CHURCH
OF SAINT PETER IN CHAINS, ARDROSSAN • A Family of
Parishes • SAINT BRIDE'S CHURCH, WEST KILBRIDE
BULLETIN 11 OCTOBER 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 22:1-14)
Jesus began to speak to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables.
"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for
his son's wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited
but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants. "Tell those
who have been invited" he said "that I have my banquet all prepared.
My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come
to the wedding." But they were not interested. One went off to his farm,
another to his business and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them
and killed them. The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed
those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants "The
wedding is ready but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to
the crossroads in the town and invite everyone you can find to the wedding."
So these servants went out on to the roads and collected together everyone
they could find, bad and good alike and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not
wearing a wedding garment and said to him "How did you get in here, my
friend, without a wedding garment?" And the man was silent. Then the
king said to the attendants "Bind him hand and foot and throw him out
into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth." For
many are called, but few are chosen."
REFLECTION
The message of this parable is similar to last week - who is welcome in the
Kingdom of God? Last week, the image was the vineyard, this week the wedding
feast, but the idea is the same - some self-righteous people who think their
place is guaranteed will be disappointed and the invitation will be extended
to those who are excluded. Jesus turns things upside down - the invited are
unworthy, so the unworthy are invited! This is addressed to the 'holier than
thou' chief priests and elders but the message resonates to our time. As Pope
Francis keeps reminding us, the Church is not a 'club' or a 'clique'. We must
ensure that the invitation to the Kingdom of God is universal, that no one
is excluded, that every human being knows they are welcome at God's feast.
It is not a free pass, though. Once we come into the Kingdom we must live
the life of the Kingdom. We must wear the 'wedding garment' of goodness, integrity,
faith and justice.
|
Saint
Peter's - All Masses are live-streamed and
public unless otherwise stated. |
Saint
Bride's - All Masses are public
unless otherwise stated. |
|
|
Saturday
10 October |
Holy Mass at 10.00am
for all those who prayed for Jean Conlan while she was in hospital Private Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Cathie Sweeney at her anniversary |
|
|
Sunday
11 October
Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year |
Holy Mass at 10.30am for our parishes | Holy Mass at 12.15pm for our parishes |
|
Monday
12 October
|
Holy
Mass at 10.00am
for Anne Lafferty who died recently |
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Tuesday
13 October
|
Holy
Mass at 10.00am
for Francie Stalker who died recently and Kathleen Dean (Auchinleck)
at her anniversary Private |
|
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Wednesday
14 October
|
Holy
Mass at 10.00am for Ellen Teresa Donnelly (Falkirk, originally Hurlford) who died recently Funeral Service at 1.00pm for Katie Millar Private |
|
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Thursday
15 October
Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus |
Holy
Mass at 10.00am for Christina Lawrence as a special intention and all Souls
in Purgatory Private |
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Friday
16 October
Memorial of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque |
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Eileen McNulty (Donegal) who died recently | Holy Mass at 12 noon |
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Saturday
17 October |
Holy Mass at 10.00am
for Margaret Collins' special intention Private Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Mary McAtee at her anniversary |
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Saturday
10 October |
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm | |
|
Sunday
11 October
Twenty-eighth Sunday of the Year |
Holy
Mass
at 10.00am |
Holy
Mass
at 11.30am |
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Monday
12 October
|
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Tuesday
13 October
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am | |
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Wednesday
14 October
|
Requiem
Mass Private |
Holy Mass at 10.00am |
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Thursday
15 October
Memorial of Saint Teresa of Jesus |
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|
Friday
16 October
Memorial of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque |
Requiem
Mass Private |
|
|
Saturday
17 October |
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm |
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SAINT
PETER'S NOTICES
MASS
BOOKINGS |
|
SAINT
BRIDE'S NOTICES
NEW
WEBSITE |
PRAYER
FOR SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
My
Jesus, I believe that you are present in this Holy Sacrament of the altar.
I love you above all things and I passionately desire to receive you into
my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into
my soul so that I may unite myself wholly to you now and forever. Amen.
BEHOLD,
I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK
The
Light of the World was painted in 1853-54 by the English artist William Holman
Hunt (1827-1910). The painting, which measures 125 x 60 centimetre, is currently
at Keble College, Oxford in England. The painting is really a painted text,
a sermon on canvas. In The Light of the World, the allegory chosen for illustration
is that beautiful one in the Revelation - "Behold, I stand at the door
and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to
him, and will dine with him and he with me" (Revelation 3:20). On the
head of Christ are two crowns - the earthly crown of his passion as well as
his heavenly crown of glory. This crown begins to bud and blossom - a symbol
of new life and new beginning. The Robe of Christ is a seamless robe. It symbolises
the unbroken unity of the Body of Christ, the Family of the Church today throughout
the world. Then there is the lamp carried by Christ. It is the lamp which
guides us throughout the journey of our lives. The scene is during the night.
