Burgage Cemetery Mass next Sunday 19th May at 3pm

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

►Congratulations to the Boys & Girls who will receive 1^st Holy Communion at 11.15am Mass in Valleymount 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.

Congratulations to the Boys & Girls

who will receive 1^st Holy Communion this weekend 11^th & 12^th May

Lacken Church at 11am on Saturday Valleymount Church at 11.15am on Sunday

►The Citizens Information Centre is open in Blessington Library today 10am to 12.30pm.

►The Rosary will be offered at 7.30pm for the intentions of our families in Blessington Church

►Bethany Bereavement Support group available for caring confidential support from 8pm to 9pm no appointment necessary.