Issue 1356 May 23rd 2021

Mass Intentions this week

Brendan Clarke (RD) Lacken, Noel Kelly (RD) Blessington

Saturday 6pm: Nicholas Dunne (A), Mairead Hudson (A), Laurence Carroll (A)

Sunday 10am: Tom & Molly Hamilton (A), Terence Newe (A)

We remember the following: James Byrne (Baltyboys), John McGuire, Jackie McGuire, James McGuire (Birthday Rem), Teresa McGuire, Paddy Kelly, Annie, James, Ellen & Edward Kelly, Eileen Kelly, Patrick & Elizabeth Kelly, Seamus Murphy, Gabrielle Murphy, Martin & Nora Murphy, James & Lilian Darcy, Thomas & Susan Eustace, Thomas & Ann Eustace

Monday: Mass for Blessington List of the Sick

Tuesday: Lena Elliot (RD), Aoife Bonar (RD), Get Well Intention

Wednesday: Get Well Mass Intentions, Thanksgiving Mass, Special Living Intention

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

Friday: Tom Keating (RD), Mary Kavanagh, Baltyboys, (Birthday Remembrance)

►Saturday 22^nd May: 6pm Mass

►Sunday 23^rd May: Mass at 10am

►Daily Mass: 9am Manor Kilbride, 9.30am Blessington – 10am Crosschapel

SATURDAY & SUNDAY MASSES – Due to the continued restrictions on numbers allowed to gather indoors it necessary that people apply for a ticket if they wish to attend 6pm Mass on Saturday or 10am Mass on Sunday in Church of Our Lady, Blessington. Tickets must be collected in the Parish Office between 9.30am & 1pm. Mon to Fri 045 865 327

All Masses & Services are still available via Webcam www.blessingtonparish.ie

Valleymount Weekly Envelopes for the Support of the Parish June 2021 –May 2022. This year’s boxes of envelopes are now available to collect from Valleymount Church porch. This collection is a vital way to raise funds for the running of the parish and we are most grateful for your continued support with your generous weekly contributions. If you would like to sign up to contribute through the Family Offering Envelopes, please call Jean in the Parish Office in Blessington 045 865 327

A time of grace and reflection – Sacred Heart Novena 2021. Thursday 3^rd June to Friday 11^th June, Church of Our Lady, Blessington. Join us in prayer every morning at 9.30am Mass as we draw strength and hope from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Prayer leaflets will be available in the Church porch.

TROCAIRE BOXES – If your Trocaire Box is still sitting on the windowsill at home we would be most grateful if you could drop it to the Parish Office as soon as possible.

Blessington Library is open for browsing and borrowing. Opening hours for May:  Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10am to 5pm Tuesday, Thursday 10am to 8.30pm We look forward to seeing you! 045 891 740  blessingtonlib@wicklowcoco.ie

Hennessey’s of Blessington – This year, 2021 Hennessey’s celebrate 100 years of business in Blessington.  To commemorate this special year, we have a museum in our Hardware Store with artifacts and photographs of local people, old family photos, unusual items of interest etc. We will be open on Tuesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. If you would like to visit our museum, we will allocate a time slot. Please TEXT 087 674 1286 to book a time. Remember to wear a mask. Looking forward to welcoming you all.

Blessington Union of Parishes are available on the parish YouTube channel by searching for “Blessington Union” or at this link

St Mary’s Schools and Blessington Parish Lotto. Jackpot: €4850 – Congratulations to the recent weekly winner of €25 on May 20th  Karen bolger– Numbers drawn: 1, 2, 4, 8 – If you’re not in you can’t win! Text the word Blessington to 51444 or go to www.blessingtonparish.ie Thanks to all for the support!

Good Dry Kindling for Sale at Blessington Men’s Shed. 1 bag for €3 and 4 bags for €10. Information & collection: John Flynn at 087 297 7678. All money raised will go towards the upkeep of Shed during these difficult times.

Blessington Educate Together National School are accepting limited enrolments for our Junior Infants, older Mainstream classes and our Junior ASD class for the next academic year 2021-2022. Enrolment forms are available on our website www.betns.ie   You can also contact us in the office on 045 865 281 or email  office@betns.ie

Gaelscoil na Lochanna (established 15 years) is now accepting enrolments for the new school year. Our children learn to speak Irish quickly and learn everything through Irish. A Brand new school building is on the way. We are launching a New “Aistear” Infant play room in September. Parents do not need Irish to start children in school. gsnl.info, www.gaelscoilnalochanna.com All enquiries to 045 900 525, or 087 938 8651 or via website. Fáilte

St Brigid’s N.S. Manor Kilbride are accepting enrolments for the next school year: 2021 – 2022. To enrol your child, please call Charlotte in our school office 01 458 2550 or find the enrolment documents on our school website http://manorkilbridens.scoilnet.ie/blog/

Lacken National School are now accepting enrolments for Mainstream and Early Intervention Classes for September 2021. School bus runs daily from/to Blessington. The school offers afterschool care for Junior and Senior Infants until 2.30 pm. Lacken School also has a pre-school facility which is ECCE and NCS approved. Enrolment forms can be downloaded from www.lackenns.com or please contact the school office on 045 865 086 or lackenschool@eircom.net

Support for PARISH FINANCES – Blessington, Crosschapel, Manor Kilbride, Valleymount / Lacken

Monthly / Weekly Envelopes: Contact Jean in the Parish Office if you would like to make a monthly/weekly envelope contribution or if you would like to re-join if you used to contribute.

