BULLETIN                      3 APRIL 2011

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT IN YEAR 1

CHURCH SERVICES

Saturday 2 April 
Mass at 10.00 am for Tom and Hannah Reid
Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for Gerald McGhee
Sunday 3 April 

Sunday Mass at 10.00 am for Lilli McCulloch
Sunday Mass at 12.00 noon for the congregation and
Canon Matt's Ordination in 1965

Monday 4 April 
Mass at 10.00 am for Father Gabriel and Patrick McDonald
Tuesday 5 April 

Mass at 10.00 am for a special intention

Wednesday 6 April 

Mass at 10.00 am for Sheila McLaughlin

Thursday 7 April 
Mass at 7.00 pm in thanksgiving
Friday 8 April 
Mass at 10.00 am for Kenneth McSkimming
Saturday 9 April 
Mass at 10.00 am for the sick
Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for Margaret and John Murphy

The Mass intention list is just over two weeks ahead. Please notify anniversaries as early as you can. Thanks.
Any changes to the above times caused, for example, by a funeral will be notified on the home page of this website.


PARISH CENTRE EVENTS

Sunday 3 April 

11.00 am

Tea and Coffee after Mass

Monday 4 April 
9.30 to 11.30 am
5.30 to 6.30 pm
6.30 to 8.00 pm
7.00 to 8.00 pm
7.00 to 9.00 pm
Parents and Toddlers
Rainbows
Brownies
Weight Watchers
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Tuesday 5 April 
11.00 am
6.30 to 9.00 pm
7.30 to 8.30 pm

Legion of Mary
Saint Anne's Guild
Keep Fit

Wednesday 6 April 
6.00 to 7.00 pm
7.00 pm

Karate
Zumba Fitness

Thursday 7 April 
1.30 to 3.00 pm
6.00 to 7.30 pm
7.30 to 9.00 pm

Cardiac Rehabilitation
Brownies
Guides

Friday 8 April 
9.30 to 11.30 am Parents and Toddlers

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
   Archie McFarlane, Harry Quinn 1993, Patrick Tomelty 2004, Annie Adam 1997, Barbara Henderson,
   Jane Mullen 2003, Annie Murphy 1981, Agnes Ward 2001, Margaret Boyd 2004, George Lee 1992, Frank Grogan,
   Michael McNamara 2008, Father Tom McCann 2009, Mary Tinney 2004 and Father Jim Boyd SCJ 2002
   whose anniversaries occur at this time and those who are sick.
   Information for the anniversary list is appreciated.

SACRAMENT OF FORGIVENESS
The Sacrament of Forgiveness is available at any suitable time as well as from 4.30 pm before the Vigil Mass on Saturday evenings.

OFFERTORY COLLECTION
Last weekend's Offertory collection amounted to £699.17 - many thanks. We are grateful for your generous support of the parish and the diocese to which we pay a monthly levy of £1250.

PARISH CENTRE COLLECTION
Last weekend's collection for the Parish Centre amounted to
£308.13 - many thanks.

SCOTTISH CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL AID FUND (SCIAF)
The annual collection for SCIAF is taken this weekend.

BANKER'S ORDERS
Have you thought of using a Bankers Order? It assists us with the safe handling of cash. Banker's Orders for the Parish and Centre amount to an average of £3800 per month. Forms are available.

COLLECTION ENVELOPES
Would you like collection envelopes for the coming year? Please contact the Parish Office on 464063 or add your name to the list at the stall. Standing Orders made through your bank are handier. Forms are available. If you pay tax and sign a Gift Aid form then the Church is entitled to the tax paid on your contributions. We apply and it is paid directly to the Church. You need do nothing except sign a form. Could you consider putting a little bit more in your collection? A new form is available.

GIFT AID
Have you signed a Gift Aid Form? If you pay tax, then every £1 you give to the Parish is worth £1.28 to us. Forms are available.

WILLS
Would you consider remembering Saint Peter's in your will?


FUNDRAISING
Following my Financial Statement last week and my appeal about the work we need to do on the church building, I am launching a 'brown envelope' collection. Please take one home and read what is in it. Take as many as you like and drop them in the collection bag. We received £1045 this week to make the total so far £3169. I am very grateful.

READERS
Next weekend's readers are Elsie Brodie at 5.30 pm, Robert Cooper at 10.00 am and Marade Griffin at 12 noon.

ALTAR SERVERS
Next weekend's altar servers are Group 2 at 5.30 pm, Group 5 at 10.00 am and Group 6 at 12 noon.

