Blog Archives - Saint John the Evangelist

25/1/2025

Third Sunday of the Year, Year C

Read Now

Not in the bulletin, but some of you may have known Mary.
SALERNITANO
Passed peacefully at Nazareth House Care Home on Saturday 11th January 2025 where she had been so well cared for over recent years. Funeral Mass will take place at Nazareth House Chapel, Cardonald on Thursday 30th January at 10am, thereafter to Neilston Cemetery.

St John the Evangelist Parish
Aurs Rd., Barrhead G78 2RW

Third Sunday of the Year Year C
26 January 2025

Rev Monsignor John Canon Tormey: Parish Priest
Rev Joseph J McGill:   Assistant Priest
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: £468.56  NGA £966.48
Retired Priests GA: £683.80   NGA £585.73
Justice & Peace GA: £80.00
Monthly Standing Orders: £4,271.50

Response to Psalm:
“Your words, O Lord, are spirit and life.”

Church Renovation Project

I had a meeting last Monday with a diocesan led team to outline a plan to introduce phases of work to renovate the church.

Originally, we thought it could all be done in one phase and perhaps be completed by the end of the year. It seems likely that the work is now going to take three phases, since the walls of the church need time to dry out before they can be treated and repainted.

This would be a rough outline of the works:
Outside wind and water tight work on walls, roof and gutters, including lower flat roofs Stripping of plaster where necessary and drying out of inside walls, repair of windows, and installation of new heating system, to assist the extensive damp in the walls. Decoration of interior with improvements to colour scheme, lighting, windows, doors and flooring.
Alongside this work I would like to initiate a new church organ fund: to install a two manual and pedal digital organ to replace the existing organ which is in need of extensive repair.

We have not yet had final estimates for this work but we are probably looking at a two to three-year project, and it looks like the cost will be at least £800,000. We have about £400,000 saved for this project already, thanks to Canon Balmer and parishioners of St John’s. The Diocese will be able to assist us with a loan as the works progress, which we will pay back in an agreed time scale. To this end we will begin a fundraising drive to meet the cost of this project, probably over a five-year period.

We are hoping the first phase will go out to tender once final reports on some existing investigative work has been concluded. The first phase will begin in the spring. We will not have to move into the hall this year as we originally expected, but sometime next year. First communions however will take place as agreed on the two Saturdays of May.

It has been a long time coming but we have every confidence that the final result will have been worth waiting for. I ask for your prayers, support and confidence that St John’s church will be a beautiful place of worship for many years to come.
Thank you.

Monsignor John Tormey, Parish Priest

Quiz Night Next quiz night: 14 February. Thanks for December quiz night which raised £63 for the Church Restoration Fund.
We pray for those who have died recently: John McCrory, Murray McLaughlin, Mary Salernitano, Peter Senior, Mary McShane.
and for the anniversaries of Robyn McLean, Molly MacKay, Charlotte Fitzpatrick, Betty and Billy McShane, Lex Shields, Ann and John McGuire, Anna Gaffney, Eddie Hone SNR, John and Elizabeth Connelly, Rena Owens, Jean McAllister, Jim Casey, Jane Michelle Doyle, Leonard Bradley, Rose Gormlie, Betty and Danny Williamson, Anna McGuire, James Connor, Maria Crolla, Audrey Fitzgerald, Sylvia Harris, Gordon Roy, Anne Mclaughlin, Joseph Callaghan, Mary Burns.

Church Cleaning. Can you please spare an hour on a Thursday after 10am Mass to help clean our church. Thanks very much. Fr John

St Luke’s High School First Friday Prayer Group.
We will ask our young people to add your intentions to their oratory prayer book.
You can add names at this website: https://forms.office.com/e/LZiW6ZAtiU

Lourdes Hospitalité: Booking is now open for the Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes, 28th June-3rd July 2025. Booking is currently via the Tangney Tours website, booking forms will be available soon. If you have a life limiting, chronic medical condition or a taking regular medication you should register with the medical/nursing team. If you wish to come to Lourdes as part of the medical/nursing or helper team, please attend the meeting on 7th January at 7pm in St Ninian’s, Gourock. If you would like to come to Lourdes as a registered sick pilgrim please come to the meeting on 26th January at 2pm in St Ninian’s, Gourock. If you have any questions, please contact Anne Louise pilgrimage co-ordinator on 01475 638132

