Parish of the Assumption

Area Code: 057
Tel: 93 21587  -   93 51510  -   93 22244  -  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
E-Mail website : webmaster
Parish Office Hours: 9.30am - 5.00pm Monday – Friday

7th Sunday of the Year - 22nd February 2009

Msgr. Seán Heaney, P. P.
Fr. Padraig Corcoran C.C.
Fr. Shane Crombie C.C.
Fr. Seamus O'Conner C.C.
Sr. Genny Hassey
Sr. Margaret Burke

Mass Times

Weekend Masses
Church of The Assumption
Saturday (Vigil): 7.30pm
Sunday: 8.30am, 10.00am, 11.30am & 1.00pm

St. Colmcille’s Church Durrow
Sunday: 11.30am

Holy Days
Church of The Assumption
Vigil: 7.30pm
Feast: 7.45am, 10.00am, 1.10pm and 7.30pm

St. Colmcille’s Church Durrow
Feast: 8.00pm

First Friday: 7.45am, 10.00am and  7.30pm

Confessions
Saturday: 12noon – 1.00pm & 3.00pm – 4.00pm
Eve of First Friday: After 10.00am Mass

  If you are patient in one moment of anger you will escape a hundred days of sorrow.
- Chinese Proverb

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Divine Economy

  We can no more deliver ourselves from evil than lift ourselves out of a cistern by the hair of our head.  As with Israel in the first reading we are blind if we do not see our true condition.  In the Gospel we are looking at blindness too, but also at paralyses and sin.

The Scribes are blind as to who Jesus really is.  They are horrified that He is claiming what only God can claim - authority over sin.  Only God’s love can redeem us from that.  It is also noticeable here that Jesus doesn’t ask the paralytic if he has faith but responds instead to the faith of the helpers, healing the blind man spiritually and physically.  It would seem He was hoping the second healing would open the eyes of the Scribes too.

Jesus is the same today as yesterday.  If we bring someone we love or someone in need into His presence He will respond to our faith for their healing and heal us at the same time.  He maximises the chance to heal in every situation.  One could call it a kind of “Divine Economy”.

 PARISH CENTRE

Parish Office open Monday-Friday 9.30am-1pm and 1.30-5.00pm for booking Masses, Weddings, Baptisms, Certs etc.  Reception service available 5.00-9.00pm.
There is a priest available for emergencies 24 hours a day.

Parish Shop - selling a selection of religious items - open Wednesday to Saturday 10.30am-1.00pm.
Lenten Prayers, candles, etc available in shop after Masses next Sunday.

Teas/Coffees after 10.00am Mass Wednesdays & Fridays.

Ash Wednesday, 25th, Masses  as follows:
7.30am, 10.00am, 1.10pm & 7.30pm.
Durrow 8.00pm

LENT - PREPARING FOR EASTER

MASSES: Mon-Fri 7.30am(note earlier time); 10.00am & 7.30pm.  Durrow Fridays 8.00pm.
CONFESSIONS: Mon-Fri 7.00-7.20pm.
EVENING PRAYER  Sundays 5.30pm
STATIONS OF THE CROSS Mon-Fri, 9.40am

Readers needed for Evening Masses.  Please contact the Sacristy.

Dodatek Polski

 Nastepna Msza Swieta odprawiana w j. polskim odbedzie się 22/03/09 o godz 14:30.
 Prosimy  dzieci chetne do sluzenia do mszy (chlopcow i dziewczynki) o kontakt pod nr tel.Tomek 0876640020 lub Ks.Janusz 0879538786

Klękam przed Tobą Panie
z wdzięcznością
że za mną
są zgliszcza
wypalonych zamiarów
i nadwątlone życie
a w nim spalone dobre słowa
i we mnie
jest Twoje Boże tchnienie

odmieniasz moje życie

i idziesz ze mną ...
Panie
Ks.Jan Filewicz

LENT

Wednesday next marks the beginning of the Season of Lent.  Ash Wednesday is a day for new beginnings: for taking Ashes on our foreheads as a pledge of our intention to do penance during Lent; for “giving up” things such as cigarettes, alcohol, etc; for taking on new tasks such as attending weekday Mass, praying with the family, supporting needy people in this world.

Even though we are no longer bound by Church law to do any act of penance such as fasting, we are invited to imitate the example of our Lord to give time during these forty days to prayer and fasting.

We are invited to look more closely at our own lives and to consider how we can better know the Lord and know ourselves.  Our focus should be on coming to know the mind of Jesus better and to find joy and hope in our new-found knowledge.

This year we again offer you a simple brochure outlining what we can do during Lent.  We ask you to take a copy as you leave Mass.  Today, we offer a Lenten Candle for sale in the Parish Religious Goods Shop.  With the candle we give a card containing a few basic prayers that the family can say together each day.  We encourage you to buy a candle and prayer card and to use it during this season.

We ask you to see Lent as an opportunity to grow closer to our Lord and to find greater peace and joy in our lives.

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MASS INTENTIONS

Mon 23:
7.45 John Dowling, Marian Place
10.00 Johnny Commins
Tues 24:
7.45 John, Joe, Thomas & Michael Hogan, Clontarf Rd
10.00 Thomas Carroll, 11 Callary St
Wed 25:
7.30 Esther Conroy, Marian Place
10.00 Mary & Margaret Gallagher, Meelaghans
7.30 Albert Scott, 1st Ann
Thurs 26:
7.30 May Owens, Spollenstown
10.00 Michael, Catherine & Mary Cleary
7.30 William Keenan, Convent View
Fri 27:
7.30 Owens Family & Bridie Murphy, Spollenstown
10.00  Christy Martin & Keogh Family
7.30 Brigid & James Martin, Offaly St
Sat 28:
10.00 Anne Guckian
7.30 Kay Hannon, Arden Rd
Sun 1:
8.30 Kevin Hanley
10.00 John Coughlan
11.30 Maura O’Toole, Mon Mem
1.00 Veronica Ferguson, Mon Mem

Durrow: Fri 27 Michael & Mary Heagney
Sun 1  James & Annie Kilroe, Coniker

DEATHS:  We offer our sympathy to the families of Billy Brennan, Oliver Coady, Margaret Boylan (nee Lawlor), Paddy Kelly & Margaret O’Sullivan
If you would like support or comfort in your grieving please phone  9326604

SHARED MASSES:  The shared Masses on Sat 14th Mar, Sat 25th Apr & Sat 16th May are now booked up.  The next available one is Sat 13 June.  You are reminded that the intentions for these Masses are for the anniversaries of deaths only.

