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

To book Masses, Baptisms and Weddings, or
to arrange an appointment to see a priest
please call within these times where possible.
A receptionist and phone service is available
up to 10pm each day.

  10th Sunday of the Year 8th June 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

Weekday Masses
Monday – Friday: 7.45am & 10.00am
Saturday: 10.00am
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

The Quality of Mercy
 

‘Mercy’ in the Oxford dictionary means: ‘compassion or forgiveness shown towards an enemy or offender in our power’.
How many of us have this quality?  Jesus’ lesson for us is that His greatest welcome is for those who have least; who need Him most and who know their need.
Who do we welcome most into our lives; the well off and most influential in society, or the homeless, sick and those who are struggling with life?
Jesus did all the less acceptable things according to the society in which He moved.
The challenge is there for us today to be converted in our hearts and in our lifestyles.
As He called Matthew, He calls us to follow Him by the example of our lives, offered up through acts of mercy, compassion and forgiveness.
He calls us to look beyond what we are, to what we can become.
“I desire mercy....for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
” Matt 9:13

When you meet someone, you judge them by their clothes;
when you leave them, you judge them by their heart.
- Russian Proverb 

FUNERALS AND OUR TRADITIONS

In the last 50 years very few celebrations in the life of the Church have changed so much as funerals.  Many people will recall the time when the removal to the Church took place the evening prior to the funeral, and the only prayer recited was the Rosary.  On the following morning Mass for the deceased was celebrated at an early hour and was attended by the immediate family.  At 2pm (usually) the main celebration was held.  The priest recited a few prayers in Latin and these were followed by the “laying of offerings”.  When all offerings were laid on the table, the cortege then moved to the cemetery for burial.  When the prayers were finished, the grave was filled by the men present who took turns to carry out the task.  During the filling of the grave the full Rosary was recited.
The need to reform the funeral service was recognised by the Church with the introduction of new norms for Liturgy in the aftermath of Vatican 2.  The funeral liturgy was now to be seen as a celebration of the life of the deceased and was to be centred on the celebration of the Mass and the use of scriptural texts which emphasised hope and resurrection.  The human and natural grief of the bereaved was to be recognised in a more understanding way and pastoral care of the bereaved was to be an integral part of all funeral celebrations.
The above outline of how we arrived at our present form of celebration seems to be a great improvement on what went before.  It is valuable, for our understanding of funeral liturgy, to reflect on the following points:
A funeral liturgy is a celebration of someone who has believed in Christ and striven to live by the Gospel;

Readings from the Bible should emphasise hope, God’s love and forgiveness, resurrection and our need to feel God’s presence in our lives;
Homilies should be on the topics chosen from the Readings and should not be a eulogy on the life of the deceased.  It is appropriate to mention aspects of the life of the deceased and to offer consolation to the grieving family;
Music to be sung or performed should conform to norms laid down for all Church music.  Hymns and psalms must be of a religious content and should be agreed in advance of the celebration.
To help families in preparing for funerals, the parish has prepared a small booklet giving suitable readings and guidelines for Prayer of the Faithful and the arrangements for funerals.  We hope to update this booklet in the near future and hope that grieving families will find it helpful.

 FIRST COMMUNION

Congratulations to the children from Gaelscoil Eiscir Riada who receive the Eucharist for the first time on Sunday.  We wish God’s blessing on them, their teachers and all who helped them on their faith journey to this special time.

 MASS INTENTIONS
Mon 9: 7.45 Smollen Family, Cloncollig  10.00 John Cutler, 104 O’Molloy St
Tues 10: 7.45 Martina Mooney
10.00 Annie, Laurence & Patrick Nicholson, Charleville Rd
Wed 11: 7.45 James & Jane Handy
10.00 Michael Connolly, Patrick St
Thurs 12: 10.00 Bernard Snr & Bernard Jnr Creevy, O’Molloy St
Fri 13: 10.00 Alan Rogers, Sragh
Sat 14: 7.30 Marcella O’Farrell, 1st Ann
Sun 15: 8.30 Annie Carroll, Arden Heights
10.00 Brendan Keeley, Knockowen Rd
11.30 Josephine Bracken, Mon Mem
1.00 Seamus Lambe, 1st Ann

