Newsletter 28th April 2024 Issue 1498

Mass intentions in Blessington Kathleen Tyrrell…RD, Josie Tyrrell…RD, Desmond Phelan…RD

Saturday: Breda & John Mulrey…A, Nancy & Eugene Keogh…B’day Rem

Sunday: Brian Kane…B’day Rem, Liam Adams…RD

At Masses This Weekend, We Remember the Following, Dorrie Cahill…23rd A, John Fairbrother…Rem  , Harry & Doreen Hughes…Rem

Monday: Mass for the Sick & those in Hospital

Tuesday: Eamon Sheridan…Rem, Get Well Mass

Wednesday: George Devoy… A    , Teresa McGuire…A

Thursday: Brigid McDonald…A, Jack Bolger…A

Friday: 1st Friday of the month, Mass offered for all on the November List of the Dead

Lay Ministry Collection, will take place this weekend Sat 27^th & Sun 28^th April in all Churches and will replace the Share Collection

Sr Anna Byrne of Eco Congregation Ireland will speak at the 6pm mass on Sat May 4th on the role parishes can play in addressing the problems caused by climate change. All Green School members, Tidy Town volunteers and those committed to sustainable living are invited to attend.

The Annual Blessing of the Graves & Cemetery Mass will take place in Burgage Cemetery on Sunday 19th May 2024 at 3pm

Rosary & Holy Hour  on Tuesday 23rd April 7pm to 8pm in Church of Our Lady Blessington

Pray & Play Group In the Coimin Centre, Every Wed 2.45pm to 4.30pm. For children of all ages with their parents, grandparents, guardians. Contact Áine 0833798366

Popes’ Intention for April For the role of women We pray that the dignity and immense value of women be recognized in every culture, and for the end of discrimination that they experience in different parts of the world.

Minister of Eucharist May 2024 Church of Our Lady Blessington SAT 6PM: Pat McGrath, Teresa Ball & Colette Fennan SUNDAY 10AM: Fedelma Dunne, Brendan Mahon & George Richardson

Dates for Diary 27th April – Parish candidates for Communion. 6th May – Lacken Communion. 11th May – St Marys Communion. 12th May – Valleymount Communion. 18th May – Gaelscoil Communion

Trócaire boxes Please return your donations for Trócaire To the Parish office by Tuesday 7^th May

Blessington Parish Lotto Numbers on 18^th April: 4,10,19,29. €25 Winner: Irene Murray Next Jackpot €1,450

 First Holy Communion We Remember in prayer   the parish candidates celebrating their First Holy Communion on the 27th April in Blessington. May they have a blessed and peaceful day.

The family of the late  Barbara (Babs) Mearns Nee Flanagan Would like to give their sincere thanks for all the loving messages of condolences received. They would also wish to express their gratitude for all the kindness and support from all her family, friends, and neighbours. May her soul be at God’s right hand. Bab’s Month Mind will on Saturday 25th May at 6pm

Church of the Apostles Ballybrack Women in the Bible 15^th May at 7.30pm Mary Magdalene Talks given by Dr Jesse Rogers Lecturer/Dean of Theology at St Patricks Pontifical Maynooth

CARE OF THE EARTH Straw sense. Experts estimate that the world uses about 2000 million plastic straws a day, and they’re one of the top 10 trash items found during ocean cleanups. If you must use a straw, find a reusable metal straw or a paper version or make your own.

Thought for the week Keep going, everything you need will be given at the right time

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

AWARE SUPPORT & SELF CARE GROUPS If you or those with whom you work wish to connect with people in relation to your mental wellbeing, consider using Aware’s phone-in and Zoom support and self-care groups, support line or support mail. For more information, visit www.aware.ie.

Accord Prayer for Marriage & Family Life God of love, show us our place in this world as channels of your love. Give to us the gift of respect, empathy and understanding. Bless and strengthen our love for each other. Help us to appreciate the value of family life and to live in harmony with all whom we come in contact with. Encourage us, we pray, to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with the Lord. Praise be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayer for vocations God our Father, we thank you for calling men and women to serve in your Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons, and consecrated persons. Send your Holy Spirit to help others to respond generously and courageously to your call. May our community of faith support vocations of sacrificial love in our youth and young adults. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

Local family wanted to host a 15 year old male French student for 3 weeks in July with a view to developing English as a second language. For further details contact 086 1609293

Spring Fete Come Along And Join The Fun In St Kevin’s Hall On Saturday 27th April 1pm – 5pm Fun For All The Family, Tea & Cake, Bottle Stall, Books & Toys, Pre-Loved Clothes, Bric A Brac, Home Made Cakes, Plant Stall, Pony Rides, Children’s Games, Monster Raffle Something For Everyone In aid of St Mary’s church Your support is greatly appreciated

