BULLETIN                                          24 SEPTEMBER 2017

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME IN YEAR 1



CHURCH SERVICES
Saturday 23 September  

Memorial of Saint Padre Pio
Mass at 10.00 am for parishioners in thanks from the Boyle family
Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for the congregation

Sunday 24 September  

Sunday Mass at 10.30 am for the congregation

Monday 25 September  

Mass at 10.00 am for Jim Mason

Tuesday 26 September  

Memorial of Blessed Paul VI
Mass at 10.00 am for Jim Boyle

Wednesday 27 September  

Memorial of Saint Vincent de Paul
Mass at 10.00 am for Frances Burns

Thursday 28 September  

Requiem Mass at 10.30 am for Joshua O'Neill

Friday 29 September  

Requiem Mass at 10.00 am for Frances Giblin

Saturday 30 September  

Memorial of Saint Jerome
Mass at 10.00 am for Iain Tarbet
Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for Bridget Carroll

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.


SAINT MARY'S AND SAINT JOHN'S CHURCH SERVICES
 
Saturday 23 September  
Vigil Mass at 4.30 pm

Mass at 10.00 am

Sunday 24 September  
Sunday Mass at 10.00 am

Sunday Mass at 11.30 am

Monday 25 September  
Service at 10.00 am

Mass at 10.00 am

Tuesday 26 September  
Mass at 10.00 am

Service at 10.00 am

Wednesday 27 September  
 

Mass at 10.00 am

Thursday 28 September  
Service at 10.00 am

Mass at 10.00 am

Friday 29 September  
Mass at 10.00 am

Service at 10.00 am

Saturday 30 September  
Mass at 12 noon
Vigil Mass at 4.30 pm

 

 
PARISH CENTRE EVENTS
Saturday 23 September  
4.00 pm

Private Meeting

Sunday 24 September  

11.30 am

Tea and Coffee after Mass

Monday 25 September  
7.30 pm

Saint Vincent de Paul Society

Tuesday 26 September  
9.00 to 11.00 am
3.45 pm

Cardiac Rehabilitation
Irish Dancing

Wednesday 27 September  
3.45 pm Irish Dancing
Thursday 28 September  
6.00 to 7.30 pm
7.30 to 9.00 pm
6.15 to 8.15 pm

Brownies
Guides
Spirit of Youth Drama

Friday 29 September  
9.30 to 11.30 am

Parents and Toddlers

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Joshua O'Neill who died recently;
Patrick Breen 2015, Isabella Farrell 2012, Mary McGraa 2002, Jamie Clarke 2015, Margaret Gallacher 2016, Tom McGhee 2011, Sister Mary of Saint Joseph 1975, Bernard Boyce 2012, Dominic Burke 1988, John Mackay 2002, Thomas McGrattan 1917, Daniel Murray 1981, Brian Ghosh 2002, Maureen Johnson 2003, Brownlie Smyth 2014, John Brodie 2001, Angela Brown 2008, Peggy McKay 1992, Robert Leo Walsh 1968, Mary Barr, Fiona McKellar 2015, Finbarr Moynihan 2015, Dorothea Campbell 2011, Mary Clarke 1984 and Iain Tarbet 2016 whose anniversaries occur at this time and those who are sick.
If deceased members of your family are not on our anniversary list, please tell Father Duncan
, the parish office or contact WebsiteAuthor@SaintPeterinChains.net.

SUNDAY MASS TIMES
Sunday Mass times in Saint Peter's are 5.30 pm Vigil and 10.30 am. Sunday Mass times in other local parishes can be seen here.

SACRAMENT OF FORGIVENESS
The Sacrament of Forgiveness is celebrated on Saturdays between 4.45 and 5.15 pm and at other times on request.

HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY
If a member of your family or a friend is sick, please let us know and give us the details. Deacon Bill Corbett (01292 521208, 07904 248948, Rev.BillCorbett@btinternet.com) is the chaplain to Crosshouse Hospital and is assisted by the priest on call each week.

FINANCES
Bankers Orders for the Parish and Parish Centre amount to £3500 per month. We are grateful for your generous support in collections. If you can manage a little more from time to time, it would be a great help. A Standing Order would make the handling of money so much easier. Have you signed a Gift Aid form? If you are a taxpayer the Church would get 25p added to every £1 you donate.

COLLECTIONS
Last weekend's Offertory collection amounted to £699.45 and the Maintenance Fund collection to £256.72.

