Newsletter 25th Jan 2026. Issue 1577

COMMUNITY DIARY

SATURDAY 24^th Jan

 6pm Mass First Holy Communion Mass

Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Sacrament of Confession: After 6pm Mass

SUNDAY 26^th Jan

10am Mass St. Josephs Church, Valleymount

10am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington,

11:30am Mass Our Lady of Mercy, Crosschapel

MONDAY 26^th Jan

9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Blessington Bridge Club7.15pm, Kare Centre. Information on pg. 3

TUESDAY 27^th Jan

9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

WEDNESDAY 28^th Jan

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 29^th Jan

9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Blessington Indoor Bowls Club

7.30pm in St Kevin’s Hall, Information on pg. 3

FRIDAY 30^th Jan

9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

 

Mass Intentions in Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Elizabeth Byrne…RD Australia Late of Blessington

 Saturday  Alice Ryall…A, Peggy Howlin…A, Peter & Annie Fennell…A, Winnie McDermott…A, Noel Carroll…A, Jamie Mahon…A & Mahon & Smith Family Rem, Margaret Kearney…A, Betty & Sean Tutty…A

Sunday  Jimmy Keogh… 60th Birthday Rem, Christopher Flanagan…A Sean & Elizabeth O’Donnell…A  Sidney & Maureen Hambly…A

Monday  Mass for the Sick & those in Hospital

Tuesday  Miriam Hillary…RD, Joseph Brady…RD

Wednesday  Special Intentions Mass, Phillip Monaghan…RD

Thursday Peggy Tiernan…RD, Pat Murray…RD

Friday Special Intentions Mass, Gerry O’Donnell…RD

UPCOMING DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Thursday 5^th February at 7.30pm

Where is Pope Leo leading the Church?

Join us for a cuppa and conversation with Fr Gerry Kane.

All welcome!

Church of Our Lady, Blessington & Church of Our Lady of Mercy, Crosschapel. St. Joseph’s Church, Valleymount & Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Lacken Fr. Gerry Kane PP. Tel: 045 865 327

St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride Fr. Paraic McDermott C.S.Sp. Tel: 01 4582154

Parish Office: 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday Tel: 045 865 327 admin@blessington.info

Deadline for Notices in the Newsletter The deadline to have your notices in  the newsletter is Tuesday at 11am at the very latest

Minister of Eucharist Jan 2026 Church of Our Lady Blessington SAT 6PM: Teresa Ball & Sara Ortega SUNDAY 10AM: Kay Clarke & Mary McHugh

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHINGS There are many things that can only be seen through eyes that have cried. St Oscar Romero

Funeral Ministry A course of training for funeral ministry teams will begin in the Coimin Centre, Blessington, on Wednesday February 4th at 7.00pm (cuppa available at 6.45), lasting two hours. It is a six week course on consecutive Wednesdays, conducted by Saule Cameron from the diocesan Mission and Ministry team. It concludes on Wednesday, March 11th. You are very welcome, whether setting up a new team, or refreshing and expanding a current team.

Radio Maria. Sat 31^st Jan & Sun 1^st Feb  a representative form Radio Maria will be in the Church of our Lady, Blessington to provide information and answer any questions you may have regarding the service the station provides.

The SVP Blessington Committee would like to extend their sincere thanks to everyone who so generously supported the SVP Xmas Appeal over  the festive season. We are deeply grateful for the donations received through church collections, as well as the many boxes of food and hampers that were so kindly donated. Special thanks also go to the local business community who have always been major supporters of SVP and to those individuals who made personal donations. Your kindness and generosity have made a real difference, helping us support those less fortunate within our local community at a time when it is needed most. Thank you.

Feast Days. 28th Jan – St Thomas Aquinas St. Thomas Aquinas was a famous Italian theologian from the 13th century. He was famous for reconciling theology and philosophy, which started the movement known as scholasticism. He spent many years in monasteries learning about religion. Thomas’s best-known works are the unfinished Summa Theologica, or Summa Theologian, the Disputed Questions on Truth and the Summa contra Gentiles. His commentaries on Christian Scripture and on Aristotle also form an important part of his body of work. St Thomas is the patron saint of universities and scholars. He died in a monastery in 1274

The Wonder of Creation Trees are the longest-living organisms on Earth Some trees live for thousands of years. The oldest known tree is over 4,800 years old!

Popes Intentions for Jan 2026 For prayer with the Word of God Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.

Women’s Breakfast Blessington & Valleymount Parishes. Dates for 2026  14th March Summer breakfast TBC. Look forward to seeing you there.

A Prayer for the New Year As the new year begins, I look to You for our hope, joy, and peace. Give me the courage to do all that You ask of me. Please also make me brave to not do what isn’t from You. Show me how to walk in grace and embrace Your love for me even more. Amen

Blessington Parish Lotto Numbers on 15^th Jan 2026: 5,6,14,15. €25 Winner:  Irene Murray. Next Jackpot: €3000

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.

Accommodation Available  Blessington Studio suit 1 person 085-1370986

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.

Gaelscoil na Lochanna seek to employ a Bus Escort to assist children with additional needs getting to and from school. Initially 1 hour of work in morning before school time and 1 hour after school time. Candidates should have experience in working with children, have an understanding of additional needs in children, and be able to deal with parents and school staff in a professional manner. Irish ability is an advantage. This position is subject to satisfactory references and Garda Vetting. The hourly rate of pay is in line with the Department of Education guidelines for School Bus Escorts (€15.20 per hour), processed weekly during school term time. Escorts are not paid over school holidays but receive holiday pay instead. Application by CV /queries should be emailed to priomhoide@gaelscoilnalochanna.com

Helix Motorcycles repair shop just opened in Stratford, if you need a simple service, complex repair or just a touch up on the paintwork call or text on 087 373 5709