BULLETIN                10 MARCH 2019

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT IN YEAR 3



CHURCH SERVICES
Saturday 9 March  

Our Lady's Day
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Cosimo and Arturo Farro A
First Sunday of Lent in Year 3
Vigil Mass at 5.30am for Father Michael Marmann RD and in thanksgiving to parishioners

Sunday 10 March  

First Sunday of Lent in Year 3
Sunday Mass at 10.30am for Saint Peter's congregation

Monday 11 March  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Sadie Cunningham MM and Helen Brown

Tuesday 12 March  

Stations of the Cross at 9.30am
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Paul Moran RD

Wednesday 13 March  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for James Meechan RD

Thursday 14 March  

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Hugh McVey RD

Friday 15 March  

Votive Mass of the Mystery of the Holy Cross
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Ian and Rose Traynor A

Saturday 16 March  

Our Lady's Day for Lent
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Mary Gribben A
Second Sunday of Lent in Year 3
Vigil Mass at 5.30am for Michael (Mick) Reilly A

  

Abbreviations - A anniversary, MM month's mind, RD recently deceased, SI special intention

The Holy 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 9 March  
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm
Holy Mass at 10.00am
Sunday 10 March  
Sunday Mass at 10.00am

Sunday Mass at 11.30am

Monday 11 March  
Service of the Word at 10.00am Holy Mass at 10.00am
Tuesday 12 March  
Holy Mass at 10.00am Service of the Word at 10.00am
Wednesday 13 March  
  Holy Mass at 9.00am and 7.00pm
Thursday 14 March  
Service of the Word at 10.00am Holy Mass at 10.00am
Friday 15 March  
Requiem Mass at 10.00am Service of the Word at 10.00am
Saturday 16 March  
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm
Holy Mass at 10.00am
 
PARISH CENTRE EVENTS
Sunday 10 March  

11.30am

Tea and Coffee after Holy Mass

Monday 11 March  

9.30 to 11.30am
5.30 to 6.30pm
6.30 to 7.30pm
7.00pm

Parents and Toddlers
Rainbows
Brownies
Saint Vincent de Paul Society

Tuesday 12 March  
9.00 to 11.00am
3.45pm
7.30pm

Cardiac Rehabilitation
Irish Dancing
Ignatian Prayer Group

Wednesday 13 March  
9.30 to 11.30am
3.45pm
1.00 to 3.00pm

Parents and Toddlers
Irish Dancing
Knit and Natter

Thursday 14 March  

7.00pm

Private Function

Friday 15 March  
9.30 to 11.30am
11.00am
Parents and Toddlers
Tea, coffee and chat in the Snug after Benediction

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Jimmy Carson, James Meechan, Paul Moran (Glasgow), Hugh McVey (Glasgow), Theresa Graham née Cunningham, Ian Thomson and Irene Breen who died recently;
Alice Bell 2005, May Bell 2003, John Carroll 2004, John Kyle 2009, Myles McDonald, Monsignor Archibald McSparran, pictured right, 1950, Stephanie Hope Turner 2001, Helen Brown 2013, Peter McGlone 2016, Agnes Scott 1990, Monsignor Edward Traynor 2006, Lilia Agostini 1969, Mary Andrew 1957, Hessie Hyslop 1998, Jean Walker 2001, Aldegonda Brogi 1971, Grace Jamieson 2005, Canon Charles Matthews 1996, Doris McNamara 2010, Catherine Stewart 2004, Victor Donald 1985, Mary Gribben 2012, Susan Heaney 1956, Martha Pentleton 1984 and Billy Shanks 2015 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 5.30pm Vigil and 10.30am. 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.

READERS
Next weekend's readers are Harry Sammons at 5.30pm and Margaret Harvey at 10.30am.

ALTAR SERVERS
Next weekend's altar servers are Group 1 at 5.30pm and Group 2 at 10.30am.


MUSIC MINISTRY
Next weekend's musicians are the choir at 5.30pm and George McGrattan at 10.30am.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY
Next week's Children's Liturgy helpers are Jacqueline Waugh for the pre-fives, Maria Paterson-Kidd and Linda Martin for Primaries 1, 2 and 3 and Andrena Hughes and Emma Paterson
for Primary 4.

