CHURCH OF SAINT PETER IN CHAINS, ARDROSSAN  •  A Family of Parishes  •  SAINT BRIDE'S CHURCH, WEST KILBRIDE

                                                        

BULLETIN                                                  26 JULY 2020

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME IN YEAR 1

SERVICES AND GATHERINGS
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, public Church services and gatherings are limited till further notice.
Father Duncan will live-stream Holy Mass every day and assures you of his prayers for you and your family.

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW (Matthew 13:44-52)
Jesus said to the crowds "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found. He hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time. The angels will appear and separate the wicked from the just to throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Have you understood all this?" They said "Yes." And he said to them "Well then, every scribe who becomes a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out from his storeroom things both new and old."

REFLECTION
We are in that part of Saint Matthew's Gospel where he collects lots of the parables that Jesus uses to describe the Kingdom of God. The parable of the dragnet is very similar to last week's - the wheat and the weeds - in explaining that judgment happens at the end of time, just like a fisherman sorting his catch. In order to avoid being 'fish that are no use' we have to embrace the kingdom - to long for it with passion and energy and unswerving dedication. This is where the parables of the treasure and the pearls come in. In our human lives, we will devote great amounts of energy to 'the things we really want' - whether that's a holiday, a new iPhone, the latest model car, the new house or extension. Jesus wants us to put the same energy - and more - into longing for his Kingdom. His ways of justice, peace and love in our world as we prepare for our final judgment. Perhaps do a little mental exercise - what percentage of our time to we spend desiring the things of this world compared to the things of the Kingdom of heaven?

SAINT PETER'S AND SAINT BRIDE'S CHURCH SERVICES
 
Saint Peter's
Saint Bride's
Saturday 25 July  
Feast of Saint James, Apostle  

Seventeenth Sunday of the  
Year
  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for John McLaughlin's month's mind
  Live-streamed
Holy Mass at 5.30pm for Eddie Cunningham at his anniversary
  Public and live-streamed
 
Sunday 26 July  
Seventeenth Sunday of the Year 
Holy Mass at 10.30am for our parishes
  Public and live-streamed
Holy Mass at 12.15pm for our parishes
  Public
Monday 27 July  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for the Little family and Irene Smith at their anniversaries
  Public and live-streamed
 
Tuesday 28 July  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Tony Long and Seamus Reilly senior who both died recently
  Live-streamed
 
Wednesday 29 July  
Memorial of Saint Martha  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Tommy Burns at his anniversary and Patrick Mulheron who died recently
 Public and live-streamed
Private prayer from 11.30am to 12.30pm
Thursday 30 July  
 
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Elizabeth MacRae and Mary-Louise Rennie as a special intention
  Live-streamed
 
Friday 31 July  
Memorial of Saint Ignatius  
of Loyola  
Votive Mass at 10.00am for Henry McKinney of Paisley who died recently
  Public and live-streamed
Holy Mass at 12 noon
  Public
Saturday 1 August  
Memorial of Saint Alphonsus  
Liguori
  
Eighteenth Sunday of the  
Year
 
Holy Mass at 10.00am for John McLaughlin as his month's mind
  Live-streamed
Vigil Mass at 5.30pm
  Public and live-streamed
 

SAINT MARY'S AND SAINT JOHN'S CHURCH SERVICES
 
Saturday 25 July  
Feast of Saint James, Apostle  
Seventeenth Sunday of the  
Year
  
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm
  Public and live-streamed
 
Sunday 26 July  
Seventeenth Sunday of the Year 
Holy Mass at 10.00am
  Public and live-streamed
Holy Mass at 11.30am
  Public and live-streamed
Monday 27 July  
   
Tuesday 28 July  
Holy Mass at 10.00am
  Public and live-streamed

 
Wednesday 29 July  
Memorial of Saint Martha  
  Holy Mass at 10.00am
  Public and live-streamed
Thursday 30 July  
 
Holy Mass at 10.00am
  Public and live-streamed
 
Friday 31 July  
Memorial of Saint Ignatius  
of Loyola  
  Holy Mass at 10.00am
  Public and live-streamed
Saturday 1 August  
Memorial of Saint Alphonsus  
Liguori
  
Eighteenth Sunday of the  
Year
 
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm
  Public and live-streamed
 

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Tony Long, Seamus Reilly senior, Patrick Mulheron, Pauline Greer and Henry McKinney (Paisley) who died recently;
Elizabeth Fitzsimmons 1999, Angus McMaster 2019, Elizabeth Murray 2005, Annie Walsh 1969, Elizabeth Byers 2009, Tommy Burns 1982, Eileen Mathieson 2003, John McQuaid 2004, Jordan Walsh 1998, Des Blanch 2017, Annie Cavani 2012, Alice Gibbons 1997, Desmond McGarvey, Caroline Dunlop 2013, William Johnston 1999, Michael Marshall 2011, David Shaw 2019, Annie Cavani 2012, Joseph Giblin 2016, George Pettigrew 1988, Maureen McCubbin 2008 and George Tonner 1931 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.


SAINT BRIDE'S NEWS

VOLUNTEERS
We now have three services per week and are obliged to provide two stewards for each service. If you can help out at any of our services, please get in touch on HowiePhyllis@yahoo.co.uk or 01294 822320. Thank you.

SUNDAY COLLECTION
Since lockdown, like most Churches, we have had a big shortfall in our collections. We would be grateful if you would consider making your contribution by Direct Debit. Forms are at the back of the Church. Thank you

100 CLUB
Subscriptions are now due and still only £12 for the year! Please put your payment in an envelope, marked 100 Club, together with your name and put it into the collection box, as you leave the Church. Thank you
.

