Parish of the Assumption Area Code: 057 Tel: 93 21587 - 93 22415 Fax: 93 51510 20th Sunday In Ordinary Time ~ 16th 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. NO PUBLIC MASSES FOR 2 WEEKS New measures announced by the taoiseach, Míchéal Martin, on Frdiay 20th. August 2020 mean that the public celebration of mass will be suspended throughout counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly for a period of at least 2 weeks to guard against the spread of coronavirus in the community. While Tullamore and Durrow churches will remain closed, mass will continue to be available on our webcam page. Funeral masses during this period will be restricted to a maximum number of 25 people.
WEEKEND MASSES Church of the Assumption: Saturday (Vigil) 5.00 &6.30pm Sunday 8.30am, 10.00am, 11.30am & 1.00p.m WEEKDAY MASSES Monday-Friday 7.45am & 10.00am, Saturday 10.00am First Friday 7.45am & 10.00am SEEING YOUR LIFE THROUGH THE LENS OF THE GOSPEL (Matthew 15:21-28) 1. Having met with rejection from the Pharisees, Jesus goes to Gentile territory and encounters unexpected faith in the Canaanite woman. His mission had previously been to his own people, so this now adds a new dimension to his mission. Have you had occasions when a chance encounter set your life off in a new direction? 2. The initial reaction of Jesus to the woman was one of rejection, but her persistence won a response from him. When have you found that persistence was needed to gain what you sought? What did that experience teach you? 3. In our days, welcoming the stranger is a challenge – we are more comfortable with our own. What difference has it made when you were able to offer a friendly, welcoming face to a stranger? 4. Who are the ‘Canaanite women’ who call out for attention today – people in Church or State whose needs are not being attended to? John Byrne OSA - August 2020 THE DEEP END - A Woman Of Faith You can almost hear the chuckle. It is not mentioned, but I always imagine that Jesus smiles or even laughs as he delivers the line, ‘Woman, you have great faith.’ Today’s gospel recounts an unusual exchange between Jesus and the unnamed Canaanite woman who challenges him. She has seen what Jesus can do, she has faith, and she is advocating for her daughter. She is persistent, shouting out to Jesus and apparently also badgering the disciples, to the point where they plead with Jesus to ‘give her what she wants.’ Jesus’ rebuke seems shockingly unkind: ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs’. But the woman doesn’t give up. It is a matter of justice for her, as is evident in her witty response about the dogs getting the scraps from the master’s table. ‘Good for her!’ – we feel like cheering. It’s a strange story, with Jesus at first appearing cold in his response to the woman. But as we know, he has a tendency to test his followers. His disciples, who know him well and have seen lots of miracles, o?en fall short. But this woman passes with flying colours. Jesus can see that she is a person of strong faith, clever and determined. She is not easily dismissed. In allowing her to state her case, Jesus also presents a challenge to the religious and social status quo. This pagan woman (Jesus’ reference to ‘house-dogs’ tells us a lot about her status) exhibits more faith than his own disciples. Jesus does not want us to be silent, compliant or complacent. He rejoices in those who are brave and persistent, and eager to challenge the injustices they see around them – those who have the gift of changing minds and hearts. We might call it the gift of prophecy. Tríona Doherty PARISH COLLECTIONS Envelopes €1256 You can donate to the parish in a number of ways:- 1) Parish Envelopes, Cash or cheque donations can be left into the Parish Centre or Parochial House or into the White Collection Box at the Harbour Street entrance to the Church. 2) Credit card donations can be made by phoning the parish office at 057-9321587 3) Credit Transfer to Tullamore Parish Account. Bank of Ireland, Tullamore, Co. Offaly IBAN – IE34 BOFI 9019 0987 1557 41 BIC – BOFIIE2D Thank you most sincerely for your continued support. REMEMBERING OUR BELOVED DEAD Today should have been one of the biggest occasions in our Parish when we would have been remembering our dead and their families with Mass and Blessing of Graves taking place in Clonminch Cemetery. However it was not meant to be. So today, in our own special way, we remember all of our loved ones gone before us. We remember too, all those who have no one to pray for them. PRAYER OF ST JOHN HENRY NEWMAN May the Lord support us all the day long,till the shadows lengthen and the evening comes,and the busy world is hushed,and the fever of life is over and our work is done. Then in His love and mercy may he give us and all our beloved a safe lodging,a holy rest and peace at the last. Amen. We ask all familes to continue removing waste material from their graves and we acknowledge the efforts that people have been making in maintaining them and keeping the cemetery tidy. “WOMAN, YOU HAVE GREAT FAITH.” It takes faith to hear God’s call in our lives. And His call takes us on unexpected paths of deeper trust and love. Is God calling you to a life as a priest or sister, speak to your local priest, or call your Diocesan Vocation’s Director, or email the National Vocations Office on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Check with the Parish Office. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE To book the Church for weddings, contact the Parish Secretary. MASS INTENTIONS Mon 17 7.45 Our Lady’s Mass 10.00 Colette Fox Tues 18 7.45 Eithne Daly 10.00 FortunatoMacari Wed 19 10.00 Mairead Blake Sat 22 5.00 Nicky Deering, Mon Mem 6.30 John Dempsey, Mon Mem, Christy & Catherine Dempsey & Timothy Connolly Sun 23 8.30 John & Della Galvin 10.00 Keenahan Family 11.30 Ann McDonagh, 1st Ann 1.00 Maureen Geoghegan, 1st Ann Frank Hughes, 61 Pearse Park, 1st Ann Shared Mass Sat. 22nd. (10:00 am): John, Kathleen, Ciaran & Chris Colgan; Ned, Mary & Joseph Thomas; Gorman Family; Nicholas Kerry; Joseph & Elizabeth Geoghegan; Denis & Elizabeth Unsworth & Mary Kaye; Mary Anne, Christy & Michael Colsh; John & Kathleen Martin; Josie & Lily Geoghegan; Jimmy & Bawney Dolan; Michael, Mary, Nellie, Carmel, Tess & Sr Imelda Lawless; Michael, Mary & Patricia Cully & Family; Philomena & Ambrose Mangan; Bernie Hacker; Joseph & Elizabeth Mangan & Family; John & Elizabeth O’Brien & Family; Kitty & Johnny Connolly; Lil Farrell; John Martin; Paddy Grumbley & grandson Ben; Tommy Redmond & Family; Mary & Andy Martin; Eileen & Tom Geraghty & Ned Hogan; Bridgie Cahill; Denis Dwane & Family; Hugh, Anne, Margaret, Paddy, Anne, Kitty & Martin Lennon & Family; Michael & Philomena Greene & Family; Michael & Mary Anne O’Shea, Fitzgerald & O’Shea Families; Maureen Peyton, O’Reilly & Peyton Families; Joe & Mary Deering & Mary O’Donnell; Leon Wade; Margaret & James McGovern; John, Betty & Paul Pender; Annie Heffernan; Peter Cunningham & Family & Mary & Michael Martin & Family & Hayes Family. You can join us on the webcam, www.tullamoreparish.ie DEATHS We offer our sympathy to the family of Austin Brennan. PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR FIONA PENDER, OUR PARISHONER WHO HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE 22nd AUGUST 1996. |