Newsletter 7th Sept 2025. Issue 1560

Community Diary

Saturday 6^th Sept

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

 

Sunday 7^th Sept

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

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

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

 

Monday 8^th Sept  

Blessington Bridge Club7.15pm, Kare Centre.Information on pg 3

Mass at 9.30am  Church of Our Lady Blessington

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

 

Tuesday 9^th Sept

Mass at 9.30am Church of Our Lady Blessington

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

 

 

Wednesday 10^th Sept

Pray & Play Group 3pm to 4.30pm.In the Coimin Centre, Information on pg 2

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 theduration ofthe summer months.

 

Thursday 11^th Sept

Blessington Indoor Bowls Club7.30pm in St Kevin’s Hall,Information on pg 3

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

Mass at 9.30am Church of Our Lady, Blessington

 

Friday 12^th Sept

Mass at 9.30am Church of Our Lady, Blessington

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

 

Mass intentions in Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Sheila McKenna -Keegan… RD Blessington,

Peter Byrne…RD Valleymount

Saturday: Annie Byrne…MM, Julia Hunt…Birthday Rem Phyllis Doherty…A, Michael & Bridie Teague…A, Eugene Fennell…ATon & Kitty Shannon…A George, Kate, Paddy & Nancy Harold…Rem Deceased Members of the Harold family…Rem

Sunday: Colm & Nuala O Donnell…A, Reggie Lawlor…Rd Josephine Byrne…3^rd A

Monday: Mass for the Sick & those in Hospital

Tuesday: Betty Kavanagh …RD, Get Well Mass

Wednesday: Martha Nolan…RD, Mary Byrne…RD

Thursday: Betty Maher…RD, Michael Butler…RD

Friday: Patricia Marron…RD, Tommy O Donahue…RD

Congratulations to the winners of the Valleymount and Lacken Parish draw  for August Angela & John Richardson, Jake Kavanagh Nicola & Steven Byrne, Alan Ridge Shann & Mark Morris, Anne & Michael Moran

www.thesower.net Deacon Gerry’s Gospel Reflection: In the Beginning.  John 1:1-5

 

Dates for your Diary

Healing Mass

Church of Our Lady Blessington

Sat September 13^th & Sat December 13^th All Masses will take place at 11am

All are welcome

Women’s Breakfast

Let’s Connect!

Our next breakfast will be on Sat 20^th Sept & Sat 22^nd Nov

9.30am to 11am, in the Coimin Centre

Family Mass

21st September with family choir and refreshments

Communion 2025/2026

Meeting for all parents Sept 22nd at 8pm in the

Church of Our Lady, Blessington.

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

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.

Feast Days – 9^th Sept – St. Ciaran of Clonmacnoise Ciarán was born in around 516 in County Roscommon. His father was a carpenter and chariot maker. As a boy, Ciarán worked as a cattle herder .He was a student of Finian’s at Clonard and in time became a teacher, himself. Columba of Iona said of Ciarán, “He was a lamp, blazing with the light of wisdom.” In about 534, he left Clonard for Inishmore where he studied under Enda of Aran, who ordained him a priest and advised him to build a church and monastery. In 544, he finally settled in Clonmacnoise, where he founded the Monastery of Clonmacnoise with ten fellow companions. As abbot, he worked on the first buildings of the monastery; however, he died about seven months later of a plague, in his early thirties. His feast day is 9 September.

PRAYER TO ST. CIARAN OF CLONMACNOIS Most glorious God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit- we thank you for the lift of your servant St. Ciaran. By his example of fervent charity towards the poor, may we be ever more motivate to seek opportunities to help the downcast and lowly. Through his intercession as a miracle worker, ma you grant relief to all the sick and suffering; blessing with hope, all those who despair. may St. Ciarán, “a lamp blazing with the light of wisdom.” intercede on our behalf; bringing grace to the faithful and glory toy our holy name. Amen

BALTYBOYS CEMETERY SUNDAY.
We would like to thank everyone involved in the preparation of the Cemetery for Mass and blessing of the graves on Sunday the 17th August.
Thanks to FR. Gerry and Deacon Gerry for being with us on the day.
We were blessed with glorious Sunshine enabling the Cemetery’s beautiful setting and hard work
in the upkeep of the grounds to be seen.
Baltyboys Cemetery Committee

Blessington and Valleymount parish Children’s Choir Starting this September on Wednesday afternoons in Church of Our Lady, Blessington. Open to children from Juniors Infants upwards. *More details to follow*

The Season of Creation The Season of Creation from Sept1st to Oct 4th, the feast of St Francis of Assisi, is an opportunity in our Liturgical calendar to notice and pray for creation in a special way. It can remind us of our part to play in the interconnected web of life, of the importance of caring for the myriad of life systems on our planet and how we can be part of the restorative care that brings peace and allows for resting places for all our species on this planet. This year’s theme is “Peace with Creation”. Inspired by Isaiah “My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings and in quiet resting places” Ceremonies to mark the season of Creation will be held in the parish in September. Confirmation of dates will be given in early September.

