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 17 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 JOHN (John 1:35-42)
As John stood with two of his disciples, Jesus passed and John stared hard
at him and said "Look, there is the Lamb of God." Hearing this,
the two disciples followed Jesus. Jesus turned round, saw them following and
said "What do you want?" They answered "Rabbi" - which
means teacher - "where do you live?" "Come and see" he
replied, so they went and saw where he lived and stayed with him the rest
of that day. It was about the tenth hour. One of these two who became followers
of Jesus after hearing what John had said was Andrew, the brother of Simon
Peter. Early next morning, Andrew met his brother and said to him "We
have found the Messiah." - which means the Christ - and he took Simon
to Jesus. Jesus looked hard at him and said "You are Simon, son of John.
You are to be called Cephas." - meaning rock.
REFLECTION
If you read through today's Gospel again, you will notice that there is a
lot of 'staring and seeing' going on! John the Baptist 'stares hard' at Jesus,
and later Jesus does the same to Simon Peter. The somewhat diffident request
of the disciples when Jesus sees them is met simply with the words "Come
and see!" There is a gentle, almost enigmatic feeling to this 'calling'.
It is very unthreatening, almost non-committal. In the modern Catholic programme
for prospective converts - the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults or RCIA
- the first phase is called the Period of Enquiry or searching or indeed 'looking
hard and seeing'. It acknowledges that conversion or commitment is not something
that always happens in a blinding flash but is gradual and tentative. We must
practise the same gentleness as we proclaim our faith to others - never badgering
or insisting but inviting. "Where do you go to Church?" "Come
and see!" "How do you pray?" "Come and see!" Perhaps
today have a think about how we invite others to 'Come and see' what our faith
is all about. Have you ever invited someone to come to Church with you or
pray with you - without being threatening or overpowering? Let us pray for
the confidence to share our faith with patience and allow people to 'look
hard and see what inspires us.
All
Masses are live-streamed and private unless otherwise stated.
|
|
Saturday
23 January |
Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for the Gough family, Mary McSpurran who died recently, John and Ann Taggart and Patrick and Sarah Braniff at their anniversaries |
Sunday
17 January
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time |
Holy Mass at 10.30am for our parishes |
Monday
18 January
|
Beginning
of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Holy Mass at 10.00am for Theresa Conlan who died recently and Robert Montgomery at his month's mind |
Tuesday
19 January
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Harry McKechan who died recently, Stuart's special intention and the Murray family's special intention |
Wednesday
20 January
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Mary Finnigan and Davie McIlroy who both died recently |
Thursday
21 January
Memorial of Saint Agnes |
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Helen Kerr who died recently and Lizzie Paterson |
Friday
22 January
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am for James Crichton and Isabella McHugh at their anniversaries |
Saturday
23 January |
Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for the special intentions of Nan Connelly and Currie family |
SAINT
BRIDE'S, SAINT MARY'S AND SAINT JOHN'S CHURCH SERVICES
Please visit StBridesChurch.co.uk,
RCSaltcoats.com
and StevenstonStJohns.com
for Mass times and information on live-streaming.
PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Anthony Brennan and Jim Boyle;
Annie Taylor, Mary McSpurran, Theresa Conlan, Edward McLaughlin, Harry McKechan,
Mary Finnigan, David McIlroy and Helen Kerr who died recently;
George Agostini 2006, Maureen McKenzie 2014, Janis McSkimming 2010, James
Murray 1972, Rena Scullion 2008, Canon Michael Farrington 2009, Margaret
McLaughlan 2005, Thelma Carrick 2005, Annie Boyle O'Hare 1967, Celio Staffieri
2017, Mary Catherine Teggart 1999, Frances Vennard 2000, Thomas West 2005,
Bessie Brown 1982, Peggy Gray 2010, Addie
Hissey 2009, Margaret McMillan 2009, Margaret Jane Brennan 1964, Betty
Kelly 2011, Hugh Taylor 2016, John Curran 2013, Annie Monan 1998, James
Cunningham 1986, Michael Lynn 2005, James McCormack 1999 and Catherine Welsh
2005 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.
KEEP THE COURAGEOUS SPIRIT GOING
Dear Parishioners! Like most of 2020, this year is already providing more
than its fair share of challenges, setbacks and disappointments. As part
of suffering humanity, we can be overwhelmed by the experience of fear,
helplessness, and discouragement which can lead to a hardening of our hearts.
Worse still, we might be distracted or paralysed from engaging in the work
of evangelisation we committed to - but we cannot turn from our mission.