CHILDREN'S LITURGY
Next Sunday's Children's Liturgy helpers are Michelle Morton and Claire Sweenie for the pre-5s, Yvette Thorpe and Michelle Millar for primaries 1 and 2, Kerry Scott and Ann Cassidy for primary 3 and Andrena Hughes and Elaine Shaw for primary 4.

SUNDAY TEAS
Next Sunday's teas will be served by Kathleen Chapman’s team.

LENT
Lent is a period of forty days of 'journeying to Easter'. The Sundays are Feasts and do not count. According to the tradition of the Church Lent should be a period of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

CAN YOU DO WITHOUT SOMETHING FOR LENT?
Sweets, cakes or biscuits is an obvious sacrifice, but what about cigarettes or - the real biggie - alcohol? There is a 'short term pledge' leaflet available. More than half the world is hungry.

CAN YOU GIVE A BIT MORE TIME TO PRAYER?
Most mornings there is Mass at 10.00 am and there is usually one evening Mass on Thursdays at 7.00 pm. Morning and evening prayers would be good to try again.

CAN YOU SPARE SOMETHING FOR THE POOR?
Scottish Catholic Internatiional Aid Fund (SCIAF) boxes are available and there is the annual collection on the Fourth Sunday of Lent.

CELEBRATE FORGIVENESS IN PREPARATION FOR EASTER
The Sacrament of Penance is available on:
  Monday 11 April at 7.00 pm in Saint Palladius's Church, Dalry
  Tuesday 12 April at 7.00 pm in Saint John's Church, Stevenston
  Wednesday 13 April at 2.00 pm in in
Saint Mary's Church, Saltcoats
  Thursday 14 April at 7.00 pm in our Church

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Stations of the Cross can be made anytime you visit the Church. We will make the Stations at 9.40 am on Friday mornings before Mass.



LENTEN EVENINGS
The Temptations of Christ is a time of prayer and reflection offered at Smithstone House, Kilwinning on Mondays 28 March, 4 April and 11 April.

TAIZÉ EVENING
There will be a Taizé Evening on Wednesday 16 March in Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Ardrossan. This will provide a time of quiet prayer and reflection and is repeated thereafter each Wednesday evening.

CROSSHOUSE HOSPITAL
The system for visiting chaplains is constantly changing. At the moment, ten priests do a week each of emergency only calls. In an emergency please ask the ward staff to contact the chaplain on duty. Ordinary visits through the day are by Father Martin Chambers who has no way of knowing who is in unless he is notified. Please let us know and we will pass the message to him.

PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
The parish pilgrimage to Lourdes will be from Monday 4 to Friday 8 July 2011. The costs are £413 for bed and breakfast, £448 for half board and £490 for full board. We need to get and pay for a coach to and from Manchester but there will be direct flights to and from Lourdes. This involves an early start from Ardrossan. Anyone interested in joining the Group or who would like to know more details, please contact Harry Sammons or phone 01294 469006. Booking forms are available now.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
The diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes will be from 4 to 11 July 2011, flying from Prestwick. Full details are on the poster and booking forms are available. If you could make the journey as a sick pilgrim and want more information, contact Janie Agnew or phone 07739 399222.

SUNDAY LUNCH FOR OLDER PARISHIONERS
There will be a Sunday Lunch for all our older parishioners - ages with the Canon or older - on Sunday 8 May after the 12 noon Mass. We are looking for you to arrange to bring those not really able to get out to Mass very often. Nearer the time, we will have free tickets to give us an idea of how many we need to cater for. Suggestions and comments are welcome.

MAGNIFICAT
Magnificat is a daily Mass and Prayer Book which is issued in a monthly format. We had copies for the Pope’s visit. Now Magnificat is available for use every day There are free sample copies available at the stall for use during March and the possibility to take out a subscription.

PAPAL BLESSINGS
Papal Blessings for a wedding, wedding anniversary or a special birthday can be ordered at the stall. The cost of the parchment and postage is about £30. Please leave plenty of time.

MASS INTENTIONS
Holy Mass is offered individually for each request received. Where two or more anniversaries fall on the same day they are shown on the day together.

REDUNDANT MOBILE PHONES AND COPIER CARTRIDGES
Redundant mobile phones and copier cartridges are required by the pupils of Saint Matthew’s Academy who can turn them into good money for charity. There is a box in the porch.

SPARE WOOL REQUIRED
The Knitting Group at Barony Saint John’s Church meets on Wednesday mornings from 10.30 am to 12 noon. The group knits for various good causes and asks if anyone has any spare wool. The odd ball is often useful. For more information, please contact Fiona Liddell or phone 462504. Thank you.

