Bhileag (Newsletter) 17th March 2024
WEEKDAY MASSES:
*Please note there could be last minute changes to any of the Masses this week!
Mon 18th March……..No Mass
Tue 19th March…….10.00am EOLIGARRY
Wed 20th March…..12 Noon CRAIGSTON
Thu 21st March…….10.00am NORTHBAY
Fri 22nd March……..10.00am VATERSAY
Sat 23rd March……..No Mass
NEXT WEEKEND
23rd & 24th March 2024
PALM SUNDAY
Vigil (Saturday)…..4.00pm CRAIGSTON
Sunday Masses……9.30am NORTHBAY & 11.30am CASTLEBAY
Sacrament of Confession: every Saturday 9.30am-9.50am in Castlebay and 12 Noon-12.30pm in Northbay
CHURCH NOTICES
Prayers for the repose of the soul of Canon Roddy Johnston: Bishop Brian has informed the Diocese of the very sad news of the death of Canon Roddy Johnston who peacefully passed away on Saturday 16th March in the Belford Hospital in Fort William. Fr Roddy was recently diagnosed with Cancer and it was too far advanced and he was having end of life care in the hospital. It was a very quick illness. This sad news has come as a huge shock to all in the Diocese. Fr. Roddy was a well loved and well known, popular priest in the Diocese. He had been the Vicar General of the Diocese for the last 7 years working alongside Bishop Brian. He had latterly been Parish Priest of St. Andrew’s in Rothesay. He was well known by many in the islands in his time as Parish Priest of Stornoway. All over the Diocese and beyond many will be shocked by the news of his death. Fr Roddy was man of faith and he was a humble priest who trusted in his Lord Jesus. So we commend his soul to God and pray that God may be gracious and merciful upon his soul and to grant him the fullness of eternal peace in the paradise of heaven. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
Funeral: sadly we continue to await news on when the Funeral of Allan MacLeod will be. Allan was taken to Inverness for a post mortem so we have to wait for news of when he will be brought back to the island to be laid to rest. Therefore we continue to remember Allan in our prayers and we pray for the repose of his soul. Allan was a well known character within the island community and we extend our prayers of love & sympathy to Allan’s family & friends at this time. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
Diocesan Chrism Mass: will take place this coming week (Wednesday 20th March) at 6.30pm in St. Columba’s Cathedral in Oban. Bishop Brian extends a warm welcome to all!
Canon John Paul: was hoping to go to the Chrism Mass this Wednesday and he had hoped there was also time to visit Canon Roddy Johnston in the Belford Hospital in Fort William but all that has changed now. Fr Roddy has now passed away and the Diocese will now plan arrangements for his funeral. Also here on the island we wait for details of when Allan MacLeod’s Funeral will take place. Therefore Canon John Paul will remain on the island unless there is the possibility of him going to Oban. Therefore at the last minute there could be changes to any of the weekday Masses.
Palm Sunday: Holy Week begins next Sunday (24th March) with Palm Sunday. Therefore next Sunday Palm Crosses will be blessed at all the Masses and we will then enter the most important week in our faith- Holy Week.
SCIAF Sunday Collection: last Sunday the special collections for SCIAF raised- Castlebay Parish £626.00 and Northbay Parish £293.00.Thank you for your generosity. Moran Taing!
SCIAF Wee Boxes: They can be handed in from Palm Sunday onwards. So if you have your boxes ready just hand them into the church. Thanks.
Sunday “Stations of the Cross”: this Sunday (17th March) there will be Stations of the Cross at 3.00pm in Northbay.
Craigston Vigil Mass time: at the moment the Craigston Vigil Mass is at 4.00pm for the Winter months (November to March). The clocks will go forward on Sunday 31st March. Therefore from Saturday 6th April the Vigil Mass will return to 6.00pm.
Grave tending services: Nicola MacIsaac from Lochaber has offered her expertise in Grave tending services. If you would like Nicola to clean a headstone in a graveyard then you may wish to speak to her and she will be able to offer help and information. Her details are Nicola MacIsaac. Mobile 07859877192 or email lochabergts@hotmail.com. You can also find her on Facebook at “Lochaber Grave Tending Services”. Nicola is in the Association of Grave Tenders.