Issue 1341 January 31st 2021

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 31^st January 2021

Jesus speaks the words of his Father today with an authority that made a deep impression on his listeners.

Mass Intentions next Week

Josephine Downes (RD) London, Anna Bergin, Late of Glen Heste, Manor Kilbride, (Died 24^th Jan) Myles Byrne (RD) Glasnevin, John Fitzgerald (RD) Lucan

Saturday 6pm: Liam O’Reilly (A) Pat Garry (A) Catherine Mahon (A)

Sunday 10am: Margaret Miley (50^th A) Deceased Members of Downes & Miley Families

Sunday 11.30am: Rita & Kevin Somers (A) Gerry Moore (A)

We also remember: In Remembrance of Deceased Family & Friends, Ann Rogers (nee Clarke) John & Sarah White, Lily Horan, Bernadette Byrne

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

Tuesday: Thanksgiving Mass, Intentions Mass

Wednesday: Christina Owens (RD) Seamus Joyce (RD) Bernadette Byrne (A)

Thursday: Ann Moore (RD) Gerry Brady (RD)

Friday: First Friday of the Month, Masses will be offered for all on the November List of the Dead

All Masses & Services via Webcam www.blessingtonparish.ie

►Thursday 4^th February: Holy Hour / Benediction with Deacon Gerry at 7.30pm in Blessington Church

►Friday 5^th February – 1st Friday: Masses offered for all whose names are on the Altar List of the Dead. Padre Pio Mass will take place at 8pm, Church of Our Lady Blessington.

While the Parish Office is  Closed to the Public. We are available by telephone or email  for Mass Bookings, Mass Cards, & General Enquiries Monday to Friday. Email: office@blessington.info Carol: 045 865 327 from 9am to 1pm. Jean: 087 2350835 from 9am to 5pm

The Church is open from 10am on Monday to Saturday and after 11.30am Mass on Sundays to allow people to drop in for quiet prayer or to light a candle. please use the HAND SANITISER as you enter & as you leave the Church. There is a Collection Point at the back of the Church to collect Mass Cards ordered by phone or by email 045 865 327 office@blessington.info

If you lost a Euro Millions ticket….. 4 lines QP for 4^th December. it won €4….. I gave it to SVP….(Yes, I would have sought you out if the prize was significant.) Happy New Year and Stay Safe. Signed: The Phantom.

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 2.30pm. 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 865086 or lackenschool@eircom.net

Financial Support for our Parish is very important at this time and we are most grateful for your contributions. You can make donations to support all our Churches via the DONATE BUTTON on the Blessington parish website(options available for all our Churches.) All SHRINE MONEY remains in the parish. Donations through the black PDF BOXES in Blessington Church also go towards the running of the parish. We are very grateful for your ongoing support. Support for our Diocese through the1st & 2nd collections may also be made via the DONATE BUTTON on our 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 all Churches for these donations.

St Marys’ Schools & Blessington Parish Lotto This week’s Jackpot was €3925. 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! Congratulation to the weekly winner on 21st January: Rose-Mary Nugent and on 28th January: Jean Roche

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

COVID-19 Support Line for Older People. ALONE manage a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to COVID-19 Professional staff are available to answer queries and give advice and reassurance where necessary. The support line is open  7 days a week, 8am – 8pm, by calling 0818 222 024. Calls to the ALONE National Support Line cost no more than a local call to a landline. Calls from Vodafone or landline bundles, PAYG bundles, and mobile contracts are free.

The Year of St Joseph- Pope Frances has proclaimed a special “Year of St Joseph” beginning on December 8th 2020 and extending to the same feast in 2020. Our Pope has said that this pandemic has helped us see clearly the importance of “ordinary people” who far from the limelight offer hope every day to us all. Pope Frances believes these people resemble Saint Joseph, “the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence,” who nonetheless played “an incomparable role in the history of salvation.”

Every morning at 9am Monday to Friday we pray the rosary and will now include the prayer to St Joseph as Pope Frances has asked us.

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from every evil.  Amen.

Aware – Support & Self Care Groups If you, or those with whom you work wish to connect with people in relation to your mental wellbeing, please consider using the Phone In and Zoom Support & Self Care Groups, the Support Line or Support Mail, now and throughout the holiday season. These services provide support, coping skills and information – and most importantly help people who are in distress to know and feel that they are not alone in their experience.  For more information about the groups https://www.aware.ie/support/support-groups/ and all of our services on www.aware.ie

Irish Hospice Foundation – Living with Loss. We are now accepting bookings for the 2021 series of Workshops on Loss and Bereavement which will be delivered online via Zoom from January – June.  Details and booking process can be found on the following link https://hospicefoundation.ie/education-training/bereavement-training/workshops/ Please note bookings and payment for the workshops can only be made by using the following link to Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.ie/o/irish-hospice-foundation-31883804183

Let’s Live Lent: Bringing The Gospel To Life. Five Pastoral Conversations on Zoom.  Presented by a team from the Office for Evangelisation and the Diocesan Liturgical Resource Centre. Tuesdays 16^th Feb, 23^rd Feb, 2^nd Mar, 9^th Mar and 16^th Mar 2021 at 8.00 p.m. Full details including booking information shortly.

St Vincent de Paul local number 087 181 1579

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Looking to upskill, learn a new skill, unsure of what course to do? Here at Blessington Further Education Centre we offer free, confidential career guidance to help you. For more information, please email blessingtonfetc@kwetb.ie or contact Irene on 086 806 1569

Just Got Engaged ? Elegant & Stylish Wedding photography. €1250 for full digital package + free Engagement photo session. Ring Jim on 087 679 9008. Instagram jimschofieldphotography

Career Guidance Service for students and parents with experienced qualified guidance counsellor, individual attention. Phone Gary: 086 857 4262

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

GasHome – Boiler Servicing and Repairs – RGI Registered. Phone Stephen 087 9060 894

Blessington Airport Taxi – 087 255 7993 Standard Taxi €77 one way. Large 7-Seater €87 one way. Call Richard on 087 255 7993 Or email: richardmc.keever@yahoo.ie

Paying too much to SKY or UPC? We install & Repair Free to Air and Saorview!! No more bills!! Call Billy: 086 868 0053

Active Appliance Repairs over 20 years’ experience repairing and servicing all brands of domestic and commercial appliances. For a fast, friendly and efficient service call us today on 086 393 7762 or 086 361 9082. Call out Charge €75  www.activeappliancerepairs.ie

Painter & Decorator – Interior & Exterior – Phone: Damian 085 826 0431

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

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