Bhileag (Newsletter) 14th July 2024
WEEKDAY MASSES:
Mon 15th July…….No Mass
Tue 16th July……No Mass
Wed 17th July….12 Noon CRAIGSTON
Thu 18th July…….10.00am NORTHBAY
Fri 19th July………10.00am VATERSAY
Sat 20th July…….10.00am CASTLEBAY
NEXT WEEKEND: 20th & 21st July 2024
16th Sunday of Year B
Vigil Mass (Saturday)…..6.00pm CRAIGSTON
Sunday Masses…9.30am NORTHBAY & 11.30am CASTLEBAY
CHURCH NOTICES
Recent Funeral: we remember in our prayers the repose of the soul of Murchadh Eosa MacDonald or as he was more well known as “PAVAROTTI” of Ardmhor. He passed away at the age of 84 after a short illness. He was a well known character especially at the Ceilidhs and would often be up singing songs and telling stories. Murchadh Eosa peacefully passed away on Saturday 6th July in St. Brendan’s Hospital and the Requiem Mass took place on Tuesday 9th July in St. Barr’s Northbay and thereafter Murchadh Eosa was laid to rest in Eoligarry graveyard. We extend our prayers of love and sympathy to Nellie and 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.
Fisherman’s Mass & Blessing of Boats: Canon John Paul wishes to thank everyone who came along to the Fisherman’s Mass and the blessing of boats last Sunday. It was another wonderful celebration for the island. The weather was great and it was lovely to see the large crowd of people -along with the Fishing boats alongside the pier. We thank the amazing volunteers who gave of their time to help set up the pier for the Mass and also to tidy away everything after the Mass. We thank the Pipe Band for leading the procession. Thanks to Barratlantic for providing the lovely fresh herring and for Christine for frying the herring. This year the best dressed boat went to the Lifeboat. This year the RNLI celebrates its 200th anniversary. Therefore it was fitting that the lifeboat receive the award of best dressed boat on its special anniversary. The “bucket collection” on the day raised £2068.39 which will be split up between the charities of the RNLI, Stella Maris and Fishermans Mission. Moran Taing uile!
Tea/Coffee after Northbay Sunday Mass: today after the 9.30am Mass in Northbay there will refreshments in the Hall. All welcome!
Canon John Paul: is going to take a break for the next week on the mainland. He will be away from Monday 15th July till Friday 26th July. While he is away Fr. Bernard Fox will be looking after the parishes.
Fr Bernard Fox: will be flying to the island on Tuesday 16th July. Fr Bernard is a Mill Hill Missionary and he is based in Cardonald in Glasgow. He has visited the islands of Barra, South Uist, Eriskay and Benbecula many times and he always looks forward to a trip to the Western Isles. He was here last April but sadly the weather then wasn’t great -hopefully he will get some better weather while he is on the island this coming week.
Statue of St. Barr in Northbay: many of us know that the statue of St. Barr on the wee island in the bay of Northbay has been deteriorating over the years. It was Margaret Somerville who created the statue and it was placed on the wee island at some point in the mid 1970’s. Now there is a “big push” to replace the statue with a large bronze statue of St. Barr. There is fund raising going on to help achieve this. The aim is to reach £100,000 which is a lot of money. It’s not just a parish campaign but it is an island campaign to raise the funds to erect a new long lasting statue which will stand again out in the bay for all to see and during the winter months there will be light to illuminate the statue. There is online “justgiving” page for the new St. Barr’s statue.