18^th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 2^nd August 2020

The gift of Jesus is different to material wealth; It is more than that. He Promises meaning to life, hope, love that is everlasting He promises himself in friendship to us.

At the finish of the meal, when Jesus fed the crowds, all the leftovers were gathered up, probably for the journey home. Food was not wasted. He knew that nobody should go hungry in a world which has more than enough to feed its population. The waste of food is often a theme of Pope Francis. Addressing the World Food Programme in November 2019, he said “in many places, our brothers & sisters do not have access to sufficient & healthy food, while in others, food is discarded”. He also says that “each human being has a right to healthy & sustainable nutrition”. Our care & respect for food can make a difference. Supermarkets give leftover food each evening to food centres, food which might otherwise have been bought & later thrown out. A care for food means that we become aware of the huge hunger in the world, where 821 million people, or one in nine, still go to bed on an empty stomach each night. The gospel of Jesus calls on us simply not to waste food.

So, we can look in our food recycle bins & decide how we can buy only enough food to use. Food chains can help, for example, selling in quantities that are suitable for single people or a couple. When we thank God for food, we are also saying we are committed to respect for food. Pope Francis again: ‘Families, schools, & the communications media have an important task in educating & raising awareness in this regard.’ Give us this day our daily bread; may all have enough for daily food. Donal Neary SJ, Editor Sacred Heart Messenger

Mass Intentions this Week: Peter McNabb (RD)

Saturday 6pm: Dick Haughton (A) Sr Margaret Burke (RD)

Sunday 10am: Tom McGreal Snr. (A)

We also Remember the following: Charlie Keogh, Peter Cummins

Monday: Mass offered for all the Blessington List of the Sick

Tuesday: Betty Bevan (RD) Get Well Intentions

Wednesday: Special Intentions, Get Well Intentions

Thursday: Frank O’Neill (A) Special Intentions

First Friday: Masses will be offered for all those on the November List of the Dead

Congratulations to the boys & girls from Blessington No 1 School who receive  1^st Holy Communion this weekend, we wish them every blessing.

Bank Holiday Monday Mass will be at 11am in Church of Our Lady Blessington

Adoration & Rosary will take place every Tuesday from 7pm to 8pm in Church of Our Lady, Blessington. If you are unable to come to the Church, you can join us via webcam on blessingtonparish.ie

Saturday and Sunday Masses in Blessington. Due to the extended restrictions on numbers allowed to gather indoors we will continue to issue tickets for  6pm Mass on Saturday & 10am Mass on Sunday in Church of Our Lady, Blessington. Tickets must be collected in the Parish Office between 9am & 12.30pm Mon to Fri – 045 865 327

Happy 7^th Birthday to my wonderful Great Grandson Calum Flynn Martin on Friday 31^st July. Calum is the Blessington Forum “Person of the Year 2019” and I love him so much!! Gaga Owen XXX

Hollywood Mass Rock is on the 9th of August 2020, the pilgrimage will start in the Church car park at 7am and will proceed from here to the Mass Rock at Corragh.  The Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Eamonn Walsh upon arrival at approximately 9am.  All are welcome.

Results of the Valleymount and Lacken Draw for July: Deirdre Ryan, Fr Richard, John Holmes, Liz Cullen, Ita & Jim Hill

Blessington AFC. Notice to all coaches, managers, members, and parents. The Blessington AFC AGM will take place on Monday 10th August 2020 in St Kevin’s Hall Blessington. It will start at 8pm sharp.

Cruthú Gallery at Russborough, Open Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from 12 noon. Our members have been very creative during the lockdown so we will start posting soon some exciting new art pieces that will be available for purchase. We look forward to seeing you soon and please remember to mind the social distancing rules. www.cruthu.ie or contact us at cruthuart@gmail.com

SENIOR LINE – National Confidential Listening Service for Older People provided by trained older volunteers. All Calls are Free. Open 365 days a year from 10am to 10pm. A telephone listening service for older people. We do not ask for or pass on any information about our callers. FREEPHONE 1800 80 45 91

Annual Novena to Knock Shrine. “It is with great disappointment that we have to postpone the highlight of the annual pilgrimage season at Knock Shrine. I take this opportunity to encourage the people of Ireland & beyond to pray the Novena prayer in their own homes & parishes for the month of August so that we may be united in prayer. The Novena prayer can be found on our website. The proposed theme for this year’s Novena was ‘Faith in Changing Times’ Here at Knock Shrine as we respond to the present challenges of the coronavirus, we continue “to pray with you & for you” as we look forward with faith & hope to brighter days.  We thank everyone for their patience & cooperation. May Our Lady of Knock keep you all safe” Fr Richard Gibbons

Blessington AFC are looking for young footballers and goalkeepers born in 2008 to join (or re-join) the Under 13 teams. if you would like to join please contact enquiries@blessingtonfc.com

Courses in the Further Education and Training Centre Blessington. Are you considering doing a course, changing your career? Do you need Guidance? Here at Blessington Further Education and Training Centre we provide a free, professional, impartial career guidance and information service to all adults. For further information on upcoming courses or changing your career, please contact our Guidance Service, Irene Hayden on 086 806 1569 or irenehayden@kwetb.ie or contact Karen Townsend on 086 850 3833 or karentownsend@kwetb.ie

St. Marys’ Schools & Blessington Parish Lotto. Jackpot next week €2475, sign up for €2 per week on parish website

https://blessingtonparish.ie

Eyelash Extensions: Classic Russian lashes – Full set €45 – Refills €30 – 087 950 9074 for appointment

Affordable Live-in Homecare provides live-in carers for the elderly in your area. If you are looking for a live-in carer for your relative, please call Eileen or Tom today on 087 9916791 or 087 7440729. Our website is www.alhomecare.ie

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME  19th July 2020

God knows the good and evil in a person’s heart and accepts both in us. He knows our struggles over evil and he both heals and forgives the wrongdoing in our lives.

