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