There are dangers and obstacles on our path. The light of Christ will guide
us and show us the safest and best way. The door of the soul is beautifully
rendered. It has been a very long time since it has been opened. The weeds
have climbed where they never could have climbed had it been kept open. Stains
of rust are over the iron-work. We can see brambles because a place overgrown
with brambles is a place to which the gardener doesn't visit. The fruit the
trees have borne has fallen to the ground - natural fruit, uncared for and
untended. The sadness of the face of Christ is painful in the extreme and
the justification of this sadness is that Christ has knocked - and knocked
in vain. Look how Christ knocks on the door of our souls. His hand is half-open
and he listens intently. He is patient. He will wait for as long as it takes.
The door has no handle. It can only be opened from the inside. In other words,
only we can open the door of our souls to Christ. It is our choice. Perhaps
we might see in this painting the whole meaning of the life of Christ and
the whole story of our own neglected souls. The idea of painting the picture
came from a sonnet entitled Tomorrow by Lope de Vega from Spain. 'Soul, from
thy casement look and thou shalt see how he persists to knock and wait for
thee - and oh, how often to that voice of sorrow. "Tomorrow I will open"
I replied - and when the morrow came, I answered still "Tomorrow!"'
HAVE YOU RETURNED TO THE EUCHARIST YET?
"The Eucharist is the secret of my day. It gives strength and meaning
to all my activities of service to the Church and to the whole world."
This testimony of Pope Saint John Paul II bears witness to what it means to
be holy. We find the strength to live out of love for God only by allowing
our lives to be immersed in His Eucharistic presence. Do we live as though
our lives are completely dependent upon Him in the Eucharist? Do we desire
to spend time with Him daily, to unite ourselves with Him at least in spirit
when we are not able to receive Him physically? Do we make Mass and Eucharistic
adoration a priority in our own lives and challenge others to do so? Whom
in your life today could you invite back to the celebration of the Mass? On
10 October, Pope Francis will beatify Carlo Acutis who died of leukaemia in
2006 at the age of fifteen. This teenage saint knew that his own holiness
- and the holiness of all people - must flow from the Eucharist. In order
to lead others more closely to Our Eucharistic Lord, Carlo created a website
highlighting different Eucharistic miracles from around the world. It can
still be viewed online today at http://www.miracolieucaristici.org.
Regarding the importance of having the Eucharist as the centre of our lives,
he said "The more Eucharist we receive, the more we will become like
Jesus, so that on earth we will have a foretaste of heaven." Let us follow
Saint John Paul II's and soon-to-be Blessed Carlo's examples of love for Our
Lord in the Eucharist. Let us place Him as the very centre, the very source
and summit of our lives. May we take advantage of every opportunity we have
to receive Him worthily and devoutly - and may we always seek to lead others
to Him, as well.
JUST FOR A LAUGH ...
A
father was approached by his small son who told him proudly "I know what
the word Bible means!" His father smiled and replied "What do you
mean, you know what Bible means? The son replied "I do know!" "Okay,"
said his father, "what does Bible mean?" "That's easy, Daddy"
the young boy replied excitedly, "it stands for Basic Information Before
Leaving Earth."
SUNDAY
OBLIGATION
Sunday obligation to attend Holy Mass remains suspended for the time being
and availability is restricted for those wishing to attend. Some of our parishioners
are working during the week and can only attend at the weekend. Therefore,
to make Holy Mass available to everyone we would be grateful if you wish to
attend Mass and are able to attend on a weekday please do so, leaving seats
for those parishioners working during the week. Thank you.
NEXT SUNDAY - WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE MISSION
We celebrate next Sunday a Day of Prayer for the Mission. We will offer Mass
as a special Votive Mass for the Evangelisation of Peoples.
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.
STANDING ORDERS - PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT
The parishes have taken quite a 'knock' through lockdown when public Mass
was not available for sixteen weeks. This has had a huge impact on our parishes'
finances. Could you consider taking out a Standing Order? It would be of great
benefit to our parish. Forms are available from the Parish Office and here.
Thank you
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.