It would be infidelity to the grace of God and the complete opposite of
what he desires for us. The Church of Christ is always marked by those who
are willing to go where Jesus leads - so how do we engage in this crazy
world? How do we stay the course in witnessing to our life of hope with
Christ? Jesus himself gives us sure but straightforward words of encouragement
- 'I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world
you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.' (John
16:33) We will have trouble. It may look different but every generation
faces its challenges of overcoming evil and strife. We all have problems
- it is part of our human condition. Humanity will disappoint and circumstances
won't always meet our expectations. Being a Christian doesn't make us immune
from suffering and trials. Instead, we must be fully present precisely amidst
the circumstances bearing witness to our faith and hope in Jesus. Jesus
is more significant than our problems. No matter what comes our way today,
Jesus can handle it. He is all-powerful and permits everything for his glory.
Jesus can do the unimaginable in showing us what he is willing to do to
conquer the world. If he can perform miracles and rise from the dead, he
can assist us in whatever we need. Find your peace and security in him alone.
The closer we are to Jesus, the more peace we will experience. When we make
time to pray, read the Bible, pray the Rosary, and if you can, tune in to
daily Mass, live-streamed from our Church. Have a look at our websites.
My hope is that all the spiritual resources and services we offer will help
give and encouragement as we face the ups and downs in life. The more you
click around the site, the more aids to spiritual growth you will find -
s o please, click away! When you find something you like, share it with
someone. Thank you for continuing to support our parishes with your prayers,
suggestions and donations. You help us to spread the Good News. Your contributions
are very much appreciated.
SAD NEWS AT THE DEATH OF ARCHBISHOP TARTAGLIA
The Archbishop
of Glasgow, Philip Tartaglia, has died suddenly at his home in Glasgow.
He was seventy years old. Archbishop Tartaglia, who had served as Archbishop
of Glasgow since 2012, had tested positive for Covid-19 shortly after Christmas
and was self-isolating at home. The cause of death is not yet clear. The
Archbishop had served as leader of Scotlands largest Catholic community
since 2012. The Popes Ambassador to Great Britain, Archbishop Claudio
Gugerotti has been informed. It will be for Pope Francis to appoint a new
Archbishop to succeed Archbishop Tartaglia, but until then the Archdiocese
will be overseen by an administrator. May Archbishop Tartaglia rest in peace
and rise in glory!
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY - 18 TO 25 JANUARY 2021
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2021 was prepared by the Monastic
Community of Taize in France. The theme that was chosen, 'Abide in my love
and you shall bear much fruit', is based on John 15:1-17. We cannot bear
fruit on our own. We cannot bear fruit separated from the vine. It is the
sap, the life of Jesus flowing through us, that produces fruit. Remaining
in Jesus's love, remaining a branch of the vine, is what allows his life
to flow through us. When we listen to Jesus his life flows through us. Jesus
invites us to let his word abide in us (John 15:7) and then whatever we
ask will be done for us. For the eight days of the Week of Prayer for Christian
Unity in 2021, there are eight themes, where we can focus our prayer for
the day. These are:
• Day 1: Called by God - 'You did not choose me but I
chose you.' (John 15:16a)
•
Day 2: Maturing internally - 'Abide in
me as I abide in you.' (John
15:4a)
•
Day 3: Forming one body - 'Love one another
as I have loved you.' (John
15:12b)
•
Day 4: Praying together - 'I do not call
you servants any longer … but I have called you friends.' (John
15:15)
•
Day 5: Letting oneself be transformed by
the Word - 'You have already been pruned by the word.' (John
15:3)
•
Day 6: Welcoming others - Go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.'
(John 15:16b)
• Day 7: Growing in unity - 'I am the vine, you
are the branches.' (John 15:5a)
• Day 8: Reconciling with all of creation - 'So
that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.' (John
15:11).
THE SACRAMENTS - SORELY MISSED!
'The purpose of the sacraments is to sanctify men, to build up the body
of Christ and, finally, to give worship to God. Because they are signs,
they also instruct. They do indeed impart grace but, in addition, the very
act of celebrating them most effectively disposes the faithful to receive
this grace in a fruitful manner, to worship God duly and to practice charity.'
- Sacrosanctum Concilium, 59. My favourite sacrament is baptism. Words cannot
really express the wonderful joy at witnessing the rebirth of a new person
in Christ. Through the grace of God dispensed in that beautiful sacrament,
one who is 'dead in sin' becomes an adopted heir in Christ Jesus. Sometimes
the sacraments are seen as 'way stations' in life, events that occur at
certain moments in our life story. Although that is true in a sense, it
is an incomplete view. The sacraments are where we engage in a relationship
with the Trinity. They are more than 'mile markers' on the path of life.
They form the core of Christian life itself. We are sensible creatures and
our senses are engaged in the sacraments. Our bodies need food to grow and
be healthy - so too, do our souls. We need spiritual nourishment for our
faith and we receive this 'nutrition' through the sacraments. Through his
gift of the sacraments, the Lord allows us to share in his life. Strip away
the sacraments, and one is left with an incomplete faith. I think we would
appreciate the sacraments more if we spent time contemplating what our faith
life would be like without them.