Palm Sunday

​St John the Evangelist Parish
Aurs Rd., Barrhead, G78 2RW.
 
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
29th March 2026
 
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.
Workers’ 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​.
 
Stations of the Cross:
Every Friday during Lent at 7pm.
 
Holy Week Services:
(Holy Week Begins on Palm Sunday)
 
Palm Sunday: Masses as normal with distribution of palms.
 
Monday – Wednesday: Morning Masses and Confessions as normal.
 
Chrism Mass Wednesday Evening: 7:00pm St Mirin’s Cathedral with blessing of the oils for the sacraments and renewal of the priests’ vows.
 
Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday – Holy Saturday):
Morning Prayer 10:00am from Thursday – Saturday.
 
Holy Thursday Evening: Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7:00pm
Night Prayer: 10:00pm.
 
Good Friday: Commemoration of the Passion 3:00pm and Stations of the Cross 7:00pm (With ecumenical presence of Barrhead churches).
 
Easter Vigil: 8:00pm (With the Baptism of five Catechumens).
Easter Sunday: 10:00am and 11:30am
No evening Mass on Easter Sunday.
 
Last Week’s Collections:
First Collection GA: £357.00 NGA: £1,160.29
SCIAF GA: £45.00 NGA: £52.00
Restoration Fund: £360.00
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We pray for those who have died recently:
Patricia Harrison, Evelyn Letournou, Hannah (Monaghan) Miller and Lina Waclawski.
 
We pray for the anniversaries of:
Bishop James Black, Canon Denis Sheahan, Gavin Conafray, James Creamer, William Patrick Docherty, Betty and Joe Gallacher, Charles Henry, Michael McGuire, Bob O’Neil, William Sandford and Grace Walsh.
 
Support for those affected by recent events:
We continue to pray for the victim and his family who have suffered as a result of the crime committed against him. The events relating to Canon Baillie’s recent court appearance has also prompted a range of emotional responses and may have caused distress for some parishioners across the diocese. In partnership with Epione Consultants, a specialist trauma support organisation, the diocese has produced a resource leaflet to help people understand and process their feelings. Anyone who may benefit from support is encouraged to access this resource, which includes information and contact details for additional support services. The leaflet is available on the diocesan website here: https://tinyurl.com/yck859s7. 
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Gift Aid Boxes:
Gift Aid boxes are now available at the back of the church for the start of the new tax year. If you donate by standing order there are boxes for the Special Collection only. Many people who donate by standing order have asked for these for the second collections only.
If you donate through gift aid and do not have a standing order, please pick up a full set of envelopes at the back of the church.
There are lists with names and the envelope number.
 
Full Boxed Envelopes run from 1 to 90. These are found on the table on the right. Special Collection Boxed Envelopes numbered from 91 to 220. are on the table by the choir stairs.  We ran out of some Special Collection Boxed Envelopes – those after 180 on the list have now arrived and ready for uplifting.
Thank you to all our parishioners who donate regularly, whether with Gift Aid or not. Our Annual Collections increased by 7% last year, and our Special Collections (including the Building Fund collection) increased by 24%. Thank you to everyone for your generosity. May God reward you.
 
If you wish to set up standing order instead of using church envelopes or the plate collection, you can fill out a standing order form at the back of the church and return it to Fr John. If  you pay tax on your income please consider signing a Gif Aid Form. ( you do not lose any money but the church benefits (this year Gift Aid income realised over £25,000) . Alternatively you can set up your donation online. Parish bank details as follows:
St Johns Church

Sort Code 80-05-54
Account No 00761597
Alternatively, please scan the QR code below to give
via our online giving page:

Church Restoration Work:
Fr John along with PPC member Michael Ward attended the Diocesan Finance and Property Meeting on Friday 13th March at 2:00pm. At this meeting, after hearing the reports on all five tenders by the Project Management Team, we (the parish) agreed, with the Diocesan and Finance Committee, to select Cairn Contracts, who won the deal with the lowest tender out of five tenders to the Corrected Tender Amount of £694,233.55 plus VAT and Fees; This Contract was signed on the Feast of St Joseph 19 March 2026
 
To help cover the overall restoration costs, the Diocesan Fabric and Finance Committee agreed at this meeting to a further increase of £24k to the original budget of £907K, in order to cover the VAT and Fees for the work that will now be carried out make our church wind and water tight.
 