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY TOILETRIES COLLECTION
The Saint Vincent de Paul Society has its annual Lenten collection of toiletries for Oznam House. The box is in the porch.

SPECIAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION GROUP (SPRED)
SPRED meets in Saint John’s Parish Hall, Stevenston on Wednesday evenings from 7.00 to 9.00 pm. If you know anyone who may be interested or would benefit from the SPRED group, please contact Liz Petrie at the SPRED Centre, Queen Margaret Academy, Ayr on 01292 263196 or 01294 467296.

VISITORS
Are you visiting us for Mass? Please know that you are very welcome. During the 10.00 am Mass there is a Children’s Liturgy provided for preschool children, children in Primaries 1 to 3 and a Sacramental Programme for children in Primary 4. After the 10.00 am Mass, tea, coffee cakes and buns are available in the Parish Centre. At all of our weekend Masses, we have a second collection for our Parish Centre debt.

MARY'S MEALS, SCOTTISH CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL AID FUND AND THE MISSIONARY SOCIETIES
These charities are always in need of any help you can give them.

LEGION OF MARY
The
Legion of Mary meets weekly and prays for the parish. The members visit the sick and house-bound. The Legion can always do with new male and female members giving as much or as little time as they can afford. Speak to Canon Matt or any of the members.

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
The
Saint Vincent de Paul Society meets weekly, assists with the passkeeping and collecting duties in Church and runs a telephone helpline for those in financial difficulty. To ensure its survival, the Society urgently requires new male and female members. You must be over 18. The work is difficult. There are many people in our parish and community who require assistance with finance, advice and encouragement. “The harvest is great, but the labourers few.” Please speak to Canon Matt or any of the members.

SAINT ANNE'S GUILD
Saint Anne's Guild meets weekly on a Tuesday at 7.00 pm. It is open to all women in the parish and beyond. Speak to any of the members and feel free to join any of the meetings.

50/50 CLUB
A few members of the 50/50 Club still need to renew their annual membership of £15. In order to win the prizes you need to renew your membership. We always have room for new members so get in touch with the parish promoter, Mrs M Sammons or phone 469006.

AYRSHIRE HOSPICE LAND O’BURNS MIDNIGHT WALK
The Walk promotors would like to invite Church members, family and friends to join us in the sponsored Midnight Walk on Saturday 14 May. This is their largest community fundraiser when you will have the choice of completing either the full route of thirteen miles or shortened versions of around nine or four miles starting and finishing at Ayr Racecourse. There will be lots of entertainment before and during the walk and a welcomed revival coffee and bacon roll at the end. For further information or to register for the walk, please call the Fundraising Office on 01292 288488 or visit www.ayrshirehospice.org.

IGNATIAN PRAYER GROUP
Each month, the Ignatian Prayer Group meets on the first Wednesday at 7.30 pm, the second Tuesday at 7.30 pm and the last Tuesday at 2.00 pm.

SAINT PETER'S WEBSITE
On 23 March, Saint Peter's website had its 60000th visit since its launch on 13 July 2005. The site has over 1300 web pages, 750 pictures, 350 bulletins between 1960 and 2011, 10000 links, some audio and video clips and been viewed in 57 countries. Over 1000 of our deceased relatives and friends are remembered in
our anniversary list. The site contains many articles on past and present spiritual and community life in Saint Peter's.
Canon Matt and the website author are very grateful to those who have accessed the site, lent photographs, passed on stories, identified errors, made suggestions and expressed compliments. The aims of the site are to make parishioners and others aware of current events and record our history. If you can help with this project, please contact
WebsiteAuthor@SaintPeterinChains.net.

EUCHARISTIC EXPOSITION AND SOLEMN SUNG EVENING PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
To mark the Lenten season, there will be an hour of prayer in Saint Margaret’s Cathedral, John Street, Ayr on Sunday 10 April at 6.00 pm. During this time of prayer , the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed and the Evening Prayer of the Church from the Liturgy of the Hours will be sung, supported by the Galloway Music Network. You will be very welcome to this solemn and yet still time of prayer.

KITS FOR KIDS
There is a box will be at the stall for any tokens from the Daily Record to aid Tass Thistle Under Twelves Football Club. Thank you.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS - MISSION STATEMENT
The Catholic Church in Scotland is concerned with the lives, safety, wholeness and well-being of each individual person within God's purpose for everyone. It seeks to safeguard the welfare of people of all ages who are involved in whatever capacity
with the Church and its organisations. As a Church community, we accept that it is the responsibility of all of us, ordained, professed, paid and voluntary members, to work together to prevent the physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect of children, young people and vulnerable adults.