Newsletter 22nd March 2026. Issue 1585

COMMUNITY DIARY

SATURDAY 21^st March

12am to 4pm Donard Market Donard Community Hall, Info on PG 3

6pm Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Sacrament of Confession: After 6pm Mass

9pm Social Dancing. Donard Community Hall. Info on PG 3

SUNDAY 22^nd March

8am to 4pm Blessington Car boot St. Kevin’s Community Centre. Info on PG 3

10am Mass St. Josephs Church, Valleymount

10am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington,

11am Mass St Brigids Church. Manor Kilbride

11:30am Mass Church of Our Lady of Mercy, Crosschapel

MONDAY 23^rd March

9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Blessington Bridge Club 7.15pm, Kare Centre. Information on pg. 3

TUESDAY 24^th March

9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

WEDNESDAY 25^th March

9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Rosary & Holy Hour 10am to 11am Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Pray & Play Group 3pm–4.30pm, Coimín Centre

Blessington Parish Children’s Choir 4.20pm-5pm. All are welcome

THURSDAY 26^th March

9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Blessington Indoor Bowls Club 7.30pm in St Kevin’s Hall, Information on pg. 3

FRIDAY 27^th March

9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

 

Mass Intentions in

Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Gary O’Donovan…RD, Ashton

Saturday

Christy & Kay Reid…A, Tommy O’Dwyer…1^st A, Teresa Boylan…A, Vera Byrne…A, Paddy Byrne…Rem

Sunday 

Alan Clarke…50^th Birthday Rem Michael Ryan…A Jim Byrne…A Jim Murphy…A

Monday

Mass for the Sick & those in Hospital

Tuesday

James & Nora Ryan…A Sean Daly…A

Wednesday

Intentions Mass, Intentions Mass

Thursday

Betty Hogan…RD Michael Kavanagh…A

Friday

Rose Brannock…RD Willie O’Keefe…RD

Our licence with the HSE for Day Care  expires at the end of June this year.

In recent years, we have experienced an increased need for space in the Coimín Centre, both for parish pastoral use and for other community groups. After much deliberation and reflection, we have informed the HSE that, from July, we can only accommodate Daycare two days per week, as was the original pre-COVID arrangement.  It is our hope that a suitable  long term solution for an extended Daycare service in the community will be found.

Join us for Weekly Lenten Reflection on www.thesower.net

Newsletter. Commercial Ad Rates From the 1^st of March 2026  the cost of advertising in the Newsletter will increase to €1 per word plus €3 for a logo or image. This is due to the increased cost related to publishing the newsletter.

Minister of Eucharist March 2026 Church of Our Lady Blessington SAT 6PM: Mary Fenton & Pat McGrath SUNDAY 10AM: Margaret Flynn & Brendan Sheehy.

Popes Intentions for March 2026 For disarmament and peace. Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.

The Wonder of Creation. Insects were here before dinosaurs. Insects have been on Earth for over 400 million years, making them some of the oldest living creatures.

Blessington Parish Lotto Jackpot Numbers on 12^th March 2026: 6,7,13,22. €25 Lucky Draw Winner: Sarah Flynn. Next Jackpot: €3000.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHINGS There is only one cause of unhappiness, the false belief you have in your head, beliefs so widespread. So commonly held, that it never occurs to you to question them. – Anthony de Mello

Feast Days 25th March –  The Annunciation of the Lord The Annunciation of the Lord refers to the time when the angel Gabriel visited the Blessed Virgin Mary to tell her that she would be the mother of the saviour. Mary was the first to hear and believe that God would do what he promised the world. She also discovered that she would play a special role in God’s plan for salvation. Jesus would be formed in her womb, and she would care for him. Mary agreed to God’s plan because she wanted her will to be God’s will. And she was willing to accept the joy and pain that came along with it to bring Christ to a world that waited for him. On this day, we do not only celebrate the announcement to Mary that she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus, but also her willing acceptance of the news.

Prayer on the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. O God, Who was pleased that the eternal Word, according to the declaration of the angel, should take flesh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Give to our humble petitions; and grant that we, who believe her to be truly the Mother of God, may be helped by her prayers. Through the same Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.

Sunday Mass in Crosschapel.  Has returned to the normal weekly  11:30am Mass. Sunday Mass in Manor Kilbride  has also returned to the normal weekly 11am Mass

A Prayer for our Parish Heavenly Father, Bless our Church and our parish, And all the good work that goes on in them. May all who are Christians live and work together for the good of each other and the glory of your Name. May those who do not know you be brought by our example to a loving knowledge and peace with you. Amen

Prayer for peace Lord Jesus, You came that the world might know the peace that You have experienced with the Father eternally. Yet, You taught us that in this life there will be wars and rumours of wars. Nations will rise against nations as violence works itself out in the world. However, through You, the world may be saved.

Prayer for March Lord, as we step into March, grant us the courage to embrace new beginnings. Help us to let go of the past and trust in Your plan for our future. Fill our hearts with hope and determination. Amen.

