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Newsletter 28th Sept 2025. Issue 1562
The Annual Diocesan Safeguarding Sunday
will take place this Sunday 28th September.
It’s a time when we reflect on the
importance of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in
our parishes and communities
COMMUNITY DIARY
Saturday 27th Sept
Mass at 6pm Church of Our Lady Blessington Mass of Thanksgiving for Tidy Town Volunteers Confessions: After 6pm Mass
Sunday 28th Sept
Raise the Roof Russborough House Info on pg 3
Mass at 10am St. Joseph’s Church, Valleymount
Mass at 11am St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride
Mass at 11.30am Church of our Lady of Mercy, Crosschapel
Monday 29th Sept A Conversation about Faith Evening talk, discussion and refreshments with Fr Gerry Kane 7pm in Coimin Centre
Blessington Bridge Club 7.15pm, Kare Centre. Information on pg. 3
Mass at 9.30am Church of Our Lady Blessington
Mass at 9am St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride
Tuesday 30th Sept Mass at 9.30am Church of Our Lady Blessington
Mass at 9am St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride
Wednesday 1st Oct
Pray & Play Group 3pm to 4.30pm, The Coimin Centre, Information on pg. 2
Mass at 9.30am Church of Our Lady Blessington
Mass at 9am St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride
Rosary & Holy Hour The Holy Hour with Rosary and Adoration will be at 7pm
Thursday 2nd Oct
West Wicklow Cancer Support Drop In Evening Info on PG 3
Blessington Indoor Bowls Club 7.30pm in St Kevin’s Hall, Info on pg. 3
Mass at 9am St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride
Mass at 9.30am Church of Our Lady, Blessington
Friday 3rd Oct
Confessions at 7pm will take place in the Church of Our Lady, Blessington
Mass at 9.30am Church of Our Lady, Blessington
Mass at 9am St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride
Mass Intentions in Church of Our Lady, Blessington
Saturday Mick Farrington…2nd A, Peter Byrne …MM, Mary Smith …A, Barry Carey…RD
Sunday Tom McGreal (Jnr)…A, Lawrence & Elizabeth Behan, William McDonald…A, Kay Browne… Birthday Rem, Charlie Shepard… RD (UK), Paddy Flemming…A
Monday Mass for the Sick & those in Hospital
Tuesday Special living intention for the Byrne, Curran & Kavanagh Families
Wednesday Ian Dignam …RD, Liam Kilbride…RD
Thursday Padraig Cunningham…RD Steven Kelly…RD
Friday 1st Friday of the month, Mass offered for all on the November List of the Dead.
The Annual Blessing of the Stock will take place this year starting 30th September through to the 3rd of October. If you would like a visit, please contact the Parish office to arrange a time.
www.thesower.net Deacon Gerry’s Gospel Reflection: The First Commandment Mark 12:28-33
UPCOMING DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Blessing of Pets, October 4th 2pm Carpark, Church of Our Lady, Blessington
Confirmation Parents’ Meeting, Oct 13th 8pm Information evening for parents of children receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation, Church of Our Lady Blessington
Feast Days. 1st October – St. Thérèse St Thérèse was born in France. She always wanted to become a nun from a young age and joined the Carmelites in Lisieux when she was 15. After a long struggle with tuberculosis, she died on September 30, 1897, at the age of 24. Her last words were the story of her life: “My God, I love You!” Therese helped others with small acts of kindness. Therese’s body was transferred on March 26, 1923, from the “Pittsburgh Catholic” Paris, April 9 – The body of Sister Thérèse of the Infant Jesus has been taken from the cemetery of Lisieux, where it was buried in 1897, and carried to the Lisieux Chapel of the Carmel, which is to be its final resting place.
Miraculous Invocation to St. Therese. O Glorious St. Therese, whom Almighty God has raised up to aid and inspire the human family, I implore your Miraculous Intercession. You are so powerful in obtaining every need of body and spirit from the Heart of God. Holy Mother Church proclaims you “Prodigy of Miracles… the greatest saint of Modern Times.” Now I fervently beseech you to answer my petition (mention in silence here) and to carry out your promises of spending heaven doing good on earth… of letting fall from Heaven a Shower of Roses. Little Flower, give me your childlike faith, to see the Face of God in the people and experiences of my life, and to love God with full confidence. St. Therese, my Carmelite Sister, I will fulfil your plea “to be made known everywhere” and I will continue to lead others to Jesus through you. Amen.
CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING Everything is interconnected… genuine care for our own lives and our relationships with nature is inseparable from fraternity, justice and faithfulness to others. Pope Francis, Laudato Si’
CARE OF THE EARTH Back to school- Lunchtime Existing Ziploc bags or similar can be reused many times. They can even be cleaned min the dishwasher. Just place them inside out on the plate rack!
