Gaudete Sunday

St John the Evangelist Parish
Aurs Rd., Barrhead, G78 2RW.
 
The Third Sunday of Advent
(Gaudete Sunday)
14th December 2025
 
Rev Monsignor John Canon Tormey: Parish Priest
Rev Fr Joseph J McGill: Curate
Rev Denis Murphy:  Deacon
Email: [email protected]  Tel: 0141 881 0769
Website: www.stjohns-barrhead.org
 
Mary Hallan: Safeguarding Co-Ordinator: [email protected]
 
Times of Holy Mass:
Sunday: 4pm (Vigil), 10:00am, 11:30am and 5:00pm.
Weekday Mass: Monday-Saturday 10:00am.
Rorate Mass: Wednesday 7:30am.
Holy Days of Obligation: Vigil 7:00pm, 8:00am and 10:00am.

​Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession):
Saturday 10:30am-11:00am, 3:15pm-3:45pm.
Monday-Friday 9:30am-9:50am​.
 
Last Week’s Collections:
First Collection GA: £398.10 NGA: £1,089.58
Building Fund GA: £772.00 NGA: £598.44
Education GA: £60.00
 
Response to Psalm:
‘Come, Lord, and save us.’
 
Wednesdays of Advent 7:30am Rorate Mass:
Please join us each Wednesday at 07:30am, for a candlelit Rorate Mass as we wait for Christ, the light of the world, during Advent.                                                                                                                   St Vincent de Paul Society:
The SVdP provide spiritual, social and financial support to anyone in need. We visit parishioners of St John’s at their homes or in local care homes. If you know of anyone who might benefit from this offer from the members of the SVdP, please get in touch by calling: 075123 02877 or speak to one of our members after Mass who will be collecting for the Society in the porch. (All information will be treated confidentially).
 
St John’s Parish Website:
You can keep up to date with funeral dates, Mass times, church restoration news and Parish events by visiting the Parish Website: https://www.stjohns-barrhead.org
The photos from the afternoon Tea are available to view online. 
 
 
We pray for those who have died recently:
Mae Burns, Iain Campbell, Derek Cassidy, Eamonn McCafferty and Isabel Wyber.
 
We pray for the anniversaries of:
John Boyle, David Davidson, Kathryn Devlin, Gerard Ellis, William Ellis, Bernard McAllister, Susan McAllister, Catherine McGuire, Maureen McGuire, Michael McGuire, Tracy McHugh, Elizabeth Mooney, John Michael Mooney, Carol O’Donnell, Lex Shields, Mary Sproul, Tommy Sproul and Hugh Welsh.
 
Forthcoming Funerals:
Iain Campbell: Thursday 18th December, 10:00am Mass, thereafter to Hurlet Crematorium for 11:00am.
Derek Cassidy: Tuesday 23rd December, 10:00am Mass, thereafter to Hurlet Crematorium for 11:00am.
 
St John’s Hogmanay Party:
Thank you to all who have purchased Hogmanay Party tickets, to support our Restoration Fund. The event is now sold out.
 
Raffle to Win Signed Dr Who Script:
This is the last week to buy raffle tickets for the Dr. Who Script.
The raffle will be drawn after 10:00am Mass on Sunday 21st December. 
Scan the link below or scan the QR code to purchase a ticket.  £1 per ticket. Alternatively, you can scan from the posters on the church and hall noticeboards.
Raffle to win a signed Dr Who script, signed by Peter Capaldi. Series 2- Episode 8. “Into the Dalek.”
Paypal.com/pool/9jtvuDV3Ds
All proceeds in aid of St. John’s Restoration fund.
For those who are experiencing difficulties accessing the raffle using the QR code, there will be an opportunity to purchase tickets (£1 an entry) in the porch after the weekend Masses.
Keep up to date with our fundraising projects on St John the Evangelist Community and Fundraising Group on Facebook.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/816999461224626/
 
Piety Stall Christmas Items and Western Catholic Calendars:
The remaining Christmas items are available to purchase in the Piety Stall after Mass and Western Catholic Calendars for 2026 are available to buy for £3.50 each.
 
