Bhileag (Newsletter) 3rd September 2023
WEEKDAY MASSES:
Mon 4th September………No Mass
Tue 5th September……….10.00am EOLIGARRY
Wed 6th September………11.00am NORTHBAY
(Requiem Mass)
Thur 7th September……..No Mass
Fri 8th September……….10.00am VATERSAY
Sat 9th September………….No Mass
NEXT WEEKEND’S MASSES
9th & 10th SEPTEMBER 2023
23rd Sunday of Year A
Vigil (Saturday)….6.00pm CRAIGSTON
Sunday Masses…9.30am NORTHBAY & 11.30am CASTLEBAY
CHURCH NOTICES
Requiem Mass:we remember in our prayers the repose of the soul of Flora MacKinnon (Florag a’chodaidh) of Kentangaval/Northbay who passed away on Monday 4th September in St. Brendan’s Home at the wonderful age of 93. Flora’s Requiem Mass will take place on Wednesday 6th September at 11.00am in St. Barr’s, Northbay. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.
Visiting Priest: we have Fr. Joel Liwanag who is a Jesuit Priest based in Edinburgh coming to stay on Vatersay for over a week for a spiritual retreat. It’s lovely that different Priests want to come and stay in the small chapel house on Vatersay and spend time in prayer and enjoy the beauty of the islands. Fr. Joel stays in the same Jesuit house as Fr. David Stewart who often comes here to the island to supply for Canon John Paul.
Fr. Joel comes from the Philippines and he has been in working in Scotland for the last few years. He has helped out in Oban cathedral and in Benbecula parish and so he is getting to know our Diocese. Fr. Joel will fly in on Tuesday and will stay till Thursday 14th September and he will offer to celebrate Mass too. We hope he enjoys his time on the islands.
Canon John Paul: plans to be away next weekend on the mainland and he will leave Fr. Joel to look after the weekend Masses.
Clergy Assembly: The Priests of the Diocese will meet in Oban for a Clergy Assembly from Tuesday 12th September till Thursday 14th September. Canon John Paul will be attending the meetings.
Eoligarry Church 60th Anniversary Mass of Thanksgiving: Eoligarry Church opened in 1963 and therefore this year marks the 60th anniversary of the opening of St. Vincent de Paul in Eoligarry. Canon John Paul will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving on Wednesday 27th September at 6.00pm in Eoligarry Church. After the Mass there will be Tea/coffee & home baking in Eoligarry School. All welcome.
Canon John Paul is still interested in any pictures that parishioners might have of St. Vincent’s in Eoligarry. Do you have any pictures of the church being built back in 1963 or any pictures of celebrations which have taken place in the church like Baptisms, First Holy Communion, weddings etc?? Canon John Paul would like to see any pictures and possibly put them into an order of service for the anniversary Mass on the 27th September. You can email them to Canon John Paul or to make a copy and hand to him.
Diocesan Safeguarding Day: The Diocesan safeguarding day will be online on Saturday 16th September from 11am-1pm. To register simply follow the link on the Diocesan website or facebook page. Once registered you will receive a welcome email with details.
New Altar Servers: are there are children who have made their First Holy Communion and would like to be an Altar Server in Castlebay Church or Northbay Church or Craigston Church? Please speak with Canon John Paul if anyone is interested.
Craigston Vigil Mass Time for Winter???: some parishioners have approached Canon John Paul to ask if the Vigil Mass on Saturday evening (during the winter time) could be moved from 6pm to maybe 4pm? Just for the Winter months when the long dark nights come in! Maybe when clocks go back an hour! Canon John Paul is “open to suggestions” and happy to listen to parishioners thoughts on this. Would you like the Vigil to go to 4.00pm for Winter (from November to February). Or are you happy to keep to 6.00pm?
Led by the Spirit Phase 2 – Consultation on our Diocesan Resources: Bishop Brian has now begun Phase 2 of “Led by the Spirit”. If you go online and go to the Website www.ledbythespirit.rcdai.org.uk and all the information is there. Bishop Brian wants us to see what the Diocese is all about and who makes up the Diocese from Bishop, Priests and religious and numbers of lay people in our parishes. Pointing out the statistics of those who go along to Sunday Mass. Also highlighted are the finances of every parish. Go along to the website and see what phase 2 is all about it.
Northbay Church Tea after Mass: on the first Sunday of each month you are welcome after Sunday Mass to Tea/Coffee and baking in the Chapel Hall. The next one will be today 3rd September. All welcome.