Twenty First Sunday in Ordinary Time.

St John the Evangelist Parish
Aurs Rd., Barrhead, G78 2RW.
 
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time
24th August 2025
 
Rev Monsignor John Canon Tormey: Parish Priest
Rev Fr Joseph J McGill: Assistant Priest
Rev Denis Murphy:  Deacon
Email: [email protected]  Tel- 0141 881 0769
Website: www.stjohns-barrhead.org
 
Mary Hallan: Safeguarding Co-Ordinator: [email protected]
 
LAST WEEK’S COLLECTIONS
First Collection GA: £279.00 NGA: £1,263.37
Building Fund GA: £10.00
 
Response to Psalm:
“Go into all the world and proclaim the good news.”
 
Second Collections: Our Annual deanery appeal is for the work of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and is the Second Collection this week. We welcome Sr Pennie SHUM.
There is a Second Collection next Sunday (31st August) for the works of Canon Eddie Cameron as part of the Diocesan Fundraising Appeal. These funds are used to support the work of the Diocese in areas such as education, priestly formation and marriage preparation. 
 
Parish Pastoral Council: The next meeting will be this Tuesday 26th August at 7pm in the Tea Meeting Room.
 
Church Hall Coffee Mornings: The Coffee Bar on a Tuesday restarts from the 19th of August. From Sunday the 24th of August, teas and coffees in the hall recommence after the 10 am Mass.
 
Dial-a-Mass: To listen to Holy Mass by phone call 0141-473 4869.
 
RCIA for St John’s Parish:  If you know of anyone who wishes to enrol for the RCIA to become a Catholic, please let one of the priests know.
We hope to start the courses in late September, most likely on a Wednesday evening at 7pm, if this suits everyone. Fr John will contact those who have already expressed an interest in joining the RCIA for the autumn.
We pray for those who have died recently:
Anne Beck, Fr. Robert Farrell, Thomas C. Boyle, Tony Capaldi, Sammy Johnston and Kenny Macauley.
 
We pray for the anniversaries of:
Elizabeth Carberry, James Carberry, Sacramenta Coelho, Patrick Conafray, Jane Devenny, Bernadette Docherty, John Francis Docherty, Greta Doyle, Helen Dunne, Jean Fenn, Agnes Ferry, Agnes Geddes, Peter Herbert, Maisie McCafferty, Tony McCann, Mrs. Chrissy McGuire, Duncan McIntyre.
 
Funeral Notice:
The funeral Mass of Thomas C. Boyle will be celebrated at 10:00 on Thursday 28th August.
 
Safeguarding Induction Training: Safeguarding Induction training has been organised into one course only.  If you are a new volunteer, or one who completed Part 1 training more than two years ago, you are invited to sign up for one of the following training sessions.  Please contact Sarah Jane Colhoun at the Safeguarding Office to register.  Tel: 0141 847 6138 or [email protected]
Thursday 28th August, 2025 at 7pm in the Diocesan Centre, Paisley, PA1 1HR.
Tuesday 18th November at 7pm in the Diocesan Centre, Paisley, PA1 1HR.
 
March for Life UK 2025: In partnership with SPUC you are invited to join Bishop John Keenan on his coach to London for March for Life UK 2025, on Saturday 6 September 2025. Departing midnight from Paisley St Mirin’s Cathedral with pickup at Glasgow St Andrew’s Cathedral. Arriving in London approx. 7.30/8am. Departing on same day at 6pm, dropping off at Glasgow and Paisley. £30pp. To book your seat(s), please visit the following: https://rcdop.org.uk/events/march-for-life-uk-2025
Season of Creation Conference: The Bishops’ Office for Care of Creation invites you to their National Season of Creation Conference on Saturday 6th September 2025 in St. Margaret’s, Raploch, 10am – 3pm. Come and join Archbishop Nolan and our special guest Lorna Gold, the Executive Director of the global Laudato Si Movement. Book a place on www.bcos.org.uk/scc25 .
Season of Creation Events: During this year's Season of Creation, a series of zoom sessions are available to explore different dimensions of Peace with Creation.
The sessions are from 7.00-9.00pm and people can register for any that interest them. The format includes prayer, a presentation and an opportunity to have a dialogue with our companion for the session.
St John’s, Barrhead - Update on Accounts:
The profit and loss account for 6 months ended 30 June 2025 shows a profit of £81,745.
 
