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Saturday
22 December
|
Vigil
Mass at 4.30pm
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am |
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Sunday
23 December
|
Sunday Mass at 10.00am |
Sunday Mass at 11.30am |
|
Monday
24 December
|
Holy
Mass at 4.30pm Midnight Mass |
Holy Mass at 6.30pm |
|
Tuesday
25 December
|
Holy Mass at 11.00am | Holy Mass at 9.30am |
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Wednesday
26 December
|
Holy Mass at 11.00am | |
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Thursday
27 December
|
Requiem Mass at 10.00am | |
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Friday
28 December
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am | Requiem Mass at 10.00am |
|
Saturday
29 December
|
Vigil
Mass at 4.30pm
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am |
PARISH CENTRE EVENT |
||
|
Sunday
23 December
|
11.30am |
PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Julie Paterson who died recently;
Peggy Hamilton, Patrick McLaughlin 1998, Father George Thompson 2016, Theresa Tumilty 2016, Mereno Berti 2003, Sister Anne Delahunt 2011, Peggy McLaughlan 2006, Samuel McMail 2016, Bessie Delahunt 2006, Tom McKay, Bessie O'Rourke 2005, George Scott 1973, Jessie Brown 1975, Tom Finn 1993, Anne-Marie Jenkins 2005, Sister Mary McCann, Isobel O'Hare Rae 2004, Patrick Quinn 1969, Margaret Shanks 1966, Margaret Clarkson 2003, Molly Cosgrove 1994, Jim Lindsay 2013, Catherine McEvoy 2009, Arthur Robertson, Arturo Farro 1994, Catherine McCulloch 2012, Rose Murphy 2009, Thomas O'Connell 1957, May Shanks 1990, Maria Tomelty 2014, Patrick Cahill 2010, Kit Keen 2012 and Mary Dorian Stirling 1999 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.
SUNDAY MASS TIMES
Sunday Mass times in Saint Peter's are 5.30pm Vigil and 10.30am. Sunday Mass times in other local parishes can be seen here.
SACRAMENT OF FORGIVENESS
The Sacrament of Forgiveness is celebrated on Saturdays between 4.45 and 5.15 pm and at other times on request.
READERS
Next weekend's readers are Margaret Munn at 5.30pm and Margaret Brawley at 10.30am.
ALTAR SERVERS
Next weekend's altar servers are Group 1 at 5.30pm and Group 3 at 10.30am.
MUSIC MINISTRY
Next weekend's musician is George McGrattan at 5.30pm.
CHILDREN’S
LITURGY
The Children's Liturgy resumes on 13 January.
CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS
Please make sure you get the times of Services and Holy Mass at Christmas
before you leave Church today. You could invite neighbours and friends and
family to the Christmas Celebrations or put an invitation through the letter
box. Catholics can always come home at Christmas!
SACRAMENT
OF MARRIAGE
We are delighted to announce the wedding of Louise McGuinness and Stephen
Griffin on Thursday 27 December at 1.00pm. We wish them both a love for a
lifetime.
THE
WITNESS OF MARY AND JOSEPH
"Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled." - Luke 1:45, Year C
As
we enter the fourth week of Advent, we are given our Blessed Mother and Saint
Joseph to reflect upon. Though our Blessed Mother was perfect and Saint Joseph
was a deeply virtuous man, they were both still fully human and would have
walked through Mary's pregnancy and Jesus' birth with every human emotion
and experience. Saint Joseph was faced with an extraordinary mystery as he
discovered his wife was pregnant. He knew her to be a woman of exceptional
virtue and holiness and had to reconcile that with her surprising pregnancy.
Even after the angel appeared to him in a dream, he would have had questions
arise in his mind as he faced this situation. Our Blessed Mother was also
invited by God to face her pregnancy in faith. Her response was perfect -
"Let it be done to me according to your word." She could not explain
nor understand what was happening but, nonetheless, she knew deep in her soul
that God was in charge leading all to His glory. Both Mary and Joseph are
wonderful models of faith and obedience. They were obedient to the will of
God despite the fact that the will of God drew them into an incredible and
unfathomable mystery. They were first-hand witnesses to the salvation of the
world and to the greatest act ever known - and they both embraced this mystery
and accepted it in faith. Reflect, today, upon your own invitations from God
to embrace the mysteries of life. God's ways are often more than we can comprehend
and figure out. Mary and Joseph give us the witness of how we are to handle
every mystery God invites us to participate in. Say yes to the will of God
just as this holy couple did. Dearest Mother Mary and Saint Joseph, pray
for me that I may have the faith you both lived. When questions arise in my
heart, help me to respond generously to God as you did. May I trust in all
that God has spoken in imitation of each one of you. Jesus, I trust in You.
JUST FOR A LAUGH …
Here are some classic bulletin bloopers:
1 The choir invites any member of the congregation
who enjoys sinning to join the choir.
2 At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic
will be "What is Hell?". Come early and listen to our choir practice.
3 Please remember in prayer the many who are sick
of our Church and community.
4 Women's Luncheon - each member should bring a sandwich.
Polly Phillips will give the medication.
5 Weight Watchers will meet at 7.00pm. Please use
large double door at the side entrance.
Not so very long ago, an old Scottish man was feeling guilty about something
he had done, so he decided to go to Confession. He said "Bless me, Father,
for I have sinned. I feel terrible because during World War II, I hid a refugee
in my attic." The priest said "But that's not a sin! I wouldn't
feel bad about that if I were you!" "But I made him agree to pay
me £5 for every week he stayed." The priest said "Well, I
admit that certainly wasn't the most noble thing to do, charging the man to
save his life - but you did save his life, after all, and that is a good thing.
