Bhileag (Newsletter) 16th June
WEEKDAY MASSES:
Mon 17th June………. No Mass
Tue 18th June……… 10.00am EOLIGARRY
Wed 19th June….. 12 Noon CRAIGSTON
Thu 20th June………10.00am NORTHBAY
Fri 21st June……….. 10.00am VATERSAY
Sat 22nd June………10.00am CASTLEBAY
NEXT WEEKEND: 22nd & 23rd June 2024
12th Sunday of Year B
Vigil Mass (Saturday)…..6.00pm CRAIGSTON
Sunday Masses…………… No 9.30am Mass
11.30am CASTLEBAY
2.30pm NORTHBAY GROTTO –Mass of Thanksgiving for silver Jubilee of Canon John Paul
CHURCH NOTICES
Canon John Paul’s Silver Jubilee Mass: Next Sunday 23rd June Canon John Paul celebrates his Silver Jubilee (25 years) of Priesthood. Out of those 25 years in ministry he has spent 15 years here on Barra & Vatersay. Canon John Paul plans to celebrate an outdoor Mass at Northbay Grotto at 2.30pm (weather permitting) and afterwards food and refreshments in the Church Hall & grounds. Everyone is welcome!
Sadly the month of June has not had good weather- it has been very cold and wet-more like Winter than Summer! Hopefully things will change! We all need to pray hard for good weather for next Sunday. If you have a statue of the “Child of Prague”- then get it into the window or outside and say a wee prayer for good weather!! Plan A is outside at the Grotto and Plan B is to go indoors to St. Barr’s church.
Sunday 23rd June: please note that on Sunday 23rd June there will be NO 9.30am Mass in Northbay. Instead there will be the 2.30pm Mass at Northbay Grotto. There will be the normal 11.30am Sunday Mass in Castlebay and the Vigil in Craigston on Saturday evening.
Choir rehearsal: if you wish to help in the singing at the Silver Jubilee Mass of Canon John Paul there will be a choir practice TODAY Sunday 16th June in Northbay Hall at 2pm. Canon John Paul has asked Pauline MacDonald (over in South Uist) to lead the practice. Pauline led the music at Canon John Paul’s Ordination 25 years ago in St. Peter’s Daliburgh. So it’s a lovely connection 25 years on for the Jubilee Mass.
Day for Life Letter & Collection: this weekend (15th/16th June) there will be a second collection for the Apostolate of Life-“Day for Life”. A day we remember and pray for the sanctity of all life, from the unborn child to the dying and elderly- to respect and care for the dignity of all life. Bishop John Keenan of the Diocese of Paisley has written a letter for this Sunday which will be left out in the church to be taken home.
Prayers for the sick: Bishop Brian has asked for prayers for a Priest who is very unwell just now and he used to look after Stornoway parish-Fr Tom Kearns. Maybe some of us met Fr. Tom if we went to Stornoway. He was an Irish Dominican Priest. Fr Tom did great work in his ministry in Stornoway and was highly thought of by everyone. Fr Tom is dying of Cancer and his family have asked for prayers for him. We commend him to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate heart of Mary for comfort, peace and healing.
Fisherman’s Mass & Blessing of Boats: is planned for Sunday 7th July at 2pm at Castlebay pier car park.
Led by the Spirit Phase 3: Please take home Bishop Brian’s Pastoral Letter concerning Led by the Spirit Phase 3. The bishop reflects on our call to holiness and our mission of proclaiming Christ. In our much-changed environment what steps are needed to faithfully fulfil our mission? Discernment calls for boldness, honesty and respectful listening but especially for an openness to the Spirit’s promptings. Everyone is encouraged to participate. The method for the parish gatherings will be the conversation in the Spirit. Background information about Conversation in the Spirit, lay ministries and potential Church structures can be found on www.ledbythespirit.rcdai.org.uk
LOUDfence – Solidarity with Survivors: Argyll & the Isles will host a LOUDfence event at St Columba’s Cathedral, Oban to acknowledge victims and survivors of abuse from every setting. The event will take place on Sunday 30thJune (beginning with 10.30am Mass) and Monday 1st July. Loud (brightly coloured) messages and ribbons of support will be attached to a fence in the Cathedral grounds giving people a voice and raising awareness. If you would like to express support please email the Diocesan office and Katie will help you. Email safeguardingsecretary@rcdai.org.uk with your message by Thursday 27th June, which will be printed, laminated and included on the fence. LOUDfence was started by Antonia Suboki, a Catholic lay woman, and the initiative was recently endorsed by Pope France. Our diocese will be the first to hold a LOUDfence event in Scotland.