Issue 1336 December 13th 2020

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT – GAUDATE – 13^th December

The coming of Christ is a message of joy: a joy founded and rooted in God’s love and care for his people, and his promise of an eternal companionship.

Mass Intentions this Week:

Pamela Shortland (RD) Santry Hill

Saturday 6pm: Vivian Daly (A) Carl Nagle (A) Denis Brereton(A) Patrick & Gretta Reidy (Rem) Deceased Mem of the Doyle Family (Rem)

Sunday 10am: Sheila Kearns (1st A) Sharon Jones (1stA) Cathal Gallagher (A) Roseann & John Joseph Moran (A) Terry Bolton(A) Josie Byrne (5^th A) Johanna & Denis Jones (R)

We also remember: Bill Smith, Julia Hunt, Catherine & John Devoy, Brian Murphy, Julia Hunt, Deceased Members & Friends of the Howard Family, Deceased Members & Friends of the Patterson Family

Monday: Mass offered for all the Blessington List of the Sick

Tuesday Lawrence & Gertrude Kehoe (A) Int Mass, Int Mass, Thanksgiving Mass, Mary & Jimmy Robinson

Wednesday: Thanksgiving Mass, Thanksgiving Mass

Thursday: Joseph McDonald (A), Jimmy Cashman (A)

Friday: Mass offered for all on the Blessington Deceased Mass Card List

On this Sheila Kearns’s 1st Anniversary, the family would like to thank all those who sympathised, attended the wake & funeral, sent mass cards, provided food, floral tributes & supported the family in any way. Thank you to Fr. Paraic & Fr. Jerry Foley who celebrated the mass, & a special thank you to Fr. Paraic who was so kind to Sheila in her final days. Thanks to Tony & Regina for their help & support & to Lorraine for the beautiful singing in the church, also to Sheila’s grandchildren & great grandchildren who took part in the mass. Mass has been offered for your intentions. Sheila’s 1st Anniversary Mass take place in St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride on Sunday 13th Dec at 11am

Saturday 12^th & Sunday 13^th December. SVP will be holding their Annual collection at this weekend’s Masses.  The funds raised will be spent in the local community helping those who need it most with food, heating & education costs throughout the winter & beyond. People can also donate directly to SVP Blessington through the Parish Office. Many thanks you for your very generous support.

►Daily Mass at 9.30am, Monday to Friday

►Saturday 12^th December: Mass at 6pm

►Sunday 13^th December: Mass at 10am

►Tuesday 15^th December Rosary & Adoration from 7pm to 7.45 pm

All Masses & Services still available via Webcam

Our Churches are open for public Mass. A ticket is required to attend weekend Masses in Church of Our Lady Blessington, available from the Parish Office: 045 865 327. Parish Office from 9am to 1pm – Monday to Friday

Deacon Gerry has created an Online Advent Calendar for adults, older children & teenagers to interact with this Advent. Open a door in the calendar every day for short reflective prayer on the Parish Pastoral Website: www.blessingtonparishes.com

Blessington Parish 2^nd Annual CHRISTMAS CRIB EXHIBITION in the Coimín Centre Blessington on December 18th 10am to 4pm, December 19th 11am to 6pm, December 20th 11am to 5pm. Over 100 exhibits of “Cribs from around the World” Some beautiful new additions this year.

St Marys’ Schools & Blessington Parish Lotto – WIN A PLAYSTATION 5  All you have to do is to have a line in our weekly lotto and you will be entered into a special draw for the PlayStation 5 on the 17^th December and you’ll also have a chance to win our Jackpot. To our existing supporters – your support has been amazing throughout the year and we needed that support this year more than ever – thank you! If you want to play an extra line you can do so by logging into your account  https://www.ourparishfundraiser.ie/parish/blessington To all our parents, family members, friends, neighbours and the wider community please get involved and support us as the funds raised have a hugely positive impact.  Click here to join:  https://www.ourparishfundraiser.ie/parish/blessington and please share the link on your social media, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

