5th Sunday of Easter (b)

5th Sunday of Easter.  (b)

Times of Mass and Confession:

Sundays:                               Vigil Mass (Saturday) 6.00 p.m. &10.00 a.m.

Weekday:                             9.00 a.m.  (Monday – Friday)

10.00 a.m. (Saturday)

Confessions:                      After 10.00 a.m. Mass on Saturday.

Other times by arrangement.

Please remember the following parishioners, relatives and friends in your prayers:

Sick: Sally McDermott, Catherine Wilson, John McPartland, Mary McPheely, Annie O’Donnell, Molly Weir.

Anniv:  Doreen Fallon.

Today is the first Sunday of May, the month traditionally devoted to Our Lady.  As in past years, you are invited to bring a flower, or flowers, which will be collected at the start of Mass and placed at the statue of Our Lady over the Sundays of May

Today: Eucharistic Ministers, Church Cleaners, Servers and Readers  please come to the sacristy to collect their new rotas.

Sunday: The Coffee Morning takes place after Mass this morning with the Fair Trade group in charge.  Why not pop round after Mass and meet up with fellow parishioners over tea, coffee bacon rolls etc which will be on sale.

Tuesday: Final meeting of the parents of children in P7 prior to the celebration of their Confirmation and First Communion on May 27th.  The meeting is at 7.00 p.m. in the Hall.

Tuesday: The monthly Mass for Vocations takes place in the Little Sisters of the Poor at 7.30 p.m.   Refreshments are served afterwards. All are welcome.

Thursday: The tea/coffee and biscuits coffee morning takes place in the house after 9.00 a.m. Mass. All welcome.  Many thanks to those who hand in their loose bronze coins and even small silver ones.  These can continue to be handed in to the Card Stall at the weekend and the proceeds go to the Parish Project.

Thursday: The Keep Fit class meets in the Hall at 7.00 p.m.  All are welcome to come along and take part.  Numbers are dropping off so unless a few more come along the class may have to be cancelled in the near future.

Diary Dates:

2nd – 6th July: ‘‘New Dawn in Scotland Family Conference’ will be held at St. Andrews and is timed to coincide with Scottish school holiday. This conference offers something for the whole family! The opening Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Keith O’Brien, followed by an exciting week of talks, events & workshops, designed to help us appreciate afresh the riches of our Catholic faith. In addition, a packed programme of events for children & youth is planned to appeal to various age groups. On the Thursday, a special procession will follow the statue of Our Lady of Aberdeen through the streets of St. Andrews, culminating with Mass in the ancient Abbey ruins, presided over by Bishop Joseph Toal. Those who cannot attend for the whole week are most welcome to spend a day or two at the conference. For further information contact the New Dawn in Scotland Office on 447 6153 or use their website www.newdawninscotland.com. There is also a poster in the porch.

The pass keepers and Parish Pastoral Council members will continue to hand out the census leaflets after Mass.  Please take one, complete and return it as soon as possible either in the box at the back of the Church or directly to Monsignor Tony.  We need to have as accurate a record of Parishioners as possible for the Diocesan authorities.  If there is someone living near you who goes elsewhere or has stopped going to mass please take a form for them and discreetly ask them to complete it.  It is confidential and the details will not be passed on to anyone. There is also a part of the form which invites you to become more involved in the life of the Parish.  Fewer and fewer people are actively involved in the Parish other than attending Mass here. A Parish has to be more than that.  More and more is being asked of fewer and fewer and dare I say older parishioners to support and sustain all the things that happen here. Many of the groups are in real danger of closing down due to either parishioners moving away or existing members feeling they can no longer continue.  I really hope and pray there will be an increase in volunteers in all areas of Parish life as a result of this initiative being undertaken by the Parish Pastoral Council with my full support and encouragement. The Council is meeting on 22nd May to begin collating the responses to it and it would be really helpful to have your replies by then.

Many thanks again to those who organised and prepared everything for the Senior Parishioners’ Christmas party and to those who came along to take part and those who provided the entertainment, especially the boys and girls from the school. A good time seems to have been had by all although either I am getting older (no comment) or Senior Parishioners are getting younger.

With every best wish and blessing

to you, your families and those

who are dear to you

Monsignor Tony.