Mass Intentions

Katie Duffy (RD) Meath, William Donohoe (RD) Blessington

Easter Vigil Saturday 8pm: Mass offered for Blessington Parishioners

Easter Sunday 10am: Mass offered for Blessington Parishioners

We remember the following: Annie, Joe & Maggie Higgins (A), Dick Byrne (Rem), (Dick & Annie’s 60th Wedding Anniversary) Teresa Sargent (A) Kay Hayes (A)

Easter Sunday 4th April 11.30am: Margaret Hammond (1^st A), Maureen Hughes (RD)

Monday 5th April : Mass for Blessington List of the Sick

Tuesday 6^th April: Denis Bohan (1^st A) Frank O’Keefe (RD)

Wednesday 7^th April: John & Mary McGarrigle (A) Joe Malee (RD)

Thursday 8th April: PJ McGrath (RD), Get Well Mass Int

Friday 9^th April Intentions Mass, Intentions Mass

Saturday 10^th April 6pm: Elizabeth Keegan (Longford ) 1^st A. Fintan Byrne (A) Doreen Donaghy (A) Harry & Doreen Hughes (A)

Sunday 11^th April 10am: Denis Bohan (1^st A) Vincent Bohan (R) James & Ellen Bohan (Rem)

Sunday 11th April 11.30am: Bernie Collins (RD) Nancy Walsh (RD)

We remember the following: Peggy Luttrell, Family & Friends of a Parishioner

Monday 12^th April: Mass offered for Blessington List of the Sick

Tuesday 13^th April Fintan Byrne (A) Tom O’Hara

14^th, 15^th & 16^th April: Mass will be offered for the Blessington Easter Mass Card List

May the peace of the Risen Christ be with you always but particularly in this time of fear & uncertainty in our lives. Fr. Páraic McDermott, Fr. Kevin Lyon, Fr Richard Behan, Fr. Noel Campbell, Fr. Micheál Comer, Rev. Leonard Ruddock & Deacon Gerry Malone, Pastoral Worker Áine Egan

EASTER CEREMONIES

Holy Thursday: 1^st April 8pm: Mass of the Last Supper. Followed by Prayers & Reflection

Good Friday 2^nd April

12pm: Children’s Stations of the Cross

3pm: Passion Ceremony

8pm: Prayers around the Cross with Stations of the Cross

Holy Saturday: 3^rd April 8pm: Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday: 4^th April 10am & 11.30am Mass. All Ceremonies are on the Parish Webcam  www.blessingtonparish.ie

All Masses & Services via Webcam www.blessingtonparish.ie

Daily Mass at 11am during Easter Week 4^th to 8^th April. Rosary will not be prayed before Mass during Easter week.

The Parish Office will be closed on Good Friday and will re-open on Monday 12^th April

SVP Blessington Appeal: Families in our local community are facing mounting financial pressure to put food on the table, pay utility bills, rent and mortgages due to the impact of Covid 19. SVP Blessington is appealing to everyone to assist people in need in your local community. Please give what you can to this very worthy cause by making your donation, payable to SVP Blessington Ulster Bank IBAN: IE36 ULSB 98534015436018 BIC:: ULSB: IE 2D  through any financial institution. 100% of all donations goes towards supporting the local community.

Blessington Union of Parishes. All our services including those which we will have for Easter are available on the parish YouTube channel by searching for “Blessington Union” or at this link https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=blessington+union Rev Leonard Ruddock

St Brigid’s N.S. Manor Kilbride are accepting enrolments for the next school year: 2021 – 2022. To enrol your child, please call Charlotte in our school office 01 458 2550 or find the enrolment documents on our school website http://manorkilbridens.scoilnet.ie/blog/

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 2.30 pm. 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 045 865 086 or lackenschool@eircom.net

Community Pool for West Wicklow RAFFLE for a PlayStation 5! Tickets are €20 each only 100 tickets being issued! All monies raised will go towards a Pool for West Wicklow. To buy a ticket and support our campaign email us at poolforWestWicklow@gmail.com

West Wicklow Cancer Support – If your life has been touched by cancer in any way, we are here for you, contact us on 087 434 6004 /  westwicklow15@gmail.com or find us on Facebook. “Nobody is exempt from the trials of life but everyone can always find something positive in everything even in the worst of times. Keep smiling and moving, we are stronger together”

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.

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

Good Dry Kindling for Sale at Blessington Men’s Shed 1 bag for €3 and 4 bags for €10. For information & collection, Call John Flynn at 087 297 7678. All money raised for upkeep of Shed during these difficult times.”

