7th Sunday of Easter (b)

7th 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: Michael Fallon, Maggie Kelly, Kevin Duffy, Mark Duffy, Margaret Duff

Today is the World Day of Prayer for Communication.  A retiral collection will be taken after both Masses for the work of the Scottish Catholic Media Office here in Scotland. There is also a letter from Bishop Tartaglia, the President of the National Communications Commission.  Please make sure you get a copy as you leave Mass.

Today 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

Sunday: The Coffee Morning takes place after Mass this morning with the Vocations 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.

The monthly draw for the 200 Club will also take place.

Monday:  Please remember in your prayers Fabio Carpico and Anna Dilworth who are being married in the Church at 1.00 p.m.  May the Lord bless them in their married life.

Monday: Closing date for the red census sheets to be returned.  The sheets will be left at the back of the church for new parishioners to use and also for any existing parishioners who missed today’s deadline.  Please note, even if you are not volunteering for any of the groups on the sheet, your name and address are still needed for the Parish records. If there is someone living near you who goes elsewhere or has stopped going to Mass for whatever reason, 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.

Tuesday: Meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council to begin collating the responses to the census returns.

Thursday: The tea/coffee 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.

Next Sunday: Celebration of Confirmation and First Communion during the 10.00 a.m. Mass.  Please remember in your prayers the children especially in these final days of their preparation.  13 children will be Confirmed and make their First Communion.  Seats will be reserved for them and their immediate families.  It will be a busy Mass.  Refreshments will be served afterwards in the Hall. All welcome

Diary Dates:

29th May: The first in a series of five talks, organised at the Lauriston Jesuit Centre, to mark the 50th anniversary of the second Vatican Council  The first one is on ‘Introducing Vatican 11’ and begins at 7.30 p.m.  Fuller details are on the poster in the porch.

9th June: Monsignor Stephen Robson, currently parish Priest of Our Lady, Star of the Sea in North Berwick and Our Lady of the Waves in Dunbar will be ordained as auxiliary (assistant) Bishop to Cardinal O’Brien in the Cathedral at 1.00 p.m. and all are welcome to take part in the Mass of Ordination.  Please remember him in your prayers as he takes up this new role.

2nd – 6th July: ‘New Dawn in Scotland Family Conference’ will be held at St. Andrews and is timed to coincide with Scottish school holiday. 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.

Sister Cecilia, the Diocesan Director of SPRED (Special Religious Development Programme for adults and children with Learning Difficulties) is looking for volunteers of any age, men or women, to help in this vital activity in the life of the Church.  The commitment is one evening a week from 7.00 p.m. – 9.00 p.m. during term time to accompany an adult with learning difficulties in his/her spiritual journey.  If you are interested please contact Sister Cecilia on 667.9202.

With every best wish and blessing

to you, your families and those

who are dear to you

Monsignor Tony.