Parish of the Assumption Area Code: 057 Tel: 93 21587 - 93 22415 Fax: 93 51510 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time ~ 31st July 2016 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: 7.45am, 10.00am, 1.10pm, 6.30pm. St Colmcille’s Church Durrow:Vigil 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. BLESSED ARE THE POOR OF SPIRIT…. The theme of all the readings today centres on the conflict that exists between our humanity and our spirituality. In Ecclesiastes, we hear how pointless and vain it is to work without any thought for both our soul and purpose in life. In the psalm, we pray that God gives us the wisdom to realise that our world is transient and we must give a meaning and purpose to our lives. In the gospel, Jesus uses the question of property ownership as an occasion to teach all of the relative value of this world’s goods. The message of Jesus is obvious, we are challenged to be in this world and not of it, to collect the necessary goods by honest endeavours and labours and yet remain detached from them, to posses but not be possessed by worldly riches. Unlike the man in the parable, we must get our priorities right. If we are trying to live out our baptism, we have to get these priorities and values correct. Then, we are seeing beyond ourselves, beyond this world. We are seeing everything in the light of eternity. “Blessed are the poor of spirit theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” CEMETERY DAYS Cemetery Sunday in Clonminch will be on Sunday 21st Aug at 1.00pm. Cemetery Sunday in Durrow will be on Sunday 11th Sept. Blessing of graves will follow 11.30am Mass. BANK HOLIDAY Tomorrow, Monday 1st. is a Bank Holiday. There will be no Mass at 7.45am. THE DEEP END – BUILDING BIGGER BARNS There is a lot of pressure these days to upgrade. Phone companies offer special incentives if we upgrade to the latest smartphone, while car dealers are constantly trying to convince us to trade in our older car for a brand new model. And it wasn’t so long ago that all the talk was about buying a starter home or getting on the property ladder. The idea is that we can always go bigger and do better for ourselves. If we think about it, most of us will admit we have more than we need to get by, but there is still a drive to acquire more ‘stuff’. The rich man in today’s parable was busying himself with upgrading. Faced with a lack of sufficient space to store all his crop and his goods, he decided to build bigger barns. Satisfied, he then sat back to enjoy the finer things in life, to ‘eat, drink, have a good time’. But Jesus offers a gentle reminder that, really, these are not the thing that matter. After all, we can’t take any of these treasures with us. Our farmer friend had forgotten to focus on the more important things in life – he had stored up riches on earth instead of focusing on making himself ‘rich in the sight of God’. What treasures are important to us? -Tríona Doherty, Intercom July 2016 FR JACQUES HAMEL The tragic death of Fr Jacques Hamel during the week reminds us all too well of the broken nature of our world. Fr Hamel was born in Darnétal on the Nov. 30, 1930, near St.-Étienne-du-Rouvray where he died.He was ordained to the priesthood on June 30, 1958. He served in many parishes in his diocese and at St.-Étienne-du-Rouvray since 2000. One priest in his diocese said “even in his old age, he was still just as invested with the parish life. We used to joke around and tell him ‘Jacques, you’re doing too much! It’s high time you retire!’ And he would always laugh it off and say, ‘Have you ever met a retired priest? I’ll work until my last breath.”To leave us just as he was celebrating Mass must have been some kind of blessing for him, despite the tragic circumstances. He was murdered ‘out of hatred of the faith’ one of the conditions set down by the Church for someone to be declared a martyr. Throughout the world many of our brothers and sisters suffer for their faith in Jesus Christ. This week let us offer a prayer and some small sacrifice for them. We also thank God for the freedom we have to worship. At any time we can pop into the Church, light a candle, go to Mass, bless ourselves, wear a cross. Not every Christian is so fortunate. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM The next available Baptism dates are Sat 27 Aug, Sun 4, & Sat 17 Sept Tullamore. The pre-baptism meeting for these dates is on Wed 17Aug. No baptism in Sept in Durrow Church. 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 Mon 1 10.00 Robert Smyth Tues 2 10.00 Gerry Quinn Wed 3 7.45 Margaret & Patrick Carroll, Puttaghaun 10.00 Tom McKenna, 21 Ashley Court Thurs 4 7.45 Paddy & Annie Mooney 10.00 Edward Joy Sat 6 6.30 Damien Horan, Mon Mem Sun 7 8.30 John & Della Galvin 10.00 Esther Galvin & Frances Martin-Vickers 11.30 Noel Weatherhead, 1st Ann 1.00 Molly Ryan, Arden View, Mon Mem Shared Mass Sat 6, 10am: John Dwane& Paschal Gorman; Cleary Family; Marian Galvin & Shane Daly; GerColsh, Peter & Kathleen Stones & Family; Tommy O’Reilly, Ber&Basy Molloy & Family; Peggy & Paddy Plunkett & Chantelle Martin; Edward Lynam; John Kilmartin; William J & Delia Keegan; Michael & Darren McDermott; James, Margaret & John Grennan; Michael, Ellen & Nancy Lowbridge; Martin Dolan; Thomas, Bridget, Patrick, Margaret, Vincent, Michael, Rosie, Mary Anne, John & Susan Pidgeon; David, Anne & Andy Sheridan, Teresa & Bridget Smyth & John Tierney; Philomena Maher; Betty Pender. Durrow: Sun 7Jimmy & Molly Daly; Martin Buggy; Fr Arthur, Dave & Laura Waters; Paudge& Delia Kelly & Family. DEATHS We offer our sympathy to the families of Ann Marie Lynam, John Martin& Joan Fox nee Smyth. BAPTISMS Welcome to God’s family Grace Jessica Conroy, Joseph ColumbLowbridge, Mason Brian Shea Freeman, Niamh Rosa Jean Mercer, Aaron Jack McGrath & Michael Joseph Fox who were baptised recently. PARISH COLLECTIONS Tullamore €3323; Durrow €165 Envelopes €2630 Thank you for your continued support PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR FIONA PENDER, OUR PARISHIONER WHO HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE 22ND AUGUST,1996. COMMUNITY NOTICES PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION HOSPITAL CHAPEL: Can you spend an hour with the Lord: Sun2-3pm; Wed 6-7am, 5-6pm; Thurs 7-8am; Sat 6-7pm.Ph 0851162668. 1ST FRI/SAT DEVOTIONS TO THE UNITED HEARTS OF JESUS & MARY: Fri 5, Parish Centre. Rosary 6pm; Mass 7pm. All are welcome. CHARISMATIC PRAYER GROUP: Wed, 7.45pm, Presbyterian Church, High St. All welcome. PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO MEDJUGORJE: 14-21 Sept. Ph Pat Kidney 0863192399 or Luke McNamee 0879113118. TULLAMORE ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOC (Tara) not meeting for August. Resuming 8th Sept.Exercise classes continue in Darma Hall, Mon, 2.30pm. TULLAMORE MEDITATION GROUP finished for Summer. Will resume in Sept. GROW: Thurs, 2.30pm in the National Learning Network, The Tanyard. Ph Assumpta 086 8114135; Tues 11am, Community Mental Health Centre. Ph John 086 8033126 DOCHAS OFFALY CANCER SUPPORT GROUP: Drop In Centre, Offaly St, Mon to Thurs, 10am-2pm. Phone 9328268. OFFALY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT SERVICES: Helpline 9351886 for information or to make an appointment. SEXUAL ABUSE & RAPE CRISIS CENTRE: Confidential Counselling Service, Helpline 1800323232. RAINBOWS – peer support programme helping children grieving death or separation: Ph 0871039292. PHOENIX MARKET Sat, 10-3pm, Kilcruttin Business Centre. All proceeds to local charities. Ph 0879301749/0877625463. 1ST SAT IN HONOUR OF OUR BLESSED LADY OF FATIMA The Ark Of Divine Mercy 23 Mitchell TceAthlone, Sat 6, 2.00pm with Mass followed by a short. All welcome.Ph 0877828283. THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated”. Confucius |