All Ireland Rosary Rally Knock – June 1^st The All Ireland Rosary Rally is back this year on Saturday, June 1st in Knock. The day begins with a Marian Conference at 9.30 am in St John’s Centre. Speakers include: Fr Michael Donnelly, Sr Ana Margarita Lanzas SCTJM, and Fr Joseph Maria Deane CFR. Then there will be an opportunity to meet over 20 apostolates from around Ireland from 11.30am in St John’s Centre. A well-renowned speaker from Miami called Mother Adela Galindo will deliver the keynote Rosary talk at 1pm in the Basilica. Then there will be the Stations of the Cross outside at 2pm, followed by the Rosary Procession. Bishop Phonsie Cullinan will be the Main Celebrant of the 3pm Concelebrated Mass which will include Anointing of the Sick. Confessions are available throughout the day, and there will be rosary and scapular-making workshops in the marquee. For more information and to see a list of buses going from around Ireland please visit www.AllIrelandRosaryRally.com

Lay Ministry Sunday

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I am continually inspired by the spirit of faith and care that animates our Catholic community, even as we face the reality of so few vocations to the priesthood. This is a time of listening, discernment and renewed pastoral action for all of us in the Church, clergy and lay people. The vitality of our Church increasingly relies on our lay people to step into leadership and service roles with courage and love.

In the past year, we can point to green shots emerging through efforts associated with our Building Hope initiative. The Diocesan Certificate in Catechesis, provided by the Office of Mission and Ministry, is a good example. Announced last May, it has been a real success. This in-demand programme examines the vocation and mission of the participants inspired to share their faith with others. Thanks to your support, it gives them the tools to assist others on their faith journey. In particular, it helps them ‘accompany families’ sensitively and practically as they initiate young people into the life of the Church through Baptism, Confirmation, and the reception of Holy Communion.

Other creative programmes supporting lay people to nurture their adult faith, and engage with young people include, ‘Servant Leadership’, ‘Pathways, ‘Lay Funeral Leadership’, ‘Confirmation Connect’ and the Laudato Si’ Awards, as well as the ‘Just Lent’ campaign which focused on Christian social justice during Lent. These programmes help us to stop and ‘abide’ with Jesus to realise God’s loving presence with us.

In light of all these significant initiatives, I ask for your generous support for the Lay Ministry Collection. Your contributions are vital in sustaining and expanding these initiatives, ensuring our Church remains a vibrant beacon of hope and faith in the world.

As we heard in today’s gospel:

‘It is to the glory of the Father that you should bear much fruit.’ (John 15: 8).

May the Lord bless you generously and help you find ways to bear fruit for Him and each other in abundance. There can be a new beginning for each of us as we allow our sense of Christian faith, hope and love to grow within us. But that is only the first step. We are called at Baptism, all of us, to speak joyfully of the presence of the risen Christ to us and of the difference the Holy Spirit makes in our lives: ‘We know that he lives in us by the Spirit that he has given us.’ (1 John 3: 24).

I invite you to consider your role in the mission handed on to us by Jesus. Together, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can forge a path of hope and renewal for our Archdiocese.

Dermot Farrell

Archbishop of Dublin

June Blakes Garden. As our garden re-opens for the Spring/Summer, we have a part-time position available to help with tours, serving refreshments and engaging with customers to the garden. An interest in gardening a plus, but not essential! For more details email fiona@juneblake.ie

West Wicklow Cancer Support  welcomes you to our weekly sound bath meditation with essential oils, hosted by Gemma Deeney. Take that hour to yourself to relax, rewind and rejuvenate. Wednesday Mornings, 11am Primary Care Centre. Open to all, bring your own cushion and blanket. No charge, no need to book. Contact us on 087 4346004 / westwicklow15@gmail.com with any enquiries.

Blessington Bridge Club Meets every Monday at 7.30pm in the Kare Centre. All new players welcome.

Blessington Walking Club Community support for mental emotional and physical health Morning walks during weekdays  at 9.30am Sunday walks at 11am Meeting point Blessington further ed centre WhatsApp 087 223 4005 insta@blessingtonwalkingclub

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

Feile an Feile an Chnocain is a festival of music and heritage in Ballyknockan’s Granite City running from the 2nd to the 6th of May 2024. Below are some of the other events being held as part of the festival. Thursday 2nd May 8:30pm Set Dancing Ceilí in Valleymount hall. Friday 3rd May 8pm Music by various musicians in Cullen’s Lakeview Lounge Ballyknockan. Saturday 4th May  11am Guided Hike up Silsean (Meet at Cullen’s Car Park). 3pm – 6pm  Opening of Stonecutting museum in Ballyknockan Quarries including an introduction to the Quarries, display of stonework, history talk, poetry by Ger Devine, and live music. 8pm Live Music in Cullen’s Lakeview Lounge by various musicians. Sunday 5th May 1pm – 5pm Family Festival at the picnic area Ballyknockan (Craft Fair, family activities, live music by Ballymore Concert Band and The Whole Hog, pond building and wildlife workshop, face painting and more) 6.30pm Live music in Cullen’s Lakeview Lounge. Monday 6th May 3pm Open Music Session followed by music from After Dark. We are on both Facebook and Instagram @FeileanChnocain if you wish to follow us for updates!