Parish of the Assumption

Area Code: 057 Tel: 93 21587 - 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

20th August 2023  ~  20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fr. Joseph Gallagher, P.P., V.G.
Rt Rev Sean Heaney, P.E.
Fr. Joe Campbell, C.C.,
Fr. Fergal Cummins, C.C.
Fr. Damian Budau, C.C
Sr. Margaret Burke.

GET IN TOUCH

St Mary’s Parish Centre, Benburb St, Tullamore, 

Office Hours:  Mon-Thurs, 9.30-1; 1.30-5pm.  

Phone: 0579321587 
Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Web: www.tullamoreparish.ie

Reception service Friday, 9.30-5.  

Priest available for emergencies 24 hours daily.

Meeting Rooms available: Contact Administrator for details of availability, rates, etc.
Teas after 10.00am Mass Tuesday, Thursday & Friday

Bereavement Listening Support:  Ph 0579326604.

WEEKEND MASSES

Church of the Assumption:(Vigil) 6.30pm

Sunday 8.30am, 10.00am, 11.30am & 1.00pm

Durrow:  Sunday 11.30am

WEEKDAY MASSES

Monday-Friday 7.45am, 10.00am

Saturday 10.00am 

First Friday 7.45am & 10.00am

JOIN US ON PARISH WEBCAMS ON PARISH WEBSITE.

CONFESSIONS - Saturday 2.00-3.00pm in the Day Chapel.

CRUMBS FROM THE TABLE

She was a lady like many – the woman of the Gospel today.  She would fight for her child.  So she took on Jesus, the known religious figure around.  Like someone taking on the Taoiseach over a medical card for a chronically ill child, and not letting him off the hook.

Jesus was testing her.  He saw her faith, but he wanted everyone else to see it.  So he told her she didn’t fit into the local religious sphere because she was a foreigner, an asylum seeker or a refugee.  She knew she fitted into the heart of Jesus simply because she was the mother of a sick child.  Jesus cured her child and praised her faith.

She is another of the unnamed ones of the Gospel.  Like the woman of Samaria, the rich young man, the thief on Calvary – she is herself, and she is all of us.  She is everyone, man and woman, of faith.  Faith in a surprising God who in Jesus his Son, never says no to goodness.  Faith that keeps us energetic and alive, not tired, in soul as well as body.

Lord, I believe, strengthen my faith.

- Donal Neary SJ Intercom

SEEING YOUR LIFE THROUGH THE LENS OF THE GOSPEL

Matthew 15:21-28

Having met with rejection from the Pharisees, Jesus goes to Gentile territory and encounters faith in an unexpected place in the Canaanite woman.  His mission had previously been to his own people.  This adds a new dimension to this mission.  Have you had occasions when a chance encounter set your life off in a new direction?

The initial reaction of Jesus to the woman was one of rejection but her resistance won a response from him.  When have you found that resistance was needed to gain what you sought?  What did that experience teach you?

In our days, welcoming the stranger is a challenge.  We are more comfortable with our own.  What difference has it made when you were able to offer a friendly welcoming face to a stranger?

Who are the ‘Canaanite women’ who call out for attention today – people in Church or State, whose needs are not being attended to?

- John Byrne osa Intercom July/August 2023

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

In a house made of thoughts the bricks are paper thin, the roof forever in a state of disrepair as one image replaces another.  Which reminds me of the three little pigs building their house of straw.  Despite ourselves we can live a lifetime in our prison house of thoughts – of grudges, fears, worries, regrets – and miss out on the fresh air of the ever-present moment.

It’s summer.  Look at the bush full of bees on a nectar trip, hear a bird speaking out and feel the breeze on your face.  The world is addressing you as friend.  Come out play, it says.  Breathe.

- Hugh O’Donnell, “Time to Call Home” (Veritas)

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

Baptisms take place monthly on the first Sunday in Tullamore, second Sunday in Durrow, third and fourth Saturday in Tullamore. Pre-Baptism Meetings are on the third Wednesday monthly.  Contact the Parish Secretary.

SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE

To book the Church for weddings, contact the Parish Secretary at least three months in advance.  All couples getting married must complete a pre-marriage course.  Contact ACCORD 0579341831 or www.accord.ie. 

ACCORD also provide couple and relationship counselling In-Person and Online in Tullamore.  Phone 057 9341831 or 0864669926 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

NB:  NOTICES FOR THE BULLETIN MUST BE IN THE PARISH CENTRE BY 9.30AM WEDNESDAY.

Only notices from parish groups, non-profit making organizations & clubs included

PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR FIONA PENDER, OUR PARISHONER WHO HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE 22nd AUGUST 1996

MASS INTENTIONS

Mon 21 ....10.00 .Robert Nutt

Tues 22    .. 7.45 Joe & Mary Daly

.............10.00. Liam Flynn, William St

Wed 23   ....7.45 O’Connell Family

Thurs 24  .. 7.45 Nick & Nellie Brennan

............. 10.00 Sr Anne McGuire

Fri 25 .....  7.45 Teresa Condron

.............10.00 Louis Richard, 1st Ann

Sat 26 .....  6.30 Pauline Brennan, 1st Ann

Sun 27   ....8.30 Paul Stack

.....................Celine Conway

.............10.00 Keenahan Family

.....................Sean Thornton

.............11.30 Mary Thomas, Mon Mem

..................... Nellie Ryan, Clara Rd, 1st Ann

  .............1.00 Anne McCabe, 1st Ann

Shared Mass Sat 26, 10am:  Richard Somers; Michael O’Brien; John Cunningham; Annie Heffernan; Kathleen & Denis O’Meara; Mary Lawlor; Michael  & Kathleen Clooney; James & Margaret McGovern; Denis Dwane & Family; Joe & Mary Deering, John & Mary O’Donnell; Peter Cunningham, Michael & Mary Martin & Families; Tadgh & Dolores Collins; Jack, Frances & Lesley Wrafter; O’Neill Family; Michael, Bernard & Bridget Lynch & Jimmy, Paddy & Eamonn Pender; Paschal Gorman, John Dwane, baby Mary & Dempsey Family; Mary Thomas & Family; John Grogan & Parents; John & Tom Burke; Wayne & Atlanta Doyle & Michael & Lena Cawley & Families; Eddie, Annie & Michael Dowling & Heffernan Family; Paddy, Peg & John Doheny & Family; Michael, Mary & Patricia Cully & Family; Paddy & Frank Hickey & Daniel McGee & Family; Peter & Brigid O’Connor

Durrow Sun 27, 11.30am:  Brendan Ward, Mon Mem

DEATHS

We offer our sympathy to the family of Harry Gannon.

BAPTISMS

Welcome to God’s family Seán Daniel Roe who was baptised recently.

COLLECTIONS

Plate: Tullamore €2559; Durrow €221 

Holyday Plate €1134; Envelopes €2382

Thank you for your continued support.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION continues daily in Church of Assumption.  If you can do 1 hour per week in Adoration please phone Pat 085 1162668

TULLAMORE HARRIERS road closures Sat 26 9.30am-1.30pm:  Kilcruttin Junction-Charleville Roundabout, Cloonagh East Junction-Screggan Cross; Black Lion Junction-Killurin Cross; Killurin Cross – Ballard Roundabout via Cloonagh.  For info phone Adrian 086/1636059.

AA:  Offaly House, Offaly St, Mon, Wed, Thurs, Sat 8.15pm; Tues, Wed, Fri 1pm; Sun 12noon & 8.15pm.

AL-ANON for families of those suffering from addiction, Thurdays, 8pm, Darmagh Community Centre, Tihilly.

DOCHAS OFFALY CANCER SUPPORT GROUP: Mon–Fri, 9.30-5pm. Ph 0579328268. Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

ALONE for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties.  Ph 0818 222 024, 8am-8pm daily.

OFFALY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SUPPORT SERVICES:  0579351886 or 0860419154.  www.odvss.ie