WEDDING BELLS
Congratulations to Jolene Byrne & Colin Donoghue; Therese Murray & Aidan Heffernen.

Couples intending to marry should contact Priest & Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages at least six months in advance.  For premarriage courses contact Accord, www.accord.ie. 

COLLECTION

Tullamore €4622
Durrow €231
Envelopes €2860

Thank you for your continued support.

COMMUNITY GROUPS

PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Hospital Chapel:
“Come to me in the Blessed Sacrament”.  As long as God loves us enough to want to be with us day & night, then we want to love Him enough to be with Him day and night.   Ph 9321232.

DAFFODIL DAY:  Meeting Thurs 26, Bridge House, 8pm.  All welcome.

TARA:  Holiday to Fels Point, Tralee, 27 Apr, 4 nights €290.  Ph Mary 9323978

CHARITY CEILI Tues 24, 8.30pm, Durrow Hall.  Proceeds to Teach Dochas, Offaly St.

PIONEERS:  Temperance Sunday (22nd).  Buy ‘The Pioneer’ monthly.  Join the Pioneers or take a temporary pledge for Lent.  Ph Larry 9321313.

PARENTS FIRST Supporting parents with young children:  9-week volunteers course available for those willing to help out.  Contact Dolores/Mary, St Mary’s Youth Centre, 9322996/0861959221, 9.15am-2.30pm, Mon-Fri.

BRI (Acquired Brain Injury Advocacy & Support):  Support group meeting Tues 24, 7.30-9.30pm, Health Centre.

FRIENDS OF CHERNOBYL CHILDREN:  Host parents wanted.  Ph Alma 0863857374/Padraig 0872097714.

PILGRIMAGE TO FATIMA 4-11 June with Fr John Nally.  Ph 9351309.  (Note, not July as stated on this week's bulletin)

LIGHT IN THE SPIRIT:  Seminar, St Brigid’s Parish Centre, Clara, Thurs 19, 7 weeks.

MOUNTMELLICK DRAMA FESTIVAL 6-13th Mar, Mountmellick Community Arts Centre.  Details from Tricia 086-1604363.

Please continue to pray for Fiona Pender, our parishioner 
who has been missing since 22nd August, 1996.

SUPPORT GROUPS

Parish Support Services confidential phoneline (057) 93 26604 Mon-Fri 10am-1pm and 6-8pm


ACCORD Marriage & Relationship counselling & premarriage course details. Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4.00pm 9341831,  www.accord.ie

AA Mon/Wed/Thurs/Sat, Mercy Convent 8.15pm; Wed 1-2 & Sun 12-1pm, Youth Centre. 01-4538998 or 1890412412 after 5pm

Al-Anon Thurs 8.30pm, Health Centre, 018732699

MS Offaly Austin 0863760257;Mary 9323946.  Helpline 1850233233

Grow Community Mental Health Movement meet Thurs 7.30pm, Day Care Arden Rd, 9351124  www.grow.ie

Aware Mon 8.45pm Community Mental Health Centre 1890303302

Sexual Abuse & Rape Counselling Mon-Fri 10.00am-2.00pm; 1800323232,

MABS Free & confidential debt advice, 9323211

Vincent de Paul Offaly Street  9322072

Dochas - Cancer Info & Support Mon-Fri 10am-2pm & Wednesday 7.30pm to 9.30pm, Offaly St 9328268
www.dochasoffaly.ie

Meditation Mondays, 7.00pm, Marian Hostel

Shine. Supportingpeople affected by mental ill health, 9323111 , 0868525281. helpline 1890 621631

Midland Living Links - Suicide Bereavement Support Ph Bernie 0861600641

Citizens Information Service Mon-Fri 9.15am-1pm; 2pm -4pm; Thurs 2-6pm.  9352204

Epilepsy Assoc Mon-Fri, 9 am-3 pm, 9328631

La Leche League Breastfeeding Support Group 3rd Thurs, 8pm, Health Centre, 9355061

Fibromyalgia Group Last Tues of month, 8pm, Day Care Centre.
Helplione 1800201068 Tues 10am-1.00

Anew women with alcohol problems, Ofalia House Edenderry, 0861024743

Alzheimers Society Carers last Monday of month, 9328244

Adult Educational Guidance Service 9327104

ISARC (Sarcoidosis Support Group) Health Centre 1st Wed every month, 7.30pm, 0870648070 www.isarc.ie

Diabetes Assoc (Offaly) 1st Wed of month, Bridge House, 8pm.  Ph 9321211 after 6pm.

Offaly Domestic Violence Support Service:  9351886 Mon-Fri, 10am-12; 2-4pm.

Community Drugs Scheme:  HSE helpline 1850241850.

Coeliac Support Group 93 43940

Amen. Male victims of domestic violence 046 90 23718

BRI (Acquired brain injury) advocacy and support 01 2355501  www.briireland.ie

Newsletter Notices to be in the Parochial House
by Tuesday evening
Charitable / Non-profit organisations only