Think Vocation:. If you think God is calling you to be a priest, please get in touch with Fr John Morrison, our Diocesan Vocations Director, tel: 01418892602 or email: [email protected]

Times of Sunday Masses: Sat Vigil 4pm. Sun: 10am, 11.30am, 5pm.
Weekdays: Mon to Saturday 10am. Workers Mass: Each Wednesday at 7.30am
Daily Adoration in Church: 9.00am – 9.55am.
In Oratory: 10.30am-9pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Daily Rosary: 9.25am.
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessions): Monday to Friday 9.30am -9.50am
Saturday: 10.30 am – 10.50am & 3.15pm – 3.45pm

Funerals this month:
27 January: John McCrory 10am

The Jubilee Year Indulgence and St Mirin’s Cathedral. Pope Francis reminds us that “God’s forgiveness knows no bounds”. The Jubilee Indulgence during the Holy Year 2025 is a beautiful expression of the mercy of God. The “indulgence” of our Loving Father frees the sinner, already forgiven through the Sacrament of Penance, from every residue left by the consequences of sin, enabling us to grow in love rather than fall back into sin. To obtain the indulgence at St. Mirin’s Cathedral during this year, as pilgrims of hope we undertake a pilgrimage to our Cathedral, especially for the celebration of Holy Mass, and purified by the Sacrament of Penance (in the days around the visit); are refreshed by the worthy reception of Holy Communion; and we also pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. As groups, or as individuals, we can also receive the indulgence by devoutly visiting the Cathedral for a period of time for Eucharistic adoration and meditation, concluding with the Our Father, Profession of Faith, and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary (for example, Hail Mary; Hail, Holy Queen; Memorare). The indulgence may be obtained each day and may be applied in suffrage for the souls in purgatory.

GRIEF TO GRACE – A Healing Retreat for Victims of Abuse – 29th April to 4th May 2025 – Perth: Grief to Grace is a specialised 5-day programme of spiritual and psychological healing for anyone who has suffered from sexual, physical, or emotional abuse or neglect in childhood, adolescence or adulthood, including those abused by a religious / member of the clergy. If you are interested in this confidential healing retreat, please contact: Grief to Grace (Scotland) at [email protected]

Retreat: The Search for Truth: Edith Stein, 14 – 16 March 2025 Fr Matthew Blake, OCD will offer a weekend exploring the life and teachings of Edith Stein, or St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, and her indominatable search for truth that led her to the Catholic faith. For more information and to book: https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/the-search-for-truth-edith-stein/
Monthly Divine Mercy Devotions: There will be a Divine Mercy Mass and Adoration on Wednesday 29 January at 7 p.m. at St Mary’s Church, 163 George Street, Paisley, PA1 2UN which will be celebrated by Fr John Morrison

Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage - Fundraising Dinner 2025: Saturday 1st March 2025, Greenock Town Hall, 7pm(for 7.30pm). Tickets cost £40 (including 3 course meal). For tickets and further information please email [email protected]  or phone 07950483042. Donations for the raffle/auction greatly appreciated. A bus will be provided for those travelling from the Paisley side of the Diocese.

18/1/2025

Second Sunday of the Year Year C

Read Now

St John the Evangelist Parish
Aurs Rd., Barrhead G78 2RW

Second Sunday of the Year Year C
19th January 2025

Rev Monsignor John Canon Tormey: Parish Priest
Rev Joseph J McGill:   Assistant Priest
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: £421.93 NGA £853.48
Building Fund GA: £292.40
Justice & Peace GA: 445.00   NGA: 472.34
Monthly Standing Orders: £4,271.50

Response to Psalm:
“Proclaim the wonders of the Lord among all the peoples”

Presentation for Canon Joseph Balmer
Thanks to everyone for the generous presentation given to Canon Joe on Thursday which will help him obtain his new canon’s robes. He was delighted to see you again, and we were delighted to meet up with him. Thanks to everyone who helped on Thursday evening. Please keep Canon Joe in your prayers.

