Issue 1453 May 21st 2023

Mass intentions in Blessington

Saturday: Jim & Marian O’Toole (A), Noeleen Duff (A)

Sunday: Mary Ann McDonald (A), Mary Wade (A), John Reynolds (A), Nicholas Dunne (A)

We also Remember: Noel Kelly (2^nd A)

Monday: Mass offered for the sick.

Tuesday: Kathleen Murphy (RD), Margaret Hogan (RD)

Wednesday: Frank Birney (RD), Margaret Moynihan (RD)

Thursday: John Maguire (1st A), James & Tess Maguire (Rem)

Friday: Birthday Mass Intentions, Get Well Intentions

Saturday 20^th May: Blessington 6pm Mass , Confessions: after 6pm Mass. Rosary at Our Lady’s Grotto on St Joseph’s Road after 6pm Mass for the month of May. Lacken 7.30pm Mass

Sunday 21^st May: Mass Times: Blessington: 10am, Manor Kilbride: 11am, Valleymount: 10.00am, Crosschapel: 11.30am. The Annual Blessing of the Graves & Cemetery Mass in Burgage Cemetery at 3pm

Tuesday 23^rd May: Rosary & Holy Hour 7pm to 8pm in Church of Our Lady Blessington

Building Hope – Pray, Reflect, Plan. You are invited to join with every parish in the Diocese in a Novena to the Holy Spirit – a period of prayer, reflection & planning for the renewal of the Church in the Archdiocese of Dublin. The Novena will take place in the 9 days from 21st to 29^th May. beginning on the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, through Pentecost & continuing to the Feast of Mary, Mother of the Church. Novena Prayer Cards will be available.

Congratulations to the Girls & Boys in Blessington & Valleymount who received their 1^st Holy Communion last weekend. We wish them every blessing.

Cemetery Mass Eadestown – Sunday 18^th June at 12 noon. Manor Kilbride on Sunday 2^nd July at 2pm. Templeboden Sunday 2^nd July at 3pm

All Ireland Rosary Rally in Knock will take place on Saturday June 3^rd from 1pm. It will include Mass, the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross & a talk by Bishop Oliver Doeme. The main Celebrant for Mass is Archbishop Eamon Martin.  A bus will leave from Dublin. Please book your seat early to avoid disappointment. Ring Loirín: 087 241 2611

St Mary’s Schools & Blessington Parish Lotto. Numbers drawn on 11th May: 2, 6, 18, 21. €25 Winner: Lisa Kavanagh. Next Jackpot €2,900

Thank you to everyone who wished me well & gave cards & gifts as I retired as Caretaker of Blessington Parish. I am most grateful for your kindness & support! Eamon Byrne

Happy Faces will temporarily relocate to St Mary’s JS for September & there is limited sessional places available, please contact Catriona 085 128 1605 or email happyfaces@blessingtonfec.ie

West Wicklow Cancer Support welcomes you to our monthly Drop In Evening on Thursday 25^th May 7.30pm Coimin Centre Blessington. Come along & enjoy an evening hosted by local holistic physiotherapist Margot Ussher looking at different crystal energies & their origins. This promises to be an interesting & wonderful night with tea, cakes & chats for afters! Come & join us, no need to book, no charge. For info: 087 4346004 or westwicklow15@gmail.com

Blessington Tourist Office Art Exhibition will take place on Friday May 26th between 7pm & 9pm. This exhibition will feature & promote local West Wicklow artists. Light refreshments provided. All welcome.”

Blessington Car Boot Sale St. Kevin’s Hall on Sunday 28^th May: 7am to 4pm. Tea/Coffee. Indoor & Outdoor Spaces. Free Parking. Toilets. Tables €10. Info: Pat Conlan: 086 075 2072

Harriet Parsons from Bodywhys, The Eating Disorders Association of Ireland, will talk about eating disorders & how best to support someone affected by them – Wednesday 31st May at 7pm – this is a free, online event & brought to you by Wicklow County Council Library Service ‘Healthy Ireland at your Library’ programme. Booking link for tickets:  https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/how-to-support-someone-with-an-eating-disorder-tickets-615531700887?aff=ebdssbdestsearch  Or email libraryoutreach@wicklowcoco.ie  Bodywhys is the national voluntary organisation for people affected by eating disorders, including friends & family. The organisation has grown to develop a range of services & supports for people affected by eating disorders. It offers support, information, a listening ear & understanding.