Online: Donations / Contributions can be made  via the “Donate” button on the parish website (options available for all our Churches.)

 Bank Standing Order: If you would like to set up a monthly standing order through your bank, please contact Jean in the Parish Office

Parish Development Fund (PDF): Donations through the black PDF boxes in Blessington Church also go towards the running of the parish.

Shrines: The donations to shrines remains in the parish.

The West Wicklow Chamber Music Festival from 20^th May to 14^th June. This year the festival is online with performances coming from all over Europe! All of the concerts are free online but we are asking for donations to support the charity, please book your free tickets at www.westwicklowfestival.com Full Programme of Performances:  https://www.westwicklowfestival.com/programme

West Wicklow Cancer Support – If your life has been touched by cancer in any way, we are here for you, contact us on 087 434 6004 /  westwicklow15@gmail.com or find us on Facebook. “Nobody is exempt from the trials of life but everyone can always find something positive in everything even in the worst of times. Keep smiling and moving, we are stronger together”

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

Association of Catholics in Ireland (ACI) In preparation for Ireland’s five-year Synodal Pathway for the Catholic Church in Ireland leading to a National Synodal Assembly, the ACI is arranging a series of online discussions, led by personalities who are already thoughtful about ‘walking together’ towards a co-responsible church. The first of these will take place on Thursday 20^th May at 8pm.(via zoom) Speaker: David Timbs, Catholics for Renewal Australia. Registration not necessary. Meeting ID: 858 7277 9921 Passcode: 916970  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85872779921?pwd=RjQvVEtjUjM1MEdnMDgxU0VSRzVLQT09 

St Vincent de Paul Blessington, local number 087 181 1579

• NEWSLETTER ADS

Job Opportunities at VENTAC Blessington. Ventac Design, Manufacture and Supply. Acoustic Solutions for Commercial and Industrial Vehicle OEM’s. We have the following vacancies for Production Personnel at our Head Offices in Fitzwilliam House, Blessington, Co. Wicklow, W91 V972 – General Operatives – Sewing Machinists (training will be provided) Please email your CV and cover letter to hr@ventac.com

Calling All Local Food Producers and Artists. New Food and Craft Market starting Saturday 12^th June @Brew21. Please contact Anthony 086 238 0608 for further details.

Castle Canine Cuts – Dog Grooming Service, 1-to-1 grooming for small to large breeds, open Monday to Saturday by appointment only, find us on Facebook or call Gillian 087 764 1911

Painter & Decorator, Interior & Exterior. Ph: Damien 085 826 0431

Looking forward to the long summer days? Remember Jones Power Tools for Sales and Services for all your garden machines. Talk to our friendly and knowledgeable staff. Always happy to help. Contact:-  info@jonespowertools.ie Phone : – 059 64 81033

Luxury Irish Gift Boxes – Solace Sister Gifts. Our gift boxes are perfect for all occasions; Birthdays, New Mothers & Babies, Thank You Gifts, Sympathy Gifts or simply ‘Just Because’. Website: www.solacesistergifts.ie

4 Large Bedrooms With Ensuite to rent short or long term kitchen living room wash room dryer. Good parking over looking blessington lake’s. Rooms 450 per month. Contact 0892765072

Rods + Cones Opticians Blessington. Beside the GARDA station. Formerly Cullinane Opticians. We are open during COVID lockdown for all your eyecare needs. FREE Eye Exam + Glasses with PRSI + Medical Card. Large selection of Designer Frames + Sunglasses. Special Offers + Discounts on 2nd Pairs, Varifocal Experts – try them with our 30 Day Guarantee. Many Thanks to all our loyal customers. Call 045-891 056 for an appointment.

Gardening – For Hedge clipping, Beds overhauled, Fruit Tree pruning, Painting etc Phone Mark 085 133 7714

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

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

Noel Nolan – Blessington Heating & Plumbing Service  www.blessingtonheatingandplumbing.ie Call Noel: 087 243 1499 or email nolannoel2@gmail.com

Clarkes Funeral Directors I.A.F.D. Funeral Home & Office, Burgage, Blessington. All areas serviced. Phone: Tony or Regina: 087 273 9048 / 087 659 6426 www.funeraldirectorsblessington.ie

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

New Courses at the Further Education and Training Centre Blessington. We are now recruiting for courses starting in September 2021. If you are interested in up-skilling or learning something new we have the course for you! New ** Back to work course ** – 3 days a week – must be over the age of 21 and in receipt of a social welfare payment for at least 6 months. Part time courses in the following:

• Childcare Level 5 and 6 (2 evenings a week)
• Healthcare Level 5 (2 evenings a week)
• E Business Level 5 (2 mornings a week)
• Business with Tourism Level 5 (2 mornings a week)
• Office Skills Level 4 (2 mornings a week)
• Horticulture (2 mornings a week)

For more information on any of the above please contact us blessingtonfetc@kwetb.ie or 086 806 1569 or 086 850 3833. Looking forward to welcoming you all in September 2021

Newsletter Advertising Rates, For just 50c per word per week you can reach a large, local audience. Cut-off for receiving adverts is Wed 10am. You can email the copy to office@blessington.info and pay in the Parish Office, or via the Donate button on our website or by bank transfer. Call the Parish Office: 045 865 327