Bhileag (Newsletter) 18th May 2025
WEEKDAY MASSES:
Mon 19th May……….No Mass
Tue 20th May……….No Mass
Wed 21st May…….. No Mass
Thu 22nd May……….No Mass
Fri 23rd May…………No Mass
Sat 24th May…………10.00am CASTLEBAY
NEXT WEEKEND: 24th & 25th May 2025
( 6th Sunday of Easter )
Vigil Mass (Saturday)…..6.00pm CRAIGSTON
Sunday Masses……9.30am NORTHBAY & 11.30am CASTLEBAY
Sacrament of Confession: Every Saturday from 9.30am – 9.50am in Castlebay and 12 Noon-12.30pm in Northbay
CHURCH NOTICES
Recent Funeral: we pray for the repose of the soul of Eoina MacLean (Eoina a Jen of Eoligarry) who peacefully passed away last Tuesday, on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. Eoina had been for the last 5 months living in St. Brendan’s Home when she passed away aged 88. The Requiem Mass took place on Thursday 15th May in St. Vincent de Paul’s in Eoligarry and then Eoina was laid to rest in Cille Bharra Cemetery. Our thoughts and prayers and sympathy are with all Eoina’s family at this time. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.
Northbay Grotto Rosary: today (18th May) there will be Rosary outside at the Grotto in Northbay at 3.00pm.
Deanery Jubilee Mass Meeting: next Sunday 25th May there will be a short meeting in St. Barr’s Hall at 2.00pm to look at plans for a Deanery Mass in Northbay for the Jubilee Year. Bishop Brian and the local island Priests along with parishioners from the neighbouring islands will come to Barra on Sunday 3rd August to celebrate a Jubilee Year Mass. The plan is to have an “open air Mass” at Northbay Grotto on Sunday 3rd August at 2.15pm. Something similar to what we did for Canon John Paul’s Silver Jubilee Celebration last year. So if you can help in anyway then come along to the meeting. We will look at preparing the Grotto (which already is looking great), seating, the Liturgy of the Mass- readers, music, Altar servers, the use of the Hall for tea & refreshments and home baking. If you can help in anyway then come to the meeting or of you cannot make it just let Canon John Paul know if you are willing to help in some way.
Canon John Paul: will be on the mainland this week from Monday to Friday. Therefore no weekday Mass till Saturday morning. If you need to contact Canon John Paul then please call his mobile number 07951128475
Pastoral Letter “Called to care, not to kill”: sadly the majority of our Scottish Politicians voted to move forward in the assisted suicide Bill held last Tuesday in the Scottish Government. Sad news! It is only the first part of the Bill and there will be other parts before it can be finally passed. Therefore we do not stop in our prayers for our Politicians to end their progress of this Bill.
Prayers for the First Holy Communions: we now start to prepare for the First Holy Communions on the island. This will take place on Sunday 8th June in either St. Barr’s Church in Northbay at 9.30am or Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Castlebay at 11.30am. We pray for the 12 boys & Girls who will make their First Holy Communion. We pray for Ailsa MacNeil; Ava MacLean; Lauren MacLeod; Eilidh MacKinnon; Mya Gillies; Brooke Waddell; Christopher Campbell; Finlay Jardine; Michael Davidson; Thomas MacLeod, Jonathan Pavlo and Alexander Nicholson. It is always a happy and exciting time preparing the children for their First Holy Communion. Always a happy day for our island and our parishes. Let us keep these boys and girls in our prayers. An important part of preparing for First Holy Communion is coming to Mass each Sunday. If all parents could bring the children to Sunday Mass so that the parish can pray for them and encourage them in their faith.