Bhileag (Newsletter) 10th August 2025
WEEKDAY MASSES:
Mon 11th August…….No Mass
Tue 12th August……..10.00am EOLIGARRY
Wed 13th August…… 12 Noon CRAIGSTON
Thu 14th August……..10.00am NORTHBAY
Fri 15th August (Assumption of Our Lady)
10.00am NORTHBAY
7.00pm CASTLEBAY
Sat 16th August……10.00am CASTLEBAY
NEXT WEEKEND: 16th & 17th August 2025
( 20th Sunday of Year C)
Vigil Mass (Saturday)…..6.00pm CRAIGSTON
Sunday Masses…..9.30am NORTHBAY & 11.30am CASTLEBAY
Sacrament of Confession: is every Saturday from 9.30am – 9.50am in Castlebay Church and 12 Noon-12.30pm in Northbay Church
You can go online to help support our parishes:-
RCD Argyll &the Isles Castlebay Mission
Account No: 65627538 Sort Code 83-91-25
RCD Argyll & the Isles Northbay Mission
Account No: 65628061 Sort Code 83-91-25
Or go to the Diocesan website- www.rcdai.org.uk and go to the “Finance” section and then scroll down to the button “Donate to the Diocese” and then pick Castlebay or Northbay parish to support financially!
CHURCH NOTICES
Deanery “Jubilee Year” Mass with Bishop Brian: last Sunday we celebrated the Deanery Mass for the Year of Hope. It was a wonderful celebration with Bishop Brian and the local priests and parishioners from the neighbouring islands. We had two Irish Vincentian Priests visiting too- who are walking in the footsteps of Fr Dermot Duggan (who 400 years ago kept the catholic faith alive on Barra & Uist). It was a gamble to have an outdoor Mass but the gamble paid off and the sun shone (and the Midges ran away) and it was a wonderful happy celebration to mark the Holy Year. Canon John Paul wishes to thank everyone who came along and to thank everyone who helped set up the chairs and the PA System and those who cut the grass and maintained the grotto. Thank you to our choir and to Lisa. Thank you to the Barra pipe band. Thank you to everyone who helped set up the hall and all who handed in donations of food. Thank you to Rose Anne for the wonderful Jubilee Year cake that ended up being called the “holy cake”. Thank you to Eoin for driving the Bus for the pilgrims who came over on the boat from Eriskay. It was a truly happy day and a day filled with many blessings and once again our islands showed once again that we are always ready to celebrate such holy and beautful celebrations. Moran taing uile!
Diocesan Jubilee Cross: this weekend we have the Diocesan Jubilee Cross present at all the Masses. This Cross was specially made to mark the Holy Year of 2025. We are reminded we are Pilgrims of Hope this year and we take up our daily cross and follow our Lord Jesus as pilgrims of hope. The Cross will be here for the week before it is taken over to the neighbouring island parishes.
Solemnity of the Assumption: this coming Friday (15th August) is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady. It is a holyday of obligation. Mass at 10.00am in Northbay and 7.00pm in Castlebay.
Bishop’s Fund Collection: this weekend (9th &10th August) there will be a second collection for the Bishop’s Fund. A fund to help support Bishop Brian as he travels around our unique Diocese.
Summer Holidays: This week our Schools return back after their Summer Holidays. It’s amazing were the time has gone! All the festivities and celebrations for the Summer are now finished for another year on the island. Sadly there has not been much summer weather. Let’s hope better weather is coming!!
On Tuesday 19th August Canon John Paul will take his opportunity to take his Summer holidays for a couple of weeks. When he is away there is a Jesuit Priest called Fr Mayamiko Kachipapa who is from Malawi and has been studying in the UK for the last few years. He is presently looking after Stornoway parish and will travel to Barra on Monday 18th August. We look forward to welcoming him to the islands of Barra & Vatersay.
Storm Floris: last Monday (4th August) the island was shaken by Summer Storm Floris. Sadly Castlebay church which always gets battered by the wind and rain lost some slates and some guttering with the storm.Hopefully we can get it all fixed before the Winter comes.