Parish of the Assumption Area Code: 057 Tel: 93 21587 - 93 22415 Fax: 93 51510 18th Sunday In Ordinary Time ~ 2nd August 2020 Fr. Joseph Gallaghar P.P GET IN TOUCH St Mary’s Parish Centre, Benburb St, Tullamore Phone: 0579321587 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Web: www.tullamoreparish.ie Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm; Sat 2.00pm to 4.00pm to book Holy Mass tickets, weddings, baptisms, certs, etc; Priest available for emergencies 24 hours daily. Parish Support Services: Bereavement Listening, etc. For appointment, ph 0579326604, Monday-Thursday 9.30am-1.00pm; Wednesday & Thursday 6.00-8.00pm. WEEKEND MASSES Church of the Assumption: Saturday (Vigil) 5.00 &6.30pm Sunday 8.30am, 10.00am, 11.30am & 1.00p.m St Colmcille’s Church Durrow: 11.30am WEEKDAY MASSES Monday-Friday 7.45am & 10.00am, Saturday 10.00am First Friday 7.45am & 10.00am CONFESSIONS Confessions will be from 2.00-3.00pm SEEING YOUR LIFE THROUGH THE LENS OF THE GOSPEL 1. The news of the death of John the Baptist prompted Jesus to go off and be alone, but the crowds followed him. Despite his personal sorrow, he was able to reach out in compassion to the crowd. Perhaps there have been times when you have put personal preferences and desires to one side, in order to reach out to another. What was it like for you when you were able to do this? 2. When Jesus saw the crowd, he recognised their need and responded to them. Who has been a Jesus-person for you, someone who recognised your need and reached out to you? For whom have you been a Jesus-person? 3. The scene symbolises the Eucharist, reminding us of the sacred meal to which all believers are invited, in order to receive nourishment from the Lord. How has the Eucharist been a source of nourishment for you? 4. When the disciples became aware of the problem, they wanted to send the crowd away, but Jesus told them: ‘You give them something to eat.’ They thought what they had was insufficient, but Jesus used the little they had to feed the crowd. When we give the little we have to a situation, the results are often beyond our expectations. Have you had this experience? - John Byrne OSA, Intercom aUGUST 2020 THE DEEP END - NOT ENOUGH Have you ever felt like you have nothing left to give? We all have times when we feel as though we do not have ‘enough’ to offer, whether it’s time, money, energy, or even love. When work is busy, we don’t have enough time for family. When we are physically or emotionally exhausted at the end of a long day, we might not have the energy to play with our children or visit a friend. In the face of suffering in our own society and around the world, we often feel helpless – whatever small amount of time or money we can give will never be enough. But where we see ‘not enough,’ God sees potential. What we see as a small contribution is not small to God, if it is all we have to give and it is given with love. ‘All we have with us is five loaves and two fish,’ say the disciples to Jesus – a tiny offering when faced with a giant task. But Jesus takes what they have, blesses it, and uses it to give sustenance to thousands. In the face of human limitations, God can do plenty. We are told at the start of today’s reading that Jesus ‘took pity’ on the large crowd that followed him. They have been out all day and are hungry, not to mention tired. They are so engrossed in listening to Jesus that time has slipped away. They are running on empty, and I’m sure they would be dismayed if, as the disciples suggest, they had to hike to the nearest village to buy food. Jesus understands their exhaustion and hunger, their limitations and their ‘not enough.’ What they have to give is inadequate, but he can do more with it than they could ever have imagined. We too are limited in what we have to offer. But whatever we can give – to our families and friends, to those in need – God sees and blesses and multiplies. ‘Give something, however small, to one in need. For it is not small to one who has nothing. Neither is it small to God, if we have given what we could.’ ST GREGORY OF NAZIANZUS Tríona Doherty SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Booking can now be made at the Parish Office. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE To book the Church for weddings, contact the Parish Secretary. BANK HOLIDAY MASS TIMES Mass times as usual on Monday 3rd. Aug. at 7:45 am. & 10:00 am. FIRST COMMUNION We know that many of our young people have been disappointed that their First Communion has been delayed. It is hoped that we will be in a position to hold the First Communion ceremonies in September. They will be organised through the schools and will take place on Saturday mornings commencing on 12th. and should be completed by early October. There will be an increased number of ceremonies owing to the numbers restrictions in our church and the need to maintain social distancing. WEEKEND MASSES Entrance to both Churches for all weekend Masses (Tullamore & Durrow) will be strictly on presentation of ticket and doors will open 20 minutes before Mass time. Tickets must be collected from the Parish Centre during the opening times Mon-Fri 8.30am – 5.00pm and Sat. 2.00-4.00pm. PARISH COLLECTIONS Plate €1137;Durrow €155; Envelopes €2731 Thank you most sincerely for your continued support. MASS INTENTIONS Mon. 3rd. (10:00) Margaret & Patrick Carroll, Puttaghaun. Tues. 4th. (10:00) Tom McKenna, Ashleigh Court. Wed. 5th. (10:00) Dolan Family. Thurs. 6th. (7:45) Jolly Mani (10:00) Kathleen Longworth, New Rd. Sat. 8th. (5:00) Anne Cusack, Mon. Mem. (6:30) Patricia Brennan Bracken, Mon. Mem. Sun. 9th. (10:00) Mary & Joseph Creevy. (11:30) Patricia Dunne, Clara Rd, 1st. Ann. Paddy Cloonan, Mon. Mem. (1:00) May Conway, 1st. Ann. Durrow Sun. 9th. (11:30) Tommy Smith, Mon. Mem. Shared Mass Sat. 8th. (10:00) Edward & Sheila Buggy; Margaret Deevy; John Burke; Lesley Anne Johnston; Edward Joy; John & Alice Gorman & Joe O’Connor; Teresa Brennan; Fiacre & Deirdre Ryan; Cleary Family; Michael, Bernard & Brigid Lynch; Jimmy, Paddy & Eamonn Pender & Michael, Agnes, Phylis & Maura McGinn & Michael McNamara; Paudge Prendergast; Pauline Walsh; Esther & Brendan Longworth; Thomas, Bridget, Patrick, Margaret, John, Susan, Vincent, Michael, Rosie & MaryAnn Pidgeon; David, Anne, Andy & Bernadette Sheridan; Brigid, Teresa & Andrew Smyth; John Tierney; John, Mary Rose & Ann Glennon; Paddy, Peg & John Doheny; Bernie & Maureen McGowan & Coughlan Family; James & Winifred Walsh & Kathleen & Stephen Fleming; Paddy & Peggy Plunkett & Chantelle Martin; Paschal Gorman & John Dwane. BAPTISMS Welcome to God’s family Alan Jarmoszko, Michael Donal Garry, Edeigh Jane Flynn & Rugile Aria Anilauskaite who were baptised recently. OFFALY CAMINO WALK: Bank Holiday Monday, 3rd. Aug. Tullamore-Croghan Hill, starting at Fiona Pender monument, 10.30am. Looking for people to raise funds or make a donation at the start of the walk. Info & sponsorship cards from Laz 0866778807, Aislinn 0870688530, Ricey 0868153047, Paul 0878375407, Ronan (087)6189094, www.selfhelpafrica.org, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it MEATH DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO KNOCK, SUN 9: The pilgrimage to Knock this year will be a virtual pilgrimage. Two priests from the diocese will attend the Shrine in Knock for the Rosary at 2.30pm and Mass at 3.00pm. These events can be followed online on the Knock Shrine website. www.knockshrine.ie . A NEW PILGRIMAGE ON LOUGH DERG’S LAKESHORE: Walk and Pray in the Lough Derg tradition on 16, 18, 22, 26 & 30 August. At times in the 1600s and 1700s when Station Island was closed by the Penal Laws, pilgrims undertook a form of pilgrimage on the lough shore. Walk in their footsteps. Contact 0719861518 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for details. Numbers are limited. Advance booking essential. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR FIONA PENDER, OUR PARISHONER WHO HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE 22nd AUGUST 1996 |