In the normal garden we find flowers, grass, maybe some trees, we also find weeds. Jesus looks at a piece of land – a wheat field with weeds. He talks about the gardener who was constantly digging up weeds and the wheat with them he says to leave them and separate them at the harvest.

Our life is a bit like this field. Faults, failings, and the bits and pieces of ourselves that are sinful. We would like to get rid of them and the intolerances we have, or the bad temper, or the grudges and bitterness and judgements on others. We do our best but some of our personal faults and failings stay with us.

Maybe some faults and failings, or the weaker side of our lives, have made us more compassionate and humble. Maybe if we didn’t fail at something, we would be pompous and proud. We can sometimes feel a bit humiliated by our weaknesses, but in this we grow in humility and in our dependence on the understanding and forgiveness of God. With Jesus we do our best in life, changing what we can and accepting what we cannot. In that there is great wisdom.  Donal Neary SJ, Editor Sacred Heart Messenger

Mass Intentions this Week

Pauline McLoughlin (Leitrim)

Saturday 6pm: James (Jimmy) Mahon Months Mind, Sean Corr (3rd A)

Sunday 10am: Alan Clarke (A) Bob Curtin(A)

We also Remember the following: Teresa Doyle (A) (Old Court) Joseph Burke, Christy Cartwright, Simon Hopkins, Rebecca Hopkins, Maisie Hopkins, Kay Lennon

Monday: Mass offered for all the Blessington List of the Sick

Tuesday: Lorraine Mullins (RD) Msgnr Jim Cassin (RD)

Thursday: Teresa Clarke (RD) Lily Mooney (RD

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

Adoration & Rosary will take place every Tuesday from 7pm to 8pm in Church of Our Lady, Blessington. If you are unable to come to the Church, you can join us via webcam on blessingtonparish.ie

Blessington AFC – Notice to all coaches, managers, members, and parents. The Blessington AFC AGM will take place on Monday 10th August 2020 in St Kevin’s Hall Blessington. It will start at 8pm sharp.

St. Kevin’s Hollywood will be hosting their Annual Cemetery Mass on Sunday July 26th at 5.00p.m.

SENIOR LINE – National Confidential Listening Service for Older People provided by trained older volunteers. All Calls are Free. Open 365 Days a Year from 10am to 10pm. A telephone listening service for older people. We do not ask for or pass on any information about our callers. FREEPHONE 1800 80 45 91

St. Marys’ Schools & Blessington Parish Lotto Jackpot next week €2375 sign up for €2 per week on parish website

https://blessingtonparish.ie

Cruthú Gallery at Russborough Open Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays from 12 noon. Our members have been very creative during the lockdown so we will start posting soon some exciting new art pieces that will be available for purchase. We look forward to seeing you soon and please remember to mind the social distancing rules. www.cruthu.ie or contact us at cruthuart@gmail.com

The Irish Hospice Foundation – National Freephone Service. Have you been impacted by a bereavement during COVID-19?  Are you finding it difficult to cope with a bereavement at this time?  Would it help to talk to someone in confidence about your loss? The Irish Hospice Foundation Bereavement Support Line is a national freephone service – 1800 80 70 77 – available from 10.00am to 1.00pm, Monday to Friday.

DONATE to the Parish Online you can now make donations to Blessington, Crosschapel, Manor Kilbride, or Valleymount/Lacken or Donations to the Archdiocese, Easter Dues & the 1st & 2nd Collections that are normally taken up at Mass. It is straightforward to use, but if you need any help call Jean 087 235 0835 or Carol 045 865 327 during the week.

The Parish Office is open – Monday to Friday 9.00am to 12.30pm for Mass Bookings, Mass Cards, & General Enquiries. Email: office@blessington.info, Call: 045 865 327. from 9am to 1pm. Please observe social distance & please use hand sanitiser when entering & leaving.

Courses in the Further Education and Training Centre Blessington Are you considering doing a course, changing your career? Do you need Guidance? Here at Blessington Further Education and Training Centre we provide a free, professional, impartial career guidance and information service to all adults. For further information on upcoming courses or changing your career please contact our Guidance Service, Irene Hayden on 086 806 1569 or irenehayden@kwetb.ie or contact Karen Townsend on 086 850 3833 or karentownsend@kwetb.ie

Saturday and Sunday Masses in Blessington – Due to the extended restrictions on numbers allowed to gather indoors we will continue to issue tickets for 6pm Mass on Saturday & 10am Mass on Sunday in Church of Our Lady, Blessington. Tickets must be collected in the Parish Office between 9am & 12.30pm Mon to Fri – 045 865 327