CHURCH
OF SAINT PETER IN CHAINS, ARDROSSAN • A Family of
Parishes • SAINT BRIDE'S CHURCH, WEST KILBRIDE
BULLETIN 26 JULY 2020
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
|
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 |
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 |
SAINT BRIDE'S NEWS VOLUNTEERS |
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.