Durrow Sun 15 Peter, Michael & Brigid Fox

Shared Mass Sat 14, 10am: 
Colm & Ann Deasy;
Kathleen Kelly;
Des Hoctor;
Mick Graham;
Bernie, John, Paddy, Laurence, Tracy & Ellen Ward;
Mary Gaynor;
Tommy Clooney;
John, Michael & Mary Rattigan;
Liam McFadden;
Ryan Family;
Thomas & Rose McDermott;
Marcus Fitzpatrick;
John, Christina & John Jnr Fitzpatrick;
McDermott & Geraghty Families;
Kitty & Jimmy Fenning;
Danny & Lily Lynam;
Maggie & Bridie Lynam;
Rose Smith & Family;
Christina Johnson;
O’Neill & Adams Families;
Patrick Troy;
Patrick & Liam Whitney;
Lee Family;
Winifred, Joe & Patrick Clarke,
Kathleen Kelly & Sarah Fletcher;
Tom Quinlan;
Teresa Keaveney;
Wrafter Family;
Margaret Condon;
McMahon Family;
Dwyer Family;
Mary Moriarty;
Sr Margaret Larkin;
Des & Brigid McNally;
Craven Family;
Michael & Elizabeth Maher;
James, Mary & John Joe Keegan;
James & Margaret Gleeson;
Denis, Alice & Peter Walsh;
Thomas & Maureen Glynn.

The next available Mass is on Saturday 16th August at 10.00am.  These Masses are for the anniverary of deaths only and the number of intentions is limited to 40.

DEATHS:  We offer our sympathy to the families of Rose Smyth & Tom Ryan.
If you would like support or comfort in your grieving please phone  9326604.
 

WEDDING BELLS
Congratulations to Deirdre Gannon & Brian Curley; Lisa McDonagh & Martin Power..
All couples who wish to get married must give at least six months notice to the Church and three months notice to the State. Pre-marriage courses can be booked on line at http://www.accord.ie/.

NEW ARRIVALS
Welcome to God’s family Alex James Byrne & Daniel Lawrence 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. To book in for meeting and baptism, please contact the parish secretary at the Parochial House.

COLLECTIONS

Tullamore  €4245; Durrow €292
 Envelopes €2545
Thank you for your continued support

COMMUNITY GROUPS

PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Hospital Chapel: “He who loves us so much is there waiting for us.  Why do we not love Him in return.” St John Vianney.  Ph 9321232.

CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION COMMITTEE:  Meeting Mon 9, 8.30pm, Parochial House. 

SET DANCING CLASSES: Tues, 9pm, Durrow Hall.  Ceili Tues 10 & Tues 24, 9-12.

ST VINCENT DE PAUL:  Good, used furniture wanted.  Ph 0879506410.

LEGION OF MARY:  Monthly Rosary, Fri 13, 8.15pm.  All welcome.

QUEEN OF PEACE GROUP:  Monthly Mass for Healing & Peace, Thurs 12, 7.30pm, Day Chapel.  All welcome.

OFFALY CHILDMINDING INITIATIVE:  Childminders’ coffee network morning, Thurs 19, Jumpin’ Jack’s.  To book ph Fiona 9370630.

KNOCK:  Bus Sat 14, William St, 9.15.  Ph 9341485/0872988162.

KNOCK SUMMER YOUTH FESTIVAL:
July 24-27.  Ph 0949388100/0876927850 or www.knock-shrine.ie/youth ministry

DURROW PATTERN MONDAY 9TH:  1st Communion Mass, 10am; Con-celebrated Mass 12noon followed by procession to the well.  Sports in GAA field 4.30pm (weather permitting); Cards 10pm in the Hall.

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

Life Pregnancy Care 7B Cormac St, Drop in service every Saturday 10am-1pm, 057 93 41110  http://www.lifemidlands.ie

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

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