29 March 2024

For the week beginning on Sunday 28th. November 2021

 

Church Interior

PROTECTION AGAINST COVID

WE ASK PARISHIONERS TO:

• Continue to wear masks at all times when visiting our parish churches.

• Sanitise your hands entering and leaving the church. 

• Receive Holy Communion on the hand.

• Use the baskets collection buckets at the doors for the plate collection and parish envelopes

DAY OF REMEMBERANCE

Residents and staff of Riada House have organised a very special "Rememberance Service" for all who have passed away during the coronavirus pandemic. Please click the link below to view the pdf notice giving full details:  <<View pdf>>

FAMILY MASS IN DAY CHAPEL

Due to the rise in Covid numbers, the Family Mass in the Day Chapel has been suspended.  Hopefully it can resume in the New Year.

ADVENT FAITH FORMATION - RESOURCES AND LINKS

EVENING PRAYER FOR ADVENT commences at 5.30pm in Tullamore Church on Sunday 28th. Nov.

“During Advent, let us reflect on the eternal message of Christmas, which is, Christ is alive and that He is our hope.”  – Archbishop Eamon Martin

An interactive digital Advent Calendar will go live on www.catholicbishops.ie on this the first Sunday of Advent. The Calendar offers resources for the parish, school and for families which can be accessed behind a virtual door each day during the season of Advent.  The content is aimed at assisting people of all ages to pray and reflect on how best we can keep Christ at the centre of our Christmas preparations during this special liturgical season. 

Welcoming this year’s Advent Calendar Archbishop Eamon said, “After another difficult year of living with the Covid-19 pandemic, the season of Advent arrives and offers us a new beginning and a promise of hope for better times.”The digital Advent calendar is a helpful resource on our ‘journey’ towards Christmas.  By clicking on a virtual door people are invited to take just five minutes for reflection so as to find moments of peace and to rediscover the true meaning of Advent and Christmas.  

The seasons of Advent and Christmas occur in the depth of winter reminding us that Christ was born to bring hope to a darkened world. The Covid-19 virus may have reared its menacing head again in a fourth wave  but, it cannot  and will not destroy our hope and our conviction that God remains especially near to his people.  As the prophet Isaiah said “the people that walk in darkness have seen a great light”.  During Advent, let us reflect on the uplifting promise of Christmas, that Christ is alive and that He is our hope.

CONFIRMATION & COMMUNION 2022

The proposed dates for Sacraments for 2022 are as follows:

Confirmation

Saturday 5th February (all schools)

First Communion

Sat 7th May, Scoil Mhuire & Scoil Bhríde

Sat 14th May, Ballinamere & Gaelscoil Eiscir Ríada

Sun 15th May, Parish School

Sat 21st May, St Joseph’s NS

Durrow to be confirmed.

Schools will notify you of times. 

MASS INTENTIONS   

Click  for the full list of Mass Intentions to be celebrated this week.

SACRAMENTS

BAPTISM: Please contact the parish secretary.

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

SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE: To book the Church for weddings, contact the Parish Secretary. 

SEEING YOUR LIFE THROUGH THE LENS OF THE GOSPEL

(LUKE 21:25-28, 34-36)

We live in a time when we are told that disaster lies ahead for us and our planet if we do not change our ways.  But perhaps this new awareness can be a prelude to us changing our ways?  The gospel was written to give hope to Christians in danger.  What gives you hope amid the dangers facing our world today?

Our church community is also in crisis.  The numbers of people attending church services have dropped.  We have fewer clergy and religious scandals have rocked the church community.  What helps you to keep faith in such circumstances?

This passage can be taken as a metaphor for personal experiences when it seemed that your world was collapsing around you: plans thwarted, deep disappointment, something out of your control altering the course of your life, etc.?  When have such experiences been a prelude to something new?  Allow the dramatic language of the passage remind you of this experience, making sure that you recognize the double movement of collapse and liberation.

Jesus himself is the model in this gospel story as he taught his disciples the spirituality of ‘waiting in joyful hope’.  What difference has watchfulness (in the sense of being watchful in prayer) and hope made to you in facing difficult situations?

Advent is a time that calls us to be alert to the signs of the hidden presence of God in our world.What reminds you of this presence of God?  Have there been occasions when something woke you up in an unexpected way to the presence of God in the world, e.g. through love, beauty, nature, etc.?

 John Byrne osa, Intercom November 2021

PARENTS FIRST

Volunteer for 1-2 hours a week? parents/grandparents to pass on knowledge & experience in bringing up children. Contact Dolores 0858565252 or Rhona 0861959221 Email: coordinator @ parentsfirst.ie

TULLAMORE COMMUNITY & FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE

”Early Years Programme” – online course for parents on Zoom lasting 6 weeks.  If interested ph Imelda 0860879124, Margaret 0861806109 or Kieran 0871213737

VOCATIONS NOTICE

The Diocesan Vocations Team has a new Facebook Page: DioceseOfMeathVocations   & a new Instagram Account:  dioceseofmeathvocations, Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   Ph Fr Tony Gonoude 044 9373923

COVID-19 SUPPORT LINE FOR OLDER PEOPLE

ALONE manage a national support line and additional supports for older people who have concerns or are facing difficulties relating to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).  Ph 0818 222 024, 8:00 am - 8:00 pm daily.

BALLYCOMMON TELEWORK & TRAINING CENTRE

BTTC is offering a range of free/affordable services.  Ph 0579353177/9353441, 
email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   

MONEY ADVICE AND BUDGETING SERVICE (MABS)

MABS ( a free, confidential service forople who have problems with money management): Nationl Helpline 0761072000 Mon - Fri 9:00 am to 8:00 pm  

SHALOM WORLD MINISTRIES

Shalom World is a 24/7 commercial free Catholic television network for the whole family. Use the floating link to access the live "Shalom Media Gallery" or click on the icon on the right to find out more about Shalom World Ministries.

Shalom copy
Given the COVID-19 precautionary measures, our churches are inaccessible for the faithful. Participation in the daily sacraments is beyond reach for them. Shalom World TV, a Catholic media ministry of the Shalom Ministries, is an official partner with the Vatican and is authorized to telecast papal liturgies directly via its free high-definition television channel. Shalom World is committed to producing free yet high-quality Catholic content such as Daily Mass, devotionals, shows, music, youth programs, children’s programs, conventions, retreats, and cultural exchange segments. The programming is absolutely free and can be watched live or on-demand. The most recent addition, in response to COVID-19, is a 4th channel to the existing 3 channels, for exclusive live telecast of daily Holy Mass around the clock, with special prayers for an end to coronavirus .

We are broadcasting Daily Mass Live from Saints Peter and Paul's Church, Portlaoise, Co. Laois at 10:00 am everyday during this challenging time.

Bishop Denis Nulty, Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin is our patron in Ireland  and Shalom World is endorsed by Catholic leaders from around the globe .