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

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.

2nd Sunday of Advent - 7th 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 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 & 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

PREPARE THE WAY

John the Baptist is up to his old tricks - afflicting the comfortable!  He demands that we take a good look at our behaviour patterns and the values from which they come.  What do we really believe in?  For whom do we really prepare?

John tells us to prepare the way for the Lord.  This will mean hard work - the process of conversion and a change of heart.  What is lacking in our hearts must be filled in.  We need a dose of compassion and tenderness.  We must take more time with relationships.  John asks us not just to fill in what is lacking but to cut away what should not be in our hearts.  That  really hurts!  Hardness, coldness, prejudice, greed - all have to go if we would have hearts ready for the Child this Christmas.

Conversion hurts.  Change hurts.  But we must be willing to do some work on ourselves this Advent or the Birth of our Saviour will not have the effect on our lives and hearts that is should.

By the way, who will you call or meet this week to renew or “fix” a strained relationship?

One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life; that word is love.

---

EVENING PRAYER FOR ADVENT

Continues Sunday 7th, at 5.30pm.

FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

Monday 8th, is a Holy Day and Masses are as follows:
Tullamore 7.45am, 10.00am, 1.10pm & 7.30pm
Durrow, 8.00pm.

JUNIOR PPC

Meeting Friday 12th, 7.00pm, Parish Centre.

CCTV

A CCTV security system will be installed in the Church of the Assumption in the near future.  This is for the benefit and safety of people who come to the Church during the day to pray.  It will not be intrusive and all footage recorded will be entirely confidential.

DODATEK POLSKI

Nastepna Msza Swieta odprawiana w j. polskim  odbedzie sie 14/12/08 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
Spowiedz przedswiateczna 12/12/08 o godz.18:00 po spowiedzi o godz.20:00 wigilia w Parish Center.Pytania dotyczace wigilii prosimy kierowac pod nr.0876640020.

Niewidzialny i tajemniczy klucz do mego wnetrza
ma Bog
kiedy otwiera mowie jak zawsze
tu jestem Boze                         (Ks.Jan Milewicz)

PULLING A FAST ONE

Sunday's 2nd reading reminds me of the tale of Ted.  Ted thought he’d pull a fast one on God.  So he prayed: ‘Heavenly Father, for you a million years is but a minute and million euro is but a cent.  Please hear me as I ask you for just a cent.’  God heard, and said, ‘Sure Ted.  Just wait a minute!’
The moral of the story is that we should know what to expect from God.  Our 1st reading tells us what that is: tenderness.  Let that sink in.  God gives us affection.  Since its not possible for us to be on a par with God, God puts himself on a par with us: God becomes man.
That’s the God who comes at Christmas.  But do we want to meet God?  Can we tolerate a tender God?  If we stamp others as our ‘enemy’, can we hear God’s tender voice - especialy when it’s directed at those ‘enemies’.  If my enemy’s enemy is indeed my friend, is his friend then my ‘enemy’?
Advent is a time for thinking things through, for seeing the implications of Jesus’ birth.  He came to give life in all its fullness to humanity in all its numbers regardless of who they are or where they come from.  That’s a message you won’t see posted in shop windows in the run-up to Christmas.  You won’t hear it shouted from housetops.  You won’t hear it anywhere except in God’s subersive, yet creative, word.”

Fr Tom Cahill, Intercom December 2008.

MASS INTENTIONS

Monday 8: 
7.45 John & Nora Keaveny
10.00 Martin & Mary Mannion
1.10 Mary & Ollie Gorman, 54 Clontarf Rd
7.30 Shannie, Maureen, Attracta Brady, Church St
Tuesday 9:
7.45 May Mangan, Harbour St
10.00 Des Hensey, Davitt St
Wednesday 10:
7.45 Colm McMahon, Spollenstown
10.00 Paddy O’Reilly, Pearse Park
Thursday 11:
7.45 Margaret & Thomas Geoghegan, 15 O’Brien St
10.00 Thomas Hensey, 41 O’Molloy St
Fri 12:
7.45 Helen Mooney & Mooney Family
10.00 Elizabeth Brophy, Church St
Saturday 13: 10.00 Paddy, Chris & Noeleen Bracken
7.30
Josephine Brennan, Mon Mem
Sunday 14:
8.30 Joseph, Mary & Patricia Dwyer
10.00 Theresa Guinan, Ballydaly
11.30 Ed Williams, 1st Ann
1.00 Denis Ferguson, Mon Mem

Durrow: Mon 8 Kay McGrath
Sun 14 Matt Flynn

Shared Masses:  The shared Masses for Sat 20th Dec, Sat17th Jan & Sat 14th Feb are now booked up.  The next available one is Sat 14 March.

You are reminded that these Masses are for the anniversaries of deaths only and are limited to 40 intentions.

DEATHS: 
We offer our sympathy to the families of
Oliver McGlinchey &
Chris Murray, nee Caffray.

 If you would like support or comfort in your grieving please phone  9326604
 

COLLECTIONS
 Tullamore €4739
Durrow €258
Envelopes  €2920
Thank you for your support.

COMMUNITY GROUPS

PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Hospital Chapel: ‘An outstanding spiritual growth tends to spring from perpetual adoration.  It brings heaven’s choice blessings in the first place on those generous souls that keep their hour long tryst with the Lord....’ (Fr Richard Foley SJ)   Ph 9321232.
‘KAKALI’ a professionally recorded CD of African folk songs, sung by children from a Niarobi slum - available at Church doors after Masses on Sunday, for €15 (€13 of which goes directly to providing education for impoverished children in Nairobi). Every 8 CDs sold will educate a child for one full year.  Project initiated by Christiane O’Mahoney & a group of  volunteers.
RIGHTS FOR THE ELDERLY VHA  Christmas Concert, tonight, Tullamore Church 8pm.  Tickets  Daly’s, Tyrrell’s & Heartbeat City, €10.  U-12’s free with a ticket holder.
ROSARY, Alfie Lambe House, Sat 13, 8.15pm.  All welcome.
PIONEERS:  Clara Regional Committee Mass, Durrow Church, Sun 7, 3pm.
OFFALY FRIENDS OF SIMON:  Indoor Christmas market, today, 12-6pm, old Texas store.
READY:  Christmas Party, Tues 9, 8.30pm, Bridge House (Millennium Room).
MASS for deceased members Seinnheiser, Mon 15, 11.30am, Day Chapel.  All welcome.
QUEEN OF PEACE GROUP:  Mass Thurs 11, 7.30pm.  All welcome.
ST PHILOMENA’S SCHOOL FUNDRAISER:  Old school desks for sale.  Contact St Philomena’s 9321983.
MIDLAND COELIAC SUPPORT GROUP:  Light gluten-free, Christmas lunch, Bridge House, Sat 13, 12.30pm.  Ph 087-2563439 or 9343940.
TULLAMORE COLLEGE BAZAAR for Balawoli, Fri 12, 8pm, school gym.  Prizes galore.  All welcome.
TADS:  Congrats to all involved in “Ashes to Ashes”, performing in All Ireland One-Act final this weekend.
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL to commemorate 60th Anniversary of Declaration of Human Rights, Wed 10, 8-9.30pm, Presbyterian Church, High St.  All welcome.  Organised by Tullamore Amnesty Group.

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