Carmel O’Neill sent this update: To mark the Season of Creation, Pope Francis’ prayer on Care of the Earth was printed in the weekly parish newsletter and read as a reflection at the weekend masses in Blessington. A prayer for Creation was included and the cantor sang hymns on the theme of Creation including “All creatures of Our God and King” which got a very appreciative response. During the month of Oct, Carmel O Neill and the Pastoral worker Aine Egan did a video presentation on the Life of St Francis of Assisi and Pope Francis Laudatio Si for the children preparing for the sacraments this year. This can be viewed on blessingtonparishes.com. The children composed prayers for Creation and Care of the Earth. They were encouraged to set up a sacred space at home and include their own prayer in it.
In Valleymount Parish, a group of volunteers came together to plant Spring bulbs in the large border adjacent to the church of St Joseph. Planter boxes with winter bedding were placed at the main door. There was a major clean-up of Our Lady’s grotto and hedging cut back. Our Lady’s statue is now visible from the main road. An area of waste ground behind the grotto was cleared of weeds and overgrown climbers. Plans are in place to devise a bio-diverse planting scheme in the Spring with the help of our parish priest Fr Richard who is a keen gardener. In Lacken Church, a strip of ground was dug, and weeds cleared to make way for a wildflower strip next summer. During Science Week Nov 8th-15th, the 6th class pupils designed and chose materials for an insect hotel at the rear of Lacken church. The children hope this home will be a safe place for insects to hibernate in the winter months.