The Diocesan Youth Commission invites children in P4-7 to a Retreat Day on Sunday 19th January, from 2-5pm. The theme is The Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. The day begins and ends in the church hall at Holy Family parish, Port Glasgow. It will include Holy Mass. A light dinner will be provided. Registration is necessary: www.tinyurl.com/dpy-january-retreat.
Email Fr Ryan for more info:
[email protected].

Sick and Retired Clergy Collection - 19th January 2025
We remember our Sick & Retired Priests of the diocese with great love and affection. We have eleven retired priests, still active in prayer and witness: one living in Rome, one living in Chile, three in houses throughout the diocese, five in parish presbyteries, and one at the Residence of the Little Sisters. We thank God for the gift of these priests and keep them in our prayers.
In 2023 our two special collections raised £37,384 and our Friends Campaign and donations raised £11,499, Gift Aid claims £4,826, rental income £9,270 and legacies £18,148. Our total income was £81,127.
In 2023 our expenditure was £170,574 made up of retired priests’ allowances £78,247, housekeepers’ wages £11,222, repairs to properties £10,985 medical and nursing home fees £21,612, the Healthcare Trust £14,137, Council Tax £8,882, rental of premises £18,950 and other costs of £6,539.
This left a shortfall of £89,447 of income compared to expenditure, partly offset by net (dividend) income of £73,438 from the Sick & Retired Priests Investment Fund, but this still left a deficit of £16,009.

We greatly appreciate any support you can give at this time.
Quiz Night Next quiz night: 14 February. Thanks for December quiz night which raised £63 for the Church Restoration Fund.

“Catholic Families for Life” Newsletter from the National Commission for Marriage, Family and Life - latest version can be found at www.marriagefamilyandlife.org.uk

We pray for those who have died recently          Betty McQuade, John McCrory

and for the anniversaries of Patrick Brady, Mary Buchanan, Jim Brown, Jean McFadyen, Mary Donnelly, Dominic McCue

Church Cleaning. Can you please spare an hour on a Thursday after 10am Mass to help clean our church. Thanks very much. Fr John

St Luke’s High School First Friday Prayer Group.
We will ask our young people to add your intentions to their oratory prayer book.
You can add names at this website: https://forms.office.com/e/LZiW6ZAtiU

Lourdes Hospitalité: Booking is now open for the Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes, 28th June-3rd July 2025. Booking is currently via the Tangney Tours website, booking forms will be available soon. If you have a life limiting, chronic medical condition or a taking regular medication you should register with the medical/nursing team. If you wish to come to Lourdes as part of the medical/nursing or helper team, please attend the meeting on 7th January at 7pm in St Ninian’s, Gourock. If you would like to come to Lourdes as a registered sick pilgrim please come to the meeting on 26th January at 2pm in St Ninian’s, Gourock. If you have any questions, please contact Anne Louise pilgrimage co-ordinator on 01475 638132

Think Vocation:. If you think God is calling you to be a priest, please get in touch with Fr John Morrison, our Diocesan Vocations Director, tel: 01418892602 or email: [email protected]

100 Club Winners for December
1st: £100 N 28 Eliz Corcoran
2nd: £50 N 30 Susan Kinroy
3rd: £30: N 100 John J Reilly
4th: £20: n 132 Marie McCool
5th: £20: n 102 Maureen Davidson
Please collect prizes from sacristy after Mass.

Times of Sunday Masses: Sat Vigil 4pm. Sun: 10am, 11.30am, 5pm.
Weekdays: Mon to Saturday 10am. Workers Mass: Each Wednesday at 7.30am

Daily Adoration in Church: 9.00am – 9.55am.
In Oratory: 10.30am-9pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Daily Rosary: 9.25am.

Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessions): Monday to Friday 9.30am -9.50am
Saturday: 10.30 am – 10.50am & 3.15pm – 3.45pm

Funerals this month:
20 January: Elizabeth (Betty) McQuade 10am
27 January: John McCrory 10am

Jubilee Year of Hope

The Jubilee Cross will most often be in the Cathedral. Throughout the year we are intending to have a monthly Cluster Mass, from February onwards. Each Cluster will be invited, in turn, to host a Mass at which Bishop John will be the main celebrant. In due course the curial office will organise the dates with you.
The Jubilee Year Indulgence. It is possible to receive the Indulgence, with the normal conditions, and these can be obtained in many contexts: Pilgrimages, pious visits to sacred sites, retreats, missions, engaging in corporal and spiritual works of mercy, for acts of penance and fasting (including from social media), for works in support of the protection of life, joining pilgrimages and Jubilee events through means of communication when it is not possible to be present in person.

The Jubilees Year and Schools. The Diocesan Education Department has already been distributed in St Luke’s HS and to the P7s and P4s in St Mark’s PS and St John’s PS, and the young people are being asked to be “Ambassadors of Hope” to their family, friends, school everyone.

Diocesan podcast team!
Listen also to the 50th anniversary celebrations at St. Francis in Port Glasgow. Listen now on rcdop.org.uk/podcast or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Please 'like' and leave us a review!

Young Adults Group: The young adults group of the Diocese of Paisley are going to Lourdes as part of the Diocesan Pilgrimage (27th June - 3rd July). If you are 18-35 and are interested in joining us please come along to our meeting on Thursday 23rd January at 7pm in St John’s hall in Barrhead. For more information email Fr. Joe McGill ([email protected])

GRIEF TO GRACE – A Healing Retreat for Victims of Abuse – 29th April to 4th May 2025 – Perth: Grief to Grace is a specialised 5-day programme of spiritual and psychological healing for anyone who has suffered from sexual, physical, or emotional abuse or neglect in childhood, adolescence or adulthood, including those abused by a religious / member of the clergy. If you are interested in this confidential healing retreat, please contact: Grief to Grace (Scotland) at [email protected]

Diocesan Safeguarding Action Plan 2025: Following analysis of the results from the Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency (SCSSA) self-evaluation exercise our updated safeguarding action plan for 2025 has now been published on the Diocesan website. An updated version of the 2023/24 action plan has also been uploaded for reference. Both documents have been approved by the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Group and Bishop Keenan with a link to the plans available at Diocese of Paisley | Safety In Our Catholic Communities | Paisley, UK

11/1/2025

Feast of the Baptism of Jesus Year C

Read Now

St John the Evangelist Parish
Aurs Rd., Barrhead G78 2RW

Feast of the Baptism of Jesus Year C
12 January 2025

Rev Monsignor John Canon Tormey: Parish Priest
Rev Joseph J McGill:   Assistant Priest
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: £366.00 NGA £858.83
Christmas GA: £1382.60 NGA £1796.08
Monthly Standing Orders: £4,271.50

Response to Psalm:
"The Lord will bless his people with peace."

Justice and Peace Second Collection this Sunday

Crib Donations for St Margaret’s Family and Child Care. There is a donation box at the Lady

Sunday Tea and Coffee restarts on Sunday 12 January All welcome to join us after the 10 am Mass. It will be the turn of the St Luke’s caritas students.

The Tuesday Tea and Coffee will start back on Tuesday 14 January 2025 after the 10 am Mass.

Presentation for Canon Joseph Balmer
Please do come along to the Mass and reception for Canon Joe Balmer this coming Thursday 16 January with Holy Mass at 7pm followed by a reception in the hall to which everyone is invited. All donations of food for the buffet gratefully received and can be dropped off in the hall from 6 pm until 6.45 pm on the night.
Donation envelopes for Canon Joe’s Presentation are available at the back of the church. Thank you.

No Quiz Night this January. Next quiz night: 14 February. Thanks for December quiz night which raised £63 for the Church Restoration Fund.

