Parish of the Assumption Area Code: 057 Tel: 93 21587 - 93 22415 Fax: 93 51510 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ 4th July 2021 Fr. Joseph Gallaghar P.P GET IN TOUCH St Mary’s Parish Centre, Benburb St, Tullamore Phone: 057 9321587 Email: tullamoreparishsecretary@gmail. com Web: www.tullamoreparish.ie Office Hours: Mon-Fri 9.30am-5:00pm; Sat - Closed: 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 057 9326604, Monday-Thursday 9.30am-1.00pm; Wednesday & Thursday 6.00-8.00pm. Tickets will be required for Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses only and will be available by calling into the Parish Centre, from each Monday, 9.30am-5.00pm, for the following weekend WEEKEND MASSES (TICKETS REQUIRED) Church of the Assumption: (Vigil) 6.30pm Sunday 8.30am, 10.00am, 11.30am & 1.00pm Durrow: Sunday 11.30am WEEKDAY MASSES (NO TICKETS REQUIRED) Monday-Friday 7.45am, 10.00am Saturday 10.00am First Friday 7.45am & 10.00am JOIN US ON PARISH WEBCAMS BOTH IN DURROW & TULLAMORE. CONFESSIONS Saturday 2.00-3.00 pm in the Day Chapel. FACE COVERINGS IN CHURCH Face coverings must be worn in the Church at all times and social distance maintained. STATEMENT ISSUED 1ST JULY BY BISHOP TOM DEENIHAN, BISHOP OF MEATH, ON THE CANCELLATION OF FIRST COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION CEREMONIES As you will be aware, Government has, once again, decreed that the celebration of the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion should not proceed at this time. The decision was, according to the Tanaiste, based on the recommendation of NPHET. However, today’s newspapers report that Dr. Tony Houlihan informed members of Dail Eireann yesterday that he never requested that Confirmations and First Holy Communions be postponed. That has added to the sense of confusion and anger amongst callers to the Diocesan Office. This decision by Government is a source of much disappointment to the young people who have been preparing for and looking forward to the various ceremonies. It is a source of disappointment to their parents, teachers and clergy too who have been involved in preparing them for an important moment in their faith. The proximity of the cancellation to the actual ceremony, which was based on previous Government advice, means that parents have days off planned and other expenses have been incurred. It is of some surprise that while Government officials have indicated that churches are safe, their concern is what happens afterwards in relation to domestic and other settings. I am confident that, at this juncture, parents know what is safe, will not want to put their families at risk and should be trusted in relation to what happens in their own home. The Church is in a difficult position in this regard. While there is a temptation to ignore Government on religious worship and the celebration of the sacraments, and many have encouraged such a course of action, that would cause concern to some parents too and would politicise the Sacraments, something which, I believe, should be avoided at all costs. Once again, despite having a schedule devised for Confirmation in the Diocese starting next week, I find myself in the troubling and regrettable position of having to cancel. This is a political decision that was made without consultation with Church authorities. I remain troubled that any Government or Government minister can cancel the celebration of religious worship or the Sacraments while, crucially, saying at the same time that what happens within a church is safe. This goes to the heart of freedom of worship. All religious authorities have worked hard to ensure that whatever happens in places of worship is safe. The parishes of this diocese, through the voluntary work of parishioners, have responded generously, courageously and at some cost to ensure that all ceremonies are conducted in accordance with safety measures for the protection of public health. This is the right, necessary and prudent thing to do. It is unreasonable to ban Sacraments for everyone on the basis of what might happen in some cases afterwards. Such measures have not been applied across any other sector of society. Other places have either been closed or can open based on what happens within those places. The Church seeks no more and no less. Many people have been contacting this office and the various parishes expressing concern and seeking information. In the light of Dr. Houlihan’s clarification, I would suggest that such calls are directed towards the politicians who made this decision. In the meantime, be assured that the important Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation will be celebrated as soon as possible in the Diocese. The celebration of Baptism will proceed in this diocese subject to the pastoral judgement of the local clergy, minimum numbers and public health precautions.
PARISH COLLECTIONS Plate: Tullamore €1300; Durrow €53 Envelopes €2593 Thank you for your continued support
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM ~ Contact the Parish Secretary. Welcome to God’s Family Tom Ali Sullivan, Tessa Angela Grennan & Aaron Michael Peter Finnamore who were baptised recently.
SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE To book the Church for weddings, contact the Parish Secretary at least three months in advance. All couples getting married must complete a pre-marriage course. Contact ACCORD 057 9341831 or www.accord.ie. NB: NOTICES FOR THE BULLETIN MUST BE IN THE PARISH CENTRE BY 9.30AM WEDNESDAY. Only notices from parish groups, non-profit making organisations & clubs included PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR FIONA PENDER, OUR PARISHONER WHO HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE 22nd AUGUST 1996 MASS INTENTIONS Thur 8 10.00 Christopher, Maureen, Paddy & Gerard Egan Fri 9 10.00 Peter, Joseph, Patrick & Liam Doyle Margaret Bracken, Arden Rd 6.30 John Hoey, 1st Ann Sun 11 10.00 Marie McDonald, Ballycowen, Mon Mem 11.30 Anne Cusack, 1st Ann 1.00 Nicola Deering, 1st Ann
Durrow Sun 11, 11.30am: Terry Bermingham, 1st Ann
DEATHS We offer our sympathy to the families of Ann O’Toole, Eric Frawley, Ann Murray nee Hanley & Dessie Brown.
COMMUNITY NOTICES SOCIETY OF ST VINCENT DE PAUL - Support for people in need. Ph 057 9322072 or 087 7557294. ALONE: COVID support line for older people. Ph 0818 222 024, 8am-8pm daily. AA: Offaly House, Offaly St, Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat & Sun 8.15pm, Tues, Wed, Fri & Sun, 1pm; Charleville Centre, Wed & Sat 8.30pm. Al-ANON – for families of those suffering from Addiction: Thurs 8pm, Tihilly, Lannello, Clontarf Rd. TULLAMORE RAPE CRISIS CENTRE: Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm, 057 9322500; Freephone 1 800 323232 DOCHAS OFFALY CANCER SUPPORT CENTRE Contact them on 057 9328268, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it BALLYCOMMON TELEWORK & TRAINING CENTRE offering a range of free/affordable services. email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 057 9353177 / 9353441. TULLAMORE LIBRARY Browse by Appointment service. 057 9346832 or
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