Saturday
21 December
|
Memorial of Saint John of the Cross |
Sunday
22 December
|
Fourth
Sunday of Advent |
Monday
23 December
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Andrew and Joe McGarvey, Collette and Mark Sherritt and Dillon Sherritt |
Tuesday
24 December
|
Shepherds' Mass at 5.30pm |
Wednesday
25 December
|
Solemnity of The Nativity of the Lord |
Thursday
26 December
|
Feast of Saint Stephen |
Friday
27 December
|
Requiem Mass at 10.00am for Jim McIntosh |
Saturday
28 December
|
Feast of the Holy Innocents |
|
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. |
Saturday
21 December
|
Vigil
Mass at 4.30pm
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am |
Sunday
22 December
|
Sunday Mass at 10.00am |
Sunday Mass at 11.30am |
Monday
23 December
|
Requiem Mass at 10.00am | Service of the Word at 10.00am |
Tuesday
24 December
|
Vigil
Mass at 4.30pm Holy Mass at midnight |
Vigil Mass at 6.30pm |
Wednesday
25 December
|
Holy Mass at 11.00am | Holy Mass at 9.30am |
Thursday
26 December
|
||
Friday
27 December
|
Holy Mass at 11.00am | Service of the Word at 11.00am |
Saturday
28 December
|
Nuptual Mass at 1.00pm Vigil Mass at 4.30pm |
|
Sunday
22 December
|
11.30am |
Tea and Coffee after Holy Mass |
PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Jim McIntosh who died recently;
Ellen Barrett 1984, Ted Boyle 1975, Tom Braniff 2003, Gerry Coogans 2015,
Doris Coulter 2012, Jenny McAree 2003, Andrew McAteer 1983, David Mills 2014,
Jean Orr 2008, Peggy Hamilton, Patrick McLaughlin 1998, Father George Thompson
2016, Theresa Tumilty 2016, Mereno Berti 2003, Sister
Anne Delahunt 2011, Peggy McLaughlan 2006, Samuel McMail 2016,
Bessie Delahunt 2006, Tom McKay, Bessie O'Rourke 2005, George Scott 1973,
Jessie Brown 1975, Tom Finn 1993, Anne-Marie Jenkins 2005, Sister Mary McCann,
Isobel O'Hare Rae 2004, Patrick Quinn 1969, Margaret Shanks 1966, Margaret
Clarkson 2003, Molly Cosgrove 1994, Jim Lindsay 2013, Catherine McEvoy 2009,
Arthur Robertson, Arturo Farro 1994, Catherine McCulloch 2012, Rose Murphy
2009, Thomas O'Connell 1957, May Shanks 1990 and Maria Tomelty 2014 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. If members
of your family or friends are in need of our prayers, please tell Father
Duncan or the parish office.
If they are in hospital, Reverend Bill Corbett on 01292 521208 - assisted
each week by the priest on call - is the chaplain to Crosshouse Hospital and
can be contacted through the ward. Ayr Hospital and the Ayrshire Hospice have
an on-call chaplaincy.
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 RECONCILIATION
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 Marade Griffin at 5.30pm and Peter Brawley
at 10.30am.
MUSIC
MINISTRY
Next weekend's musicians are George McGrattan at 5.30pm and Andrena Hughes
at 10.30am.
CHILDREN'S
LITURGY
There will be no Children's Liturgy next Sunday.
CHRISTMAS
MASS TIMES
Please make sure you get the Christmas Card with the times of Masses today.
You could use the card to invite a family member or a neighbour to our Christmas
Celebrations. It's time 'to come home' for Christmas. Please note that on
24 December, there will be a short Carol Service beginning at 5.10pm before
the First Mass of Christmas at 5.30pm. The Vigil Mass at 8.30pm will be preceded
by a Carol Service which begins at 8.15pm.
REQUIEM MASS FOR JIM McINTOSH
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of Jim McIntosh who died recently.
His Requiem Mass on Friday 27 December at 10.00am will be followed by his
interment at Ardrossan Cemetery. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
THE BEST GIFT OF ALL
It was nearing the holiday season in Rumania, time for our orphans to hear,
for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told them about
Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in the inn, they went
to a stable where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout
the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened.
Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. Completing
the story, we gave the children many things to build their own manger. The
orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them to see if
they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where little
Misha sat. He looked to be about six years old and had finished his project.
As I looked at the little boy's manger, I was startled to see not one but
two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the
boy why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of
him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat
the story very seriously. For such a young boy who had only heard the Christmas
story once, he related the happenings accurately - until he came to the part
where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha started to ad-lib.
He made up his own ending to the story as he said "And when Maria laid
the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to
stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa so I don't have any place
to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn't,
because I didn't have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted
to stay with Jesus so much so I thought about what I had that maybe I could
use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm, that would be a good gift.
So I asked Jesus "If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?"
And Jesus told me "If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody
ever gave me. So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he
told me I could stay with him - for always." As little Misha finished
his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks.
Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders
shook as he sobbed and sobbed. The little orphan had found someone who would
never abandon him, someone who would stay with him - for always. I've learned
that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that
counts.
OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
A teacher from a primary school asks her students to write an essay about
family time and what they would like God to do for them. In the evening, while
marking the essays, she read one that made her very emotional. Oh God, tonight
I ask you something very special - make me into a television. I want to take
its place. Live like the television in my house - have my own special place,
and have my family around me. To be taken seriously when I talk. I want to
be the centre of attention and be heard without interruptions or questions.
I want to receive the same special care that the TV receives when it is not
working - have the company of my dad when he arrives home from work, even
when he is tired. And I want my mum to want me when she is sad and upset,
instead of ignoring me. And I want my brothers to fight to be with me. I want
to feel that the family just leaves everything aside, every now and then,
just to spend some time with me. And last but not least make it that I can
make them all happy and entertain them. Lord I don't ask you for much. I just
want to live like every TV!! After reading it her husband said "Poor
child = who are his parents?" She looked up at him and said "We
are his parents - our son wrote that!"
JUST
FOR A LAUGH …
Ducking into confession with a turkey in his arms, Brian said "Forgive
me, Father, for I have sinned. I stole this turkey to feed my family. Would
you take it and settle my guilt?" "Certainly not" said the
Priest "As penance, you must return it to the one from whom you stole
it." "I tried" Brian sobbed, "but he refused. Oh, Father,
what should I do?" "If what you say is true, then it is all right
for you to keep it for your family." Thanking the Priest, Brian hurried
off. When confession was over, the Priest returned to his residence. When
he walked into the kitchen, he found that someone had stolen his turkey.
OUR BISHOP'S CHRISTMAS BLESSING
When a child is born we wonder what will the future hold for this child, what
will this child achieve in its life? As we celebrate the birth of the child
Jesus, born in a manger, we know how his future played out, we know what his
life achieved. We know that for Jesus in his life there was pain and suffering,
as there is in ours. The celebration of Christmas does not take away that
pain or make the struggles we face in life disappear. But Christmas is still
a time of joy for we know that we are not alone and that God is with us no
matter what problems life throws at us. The joy of Christmas is the joy of
knowing that the one we love, and the one who loves us, is with us, by our
side. And no one loves us more than God. May God's peace and joy be with you
this Christmas. +William Nolan
THE OX AND THE ASS
As a young boy, one of my favourite traditions was to help my grandmother
set out her porcelain Nativity set on top of her television. But why the ox
and ass? Remember Isaiah 1:3. One of the images Isaiah uses to show the people's
utter ignorance of God is this, 'The ox knows its owner and the ass its master's
crib, but Israel does not know me, my people do not understand" (Isa.
1:3). In all the busyness of this time, one of the most beautiful gifts we
can offer Jesus is a time of dedicated adoration before the Blessed Sacrament
or in your private devotions. Use this time to reflect specifically on how
all of Creation is called to worship the Lord, signified by the Nativity animals.
Prayerfully read Psalm 19, 97-98, 148, the Song of the Hebrew boys in the
fire (Daniel 3), Rev. 5:13 or Saint Francis's Canticle of Creation during
your adoration time. The great irony of Isaiah is non-rational animals - the
ox and the ass - know their Creator, a term of personal intimacy, and understand
who He is, namely their God and Creator but his own people do not. Ask the
Lord for the grace to know Him better through these seasons and recognise
and discern him more clearly in the ordinary circumstances, conversations
and events you will experience.
EMERGENCY CALL-OUT
AT HOSPITAL
Father
Duncan
will be on emergency call-out for the Ayrshire Hospitals from Sunday 22 until
Christmas Eve. Please keep all the sick and those in hospital over Christmas
in your thoughts and prayers.
HCPT LOURDES GROUP 376
Esther Coulter will be taking part in the usual New Year's Day Dip across
from the Church at 12 noon. Members of the group will be available after each
Mass next weekend for sponsorship.
PIZZA AND PANTO
The Youth Ministry Office is inviting young people from across the Diocese
to join them for a bite to eat, some Panto Fun and a wee prayer to end the
night together. This event is free and taking place at 6.00pm on Sunday 29
December in the Parish Hall of Saint Margaret's Cathedral, John Street, Ayr.
For more information, see the poster at the back of the Church, phone 01387
252603 or contact Father Jim at Youth@GallowayDiocese.org.uk.
PARISH
STEWARDSHIP
Last weekend's Offertory collection amounted to £583.38 and the Maintenance
Fund collection to £230.24 - thanks very much.
ORGAN APPEAL
The Organ Appeal - has now raised a fantastic amount of over £7300 for
the repair and refurbishment of our Church organ. The appeal has now closed.
A special word of thanks to everyone who has contributed to this appeal over
the past months. Thank you for your support and your generosity!
CHURCHES' HOMELESS ACTION NORTH AYRSHIRE (CHANA)
CHANA would like to provide Christmas presents for those in the hostels and
supported accommodation this year. We are appealing for gift sets of toiletries,
new pyjamas, hats and gloves, mostly for men. Please use the CHANA box provided
or hand them in to the Ardrossan Hostel in Princes Street. Thanks once again
for your continued generosity.
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.
SUNDAY
TEAS
No tea and coffee will be served after the 10.30am
Mass next Sunday in the Parish Centre.
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 pre-school children, children in Primaries 1 to 3 and a Sacramental
Programme for children in Primary 4. After the 10.30am 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.