Minister of Eucharist October 2025 Church of Our Lady Blessington SAT 6PM: Geraldine McMulkin & Colette Fennan SUNDAY 10AM: Margaret Flynn & Brendan Sheehey
Blessington Parish Lotto Numbers on 18th September: 3,18,20,22. €25 Winner: Marion McKeown Next Jackpot €3000.
Autumn Prayer O God of Creation, you have blessed us with the changing of the seasons. As we embrace these autumn months, May the earlier setting of the sun Remind us to take time to rest. May the crunch of the leaves beneath our feet Remind us of the brevity of this earthly life. May the steam of our breath in the cool air Remind us that it is you who give us your breath of life. May the scurrying of the squirrels and the migration of the birds Remind us that you call us to follow your will. We praise you for your goodness forever and ever. Amen
Popes Intentions August 2025 For Mutual Coexistence. Let us pray that societies where coexistence seems more difficult might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious or ideological reasons.
Deadline for Notices in the Newsletter. The deadline to have your notices in the newsletter is Tuesday at 11am at the very latest
Church of Our Lady, Blessington & Church of Our Lady of Mercy, Crosschapel St. Joseph’s Church, Valleymount & Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Lacken Fr. Gerry Kane PP Tel: 045 865 327
St. Brigid’s Church, Manor Kilbride – Fr. Paraic McDermott C.S.Sp. Tel: 01 4582154
Parish Office: 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday Tel: 045 865 327.
St. Mary’s Junior School now accepting applications for 2026/2027 School Year. Application Forms are available from our website www.stmarysjuniorschool.ie or by request to secretary@stmarysjuniorschool.ie or from school reception desk.
Gaelscoil na Lochanna will be having an Enrolment / Information evening at the Gaelscoil for anyone who wishes to enrol their child for September 2026. 2026 Clárú / Enrolment Gaelscoil Enrolment Meeting 23rd October 2025at 7:30 p.m. in the Gaelscoil
FUEL STAMP SAVING SCHEME Fuel Stamps are a great way to help budget for your fuel costs. Start saving now towards your fuel bills during the winter months. The Stay Warm Saving Scheme is an easy payment option plan which enables households to budget for their central heating oil or solid fuel. Start saving the €5 Stay Warm Saving Stamps on the savings card and use the stamps to pay (in full or part payment) for fuel with the listed suppliers on the card. A new supplier to the scheme but not listed on the card is Tom Phibbs Fuels Tel: 01 2118469. The Scheme is open to all households in the Blessington area and full details are available on the card. This scheme, initiated by the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) and supported by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, aims to help families manage their heating bills by spreading the cost of fuel. The €5 Stay Warm Saving Stamps and Savings Card are only available from Hennessy’s Hardware and SVP Shop.
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
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT The Irish Hospice Foundation provides a free Bereavement Support Line. This National Freephone Service is available from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday, by calling 1800 807077. Visit www.hospicefoundation.ie for more information.
Blessington Indoor Bowls Club meet every Thursday night at 7.30pm in St Kevin’s Hall, Blessington. Guests are most welcome, why not come along & bring a friend.
Blessington History Society due to popular demand, has moved our Heritage Week Exhibition ” Before the Waters” to Blessington Library. It will be exhibited there until the end of September.
Wicklow County Council Library Service wishes to advise that Blessington Library will have the following amended timetable until further notice: Monday: 10am – 5pm Tuesday: 10am – 8:30pm Wednesday: 10am – 5pm Thursday: 10am – 8:30pm Friday: 10am – 5pm Saturday/Sunday: Closed. We hope to return to our regular opening hours as soon as possible and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Blessington Bridge Club Meets every Mon at 7.15pm in the Kare Centre. New players welcome.
Child Minder Wanted Looking for childcare at my home in Blessington, 2 days a week for baby, €16 per hour, Contact 087 6441375
Sakura FREE ECCE SPACES 2025/2026 ECCE spaces available in our Naíonra and Montessori at Sakura for 2025/2026. Phone 087-6200072 or email antoinettebyrnesakurabless@gmail.com to make an appointment.
