Saturday 1^st February 2020

►Children’s Church is back!! NEW time 6pm Mass in Blessington on Saturdays

►Blessing of Throats will take place at 7.30pm Mass in Lacken

Sunday 2^nd February 2020

► Blessing of Throats will take place at 11.15am Mass in Valleymount

►Candlemas – Candles will be blessed for use in the home at Masses this weekend. Candles available in the Parish Office.

Monday 3^rd February 2020

►Holy Hour in Crosschapel every Monday after 10am Mass (ex-Bank Holidays)

►Blessing of Throats at 9.30am Mass in Blessington & 10am in Crosschapel

►Blessington Community Walking Group. Walks from the Coimín Centre on Monday (ex-bank holidays) & Thursday at 7pm. All levels catered for & welcome. Find us on Facebook

►Benediction and Guided Prayer in Lacken Church at 8pm. All Welcome.

Tuesday 4^th February 2020

►Citizens Information Centre in Blessington Library from 1pm to 4pm. Legal advice service on 1st & 3rd Tues of month by appointment

►Blessington Book Club meeting at 10.30am in Education Centre. All Welcome

►Blessington & District Active Retired meeting at 2.30pm in the Coimín Centre Blessington, new members welcome.

►Eucharistic Adoration from 7.30pm to 8.30pm in Blessington Church.

Wednesday 5^th February 2020

►The Citizens Information Centre is open in Blessington Library today 10am to 12.30pm.

►The Rosary will be offered at 7.30pm for the intentions of our families in Blessington Church

►Prayers to the Holy Face of Jesus in Crying Room Blessington Church 11am

►Christian Meditation Group meet in the Mass Centre in Brittas from 11am. All welcome

Friday 7^th February 2020

►Bethany Bereavement Support Group are available in the Coimín Centre Blessington for caring confidential support from 10am to 11am

►1st Friday of the Month. The Masses will be offered for all those whose names are on the Altar List of the Dead. The priests will visit the sick & housebound. If you would like a visit please contact the Parish Office, 045 865 327

►1^st Friday Mass in Manor Kilbride at 9am.

►1^st Friday Mass in Valleymount at 11.15am

►Coffee Morning in Lacken Community Centre from 10.30am to 12.30pm

►Padre Pio Mass at 8pm in Blessington. 

Mass Intentions this Week

Saturday 6pm: Edward Boylan (1^st A) Bridie & Owen Naughton (A) Joe Tracey (A) Jim Luttrell (A) Michael Doran (A)

Sunday 10am: Bernadette Byrne (1^st A) Conor Curran (A) Brigid O’Connell

We also Remember the following:  Margaret Hayden (A) Bill Brady, Kit Brady (A) Ann O’Byrne

Monday: Mass for those on list for Sick

Tuesday: Sp Living Int, Thank you Mass, Thank you, Mass,

Wednesday: James Fallon (RD) Marie Cox (RD)

Thursday: Jim Redmond (RD) Ann Ryan (RD)

Friday: Mass for all  on Altar List of the Dead

Beginning on Monday 17^th February, between 11am & 1pm Fr Richard & Deacon Gerry will be visiting farms in Valleymount to bless the stock & homes in the area.

Monday: Annacarney Togher, Logstown  (Upper & Lower)

Tuesday: Carrigacurra

Wednesday: Lower Baltyboys

Thursday: Upper Baltyboys

Friday: Granamore, Granabeg

If you would like a visit, please call Blessington Parish Office 045 865 327 (your Eircode would be helpful)

St Brigid’s N.S. Manor Kilbride are now accepting enrolments for all pupils wishing to start in September.  Please contact the school office on 01-4582550 for an enrolment form.

Lacken NS are currently accepting enrolments for September 2020. Enrolment forms are available on www.lackenns.com or from the school, call 045 865 086 and we will post one out to you. Lacken NS also runs a pre-school & an after-school service. Please join us at our open day on Wednesday 12^th February from 11am to 12.15pm. All are welcome.