BEALTAINE FESTIVAL  Celebrating Creativity & Arts as we age. Events at Blessington Library – Creative Meditation Works 3pm – Tues & Wed 23^rd & 24^th May 3pm – Thurs 1st June 5.30pm – Cioreral Comhra- Blessington Library Adult Meetups: Book Clubs, Poetry Circle, Knitting Group, Writing Group, Ukulele, English Language Café. BOOKING REQUIRED

Kildare and Wicklow Education & Training Board (KWETB) would like to invite you to information sessions about an exciting new pilot course in psychology starting in Blessington Further Education & Training centre (FETC) this September. Join us for a cup of tea/coffee on Tuesday, 23^rd May, 7pm to 8pm, or Wednesday, 24th May, 11am to 12noon in Blessington FETC for an informal outline & chat about the course.

Happy Faces will temporarily relocate to St Mary’s JS for September & there is limited sessional places available, please contact Catriona 085 128 1605 or email happyfaces@blessingtonfec.ie

Blessington Car Boot Sale St. Kevin’s Hall on Sunday 28^th May: 7am to 4pm. Tea/Coffee. Indoor & Outdoor Spaces. Free Parking. Toilets. Tables €10. Info: Pat Conlan: 086 075 2072

HOLLYWOOD PILGRIMAGE Sunday May 28^th  The Mass Rock Pilgrimage will take place from St Kevin’s Church, Hollywood. The walk, which takes about two hours, will leave the church at 7am. Parking is also available nearer to the Mass Rock for those who prefer to drive. Bishop Eamonn Walsh will lead the pilgrimage. Enquiries 045 864 206.

Sunday 28^th May Songs & Tunes Session, Zellers of Lacken 6pm to 8:30pm. All listeners, singers, players very welcome. Any song/tune/style. any ability level; all ages. Just for fun! Bring a friend 😊 Info: Fiona 083 812 7317 lakesidesessions2@gmail.com

Blessing of Remembrance takes place in Glasnevin Cemetery at the Old Angels Memory Garden on Sunday, 28^th May at 3pm. This special Blessing of Remembrance is for all parents, family members & friends whose baby is buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, cot death or a baby who died shortly after birth. We extend a warm invitation to families whose baby is buried in other cemeteries & hope that they will find some comfort in coming together to remember their baby in a special way. For further information, call 01 882 9030

Greetings from Spain!! Once again, I will be coming to Blessington in July with a group of students. I am looking for welcoming host families in Blessington & surrounding areas. From 2^nd to 30^th July As usual, students will attend Blessington Community College. (Mon-Fri 9.30am to 5pm) For more information, please contact Triona Mills :089 478 9839 Or Paloma via WhatsApp 0034 628 114 938

Always wanted to sing? Blessington Millennium Choir are looking to recruit new members who love to sing. All Welcome. No Auditions. With mixed ability & experience, we aim to positively impact our community and as such regularly raise funds for organisations & participate in events. So, if you sing in the shower, you are the King or Queen of Karaoke or a keen amateur, Come & Join Us We meet every Tuesday evening 7.30pm to 9.30pm at the Kare Centre, Blessington. For more details please phone (087) 4352385 or (087) 2431499  www.choirbmc.com

Yoga continues in the Coimin Centre on Mondays, 10.45am – 11.45am. Contact Patricia 086 071 7384

Tuesday Rural Bus Service to Naas & Newbridge. Your support is needed to keep this service open. This is ideal as a “shopping bus”. Adult return journey €3.50 & €1 for students. (a free service for many qualifying adults) Departs Blessington Bus Shelter at 10am via Naas to Newbridge (Whitewater Shopping Centre) Departs Whitewater at 1.45pm. Further info: Jane Auld 087 266 0616 or Pat Conlan 086 075 2072

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.

Current Blessington Community Employment Vacancies – These are developmental opportunities, no experience necessary. Building Caretaker: Hollywood Community Centre. Job Reference: 2278006.  Duties will include, but not limited to: Light maintenance. Admin duties. Cleaning. Painting. Assisting with general operations of the centre & this could include key holding, setting up rooms for meetings etc. Adhere to health & safety. Flexible hours required due to the nature of the role to include after hours. Report to reception & or assigned committee member. Closing Date: 29/05/2023

Caretaker St. Kevin’s Centre. Job Reference:2278008.  Duties to include, but not limited to: Light maintenance, general caretaking duties, painting, cleaning. Closing Date: 29/05/2023

Caretaker: Valleymount Hall.  Job Reference: CE 2281488. Duties will include, but not limited to: General light maintenance. Some cleaning duties. Painting. Assisting in general operations of the centre to include key holding, setting up rooms for meetings etc. Adhereto health and safety. Hall duties. Closing Date: 13/06/2023

Please contact us on 085-2523563 or martincahill@blessingtonce.ie Please note *You must be in receipt of a social welfare payment for the last 12 months to qualify for these positions. * CE Rates Apply.