Mass intentions in Blessington Margaret Byrne …RD, Frank McCann…RD

Saturday: Pat Kelly…A, Kathleen Tyrrell…RD

Sunday: Lela & Malachy Slevin…A, Kathleen Noonan…A, Ita Jalili…A, Anne Reid…A, Mary & Charlie Keogh…A, William Brady…A, Sean O Brien…2^nd A, Jimmy Balfe…A

At Masses This Weekend, We Remember the Following Geraldine, Mary & Kevin Sheils…A, Liam McLoughlin…RD

Monday: Mass for the Sick & those in Hospital

Tuesday: Frankie Robinson…RD, Birthday Intention Mass, Thanksgiving Mass

Wednesday: Mary Fanning…RD, Get Well Mass

Thursday: Babs Mearns…. RD, Thanksgiving Mass

Friday: Anthony Harney…RD, Kathy Clarke…RD

Feast Days – May 5th – Feast Day of Blessed Edmund Rice, 1762-1844, a native of Callan, Co. Kilkenny. After his young wife’s early death, he sold his possessions and dedicated his life to the education of the poor, he is the founder of the Irish Christian brothers and the Presentation brothers.

Sr Anna Byrne of Eco Congregation Ireland will speak at the 6pm mass on Sat May 4th on the role parishes can play in addressing the problems caused by climate change. All Green School members, Tidy Town volunteers and those committed to sustainable living are invited to attend.

The Annual Blessing of the Graves & Cemetery Mass will take place in Burgage Cemetery on Sunday 19th May 2024 at 3pm

Rosary & Holy Hour  on Tuesday 23rd April 7pm to 8pm in Church of Our Lady Blessington

Pray & Play Group In the Coimin Centre, Every Wed 2.45pm to 4.30pm. For children of all ages with their parents, grandparents, guardians. Contact Áine 0833798366

Trócaire boxes Please return your donations for Trócaire To the Parish office by Tuesday 7^th May

Minister of Eucharist May 2024 Church of Our Lady Blessington SAT 6PM: Pat McGrath, Teresa Ball & Colette Fennan SUNDAY 10AM: Fedelma Dunne, Brendan Mahon & George Richardson

Dates for Diary 27th April – Parish candidates for Communion. 6th May – Lacken Communion. 11th May – St Marys Communion. 12th May – Valleymount Communion. 18th May – Gaelscoil Communion

Blessington Parish Lotto Numbers on 25^th April 4,7,21,27. €25 Winner: Fr. Richard Behan Next Jackpot €1,450

Pope’s May prayer intention ‘For faith-filled young people’ Pope Francis releases his prayer intention for the month of May, and urges everyone to pray for young Catholics to be courageous in their response to God’s call.

Church of the Apostles Ballybrack Women in the Bible 15^th May at 7.30pm Mary Magdalene Talks given by Dr Jesse Rogers Lecturer/Dean of Theology at St Patricks Pontifical Maynooth

CARE OF THE EARTH Use rechargeable batteries, Batteries are extremely dangerous for the environment and, unfortunately, only a fraction of these batteries gets to be recycled. The rest is thrown away, becoming a hazardous enemy of the environment. Two or three sets of rechargeable batteries along with a charger would prevent this from happening. The initial investment will definitely pay off shortly.

Thought for the week We hand over our worries to God and he hands over his blessings to us.

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

AWARE SUPPORT & SELF CARE GROUPS If you or those with whom you work wish to connect with people in relation to your mental wellbeing, consider using Aware’s phone-in and Zoom support and self-care groups, support line or support mail. For more information, visit www.aware.ie.

Accord Prayer for Marriage & Family Life God of love, show us our place in this world as channels of your love. Give to us the gift of respect, empathy and understanding. Bless and strengthen our love for each other. Help us to appreciate the value of family life and to live in harmony with all whom we come in contact with. Encourage us, we pray, to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with the Lord. Praise be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Prayer for vocations God our Father, we thank you for calling men and women to serve in your Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons, and consecrated persons. Send your Holy Spirit to help others to respond generously and courageously to your call. May our community of faith support vocations of sacrificial love in our youth and young adults. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

Tips For Preparing A May Altar With Children. 1. Find a spot. If you can see it when you’re in the midst of your flurried activities, maybe it will bring calm to you. Then again, maybe you’ll prefer to set it up as something that’s more of a destination. You decide. 2. Make it special. If you have a statue of Mary, however large or small, make sure it’s part of your spot. A special cloth underneath—a pretty napkin or a doily, for example—and a vase or two (or even just a fancy glass), and you are ready to go! 3. Involve your whole family. children will love the ongoing task of keeping the vase filled with pretty flowers. MAYBE they can add some artwork or maybe even a toy or two. The more comfortable children are with Mary, the better later on in life, when they realize the extent of imperfections in life, Mary won’t let them down. They can turn to her without a second thought. Having a pretty Mary altar right in the middle of the family’s busy May comings and goings is one more way to continue to make our Blessed Mother an integral part of faith life.