FIRST SATURDAY DEVOTION TO OUR LADY OF FATIMA
First Saturday devotions will take place on the first Saturday of every month after the 10.00am Holy Mass. The devotions take about half an hour. All are welcome!

STATIONS OF THE CROSS FOR LENT
The Stations of the Cross are a fourteen-step devotion that commemorates Jesus Christ's last day on Earth as a man. The fourteen devotions, or stations, focus on specific events of His last day, beginning with His condemnation. The stations are commonly used as a mini pilgrimage as the 'pilgrim' moves from station to station. As last year, we will pray the Stations every Tuesday of Lent, starting on Tuesday 12 March before Mass at 9.30am.

EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT
Please remember that we have adoration after Mass every Friday followed by a simple Benediction at 10.45am and finishing with refreshments in the Snug after Benediction. It is a great resolution for Lent to spend some quality time with Christ in the miracle of the Eucharist.


STORY OF THE THREE TREES
Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on its way to the ocean. "I want to be travelling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!" The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world." Years passed and the little trees grew tall. One day, three woodcutters climbed the mountain. The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell. "Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said. The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!" The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe the third tree fell. The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop but the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with sawdust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard but no mighty ship was made that day. Instead, the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean. Instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God." Many, many days and nights passed. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box."This manger is beautiful" she said - and suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world. One evening, a tired traveller and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveller fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun - and suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the King of heaven and earth. One Good Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel - but on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. Every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.

REFLECTION FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
Lent began this week with an invitation from the Holy Spirit to let ourselves be carried into the desert with Christ. We have five weeks to advance through five deserts - five deserts that will give us a profound and durable fruit if we cross them with patience and confidence.
 • The desert of silence. The desert is the place of encounter, because it is a place of silence. At first, it is a silence that frees us from the noise of the world, then it becomes a silence that frees us from the noises inside ourselves. it rids us of fears, selfishness and the masks we hide behind and it opens us up to hear the Other - the Other who is Jesus Christ Himself.
 • The desert of faith. At night, in the desert, it will be able to see farther. it will be able to see views and perspectives that our human eyes could never see otherwise. We will take the test and we will contemplate a whole new world.
 • The desert of hope. On our pilgrimage, we carry in our backpacks many illusions, desires and personal plans. The desert will teach us that very few things in those backpacks are important and that only God and His will can make us happy.
 • The desert of love. God is a lover of man and in the desert He makes His greatest declaration of love. "I created you out of love and I continue to seek you out because of love. Do you want to follow me?"
 • The desert of humility. The sand makes everything heavier, the heat of the days weighs on us and the cold of the night is inconvenient and uncomfortable. We will shout "Lord, I need you! Where are you? Give me your hand! Don't leave me alone!"
We ask that Mary help us by giving us her hand as we cross these five deserts during the season of Lent, obtaining the fruit that God wants for each one of our hearts.


RITE OF ELECTION
The Rite of Election is the first welcome of Catechumens and Candidates to be received into full communion with the Church and will take place on Sunday 10 March at 3.00pm in Saint Margaret's Cathedral, Ayr. We have one Catechumen this year, Rebecca Macdonald and one Candidate, Jacqueline Macdonald. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers at this special time.


SINCERE THANKS FROM THE CUNNINGHAM FAMILY
The family of Mrs Sadie Cunningham, would like to express their sincere gratitude for all the Mass Cards, flowers and your generosity, raising £440 for the James McFarlane School.

OASIS DAY FOR PARISH READERS
A special day is planned for all our Parish Readers on Saturday 23 March 2019 from 12 noon until around 4.00pm. The Day for Eucharistic Ministers was a great success last year and we thought it would be good to have a Day for Readers. Please put the date firmly in your diary as your participation is really important. Leaflets are available in the Sacristy for Readers with all the Information. Thanks!


FIRST CONFESSION
The Primary 3 children of our primary school will make their First Confession on Tuesday 14 March at 6.30pm in Church. We wish them the joy and inner peace for forgiveness.

IN AND AROUND THE CHURCH
Lights in the Sacristy have been replaced. The Processional Cross has been fully cleaned and refurbished and is looking spectacular. Sincere thanks for all the hard work!

