Bhileag (Newsletter) 4th January 2026
WEEKDAY MASSES:
Mon 5th January……..No Mass
Tue 6th January……..10.00am EOLIGARRY
Wed 7th January…….12 Noon CRAIGSTON
Thu 8th January……10.00am NORTHBAY
Fri 9th January……..10.00am VATERSAY
& 2.30pm ST. BRENDAN’S HOME
Sat 10th January……10.00am CASTLEBAY
NEXT WEEKEND: 10th & 11th January 2026
( Feast of The Baptism of the Lord-A )
Vigil Mass (Saturday)…..4.00pm CRAIGSTON
Sunday Masses….9.30am NORTHBAY & 11.30am CASTLEBAY
Sacrament of Confession: each Saturday Castlebay 9.30am- 9.50am and Northbay 12 Noon -12.30pm
Church Notices!
Sunday Mass during bad weather: This weekend of the Epiphany (3rd/4th January) we were able to have the 4pm Vigil Mass in Craigston (just before the evening wintry weather got worse) but sadly the wintry weather on Sunday morning caused the Masses to be cancelled. Canon John Paul made the decision to cancel the two Sunday morning Masses. Canon John Paul does not like to cancel the Sunday Masses or the weekday Masses but when the weather is poor with strong gales or snow and ice we have to be sensible and keep safe and stay at home. Please note that when there is bad weather-a gale of 60mph winds, named storms or snow and ice and tricky conditions then more than likely the Sunday (or weekday) Mass will be cancelled for everyones safety. Please keep that in mind!
Justice & Peace: today (4th January) is the Feast of the Epiphany and on this first Sunday of the New Year we pray in a special way for the important gifts of Justice & Peace in our World. There will be a letter read out at all Masses on from Archbishop William Nolan who is the President of Justice & Peace Scotland. For more information about issues of social justice and to keep up to date with current campaigns- follow Justice & Peace Scotland on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or check out the website www.justiceandpeacescotland.org.uk
Special collection will be taken up at all Masses this weekend to support the work of Justice & Peace Scotland.
Holy Childhood Collection: next Weekend (10th/11th January) there will be a second collection for the Holy Childhood or Crib Collection as we call it.
Christmas “tidy up”: Next weekend we celebrate the Feast of The Baptism of the Lord and it concludes the Christmas Season in the Church. After all Masses next weekend the Christmas decorations will be packed away for another year. After the 11.30am Mass in Castlebay we will tidy away the Christmas decorations. If you can help in the “tidy up” then come along!
Thanks to the Thrift Shop: Canon John Paul wishes to thank the local Thrift Shop for their very kind Christmas donation of £1000 for Castlebay & Northbay Parishes. Each year we always receive a very kind donation from the Thrift Shop and normally we use the money for buying Christmas Flowers for our Churches. Moran Taing!
Sister Katie Kelly: It has come to Canon John Paul’s attention that Sr. Katie Kelly passed away a number of months ago in her Domincan Convent in Donegal. Canon John Paul visited Sr. Katie in April 2024 when there was a Barra wedding taking place in Donegal. Sr Katie was well known on the island for visiting the elderly and praying the Rosary with them. Latterly she had been suffering from dementia for a few years. We pray that God may grant her the fulness of eternal peace and eternal rest.
In this New Year of 2026…… “Believe like Mary; Trust like Joseph; Hope like the Shepherds; Seek like the Wise Men; Worship like the Angels & Love like Jesus”.
Canon John Paul wishes everyone a Happy & Holy New Year!
May God bless you all with health, peace, joy and faith.
May this New Year be another year we walk humbly with our Lord!