BULLETIN       23 SEPTEMBER 2007

TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY IN YEAR 3


CHURCH SERVICES

Saturday 22 September

Confession on request from 4.30 to 5.15 pm
Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm

Sunday 23 September
Sunday Mass at 10.00 am
Sunday Mass at 12.00 noon
Monday 24 September
Mass at 10.00 am for Bobby McLaren
Tuesday 25 September
Mass at 10.00 am for Sister Mary of Saint Joseph
Wednesday 26 September
Mass at 10.00 am for William and Elizabeth Forsyth  
Thursday 27 September
Mass at 7.00 pm for Gavin Finnegan
Friday 28 September
Mass at 10.00 am for Winifred McShane
Saturday 29 September
Mass at 10.00 am for Sadie Hamilton


PARISH CENTRE EVENTS

Sunday 23 September
11.00 am
2.00 pm

Tea and Coffee after Mass
Birthday Party

Monday 24 September
9.00 to 3.00 pm
2.00 to 3.00 pm
5.30 to 6.30 pm
6.30 to 8.00 pm
7.00 pm
7.00 to 8.00 pm

In-Service Training
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Rainbows
Brownies
Saint Vincent de Paul Society  
Weight Watchers

Tuesday 25 September
9.00 to 11.30 am
9.30 to 11.00 am
12.30 to 3.00 pm
1.00 to 3.00 pm
7.00 pm
7.00 pm
7.30 pm
Nursery
Kindergarten
Nursery
Thursday Club
Saint Anne's Guild
Keep Fit
Legion of Mary
Wednesday 26 September
9.00 to 11.30 am
9.30 to 11.00 am
12.30 to 3.00 pm
6.00 to 7.00 pm
7.00 to 9.00 pm
Nursery
Kindergarten
Nursery
Barakuda Karate
Special Religious Education (SPRED)
Thursday 27 September
9.00 to 11.30 am
9.30 to 11.00 am
12.30 to 3.00 pm
7.00 to 7.30 pm
7.30 to 9.00 pm
Nursery
Kindergarten
Nursery
Brownies

Guides
Friday 28 September
9.00 to 11.30 am
9.30 to 11.30 am
12.30 to 2.30 pm
Nursery
Parents and Toddlers
Nursery

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
   Father Alastair Tosh, Mary McKernon, George Hall, Tom Howieson
   and John Cunningham who died recently;
   Margaret Donnelly 1997, William McNamara 2001, Mary McGraa 2002,
   Sister Mary of Saint Joseph 1975, John Mackay 2002, Brian Ghosh 2002,
   Maureen Johnson 2003, Peggy McKay 1992, John Brodie 2001,
   Robert Leo Walsh 1968 and Mary Barr whose anniversaries occur at this time;
   and Jack Weatherston who was baptised recently.
Father Tosh's funeral will take place in Saint Andrew's Church, Dumfries on Wednesday at 12.00 noon.
Mary McKernon's funeral will take place at Holmsford Bridge Crematorium on Thursday at 2.00 pm.

S
UNDAY COLLECTION
Last weekend's collection am
ounted to £626.02 - many thanks. Banker's Orders amount to an average of £4300 per month. Each month £4000 is repaid to the Diocese for the building loan and levy.

BANKER'S ORDERS
Paying your collection by monthly or quarterly banker's order makes money handling much safer. Banker's Order forms are available in the porch.

PARISH CENTRE COLLECTION
Last weekend's collection for
the Parish Centre amounted to £307.83 - many thanks.


RETIRED PRIESTS' COLLECTION
The annual collection for Retired Priests will take place this weekend. Gift Aid envelopes, which are available at the stall, should be used for this collection.


CHILDREN'S LITURGY
The Children's Liturgy has resumed for two of the groups, the three to five year olds and Primaries 1 to 3. It is very important that parents volunteer to take their turn at helping with this Liturgy. After 10.00 am Mass, Annie Watt will be in the Parish Centre for those who wish to volunteer and complete the necessary Disclosure Scotland forms. Three forms of identification will be required - one with a photograph, for example, a passport or driving licence, utility bill, birth certificate or previous Disclosure Scotland Number and National Insurance Number.

ADULT EDUCATION IN FAITH - DIOCESE OF GALLOWAY
Have you every wanted to know a little bit more about your Catholic Faith? Have you ever searched for a forum where you could discuss what you do know about your faith with others of the same mind? Have you ever asked yourself questions like 'Does the Church still teach that?'. Echoes is a Deanery based catechesis course which has been produced to help Catholics learn more about their faith or simply to rediscover what they already know. It is about to be launched in the Diocese of Galloway. If you would like to take part in this wonderful opportunity to rediscover the treasury of the Church's teaching then please come along to one of the groups that meet near you. Everyone is welcome. The Echoes Course consists of nine sessions, one per month from October 2007 to June 2008. It starts on 16 October and is free. It will be held in Saint Winin's Church Hall, Kilwinning on the third Tuesday of every month from 7.30 to 9.00 pm.

CONGRATULATIONS - GOLDEN WEDDING
Congratulations and best wishes to Jimmy and Sadie McAloon who were married here on 25 September 1957. They celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary on Tuesday.

