Issue 1443 March 5th 2023

Mass intentions in Blessington

Agnes Cummins (RD) Ballinastockan

Saturday: Billy Horan (1st A), John Behan (1st A), Patrick, Mary & Judy Behan (A), Shay Mills (A), Thomas, Michael & May Myles (A),

Sunday: Seamus Byrne (5th A), Kay & Christy Reid (A), James Lombard (Kilteel) (2nd A), Kim Luttrell (A), Marie Dawson (10th A)

We also remember: Mary Breen (A), Bill Twyford (A), Nora Fleming (A), Phil Conlon, Kathleen & Jack Daniels, Joe, Ray & Loraine Daniels & deceased members of the Daniels Family, Maurice (Moggie) Murray, Tony Evans & deceased members of the Evans Family, Patrick Stynes, Thomas Kelly

Monday: Mass offered for the sick.

Tuesday: Birthday Mass, Birthday Mass

Wednesday: Ann Healy (RD), Hugh O’Neill (RD) 7.30pm Mass: Joan Kavanagh (A), Gordon Watkins (RD)

Thursday: Pat Farrell (RD), Kathleen McCarthy (RD)

Friday: Peter Griffin (RD), Cathy Doyle (RD)

Saturday 4^th March: Mass times: Blessington: 6pm, Lacken 7.30pm. Confessions: After 6pm Mass in Blessington

Sunday 5^th March: Mass Times: Blessington: 10am, Manor Kilbride: 11am, Valleymount: 10.00am – (1^st Communion Preparation Mass) Crosschapel Church: 11.30am

Tuesday 7^th March: Rosary & Holy Hour 10 to 11am in Blessington

Wednesday 8th March: “A TIME OF HOPE” LENTEN TALKS at 7.30pm Mass every Wednesday during Lent in Church of Our Lady Blessington Week 3 Wed 8^th March Carmel Dillon, Principal St Mary’s JS FAITH IN SCHOOL

The Family of the late Mick & Billy Horan, wish to thank everyone for the overwhelming support & kindness shown to them over the last couple of months. They would like to thank everyone who attended both Mick & Billy’s wake & funerals, who left heartfelt messages of condolences online & sent Mass cards. We would also like to thank Tony & Regina Clarke for their kindness, Lorraine Ryan, Fr. Richard, Enda’s Flowers & Sinead & Ronan Hennessy. We would also like to express our gratitude to our extended family, friends & neighbours for their continued love & support. As it would be difficult to thank everyone individually, please accept this as acknowledgment as an expression of our deepest gratitude. For those who would like to attend, Billy’s 1st Anniversary Mass is on Saturday 4^th March at 6pm in Blessington …………. The Horan Family.

DIOCESAN COLLECTION FOR TURKEY & SYRIA – Thank you to all who gave so generously in the Church Collection last weekend. Donations from Blessington, Crosschapel & Manor Kilbride came to €4,810, from Valleymount & Lacken €1,150 and Eadestown & Kilteel €1,835

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY: Children’s Church is returning! 6pm Mass on Saturday 11^th March in Blessington

Valleymount Community Shed are having A Social Night on Saturday 4^th March at 7.30pm in The Stables Valleymount. This is an ‘Open Mic Event’ & is free to all who attend. We hope you will be able to come along & join in the music & the craic. Light refreshments will be provided.

St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee hosting a Senior Dance Evening in the Avon Blessington on Friday 10^th March from 8pm til late…… Admission €10, at door. Full bar. Safe place for all our seniors to have a dance, a few laughs & a meet up.

Blessington Bowls Club meet every Thursday at 7.30pm in St Kevin’s Hall, Main St Blessington. Guests are most welcome! why not come along and bring a friend.”

80/90s Disco on Saturday 11^th March in the Avon from 9pm til late. Over 18s only. Full bar & DJ. Admission €10, at door.

Blessington Parish Office open from 9am to 1pm, Monday to Friday 045 865 327 – office@blessington.info

Anam Cara supporting bereaved parents – meeting for bereaved parents on Mon 13^th March at 7:15pm in the Maldron Hotel, Tallaght. Free event, open to all

Study looking for adults (70 + years) to take part in our Protein & Online Exercise classes for 12 weeks by PhD student Catherine Fallon from University College Dublin. All appointments & classes will be done from your own home. For more information, please contact 086 724 0910 or email Catherine.fallon@ucdconnect.ie

ENGINEERS WEEK. To mark Engineers Week, we’re running FOUR Robotic workshops in Blessington Library on Saturday, 4th March 10am; 10.30am; 11am; & 11.30am. It will be a fun interactive workshop demonstrating how simple robots can be created and manipulated. Each session lasts for 30 minutes. Suitable for ages 9 to 11. Spaces are limited. Please book in advance: Blessingtonlib@wicklowcoco.ie or 045 891 740.

St Mary’s Schools & Blessington Parish Lotto. Numbers drawn on 23rd February. 7, 11, 15, 26. €25 Winner: Terrilee Byrne. Next Jackpot is €2,550

Visit the Bookstand at the back of Blessington Church for a variety of Spiritual Books for sale

TROCAIRE PACKS – Are now available in all our Churches. Make a Lenten Promise to fill the Trocaire Box this LENT

St Marys Junior N.S. Blessington Junior Infant places available for 2023/2024. For an application form or to arrange a visit please contact the school: 045 865 501 or email secretary@stmarysjuniorschool.ie NB: School closed 16^th & 17^th February for midterm break.

Clothes Collection supporting Friends of Calcutta ( CHY No. 13218) on Tuesday March 7th. All items of wearable clothing, footwear, curtains etc most welcome and can be left close to the FOC Sign in Church Car Park at any stage that day up to 1pm. All enquiries to Michael Hopkins 087-9073074 who will be delighted to arrange a home collection if requested

Lacken Naíonra Open for enrolments. ECCE & part-time places available. For information or to book a viewing, please contact 045 865 086.

Lacken National School are now accepting enrolment applications for the 2023/2024 school year. Also accepting enrolment applications for the 2023/2024 Early Intervention Class. Please email school@lackenns.com or contact the school office on 045 865 086.

Valleymount Parent & Baby/Toddler Playgroup meets every Thursday during school term from 9.30am to 12 in Valleymount Hall. New parents most welcome. Pop in for a cuppa & a chat.

ALONE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED “I spent so many years sitting right in front of this window hoping for a visitor or the phone to ring…I used to order things I didn’t need just to have a short chat with the delivery men. That’s how lonely I was.” Are you interested in volunteering to visit or call an older person & help us combat loneliness in your area? We are urgently in need of volunteers. Visit www.alone.ie to sign up today

Escorted Pilgrimage to Knock Shrine, Monday 27^th March.  €599 pp sharing. Price includes return train, 4 nights in Knock House Hotel with full board.  All entertainment & excursions included. Day trips to Westport, Ballintubber Abbey, Croagh Patrick, Fr. Peyton Centre & National Museum.  Single supplement €100 Contact Patricia on 087 1890 236 or email knockpilgrimages@gmail.com

REMINDER TO PARISHIONERS: OUR ULSTER BANK ACCOUNTS ARE NOW CLOSED. If you have been donating to the Parish by Standing Order, we would be very appreciative if you could transfer it to our new AIB account. Please use your Surname & your 4-digit parish code when you set up the new Standing Order. Call the Parish Office for details: 045 865 327 or to set up a new Standing Order. The Standing Order Donations are a vital help in the running of our Parish, & we depend so much on these donations. Many thanks if you have already made this change.