BULLETIN               1 DECEMBER 2013

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT IN YEAR 1


CHURCH SERVICES

Saturday 30 November  

Solemnity of Saint Andrew
Mass at 10.00 am for Jim Grear, Cathy Brady and Janie McGonigle
Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for George Hilferty

Sunday 1 December  

Sunday Mass at 10.30 am for the congregation

Monday 2 December  
Mass at 10.00 am for Alice McGrattan
Tuesday 3 December  

Mass at 10.00 am for George Hilferty

Wednesday 4 December  

Mass at 10.00 am for those who are sick

Thursday 5 December  

Mass at 7.00 pm in thanksgiving (SR) and for Mary McGuinness

Friday 6 December  

Mass at 10.00 am for Joyce Feeney

Saturday 7 December  

Mass at 10.00 am for Ger and Kay Kelly
Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for Alice McGrattan and George Hilferty

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 1 December  

11.30 am

Tea and Coffee after Mass

Monday 2 December  
7.00 to 9.00 pm

Saint Vincent de Paul Society

Tuesday 3 December  
9.00 to 11.00 am
11.00 am
6.30 to 8.30 pm
5.00 to 7.30 pm

Cardiac Rehabilition
Legion of Mary
Cardio 40 Toning
Irish Dancing Class

Wednesday 4 December  
6.00 to 8.00 pm
7.00 to 8.00 pm

8.00 to 9.00 pm

Irish Dancing Class
Zumba

Cardio 40 Toning

Thursday 5 December  
6.00 to 7.30 pm
7.30 to 9.00 pm

Brownies
Guides

Friday 6 December  
9.30 to 11.30 am

Parents and Toddlers

Saturday 7 December  
7.00 pm

Private Function

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Maria Reid of our parish and Mary McGuinness who died recently;
Margaret Hamilton 1992, Collette McKibben 2003, John McNamara 1997, Elizabeth Theresa Walsh 1970, Brian O'Hare 2009, Tom Reid 2006, Monica Tipping 2010, John Welsh 2009, Mary Martin 1983, Isabella McGoogan 1998, Gordon Alexander Smith 1997, John Hughes 2010, Margaret Anne Shanks 1994, Rose Smith 1999, Anne Thompson 1986, Robert Walker 2012, Susan Connor 2009, Thomas Connor 2006, Joyce Feeney 2012, Jean Graham, Alexander Merrick 2001, May Shanks 1990, Rose Smith 1999, Sarah Braniff 1961, Katherine Fearon 1911, Ann McCubbin and Robert Shanks 1996 whose anniversaries occur at this time and those who are sick.
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 Canon Keegans (01292 263488) is the chaplain to Ayr Hospital. The priest on call can be contacted through the ward.
If deceased members of your family are not on our anniversary list, please tell Canon Matt
, the parish office or contact
WebsiteAuthor@SaintPeterinChains.net.


SUNDAY MASS TIMES
Sunday Mass times in Saint Peter's are 5.30 pm Vigil and 10.30 am. Sunday Mass times in other local parishes can be seen here.

SACRAMENT OF FORGIVENESS
The Sacrament of Forgiveness is available at any suitable time as well as from 4.30 pm before the Vigil Mass on Saturday evenings.

FINANCES
Bankers Orders for the parish and Parish Centre amount to £3800 per month. Every month, we pay off our Parish Centre debt by £3000 and pay a levy of £1450 to the Diocese. We are grateful for your generous support in collections. If you can manage a little more from time to time, it would be a great help. 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. Would you consider remembering Saint Peter's in your will?

OFFERTORY COLLECTION
Last weekend's Offertory collection amounted to £614.41 - many thanks.


PARISH CENTRE COLLECTION
Last weekend's collection for
the Parish Centre amounted to £297.36 - many thanks.


SACRISTY ROOF
It appears we can go no further with patching the flat roof of the Sacristy. The likely cost of a re-roof is in the region of £15000 and we do not have that in the Building Fund. The work will have to be done. If I re-issue the white envelopes in the near future, will you do whatever you can, please?

