Believe and Be at Peace
 
We have different reactions to bad news, different ways of coping with loss, different ways of recovering from shock.  The disciples were no different from us.  After the terrible shock of Jesus' death, it was simply hard to believe in the Good News of his resurrection!  Can you blame Thomas?

When I think of the pain and suffering people go through every day, I find it hard to believe good can come out of it.  But Easter is about God's goodness and mercy bursting forth in the midst of evil (today is Divine Mercy Sunday).  Christ's rising from death is the Gift we all share as God's children whether we acknowledge it or not.  It doesn't take belief to make God love us and save us.  But to have peace is another story.  It takes faith.  And so in today's Gospel (Jn 20:19-31) the Risen Christ repeatedly says: "Peace be with you!  Stop your doubting and believe!"  At the end of the day it is our faith, hope and love that will conquer the fear of death and the power of evil.

This truth was driven home to me by a friend who recently died of cancer.  In the midst of chemotherapy and pain he wrote an Easter poem which ended with these words:
Suffering acknowledged, Crowned Christ is in the pain
Suffering transformed, The Risen Saviour lives within
Like briared daffodil bursting forth
Believe and be at peace.

Community Activities

Apostolic Work Society: Coffee morning & cake sale, Fri 23, Foresters, 10-12.
Offaly Women in Crisis - Table Quiz Mon 19, 8pm, Bridge House.  Table of 4 €20.
‘Good as New' Sale: Thurs 22/Fri 23, Foresters, in aid of Tanyard Resource Centre ( working with members of our community who are disabled).
Corpus Christi Procession: Committee meeting Mon 19, 7pm, Parochial House.
Community Games Art Comp: Sat 24, Gaelscoil, 12-3pm.  Details from 52654.
Ready: Outing to Mountbolus, Tues 20, 8.30pm, from Day Care Centre.
Astronomical Society: Talk, ‘Black Holes', Mon 19, 8pm, Order of Malta rooms, Tanyard, followed by observation.  All welcome. www.tullamoreastronomy.com
Scripture for Daily Living: Thurs 22, Marian Hostel, 11am.  Text John 20:1-10.
Beekeepers Assoc: Final indoor meeting Mon 19, Teagasc, 8pm, ‘The Role of the Irish Beekeepers in Apimondia 2005'.
Carers Assoc: Gala Charity Concert, Bridge House, Mon 19, 9pm.  Proceeds towards services for family carers.  Ph Fidelma 22920/22924.
MS: Thanks to all who collected at and supported recent collection.  €2965 collected.
CNG: Pilgrimage to Knock, Sat 1 May.  Ph A Boland 22752/21501.
Business & Professional Women's Club: Open meeting on ‘osteoporosis' Court Hotel, Wed 28, 8pm.  Adm free.  All welcome.
Pilgrimage to Lourdes with Fr Joe McLoughlin, Rahan, 13-18 Aug.  Ph 51309.
Gospel Choir Concert Sun 25, Court Hotel in aid of Coláiste Choilm India Fund.
Life Pregnancy Care: Monthly meeting Wed 21, 8pm, ‘Life' Care Centre, 7B Cormac St.  New members welcome.
Home Start: Talk, "The Early Years - how the first 4 years are crucial to a child's development", Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre, 8.30pm, Tues 4.
Found: Ring, Spollenstown area.  Ph 087-2959783, 7-8pm.

Parish Information & Support Services - Confidential Phone Line 26604: Monday to Friday 10.00am - 1.00pm; 6.00-8.00pm.

 BULLETIN NOTICES TO BE IN BY LUNCH TIME WEDNESDAY.

Church Environment Group thank all those who helped in various ways during Holy Week and Easter.  Some gave a hand with the decorations, some donated flowers, a few businesses gave a loan of urns for free.  Well done to you all.