St. Joseph’s National School (Valleymount) are now accepting enrolment forms for September 2020. Forms available from the school office, please call in or phone 045 867289. Places are filling up fast. Closing date for applications April 30th.

Community Engagement Day in St. Brigid’s School, Manor Kilbride Fri 31^st at 7pm. Local Gardai, IFA branch reps & reps from community groups involved in the National Rural Safety Forum will be engaging with local community. This is a great opportunity for the local community to get to know their local Gardai and local community representatives

Blessington Parish will host the Climate Justice Candle for the month of Feb. On Sunday 16^th Feb, Sr Catherine Brennan of Eco Congregation Ireland will speak at the 10am & 11.15am Masses in Blessington & Valleymount on ways in which our parishes can become more environmentally aware & eco-friendly.

Visitation of the Sick: If there are any parishioners ill, at home or in hospital who would like a visit from a priest, please contact the Parish Office to let us know and to make arrangements 045 865 327

Coffee Concert organised by Pipeworks, which promotes Hungarian organ & choral music in St Jude’s Church, Templeogue on Sun 2nd of Feb at 4pm. Featruing Organist Judit Mate & St Jude’s Concert Choir. Tickets €10/€5

Blessington based Baritone, Gyula Nagy is singing the role of Schaunard in ROH Covent Garden’s La Boheme, which will be screened live in cinemas on Jan 29^th Details:

https://www.roh.org.uk/showings/la-boheme-live-2020

Huge, Huge THANK YOU from Blessington Musical & Dramatic Society for your support for our Panto “Robin Hood” We hope everyone enjoyed it as much as we enjoyed putting it on! See you again next time…..

Join us for Blessington Bingo every Wednesday in the Avon at 8.15 pm. Great prizes, weekly Jackpot & bonus prizes if you check on Lucky Number, Raffle etc. Shuttle Bus available €2 return. €10 for book and flyers. Contact Catherine 087 122 4019 or Jess 086 860 2822

Car Boot Sale (Des Redmond Charities) in St. Kevin’s Hall Sunday 9^th February from 7am to 4pm. €10 per table, Free Car Park, Tea & Coffee. Pat Conlan 086 075 2072

TABLE QUIZ in Tutty’s Pub Hollywood on 7^th February at 9pm Sharp. Table of 4 €40. Proceeds towards Senior Citizens Summer Outing, your support appreciated. Quiz Master “Supreme” Pat O Neill.

Interested in a social cycle in the Blessington area?  Led by an experienced volunteer, Cycling Ireland/Axa Community Bike Rides are gentle, social bike rides for adults, usually followed by coffee & chat.  New series for beginners added for Wednesdays at 10:30am. Join for FREE at www.AxaCommunityBikeRides.com

Happy Faces Play School Blessington Education Centre is a fun, stimulating & welcoming environment with a curriculum focusing on the best care & education for your child. Our staff are highly trained in up to date childcare & Montessori methods of learning and development. Places available, full & part time. Enrolling now for Sept 2020.

Cub Scout Blessington. Is your child aged 9-11years, if they are interested in joining scouts & you would like to become a scout leader (free training provided) please contact me aoibheannmc1@yahoo.ie for more details.

LOOKING FOR A GREAT NIGHT OUT? Blessington Bowls meet every Thurs at 7.30pm in St. Kevin’s Hall, Blessington. guests welcome, come along & bring a friend.

MEMBER NOTICE – Blessington & District Credit Union Limited, Annual General Meeting will take place on 30^th January at 8 pm in The Avon, Blessington

Last Chance for Groups, Floats, Businesses etc to take part in the Blessington St Patrick’s Day Parade on 17^th March at 12 noon. Contact 087 7811691  for registration. Ken Darker & Noel Nolan will be the commentators on the day. All proceeds to Community Pool for West Wicklow

West Wicklow Cancer Support – Weekly Meditation with essential oils hosted by Gemma Deeney of Yogagym on Wednesdays at 11.30am Primary Care Centre Blessington.  If your life has been touched by cancer in any way come & join us. No charge, all welcome. Find us on facebook / westwicklow15@gmail.com

Friends of Lady Leona McNally Buggy of The Lodge, would like to wish her a happy birthday on becoming a Quadragenarian.

