CHURCH
OF SAINT PETER IN CHAINS, ARDROSSAN • A Family of
Parishes • SAINT BRIDE'S CHURCH, WEST KILBRIDE
Meeting people where they are - leading them to where God calls them
to be!
BULLETIN 3 JANUARY 2021
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 2:1-12)
After Jesus had been born at Bethlehem in Judaea during the reign of King
Herod, some wise men came to Jerusalem from the east. "Where is the infant
king of the Jews?" they asked. "We saw his star as it rose and have
come to do him homage." When King Herod heard this he was perturbed and
so was the whole of Jerusalem. He called together all the chief priests and
the scribes of the people and enquired of them where the Christ was to be
born. "At Bethlehem in Judaea" they told him "for this is what
the prophet wrote - and you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, you are by no
means least among the leaders of Judah, for out of you will come a leader
who will shepherd my people Israel." Then Herod summoned the wise men
to see him privately. He asked them the exact date on which the star had appeared
and sent them on to Bethlehem. "Go and find out all about the child"
he said "and when you have found him, let me know, so that I too may
go and do him homage." Having listened to what the king had to say, they
set out - and there in front of them was the star they had seen rising. It
went forward and halted over the place where the child was. The sight of the
star filled them with delight and going into the house they saw the child
with his mother Mary and falling to their knees they did him homage. Then,
opening their treasures, they offered him gifts of gold and frankincense and
myrrh - but they were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod and returned
to their own country by a different way.
REFLECTION
Today, we hear that when the Magi saw the star, they came into the house.
Then what did they do when they saw the Christ child in the arms of his mother?
They fell down and worshiped him. How often in our lives do we go about our
daily business seeing Christ in other people, in his Word, in the Eucharist,
but our hearts do not respond in the same manner? Especially this week as
we celebrate the Epiphany, let's pray that God makes our hearts sensitive
to his presence. For many of us, it's natural to go to adoration - and the
moment we see Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, we fall to our knees. But in
daily life, do we bow when we see a manifestation of his presence in the good
works of others or even in our local parish? Saint Pope John Paul II said
that we must be careful of falling into 'practical atheism', professing to
believe in God but living our lives as though he doesn't exist. Throughout
the course of your day, at home, at work, and with your friends, when you
hear about the good things of Jesus and his Church, don't pass by them without
taking a moment to bow in your heart and worship. Faith is the natural response
to God revealing himself in the world, no matter how small that revelation
might be. Let faith rise up in your heart and bow down to him even in the
course of the mundane. In the village of Nazareth, people went about their
mundane lives, not recognising the extraordinary event that the Magi had travelled
countless miles to witness - the King of Kings was in their midst. Do you
recognise God in the mundane?
|
Saint
Peter's - All Masses are live-streamed and
public unless otherwise stated. |
Saint
Bride's - All Masses are public
unless otherwise stated. |
|
|
Saturday
2 January |
Holy Mass at 12 noon for
Brian and Lorna, Collette and Mark, Kathleen Harkness who died recently
and Joe and Andrea Hulley Private Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Fiona and Andrew Upton, Joe McGhee who died recently and Caleb Forrest at his anniversary and Maureen McGarvey |
|
|
Sunday
3 January
Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord |
Holy Mass at 10.30am for our parishes | Holy Mass at 12.15pm for our parishes |
|
Monday
4 January
|
Holy
Mass at 10.00am
for Geralyn McGarvey, Lorraine Docherty, Jody, Joyce and family and
Bill Lundy as a special intention |
|
|
Tuesday
5 January
|
Requiem
Mass at 10.00am for Harry
McKechan |
Holy Mass at 10.00am |
|
Wednesday
6 January
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Lawrence and Sylvia McGarvey, Bruce McGarvey, James Moriarty who died recently and John and Mary Finnigan who also died recently | |
|
Thursday
7 January
|
Holy
Mass at 10.00am for Ross McGarvey, Megan Nicholson, Teresa Collins at
her anniversary and Mary Finnigan who died recently Private Requiem Mass at 1.00pm for Davie McIlroy Private |
|
|
Friday
8 January
