CHURCH OF SAINT PETER IN CHAINS, ARDROSSAN  •  A Family of Parishes  •  SAINT BRIDE'S CHURCH, WEST KILBRIDE

                                                        

BULLETIN                                                  12 JULY 2020

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME IN YEAR 1

SERVICES AND GATHERINGS
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, public Church services and gatherings are suspended till further notice.
Father Duncan will live stream Holy Mass every day and assures you of his prayers for you and your family. Saint Peter's is open for private prayer on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11.30am to 12.30pm and Saint Bride's on Wednesdays from 11.30am to 12.30pm.

A READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW (Matthew 13:1-23)
Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the beach and he told them many things in parables. He said "Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away because there was no depth of earth but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!" Then the disciples went up to him and asked "Why do you talk to them in parables?" "Because" he replied "the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has will be given more and he will have more than enough but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. You, therefore, are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart. This is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last. Let some trial come or some persecution on account of the word and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing - and the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty."


REFLECTION
Jesus uses parables to make us think. He challenges us to get to grips with his message by reflecting on the underlying message in the story. Here he shows his understanding of the real world, and human nature. We will all receive his Word differently - some of us with an initial enthusiasm that quickly wanes, some of us distracted by worldly things but some of us putting that Word into action and producing a result. None of us is always the same - at different moments in our lives we can receive God's Word in different ways. Especially as we begin to emerge from lockdown, what 'sort of soil' am I? Is the Word of God resulting in a harvest in my life? Can I turn my thirty-fold into a sixty or even a hundred?


RE-OPENING OF OUR CHURCHES
It seems that our Churches can re-open for public Mass and Services from Thursday 23 July. It this remains the case then our first public Masses will resume at the weekend 25 and 26 July, with Mass on Saturday at 10.00am, Vigil Mass at 5.00pm and Sunday Mass at 9.00am at Saint Bride's and 11.00am at Saint Peter's. These are the new Mass times. If the social distancing remains the same, that is two metres, then Saint Bride's could hold around twenty-four people and Saint Peter's around sixty. Families and couples can sit together. The Bishops have suspended the Sunday obligation until the pandemic passes. This means that you can come to Mass anytime during the week or at the weekend. Since places are very restricted, it would be important for parishioners to plan coming to Mass during the week if they can and then the numbers attending will be well within the limits. The procedures for coming to Church will be the same as for everywhere else - wearing a face covering, using the sanitising wipes as we enter Church, sitting only in the available pews, keeping the social distance at all times, entering Church by the main entrance and leaving by the side exits. Mass itself will be a bit simpler - only the cantor will be singing, there will be no Gloria or Creed sung or spoken, only one Reading from Holy Scripture and Holy Communion will be distributed at the end of Mass, so that the congregation can leave the Church directly afterwards. The Offertory Collection will be in the plastic buckets as we enter Church and the Building Fund Collection as we leave. All this is very awkward for us and causes a great deal of inconvenience and extra work and preparation. However, it is the price we will have to pay to return to our Church and receive the sacraments as long as the pandemic endures. Please reassure any apprehensive parishioners that the Church is safe for public worship. We have regular procedures for cleaning and the entire Church building is sanitised before and after use each time.

SAINT PETER'S AND SAINT BRIDE'S CHURCH SERVICES
 
Saint Peter's
Saint Bride's
Sunday 12 July  
Fifteenth Sunday of the Year 
Holy Mass at 10.30am for our parishes
  Live-streamed
 
Monday 13 July  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Margaret Taylor who died recently
  Live-streamed
 
Tuesday 14 July  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Eddie Swiercz at his anniversary
  Live-streamed
 
Wednesday 15 July  
Memorial of Saint Bonaventure,  Doctor of the Church 
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Margaret Ward
  Live-streamed
Private prayer from 11.30am to 12.30pm
Thursday 16 July  
Memorial of Our Lady of Mount  Carmel 
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Patricia Lamont who died recently
  Live-streamed
 
