Newsletter

WEEKDAY  MASSES:

Mon 27th November…….No Mass

Tue 28th November…….No Mass

Wed 29th November…..No Mass

Thu 30th November……No Mass

Fri 1st December…………No Mass

Sat 2nd December……..  10.00am CASTLEBAY

NEXT WEEKEND’S MASSES

2nd & 3rd DECEMBER 2023

1st Sunday of Advent B

Vigil (Saturday)…..4.00pm CRAIGSTON *****

Sunday Masses…9.30am NORTHBAY & 11.30am  CASTLEBAY

Confessions: every Saturday from 9.30am – 9.50am in Castlebay & 12noon -12.30pm in Northbay.

CHURCH NOTICES

Craigston Vigil Mass at 4pm for Winter: we have now begun a 4.00pm Vigil Mass time for Craigston. From Saturday 4th November until at least March 2024 we will celebrate the Vigil Mass at the earlier time of 4.00pm. When the clocks go forward in 2024 we will move the Vigil Mass time back to 6pm. We will monitor how it goes with this change of vigil time for Winter!!

November Lists: one of the important things that the Church encourages us to do during the month of November is to pray for our faithful departed. The Month of November is often called the “Month of the Holy Souls”. It is a very important prayer to pray for our faithful departed and to help lead all souls to heaven. There are November lists with envelopes available at the church entrance. Please write down on the lists the names of any deceased family, relatives, friends, parishioners you would like to remember and pray for. Once you have filled in your list place the list in an envelope along with your offering. Please pass on the envelope to Canon John Paul or to place in the Sunday offertory basket. These envelopes will then be placed upon the Altar at every Holy Mass and those names you have written will be remembered at every Holy Mass during the month of November.

Future Funeral: we remember in our prayers the repose of the soul of Neil MacIntyre from Glasgow who died on Thursday 23rd November. Neil was the son of the late Donald MacIntyre (Domhnall Aoidh of Brevig) & Peigi MacIntyre (Galbraith) of Ardmhor. Neil passed away at the age of 64 in Glasgow. Neil’s funeral will take place on the island. More details of the Funeral arrangements will be announced.

Graveyard Rosary: Each Sunday in November we will gather to pray the Rosary in each of our graveyards. The last Graveyard Rosary will be today (Sunday 26th Nov) the Old Borve Graveyard at 2.00pm. As always if the weather is really poor we will move to the nearest church.

Sacrament Classes: Canon John Paul has sent out letters through the Schools to see how many children will be preparing for their First Holy Communion (P4) and also the children for the Sacrament of Confirmation (P7).

Lourdes Pilgrimage 2024: we are trying to get the last bits of information about flights and prices for Lourdes in May 2024 and then we will ask for definite names going.

Special Collection: today we will take up a second collection for Scottish Catholic Education Service (SCES).

The Season of Advent: next weekend there will be Advent prayer books available for Adults and children at the Church entrance. Advent is a very short season and a good way to enter the true spirit of the season of Advent is to make some time for prayer.

SCIAF “Real Gifts”: if you are struggling this year what to get a loved one for Christmas why not give something really special like the gift of helping feed a village in Africa, or helping buy a water pump for a village, or buying hens, or pigs or bees or goats for a village. SCIAF are doing amazing things to help our brothers and sisters in need. Go online to SCIAF  www.sciaf.org.uk/realgifts and see the amazing ideas for REAL GIFTS which may inspire you to do something different this year.

Canon John Paul: will be away this week from Monday to Friday on the mainland. If anyone needs to contact him then to please use his mobile number 07951128475.