GIFT AID
The Inland Revenue now requires us to use a new style of Gift Aid form. These are available at the back of the Church. If you pay tax, please complete the new form and return it to the box provided. This allows us to provide the additional information required on the Gift Aid claim. Gift Aid is a vital source of income. All that is needed is that you pay tax. You simply declare that you give funds to the Church. We do the rest. Why not sign a form today? We get back an extra 25p for every £1 you give the Church in your weekly collection or by way of a donation. There is no need to cancel or renew it. We simply claim in the income we receive.


READERS
Next weekend's readers are Harry Sammons at 5.30 pm and Margaret Harvey at 10.30 am.

ALTAR SERVERS
Next weekend's altar servers are CC at 5.30 pm and Group 5 at 10.30 am.

SUNDAY TEAS
Next Sunday's teas will be served by Sadie Gilmour’s team.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY
The Children's Liturgy is celebrated during the Sunday 10.00 am Mass. We have groups for three to five years, primary 1 and 2 and primary 3. All children are welcome.
Next week's helpers are Geraldine Butcher and Elise McCormack for the pre-fives, Michelle Morton, Michelle Noble and Andrena Hughes for primaries 1 to 3 and Frances Gemmell and Gayle Paterson for primary 4.

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS
The letter from the Scottish Bishops on safeguarding children and vulnerable adults is available on our website. Printed or email copies are available on request. The letter contains the web address where historic cases are recorded.

VATICAN CONSULTATION ON THE FAMILY
An extensive consultation document on the family has been issued. There is the original document - it makes heavy reading and is in quite difficult language - or a simplified version. You can have either or both. Printed copies are available. Both documents can be downloaded from the parish website.

DAY OF PRAYER FOR SYRIA
Aid To The Church In Need has asked us to pray for the Syrian people on Friday 6 December. It is the Feast of Saint John Damascene (of Damascus). There are little prayer cards available.

PARISH CHRISTMAS CARD
Would you like to send Christmas Greetings to other parishioners? You can do it through the Parish Christmas Card in exchange for a donation to the Sacristy Roof. There is a 'sign up sheet' in the stall. The Card will be available to everyone on the Sunday before Christmas.

CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR
Thank you to everyone who came along to the Christmas Craft Fair. £574.33 was raised. Thank you to all the stall holders and all who helped make the fair a great success.

MONEY FOUND
A sum of money was found at the pedestrian gate of the Church a couple of weeks ago. It can be claimed - if you know the amount - at Saltcoats Police Station.

MASSES
Over ninety Mass intentions for George Hilferty and Alice McGrattan have been sent to priests in Africa via Father Charles. The rest will be offered here over the next few months.

ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND VISITS TO SAINT PETER’S WEBSITE
On 25 November 2013, the one hundred thousandth visit was made to Saint Peter’s website which was launched on 13 July 2005. The site has over 1750 web pages, 1100 pictures, 490 bulletins between 1960 and 2013, 14000 links, some audio and video clips and been viewed in 81 countries worldwide. Over 1200 of our deceased relatives and friends are remembered in our Anniversary List and some are featured in our Memoriam Cards page. The site contains many articles on past and present spiritual and community life in Saint Peter's with pages dedicated to our recent seventy-fifth anniversary.
Canon Matt and the website author are very grateful to those who have accessed the site, lent photographs, passed on stories, identified errors, made suggestions and expressed compliments. The aims of the site are to make parishioners and others aware of current events and record our history. If you can help with this project, please speak to Canon Matt or contact WebsiteAuthor@SaintPeterinChains.net.

PROTECTION OF VULNERABLE GROUPS (PVG)
Could all volunteers let the Parish Office know when you receive your Protection of Vulnerable Groups paperwork in the post? Thanks.

THANKS FROM GEORGE'S FAMILY
Maria Hilferty and family say “Holy Mass will be offered for the intentions of our parishioners and many friends for the Mass cards, prayers and support which we received and which will help to sustain us during our sad loss. God bless you all.”.