Income:            £158,784
Expenses:         £77,040
Profit:                £81,745
This represents a 51% profit.
 
The balance as of 1st August 2025 on the parish loan to the Diocese was £100,348 (our second collection contributions to
the Diocesan Building Fund).
The balance as of 1 August 2025 on Investments with the Diocese was £567,648 (which comes mainly from profit built up in our parish current account each year; e.g. gift aid income, and includes the £25,000 Benefact Trust grant awarded this year). This realises a total of £667,996 which will all go to pay for the forthcoming Church Restoration Project.
 
This means we still need to borrow £240,000 from the Diocese to meet our church renovation costs of £910,000 and this loan will be paid back at £60,000 per year, for four years, meaning we will then be debt free. The final reports are now being prepared for the project to go out to five tenders this month. We will inform you when the selection has been made.
 
Parish Fundraising Income (1st Jan – 30th June 2025):
 
Grants for Restoration Project: £25,000
Parish Fundraising: £14,748.61  
Subtotal: £39,748.61
 
Expenditure on raising funds:
Costs of fundraising trading: £1,724.96 (includes payments out from the 100 club for winnings, and Fete costs).
Net Profit: £38,023.65 (from a total 6-month profit of £81,745).
 
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support of the Parish and would ask parishioners wishing to set up new standing orders to complete a standing order form and gift aid declaration, if applicable, and return them. These forms can be obtained from the parish website, or at the back of the church. Alternatively, you can set up a direct debit with the Parish via your online banking system. Parish bank details as follows:
St Johns Church     Sort Code 80-05-54        Account No 00761597
If you are a visitor, please consider making a donation for our restoration fund by scanning the QR code below, to give via our online giving page:
 
Diocesan Vocations Mass: We are pleased to invite you to the Diocesan Vocations Mass on Thursday, September 11th, at 7:00 PM, held at St. Mirin’s Cathedral in Paisley. Bishop John warmly encourages your attendance as we come together to pray for an increase in vocations to the Priesthood, Diaconate, and Consecrated Life.
Additionally, we will have a relic of Blessed Carlo Acutis present that evening, just days after his canonisation on September 7th.
 
Beginning Experience: The Beginning Experience are holding a weekend for those who find themselves suffering bereavement through divorce, separation or widowhood. The weekend will take place from the 26th – 28th of September 2025 at Conforti Centre, Coatbridge. For details, contact Maggie on: 01389 751677 or email: [email protected]. Applications must be completed and returned by the 12th of September 2025.
 
Pilgrimage Walk of Hope for Mary’s Meals: Mary’s Meals warmly invites you to join their Pilgrimage Walk of Hope on Saturday 30 August, from 10.30am to 3.45pm at Craig Lodge House of Prayer, Dalmally, Argyll.
In this Jubilee Year, as we are called to be Pilgrims of Hope, walk alongside members of the Mary’s Meals team and supporters from across the country. The day will include times of reflection, inspiring stories of hope, Holy Mass, and a visit to The Shed where Mary’s Meals began. Find out more and book your place at:
https://MMWalkOfHope.eventbrite.co.uk
 
Marriage Preparation Courses 2025 (Diocese of Paisley): We invite engaged couples to register for the last Marriage Preparation course of 2025. The course consists of two evening in-person sessions, and one Saturday morning workshop, which will be held in St. Mirin’s Cathedral Hall, Paisley. For any additional details or queries, please contact Rebecca Harrison at [email protected]  
The cost for the course per couple is £70 which includes a package with additional reading materials, couple exercises, books and light refreshments during the workshop. Once couples have registered, we will contact them directly regarding attendance at the course and a certificate will be issued upon completion. This course fulfils Church requirements regarding preparation before marriage and is a wonderful opportunity to meet other couples and share in fellowship. You can follow the link to access further information at: https://www.rcdop.org.uk/marriage-preparation. We look forward to seeing you!