St Marys’ Schools & Blessington Parish Lotto This week’s Jackpot is €3375!! That would cover the Christmas shopping! If you’re not in you can’t win! Text the word Blessington to 51444 or go to www.blessingtonparish.ie This week’s winner is:Rachel McCudden. The numbers drawn this week are: 1, 5, 7,  27

Small Sum of Money Found in a little zipped purse on the path opposite St Mary’s Junior School. Enquiries: School Office 045 865 501 or Parish Office: 045 865 327

Sum of Money Found in Church On Friday 20^th November Call Parish Office: 045 865 327

Good Dry Kindling for Sale at Blessington Men’s Shed – €3 for 1 Bag. €10 for 3 Bags. For collection information phone: John Flynn at 087 297 7678. All money raised for upkeep of Shed during these difficult times.”

Blessington Parish Office WE ARE OPEN 9am to 1.00pm Monday to Friday. You may still call or email if you wish to have someone prayed for at Mass. Email: office@blessington.info Office: 045 865 327 Jean: 087 235 0835 – 9am to 5pm. Blessington Parish Christmas Mass Bouquets, Christmas Cards and other gift items on sale. All items can be ordered over the phone and collected later.

Blessington Library is open. Our usual opening hours apply: Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat: 10am – 5pm. Tues/Thurs: 10am – 8.30pm The library is open for browsing and borrowing only. Study spaces & computers are not available at this time.

Gaelscoil na Lochanna- Oíche Oscailte agus Chlárúcháin, 14ú Eanáir 2021. Our Open/Enrolment night for places in school for next Sept is on 14th January 7:30pm by Zoom Webinar. Webinar will be open from 7pm. Please see our website to click and join the Zoom, www.gaelscoilnalochanna.com Enrolment period lasts from 14th Jan to 3th Feb, 2021. We have a new website for parents FAQ about joining a Gaelscoil: www.gsnl.info 087 938 8651 for any enquiries.  Fáilte!

Fr Kevin’s Homilies are always available on our website: https://blessingtonparish.ie/homilies-year-b/

Calling all Local Businesses, Artists & Crafters! Community Pool for West Wicklow are hosting an online Christmas Market and we would like you to be part of it! Every day from early November we will be posting a new video to our social media pages, like an extended Advent Calendar. Each video will showcase a different local business or artist and their products. We hope that our online Christmas Market will help to encourage people to shop local and support local businesses this Christmas. If you think this is something you would like to get involved in, then email us at poolforWestWicklow@gmail.com

SUPPORT OUR LOCAL SMALL BUSINESSES THIS CHRISTMAS: follow our New Instagram page BLESSINGTON BUSINESS WOMEN.  A page set up for women in business & also other local  businesses in Blessington & surrounding areas to network, connect & support one another. Find out more about all the amazing small businesses we have in our fantastic village from highly talented nail salons, beauty salons, hair salons, make-up artists, eyelash specialists & holistic therapists, our local cafe & health shop. Or introduce yourself to some of the top fitness specialists, nutritionists, dance & yoga studios, photographers & nutritionists. We even have our very own Doula! Take the hassle & stress out of Christmas Shopping this year and help to support our community by treating someone special to a Gift Voucher for some wonderful pampering or buying a gift from one of our many talented businesses.

Senior Line If you are an older person and would like someone to talk to, consider phoning Senior Line.  A National Confidential Service for Older People. Open every day from 10am -10pm.  We are older people too, trained to listen & support.  Freefone 1800 80 45 91

Crosscare Appeal for Support this Christmas as their normal food collections have been cancelled. Crosscare is appealing to people to support them online this Advent as they will be unable to hold their annual Parish Food Collection for those most in need. Every December, Crosscare collected thousands of Euros worth of non-perishable foods to restock their foodbanks and support their community cafés. This year, due to Covid 19 restrictions Crosscare will not be able to launch a food collection in the Diocese of Dublin as usual. However, in order to ensure they have adequate supplies, they are asking people to support them by making a donation online to make sure families struggling to cope can have food on the table this Christmas. Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has appealed to priests and parishes to encourage those parishioners who would ordinarily have supported food drives and the unwanted gifts appeal to go on line and make a donation www.crosscare.ie