Bhileag (Newsletter) 8th December 2024
WEEKDAY MASSES:
Mon 9th December……No Mass
Tue 10th December…..No Mass
Wed 11th December….No Mass
Thu 12th December…..No Mass
Fri 13th December…….No Mass
Sat 14th December……..10.00am CASTLEBAY
NEXT WEEKEND: 14th & 15th December 2024
( 3rd Sunday of Advent )
Vigil Mass (Saturday)…..4.00pm CRAIGSTON **
Sunday Masses…9.30am NORTHBAY & 11.30am CASTLEBAY
Sacrament of Confession: Each Saturday from 9.30am -9.50am in Castlebay & 12 Noon-12.30pm in Northbay
CHURCH NOTICES
Annual Safeguarding Message: a short letter will be read out at all Masses this weekend on behalf of Bishop Brian in regard Safeguarding within the Diocese. Once again Bishop Brian highlights throughout the Diocese that we have high standards within the Diocese for Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable adults but also a commitment to supporting the survivors and victims of abuse whether committed by Church personnel or by others. Bishop Brian wants our Church to walk alongside those who suffer and to support them all in every way. As Bishop Brian says “the church has failed, which fills me with shame, but is penitent and graced by God and humbly offers friendship and the healing of Christ to those suffering today”.
Jubilee Year: Pope Francis announced that the year 2025 will be a Jubilee Year (a Holy Year) and the theme for the Jubilee year will be “Pilgrims of Hope”. The Jubilee Year begins on Christmas Eve 2024 and concludes on 6th January 2026. A Jubilee Year is celebrated by the Church every twenty-five years. A Holy Door will be opened by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve 2024 for Pilgrims to enter through if they visit Rome during the Jubilee Year. Bishop Brian has appointed Fr Stan Pamula (the Parish Priest of Mallaig & Arisaig) as the Diocesan co-ordinator for this Jubilee Year for our Diocese. Therefore Fr. Stan will keep us updated on what is happening for the Year of Hope. Pope Francis urges Catholics from all over the World to go on a pilgrimage to Rome in 2025 for the Jubilee Year. It is planned that a Diocesan Pilgrimage will be organised to go to Rome (maybe around September 2025). More details and information will appear in the newsletter over the next few months.
Canon John Paul: will be away this week on the mainland from Monday to Friday. Therefore no weekday Mass till next Saturday. If anyone needs to contact Canon John Paul then phone his mobile 07951128475.
Christmas Church cleaning: announcements will be made soon about dates for church cleaning and setting up the Churches for Christmas. As they say “many hands make light work”- so keep this in mind when announcements are made to help prepare our 5 churches for Christmas.
Sacrament of Confession: Advent is a time to prepare for Christmas (to prepare for Christ) and one of the lovely things we can do for ourselves during Advent is to make a good confession and give ourselves the best Christmas gift ever- the gift of God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Advent prayer books: There are some Advent prayer books for adults & children available in the church porch. Booklets cost £1. The season of Advent is a very short Season so let us try and make the space for more prayer time over the next four weeks.
SCIAF Real Gifts for Christmas: if you are interested in getting something really different and worthwhile for a loved one this Christmas- why not look up the SCIAF Real Gifts catalogue online. You can go online at sciaf.org,uk/realgifts