Thank you so much, St Joseph. And thank you to all of you for your donations and fundraising. The Diocesan Finance and Property Committee were very impressed by the magnificent sums raised by your fundraising efforts. 
 
This restoration work will take at least 26 weeks, or longer if the walls need longer to dry out; then the newly plastered walls will be painted.
 
Once work permits and initial site works are in place we expect the work to commence after the Easter holiday, around 17 April. This now means we will have Holy Week and Easter in the church. There will be a public meeting with the Project Management Team before Easter to let the whole parish know what works are being done and to give you a more in-depth explanation of all the work that will be done.
It is finally happening, my dear parishioners. Deo Gratias.
 
Invitation to Join Eucharistic Adoration in the Parish Oratory:
We would like to invite more people to join in Eucharistic Adoration. It would be particularly helpful between 2:00pm-3:00pm and 3:00-4:00pm on Mondays and 4:00-5:00pm on Wednesdays. But you are always welcome to visting the Parish Oratory for Adoration any Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
 
40 Days of Life for Glasgow:
This is an anti-abortion campaign conducting 12-hour daily prayer vigils (8:00am – 8:00pm) on Hardgate Road, near the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital running from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. The group aims to end abortion through prayer, fasting and community outreach, to advocate a culture of life and offer alternatives to abortion to those visiting the facility. There is an open invitation to join them at any day during this vigil. Please keep them in your prayers.
 
Diocese of Paisley Podcast:
In the latest episode of the Diocese of Paisley Podcast, our very own Fr John reminisces on his vocation of 45 years in the priesthood and his hopes for the future of the Church.
 
ABC Holy Week Services: 
The ABC (Action for Barrhead Churches) has compiled a list of ecumenical services and events being held in several local churches during Holy Week, to which everyone is warmly invited. Posters are on display at the side entrance and in the porch, where leaflets are also available.
St. John’s is hosting two services on Good Friday:
— the Walk of Witness, starting from the church at 10:30
— Stations of the Cross, in the church at 7:00pm.

Kids’ May Day Party (Friday 1st May):
Friday 1st May, 6:30pm – 8:00pm in the Hall. Come along for a fun-filled evening of arts, crafts, games, and snacks as we celebrate May Day together! Entry is £2 per child. Parents go free. During the party, we will elect our May Queen and May King, who will then lead the Children’s Liturgy Flower Offertory Procession at 10am Mass on Sunday 3rd May to honour Our Lady in this special month. Important: All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult for the entire event, tea and coffee will be available. Tickets:  Contact Anna Marie Johnston on 07897 405000 to book your place. Numbers are limited, so don’t delay! We look forward to a lovely evening of fun and celebration!
 
St. John's Golf Cup (Friday 5th June):
St. John's Cup, Friday, 5th June, 10am -12 non, Fereneze Golf Club. Please see the poster at the back of the church for details.
There is a sign-up sheet at the back of the church or contact, Mark Carlton on 078857535.
 
Parish Hall Safeguarding Notice:
Please be aware that no-one can enter the parish hall during parish group lets Monday – Thursday. There are always children and vulnerable adults whose carers are responsible for them while they are in the hall. This is normal safeguarding protocol for the Diocese of Paisley. Thank you.
 
Guiding in Barrhead:
We are hoping to gain more volunteers for the rainbows in the hall and have shared a similar message on our social media: 
“Do you know someone who would make a great volunteer? We are looking for volunteers who can help out on a Tuesday evening with Rainbows in Barrhead. We'd love for you to join and help more girls to thrive in Girlguiding. Create magical moments together and make a difference when it works for you. 
 
Prayers for Fr Joe McGill’s dad, Stephen:
Fr Joe’s dad was taken into hospital on Monday the 2nd of March after sustaining a head injury as a result of a fall. Stephen is making small steps in recovery. Please continue to keep Stephen, Fr Joe and his family in your prayers. They are very grateful for all your kind wishes and prayers.