Trocaire Boxes: This weekend, the offertory collection will be for Trocaire. If you forgot your boxes, please leave them into the Sacristy or the Parochial House during the next few days.  The main focus of the campaign this year has been development work in Rwanda.

Praying With Scriptures (Lectio Divina) resumes Tuesday 20th at 8.00pm at new venue - basement Parochial House.

Divine Mercy Celebrations - Today, Sunday 18, 3.00pm, Church of the Assumption - Chaplet, Mass, Confessions, Veneration of the Image.  All welcome.

Liturgy Committee: Meeting to evaluate Lenten and Easter activities, Friday 23rd, 5.00pm, Parochial House.

New Readers: Final commissioning Sat 24, 7.00pm Mass.

Mass Intentions:
Mon 19: 7.45 Oliver Cleary.  10.00 Harry Brennan.  
Tues 20: 7.45 Teresa Rogers, Sragh.  10.00 Michael Hogan, Pearse Park.
Wed 21: 7.45 Patrick Tynan.  10.00 Vincent Gillick. 
Thurs 22: 7.45 Isobel Doherty, Harbour St.  10.00 Thomas & Annie Finlay, Kearney Park. 
Fri 23: 7.45 Mary Moriarty.  10.00 Philomena Flanagan, 2 Park Ave.  Sat 24: 7.45 Joe Sullivan, Clontarf Rd & John Molyneaux, Offaly St.  7.00 Leo Monahan, Pearse Park. 1st Ann.  8.30 Angela Caulfield, 1st Ann & Bernard Caulfield, The Elms. 
Sun 25: 8.30 Owen & Kathleen Marron. 
10.00 Jack & Frances Wrafter.  11.30 Kevin Phelan, Arden Vale, Mon Mem & grandfather John Delaney.

Durrow:  Sun 25 Jim & Nan Donoghue, Coolnahiley & Murray Family, Kilclare.

Shared Mass on Sat 24th 10am: Joseph Buckley, Ballykilmurray; Pat, Margaret, Paddy & Jim Hogan, William St; Thomas & Kathleen Clavin, William St; Fr Danny Clavin; Annie Coughlan, Clontarf Rd; Arthur Molloy, Ballykilmurray; Anne Lambe, John & Frances Sutton; Paddy & Kathleen Morgan; Bridget, Joan & Joseph Connolly, Callary St; Sean Dooley, Spollenstown; John & Betty Thomas; James & Margaret Lowry & Hughie O'Reilly; Josephine Gorman, 60 Marian Place; Tom & Mary Kate Owens, Healy St; Tom Conroy & Family, Mountmellick; Joseph & Bridget Coyne; Hugh Flynn, Daingean; Sinead Boland; Kevin & Maura Adams; Mary & Christy Gavin, 6 Davitt St; Patrick & Liam Whitney; Patrick & Catherine Sullivan, Clara Rd; James Bracken & Family, Spollenstown; Patrick & Kathleen Kavanagh, Curtis & Kavanagh Families; Thomas & Maureen Glynn; Patrick Pender, Harbour St; Winifred Kilroe, Arden View; Brigid & James Deegan, Cappincur; Gerard Murphy, Rahan Rd.

Deaths: We offer our sympathy to the families Tess Ryan, Church Rd; Veronica McGee, Tara Crescent; David Waters, Aharney; Helena Abbott nee O'Brien, late Arden Rd, died in Rahugh.  If you would like support in your grieving, now or in the future, please ring 26604.

Baptisms: Welcome to the parish community Niamh Marie Hand, 9 Glenkeen; Tyrone Michael Cuskelly, 17 Cloncollig.  The next pre-Baptism meetings Wed 28th April & Wed 12th May at 8.30pm in the Parochial House.  All parents who wish to have their child baptised in May must attend a meeting.  Contact Parish Secretary for details

Collections: Plate: Tullamore €7273;  Envelopes: €1950.
 Durrow €284 
Thank you.

The way you give your gift matters more than what you give