CONGRATULATIONS - THIRD GRANDSON
Congratulations to Alfie and Evelyne Agostini on the birth of their third grandson, Luke. Deo gratias.

IGNATIAN PRAYER GROUP
The Ignatian Prayer Group will meet on Wednesday 3 October at 7.30 pm, Tuesday 9 October at 7.30 pm and Tuesday 30 October at 2.30 pm in the Parish Centre. Anyone interested in joining will be very welcome at the prayer meetings.

THE SINGING CHILDREN OF AFRICA
The Singing Children of Africa will be performing in the Church on Sunday 14 October at 6.00 pm. Tickets costing £4 are available from the stall or Marie-Anne. Tea and coffee will be available in the Parish Centre. All proceeds from this concert will go to The Singing Children of Africa Appeal.

INTERESTED IN KNOWING MORE ABOUT THE CHURCH?
Are you thinking about becoming a Catholic? Are you just wanting to know more? Are you returning after a time away from Church? Are you just curious? The Enquiry Group meets in Saint Peter's Presbytery on Thursday 4 October at 7.30 pm.

SCOTTISH INTERNATIONAL RELIEF (SIR)
Last Sunday the SIR van uplifted 900 bags of goods plus bric-a-brac. This was very much appreciated by all involved with SIR and they pass on their thanks. After the Vigil Mass they received £601.50 for Mary's Meals from raffle tickets and donations. Unfortunately, on the way here on Sunday morning, Francis and three of her colleagues were involved in a car accident. No one was injured, but this prevented them from selling raffle tickets after 10.00 am and 12.00 noon Masses. They are looking forward to returning on Sunday 18 November to sell tickets.
Photographs of the last three years' visits by Scottish International Relief are on the Pictures page.

THE INNOCENTS
A box is available in the Porch for baby goods, talcum powder, lotion, bottles, shampoo and so on. Please contact Josephine if you can help.

IGNATIAN PRAYER GROUP
The Ignatian Prayer Group w
ill meet on Wednesday 3 October and Tuesday 9 October at 7.30pm and Tuesday 30 October at 2.30 pm in the Parish Centre. Anyone interested in joining would be very welcome at the prayer meetings.

SAINT MICHAEL'S COLLEGE AND ACADEMY - 1921 TO 2007
The closing Mass for Saint Michael's, which will celebrate and give thanks for the school's achievements, will be held in the school Assembly Hall on Monday 1 October at 7.00 pm. Photographs and memorabilia commemorating the history of the school will be on display.

CHILDREN'S LITURGY ADULT HELPERS
   23 September
      3 to 5 Year Olds: Gayle and Frances
      Primary 1 to 3: Andrena and Theresa
   30 September
      3 to 5 Year Olds: Karen and Ann
      Primary 1 to 3: Eileen and Sharon



  Sometimes it would be good if we could get new eyesight  
  to see things as they really are.  


READINGS
The readings for this weekend's Masses are shown below in English. They are available in eleven other languages
including French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish by clicking on this link.

First Reading           Amos 8:4-7
Listen to this, you who trample on the needy and try to suppress the poor people of the country, you who say, "When will New Moon be over so that we can sell our corn, and sabbath, so that we can market our wheat? Then by lowering the bushel, raising the shekel, by swindling and tampering with the scales, we can buy up the poor for money, and the needy for a pair of sandals, and get a price even for the sweepings of the wheat". The Lord swears it by the pride of Jacob, "Never will I forget a single thing you have done.".

Second Reading           Timothy 2:1-8
My advice is that, first of all, there should be prayers offered for everyone - petitions, intercessions and thanksgiving - and especially for kings and others in authority, so that we may be able to live religious and reverent lives in peace and quiet. To do this is right, and will please God our saviour: he wants everyone to be saved and reach full knowledge of the truth. For there is only one God, and there is only one mediator between God and mankind, himself a man, Christ Jesus, who sacrificed himself as a ransom for them all. He is the evidence of this, sent at the appointed time, and I have been named a herald and apostle of it and - I am telling the truth and no lie - a teacher of the faith and the truth to the pagans. In every place, then, I want the men to lift their hands up reverently in prayer, with no anger or argument.

Gospel           Luke 16:1-13
Jesus said to his disciples: "There was a rich man and he had a steward who was denounced to him for being wasteful with his property. He called for the man and said, "What is this I hear about you? Draw me up an account of your stewardship because you are not to be my steward any longer." Then the steward said to himself, "Now that my master is taking the stewardship from me, what am I to do? Dig? I am not strong enough. Go begging? I should be too ashamed. Ah, I know what I will do to make sure that when I am dismissed from office there will be some to welcome me into their homes." Then he called his master's debtors one by one. To the first he said, "How much do you owe my master?" "One hundred measures of oil," was the reply. The steward said, "Here, take your bond; sit down straight away and write fifty." To another he said, "And you, sir, how much do you owe?" "One hundred measures of wheat," was the reply. The steward said, "Here, take your bond and write eighty." The master praised the dishonest steward for his astuteness. For the children of this world are more astute in dealing with their own kind than are the children of light. And so I tell you this: use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own? No servant can be the slave of two masters: he will either hate the first and love the second, or treat the first with respect and the second with scorn. You cannot be the slave both of God and of money.".