JOY AND PAIN
Today begins with rejoicing and gladness - the crowd already wild with joy. The promised Messiah has come, he will free Israel from their oppressor and they will live happily ever after. Suddenly in the one celebration today we see their world turned upside down. How can a glorious, victorious Messiah King turn into a “suffering servant”, hanging on a Cross instead of sitting on a throne?
What is worse He tells us that if we want to be His followers, we must take up our Cross and follow Him. That definitely goes against the grain!
In fact only the Spirit He promised He would send when He returned to the Father, could enable us to live out His invitations. With the help of the One who is “Advocate, Comforter, Strength and Joy-giver” we can be genuine disciples of Jesus, sure of His Promise that He has gone to prepare a place for us, so that where He is we also will be.
Don’t wait for your ship to come in; swim out to it.
HOLY WEEK & EASTER
Monday 6: Usual Masses 7.30am & 7.30pm.
Mass & Anointing for the Elderly, Sick and Disabled at 2.00pm. No 10am Mass.
Tuesday 7: Reconciliation at 10.00am & 7.30pm Masses. Usual 7.30am Mass.
Wednesday 8: 7.30am & 10.00am Masses. No 7.30pm Mass. Chrism Mass Mullingar 7.30pm. Tickets for bus available from Sacristy - booking essential.
Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7.30pm Tullamore & 9.00pm Durrow. Night Prayer 10.30pm.
Good Friday: Morning Prayer 10am; Inter-Church ‘Way of the Cross’ 12 noon from Parochial House and finishing in O’Connor Sq. 3.00 & 7.30pm ceremonies
Holy Saturday: Morning Prayer 10am;
Easter Vigil 9.00pm.
Easter Sunday: Usual Mass times.
PRACTICE FOR HOLY WEEK
Sunday 5th: Holy Thurs - Mass Group 6pm; Ministers 6.45pm. Good Fri Ministers 7pm.
Fri 10: Good Fri group after Morning Prayer
Sat 11: Vigil Group after Morning Prayer
Ministers of Holy Communion Rota for Holy Week available in Sacristy.
PARISH WEBSITE
Pics from Confirmation ceremony on Parish Website. Log on to www.tullamoreparish.ie
SPLINTER CROSS
For the past few years we have used a Splinter Cross at the time of Adoration of the Cross on Good Friday. The meaning of the Splinter Cross is that we place a splinter representing our sinfulness in the Cross and ask Jesus to include them in his great act of forgiveness. This year we are placing the Cross close to the Sanctuary from Palm Sunday to Good Friday, and we ask you to place a splinter in the Cross whenever you visit the Church. You are also invited to place prayers and petitions in the urn at the foot of the Cross, and these papers will be burned in the Paschal Fire at the Easter Vigil. On Good Friday the traditional Crucifix will be used for Adoration of the Cross.
MASS INTENTIONS
Mon 6:
7.30am James & Patricia Dromey
7.30pm Joseph & Catherine O’Connor, 3 Davitt St
Tues 7:
10.00 Eddie Martin
7.30 Marie & Timothy Carey
Wed 8:
10.00 Tom Feehan
Sun 12:
8.30 May Lennon, Killeenmore
10.00 Joseph Buckley, Ballykilmurray
11.30 Martin O’Brien, 1st Ann
1.00 Joseph O’Neill, 1st Ann
Durrow: Sun 12 Edward Cusack, Balleek
DEATHS: We offer our sympathy to the families of Seamus Gargan, Frank Burke & James Murphy.
If you would like support or comfort in your grieving please phone 9326604
SHARED MASSES: Masses on Sat 25 Apr, Sat 16 May & Sat 13 June are booked up. The next available Mass is on Sat 18th July. You are reminded that these Masses are for the anniversary of deaths only.
WEDDING BELLS
Congratulations to Liz McDonald & Kevin Olivia Murray & Dermot Murphy; Brenda Bracken & Brian O’Connor.
Couples intending to marry should contact Priest & Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages at least six months in advance.
For premarriage courses contact Accord, www.accord.ie.
NEW ARRIVALS
Welcome to the family of God’s people Riley Gerard Peyton O’Shea, Conor Laurence Keenaghan & Paula Akuceviciute who were baptised recently.
PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Hospital Chapel: “Looking at our Eucharistic Lord for an hour transforms the heart in a mysterious way, as the face of Moses was transformed after his companionship with God on the mountain”. - Seminarian. Ph 9321232.
GOLF CLASSIC in aid of Offaly School of Special Education (Tullamore), Fri 17, Tullamore Golf Club. Ph 086-1734584 or 9320537, Mon-Fri 9am-3pm).
OFFALY VISUALLY IMPAIRED GROUP: Church gate collection Holy Thursday.
OFFALY POETRY GROUP: Bridge House, Mon 6, 8pm.
SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER: Meeting Tues 7, 7pm, Mercy Convent. New members welcome.
FRIENDS OF CHERNOBYL CHILDREN TULLAMORE: Church Gate Collection next
weekend. Your generous support will be appreciated.
TRACTOR RUN Sun 12, 11.30am - Harriers through town - in aid of Arden View Family Resource Centre & Offaly Special Olympics.
‘LET ME ENTERTAIN YOU’ presented by Tullamore Stage School, Sun 5, SHS gym, 3 & 8pm. Proceeds towards Parish Support Services.
DURROW CEILI CLUB: Ceili Tuesday 7th. Music by Davy Joe & Carousel. Dancing 9-12.
TARA HOLIDAY: Some seats still available. Ph Mary 9323978.
SUPPORT CHILDREN WITH AUTISM IN TULLAMORE & SURROUNDING AREA: Join Women’s Mini-marathon team. Ph Ann 087-2041605 for further details.
OFFALY CHILDMINDING INITIATIVE: Childminding Information Seminar, “Old Fashioned Play”, Sat 25. Ph Fiona 9370630.
FATIMA: Pilgrimage 4-11 June, with Fr John Nally. Ph 9351309 for details.
OFFALY SPCA: AGM Mon 6, 8pm, Hugh Lynch’s (side entrance)
CEMETERY DEVOTIONS: Fr Shanley’s grave, Carrick, Good Friday, 12 noon.