Parish of the Assumption Area Code: 057 Tel: 93 21587 - 93 22415 Fax: 93 51510 19th March 2023 ~ 4th Sunday of Lent Fr. Joseph Gallagher, P.P., V.G. GET IN TOUCH St Mary’s Parish Centre, Benburb St, Tullamore, Office Hours: Mon-Thurs, 9.30-1; 1.30-5pm. Phone: 0579321587 Web: www.tullamoreparish.ie Reception service Friday, 9.30-5. Priest available for emergencies 24 hours daily. Meeting Rooms available: Contact Administrator for details of availability, rates, etc. Teas after 10.00am Mass Tuesday, Thursday & Friday Bereavement Listening Support: Ph 0579326604. WEEKEND MASSES Church of the Assumption:(Vigil) 6.30pm Sunday 8.30am, 10.00am, 11.30am & 1.00pm Durrow: Sunday 11.30am WEEKDAY MASSES Monday-Friday 7.45am, 10.00am Saturday 10.00am First Friday 7.45am & 10.00am JOIN US ON PARISH WEBCAMS ON PARISH WEBSITE. CONFESSIONS Saturday 2.00-3.00pm in the Day Chapel. “OPEN MY EYES LORD” A word, touch or even a glance are usually the only outward signs Jesus uses when healing in the Gospels, but in this story of the man born blind He used something extra - clay and spittle. Then with touch and water the blind man sees for the first time. So why does Jesus, as in this case, use basic elements and the senses when He has no need of any of them to perform a miracle? He respects us as created – learning everything we really know through our senses, which is why symbols affect us and our decisions so profoundly. The vestments worn today are rose coloured and the Mass opens with the words Rejoice! They are to encourage us to keep our eyes fixed on the goal – the celebration of the resurrection. Those preparing for Baptism on Easter Sunday will be invited by the Church, in Jesus’ name and with His grace, to have a personal encounter with the Risen Jesus, through the basic elements of oil, water, bread and wine and the senses of touch, taste and hearing, they will go on to meet Him, and, like the man born blind, really “see” for the first time. The words of the little refrain- Open my eyes lord I want to see Jesus To reach out and touch Him And tell Him I love Him… could help as a reminder of what we are heading towards and remind ourselves too to relive the grace of our own baptism. LENT 2023 WEEKDAY MASSES 7.45am, 10.00am & 7.30pm. STATIONS OF THE CROSS weekdays 9.45am (9.30 if there’s a funeral) Tullamore Church; on Tullamore Parish YouTube channel any time anywhere! EVENING PRAYER Sundays at 5.30pm in the Church of the Assumption. WEEKLY TALKS ON DAILY MASS READINGS given by Fr Sean Heaney, Tuesdays after 10.00am Mass, Parish Centre. All are welcome. THE SEARCH – FAITH EVANGELIZATION PROGRAMME: Tuesdays, 8pm, Parish Centre. A PRAYER FOR MY MOTHER Lord, I thank you for my mother. Thank you for placing her in my life, and for the blessing she is to me and my family. Thank you for the wisdom that she has instilled in me. Words cannot express the gratefulness I have in my heart for her beauty and spiritual influence in my life. Please continue to bless her and surround her with your grace and favour. Amen. HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY TO ALL MOTHERS, ESPECIALLY REMEMBERING THOSE NO LONGER WITH US SEEING YOUR LIFE THROUGH THE LENS OF THE GOSPEL John 9:1-41 …The blind man was healed. Can you recall occasions when some blindness of yours was taken away and you could see in a new way? What was that experience like for you? …The Pharisees seem to have had a collective blindness that blocked them from seeing what God was doing in Jesus. Perhaps in today’s world you can see examples of collective blindness when people want to avoid an awkward truth, e.g. about the damage being done to our planet by human activity. There are many characters in the story: Jesus, the blind beggar, the disciples, the neighbours, the blind man’s parents, and the Pharisees. Put yourself in the position of each one and see what you learn from identifying with them. John Byrne osa, Intercom March 2023 SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Baptisms take place monthly on the first Sunday in Tullamore, second Sunday in Durrow, third and fourth Saturday in Tullamore. Contact the Parish Secretary. 