Issue 1338 December 27th 2020

Mass Intentions next Week

Saturday 6pm: Luka Callaghan (Months Mind) Michael Doran (Rem) Charles, Catherine, Christopher & Kay Reid (Rem) Paddy & Pauline O’Brien (Rem) Matthew Lennon Jnr (Rem) Thanksgiving Mass, Anna & Thomas Connolly (Rem)

Sunday 10am: Dec Mem of Jameson & Carroll Families (Rem) Mary Breen (A) Jim & Mary Breen (Rem) Kathleen Phibbs (A) Henry Lee (A) Sr. M Assumpta (Rem) Patricia McInerney (Rem)

We also remember: Cathal Gallagher,  Millicent Jones, Noreen & Matt Nugent, Patsy Hamilton, Douglas Shirran, John Durkin, Kitty & John Nolan, Brendan, Aoife, Noel & Chrissy Cummins, Liam Clougher, Mary O’Grady, Margaret & Tom Clougher, James & Christina Kavanagh, Dec Mem of the Kavanagh Family, Frank & Olwyn Langan, Louis & Mary Walsh, Sandra Dryer, Gilbert Hayes, Mary & Teresa O’Hara, Martin Burke, Mairead Hudson, Dec Mem of Carroll & Hudson Families, Eileen Kelly, Patrick & Elizabeth Kelly, Patrick & Margaret Brophy, Sr. M Benignus, Sr. Angela Kelly, Dec Mem of Kelly Family (Clonslee) John & Helena Kelly, Dec Mem Kelly Family (Blessington), Mary Talty

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

Tuesday: Hannah Smith (A) Lily Rees (A) Get Well Mass, Get Well Mass

Wednesday: Sp Living Intentions, Thanksgiving Mass

Thursday: Muriel Browne (A) Michael Eustace (RD)

Friday: Mass offered for all on the November List of the Dead

May the Holy Family bring Peace, Joy & Happiness to you & your family this Christmas. We invite you to join with us in celebrating the birth of Jesus. Archdeacon Kevin Lyon, Fr. Paraic McDermott, Fr. Micheál Comer, Fr. Noel Campbell, Rev. Deacon Gerry Malone Áine Egan, Pastoral worker, Fr. Richard Behan P.P.

CHRISTMAS MASSES  in Church of Our Lady, Blessington. Due to the restriction on numbers allowed to gather indoors, access to Christmas Eve & Christmas Day Masses in Blessington is by TICKET ONLY. We are sorry to say that you will have be turned away if you don’t have a ticket.

Christmas Eve Mass Times – Blessington 6.00pm, 7.30pm & 9.30pm

Christmas Day Mass Times – Blessington 10.00am & 11.30am

PLEASE NOTE: All Masses via Webcam only unless you already have a ticket to attend in person.

Thank you to the kind person who dropped my son’s wallet into the Garda on Sunday evening (no name given) He had lost it in Deerpark. We are extremely grateful and it certainly restores my faith in the kindness of people in this Parish … many thanks Deirdre Byrne

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

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

The Blessington Interfaith Group is organising the next event, hopefully sometime around Easter, if circumstances permit. We will be in touch regarding the details. In the meantime, if anyone is interested in meeting on line we would like to hear from you. Call us on any of the numbers below.  Many thanks to all who have supported us over the years & we wish you & your families every blessing for Christmas & the New Year. Anton Trant: 086 3389553 – Grania Glancy: 087 125 3190 – Joan Griffith: 087 9704832 – Gerry Curran: 087 284 1009

The Blessington and District Forum would like to thank the communities of Blessington and Lakeside for their continued support this year. The generosity shown in both the Switching on of the Christmas Lights and the Toy Appeal has been phenomenal. We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a Healthy and Safe 2021.

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.”

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

Courses in the Further Education & Training Centre Blessington We are currently enrolling for courses for our new term starting in January 2021 Part Time Courses (Day and Evening) Looking to up-skill or learn something new whilst gaining a QQI qualification? Our part time courses are two days a week and are either day or evening. We have part time courses available in the following starting this January: eBusiness  (Day course) Tourism with Business (Day course) Healthcare  (Evening course) Employment Skills  (Day course) Horticulture (Day course) Office Skills  (Day course) For further information please contact Anne McGrath or Karen Townsend on 086 850 3833 or 045 891 099 or blessingtonfetc@kwetb.ie

Community Pool for West Wicklow Thank you for all of your support for a pool for West Wicklow. Wishing you and your families a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.

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!

Church Collections All the SHRINE MONEY & donations in the black PDF BOXES on the wall of the church remain in the parish. During this time, you can also make donations via the DONATE BUTTON on the parish website. Thank you for your ongoing support. Donations can be made to the 1st & 2nd collections via the DONATE BUTTON on the parish website. The 1st collection goes to towards the support of the parish. The 2nd collection goes to the Diocese. There are also envelopes available in the Church for these donations

A Christmas Prayer

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Loving Father,
Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.

May the Christmas morning
make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds
with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven,
for Jesus’ sake.

Amen.