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Dillon Nicholson, Collette and Mark Nicholson, Alison Harkness who died recently, Denise and Desmond Kimmett who also died recently and James Crichton at his anniversary | Holy
Mass at 12 noon for Margaret McIlvennie Private |
|
Saturday
9 January |
Holy Mass at 10.00am for
Robert Montgomery who died recently and the list of Mass intentions
requested by Winifred Lawrence Private Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for John and Ann Taggart, the McDermott family as a special intention, Kathleen Fraser who died recently and Patrick and Sarah Braniff at their anniversaries |
|
Saturday
2 January |
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm | |
|
Sunday
3 January
Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord |
Holy
Mass
at 11.30am |
|
|
Monday
4 January
|
||
|
Tuesday
5 January
|
Requiem Mass | |
|
Wednesday
6 January
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am | |
|
Thursday
7 January
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am | |
|
Friday
8 January
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am | |
|
Saturday
9 January |
Vigil Mass at 4.30pm | Vigil Mass at 5.30pm |
|
SAINT
PETER'S NOTICES
MASS
BOOKINGS |
|
SAINT
BRIDE'S NOTICES
REQUIEM
MASS FOR MARGARET MCILVENNIE |
| COVID
SYMPTOMS For the safety of everyone and to prevent spread of the Covid-19, please do not attend Church over Christmas if you have any unusual symptoms for example. headache, cold or flu-like symptoms. Of course, if you have any of the three classic symptoms of coronavirus - high temperature, persistent cough, loss of or change in sense of taste or smell - please self-isolate immediately and book a test. Thank you for your cooperation with all the public health measures in place. |
TRADITIONAL HOUSE BLESSING
Today at all Masses chalk will be blessed and distributed for the traditional
House Blessing - 20 + C + M + B + 21. The Latin blessing Christus mansionem
benedicat means Christ bless our house for the year 2021.
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.
CHRIST ON THE STAGE
The main theatre in Moscow was getting ready for the opening night of a anti-religious
play called Christ in Top Hat and Tails. Schools, youth organisations and
youth workers were required to include the piece in their programme for the
year. The main part, portraying Jesus Christ was played by the famous actor
and committed communist Alexander Rostowzew. The theatre was full with every
ticket having been sold months before. The curtain opened to a scene with
an altar in the middle, covered with empty beer bottles. Around the altar
were drunken priests and monks. At the second act, Rostowzew came onto the
stage. In his hands he held a copy of the Holy Bible and wore a top hat and
tails. The audience laughed and clapped, waiting for his humorous lines and
superb acting. He opened the Bible and started to read "Blessed are those
who are poor before God, then theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are
those who mourn, for they will be comforted..." The Director stood at
the side of the stage, he knew that soon Rostowzew would break into dancing
and the whole theatre would erupt with cascades of laughter. But nothing happened.
Rostowzew continued reading "Blessed are those who are peacemakers, for
they will inherit the land..." The audience didn't move. They realised
that something was happening in the heart of the actor. The theatre was completely
silent. Only the firm voice of Rostowzew could be heard. He continued reading,
in fact, in read the complete forty-eight verses of the Fifth Chapter of Saint
Matthew's Gospel. No-one interrupted him, no-one called out, everyone remained
completely silent, listening to every word. He finished with the verse "You
should be perfect, just as your heavenly Father in heaven is perfect!"
Rostowzew closed the Bible. It seemed that a chapter in his own life was also
being closed. Very slowly he made the Sign of the Cross and repeated in a
firm and clear voice the words of the repentant thief at the side of Jesus
on Calvary "Lord, remember me, when you come into your Kingdom".
No-one protested, there were no whistles or booing. The audience slowly left
the theatre in silence. The production was never repeated anywhere. After
that evening, Alexander Rostowzew was never seen again.
JUST FOR A LAUGH ...
Two priests were riding very fast on a motorcycle. They were promptly stopped
by a policeman who said "What do you think you are doing? What if you
have an accident?" The priests say "Don't worry, my son. Jesus is
with us." The policeman says "In that case, I'll have to book you.
Three people are not allowed to ride on a motorcycle."
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.
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.