RETIRED PRIESTS FUND
This weekend there will be a special collection for the Retired Priests Fund. Envelopes will be available at the end of the pews for Gift Aid donations.

GIFT AID
The Inland Revenue now requires us to use a new style of Gift Aid form. These are available at the back of the Church and on the parish website. If you pay tax, please complete the new form and return it to the box provided. This allows us to provide the additional information required on the Gift Aid claim. Gift Aid is a vital source of income. All that is needed is that you pay tax. You simply declare that you give funds to the Church. We do the rest. Why not sign a form today? We get back an extra 25p for every £1 you give the Church in your weekly collection or by way of a donation. There is no need to cancel or renew it. We simply claim in the income we receive.


PARISH RECORDS
Our parish records are covered by the Data Protection Act and are for parish use only. We cannot give out phone numbers or addresses. Please help us to keep our records up to date using the cards provided.

READERS
Next weekend's reader at the 10.30 am Mass is Margaret Brawley.

ALTAR SERVERS
Next weekend's altar servers are Group 1 at 5.30 pm and Group 4 at 10.30 am.


MUSIC MINISTRY
Next weekend's musicians are the choir at 5.30 pm and Saint Peter's Primary School at 10.30 am.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY
Next week's Children's Liturgy helpers are Emily Tarbet for the pre-fives and Claire Sweenie and Linda Martin for Primaries 1, 2 and 3.

SUNDAY TEAS
Next Sunday's teas will be served by Loretta McLardy's team.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT - I AM A FIREMAN
In Phoenix, Arizona, a twenty-six-year-old mother stared down at her six-year-old son who was dying of terminal leukaemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up and fulfil all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible. The leukaemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dream to come true. She took her son's hand and asked "Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?". "Mummy, I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up." Mum smiled back and said "Let's see if we can make your wish come true". Later that day she went to her local Fire Department in Phoenix where she met Fireman Bob who had a heart as big as Phoenix. She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her six-year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said "Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an Honorary Fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat - not a toy one with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots". Three days later, Billy got to sit on the back of the fire engine and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the paramedic's van and even the fire chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news programme. Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy, that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible and the head nurse called the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a fireman so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy. The chief replied 'We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favour? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the public address system that there is not a fire? It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room? About five minutes later, a fire engine arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window. Sixteen firefighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room! With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they loved him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the Fire Chief and said "Chief, am I really a fireman now?". "Billy, you are and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand." the Fire Chief said. With those words, Billy smiled and said "I know. He's been holding my hand all day and the angels have been singing." He closed his eyes one last time. Tell me this doesn't put life in perspective.

MARRIAGE MATTERS
Isaiah 55:6-9 Phil 1:20-24, 27 Matt 20:1-16
My thoughts are not your thoughts
God can put thoughts into our minds but how can we ensure these make a difference to our lives? Saint Paul says "Avoid anything in your everyday lives that would be unworthy of the Gospel of Christ", for example, the need to measure what we contribute within the relationship. Our Sacrament isn't a 50%/50% arrangement but a 100%/100% unconditional commitment.

AND FOR ALL THOSE WHO NEED A SMILE …..
Over the massive front doors of a church, these words were inscribed 'The Gates of Heaven'. Below that was a small cardboard sign which read 'Please use other entrance.'.

A Catholic Primary School teacher asked her little children as they were on the way to Mass "And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?" One bright little girl replied "Because people are sleeping".


GOLDEN WEDDING CONGRATULATIONS
Sincere congratulations and blessings to Ian and Anne McCormick on their Golden Wedding anniversary on 30 September and to Billy and Celia Andrew on their Golden Wedding on 2 October. We wish them a day of grace, peace and joy.

A GOLDEN ROSE IN HONOUR OF OUR LADY
We welcome this weekend the statue of Our Lady that was used at Carfin for the Act of Consecration of Scotland to the Mother of God. After Holy Mass on Sunday, it will be taken to
Saint Mary's Church, Saltcoats and remain there for a few days. Four Parishioners will present Our Lady with a Golden Rose at the Saturday Vigil Mass - Sadie Cunningham, Myriame Sammons, Anne McCormick and Celia Andrew, the latter two who are celebrating their Golden Wedding anniversary. The young children will present the Rose at the Sunday Mass.
O Queen of heaven and earth, and tender Mother of all people, in accordance with your ardent wish made known to the three children at Fatima, we consecrate to your Immaculate Heart our beloved country of Scotland.

