Newsletter 29th March 2026. Issue 1586.

COMMUNITY DIARY

SATURDAY 28^th March

6pm Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Sacrament of Confession: After 6pm Mass

7.15pm Communion Mass Our Lady of Mount Carmel Lacken

SUNDAY 29^th March

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 30^th March

9.00am Mass St Brigids Church Manor Kilbride

9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

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

7.30pm Penitential Service Church of Our Lady Blessington

TUESDAY 31^st March

9.00am Mass St Brigids Church Manor Kilbride

9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

WEDNESDAY 1^st April

9.00am Mass St Brigids Church Manor Kilbride

9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

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

HOLY THURSDAY 2^nd April

9.00am Mass St Brigids Church Manor Kilbride

9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Mass of the Lord’s Supper

7.30pm Manor Kilbride

7.30pm Eadestown, ending with a vigil until 9.30 pm.

7.30pm Blessington Followed by Watch & Pray Watch & Pray will be in the Coimin Centre

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

GOOD FRIDAY 3^rd April

9.00am Mass St Brigids Church Manor Kilbride

9.30am Mass Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Stations of the Cross

12 noon Blessington (Children) followed by Arts and Crafts in Coimin Centre

12 noon Children’s Stations in Eadestown Church.

12 noon Valleymount

3.00pm Manor Kilbride

7.30pm Kilteel

Celebration of the Lords Passion

3.00pm Eadestown

3.00pm Blessington Followed by Confessions

7.30pm Manor Kilbride

 

Mass Intentions in

Church of Our Lady, Blessington Peggy Doyle…RD Manor Kilbride

Saturday

Patrick Ryall…A, Josephine Cullen…A, Kay Browne…3rd A, Anne Hyland…A, Teresa & Paddy Bannon…A, Pete Nolan…A, Matthew & Mary & Larry Lennon A  Michael & Annemary Norton…Rem Kathleen Cullen…A Maurice Healy…A

Sunday

Paul Finnerty…A, Ian Dignam…Rem, Kathy Clarke…A,  John McDonald…A, Marta Nolan…Rem, Peter Byrne…Rem, Sheila McKenna Keegan…Rem Ann Molloy …A

Monday

Mass for the Sick & those in Hospital

Tuesday

Birthday Mass, Jim Corrigan…Rem, Jack Ryan…Rem, Get Well Mass, Mary Flynn…Rem

Wednesday

Bernadette Breen…Rem, Enda Gibney…Rem, Birthday Mass, Marjorie Finnegan…Rem, Jamie Colburn…Rem, Phyllis O Toole…Rem

Holy Thursday

7.30pm Blessington Followed by Watch & Pray in the Coimin Centre

Good Friday

12 noon Children’s Stations of the Cross, Blessington, followed by Arts and Crafts in Coimin Centre

3.00pm Stations of the Cross, Blessington, Followed by Confessions

Date for the Diary Easter Sunday April 5th Community Son Rise Service  Blackhill Carpark Lacken at 6.20 am All Welcome.

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  April 2026 Church of Our Lady Blessington SAT 6PM: Ann Hanlon & Frank Hanlon SUNDAY 10AM: Charmaine Quinn & Caitriona Cullen

The Wonder of Creation Homing pigeons can find their way home from thousands of miles away They’ve been used in wars to carry important.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL  TEACHINGS Work is the natural exercise and function of Man The creature who is made in the image of his creator. Dorothy L. Sayers

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.

Holy Week This week, we will be celebrating Holy Week by very similar ceremonies to the ones we used last year. But this year it is different, really. Many things have changed for me in the last year.  The world around me is different. Geopolitical issues are different. The environmental threats are becoming more acute. And, above all, I am different, changed.

I’m sure it is the same for many people. Whatever happened to you during the year, family births, bereavements, change of school, job, illnesses, engagements, relationships, and, above all, your own journey towards God. You are not as you were last year.

So, this week, this Holy Week, we can all look back and see what has happened for me. And the Words of Scripture, the ceremonies, the people around me, will all speak to me in a new way of the most important event of all – the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Fr. Gerry Kane

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.