Many thanks to all who attended our first Women’s Breakfast our next Breakfast will be on Saturday 15^th June from 9.30am to 11am all are welcome

May: Month of Mary It is a centuries-old custom of Catholics to dedicate the month of May to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The month of May is always part of the Easter season, the fifty days we celebrate in the liturgy the Resurrection of Our Lord, a time also of awaiting the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The celebration of May as a Marian month fits well with the liturgical celebrations of Easter and Pentecost as we recall Mary’s great joy in her Son’s victory over death as well as her presence with the apostles in the upper room prayerfully awaiting the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

All Ireland Rosary Rally Knock – June 1^st The All Ireland Rosary Rally is back this year on Saturday, June 1st in Knock. The day begins with a Marian Conference at 9.30 am in St John’s Centre. Speakers include: Fr Michael Donnelly, Sr Ana Margarita Lanzas SCTJM, and Fr Joseph Maria Deane CFR. Then there will be an opportunity to meet over 20 apostolates from around Ireland from 11.30am in St John’s Centre. A well-renowned speaker from Miami called Mother Adela Galindo will deliver the keynote Rosary talk at 1pm in the Basilica. Then there will be the Stations of the Cross outside at 2pm, followed by the Rosary Procession. Bishop Phonsie Cullinan will be the Main Celebrant of the 3pm Concelebrated Mass which will include Anointing of the Sick. Confessions are available throughout the day, and there will be rosary and scapular-making workshops in the marquee. For more information and to see a list of buses going from around Ireland please visit www.AllIrelandRosaryRally.com

Comedy Drama From the Shoulders Down Written and performed by Richard Lynch Embracing the humour and pathos in the life and times of Patrick Joseph Mulpeter, P.J. for short B.L.A. (Builders Labourer Anonymous) Naas Library and Culture Centre Wed May 15th at 7 p.m. Admission Free Booking Essential 045-980795 Email naaslib@kildarecoco.ie

Valleymount Community Shed If you or someone you know would like to join our Shed, drop in any Monday or Friday from 10.30 to 12.30 at the back of the priest’s house (The old stables) for a chat and to see what we do.

Blessington Men’s Shed Next music session in the Men’s Shed will next Monday the 6th of June, starting at 19.30hrs. Come along for a great session of music, song and spot prizes

Craft Market at The Avon on the 6^th May 12:00-5:00pm promoting the very best of affordable art, crafts and artisan foods.’

DARKNESS INTO LIGHT BLESSINGTON Darkness Into Light 2024 Blessington will take place at 4:15am on the morning of Saturday May 11th 2024.  Meeting at Blessington Town Square at 3:45am with the 5k walk taking place at 4:15am. To sign up visit the link www.darknessintolight.ie

West Wicklow Cancer Support  welcomes you to our weekly sound bath meditation with essential oils, hosted by Gemma Deeney. Take that hour to yourself to relax, rewind and rejuvenate. Wednesday Mornings, 11am Primary Care Centre. Open to all, bring your own cushion and blanket. No charge, no need to book. Contact us on 087 4346004 / westwicklow15@gmail.com with any enquiries.

Blessington Bridge Club Meets every Monday at 7.30pm in the Kare Centre. All new players welcome.

DARKNESS INTO LIGHT BLESSINGTON Darkness Into Light 2024 Blessington will take place at 4:15am on the morning of Saturday May 11th 2024.  Meeting at Blessington Town Square at 3:45am with the 5k walk taking place at 4:15am. To sign up visit the link www.darknessintolight.ie

Blessington Walking Club Community support for mental emotional and physical health Morning walks during weekdays  at 9.30am Sunday walks at 11am Meeting point Blessington further ed centre WhatsApp 087 223 4005 insta@blessingtonwalkingclub

Blessington Bowls Club meet every Thursday night at 7.30pm in St Kevin’s Hall, Main Street Blessington. Guests are most welcome, why not come along and bring a friend.

Feile an Feile an Chnocain is a festival of music and heritage in Ballyknockan’s Granite City running from the 2nd to the 6th of May 2024. Below are some of the other events being held as part of the festival. Thursday 2nd May 8:30pm Set Dancing Ceilí in Valleymount hall. Friday 3rd May 8pm Music by various musicians in Cullen’s Lakeview Lounge Ballyknockan. Saturday 4th May  11am Guided Hike up Silsean (Meet at Cullen’s Car Park). 3pm – 6pm  Opening of Stonecutting museum in Ballyknockan Quarries including an introduction to the Quarries, display of stonework, history talk, poetry by Ger Devine, and live music. 8pm Live Music in Cullen’s Lakeview Lounge by various musicians. Sunday 5th May 1pm – 5pm Family Festival at the picnic area Ballyknockan (Craft Fair, family activities, live music by Ballymore Concert Band and The Whole Hog, pond building and wildlife workshop, face painting and more) 6.30pm Live music in Cullen’s Lakeview Lounge. Monday 6th May 3pm Open Music Session followed by music from After Dark. We are on both Facebook and Instagram @FeileanChnocain if you wish to follow us for updates!