BULLETIN                           14 FEBRUARY 2010

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OF YEAR 3

CHURCH SERVICES

Saturday 13 February
Requiem Mass at 10.00 am for Annie Rankin
Confession on request from 4.30 to 5.15 pm
Sunday Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for Bernard and Susan Burns
Sunday 14 February
Sunday Mass at 10.00 am for the Parishioners
Sunday Mass at 12.00 noon for Anthony Forbes
Monday 15 February
Mass at 10.00 am for Barbara Scott
Tuesday 16 February

Mass at 10.00 am for Bella Dougherty

Wednesday 17 February
Ash Wednesday
Mass at 10.00 am for Brian Maher
Mass at 7.00 pm for a special intention
Thursday 18 February
Mass at 7.00 pm for Janis McSkimming
Friday 19 February

Mass at 10.00 am for Gerry Brown

Saturday 20 February
Mass at 10.00 am for a special intention
Confession on request from 4.30 to 5.15 pm
Sunday Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for the Taylor family

The Mass intention list is just over two weeks ahead. Please notify anniversaries as early as you can. Thanks.
Any changes to the above times caused, for example, by a funeral will be notified on the home page of this website.


PARISH CENTRE EVENTS

Sunday 14 February
11.00 am
12.00 to 1.00 pm

Tea and Coffee after Mass
Karate

Monday 15 February
9.30 to 11.30 am
5.30 to 6.30 pm
6.30 to 8.00 pm
7.00 to 8.00 pm
7.00 to 9.00 pm
Parents and Toddlers  
Rainbows
Brownies
Weight Watchers
Saint Vincent de Paul Society  
Tuesday 16 February
11.00 am
1.00 to 3.00 pm
2.00 pm
7.00 to 8.00 pm
7.00 to 9.00 pm

Legion of Mary
Thursday Club

Ignatian Prayer Group
Keep Fit
Saint Anne's Guild

Wednesday 17 February
1.30 to 3.30 pm
6.00 to 7.00 pm
7.00 to 9.00 pm

Meeting
Karate
Special Religious Educatiion Group (SPRED)

Thursday 18 February
1.30 to 3.00 pm
6.00 to 7.30 pm
7.30 to 9.00 pm
Cardiac Rehabilitation  
Brownies
Guides
Friday 19 February
9.30 to 11.30 am
Parents and Toddlers

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
   Brian Maher, Desmond Dunne, David Morrison and Annie Rankin who died recently;
   Mary Hall 1989, Patricketta Maxwell 2004, Catherine Morrison 1971, James McLaren 1964,
   Patrick Kelly 1989, Rose Walker 1985, Ellen Reilly 1954, Nathan Murray-Collier 2005, Jean Wylie,
   Helen Clark 1973, Francis Clark 1953, Kelly Smith 2007 and George Monaghan 2004
   whose anniversaries occur at this time and those who are sick.
   Information for the anniversary list is appreciated.

OFFERTORY COLLECTION
Last weekend's Offertory collection amounted to £825.40. We are grateful for your generous support of the Parish and the Diocese to which we pay a monthly levy of £1250.

PARISH CENTRE COLLECTION
Last weekend's collection for the Parish Centre amounted to £330.29 - many thanks.
Each month we pay off our Parish Centre debt by £3000.

BANKER'S ORDERS
Have you thought of using a Bankers Order? It assists us with the safe handling of cash. Banker's Orders for the Parish and Centre amount to an average of £3800 per month. Forms are available.

GIFT AID
Have you signed a Gift Aid Form? If you pay tax, then every £1 you give to the Parish is worth £1.28 to us. Forms are available.

WILLS
Would you consider remembering Saint Peter's in your will?


READERS
Next weekend's readers are Celia Andrew at 5.30 pm, Angela Body at 10.00 and Jim Delahunt at 12 noon.

LENT
Lent begins on Wednesday. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Ashes will be distributed at the 10.00 am and 7.00 pm Masses and there will be a short service in the school on Thursday to mark the beginning of Lent. Take Lent seriously - our road to heaven depends on it.

HOLY COMMUNION
If you are at Mass find it difficult to get down for Communion, please come to the front or you could ask whoever is with you to ask for a sacred host to bring to you in your seat.

SACRAMENTS OF CONFIRMATION AND HOLY COMMUNION
The three Sundays chosen for Confirmation and First Communion are 9, 16 and 23 May - and there are 'lists' for you to sign up. We need three Sundays since there are over thirty children who have enrolled in the programme. Please pick the date most suitable for the family.