TRY IT OUT, Blessington Mini-Rugby for Tots is looking for new members to play fun & games every Sat @ 10:15am at St Kevin’s Hall, Main St, Blessington (opposite Vincent’s Charity Shop). Ages 3-5 years.

Hollywood Friendship Club every Wed from 2.15pm to 4.15pm in the Hollywood Centre. New members welcome

West Wicklow General Election Debate. Community Pool for West Wicklow have invited all General Election candidates running in Wicklow to take part in a debate in The Avon on Tues Feb 4^th at 8:15pm For more info: email poolforWestWicklow@gmail.com

Adult Fencing Classes on Tuesdays from 8pm in St Kevin’s Hall. Fencing is a fun sport & all ages & levels of fitness can enjoy. No special equipment required only comfortable clothes & trainers. All are welcome to pop along & give it a go with no obligation. Call 087 676 4183 if you need any additional information

The Parish Book Club next meeting will be on Thurs 13^th Feb at 10am in The Church Meeting Room.  The book for discussion is ‘Following Jesus: Finding Our Way Home in an Age of Anxiety’ by Henri Nouwen, SPCK Publishing (17 Sept. 2019).  New members are always welcome.

The Divine Mercy Conference 2020 takes place in the Main Hall, RDS Ballsbridge on:

Friday 21^st February (evening for Young People)

Saturday 22^nd & Sunday 23^rd February.

THEME: “Deliver us from Evil” (Mt 6:13)

Sat: from 10am to 9pm with Rosary, Holy Hour & Mass,

Sun: from 10am to 5pm again concluding with Mass

DIVINE MERCY IN DEED, WORD & PRAYER.

Speakers include: Fr Pat Collins, C.M. – Fr Peter Glas – Holy Hour. – Fr Brendan Walsh, Eucharistic Healing Service.

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin DD Archbishop of Dublin

Tickets: Sat €30, Sunday €20, full weekend €35 available from PayPal online or at main door:

Info: Margaret 087 669 8745 or Eileen 087 990 5723

Further details & to book online at www.divinemercyconference.com

Sunday 19^th January 2020

►1^st Communion Preparation Mass at 10am in Church of Our Lady, Blessington

Monday 20^th January 2020

►Holy Hour in Crosschapel every Monday after 10am Mass (ex-Bank Holidays)

Tuesday 21^st January 2020

►Citizens Information Centre in Blessington Library from 1pm to 4pm. Legal advice service on 1st & 3rd Tues of month by appointment

►Blessington & District Active Retired meeting at 2.30pm in the Coimin Centre Blessington, new members welcome.

►Eucharistic Adoration from 7.30pm to 8.30pm in Blessington Church.

Wednesday 22^nd January 2020

►The Citizens Information Centre is open in Blessington Library today 10am to 12.30pm.

►The Rosary will be offered at 7.30pm for the intentions of our families in Blessington Church

Sunday 26^th January 2020

►All children in 3^rd Class are invited to 10am Mass in Church of Our Lady, Blessington for a special blessing and remembrance of their 1^st Holy Communion last year.

►1^st Communion preparation Mass in Valleymount at 11.15am Mass

Mass Intentions this Week

Anne Ryan (RD) Joe Dunne (RD) JK Fallon (RD) Jimmy Walker (RD) Rosie Bohan (RD)

Saturday 6pm: Alice Garry (1^st A) Pat Garry (A) Jamie Mahon (A) Helen Kennedy Lunden (A) John, Ann & Liam Craul (A)

Sunday 10am: Derek Larkin (Mths Mind) Tom Carroll (A)

We also Remember the following:  Marie Joyce (A) Anne Mooney (A) John & Brigid Keogh (A) Mary Walsh (A) Imelda & James Plummer (A) Seamus Hayden, Michael Higgins