“Catholic Families for Life” Newsletter from the National Commission for Marriage, Family and Life - latest version can be found at www.marriagefamilyandlife.org.uk

We pray for those who have died recently          Janet Keenan, Betty McQuade, Tommy Taylor, John Rippey, John Marshall, Mark McVey, Thomas McMahon, Tracey McHugh, Eileen McTernan, Kathleen McEntee,

and for the anniversaries of Robert Gibbon, Clare Murray, Greg Thomas McMaster, Liam and Irene McLaughlin, Brian Corcoran, Maria and Tommy O’Hara, Pearl Dunne, Bernadette Docherty, May Cheney, Charles McAleavy, Peter McEwan, Anne McQuade, Rosalinda Pinto.

Church Cleaning. Can you please spare an hour on a Thursday after 10am Mass to help clean our church. Thanks very much. Fr John

St Luke’s High School First Friday Prayer Group.
We will ask our young people to add your intentions to their oratory prayer book.
You can add names at this website: https://forms.office.com/e/LZiW6ZAtiU

Lourdes Hospitalité: Booking is now open for the Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes, 28th June-3rd July 2025. Booking is currently via the Tangney Tours website, booking forms will be available soon. If you have a life limiting, chronic medical condition or a taking regular medication you should register with the medical/nursing team. If you wish to come to Lourdes as part of the medical/nursing or helper team, please attend the meeting on 7th January at 7pm in St Ninian’s, Gourock. If you would like to come to Lourdes as a registered sick pilgrim please come to the meeting on 26th January at 2pm in St Ninian’s, Gourock. If you have any questions, please contact Anne Louise pilgrimage co-ordinator on 01475 638132

Think Vocation:. If you think God is calling you to be a priest, please get in touch with Fr John Morrison, our Diocesan Vocations Director, tel: 01418892602 or email: [email protected]

The Diocesan Youth Commission invites children in P4-7 to a Retreat Day on Sunday 19th January, from 2-5pm. The theme is The Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. The day begins and ends in the church hall at Holy Family parish, Port Glasgow. It will include Holy Mass. A light dinner will be provided. Registration is necessary: www.tinyurl.com/dpy-january-retreat.
Email Fr Ryan for more info:
[email protected].

100 Club Winners for December
1st: £100 N 28 Eliz Corcoran
2nd: £50 N 30 Susan Kinroy
3rd: £30: N 100 John J Reilly
4th: £20: n 132 Marie McCool
5th: £20: n 102 Maureen Davidson
Please collect prizes from sacristy after Mass.

Justice & Peace collection Today 12 Jan 2025
In 2024 our Justice & Peace collection raised £16,793 with an additional £1,373 from Gift Aid and £1,665 in interest, bringing total income to £19,831. In 2024 our total (draft) expenditure was £34,953 with £10,300 as our Diocesan pro-rata contribution to the National J&P work and £24,653 for the Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency. So, our costs in 2024 were £15,122 (76%) higher than our income.

This collection helps fund our Scottish Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, our Marriage Tribunal and our Catholic Parliamentary Office. Our Justice & Peace Commission campaigns against renewal of Trident, for fairness for asylum seekers and refugees and for action against climate change and for the environment. It also networks with parishes and advises our Bishops on social justice, international peace and human rights. Our national Marriage Tribunal processes cases for annulment and supports two staff. Our Parliamentary Office works with MSPs, MPs and the wider political society to promote the influence of Catholic Social Teaching on our law and supports one officer. Thank you

Times of Sunday Masses: Sat Vigil 4pm. Sun: 10am, 11.30am, 5pm.
Weekdays: Mon to Saturday 10am. Workers Mass: Each Wednesday at 7.30am
Daily Adoration in Church: 9.00am – 9.55am.
In Oratory: 10.30am-9pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Daily Rosary: 9.25am.
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessions): Monday to Friday 9.30am -9.50am
Saturday: 10.30 am – 10.50am & 3.15pm – 3.45pm

Funerals this month:

13th January:   Janet Keenan 10am Mass
20th January: Elizabeth (Betty) McQuade
Awaiting date: John McCrory

Jubilee Year of Hope

The Jubilee Cross will most often be in the Cathedral. Throughout the year we are intending to have a monthly Cluster Mass, from February onwards. Each Cluster will be invited, in turn, to host a Mass at which Bishop John will be the main celebrant. In due course the curial office will organise the dates with you.

