Parish of the Assumption

Area Code: 057 Tel: 93 21587 - 93 22415 Fax: 93 51510
www.tullamoreparish.ie  
E-mail Parish Secretary:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

21st Sunday In Ordinary Time ~ 24th August 2020

Fr. Joseph Gallaghar P.P
Rt Rev Sean Heaney CC VG
Fr Kevin Fleming SSC
Fr. Luke Ohiemi C.C.
Fr. Fergal Cummins C.C.
Sr. Genny Hassey
Sr. Margaret Burke  

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.

CHURCHES OPEN FOR PUBLIC MASS THIS WEEKEND

Following the easing of restrictions in Offaly and Laois this week we are delighted to say that our churches will be open for the public celebration of Mass this weekend starting with Vigil Masses in the Church of the Assumption at 5:00 pm. and 6:30 pm. 

The current recommendations allow an attendance of up to 50 people with physical distancing, sanitation and separate entry and exit points. Tickets will not be available for today (Sat. 22-08-2020) so unfortunately it may not be possible to accommodate everyone.

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

ASSISTANT EDITOR(S) REQUIRED

Would you like to help with the editing and publishing of Tullamore Parish website? We would love to hear from people in our area who would be free to volunteer for 1 - 3 hours weekly to assist in updating our website. You DO NOT need to know how to build a website, but a basic level of computer literacy is required. If you would like to find out more please send your contact details to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

SACRAMENTS

BAPTISM: Baptisms have recommenced and booking can now be made at the Parish Office. 

CONFESSIONS: Confessions will be from 2.00 - 3.00pm on Saturdays. 

SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE: To book the Church for weddings, contact the Parish Secretary. 

“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

COVID-19 SUPPORT LINE FOR OLDER PEOPLE

ALONE manage a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).  Ph 0818 222 024, 8:00 am - 8:00 pm daily.

BALLYCOMMON TELEWORK & TRAINING CENTRE

BTTC is offering a range of free/affordable services.  Ph 0579353177/9353441, 

email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

THE DEEP END

"But you…"

‘Christ asks for a home in your soul, where he can be at rest with you, where he can talk easily to you, where you and he, alone together, can laugh and be silent and be delighted with one another.’

Caryll Houselander

There is something very exciting about really getting to know someone. Whether it's talking to a like-minded new friend, or the first flush of romantic love, there is nothing like the thrill of getting close to someone and enjoying their company, discovering who they are and being truly ourselves with them.

Today, Jesus asks an important question: Who do you say I am? He sets up the question by first asking the disciples: ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is ?’ He gets answers based on the gossip and chatter about him: ‘John the Baptist, Elijah, one of the prophets.’ Butthen Jesus gets to the heart of the matter with the burning question: ‘But you, who do you say I am?’ He knows that his disciples know him better than anyone, and so it proves to be, when Peter immediately answers: ‘You are the Christ.’ There is an intimacy and a confidence in the response, based on the time they have spent together and the close and loving relationship between them.

Jesus asks us the same question today: ‘But you, who do you say I am?’ The ‘but you’ is crucial. He is not asking what we have heard about him. Of course, we learn about Jesus from the scriptures. Most of us have been learning about Jesus ever since we were children, listening to stories and parables in school or at home. But do we know him? Do we pray and talk and spend time with him? Perhaps we could reflect in the coming days on this question: who is Jesus, to you?

Tríona Doherty

Seeing your Life through the Lens of the Gospel

(Matthew 16:13-20)

1. This marks a turning point in the life of Jesus and of the disciples. It is the first time that his disciples recognise him as the Messiah. Recall turning points in your own life when you came to some deeper understanding of who Jesus is.

2. ‘Who do you say that I am?’ This is possibly the most important question that Jesus puts to us. In your heart of hearts, how do you answer this question?

3. Jesus praises Peter for his faith, and comments that this was not his own doing but a gift of God. Perhaps there have been times when you have been more than usually conscious that faith is a gift. Be thankful for the gift you have received.

4. These are troubled times for the Church, and the promise of Jesus that ‘the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it’ is an encouragement. What helps you to draw strength from this promise of Jesus? What signs of hope do you see in the Church today?

John Byrne OSA August 2020

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) Standing Orders can be set up. See parish webpage for

details.

4) 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.

MASS INTENTIONS

Mon 24     7.45  Brigid & Percy McCabe

Tues 25    7.45  O’Connell Family

Thur 27  10.00  Ann McDonagh

Fri 28       7.45  Liam Llyod, Arden View

              10.00  Patrick Rattigan

Sat 29     10.00  Michael O’Brien, Pearse Park

                5.00  Celine Conway, 69 Clontarf Rd. 1st Ann

                6.30  John Dempsey, Mon Mem,

Sun 30      8.30  Joseph, Mary & Winnie Carroll

              10.00  Nicky, Matilda, Nicky Jnr, Audrie & Billy Kelly

You can join us on the webcam, www.tullamoreparish.ie

DEATHS

We offer our sympathy to the family of: Patrick Joseph O'Brien; Anna Dunne; Sarah (Sadie) Comiskey and Martin Carberry.

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR FIONA PENDER, OUR PARISHONER WHO HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE 22 nd AUGUST 1996.