All-Day Advent Eucharistic Adoration Tuesday 16th and Thursday 17th December:
There will be all-day Eucharistic Adoration on Tuesday at St. John Bosco church, Erskine and on Thursday in St. Bernadette’s Church, Erskine, from 10:00am until 7:00pm, with a Holy Hour from 6:00pm until 7:00pm.
Confessions are available from 5pm to 6pm at St. John Bosco on Tuesday and at St. Bernadette’s on Thursday.
 
Monthly Pro-Life Mass Wednesday 17th December:
The monthly Pro-Life Mass is on Wednesday, 17th December at 7.30pm at Holy Cross, 113 Dixon Ave, G42 8ER. Adoration begins at 6.15pm. Tea and mince pies in the hall afterwards – all welcome. The celebrant will be Canon Joe McAuley.
 
Advent Prayer Breakfast Friday 19th December:
On Friday 19th December, St. Bernadette’s, Erskine, will have their final Advent breakfast followed by a short prayer reflection. Mass will be at 8:30 am.
 
Christmas Coffee Morning Sunday 21st December:
The Parish Hall committee, in partnership with St Mark’s Parent Council, will be running a Christmas Coffee morning after 10:00am Mass on Sunday 21st December. There will be live music, a raffle, entertainment and a very special guest!
 
Carols in the Cathedral Saturday 27th December:
All are welcome at this annual diocesan event, as we come together as a community and worship in song, the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. We begin at 2pm on Saturday 27th December in St Mirin’s Cathedral, with the Diocesan Choir and Schola Benedicti.
 
Marriage Preparation Residential Weekend Course (9th  - 11th  January 2026):
The CHC’s weekend marriage preparation course is intended for couples who wish to engage more deeply with the Catholic vision for marriage. Structured around the elements of the marriage rite, couples will reflect deeply on foundational Scriptural texts to gain a deeper understanding of both the natural and Sacramental aspects of Matrimony. The weekend is framed by prayer, time for reflection personally and as a couple, group discussion and a social.
 
Love & Beauty in St John’s Spiritual Canticle (20th – 22nd February 2026):
2026 marks the centenary of the declaration of St John of the Cross as a Doctor of the Church. In honour of this anniversary, Fr Matthew Blake OCD, will offer a weekend reflecting on the themes of love and beauty in the most celebrated poetry of the great Spanish mystic. 
https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/love-beauty-in-st-johns-spiritual-canticle/
 
Prayer to St. Michael:
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of Battle; 
Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do Thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into Hell, Satan and all the other evil spirits, who prowl through the world, seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
 
 
Christmas Mass Times across the Diocese and at St John’s:
You can find Mass times listings for Christmas throughout the diocese on the diocesan website - https://rcdop.org.uk/christmas. Please check back regularly as we will amend the page as parishes confirm or amend their schedules.
 
The Christmas Mass times here at St John’s are as follows-
Wednesday 24th December: 6:00pm.
Thursday 25th December: 12:00 midnight, 10am.
 
Marriage Preparation Courses 2026 – Diocese of Paisley:
We invite engaged couples to register for one of the Marriage Preparation courses on offer in 2026. 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 gift 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 https://www.rcdop.org.uk/marriage-preparation or use the QR code to see the course dates and go straight to our booking page. We look forward to seeing you!
 
Diocese of Paisley Vocations:
Our new Diocesan Vocations social media pages are officially up-and-running!
Instagram - dioceseofpaisleyvocations
TikTok - paisleyvocations
X - @DoPVocations
Vocations Director, Fr. Eoin Patten explains our new Vocations message - “He is There!”
Be sure to like, follow and share.
 
Diocesan Finance Department Temporary Vacancies:
The Diocesan finance department have 2 temporary vacancies for a minimum of 6 weeks with immediate effect.
Accountant to prepare quarterly curial and parish accounts, processing payroll and assisting the finance director in ad hoc duties to cover sick leave. Experienced bookkeeper to assist with parish and curial processing on sage. If you are interested and have the relevant experience please contact Jackie Brett by email [email protected]