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:
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E-Mail website : webmaster
Parish Office Hours: 9.30am - 5.00pm Monday – Friday
The Parish Office has now moved to St Mary’s Parish Centre
on Benburb St and will be open from 9.30am-1.00pm & 1.30-5.00pm.
To book Masses, Weddings, Baptisms, Certs, etc,
please call during these times.
28th December 2008
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 TimesWeekend 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 & 7.30pm St. Colmcille’s Church Durrow
Feast: 8.00pm First Friday: 7.45am, 10.00am & 7.30pm Confessions
Saturday: 12noon – 1.00pm & 3.00pm – 4.00pm
Eve of First Friday: After 10.00am Mass
FAMILY MATTERSBishop Desmond Tutu once said “You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.” Christmas is above all else a family occasion. It is, now, probably the only time during the year when family members make a real and genuine effort to gather together, to return “home”. For many “lost sheep” outside the family fold, however, this can be a time of sadness and loneliness. Today, our thoughts are still on Bethlehem and the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. But, let us remind ourselves, that Mary and Joseph like very many parents had their own problems and difficulties. They faced them on a daily basis. They suffered the insults of the pointing fingers and wagging tongues. They had their own worries and concerns. But, Mary and Joseph had integrity, faith and trust in God's promise. They had courage to take God and His word at face value and act upon it fully. Do we have this same faith and trust during the challenging times in our family lives? Is our family life built on love? Like Mary and Joseph, we may not be able to change many things in the world, but our influence does extend over our own home and our own family. Like any other worthwhile project, family life, to be successful has to be given much time and energy to develop.
As Confucius said,
“ To put the world in order we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order we must first cultivate our personal life; to cultivate our personal life we must set our hearts right.”
Welcome home to all our parishioners who are back for Christmas.
We missed you while you were away.
ST MARY’S PARISH CENTRESt Mary’s Parish Centre closed until Monday 5th Jan. There will be a reception service available from the Parochial House for a Priest and booking Masses . MASS TIMESMonday 29th-Wed 31st 11.00am.
1st Jan (New Year’s Day), 12.00 noon. THANK YOUTo all of you who delivered parish Christmas Cards. HOLY DAYTues 6 Jan is a Holy Day.
Masses are at 7.30pm (Vigil), 7.45am, 10.00am, 1.10pm & 7.30pm.
Durrow 8pm. FOR CHILDREN BAPTISED IN 2008Parents, we invite you and your children to the celebration of the Eucharist on Sunday January 11th, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, at 10.00am in the Church of the Assumption. Your child will receive a special blessing and prayer cards will be distributed at the end of Mass. FAMILY FORTUNESThe word of God doesn’t deal in half measures, even when telling a story. Take today’s first reading from Genesis. Abraham, incredibly, becomes a father at the overripe age of 100. And Sarah, advanced in years and barren all her life, gives birth to a child. The message is clear and challenging: nothing is impossible with God. What’s also clear is that God’s gift of life blossoms in spite of all threats to it. In Isaac’s case, parents so old they could die while he is still an infant. What would happen then? But God is not stupid, confused or whimsical. Nobody and no thing can thwart God’s plan. Even when it seems, incomprehensibly, that God wants Isaac dead you know that there’s something else at stake. That’s the conviction that you can’t go wrong by being faithful to God’s will - even when it seems to make no sense. Did it make sense for Jesus to be conceived out of wedlock? Not a good start to life. Did tongues wag? Did it make sense for Jesus to be crucified as a despised criminal? Not a good end to life. Did fingers point? Yet God was fulfilling a plan in spite of it - and continues to do so today. Today’s feast has an important message for all families, but especially those experiencing difficulties. Wagging tongues, pointing fingers, and apparent failure in life mean nothing to God. What count are: integrity, faith in God’s promise and the courage to take God at God’s word and act upon it - in full measure.