Trócaire Box Collection Please return your Trócaire boxes to the Parish before Monday 20^th April 2026

World Day of Prayer Mar 22nd. Many thanks to all who participated in the World Day of Prayer and for your generous donation of €295.00. Your personal donation will support the ministry of World Day of Prayer and help address the challenges facing women in Nigeria today.

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.

Where did the Easter egg come from? In Medieval Europe, Christians didn’t eat eggs or meat during the Lent season, so they preserved the eggs laid during the period by boiling them and later gave them away as Easter gifts to children. However, according to some traditions, eggs symbolize the resurrection of Jesus — the shell representing the sealed tomb.

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.

Free Household Electrical Recycling Day in Blessington From Monday 30th March to Thursday 2nd April, a free household electrical recycling event will be taking place each morning from 10am to 12pm outside Blessington Tourist Office. Simply bring down any end of life electrical goods or batteries and the Recycle IT team will recycle it for you, free of charge. This event is organised by the Blessington Allotments Campaign, Blessington Tourist Office and Recycle IT, which is a community based social enterprise specialising in recycling Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE).

GARDENING SERVICES Grass cutting / Ride on lawnmower Push Lawnmower, Hedge cutting Chainsaw Cutting, Splitting Timber, Spraying, Weeding, Powerwashing Driveway Patios, General Maintenance around your home. Just Call for reasonable Quates/ Price. Call or text 0876640695.

Blessington Taxi Phone Greg 087 2626 393

Catriona Byrne & Co Solicitors BESIDE AIB – OVER 20 YEARS ESTABLISHED FOR ALL YOUR LEGAL NEEDS 3 Mill Bank, Blessington County Wicklow Tel: 045 857 537 www.catrionsbyrne.ie

Driving instructor RSA and ADI approved.  Contact Michael 087 459 4258  for bookings.

HEADSTONES McEvoy Monumental Works Blessington. Headstones, Inscriptions, Renovations. Serving the people of Blessington for over 40 years. Call to our workshop at Millbank Blessington Call: Mick 045 865 487 – 086 843 8832 or Gary 087 933 3487 www.mcevoymonumentalworks.com

Local Builder Available All services under one roof, Windows & Doors, Plumbing, Tiling, Roofing, Plastering, Electrical, Carpentry, Insulation. All levels of construction services available. Fully registered. Call Paul: 086 309 1829

Eagle Cleaning Solutions Chimney Cleaning, Exterior Power Washing, Window Cleaning, Gutter Cleaning & Repairs. Find us on Facebook! Call for appointment: 087 247 4388. info@eaglecleaningsolutions.com

German Autoworks – Service Specialist VW/Audi, Mercedes, Skoda, Seat, Opel – Call 087 286 3997 www.germanautoworks.ie

Niall Kearns Building & Roofing Contractor 086 274 6969 nkbuildandroof@gmail.com Building New Homes, Extensions, Sunrooms Attic Conversions, Renovations, Chimney Repairs Roofing New Roofs, All Roof Repairs Flat Roofs, Gutter Repairs Roof Replacement, PVC Fascia & Soffit All Work Fully Guaranteed

JP&M Doyle What’s Your Property Worth? Talk to us today for your free-Market Appraisal Specializing In Residential Town & Country Homes Development & Agricultural Land Commercial Property Lettings, Valuations. 2025 is your year to make it happen! With high demand and a lack of supply, now is the perfect time to maximise your property’s value. www.jpmdoyle.ie Tel: 045-865568.

KILDARA HEATING & PLUMBING Call Dara: 0862356610 Email: Kildaraheating@gmail.com Heating & Plumbing Services Bathroom Renovations Boiler install/service Heat pumps Central Heating Power flushing Fully Insured RGI & Oftec Registered

Jennifer Kavanagh Sports & Remedial Therapy: *Muscle Aches and Pains *Chronic Muscle or Joint Pain *Struggling to perform Day-to-Day Tasks *Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation *Increased Mobility Fully qualified ITEC NCVA,  fully insured and local experienced Therapist.  Ph: 087 9021099

Block Laying & small building works 30 years’ experience Reliable, Quality & Fair pricing. Ph 085-150-5668

Super Valu Blessington Made to order occasion Confirmation/Communion Cakes Call in store to order

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.