The Jubilee Year Indulgence. It is possible to receive the Indulgence, with the normal conditions, (having gone to confession, received holy communion and having a true desire to draw closer to God) and these can be obtained in many contexts: Pilgrimages, pious visits to sacred sites, retreats, missions, engaging in corporal and spiritual works of mercy, for acts of penance and fasting (including from social media), for works in support of the protection of life, joining pilgrimages and Jubilee events through means of communication when it is not possible to be present in person.

The Diocesan Education Department has engaged exceptionally with schools to prepare for the Jubilee and have also prepared age-appropriate versions of the Jubilee Prayer, which have already been distributed in St Luke’s HS and to the P7s and P4s in St Mark’s PS and St John’s PS, and the young people are being asked to be “Ambassadors of Hope” to their family, friends, school and parish

5/1/2025

Feast Of The Epiphany Year C

Read Now

St John the Evangelist Parish
Aurs Rd., Barrhead G78 2RW

Feast of the Epiphany Year C
5th January 2025

Rev Monsignor John Canon Tormey: Parish Priest
Rev Joseph J McGill:   Assistant Priest
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: £366.00 NGA £858.83
Christmas GA: £1382.60 NGA £1796.08
Monthly Standing Orders: £4,271.50

                       Happy New Year to Everyone
All Mass times resume as normal from this week

Response to Psalm:
“All the nations on earth
Shall fall prostrate before you, O Lord.”

Justice and Peace Second Collection this Sunday

Crib Donations for St Margaret’s Family and Child Care. There is a donation box at the Lady Altar

Presentation for Canon Joseph Balmer
16 January at 7pm Mass, followed by reception in Parish Hall. We will begin collecting for Canon Joe’s Presentation. Donation envelopes are also available at the back of the church. Thank you.

The next children’s rosary group
We are back on Friday 10th January at 6 pm.

No Quiz Night this January. Next quiz night 14th February. Thanks for December quiz night which raised £63 for the Church Restoration Fund.

“Catholic Families for Life” Newsletter from the National Commission for Marriage, Family and Life - latest version can be found at www.marriagefamilyandlife.org.uk

We pray for those who have died recently:
Mary Crossan, Janet Connelly, Janet Keenan, Betty McQuade, John Rippey, John Marshall, Mark McVey, Thomas McMahon, Tracey McHugh, Thomas Taylor.

and for the anniversaries of Madge Burns, Owen and Margaret Taylor, Mary and Tom Lynagh, Mary Connolly, Susan Taylor, Margaret and Peter McKenzie, John Anderson, Margaret McGuire

Church Cleaning. Can you please spare an hour on a Thursday after 10am Mass to help clean our church. Thanks very much. Fr John

St Luke’s High School First Friday Prayer Group.
We will ask our young people to add your intentions to their oratory prayer book.
You can add names at this website: https://forms.office.com/e/LZiW6ZAtiU

Lourdes Hospitalité: Booking is now open for the Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes, 28th June-3rd July 2025. Booking is currently via the Tangney Tours website, booking forms will be available soon. If you have a life limiting, chronic medical condition or a taking regular medication you should register with the medical/nursing team. If you wish to come to Lourdes as part of the medical/nursing or helper team, please attend the meeting on 7th January at 7pm in St Ninian’s, Gourock. If you would like to come to Lourdes as a registered sick pilgrim please come to the meeting on 26th January at 2pm in St Ninian’s, Gourock. If you have any questions, please contact Anne Louise pilgrimage co-ordinator on 01475 638132

Think Vocation:. If you think God is calling you to be a priest, please get in touch with Fr John Morrison, our Diocesan Vocations Director, tel: 01418892602 or email: [email protected]

Justice and Peace. Please see all the latest articles on the work for justice and peace in Scotland. (Bishops’ Conference)
www.justiceandpeacescotland.org.uk.