Monday: Mass for those on list for Sick

Tuesday: Sheila Kearns (RD) Brenda Delaney (RD)

Wednesday: Judy Aspel (RD) Tom Prendergast (RD)

Thursday: Maureen King (RD) Tom Fox (RD)

Friday: Blessington Deceased Mass Card List

Visitation of the Sick: If there are any parishioners ill, at home or in hospital who would like a visit from a priest, please contact the Parish Office to let us know and to make arrangements 045 865 327

Blessington Parish Finance Committee would like to thank all who are supporting the Parish Neighbourhood Collection & the Parish Development Fund Boxes

(PDF boxes) in Church of Our Lady.

The money raised through the Neighbourhood Collection & the PDF boxes stays in the parish

so by your contributions you are supporting your local parish & we are most grateful.

If you have ANNUAL Envelopes & MONTHLY Envelopes that have not been collected, please drop them into the Parish Office or into one of the collection bags at Mass on Sunday.

The personal information you provide is used by the parish to process the contribution in line with revenue guidelines.  It is not shared with any other person or organisation.

Applications for Junior Infant places in Sept 2020 in St Mary’s Junior School should be submitted by Friday 24^th January 2020. Forms are available from our school website stmarysjns.weebly.com, from the school office between 9am & 3pm Mon – Fri. or from the parish office (9am to 1 Mon – Fri).  Completed forms may be dropped into the school office or emailed to Bernadette at bsec@live.ie Please phone with any queries – St Mary’s Junior School 045 865 501.

St Brigid’s N.S. Manor Kilbride are now 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 on Tuesday 18th February 2020.  The school will be open from 7pm till 8pm. All the staff look forward to seeing you there.

This year’s Panto ROBIN HOOD from Thurs 16^th to Sun 19^th Jan. in the Tramway Theatre. Limited tickets still available from The Office Shop & Next Door Off Licence!

Blessington Parish Team wish to thank all who donated and loaned cribs to the recent and many thanks to all who visited the exhibition. A donation on €500 was made to the Sisters of Charity, Homeless Shelter.

You are Invited to an Information Evening: ‘Let’s take Ireland back for Christ’ in the Avon Hotel, Blessington at 7.30pm on Thurs 23^rd Jan with HLI Ireland. Relic of the Holy Face available for veneration). Info: 085 2525 612

Music Generation Hub Blessington (BFEC) We are after starting new classes in singing & song writing with local songwriter Megan O’Neill as tutor. Semester 2 Jan to end of May will cost €110 for 18 lessons. Spaces available on Thursday from 4.30 onwards for 8 to 18-year olds.  Call Tod, ASAP on 086 045 0375 or toddoyle@kwetb.ie

Hollywood Friendship Club every Wed from 2.15pm to 4.15pm in the Hollywood Centre. New members welcome

LOOKING FOR A GREAT NIGHT OUT? Blessington Bowls meet every Thurs at 7.30pm in St. Kevin’s Hall, Blessington, guests welcome, come along & bring a friend.

Interested in a social cycle in the Blessington area?  Led by an experienced volunteer, Cycling Ireland/Axa Community Bike Rides are gentle, social bike rides for adults, usually followed by coffee & chat.  New series for beginners added for Wednesdays at 10:30am. Join for FREE at www.AxaCommunityBikeRides.com

Happy Faces Play School Blessington Education Centre is a fun, stimulating & welcoming environment with a curriculum focusing on the best care & education for your child. Our staff are highly trained in up to date childcare & Montessori methods of learning and development. Places available, full & part time. Enrolling now for Sept 2020.

 Social Dancing on 18^th January from 9pm to12 midnight in Donard Community Hall, Donard, Co Wicklow. Refreshments will be served. Social Dancing night will be held the 3^rd Saturday of every month to follow.

 Cub Scout Blessington. Is your child aged 9-11years, if they are interested in joining scouts & you would like to become a scout leader (free training provided) please contact me aoibheannmc1@yahoo.ie for more details.