Daycare for the Elderly in the Coimín Centre.

The needs of the elderly are growing all the time. Indeed, with an aging population, it will be an issue for the country for years to come. At the moment, the Coimín Centre caters for the elderly five days a week. On Fridays there is an Active Retirement group. On four days we host the Daycare facility run by the HSE. This was facilitated, in part, by fundraising at the time. Most of the finance came from parish funds, aided by a grant from the National Lottery.

The parish has to cater for other age groups as well. At the moment, we have initiatives for younger families and children. On Wednesdays, the Play and Pray group uses the church for prayer and the Coimín centre for play. There is a clash with HSE Daycare on those days. The HSE was asked if an adjustment of time could be agreed, but sadly the answer was no.

We also offer catechesis and religious education for families whose children are in non-Catholic schools. (This is an increasing need, as more and more schools change patronage.)  They also use the church for prayer as part of their catechesis. They meet after school, on afternoons when the Daycare is using the Centre. The elderly are leaving in small groups, as their transport arrives. It is not an ideal classroom setting. The teachers have never complained, but it is an issue we need to address.

We cannot focus exclusively on one age group. We must serve younger families of the parish as well as the elderly. This is why we are now returning to the situation that existed before COVID. It is a pity that we have to. We don’t want to. The demand is there. However, it is inescapable that the needs of all age groups cannot be met at the same time.

There are major changes in the Catholic Church. Our congregations are diminishing. It is becoming more and more difficult to staff parishes. The Catholic church, indeed any church, is no longer the centre of community life for many. Society is shifting its focus, even in the last few years. That is more obvious now than it was even a decade or so ago,

 when the Coimín centre was built.

We asked the Active Retirement group, which meets on Fridays, if they would be prepared to shift time to accommodate the Daycare, and their answer was a unanimous No. That meeting is, as they said, a “lifeline” for them. We assured them that they would not be moved. This, too, is a valuable service.

The provision of Daycare is the responsibility of secular authorities, not any charitable group. Up until recently, that burden has fallen largely on the voluntary sector – parishes, community groups, a few secular groups, charities and the like. It is time for Government agencies to assume responsibility. It is time to lobby councillors, TDs and those with responsibility for facilities in the community. That is precisely where the emphasis needs to be put.

We have given the HSE and parishioners as much notice as we could, so that alternative arrangements can be made for more Daycare facilities. There is a centre on the Kilbride Road, which the HSE sold to the County Council. It was seemingly earmarked for an interpretive centre for an expanded Greenway, which is now not proceeding. That could be one solution for Daycare.

The more people that act in good conscience, lobbying where it will be effective, the sooner a satisfactory outcome will be achieved,

especially for our elderly.

 

Lacken National School Enrolment Now open for 2026-2027 for Lacken National School. Please contact office at 045-865086 or email school@lackenns.com

St Mary’s Junior N.S.  2026/27 school year Currently accepting applications. To apply please contact Bernadette in the school office 045 865501 or visit our website  – www.stmarysjuniorschool.ie – click on Parent Information tab, select Application Forms  in the Policies and Enrolment section.

St Brigid’s N.S. are accepting enrolments for all pupils wishing to start in September. Please contact the school office on 01-4582550 for an enrolment form. St Brigid’s will also be having an open evening for all prospective students and their families Wednesday 11th February.  The school will be open from  6.30pm till 7.30pm.  This is a wonderful opportunity to explore the school, meet our staff, and get a feel for life at St Brigid’s. We look forward to seeing you there.

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

Blessington Bridge Club Meets every Mon at 7.15pm in the Kare Centre. New players welcome.

Blessington Carboot Sunday 22nd March St. Kevin’s Community Centre beside Aldi Store, from 8.am to 4.pm. Free Carparking. Toilets. Teas / Coffee. Stalls €10 tables provided if required. Indoor and outdoor facilities available. Bigi Linn. Bargains Galore. Info & booking 0860752072.  (Pat Conlan)

Social Dancing. Enjoy an evening of dancing to Checkers In Donard Community Hall Sat 21^st February, 9pm -12am. All Welcome.

Donard Market Saturday 21st March, Donard Community Hall, W91 YW57, from 11 till 4. There’ll be a great range of stalls selling handmade crafts, garden plants and baked goods. Also The Meeting Place cafe, is open from 11 till 2.30, last orders 2pm.

Doyles Doggos Adventures Blessington & Surrounding Areas Reliable, caring dog walks and in-home pet sitting. Over 10 years’ local experience and trained in Canine First Aid, keeping your furbaby safe, happy, and well exercised. 1–2 Hour Walk • Solo & Small Groups Email:doyles@doylesdoggosadventures.com Phone:0851971216

Job Opportunity at VENTAC Blessington We are recruiting Production General Operatives for our Production Facility at Fitzwilliam House, Blessington. The successful candidates must be organised, enthusiastic & be able to work on their own initiative with attention to detail. Part and full time positions available. For more information on the role, hours required & to apply, email your CV to hr@ventac.com.