Bhileag (Newsletter) 23rd July 2023
WEEKDAY MASSES:
Mon 24th July………No Mass
Tue 25th July……….10.00am EOLIGARRY
Wed 26th July…….. 12 Noon CRAIGSTON
Thur 27th July……..10.00am NORTHBAY
Fri 28th July…………10.00am VATERSAY
Sat 29th July……….. 10.00am CASTLEBAY
NEXT WEEKEND’S MASSES
29th & 30th JULY 2023
17th Sunday of Year A
Vigil (Saturday)…..6.00pm CRAIGSTON
Sunday Masses…9.30am NORTHBAY & 11.30am CASTLEBAY
Sacrament of Confession: every Saturday from 9.30am -9.50am in Castlebay and 12 Noon-12.30pm in Northbay
CHURCH NOTICES
Recent Baptism: we warmly welcome into the family of the Church Ruairidh Morrison who was baptised in Our Lady Star of the Sea in Castlebay on Saturday 22nd July. We pray that God may bless Ruairidh with health and happiness and every blessing. May the Lord bless his parents Michael & Katie and his Godparents.
Fr. Philip Conner: we have Fr. Philip from the Diocese of Lancaster staying over on Vatersay for this weekend until Wednesday. Fr. Philip has been visiting Vatersay each Summer for the last few years. We hope he enjoys his short break on the island with his dog Bosco.
Fr. Liam McMahon: we also have Fr. Liam visiting the island from St. Michael’s parish in Parkhead in Glasgow. We hope he enjoys his wee visit to the island.
Peter’s Pence Collection: today we will take up a 2nd collection for Peters Pence which is a special charity of Pope Francis in which he helps many other charities in need of help & charity.
Bishops Admin Fund: next weekend we will take up a special collection for the Bishops Admin Fund. This is an important fund to help support Bishop Brian in all that he does within the Diocese. We have such a unique and extensive Diocese and any help towards travel, office work etc is a great help to the Bishop.
Eoligarry Church new Cross: the Cross of the Risen Lord has now been placed above the altar in St. Vincent’s. The Celtic Cross that was there has now been placed in the church porch so that it is the first thing you see as you open the door of the church. The Cross of the Risen Lord came from St. Brendan’s Home and now it has now found a new home in St. Vincent’s Church in Eoligarry. We look forward to celebrating Mass on Tuesday with the new Cross above the altar. Canon John Paul is grateful to John MacNeil for placing the Crosses in their new places.
Wedding: we keep in our prayers Mairi Claire Campbell & James Davidson who will marry in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Castlebay next Friday 28th July at 1.00pm. We hope and pray it will be a wonderful day for them and that the weather will be kind to them. If there are any choir members available to help in the singing of the hymns then please come along to the Nuptial Mass which begins at 1pm.
Lourdes Parish Pilgrimage 2024: we are looking at the 3rd weekend of May 2024 (possibly 15th May-19th May 2024?) for the Lourdes Pilgrimage. The pilgrimage will be for 4/5 days. The hotel will be the 4 star Jeanne D’Arc. Flying from Edinburgh to Toulouse and then a bus drive to Lourdes-about 2hrs 30mins drive. Flights will not become available until at least September/October this year-that is the reason for the delay in confirmation. However the best thing to do is to plan for the 3rd weekend of May 2024.
Led by the Spirit: Bishop Brian writes…Thank you to everyone who participated during the consultation Phase 1. The responses from parishes have now been collated into a single document. It is interesting and uplifting to read the comments from all over the diocese from laity and clergy as we discern together God’s call for us today. It is a real expression of faith and hope. Please read the document prayerfully- alone or with others- noting which statements attract or challenge you and ask where the Spirit is moving. The document can be read at the website page- www.ledbythespirit.rcdai.org.uk or on the diocese facebook page. Phase 2 of “Led by the Spirit” will begin in August. If you can’t get access online for the Phase 1 consultation document then let Canon John Paul know and he will photocopy the document for you to read. Just let him know if you wish a photocopy.