CROSSHOUSE HOSPITAL
If you or a family member is going into Crosshouse Hospital and wishes a visit from the hospital Chaplain, please let us know. The Chaplain is Father Martin Chambers and his telephone number is 01563 533587. If you or a family member is housebound, please let us know. Unless told, we don’t know about it.

EARTHQUAKE IN HAITI
Please keep the poor victims of the Haiti earthquake in your prayers. Donations to help can be made in many ways. One way is through Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF), 19 Park Circus, Glasgow, G3 6BE. Alternatively, envelopes with SCIAF or Haiti handed in here will be forwarded to SCIAF. Last week's donations amounted to £25.

CHURCH STUDENTS COLLECTION
Each year, in February, we have a collection for our students for the priesthood. A few more young men thinking of priesthood would be more valuable than money, but we need to take up the collection next weekend. There are special envelopes with space for your name if you are a taxpayer.

BEING CATHOLIC WEBSITE
The Catholic Church in Scotland has a new website advertising meetings and courses which you might find interesting. The address is
www.BeingCatholic.org.

MASS FOR HEALTH CARE WORKERS
There will be a Mass for Health Care Workers in the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardonald, Glasgow on Sunday 14 February at 3.00 pm.

GALLOWAY LOURDES
HOSPITALITÉ
Galloway
Lourdes Hospitalité is the organisation which assists the sick to travel to Lourdes. Its Annual General Meeting takes place in Saint Margaret’s Cathedral, Ayr on Sunday 14 February. Mass - with the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick - is at 3.00 pm and will be followed by tea and the meeting. Everyone is welcome.

PARISH ACCOUNTS AND STATISTICS
The Parish Accounts and Statistics are finalised and have been submitted. I hope to speak about them this weekend. They are available on the parish website at the end of this bulletin. The bottom line is that for the first time in a long time we finished the year with expenditure almost covered by income but that leaves nothing for repairs which are mounting up. We need to have the windows, especially on the sea side, sealed and then think of painting the church. I can see no way other than mounting another 'brown envelope' collection, as we did for the carpet. Details will be available soon.

LOURDES GROUP BEETLE DRIVE
The Lourdes Group is having a Beetle Drive and Family Fun Night on Friday 26 February in the Parish Centre at 7.00 pm. All are welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Details are on a poster in the porch.

SAINT PATRICK'S DANCE
There will be a Saint Patrick's Dance on Friday 12 March in the Parish Centre at 7.00 for 7.30 pm. Stovies will be served for supper. Dance in honour of Saint Patrick to the music of Pete Kerr. Tickets costing £7.50 are available from the Parish Office on on 464063. Please indicate vegetarian or other dietary requirements by 1 March.

ITALIAN NIGHT
Another Italian Night is being planned for the beginning of May.

READERS
If you would consider becoming a Reader at Mass please speak to me after Mass or contact the Parish Office on 464063. Thank you.

BIBLE STUDY
A Bible Study on the Gospel of John will be held in Smithstone House, Kilwinning on Wednesdays 3, 10, 17 and 21 February from 2.00 to 4.00 pm. Everyone is welcome.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY
The Children's Liturgy is offered during the 10.00 am Mass. The group who offer this service are always grateful to have new names on the rota. You must have disclosure before you can take part and that is easily arranged. Please phone Michelle in the Parish Office on 464063 on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday morning.

HILLHOUSE CARE
Hillhouse Care, formerly The Innocents, continues to care for children in need as before. Clothing, toys and baby equipment are gratefully received as are goods to sell the charity shop. Please phone 602179 for an uplift.


USED STAMPS FOR SAINT PATRICK’S MISSIONARY SOCIETY
There is a box by the Stall door for used Christmas stamps. They willl be sent to Saint Patrick's Missionary Society.

TRIP TO WALES
There will be a trip to Wales from 31 to 4 June. Places are still available - one twin and two double rooms. For further information, please telephone 601050.

RAINBOWS AND BROWNIES
The Rainbows and Brownies Monday night groups are on 15 February and return on 22 February.

50/50 CLUB
Membership of the 50/50 Club is now due. Please bring payments up-to-date as soon as possible to enable us to make the Prize Draw for January and February. New members are very welcome. Please contact the promoter on 469006.

GIVE BLOOD
If you can never find the time to give blood - here it is. Donations will be accepted at the Civic Centre, Glasgow Street, Ardrossan on Tuesday 23 and Wednesday 24 February from 2.30 to 3.45 pm and 5.15 to 7.30 pm. Thank you.

