Parish of the Assumption Area Code: 057 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ 7th September 2014 Fr. Joseph Gallaghar P.P MASS TIMES Weekend Masses Church of the Assumption: Saturday (Vigil) 6.30pm Sunday 8.30am, 10.00am, 11.30am & 1.00pm St Colmcille’s Church Durrow: Sunday 11.30am Holy Days Church of the Assumption: Vigil 6.30pm; 7.45am, 10.00am, 1.10pm, 6.30pm. St Colmcille’s Church Durrow: 8.00pm Weekday Masses Monday-Friday 7.45am & 10.00am Saturday 10.00am First Friday 7.45am & 10.00am. CONFESSIONS Saturday: 12 noon-1.00pm, 3.00-4.00pm 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, 9.30am-1pm; 1.30-5pm to book weddings, baptisms, certs, etc; Reception service 5-9pm. Priest available for emergencies 24 hours daily. Parish Shop selling a selection of religious items. Teas after 10am Mass Mon, Wed & Fri. Meeting Rooms available: Contact Administrator for details of rates, availability etc. Parish Support Services: Bereavement Listening, etc. For appointment, ph 0579326604, Monday-Thursday 9.30am-1.00pm; Wednesday & Thursday 6.00-8.00pm. A LISTENING HEART Today’s psalm asks that we listen to the Voice of the Lord. He wants us to have listening hearts, not hard ones! Both the Old testament and Gospel readings ask us to have a care for our brothers and sisters and St. Paul’s letter reminds us that Love is the one that cannot harm them. Sometimes however, we can find ‘tough love’ difficult to offer someone, but if we are in a specific position of responsibility it may be our duty to do so, for example, a parent may need to correct his or her child. This is most effective by having first checked our own conduct to make sure we ourselves are not doing the wrong we are correcting another for! If we are honest also, we know from first hand experience, that the easiest and best way to see the correct path is by its example in another. That kind of witness supports us, builds us up and enables us to do the right thing willingly. Also it is good, not only to have a listening heart towards God, but what a gift to be able to offer someone who is wounded that same ‘listening heart’. It can bind up and heal so many hurts and certainly it will not go unnoticed by the One who said “whatever you do for one of these…you do for me”! DURROW CEMETERY SUNDAY Cemetery Sunday in Durrow is on 14th September. Blessing of the graves will be after 11.30am Mass. NEW ALPHA BEGINS Both Popes Francis & Benedict invite us Christians to encounter the person of Jesus Christ. But what does that mean? How can we encounter him ? Would you like to explore these questions? When: 8pm Monday 15 September, 2014 LITURGY GROUP Liturgy Group Meeting 6.30pm on Wed 10th Sept. PARISH CENTRE The Parish Centre is now available for catering after funerals. Contact Tom on 9321587 or 086 0547266. CONTROL OF DOGS There has been a notable increase in dog foul in Clonminch Cemetery. Apart from the fact the Cemetery is consecrated ground, a sacred place where our loved ones are laid to rest, the presence of dog waste is a serious health risk. If a dog accompanies a visitor to Clonminch Cemetery it must at all times be kept on a lead, and any waste must be disposed of. SEEING YOUR LIFE THROUGH THE LENS OF THE GOSPEL All the time Matthew was writing his Gospel local church communities would have numbered no more than fifty people. They would be known to one another. Matthew presents the instructions of Jesus for dealing with people whose behavior disrupted and harmed the community. Note the steps suggested. Simple directions but many of us do otherwise. We avoid difficult confrontations. We talk about the faults of others to everyone but themselves. We go over the head of someone who displeases us and make complaints. In your experience, which approach is life giving for you and for others? While Jesus is referring to a group situation, the advice can be applied also to personal difficulties and problems with others. What lessons has life taught you about constructive ways of dealing with conflict? As individuals and communities we have the power to bind and to loose, to exclude people from relationship, or to open up and include others in relationship. When have you found it important to acknowledge this power in your own life? Jesus also promises to be with his followers when they gather together. What does that mean to you? How have you experienced the presence of Jesus in his followers gathered together? THOUGHT FOR THE DAY I wished for all things that I might enjoy life, and was granted life that I might enjoy all things. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM The next available Baptism dates are Sat 20th Sept, Sat 27th Sept, Sun 5th Oct in Tullamore and Sun 12th Oct in Durrow. The pre-baptism meeting for these dates is on Wednesday 17th Sept. To book in for the meeting and baptisms, contact the Parish Secretary, at the Parish Office, Mon-Fri, 9.30am-5pm. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE It is advisable to give six months’ notice of your intention to marry to both the Church and the Registrar. To book the Church for weddings, contact the Parish Secretary, Monday-Friday, 9.30am-5.00pm. All couples getting married must attend a pre-marriage course. Contact ACCORD, 9341831 or www.accord.ie. ACCORD also available for marriage and relationship counselling. NB: NOTICES FOR THE BULLETIN MUST BE IN THE PARISH CENTRE BY 9.30AM WEDNESDAY Only notices from parish groups, non-profit making organisations & clubs included. MASS INTENTIONS DEATHS We offer our sympathy to the family of Brigid Doyle. PARISH COLLECTIONS PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR FIONA PENDER, OUR PARISHIONER WHO HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE 22ND AUGUST, 1996. COMMUNITY NOTICES DOCHAS: Offaly Cancer Support Group drop in Centre, Offaly St. Phone 057 9328268. |