THANKS FROM ALICE'S FAMILY
Alice McGrattan’s family is very grateful for the many expressions of sympathy, Mass Cards and floral tributes received since her death. We thank Canon Matt, Father Stephen, Alice’s grandson and the five other concelebrants of the Requiem Mass; all who attended the Church services and interment; Martin McLaughlan, Catherine Kerr and Marie-Anne McGrattan, Alice’s granddaughter for the music; Paul Stevenson, funeral director, and his staff; the Cheery Cup for catering and members of the Thursday Club for their many years of friendship. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass will be offered for your intentions.

ADVENT PENANCE SERVICES IN THE THREE TOWNS
To help us prepare for Christmas, we will celebrate the Sacrament of Forgiveness in the parishes of the Three Towns as follows:
   - Saint Peter's, Ardrossan on Monday 9 December at 7.00 pm
   - Saint John's, Stevenston on Tuesday 10 December at 7.00 pm

   - Saint Mary's, Saltcoats on Wednesday 11 December at 2.00 pm
Since all three priests will be present, please choose the day and time which best suits.

MEMORIAL CANDLES
There is a nice selection of candles available at the stall.

ROSARY BEADS
Father Stephen Sharkey has written from Afghanistan asking for rosary beads - used or new - for the soldiers. Most soldiers - Catholic or otherwise - want to carry a set of rosary beads as they go out on patrol. Father Stephen talks to them about superstition and encourages them to pray - but he always tries to give rosaries when asked for them. Can you help? Leave them with Betty at the stall. Thanks.


ARDROSSAN CHURCHES GROUP CAROL SERVICE
The Ardrossan Churches Group Carol Service will be held in the Evangelical Union Church, Glasgow Street, Ardrossan on Thursday 12 December at 7.00 pm. Saint Peter’s schoolchildren, as well as groups from all the primary schools in the town, will take part. The offering is for the Philippines Appeal through Christian Aid.

SCOTTISH INTERFAITH WEEK
Scottish InterFaith week runs from 24 November to 1 December. We try to follow the example of Pope Francis and reach out in friendship to all our neighbours who are not Christian. We recognise all people of faith as brothers and sisters and pray that people of faith will work together for peace in the world and in our country.

BURNS SUPPER 2014
Our annual Burns Supper will be on 1 February 2014. Full details will follow soon. Tickets are always in demand.

WORLD AIDS DAY
There will be a Vigil Service for World Aids Day in Saint Winin’s Church, Kilwinning on Sunday 1 December at 7.00 pm. All are welcome.

SERVICE OF CAROLS AND READINGS FOR ADVENT
There will be a service of Carols and Readings for Advent, accompanied by Galloway Voices Choir, in Saint Margaret’s Cathedral, Ayr on Wednesday 18 December at 7.30 pm. All are welcome.

VISITORS
Are you visiting us for Mass? Please know that you are very welcome. During the 10.30 am Mass outwith holidays, there is a Children’s Liturgy provided for preschool children, children in Primaries 1 to 3 and a Sacramental Programme for children in Primary 4. After the 10.30 am Mass, tea, coffee cakes and buns are available in the Parish Centre. At both of our weekend Masses, we have a second collection for our Parish Centre debt.


PILGRIMAGE TO ROME 2014
There will be a pilgrimage to Rome from 20 to 27 May 2014. The accommodation is ten minutes walk from Saint Peter’s Basilica. Flights and transport to and from Kilwinning, half board and all sightseeing costs are included in the price of £850. Please register interest with Maureen Berry on 01294 557658 or macberry@live.co.uk who will supply all details.

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGE 2014
Father David Borland is arranging a Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land from 13 to 20 October 2014. Booking forms are available. Interest has been high and places are limited. Transport will be arranged for the flight from Manchester. Contact Father Borland at DavidBorland@lineone.net or phone him 01387 254281 for more information. We have the booking forms available at the stall.

LOURDES JUMBULANCE PILGRIMAGE 2014
Our local Galloway group will be travelling to Lourdes on pilgrimage from Thursday 24 April to Saturday 3 May. There are places available for sick pilgrims - 'VIPs', helpers, relatives and nurses, all to travel in the specially adapted coach suitable even for those unable to fly. For more information or to make a booking please contact the Group Leader Alison Neil on 07749 555 955 or by e-mail on amd.neil@virgin.net.

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.