AEOLIAN MALE VOICE CHOIR CONCERT
The Aeolian Male Voice Choir will give a concert in Barony Saint John’s Church on Thursday 25 February at 7.30 pm. Tickets cost £5. All are welcome. Tea and coffee will be served. The contact telephone numbers are 552717 and 464531.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER
The World Day Of Prayer is to be held in the Church of the Nazarene, Glasgow Street, Ardrossan at 4.00 pm on Friday 5 March. Mrs Jane Austin of the Church of the Nazarene has intimated a United Bible Study Course which is open to all. The dates are Wednesday 27 January, Wednesday 10 February and Wednesday 24 February at 7.30 pm. You would be made very welcome - just turn up for a 7.30 pm start.

THANKS
Grateful thanks to Saint Clare for favours received. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored and glorified and loved today and every day throughout the world, Amen. KD

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.

PARISH ACCOUNTS

 

INCOME
2009
2008
   
   Collections
      £
      £
Sunday Collections   
38122  
39308  
Bankers Orders   
35327  
36630  
Inland Revenue Gift Aid   
12612  
12790  
 
86061  
88728  
   
   Building Fund   
Sunday Collections   
15675  
15192  
Bankers Orders   
11775  
12207  
Donations   
    1120
2145  
Inland Revenue Gift Aid   
4203  
4263  
 
32773  
33807  
   
Fees, Stall, Candles and Advertising   
11453  
9967  
Bank Interest   
23  
810  
50/50 Club   
2000  
2750  
Special Collections   
7603  
10798  
Insurance Claims   
0  
31895  
Fund Raising   
187  
500  
Carpet Fund   
746  
6820  
Refunds   
30 
246  
Parish Centre   
21888  
20846  
 
43930  
84632  
   
   TOTAL INCOME
162764  
207167  

Our 'Offertory' income this year is about two and a half thousand pounds lower than last year, as is the Building Fund. This has a knock-on effect on Gift Aid and so on, meaning that we are almost four thousand pounds lower than last year. Causes are straightforward. Some of our older and most faithful collection payers have died, younger parishioners don't have the same habits and have more call on their finances. Mass numbers are steady but money is tight. The stall made an increase!

EXPENDITURE  
   
House Management   
17948  
17973  
Church Management   
14074  
12517  
Church Projects    
3995  
4000  
Parish Centre   
26297  
26574  
Salaries and Supply Costs   
13195  
17503  
Council Tax, Telephone and Insurance   
11627  
12645  
Grounds and Security   
837  
1294  
Stall   
3385  
3238  
Administration Expenses   
3757  
3748  
Office Equipment   
3194  
2263  
Travelling Expenses   
3326  
2513  
Parish Development and Education   
2549  
4528  
Special Collections   
7733  
10669  
Donations   
0  
270  
Diocesan Loan   
36000  
36000  
Diocesan Levy   
14900  
14200  
Fees and Subscriptions   
61  
30  
Reduncy Costs    
0  
9961  
Insurance Replacements   
0  
36051  
   TOTAL EXPENDITURE
162878  
215977  
   SURPLUS / DEFICIT
114  
8810  

Expenditure is less than last year because a few expenses of last year were not repeated. The cost of printing the Bulletin and hymn sheets are lower through efficiency. The Parish Centre brings in £21000 and costs £26,000 not including the repayment of the loan which comes from the second collection. Some of the costs are because of the Centre's use as a Parish facility and collections cover that, but some of the costs are heating, cleaning, bin-emptying and so on, not yet covered by Saint Peter's Nursery. There are ongoing discussions to try to ensure that the Nursery is self-financing, independent and not subsidised by the Parish. We are trying to work out the best arrangement for the new financial year.

BALANCE SHEET   
   
Opening Balance on 1 January   
19120  
27930  
Income   
162764  
207167  
less Expenditure    
162878  
215977  
Opening Balance on 31 December   
19006  
19120   
   
  
  
Reconciled Bank Balance   
19120  
19120  
   
  
  
   DIOCESAN LOAN    
  
  
Balance Outstanding    
144000  
180000  

We are paying off the Diocesan Loan at £3000 per month - so only four more years! Baptism, weddings are up on previous years and the spiritual life of the Parish seems to be happy and contented. Finance plays a worrying part in keeping our Church, Centre, grounds and house. Grateful thanks to all of you for your generous and responsible support of your Parish. A slight increase in your weekly collection would be good - as would a few more parishioners using Bankers Orders and Gift Aid if you pay income tax. Even individual donations, as when we collected for the new carpet, can be gift aided so every £1 you give becomes £1.28. I know times are hard, but every little will help.

Canon Matt