Communion 2025/2026 There will be a meeting in the  Church of Our Lady Blessington on Mon Sept 22^nd at 8pm for all parents in  Blessington and Valleymount parish who wish to enrol their children in the First Holy Communion programme for the coming year.

Minister of Eucharist  September 2025 Church of Our Lady Blessington SAT 6PM: Teresa Ball & Sara Ortega SUNDAY 10AM: Aisling Molloy & Annanora Hudson

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.

Popes Intentions August 2025 For Mutual Coexistence. Let us pray that societies where coexistence seems more difficult might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious or ideological reasons.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING Solidarity is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people… It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good. St. John Paul II, Sollicitudo Rei Socialis.

Blessington Parish Lotto Numbers on 28^th August: 3,16,17,27. €25 Winner: Sinead Neilson  Next Jackpot €3000.

FUEL STAMP SAVING SCHEME Fuel Stamps are a great way to help budget for your fuel costs. Start saving now towards your fuel bills during the winter months.   The Stay Warm Saving Scheme is an easy payment option plan which enables households to budget for their central heating oil or solid fuel. Start saving the €5 Stay Warm Saving Stamps on the savings card and use the stamps to pay (in full or part payment) for fuel with the listed suppliers on the card. A new supplier to the scheme but not listed on the card is Tom Phibbs Fuels Tel: 01 2118469.  The Scheme is open to all households in the Blessington area and full details are available on the card. This scheme, initiated by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) and supported by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, aims to help families manage their heating bills by spreading the cost of fuel. The €5 Stay Warm Saving Stamps and Savings Card are only available from Hennessy’s Hardware and SVP Shop.

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.

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

Chair Yoga Healers Dance Blessington Mondays 11am-12pm To book a spot Contact Patricia Ph. 086 0717384

Blessington Bridge Club Meets every Mon at 7.15pm in the Kare Centre. New players welcome.

Country Fête  13th September, 12 pm – 4 pm in St. Kevin’s Hall in support of St. Mary’s Church Blessington and St. John’s Church, Ballymore. Fun for all the family! Enjoy our Kids Corner, Plant Stall, Raffle and much, much more. Novelty Dog Show starts at 1 pm. Enter your furry friend in one of our fun-filled categories: “waggiest tail”, “best dressed” “most like its owner” or even the “pettiest pooch”.

Social Dancing. Enjoy an evening of dancing to Tommy B. Donard Community Hall, Sat 20^th September, 9pm -12am. All Welcome

1st year student in Maynooth seeking to share a lift and driving expenses to the college from Blessington Please email Clare rclarelacken@gmail.com

Blessington U3A is part of the international University of the Third Age (U3A) movement. Its members are mainly retired people and each U3A group is self-managing and self-financing. Blessington U3A’s activities are monthly talks, a writing sub-group and walks. Our year runs from September to June. Annual membership is €25. Non-members €5 per talk. Our first talk this year is on September 16^th – details to be provided nearer the date. Email: sec.u3a.blessingtona@gmail.com

Happy Days. Give your Child the Confident Edge! NEW: PreSchool Theatre Tots Classes – Tramway Theatre, Blessington Saturday mornings: 9:00–9:45am Starting 20th September Where little stars take their first steps onto the stage! Fun theatre games, music, movement, and storytelling build confidence, creativity, and social skills — with a special end-of-year performance. Ages: 3½ years to school-going age And don’t forget! Our exciting Saturday classes for ages 5–18 are back 13th September, 10am–12pm, Tramway Theatre, Blessington Give your child the confidence to shine and memories they’ll treasure!” — with fun Saturday classes in Speech & Drama, Dance, Musical Theatre  & Singing

Willow 3 Art Studios Oldcourt, Manor Kilbride Blessington Co. Wicklow W91T9D9 For Full Autumn Programme Text Anna 0872273925 or Email anna.nagle@gmail.com

Do you have a junior infant starting school this year? Nerves getting to them? Our ballet classes are the perfect place for children to grow their confidence, body awareness and social skills. We are the ONLY Royal Academy of Dance school in Blessington, with 20 years experience teaching. Book your place today! Email ruthshineschoolofdance1@gmail.com

The Healers Dance. Holistic & Giftshop. Tues – Sat, 10am – 5pm. Behind Dunnes Stores, Blessington.