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 0579341831 or www.accord.ie. ACCORD also provide couple and relationship counseling In-Person and Online in Tullamore. Phone 057 9341831 or 0864669926 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it NB: NOTICES FOR THE BULLETIN MUST BE IN THE PARISH CENTRE BY 9.30AM WEDNESDAY. Only notices from parish groups, non-profit making organizations & clubs included PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR FIONA PENDER, OUR PARISHONER WHO HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE 22nd AUGUST 1996 MASS INTENTIONS Mon 20 7.30 Denis Harte Wed 22 10.00 Angela Bohane 7.30 Peter & Julia Leonard .....................John O’Beirne Thurs 23. 10.00 Gerard, Carmel, Kathleen & Michael Connolly, Patrick St Fri 24 . 7.30 Kitty Flanagan Sat 25 .. 6.30 Pat Heffernan, Daingean Rd, Mon Mem Sun 26.. 10.00 Maureen Dunne, Killiskea ......................Paddy, Kathleen, Noel, Ann & Rhona (Dargle) Cunningham ............. 11.30 Tommy Corroon, Arden Vale, Mon Mem .....................Paddy Mulligan, Church Rd, 1st Ann Shared Mass Sat 25, 10am: Michael Scully & parents Bridie & Michael; Michael O’Toole; Sean Cronly; Mary & Malachy Fallon; Mary Frances & James Bracken & Family; Jimmy Dooner; Michael & Angela Conlon, Conlon & O’Toole Families; Patrick & Teresa Pender; Kevin Phelan, John & Christina Delaney; Julie, Thomas, Joseph, Declan, Geraldine & Mary Teresa Touhey; Sean & Molly Waters, Tommy & Jack Finlay; Billy & Maureen Quinlan; Anna & Jim Hogan & Family; Mary, Edward & Michael Conroy; Mary & Gerry Fitzsimons; Sarah & Edward Kelly; Noel Boland, Tom Joe & Baby Sheil; Davis Family; Peter & Kathleen Daly; Gerald & Margaret Dalton; Patrick & Margaret Devaney; Jack, Julia & Sr Columba Lambe, Betty Darby, Joshua Donnelly, June Martin & Eleanor Cregan; Martin, Teresa & Marie Hensey, Sr Helena Taylor & John Joe Boyd; Pat Hensey Durrow Sun 26, 11.30am: Jimmy Bracken, Mon Mem. DEATHS We offer our sympathy to the families of Ber Gorman, Brendan Dagg, Gerry McGuire & Dermot Coen. BAPTISMS Welcome to God’s family Saoirse Dorothy Colbert, Maisie Anne McGrath & Alayah Grace Kuka who were baptised recently. COLLECTIONS Plate: Tullamore €2966; Durrow €362 Envelopes €2993 Turkey/Syria Earthquake Appeal €90 Thank you for your continued support. TULLAMORE PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOUGH DERG August 9-11. If interested, please leave your name & mobile number with Regina in our sacristy or email Fr Fergal, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it TULLAMORE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOC: AGM, Tullamore Library, Fri 24, 4.15pm. All welcome. Please confirm your attendance through our facebook page; Tullamore MHA. TULLAMORE GARDEN FLOWER CLUB: Talk “From the Ground Up – Creating a Garden from Scratch”, Wed 29, 7.30pm, Charleville Centre. Non Members welcome. Adm €5. Ph 086 8411301/Mark 087 3843412 ACCORD: Volunteers wanted to train as marriage preparation facilitators. For more details contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP: Parish Centre, Wednesdays, 7.30pm. OFFALY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT SERVICES: Ph 0579351886 or 0860419154. www.odvss.ie CLARA MUSICAL SOCIETY presents the musical comedy ‘First Date’ 28 Mar-1 Apr, 8pm, GAA Centre, Clara. Tickets can be purchased online on www.clarams.com. PORTLAOISE PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA: 8-15 June. Limited number of seats available. Ph 0871210263/0871254841. |