at 2pm

 

Monday 30th June

Blessington Bridge Club Meets at 7.30pm in the Kare Centre. New players welcome.

Mass at 9.30am  Church of Our Lady Blessington

Mass at 9am  St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride

 

Tuesday 1^st July

Mass at 9.30am  Church of Our Lady Blessington

Mass at 9am  St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride

 

Wednesday 2^nd July

Mass at 9.30am  Church of Our Lady Blessington

Mass at 9am  St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride

Rosary & Holy Hour   The Holy Hour with Rosary and Adoration will be at 7pm for the duration of the summer months.

 

Thursday 3^rd July

Blessington Bowls Club meet at 7.30pm in St Kevin’s Hall, Blessington. Guests are most welcome, why not come along & bring a friend.

Mass at 9am  St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride

Mass at 9.30am  Church of Our Lady Blessington

 

Friday 4^th July

Mass at 9.30am  Church of Our Lady Blessington

Mass at 9am  St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride

Confessions  will take place on the First Friday of the Month at 7pm in the Church of Our Lady

 

Deadline for Notices in the Newsletter The deadline to have your notices in the newsletter is Tuesday at 11am at the very latest

 

Mass intentions in  Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Ned O Brien…RD Manor Kilbride, Joan Sheridan…RD, Paul Toomey…RD, Ann Byrne…RD

Saturday: Matthew, Mary & Larry Lennon…A, Michael & Ann Mary Norton…Rem, Peggy Foley…MM, Sheila Hearns…4th A

Sunday: Johanna & Lar Bennett…A, Niall Kirwan…RD

Monday: Mass for the Sick & those in Hospital

Tuesday: Sean Fennessy…RD, Michael Kennedy…A, Get Well Mass

Wednesday: Mary Brady…RD, Thanksgiving Mass

Thursday: Ray O Donnell…A, Sinead Cullen…A

Friday: 1st Friday of the month, Mass offered for all on the November List of the Dead.

Pilgrimage to Knock Sun July 13th There are still some seats available, please contact 086 1609293 to book your seat.

Peters Pence Collection This weekend 28^th & 29^th June. The Peters Pence collection will take place at all masses. The collection will replace the second collection.

Church of Our Lady, Blessington & Church of Our Lady of Mercy, Crosschapel St. Joseph’s Church, Valleymount & Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Lacken Fr. Gerry Kane PP  Tel: 045 865 327

St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride – Fr. Paraic McDermott C.S.Sp. Tel: 01 4582154

Parish Office: 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday Tel: 045 865 327.

Minister of Eucharist  July 2025 Church of Our Lady Blessington SAT 6PM: Gearldine McMulkin & Colette Fennan SUNDAY 10AM: Margaret Flynn, Charmaine Quinn & Brendan Sheehey

Blessington Parish Lotto Numbers on 19^th June: 23,24,27,28. €25 Winner: Denise Connolly  Next Jackpot €3000.

Feast Days – 1^st July – St. Oliver Plunkett St Oliver Plunkett was from Irish nobility, whose family supported King Charles I. He was Ordained in Rome in l 654,  he became a professor of theology from 1654 until he was appointed Archbishop of Armagh in 1669. He ministered in Armagh though forced to work in a covert way during the suppression of priests. He was arrested and tried in Dundalk in 1679 for conspiring against the state. It was seen that Oliver would never be convicted in Ireland, and he was moved to Newgate Prison, London. He was found guilty of high treason for ‘Promoting the Catholic faith’, and was condemned to a gruesome death. He was the last Catholic to die for his faith in Tyburn and the first of the Irish Martyrs to be beatified in 1920.  He was canonised by Pope Paul VI on 12 Oct 1975. He is buried at Downdhire Abbey, England.His head is venerated in St. Peters Church Drogheda.

Pray & Play Group Will recommence in September with the new school year For further information contact the Parish office 045 865327

Prayer to Saint Oliver Plunkett Glorious Martyr, Saint Oliver, who willingly gave your life for your faith, help us to be strong in faith and loyal to the See of Peter. May your intercession and example banish hatred and bitterness from the hearts of Irish people. May the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, as it did in yours, even at the moment of your death. Pray for us and for Ireland, that we may be as forgiving as you were and that peace and reconciliation may prevail.  Amen. you were and that peace and reconciliation may prevail. Amen.