St Mary’s Schools and Blessington Parish Lotto Jackpot next week : €4375 –  Congratulation to the weekly winner of €25 on 25th March: Sinead Nielson – Numbers Drawn 7, 19, 20, 30  –  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!

Lakeside Community Games Virtual Events: Lakeside Community Games are delighted to announce that they are an affiliated area this year & therefore all children living in our area can participate in the National Community Games virtual events which include art, model making, handwriting, recitation, dance, music & singing. All details about these virtual events as well as online entry forms are available on the National Community Games Website www.communitygames.ie Information can also be found on the Lakeside Community Games Facebook Page. Remember: Lakeside Community Games Area includes Blessington, Kilbride, Lacken, Hollywood and Valleymount. Please contact Maura Reid or message the Lakeside Community Games Facebook page with any queries.

St Vincent de Paul Blessington, local number 087 181 1579

I’ve learned that just one person saying to me “You’ve made my day” makes MY day!!!

• NEWSLETTER ADS

GasHome Plumbing and Heating Summer offer: New Worcester Bosch Gas Boilers Fitted, with 10 year Warranty from €79 per month for 36 months. Call Stephen on 087 906 0894 or 01 458 7884

Tús Programme Job Opportunities in Blessington.  County Wicklow Partnership’s Tús Programme has a number of work placement opportunities in Blessington and surrounding areas. Blessington town and from Hollywood to Manor Kilbride. Roles available in: Caretaking & Maintenance – Administration – Retail Charity – Social Care. While on Tús you can gain valuable work experience and contribute to your community at the same time. The placement will be for 1 year and participants will be required to work for 19½ hours per week and are free to take up other employment outside of their 19½ hours. To qualify for Tús, you must be fully unemployed for 12 months. Tús payment is at the full rate of Jobseekers Allowance plus €22.50 top-up. Information: You can self-select for a position with Tús. For more information or to apply contact Neil Doyle on 087 640 9273 or ndoyle@wicklowpartnership.ie

Rods + Cones Opticians Blessington Beside the GARDA station. Formerly Cullinane Opticians. We are open during COVD for all your eyecare needs. FREE Eye Exam + Glasses with PRSI + Medical Card. Large selection of Designer Frames + Sunglasses. Special Offers + Discounts on 2nd Pairs. Varifocal Experts – try them with our 30 Day Guarantee. Wishing all our loyal customers a safe 2021. Call 045-981 056 for an appointment.

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

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

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

Mass Intentions next Week

Saturday 6pm: Edin Vasquez (RD)(Panama) Month’s Mind, James & Kathleen Rawson (A) Joe Fitzpatrick (5th A)

Sunday 10am: Jim D’Arcy (Month’s Mind), Willie Clarke (A), Nancy Sheridan (Rem), Alan Clarke (Birthday Rem), Jimmy Fitzpatrick (Tougher, Valleymount) (A), Jim McDonald (Lacken) (A), Agnes & Patrick Bolger (A), Mary Cullen (Rem)

Sunday 11.30am: Paddy Magee (A), Josephine Keane (A)

We also remember: John & Kitty Nolan, Tom & Kathleen Osborne, Deceased Members of Osborne Family Bridie Toomey (A), Simon Foster (A) Danny Flanagan (A), Larry Lennon (A) Mary & Matthew Lennon (Rem), Ann-Mary & Michael Norton (Rem), Deceased Members of Norton Family

Monday: Mass offered for Blessington List of the Sick

Tuesday: Remembrance of Deceased Members of Healy & McDonald Families (Lacken), Vera Warren (A), Emer Holohan (Rem)

Wednesday: Patrick Shea (A) Aine Murphy (RD)

Thursday: Mass offered for all on the Blessington Deceased Mass Card List

Friday: Joe Flynn (RD), Eamon Hynes (RD)

All Masses & Services via Webcam www.blessingtonparish.ie

► Daily Mass at 9.30am, Mon to Fri please join us for Rosary at 9am.

► Sat 20^th March: Mass at 6pm

► Sun 21^st March: Mass at 10am & 11.30am

► Fri 26^th March: Stations of the Cross at 12 noon via webcam.

► Mon, Wed & Fri: Evening Prayer: Join the parish team for evening prayer via zoom:

7:30pm to 8:10pm  www.blessingtonparishes.com

Fifth Sunday of Lent. Jesus was destined to die so that we would have life. We must die to sin, die to our selfish ways, if we are to be alive to Christ and alive for his kingdom.

