Bhileag (Newsletter) Sunday 6th September 2026
WEEKDAY MASSES:
Mon 7th September ….No Mass
Tue 8th September……10.00am EOLIGARRY
Wed 9th September…. 12 Noon CRAIGSTON
Thu 10th September…..10.00am NORTHBAY
Fri 11th September…….10.00am VATERSAY
2.30pm St. Brendan’s Home
Sat 12th September…….10.00am CASTLEBAY
NEXT WEEKEND: 12th & 13th September 2026
(24th Sunday of Year A)
Vigil Mass (Saturday)…..6.00pm CRAIGSTON
Sunday Masses…..9.30am NORTHBAY & 11.30am CASTLEBAY
Sacrament of Confession: each Saturday in Castlebay Church from 9.30am- 9.50am and in Northbay Church from 12 Noon -12.30pm
Help Support your parish by bank transfer weekly, monthly or one off donation:-
RC DCESE OF ARGYLL & THE ISLES CASTLEBAY
Account 65627538 Sort Code 83-91-25
RC DCESE OF ARGYLL & THE ISLES NORTHBAY
Account 65628061 Sort Code 83-91-25
Or pick up the leaflets in the Church which have the parish QR Code
Church Notices………..
Bishop Brian’s Pastoral Letter: Bishop Brian has written a Pastoral letter regarding The discernment of Mission within the Diocese of Argyll & the Isles. Bishop Brian asks that 2 parishioners from every parish throughout the Diocese (along with their parish priest) take part in online discussions through ZOOM every Monday evening during the months of October and November. There will be 9 online sessions. They begin on Monday 5th October and finish on Monday 30th November. The sessions will last up to 2 hours. In each session there will be talks, time for prayer and reflection and discussion.
Therefore Canon John Paul is looking for 2 parishioners from Castlebay parish and 2 from Northbay Parish to take part in this important online discussion. You have to have ZOOM on your ipad, computer, tablet or iphone. The sessions will be for 2 hours every Monday evening for October & November. You have to be available for all 9 sessions.
The Bishop knows that it will be a big commitment on behalf of everyone in the Diocese but he hopes that it will bear much fruit. If anyone is interested in being a volunteer in these discussions then please speak with Canon John Paul so that you can sign up for registration.
Ecclesiastical Students Fund: there will be a special collection for the Ecclesiastical fund for the diocese neet weekend of 12th/13th September.
Wednesday Mass: the Mass on Wednesday 9th September will be a Mass in memory of the late Dougie MacArthur who died recently aged 50 in London and Dougie was a frequent visitor to Barra. For the relatives & friends who cannot make the journey to England for the funeral; we will unite our prayers at holy mass here on the island and pray for the eternal rest of Dougie. Mass will be at 12 Noon in St. Brendan’s Craigston.
Northbay Church Tea after Mass: today being the first Sunday of September we will have tea/coffee and home baking in Northbay hall after the 9.30am Mass. All welcome! Also at the tea we are keen to talk to people about the history of St. Barr’s Statue. If you have any stories about the statue or any old pictures come along and chat about the old St Barr’s statue and learn also about the new statue which will be soon be erected.
Recent Baptism: we warmly welcome into the family of the church Francis John Thomas-Gillies who was baptised last weekend in Our Lady of the Waves & St. John on Vatersay. We wish Francis every blessing of health, peace, joy and happiness.
New Statue of St. Barr: we enter the month of September and a big month for St. Barr’s Northbay with the new statue of St. Barr which will be unveiled on Friday 25th September. So lots of things are going on in preparation for this important landmark. There will be a Mass of Thanksgiving on the Feast of St. Barr which is Friday 25th September in St. Barr’s Church at 4.00pm. All Welcome! After the Mass we will gather outside the church and a group will go over to the wee island and the new Statue of St. Barr will be unveiled and then it will be blessed by Canon John Paul. After the unveiling and blessing there will be a reception and food and ceilidh in Nortbay Hall. It will be a historic day for our island and also a truly happy celebration for our island. Please keep in your prayers that everything will go well and pray for good weather on the day!
Church Heating in Eoligarry Church: Canon John Paul has been looking into getting new “air to air” source heating for Eoligarry Church. When we had the heating units working it really worked well for Eoligarry church and kept the church dry and free from damp but ever since the heating units broke down a couple of years ago its been difficult to get new ones and sadly the church is getting damp again which we don’t want. Canon John Paul has been now given a quote of £8400 on new 2 air to air source heating units. We will plan some fund raising to help with the costs! If anyone wishes to help support the costs they can also do a bank transfer to Northbay parish.
RC DCESE OF ARGYLL & THE ISLES NORTHBAY Account 65628061 Sort Code 83-91-25