►Holy Hour in Crosschapel every Monday after 10am Mass. (ex Bank Holidays)

►Children’s Choir 1^st Rehearsal from 3pm to 3.45pm in Church of Our Lady Blessington

►Neighbourhood Collection Envelopes for May are due, we would appreciate it collectors could drop the envelopes into the Parish Office

►Congratulations to the Boys & Girls who will receive 1^st Holy Communion at 11am Mass in Lacken Church today.

►A message from Archbishop Diarmuid Martin

This weekend of 11^th & 12^th May, we celebrate Good Shepherd Sunday an occasion to reflect on the importance of the ministerial priesthood & on prayer for vocations to the priesthood.  This is an urgent call for the future of our diocese. There will no longer be special collection today as with smaller numbers of seminarians, there are now sufficient funds for the near future. In his message for the World day of Prayer for Vocations Pope Francis says that there can be no greater joy than to risk one’s life for the Lord! He encourages us, especially the young, not to be deaf to the Lord’s call.   ‘If he calls you to follow his path, do not pull your oars into the boat, but trust him.  Do not yield to fear, which paralyses us before the great heights to which the Lord points us.

Next weekend, 18^th & 19^th May, we will for the first time hold a new collection which will be called the Ministry Sunday Collection. This new annual collection will replace the Share Collection & will be devoted to support the building up of new forms of lay ministry in our parishes.  The work of spreading the Gospel of Jesus in our changing religious culture will require more lay men and women working in various ways alongside our priests at the heart of parish communities. This collection is about ensuring that we will have the people we need – men & women who will be to the fore in making our parishes vibrant faith communities into the future. While many of those involved will be volunteers, we will have to equip & train leaders & provide facilities for formation. We want to work towards a situation where all parishes in this Archdiocese benefit from their gifts & expertise. The new collection is one-step in that process.

 

► The Parish Book Club will meet at 10am in the Crying Room, Church of Our Lady. The book for discussion is “An Astonishing Secret” by Daniel O’Leary. Published 2017 by Columba Press. New Members welcome.

►Citizens Information Centre in Blessington Library from 1pm to 4pm. Legal advice service on 1st & 3rd Tues of month by appointment

►Eucharistic Adoration from 7.30pm to 8.30pm in Blessington Church.

Want a fun, free family day out? Now in its 3rd year we are delighted to announce: Teddy Bears Picnic in collaboration with Russborough House & Gardens. Come along for a fabulous, fun packed day for all ages from 11.30 starting with a woodland walk. Bring your favourite teddy & picnic basket!

The Big Hello Community Weekend

Saturday 4^th May “A Wicklow Miscellany” of music, songs, poetry & prose.

Hosted by Blessington Comhaltas from 7pm to 8.30pm in the Coimin Centre,

Sunday 5^th May Blessington & District Day Care Centre Open Day in the Coimin Centre, from 10am to 1pm. All welcome to come & enjoy a cup of tea or coffee & view our Day Care Facilities.

Sunday 5^th May Intercultural Community Celebration with Tea, Chat & Sing Song in Manor Kilbride Community Hall from 12 to 4pm all welcome.

Hosted by Kilbride & Lakeside Music Committee & Glen Heste Pure Mile Group.

Sunday 5^th May Lacken Community Centre Street Fest from 2pm to 4pm.We would love you, your family & friends to be part of it. A fun afternoon.

These events are funded by Wicklow Local Community Development Committee