Friday 17 July  
Votive Mass at 10.00am for deliverance from the pandemic and Winifred Murray who died recently
  Live-streamed and public
Holy Mass at 12 noon
  Public
Saturday 18 July  
Our Lady's Day  

Sixteenth Sunday of the Year
 
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Margaret McCabe's intention
  Live-streamed
Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Robert MacRae at his anniversary
  Live-streamed and public
 

SAINT PETER'S NEWS

TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND VISITS TO SAINT PETER'S WEBSITE
The 250000th visit to the SaintPeterInChains.net website was made on Sunday 5 July. The site, which was launched fifteen years ago on 13 July 2005, has over 3400 web pages, 1800 pictures, 850 bulletins between 1960 and 2020, 33600 links, some audio and video clips and been viewed in over 100 countries worldwide. Over 1600 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. Father Duncan 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. Over recent months, a new website, SaintPeterInChains.co.uk, has been developed and it is more compatible with smartphones and tablets. The old site will cease to be updated in the coming months but none of its content will be lost as it will be subsumed into the new site. Thanks to all who have visited the old site - over a quarter of a million times.

SAINT BRIDE'S NEWS

CHURCH SERVICES
We can re-open our Churches for Holy Mass from Wednesday 15 July. The proposed time for Sunday Mass is 12.15pm. Saint Peter's will offer Vigil Mass at 5.30pm on Saturdays and Sunday Mass will be 10.30am. The Saint Peter's Masses will be live-streamed.


100 CLUB
Our last draw for the year will be announced next week. I will then ask you to dust off your purses and pay your new yearly subscription which is still only £12!! We will collect this when we return to Sunday Mass.

BULLETIN NEWS
if you would like to pass on any news or tell us of any special occasion you have celebrated, please contact us by email at HowiePhyllis@yahoo.co.uk or by phone at 01294 822320.

MASS LIVE-STREAMED EVERY DAY
Please tune in to our daily Mass live-streamed from Saint Peter's and join in the Mass from home. Just visit our websites and you will find the link to the live-streaming on YouTube. Between Monday and Saturday, the Rosary is recited at 9.35am and is followed by Mass at 10.00am. On Sunday, Mass is celebrated at 10.30am. Spread the word.


A SIMPLE EXPLANATION OF THE MASS - PART 6
After the Liturgy of the Word - see last week - we come to the Liturgy of the Eucharist. This week, let's look at the first part - the Preparation of the altar and the Presentation of the Gifts. During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we ritualise four actions that Jesus did at the Last Supper. Jesus took bread and wine - the Offertory; Jesus gave thanks - the Eucharist Prayer; Jesus broke the bread - the Breaking of Bread; and Jesus gave it to them - Holy Communion. We pray that our lives may be taken, blessed, broken and ready to share with others. As we receive the Eucharist, we pray that our lives may become Eucharist for others. In the Offertory Procession, we present the gifts of bread and wine and bring them to the altar. The mixing of a little water with the wine reflects a table practice in the days of Jesus. Symbolically, the pouring of a little water into the wine now signifies our weak humanity being united with the Divinity of Christ. The washing of hands, in the early centuries, probably had a practical function. After receiving the gifts of food for the poor, the priest's hands were dirty and in need of washing. Today, the gesture means that the priest asks God to cleanse his heart before he offers the sacrifice of Christ. When the gifts are offered, the congregation responds "May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy Church." This calls to mind the twofold purpose of the Eucharistic sacrifice - the glory of God and the ongoing sanctification of his people. A good practice suggestion is as the gifts of bread and wine are brought forward, present the work of your hands to the Lord.


A PRAYER TO HELP PREPARE FOR THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST

How do you prepare for the incredible moment during each Mass when you are able to receive Jesus in the Most Holy Eucharist? Here is a prayer included in the Spiritual Exercises by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. It will help get your heart ready for Our Lord.
   Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me.
   Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
   Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
   Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
   O Good Jesus, hear me.
   Within your wounds hide me.
   Permit me not to be separated from you.
   From the wicked foe, defend me.
   At the hour of my death, call me and bid me come to you
   that with your saints I may praise you for ever and ever.
   Amen.