KNITTING PLEA FOR HELP FROM THE GIRL GUIDES
We are ambitiously aiming to teach the girls to knit on Thursday 9 November between 7.30 and 9.00 pm so that we can make hats and blankets for various charities. We would very much appreciate your help. Our goal is to teach the girls to cast on, plain knit stitch, garter stitch and cast off. If you think you could help to teach one of our girls how to do this, please contact Coral on 07950 231241? Also, if you have any spare balls of chunky or thick wool or any old needles, size 6 plus that you would be willing to donate, please bring them to the box at the back of the Church and we will collect. Thank you.

ANNUAL DIOCESAN TEACHERS' MASS
Bishop William Nolan will celebrate the Annual Diocesan Teachers' Mass in Saint Joseph's Church, Kilmarnock on Thursday 28 September at 7.00 pm. All teachers from the diocese are warmly invited and welcomed. After Mass, there will be a light buffet in the hall and a chance to socialise.

SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE UNBORN CHILD (SPUC) SCOTLAND NATIONAL CONFERENCE
SPUC's National Conference will take place at 200 Saint Vincent Street Glasgow onSaturday 7 October 2017. This event is an excellent opportunity to hear top international speakers and learn about the exciting work being done to promote the right to life. The day commences with registration from 9.30 am and ends at 4.00 pm. The day includes refreshments throughout the day and lunch. Tickets cost £25 and can be booked on 0141 221 2094.

FORTY DAYS FOR LIFE ANNUAL REUNION
Following the daily 1.00 pm lunchtime Mass in Saint Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow, the annual Forty Days for Life reunion will take place in the Eyre Hall, Archdiocesan Office, 196 Clyde Street, Glasgow on Saturday 14 October from 2.00 to 4.00 pm. After Mass, tea and coffee will be available for all those who took part in the prolife prayer vigils over Forty Days for Life during Lent 2017. Please consider taking part in Forty Days for Life during next Lent 2018. Following the Consecration of Scotland to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we continue to pray for a culture of life in Scotland and around the world. Saint John Paul II wrote in Evangelium Vitae 'What is urgently called for is a general mobilisation of consciences and a united ethical effort to activate a great campaign in support of life. All together, we must build a new culture of life'. - paragraph 95.

GALLOWAY LOURDES HOSPITALITÉ MEMBERSHIP
The annual Galloway Lourdes Hospitalité membership of collection is now due at the cost of only £2. The members of the Parish Lourdes Group will collect the return envelopes this weekend. We appreciate your continued support and prayers. Mass is offered in Lourdes for the intentions of all members. Our Lady of Lourdes - pray for us.

BISHOP TAYLOR BOOK
Bishop Taylor has written a short book on the Sunday Gospels. It is called Weekday Thoughts on the Sunday Gospels, has 227 pages and costs £10 inclusive of post and packing. It is obtainable from Bishop Taylor on MauriceTaylor1926@sky.com, 01292 285865 or from his website BishopMauriceTaylor.org.uk.

PRAYER INTENTION OF POPE FRANCIS FOR SEPTEMBER
The Prayer Intention of Pope Francis for September is for parishes - that our parishes, animated by a missionary spirit, may be places where faith is communicated and charity is seen.

CHURCHES HOMELESSNESS ACTION NORTH AYRSHIRE (CHANA)
Over the summer, CHANA has donated over twenty bags of toiletries from Saint Peter's - many thanks for your generosity. There is an ongoing need for toiletries and household cleaning materials, such as washing-up liquid and disinfectant spray. A special request has been made for light bulbs. A full list of requested items is on the parish website.

MARY'S MEALS BACKPACK APPEAL
We recently sent a further 201 filled backpacks to Malawi, making a total of 1989 since we started eight years ago. As this is an ongoing project, we are constantly collecting and storing the required items. At present, we need soap, toothpaste, tennis balls, desert spoons and backpacks but will accept any of the required items you may donate. Thank you for your many previous donations.

VISITORS
Are you visiting us for Mass? Please know that you are very welcome. During the 10.30 am Mass outwith holidays, 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 10.30 am Mass, tea, coffee cakes and buns are available in the Parish Centre. At both of our weekend Masses, we have a second collection for Church maintenance.


ADVERTISER SUPPORT
Our advertisers would welcome your support. We are grateful for their continuing sponsorship. We are grateful for the support of Mr and Mrs Sohal, Nisa Stores, Glasgow Street for the weekly donation of tea, coffee and milk for the Sunday teas.

THANKS
Grateful thanks to Saint Clare for favours received. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored and glorified and loved today and every day throughout the world, Amen. KR

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.