Fr Tom Cahill, Intercom Dec 08
MASS INTENTIONSSat 3:
10.00 Pauline & Michael Gorman
7.30 Emer Champ Bracken, 1st Ann
Sun 4:
8.30 James & Kathleen Kelly, 95 O’Molloy St
10.00 Mary & Lar Byrne & Byrne Family
11.30 Anne Murphy, Mon Mem
1.00 Tom Sheerin, Mon Mem
Mon 5:
7.45 Michael Keane & decd relatives
10.00 Larry Keeney
Tues 6:
7.45 Thomas Wrafter & Family
10.00 Michael Sheehan, 3 Davitt St
Wed 7:
7.45 Ned & Eileen Grennan, Loughaun
10.00 Frank Nihill & Family
Thurs 8:
7.45 Deirdre & Fiacra Ryan
10.00 P A Wrafter, Church St
Fri 9:
7.45 Joseph & Catherine Cahill
10.00 Margaret ‘Peggy’ McDonagh
Sat 10:
10.00 Mairead Hughes
7.30 Theresa Murphy, Sragh, 1st Ann
Sun 11:
8.30 Kathleen Claffey
10.00 Patrick & Molly Dunne & Maureen Halewood, 71 Marian Place
11.30 Marcella Egan, Marian Place, 1st Ann
1.00 Lars Quaide, 1st Ann Durrow:
Fri 2
Mary Fox, Laughaun
Sun 4
Laurence Keegan & Keegan Family
Tues 6
Ger Roe.
Fri 9
Patsy Kenaney, 1st Ann
Sun 11
Matt & Winifred Grennan, Tara
If you would like support or comfort in your grieving please phone 9326604
DEATHS:
We offer our sympathy to the family of
Jane O’Connor.
If you would like support or comfort in your grieving please phone 9326604 SHARED MASSES: Shared Masses on Sat 17th Jan & Sat 14 Feb are now booked up. The next available one is on Sat 14th Mar. You are reminded that the intentions at these Masses are for the anniversaries of deaths only
NEW ARRIVALSWelcome to the family of God’s people
Zara Cathrine Duffy,
Nikolas Pokuta
Matuvsz Kazimierz
who were baptised recently. Baptisms take place in Tullamore on the 1st Sunday & 3rd Saturday of every month and in Durrow on the 2nd Sunday of every month. All parents who wish to have their child baptised must attend a pre-baptism meeting which takes place in the Parish Centre, at 8.30pm on designated Wednesdays. Please contact the Parish Secretary to book in for meetings and Baptisms.
who were baptised recently.
COLLECTIONSTullamore €5734; Envelopes €3730
Thank you for your continued support
COMMUNITY GROUPS PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
Hospital Chapel: ‘Jesus became one of us and chose the name ‘Emmanuel’, which means ‘God with us’ because as much as we want to be with one another, infinitely more does Jesus want and desire to be close to us. “I thirst with such a terrible thirst to be loved by you in this Blessed Sacrament.
Watch one hour with me. Ph 9321232. PIONEERS:
Meeting, Parish Centre, Wed & , 8pm. LEGION OF MARY:
50th Anniversary Mass for Servant of God Alfie Lambe, Sun 11, 3pm, Kinnegad Church. Celebrant Fr Moore. Followed by reception and talk on Alfie by Noel Lynch. PIONO STOOL:
Black round piano stool mislaid or taken in errror after Carol Concert in the Church Sun 7th. Ph 0868761495 or leave in Parish Centre.
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-1pm, 2.00-4.00pm 9341831, http://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, Parochial House, 018732699
MS Offaly Austin 0863760257;Mary 9323946. Helpline 1850233233
Grow Thurs 7.30pm, Day Care Arden Rd, 9351124
Aware Mon 8.45pm Community Mental Health Centre 1890303302
Sexual Abuse & Rape Counselling Mon-Fri 9.30am-2.30pm; 1800323232, www.tullamorercc.ie
MABS Free & confidential debt advice, 9323211
Vincent de Paul 9322072
Dochas - Cancer Info & Support Mon-Fri 10am-2pm & Wednesday 7.30pm to 9.30pm, Offaly St 9328268
http://www.dochasoffaly.ie/
Meditation Mondays, 7.00pm, Marian Hostel
Lucia Counselling Service for those with mental illness, 18900621631
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, 11am-4pm, 9346790
La Leche League Breastfeeding Support Group 3rd Thurs, 8pm, Health Centre, 9355061
Fibromyalgia Group Last Tues of month, 8pm, Day Care Centre.
1800201068 Tues 10am-12
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.
Newsletter Notices to be in the Parochial House
by Tuesday evening
Charitable / Non-profit organisations only | 
