Bhileag (Newsletter) 23rd November 2025
WEEKDAY MASSES:
Mon 24th November……No Mass
Tue 25th November…….No Mass
Wed 26th November…..No Mass
Thu 27th November……No Mass
Fri 28th November………No Mass
Sat 29th November……..10.00am CASTLEBAY
NEXT WEEKEND: 29th & 30th November 2025
(1st Sunday Advent A)
Vigil Mass (Saturday)…..4.00pm CRAIGSTON
Sunday Masses…9.30am NORTHBAY & 11.30am CASTLEBAY
The Sacrament of Confession is every Saturday from:- 9.30am – 9.50am in Castlebay Church and from 12 Noon-12.30pm in Northbay Church.
You can go online to help support our parishes:-
RC Dcese of Argyll and the Isles Castlebay
Account No: 65627538 Sort Code 83-91-25
RC Dcese of Argyll and the Isles Northbay
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
Canon John Paul: will be away from Monday to Friday this week in Glasgow. He is catching up with an architect who is advising him on Castlebay Church. Let’s hope the meeting goes well! Therefore no daily Mass from Monday to Friday. Instead a good opportunity to pray the Rosary each day and pray for the Holy Souls in this last week of November.
St Andrew’s Ceilidh: next Saturday (29th November) there will be a Ceilidh in Northbay Hall at 7.30pm and it is a fund raising ceilidh for support of maintenance of Borve Graveyard. Donations at the Hall door. Ruaraidh Gray will be the MC on the night and there will be a great array of local singers & musicians & dancers. A nice way to celebrate the Feast of St. Andrew. All welcome!
Season of Advent: we now bring the Churches Liturgical Year to a close with todays Feast of Christ the King and next weekend we begin a new Church year with the Season of Advent. Advent is a short season that prepares us for the great feast of Christmas. There are some prayer books for Advent available for children & adults.
Graveyard Rosary: an important custom during the month of November is to pray the Rosay at a graveyard. The Rosary will be prayed in CILLE BHARRA- Eoligarry Graveyard @ 2.00pm. If the weather is not good then we can use the wee chapel in the middle of the graveyard.
Castlebay Church Choir Practice: It has been agreed that the choir practice willl take place each Thursday at 5.00pm in Castlebay Church. Looking at hymns for Advent and also singing new Mass parts. All welcome to attend!
Date for Sacrament of Confirmation: Bishop Brian has informed Canon John Paul that he will come to Barra on Saturday 25th April 2026 to confirm the children for the sacrament of Confirmation. Put it in the diary!!
The Children’s Sacraments: Canon John Paul has received most of the forms for the children who will receive their Sacraments next year- First Holy Communion (& Confession) and Confirmation. There are a couple of forms still to be handed in –so if parents could do that as soon as possible so that we can plan the classes for the children. The best and imporant way for the children to prepare for the Sacraments is to come to Sunday Mass. Canon John Paul encourages all parents to bring the children to Sunday Mass.
Daily missal Book: Canon John Paul has ordered some daily Missal books and also some weekday Missal books from CTS.
SCIAF’S Real Gifts: if you are looking for something different and inspiring to give a loved one this Christmas then go online to the SCIAF website and check out the “Real Gifts” section. Buy a vegetable garden for £25! Buy chickens for £15 or a goat for £35 or pigs for £70! Buy some warm blankets for £18 or some School essentials for £20. Check it out!