SAINT PETER'S LENTEN RETREAT
Our Lenten Retreat this year will focus on the call to holiness that Pope Francis renewed recently in his Exhortation 'Rejoice and be glad. We will look at five aspects to this call to holiness during the five Sundays of Lent this year. A booklet, costing £1, is available at the stall to accompany the Retreat.

AYRSHIRE CURIA OF THE LEGION OF MARY
The Acies Ceremony will be held on Sunday 24 March at 3.00pm in Saint Winin's Church, Kilwinning. Rosary Legion Prayers will be followed by our consecration to Our Lady and Benediction. Refreshments will be available in the Church hall after the ceremony. All active and auxiliary members and friends of Legion of Mary are welcome!

THE RIGHT SIDE TOUR - JUSTICE, TRUTH, HISTORY
Be on the right side! The Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child is organising a tour of Scotland informing on and resisting the campaign for the extension and decriminalisation of abortion. The meeting is on Thursday 28 March at 7.00pm in Saint Winin's Hall, Kilwinning.

SCOTTISH CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL AID FUND (SCIAF) LENTEN APPEAL 2019
The Wee Boxes from SCIAF will be distributed after Holy Mass this weekend. Please make sure you get one and hand it in after Lent. This is a great way of fulfilling the call to almsgiving in this special season. Uganda has one of the youngest and fastest growing populations in the world. Uganda gained independence from the United Kingdom on 9 October 1962. However, the legacy of war and a high rate of HIV and AIDS has left many orphans and a generation of young people without hope, trapped in extreme poverty. Please remember to pick up your Wee Box this weekend. Together, we can end poverty.

50/50 CLUB
The January 50/50 Club winners who each receive £25 are 130 B Andrew, 153 J Hendry, 191 E Coulter and 78 N Donohoe. The £25 February winners are 158 J Holmes, 142 Joe McVey, 77 M Boyle and 96 Eoghan Hughes. A few memberships are still outstanding. We hope the members bring this up-to-date as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we can accept new members at any time. Please contact the Club Promoter, Myriame Sammons on 469006 or the Parish Office on 464063. Thanks for your continued support of the 50/50 Club.

NEW EMAIL ADDRESSES
To comply with the recent changes to Data Protection Act, Saint Peter's has two new email addresses. If you are contacting the Parish Office, please use Ardrossan@GallowayDiocese.org.uk. If you wish to contact Father Duncan personally, then use Duncan.McVicar@GallowayDiocese.org.uk - thanks!

MUSIC FOR SUNDAY MASS
We are looking for parishioners who are able and willing to operate the recorded music on the Digital Piano in the choir loft in Church on Sunday mornings. You would go on a rota and be asked, more or less, every three weeks. Training will be given. We would really appreciate any help you could give. Senior pupils would also be welcome. Please speak to Father Duncan or get in touch with the Parish Office on 464063. Thank you!

OUR CLEANERS NEED SOME HELP
We are asking able-bodied parishioners - men and women - to help to keep God's House clean and tidy and to support our wonderful team of cleaners. If you can help in any way, please let us know. Thank you! Cleaning is usually on Tuesdays after Holy Mass.

BECOME A FERTILITY TEACHER - BILLINGS OVULATION METHOD® TEACHER TRAINING COURSE 2019
Would you like to become a teacher of the Billings Ovulation Method® of Natural Fertility Regulation? Are you a user or have been a user of the Billings Ovulation Method®? Are you an interested Health Professional? Fertility Care Scotland invites you to find out more about the method at a Teacher Training Course on 19 to 22 September 2019, at Schoenstatt Scotland, Kentenich Way, Campsie Glen, Glasgow, G66 7AT. For more details please contact, Fertility Care Scotland, 196 Clyde Street, Glasgow, G1 4JY on 0141 221 0858 or info@fertilitycare.org.uk.

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 £768.13 and the Maintenance Fund collection to £255.38 - thanks.

SUNDAY TEAS
Tea and coffee will be served after the 10.30am Mass next Sunday in the Parish Centre by Sharon McLaughlin's team.

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.

VISITORS
Are you visiting us for Holy Mass? Please know that you are very welcome. During the 10.30 am Holy 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 Holy Mass, tea, coffee cakes and buns are available in the Parish Centre. At both of our weekend Holy 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.

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.