Sakura Montessori require Childcare Practitioners (for our Playgroup and ECCE AIM), part-time, mornings. Minimum FETAC qualification level 5 in Childcare. Please apply with CV and cover letter to: Antoinette Byrne at antoinettebyrnesakurabless@gmail.com
Helix Motorcycles repair shop just opened in Stratford, if you need a simple service, complex repair or just a touch up on the paintwork call or text on 087 373 5709
Do you have a junior infant starting school this year? Nerves getting to them? Our ballet classes are the perfect place for children to grow their confidence, body awareness and social skills. We are the ONLY Royal Academy of Dance school in Blessington, with 20 years experience teaching. Book your place today! Email ruthshineschoolofdance1@gmail.com
The Healers Dance. Holistic & Giftshop. Tues – Sat, 10am – 5pm. Behind Dunnes Stores, Blessington.
Piano and music theory lesson in Ballymore-Eustace (CLASSICAL and JAZZ). Experimented teacher (20 years of teaching) Trial lesson (30min) €25 zacharieblin@yahoo.fr 089 483 7341
The Healers Dance. Now offering Low Cost Counselling To Book: Visit Our Website www.healersdance.com
GARDENING SERVICES Grass cutting / Ride on lawnmower Push Lawnmower, Hedge cutting Chainsaw Cutting, Splitting Timber, Spraying, Weeding, Powerwashing Driveway Patios, General Maintenance around your home. Just Call for reasonable Quates/ Price. Call or text 0876640695.
Jennifer Kavanagh Sports & Remedial Therapy: *Muscle Aches and Pains *Chronic Muscle or Joint Pain *Struggling to perform Day-to-Day Tasks *Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation *Increased Mobility. Fully qualified ITEC NCVA, fully insured and local experienced Therapist. Ph: 087 9021099
Blessington Taxi Phone Greg 087 2626 393
Catriona Byrne & Co Solicitors BESIDE AIB – OVER 20 YEARS ESTABLISHED FOR ALL YOUR LEGAL NEEDS 3 Mill Bank, Blessington County Wicklow Tel: 045 857 537 www.catrionsbyrne.ie
Septic Tanks Emptied & Digger Hire Call Dermot or Adam Phibbs 087 799 5320 – 083 037 4750 lizmphibbs6@gmail.com License no: NWCPO-21-12619-01
Wicklow & Kildare Mental Health Services Counselling & Psychotherapy. Aran Centre, Blessington, Co. Wicklow. For Bookings please contact, by phone: 089 274 4920 or e-mail: info@wicklowandkildarementalhealth.ie
Driving instructor RSA and ADI approved. Contact Michael 087 459 4258 for bookings.
Painter & Decorator Interior & Exterior Call Damien 085 826 0431
HEADSTONES McEvoy Monumental Works Blessington. Headstones, Inscriptions, Renovations. Serving the people of Blessington for over 40 years. Call to our workshop at Millbank Blessington Call: Mick 045 865 487 – 086 843 8832 or Gary 087 933 3487 www.mcevoymonumentalworks.com
Local Builder Available All services under one roof, Windows & Doors, Plumbing, Tiling, Roofing, Plastering, Electrical, Carpentry, Insulation. All levels of construction services available. Fully registered. Call Paul: 086 309 1829
Eagle Cleaning Solutions Chimney Cleaning, Exterior Power Washing, Window Cleaning, Gutter Cleaning & Repairs. Find us on Facebook! Call for appointment: 087 247 4388. info@eaglecleaningsolutions.com
German Autoworks – Service Specialist VW/Audi, Mercedes, Skoda, Seat, Opel – Call 087 286 3997 www.germanautoworks.ie
Balance Looking to improve strength, flexibility, and stress levels in a supportive space? Balance Reformer Pilates offers low-impact, high-results workouts designed for every body no matter your fitness level, or experience. Located over the SVP shop. Intro offer available. 4 classes €60. www.balancestudios.ie
Niall Kearns Building & Roofing Contractor 086 274 6969 nkbuildandroof@gmail.com Building New Homes, Extensions, Sunrooms Attic Conversions, Renovations, Chimney Repairs Roofing New Roofs, All Roof Repairs Flat Roofs, Gutter Repairs Roof Replacement, PVC Fascia & Soffit All Work Fully Guaranteed
JP&M Doyle What’s Your Property Worth? Talk to us today for your free-Market Appraisal Specializing In Residential Town & Country Homes Development & Agricultural Land Commercial Property Lettings, Valuations. 2025 is your year to make it happen! With high demand and a lack of supply, now is the perfect time to maximise your property’s value. www.jpmdoyle.ie Tel: 045-865568.
KILDARA HEATING & PLUMBING Call Dara: 0862356610 Email: Kildaraheating@gmail.com Heating & Plumbing Services Bathroom Renovations Boiler install/service Heat pumps Central Heating Power flushing Fully Insured RGI & Oftec Registered
Trusted Plumbing Services Call Andre on 0879515066 Fast, reliable & affordable plumbing throughout Wicklow and surrounding areas.