Don't worry about it too much. God forgives." The man said "Oh thank
you, Father, that eases my mind. I have only one more question to ask you
- Do I have to tell him the war is over?"
OUT
OF THE MOUTHS OF BABES
A teacher from a primary school asks her students to write an essay about
family time and what they would like God to do for them. In the evening while
marking the essays, she read one that made her very emotional. Oh God, tonight
I ask you something very special - make me into a television. I want to take
its place. Live like the TV in my house. Have my own special place, and have
my family around ME. To be taken seriously when I talk. I want to be the centre
of attention and be heard without interruptions or questions. I want to receive
the same special care that the TV receives when it is not working. Have the
company of my dad when he arrives home from work, even when he is tired -
and I want my mum to want me when she is sad and upset, instead of ignoring
me. And I want my brothers to fight to be with me. I want to feel that the
family just leaves everything aside, every now and then, just to spend some
time with me. And last but not least make it that I can make them all happy
and entertain them. Lord I don't ask you for much. I just want to live like
every TV!! After reading it, her husband said "Who are his parents? Poor
child." She looked up at him and said "We are his parents - our
son wrote that!"
CHRISTMAS GREETING FROM BISHOP NOLAN
I always find it is a great relief when we get to Christmas. There is so much
to do in the days and weeks beforehand that life can be very busy and full
of stress. But once Christmas arrives, there is nothing left to do but enjoy
it - so says someone who is not cooking the Christmas dinner! I hope you are
able to spend time with family and friends this Christmas and that you enjoy
celebrating the feast of Christ's birth with those you love, knowing that
God loves you. May God's blessing be with us all at Christmas and throughout
the coming year.
+William Nolan, Bishop of Galloway
A BIG THANK YOU FROM THE SCOTTISH CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL AID FUND (SCIAF)
A very sincere thank you to everyone who helped to raise £3.2 million
through our Lenten SCIAF Wee Box, Big Change appeal this year. Parishes across
Scotland were particularly generous and contributed through collections and
fundraising. The money raised will help thousands of people who struggle due
to poverty, conflict or natural disasters. Please continue to remember our
brothers and sisters across the world in your prayers.
MILLENIALS UNSURE WHO THE BABY IS IN NATIVITY
Two in five millenials do not know that the baby in the nativity story is
Jesus. Two thousand Brits aged between twenty-one and thirty-eight were polled
for the study by the booking website hotels.com. Thirty-nine per cent of those
questioned could not identify the infant born in the manger and slightly fewer,
thirty-seven per cent, looked blank at the names Mary and Joseph. Half did
not know that the Angel Gabriel told Mary she was going to be a mother. Fewer
than ten per cent of those questioned could name the three gifts brought of
frankincense, gold and myrrh by the wise men. Asked how the nativity story
would be brought up to date, fifteen per cent would replace the Three Wise
Men with Three Wise Women, ten per cent would would have a unicorn instead
of a donkey and ten per cent said Gabriel would appear to Mary via Instagram.
As for other Christmas traditions, forty-six per cent said their Christmas
dinner would consist of pizza or vegan food instead of turkey. The study follows
news that a nativity scene was initially banned in a Scottish shopping centre
with bosses saying they wanted to be 'religiously neutral'.
HCPT LOURDES GROUP 376
Esther Coulter will be taking part in the annual New Year's Day dip across
from the Church at South Beach at 12 noon. Sponsor forms will be available
from group members at the weekend Masses. The group accompany adults with
additional support needs to Lourdes at Easter to join in the celebrations
with HCPT members from all over the world. Your support is appreciated. Our
Lady of Lourdes, pray for us.
BOILERS UPDATE
The new boilers have now been installed and are fully functional. We would
like to offer a massive thank you to the parishioners who have handed in donations
for the new boilers. The total to date is £11336.28! I would like to
thank you all again for your support. It is very gratefully received. Our
target was £11200 - thank you again for your tremendous generosity!
APPEAL FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS
Churches Homeless Action North Ayrshire (CHANA) is appealing for unwrapped
Christmas gifts for those in need. They would like toys for children,but not
fluffy - gift cards for teenagers and the usual adult gifts - socks, pyjamas,
gloves, scarves et cetera - mainly small to medium sizes please. Thank you
again for your continuing generosity.
KNIT AND KNATTER
The Knit and Knatter group stopped on Wednesday 12 December and recommence
on Wednesday 9 January.
MUSIC MINISTRY
We are looking for a few new helpers for the music and singing at the Sunday
Mass. If you can help in any way, please speak to Father
Duncan. Thanks.
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.
FINANCES
Bankers Orders for the Parish and Parish Centre amount to £3500 per
month. 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. A Standing
Order would make the handling of money so much easier. Have you signed a Gift
Aid form? If you are a taxpayer the Church would get 25p added to every £1
you donate.
COLLECTIONS
Last weekend's Offertory collection amounted to £599.63 and the Maintenance
Fund collection to £242.68 - thanks.
SUNDAY TEAS
There will be no Sunday teas next weekend.
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 and on the parish
website. 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.
VISITORS
Are you visiting us for Holy Mass? Please know that you are very welcome.
During the 10.30 am Holy 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 Holy Mass, tea, coffee
cakes and buns are available in the Parish Centre. At both of our weekend
Holy Masses, we have a second collection for Church maintenance.
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.