Feast of the Holy Family Year C December 28th, 2024

St John the Evangelist Parish
Aurs Rd., Barrhead G78 2RW
 
Feast of the Holy Family  Year C
29th December 2024  
 

 
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: £384.00  NGA £945.53
Monthly Standing Orders: £4,271.50
 
                      
Scan for Christmas Masses in our Diocese
 
Christmastide Mass times for St John’s Barrhead
Masses at normal times
New Year’s Day Mass 11am
 
No Wednesday early morning 7.30am Mass during the Christmas Holidays.
 
Response to Psalm:
“Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
and walk in his ways.”
 
Crib Donations for St Margaret’s Family and Child Care.
There is a box at the Lady Altar for donations.
 
Presentation for Canon Joseph Balmer
16th January at 7pm Mass, followed by reception in Parish Hall. Collection will be made in January for Fr Joe’s presentation. Envelopes for Canon Joe’s Presentation can be handed in from next week.
 
 
“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, John Rippey, John Marshall, Mark McVey
 
and for the anniversaries of Elizabeth Mooney, Frank and Margaret Stewart, Fr Matthew Boyen,  Fr Peter Willens, Jack and Susan McCann, John and Anne McCann, Mary Armstrong, Margaret Sandford, Nan Carr
And the first anniversary of Agnes Colgan. 


 
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: “Behold, I have come to do your will, O God” (2nd reading) Can you make that offer, to put yourself at the disposal of God’s plan for his people and for the world? Thinking about Diocesan Priesthood in 2025? The Catholic Church in Scotland is now inviting enquiries from those considering applying for seminary. 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 will close for the Christmas Holidays at 7.00 pm on Friday 20 December, re-opening at 10.30 am on Monday 6 January.
 
 
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 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/
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 next month: 
3rd January Mary Crossan 10am Mass                                                  7th January Janet Connelly 10am Mass
13th January  Janet Keenan 10am Mass
 

Thanks to everyone who helped to make the church look so beautiful for our Christmas Masses, with the flowers and all the decorations and all those who keep the church clean and sparkling every week. The church looked radiant!
 
A special thanks to the Children’s liturgy team and the children of our parish for the beautiful and inspiring presentation of the Nativity on Christmas Eve.
 
Thanks to all our choirs and musicians for the inspiring music. Thanks to our sacristans, altar servers, readers, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, and our SVDP passkeepers.
 
Fr John and Fr Joe would like to thank everyone for their kindness and good wishes and prayers over this Christmas time.
We hope you are having a peaceful and prayerful twelve days of Christmastide.
 
Mass on New Year’s Day which celebrates the Motherhood of Mary, will be at 11am. We will pray for peace throughout the world at this Mass. It is not a holyday of obligation, but do try to come and join us if you are able. Fr John and Fr Joe wish everyone a blessed and peaceful New Year.
 
Holy Year 2025  Theme: Pilgrims of Hope
 
The Holy Father began the Holy Year celebrations on Christmas Day in Rome. Our diocesan Holy Year celebrations begin at St Mirin’s Cathedral this Sunday at 11am led by Bishop John.
 
Please take home the prayer and information leaflet for the Holy Year 2025, which you can find at the church main entrance.