Piano and music  theory lesson in Ballymore-Eustace (CLASSICAL and JAZZ). Experimented teacher (20 years of teaching) Trial lesson (30min) €25 zacharieblin@yahoo.fr 089 483 7341

The Healers Dance. Now offering Low Cost Counselling To Book: Visit Our Website www.healersdance.com

GARDENING SERVICES Grass cutting / Ride on lawnmower Push Lawnmower, Hedge cutting Chainsaw Cutting, Splitting Timber, Spraying, Weeding, Powerwashing Driveway Patios, General Maintenance around your home. Just Call for reasonable Quates/ Price. Call or text 0876640695.

Jennifer Kavanagh Sports & Remedial Therapy: *Muscle Aches and Pains *Chronic Muscle or Joint Pain *Struggling to perform Day-to-Day Tasks *Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation *Increased Mobility. Fully qualified ITEC NCVA, fully insured and local experienced Therapist. Ph: 087 9021099

Blessington Taxi Phone Greg 087 2626 393

Catriona Byrne & Co Solicitors BESIDE AIB – OVER 20 YEARS ESTABLISHED FOR ALL YOUR LEGAL NEEDS 3 Mill Bank, Blessington County Wicklow Tel: 045 857 537 www.catrionsbyrne.ie

Septic Tanks Emptied & Digger Hire Call Dermot or Adam Phibbs 087 799 5320 – 083 037 4750 lizmphibbs6@gmail.com      License no: NWCPO-21-12619-01

Wicklow & Kildare Mental Health Services  Counselling & Psychotherapy. Aran Centre, Blessington, Co. Wicklow. For Bookings please contact, by phone: 089 274 4920 or e-mail: info@wicklowandkildarementalhealth.ie

Driving instructor RSA and ADI approved.  Contact Michael 087 459 4258  for bookings.

Painter & Decorator Interior & Exterior Call Damien 085 826 0431

HEADSTONES McEvoy Monumental Works Blessington. Headstones, Inscriptions, Renovations. Serving the people of Blessington for over 40 years. Call to our workshop at Millbank Blessington Call: Mick 045 865 487 – 086 843 8832 or Gary 087 933 3487 www.mcevoymonumentalworks.com

Local Builder Available All services under one roof, Windows & Doors, Plumbing, Tiling, Roofing, Plastering, Electrical, Carpentry, Insulation. All levels of construction services available. Fully registered. Call Paul: 086 309 1829

Eagle Cleaning Solutions Chimney Cleaning, Exterior Power Washing, Window Cleaning, Gutter Cleaning & Repairs. Find us on Facebook! Call for appointment: 087 247 4388. info@eaglecleaningsolutions.com

German Autoworks – Service Specialist VW/Audi, Mercedes, Skoda, Seat, Opel – Call 087 286 3997 www.germanautoworks.ie

Balance Looking to improve strength, flexibility, and stress levels in a supportive space? Balance Reformer Pilates offers low-impact, high-results workouts designed for every body no matter your fitness level, or experience. Located over the SVP shop. Intro offer available. 4 classes €60. www.balancestudios.ie

Niall Kearns Building & Roofing Contractor 086 274 6969 nkbuildandroof@gmail.com Building New Homes, Extensions, Sunrooms Attic Conversions, Renovations, Chimney Repairs Roofing New Roofs, All Roof Repairs Flat Roofs, Gutter Repairs Roof Replacement, PVC Fascia & Soffit All Work Fully Guaranteed

JP&M Doyle What’s Your Property Worth? Talk to us today for your free-Market Appraisal Specializing In Residential Town & Country Homes Development & Agricultural Land Commercial Property Lettings, Valuations. 2025 is your year to make it happen! With high demand and a lack of supply, now is the perfect time to maximise your property’s value. www.jpmdoyle.ie Tel: 045-865568.

Ustore @ Hollywood Large storage area available Phone 087-356-7601 €100 Per month.

KILDARA HEATING & PLUMBING Call Dara: 0862356610 Email: Kildaraheating@gmail.com Heating & Plumbing Services Bathroom Renovations Boiler install/service Heat pumps Central Heating Power flushing Fully Insured RGI & Oftec Registered

Trusted Plumbing Services  Call Andre on 0879515066 Fast, reliable & affordable plumbing throughout Wicklow and surrounding areas.