Jesus talks about little seeds in the dark earth. The little seeds will be lonely and feel cold but the sunshine will come and warm them. They will grow into sheaves of golden corn and bring food and joy to the world. Jesus said ‘that He too would be lonely and in the dark and that God Our Father would be with Him and raise Him up to a wonderful new life. Sometimes, we are in the dark and lonely too. Jesus promises that His Spirit will always be with us. Fr Liam Hickey

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.

St. Marys’ Schools & Blessington Parish

EASTER DRAW – All lines on 1st April will be entered into the  St. Mary’s Schools’ & Parish Easter Draw for our local prizes:

• Hudson Brothers 1 winner of €150 cash prize
• Murphy’s Bar 2 winners of €20 Vouchers
• Hennessy’s 3 winners of €20 Office Shop/Hardware Vouchers
• Blessington Lakes Golf Club 4 Ball voucher with Tea/coffee

MANY THANKS TO OUR LOCAL SPONSORS – Support Local Businesses

All lines will also be entered into Our Fundraiser Easter Draw for:

Prize 1 – Samsung Smart 50” TV,

Prize 2 – Samsung Tablet,

Prize 3 – Kindle E Reader,

Prize 4 – Dolce Gusto Coffee Maker

Prize 5 – €100 Penney’s voucher

Barry Hamilton is doing a 1 Million Step Challenge in March for Blessington & District Day Care. If anyone would like to sponsor him in this Challenge you can contact him at 087 245 0546 or barryhamilton2000@yahoo.ie

Blessington Union of Parishes. All our services including those which we will have for Easter are available on the parish YouTube channel by searching for “Blessington Union” or at this link https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=blessington+union Rev Leonard Ruddock

Vox Hiberniae are a group of musicians from parishes in the Archdiocese of Dublin and have prepared the following reflection in conjunction with the Avila Carmelite Centre in Donnybrook. “A Celtic Lenten Journey – Harp, Voice and Violin” reflects in Word and in song on the Passion of Jesus. It can be viewed from the following link – you might like it for a reflective hour this Lent,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGiFqCswp90

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 2.30 pm. 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 045 865 086 or lackenschool@eircom.net

West Wicklow Cancer Support – If your life has been touched by cancer in any way, we are here for you, contact us on 087 434 6004 /  westwicklow15@gmail.com or find us on Facebook. “Nobody is exempt from the trials of life but everyone can always find something positive in everything even in the worst of times. Keep smiling and moving, we are stronger together”

Do you have a small piece of land in or around Blessington? We are a community group looking to start allotments in the area. Please contact us at blessingtonallotments@gmail.com or 0862371290

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

Good Dry Kindling for Sale at Blessington Men’s Shed 1 bag for €3 and 4 bags for €10. For information & collection, Call John Flynn at 087 297 7678. All money raised for upkeep of Shed during these difficult times.”

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

St Mary’s Schools and Blessington Parish Lotto Jackpot next week : €4250 –  Congratulation to the weekly winner of €25 on 4th March: Rose-Marie Nugent – Numbers Drawn 4, 7, 8, 27 and on 11th March, Anne-Marie Clarke – Numbers drawn 12, 21, 22, 28 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!

St Vincent de Paul Blessington, local number 087 181 1579

I may not have everything I want in life but  I’m blessed enough to have all that I need!! For this ….I am grateful

• NEWSLETTER ADS

CHILDMINDER REQUIRED. Looking for a kind, reliable Childminder to look after three children in Manor Kilbride / Brittas area. Four days per week. Driving essential as drop-off/pick-up to local school/Montessori in Manor Kilbride needed. For more details contact 086 828 3162.

!!!!TIME TO LEARN SPANISH AT YOUR OWN PACE AND CONVENIENCE!!!! After all these years bringing Spanish students to Blessington, I am pleased to offer on-line Spanish classes. Book your free trial class!!!! If interested please contact Paloma on WhatsApp: 0034628114938. Email: kinsdale.paloma@gmail.com Hoping you are all keeping well, Paloma Agudo KINSDALE

Rods + Cones Opticians Blessington Beside the GARDA station. Formerly Cullinane Opticians. We are open during COVD for all your eyecare needs. FREE Eye Exam + Glasses with PRSI + Medical Card. Large selection of Designer Frames + Sunglasses. Special Offers + Discounts on 2nd Pairs. Varifocal Experts – try them with our 30 Day Guarantee. Wishing all our loyal customers a safe 2021. Call 045-981 056 for an appointment.

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

FURNITURE FOR SALE Two wardrobes for sale… one off white/white size 5`8″ high 3’ 4″ wide as new – one pine with drawer size 5`8″ high 2`9″ wide –  Pine Bed & Mattress (Double) Phone 087 678 1642

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

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