A Prayer for our Parish Heavenly Father, Bless our Church and our parish, And all the good work that goes on in them. May all who are Christians live and work together for the good of each other and the glory of your Name. May those who do not know you be brought by our example to a loving knowledge and peace with you.  Amen

Pilgrimage for the Jubilee year 2025. Pilgrimage is an important component of a Jubilee year. Many travel abroad for pilgrimage, but a pilgrimage can also take place with the abundant Christian locations we have within our own Diocese. An exhibition ‘Pockets of Hope’ has been set up in the four Jubilee Churches in our Archdiocese: -St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral,  Marlborough Street. -Our Lady of Lourdes, Sean McDermott Street. -Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, City Quay. -St. Andrew’s Church, Westland Row. There is a further display in St. Kevin’s Parish Church, Glendalough.

Date for your Diary- Sunday 6th July  The annual blessing of the graves will take place at 3pm in Templeboden cemetery. Sun July 13^th  pilgrimage to Knock on Bus will leave Blessington carpark at 7.30 am. Further details contact 086 1609293

The Jubilee Prayer Father in heaven, may the faith you have given us in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother, and the flame of charity enkindled in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, reawaken in us the blessed hope for the coming of your Kingdom. May your grace transform us into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel. May those seeds transform from within both humanity and the whole cosmos in the sure expectation of a new heaven and a new earth, when, with the powers of Evil vanquished, your glory will shine eternally. May the grace of the Jubilee reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope, a yearning for the treasures of heaven. May that same grace spread the joy and peace of our Redeemer throughout the earth. To you our God, eternally

There will be a pilgrimage to Knock on Sun July 13th departing at 7.30am from the Blessington church carpark. The pilgrimage will include meditation anointing of the sick, Confession and mass at 3pm. For further details contact 086 1609293.

A Summer Prayer Long warm days… The pace of life slows… A time for picnics and rest in the shade… Lord, help me to rest awhile in the cooling shade of your presence. Slow down my restless heart and fill me with gentle compassion for all your people. Amen.

Blessington Community Employment Vacancies These are developmental opportunities, no experience necessary. Please contact us on 085-2523563 or martincahill@blessingtonce.ie  Please note *You must be in receipt of a social welfare payment for the last 12 months to qualify for these positions. * CE Rates Apply.  St Mary’s Church Caretaker: This is a developmental opportunity, no experience necessary. Ref Number: 2381875 Valleymount GAA Caretaker: Duties will include but not limited to: Grass cutting and pitch maintenance, Some cleaning duties.  Ref Number: 2381878 Blessington Greenway Caretaker: Duties to include but not restricted to grass cutting, verge and tree maintenance. Ref Number: 2386069 Hollywood Community Center Caretaker: Duties to include but not limited to: General light maintenance. Some cleaning duties. Ref Number: 2386070

AWARE SUPPORT & SELF CARE GROUPS If you or those with whom you work wish to connect with people in relation to your mental wellbeing, consider using Aware’s phone-in and Zoom support and self-care groups, support line or support mail. For more information, visit www.aware.ie.

Accord Prayer for Marriage & Family Life God of love, show us our place in this world as channels of your love. Give to us the gift of respect, empathy and understanding. Bless and strengthen our love for each other. Help us to appreciate the value of family life and to live in harmony with all whom we come in contact with. Encourage us, we pray, to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with the Lord. Praise be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT The Irish Hospice Foundation provides a free Bereavement Support Line. This National Freephone Service is available from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday, by calling 1800 807077. Visit www.hospicefoundation.ie for more information.

Thought of the Week True happiness is born of letting go of what is unnecessary. Sharon Salzberg

CARE OF THE EARTH Composting is simple. Add food scraps and yard waste to your compost bin. Occasionally turn and water the decomposing materials. Wait several months, and then you’ll have finished compost to use in your garden.

West Wicklow Cancer Support  invite you to our monthly  Drop In Evening  Thursday 26th June 7.30pm Coimin Centre Blessington when we’ll welcome Brian from An Siopa Bhaile to host a sound bath meditation with some beautiful Sean-ns music. This promises to be a wonderful relaxing evening, don’t miss out. Open to all, no charge, no need to book. Bring a blanket and cushion for added comfort with tea and refreshments to follow

For Sale A Bungalow at Orchard View, Kilteel, Naas, Co. Kildare. W91 XRF9 Has a large garden with trees, extensive patio at the back, Sitting room, living/dining room, sunroom/playroom, kitchen. 5 Bed, 3 bath, Garden Apartment for rent at €1,150 monthly, tax free or for independent, loved ones or guests. Extra spacious room with patio door and high ceilings, office/business/home cinema/gym/ bedroom – 6 bedrooms for the price of 5. Nugent Auctioneers, Main St., Blessington. Tel:045 865555.

2 Double Rooms  Available to Rent In Blessington  087 7838316

To Let Large Family Room, Ensuite Near Oldcourt Transport required 086 2723377