GROW Community Mental Health “West Wicklow” Support Group every Wednesday at 7.30pm in Camphill, Grangebeg, Dunlavin. Why not come along & learn more about positive mental health, wellbeing, recovery & how GROW may help you achieve this.  New members are always welcome (free of charge).  Info: John 086 803 3126 or www.grow.ie

The Parish Book Club meets 4 times a year.  The books chosen for review are varied and are of spiritual & philosophical interest.  We notify the book under review here in the newsletter.  Our next meeting will be on Thurs 13^th Feb at 10am in The Church Meeting Room.  The book for discussion is ‘Following Jesus: Finding Our Way Home in an Age of Anxiety’ by Henri Nouwen, SPCK Publishing (17 Sept. 2019).  New members are always welcome.  Please contact the Parish Office if you are interested and would like to go on the text reminder list.

Blessington Comhaltas Classes in Bodhran, Concertina, Accordion, Whistle, Flute, Beginner Fiddle, Intermediate Fiddle, Tune Classes, Guitar Lessons, Singing Classes, Ceili Band. Classes on Sundays from 5pm in St. Mary’s SNS Info Pat 086 075 2072 or Rebecca 087 228 2012 www.blessingtoncomhaltascoislocha@gmail.com

West Wicklow General Election Debate. We need West Wicklow & the issues that affect the people here to be a priority for our incoming TDs! Community Pool for West Wicklow have invited all General Election candidates running in Wicklow to take part in a debate to tell us how they are going to represent us. Come along to The Avon on Tuesday February 4th at 8:15pm to have your voice heard & make sure that West Wicklow is firmly on the agenda for our next TDs. For more info or to get involved please email us at poolforWestWicklow@gmail.com

TRY IT OUT, Blessington Mini-Rugby for Tots is looking for new members to play fun & games every Sat @ 10:15am at St Kevin’s Hall, Main St, Blessington (opposite Vincent’s Charity Shop). Ages 3-5 years.

Date for your Diary – Blessington GAA & LGFA Registration night Tues 28^th Jan 7pm to 9pm in the clubhouse. Players need to be registered to play & be insured. 2020 sees the launch of Blessington GAA Healthy Club Programme. Watch out for lots of great events, talks and initiatives coming soon.

Adult Fencing Classes will be starting again on Tuesday 21^st January from 8pm in St Kevin’s Hall. Fencing is a fun sport & all ages & levels of fitness can enjoy. No special equipment required only comfortable clothes & trainers. All are welcome to pop along & give it a go with no obligation. Call 087 676 4183 if you need any additional information

TABLE QUIZ in Tutty’s Pub Hollywood on 7^th February at 9pm Sharp. Table of 4 €40. Proceeds towards Senior Citizens Summer Outing, your support appreciated. Quiz Master “Supreme” Pat O Neill.

West Wicklow Environmental Network meeting in the Avon, Blessington on Thurs 23^rd Jan at 7pm.  Guest speaker from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on energy efficiency grants for the home & the supports available for community energy initiatives. A speaker on behalf of the Blessington Sustainable Energy Community will explain what is already happening in the local area. There will also be a presentation on “Rewilding” & what we can do to promote this. All very welcome for this informative evening.

Blessington Library in conjunction with Wicklow Sports & Recreation Partnership, Siel Bleu Ireland & Healthy Ireland will host Chair Exercise Classes – It’s a 6-week programme starting Thurs 23^rd Jan from 10am to 11am – All 6 Classes taking place in Blessington Library. Classes are free to attend but booking is essential. This one-hour exercise session for older people aims to improve physical & mental capacities. For more information please contact Blessington Library phone: 045 891 740

Health & Wellbeing Talks at Blessington Library Benefits of Physical Activity with Nathalie Lennon on Thursday 23^rd January from 7pm to 8pm,  January Nutrition Made Simple with Cliona Mc Carthy – McGreal’s on Thursday 30^th January from 7pm to 8pm

St Vincent de Paul  087 181 1579