Bhileag (Newsletter) 27th July 2025
WEEKDAY MASSES:
Mon 28th July………No Mass
Tue 29th July……..11.00am CASTLEBAY
(Requiem Mass of Margaret MacLeod)
Wed 30th July…….12 Noon CRAIGSTON
Thu 31st July………10.00am NORTHBAY
Fri 1st August………..10.00am VATERSAY
Sat 2nd August……..10.00am CASTLEBAY
NEXT WEEKEND: 2nd & 3rd August 2025
( 18th Sunday of Year C)
Vigil Mass (Saturday)…..6.00pm CRAIGSTON
Sunday Masses………..
No 9.30am Mass
11.30am CASTLEBAY
2.15pm NORTHBAY DEANERY JUBILEE MASS
Sacrament of Confession is every Saturday from 9.30am – 9.50am in Castlebay Church and 12 Noon-12.30pm in Northbay Church
CHURCH NOTICES
Requiem Mass: we pray for the repose of the soul of Margaret MacLeod (Manford) of Horve who peacefully passed away on Sunday 27th July in St. Brendan’s Hospital aged 77. It had been a very short illness for dear Margaret. The Requiem Mass will be on Tuesday 29th July at 11.00am in Our Lady Star of the Sea in Castlebay and then to Vatersay Graveyard. We extend our prayers of love & sympathy to all Margaret’s family, relatives & friends at this sad time. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.
Recent Funeral: we remember in our prayers the repose of the soul of Donald James Galbraith (Domhnall Sheumais na Dol) of Brevig who peacefully passed away last Sunday (20th July) in St. Brendan’s Home at the age of 80. The Requiem Mass took place last Wednesday in Our Lady Star of the Sea and thereafter Domhnall Sheumais was laid to rest in Cuithir Cemetery. We extend our prayers of love & sympathy to all the family at this time. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
Deanery Jubilee Year Mass with Bishop Brian: next Sunday (3rd August) we celebrate the Deanery Jubilee Year Mass with Bishop Brian McGee and the local island Priests & parishioners from neighbouring islands.
The first plan is to have an“open air Mass” at Northbay Grotto on Sunday 3rd August at 2.15pm. Of course it is weather dependant. If the weather is not good then we celebrate the Mass in St. Barr’s Church in Northbay. A decision will be made near the date on which plan we will go for. Let’s all pray for good weather next weekend!!
Parishioners from the neighbouring islands are invited to come along and hopefully will travel over on the 1.00pm boat from Eriskay and a bus will be available to pick them up from Ardmhor ferry and take them to the Northbay Grotto and another bus will be available to take people back for the last ferry at 5.30pm. After the Mass refreshments and homebaking will be available in Northbay Hall.
Please note the 9.30am Northbay Sunday Mass on Sunday 3rd August will be cancelled as there is Mass at 2.15pm.
Choir Practice for Jubilee Mass: if you would like to help in the choir then come aloing to the next Choir practice….Monday 28th July– 2nd Choir Practice in Craigston Church from 7.00pm-8.30pm. All Welcome!
Food for after the Jubilee Mass of Hope: if you can help with any donations towards homebaking etc then it can be dropped off at Northbay Hall (which will be open from 5pm-6pm) on Saturday 2nd August and then all day Sunday 3rd August. Drop off any homebaking during those times. Moran Taing!
Future Wedding: we pray for Caroline MacNeil & Darius Katani who will marry in St. Barr’s Church in Northbay on Saturday 2nd August at 1.30pm. If choir members could come along and help with hymns. Let’s pray for good weather for their wedding day!
Mass and Blessing of Statue & Stained glass window: over on South Uist in the Church of St. Mary’s Bornish Bishop Brian will celebrate a Mass on Wednesday 6th August (The Feast of the Transfiguration) at 7.00pm. Duing the Mass a Statue of Fr Dermot Dugan CM (CM means Congreagation of the Mission also know as the Vincentians) will be blessed and also a stained glass window dedicated in his memory. Fr Dermot Dugan ministered on this island of Barra over 400 years ago during the penal times (when it was against the law to celebrate Mass). Fr Dugan was sent by St. Vincent de Paul to keep the Catholic Faith going in the islands of Barra & Uist. Fr Michael MacDonald has organised the celebration and he invites all to come along to the Mass and afterwards there will be refreshments served in Stoneybridge Community Hall. All welcome!
The film “Na h-Eileannaich”: On Wednesday 30th July at 7.00pm there is a preview screening of a documentry film about life on Barra & Vatersay and it will be screened in Castlebay School. The film was produced by local film producer Stephen Kearney. It is a 45 minute documentry film. It will also be shown on BBC ALBA on Tuesday 5th August at 9.00pm. Refreshments will be served. All welcome