THE ROOM
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features except for the one wall covered with small index card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order - But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endless in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read Girls I have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realise that I recognised the names written on each one - and then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This room with its small files was a catalogue system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't match. A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching. A file named Friends was next to one marked Friends I Have Betrayed. The titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. Books I Have Read, "Lies I Have Told, Comfort I Have Given, Jokes I Have Laughed At." Some were almost hilarious in their exactness - Things I've Yelled At My Brothers. Others I couldn't laugh at - Things I Have Done in My Anger, Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath At My Parents. I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Each was written in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature. When I pulled out the file marked TV Shows I Have Watched, I realised the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed tightly and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of the shows but more by the vast time I knew that the file represented. When I came to a file marked Lustful Thoughts, I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such a moment had been recorded. Leaning my forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw it. The title bore People I Have Shared the Gospel With. The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand - and then the tears came. I began to weep - sobs so deep that they hurt. No one must ever, ever know of this room - but then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as he began to open the files and read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch his response - and in the moments I could bring myself to look at his face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally he turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with love in His eyes. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things - but he didn't say a word. He just cried with me - then he got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, he looked out a file and, one by one, began to sign his name over mine on each card. "No!" I shouted rushing to him. His name shouldn't be on these cards - but there it was, written in red so rich, so dark and so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was written with His blood. I don't think I'll ever understand how he did it so quickly, but the next instant it seemed I heard him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His hand on my shoulder and said "It is finished." I stood up and he led me out of the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.

A SIMPLE EXPLANATION OF THE MASS - PART 8
After the Eucharistic Prayer - see last Sunday's bulletin - we come to the Communion Rite. The banquet of the Lord is ready. All present now prepare themselves to receive the Body and Body of Christ. Holy Communion at Mass is an expression of our unity with Christ and with all of God's people. In the Lord's Prayer, we as a community of faith address God as 'Our Father'. Our relationship is not to be one of fear, but of love. We use Matthew's version (6:9-13) of the Lord's Prayer - not Luke 11:2-4 - as it is richer and fuller, containing a larger number of petitions. The Lord's Prayer has two petitions that make it a particularly appropriate prayer in preparation for the reception of Holy Communion - "Give us this day our daily bread" and "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us". Daily Bread is the Bread of Life we receive in Communion. As for forgiveness, we are reminded of the importance of approaching the Eucharist with a forgiving heart or a heart that sincerely desires to forgive. The final petition in the Lord's Prayer is "Deliver us from evil". We Christians are involved in a spiritual warfare (Ephesians 6:10-17) against an enemy that is the subtlest of all creatures (Genesis 3:1); for that reason, we often need to pray for deliverance like this great prayer said at every Mass. A good practice suggestion is to always pray the Lord's Prayer from the heart, considering every single word.


FOOD FOR THOUGHT
What the Church needs is youth. Youthfulness is not about being young. It is about allowing courage to rule over fear. It's about enthusiasm. When the enthusiasm fades then pessimism begins to set in and people become old. As Christians, our hope sustains our enthusiasm and our youth.

PRAYER DURING A PANDEMIC
May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country, let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbours. Amen.                                 Cameron Bellm


JUST FOR A LAUGH ...
• Jesus was walking along one day, when he came upon a group of people surrounding a woman of ill repute. It was obvious that the crowd was preparing to stone her so Jesus made His now famous statement "Let the person who has no sin cast the first stone." The crowd was shamed and one by one began to turn away. All of sudden, a lovely little woman made her way through the crowd. Finally getting to the front, she tossed a pebble towards the woman. Jesus looks over and says, "I really hate it when you do that Mum."
• A little boy was listening to a long and excessively boring sermon in church. Suddenly the red sanctuary lamp caught his eye. Tugging his father's sleeve, he said "Daddy, when the light turns green can we go?"

HELP THE SCOTTISH CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL AID FUND (SCIAF) STOP THE CORONAVIRUS POVERTY PANDEMIC IN AFRICA
Coronavirus is about to hit Africa but it's the poverty the virus will unleash that will kill the world's poorest people. Every one of us felt the impact of the coronavirus pandemic when it hit Scotland. It caused pain and suffering - but it also provoked a wave of compassion and care for our neighbours and key workers. As the deadly virus sweeps across sub-Saharan Africa, please show that same care for families living in the world's poorest places as they face a new battle for survival. If you are able to, please support families during this extraordinary poverty pandemic as they recovery from the shockwaves unleashed by the coronavirus. SCIAF has launched a poverty pandemic appeal which you can give to by visiting www.sciaf.org.uk or calling 0141 354 5555. Thank you.

WEEKLY BULLETIN
If you would like to receive the weekly bulletin and updates by email, please get in touch with the Parish Office and send us your email address. If you know of someone who would like to be included on the mailing list, please let us know. Thanks!

FINANCIAL SUPPORT
It is now possible to make online donations to Saint Peter's. Details are on the Donations page and this News page. Thanks for your generosity.

NEW PARISH WEBSITE
Please have a look at our new parish website which is now up and running. There are lots of resources for prayer and information, latest news and also the weekly bulletin. The history section is being expanded step by step and has really interesting video clips and photos from past events at Saint Peter's. Have a look at SaintPeterInChains.co.uk. The older website at is www.SaintPeterInChains.net and Saint Bride's website is at StBridesChurch.co.uk.

WEEKLY BULLETIN
If you would like to receive the weekly Bulletin and updates by email, please get in touch with the parish office and send us your email address. If you know of someone who would like to be included on the mailing list, please let us know - thanks.

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.

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.