GOD'S CAKE
Sometimes we wonder "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God have to do this to me?" Here is a wonderful explanation! A daughter is telling her mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack and the daughter says "Absolutely mum, I love your cakes." "Here, have some cooking oil" her mother offers. "Yuck" says her daughter. "How about a couple of raw eggs?" "No way, mum!" "Would you like some flour then? Or maybe some baking soda?" "Mum, those are all horrible!" - to which the mother replies "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves but when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!" God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times - but God knows that when he puts these things all in his order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful! God loves you unconditionally. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, he'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe but he chose your heart.

PRAYER DURING A PANDEMIC
May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips remember those that have no safe place to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country, let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbours. Amen.                                 Cameron Bellm


FOOD FOR THOUGHT
What the Church needs is youth. Youthfulness is not about being young. It is about allowing courage to rule over fear. It's about enthusiasm. When the enthusiasm fades then pessimism begins to set in and people become old. As Christians our hope sustains our enthusiasm and our youth.

ARE YOU THINKING OF BECOMING A CATHOLIC
Becoming Catholic is a process of falling in love. The person we're falling in love with, over and over again, more and more deeply,
is Jesus Christ. To become Catholic, you have to open your heart to the love Jesus has for you and return that love as best you can. It involves four things - a conversion of mind and heart, an understanding of what the Church teaches, a loving heart and a true desire to be received into full communion. We would love to hear from you!

JUST FOR A LAUGH ...
A couple decided to go to Spain to get some sun during a particularly icy winter. They planned to stay at the same hotel where they spent their honeymoon twenty years earlier. Because of hectic schedules, it was difficult to coordinate their travel schedules so the husband left Bolton and flew to Barcelona on Thursday with his wife flying the following day. The husband checked into the hotel. There was a computer in his room so he decided to send an email to his wife. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her email address and without realising his error, sent the email. Meanwhile, somewhere in Blackpool, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. He had died following a heart attack. The widow decided to check her email expecting messages from relatives and friends. After reading the first message, she screamed and fainted. The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read
To: My Loving Wife    Subject: I've Arrived    Date: October 16, 2008
I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send emails to your loved ones. I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is as uneventful as mine was.
PS It's really hot down here!


WEEKLY BULLETIN
If you would like to receive the weekly bulletin and updates by email, please get in touch with the Parish Office and send us your email address. If you know of someone who would like to be included on the mailing list, please let us know. Thanks!

FINANCIAL SUPPORT
The financial support and upkeep of the Parish is also drastically affected by the present situation. Please try and hand in your Offertory envelopes to the Parish Office when you can or better still, consider taking out a Banker's Order for Saint Peter's as the social isolation will probably impact us for the next months. Banker's Order and Gift Aid Declaration forms are available in the Parish Office and on our website. If you would prefer that we email you or post the forms, please let the Parish Office know. If you require any assistance in completing the forms, please contact George at the Parish Office and he can speak to you by phone. Thank you for all you do and for your solidarity and generosity. In these difficult financial times, there is no obligation to give to the Sunday Collection. If, however, you feel able to, you can donate by text message to an account set up by the Diocese of Galloway. It is not possible to nominate a particular parish so all text-giving donations will be shared among parishes. To donate, text the word SUNDAY to 70085 followed by the number of pounds, from 1 to 20. For example, SUNDAY 5 to 70085 gives £5. This message would cost £5 plus one standard rate message charge. Thank you for all your commitment and support.

NEW PARISH WEBSITE
Please have a look at our new parish website which is now up and running. There are lots of resources for prayer and information, latest news and also the weekly bulletin. The history section is being expanded step by step and has really interesting video clips and photos from past events at Saint Peter's. Have a look at SaintPeterInChains.co.uk. The older website at is www.SaintPeterInChains.net and Saint Bride's website is at StBridesChurch.co.uk.

WEEKLY BULLETIN
If you would like to receive the weekly Bulletin and updates by email, please get in touch with the parish office and send us your email address. If you know of someone who would like to be included on the mailing list, please let us know - 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.

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.