Special Guest Podcast: Remember to catch-up on our podcasts over Christmas. Listen now on the Diocesan website www.rcdop.org.uk/podcast or on all major streaming platforms.

Men’s Spiritual Exercises, 31 March – 5 April 2025: A 5-day version of the Ignatian Exercises offered specifically for men (whether lay or ordained), this retreat will be preached by the Benedictine Monks of St Joseph’s Abbey, France. Founded in 1988, this community has retained its charism of a specific apostolate to men and of engaging them through a shortened version of the Ignatian Exercises. One-to-one direction will be offered alongside the talks. Priests are welcome to attend and concelebrate or celebrate their own Mass.
For more information and to book: https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/mens-spiritual-exercises/

Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration – Christmas Closure
The Oratory reopens at 10.30 am on Monday 6 January. There is a new list sent out to all participants.

St John’s, Barrhead Finance
Parishioners wishing to set up standing orders to complete a standing order form and gift aid declaration, if applicable and return them to the parish priest. These forms can be obtained from the parish website or from the Sacristy.
Thank you. Jackie Brett. Diocesan Finance.

The Diocesan Youth Commission invites children in P4-7 to a Retreat Day on Sunday 19th January, from 2-5pm. The theme is The Luminous Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. The day begins and ends in the church hall at Holy Family parish, Port Glasgow. It will include Holy Mass. A light dinner will be provided. Registration is necessary: www.tinyurl.com/dpy-january-retreat.
Email Fr Ryan for more info:
[email protected].

Times of Sunday Masses: Sat Vigil 4pm. Sun: 10am, 11.30am, 5pm.
Weekdays: Mon to Saturday 10am. Workers Mass: Each Wednesday at 7.30am
Daily Adoration in Church: 9.00am – 9.55am.
In Oratory: 10.30am-9pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
Daily Rosary: 9.25am.
Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confessions): Monday to Friday 9.30am -9.50am
Saturday: 10.30 am – 10.50am & 3.15pm – 3.45pm

Funerals this month:

7th January: Janet Connelly 10am Mass
10th January: Thomas Taylor 10am Mass
13th January:   Janet Keenan 10am Mass

Holy Year 2025 Theme: Pilgrims of Hope
Please take home the prayer and information leaflet for the Holy Year 2025, which you can find at the church main entrance.

Pre-Christmas Coffee Morning Thanks
With a joint effort from St Mark's parents and the wonderful parishioners of St John's church. We made an outstanding £600 to be split evenly with the school and the parish.

Thanks to all who donated raffle prizes and a special thanks again to D Moodie & Co. Funeral Directors for donating our main prize (a tv) Thanks to all our home bakers!!!! Fab cakes and biscuits!!!! Thank you to Annamarie Monaghan Johnston for our entertainment!

100 Club Winners for December
1st: £100 N 28 Eliz Corcoran
2nd: £50 N 30 Susan Kinroy
3rd: £30: N 100 John J Reilly
4th: £20: n 132 Marie McCool
5th: £20: n 102 Maureen Davidson

Justice & Peace collection Today 5 Jan 2025

In 2024 our Justice & Peace collection raised £16,793 with an additional £1,373 from Gift Aid and £1,665 in interest, bringing total income to £19,831. In 2024 our total (draft) expenditure was £34,953 with £10,300 as our Diocesan pro-rata contribution to the National J&P work and £24,653 for the Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency. So, our costs in 2024 were £15,122 (76%) higher than our income.

This collection helps fund our Scottish Catholic Justice and Peace Commission, our Marriage Tribunal and our Catholic Parliamentary Office. Our Justice & Peace Commission campaigns against renewal of Trident, for fairness for asylum seekers and refugees and for action against climate change and for the environment. It also networks with parishes and advises our Bishops on social justice, international peace and human rights. Our national Marriage Tribunal processes cases for annulment and supports two staff. Our Parliamentary Office works with MSPs, MPs and the wider political society to promote the influence of Catholic Social Teaching on our law and supports one officer. Thank you for your kindness in contributing to these important ministries in the Church.