Second Sunday of Lent

 St John the Evangelist Parish
Aurs Rd., Barrhead, G78 2RW.
 
2nd Sunday of Lent
1st 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​.
 
Last Week’s Collections:
First Collection GA: £342.00 NGA: £1,241.92
SPRED GA: £5.00
Donations to Restoration Fund: £,3080.00
 
Response to Psalm:
‘May your merciful love be upon us, as we hope in you, O Lord.’
 
St Vincent de Paul Society: 
The SSVP 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.
 
Men’s Lenten Night (Monday 2nd March):
All men are warmly invited to the Men’s Lenten Night at St Joseph’s (Clarkston) on Monday at 8:00pm, for an evening of guided prayer, reflection and hymns. A meaningful opportunity to pause, pray and deepen your faith alongside other men. Teas and coffees will be available in the hall afterwards. 
 
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.
We pray for those who have died recently:
Hugh Hendry, James William Jackson, Cathy McPhee and Grace Walsh.
 
We pray for the anniversaries of:
Margaret Carroll, Hugh Creamer Jr, Mary Creamer, Joseph Gallacher Sr, Grace Glenroy, Dominic Greenan, Ellen Hendry, Mary Hughes, William Kelly, Fay and Frank Lennon, David and Robert McCarthy, Steven McLaughlin, Betty and Billy McShane, James Mullen, Rex O’Neill and for the 12 month’s mind of Paul Gallagher.
 
Funerals Notices:
The Requiem Mass for James William Jackson will be celebrated on Wednesday 11th March at 10:00am.
 
St John’s, Barrhead Accounts Report from the Diocese of Paisley Finance Department:
The profit and loss account for 12 months ending 31st December 2025 shows a profit for the Parish of: £88,400.
 
The balance on 31st December 2025 on the parish loan to Diocese was: £104,199.
The balance on 31st December 2025 on Investment with Diocese was: £567,648.
 
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support of the parish and would ask and encourage parishioners wishing to set up new 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. Alternatively, you can set up regular faster payment to the parish via your online banking system. Parish bank details as follows:
St Johns Church
Sort Code 80-05-54
Account No 00761597
 
Thank you. Jackie Brett, Finance Director, Diocese of Paisley

St John’s Restoration Work:
As you will know, tenders were due back on Wednesday 4th February for the works here in our parish of St John’s, and we have now received tenders from five out of the six tendering contractors as outlined below (these figures do not include 20% VAT): Contractor A £668,354.30    Contractor B £901,367.30      Contractor C £947,995.51 Contractor D £1,047,831.22      Contractor E £1,049,173.62  
The Diocesan Fabric and Property Department met on Friday 20th February to decide on what contractor will get the job which means that we should have a start date very soon. Our budget for the project was restricted at £907,000 (including VAT and Fees). However, two grants totalling £35,000 will now be added to this total, making it £942,000. The Diocese will consider if we have to reduce some of the works or if we require additional funding before the project can go ahead. Please keep the project in your prayers so that we may get a start date very soon.
 
Safeguarding Induction Training:
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]
Dates:                                                                       
Saturday, 28th March, 10.30am, St Joseph’s Greenock  
Tuesday, 21st April, 7pm, Diocesan Centre Paisley 
Saturday, 16th May, 10.30am, St Mary’s Greenock 
Tuesday 9th June, 7pm, Diocesan Centre Paisley
 
The Bishops' Conference of Scotland: Safeguarding:
 The latest Safeguarding Manual, ‘In God’s Image V2’, can be viewed at: https://www.bcos.org.uk/Safeguarding#InGodsImage
 
Lent Mission at St Bernadette’s Parish, Erskine, PA8 7AE (Sunday 1st – Wednesday 4th March):
Sunday 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Mon- Wed: 7:00pm - 9:00pm
Themes: God so loved the world.; I say to you, arise; Clothed with power. www.catholicerskine.website
All are welcome to join us for a prayerful experience
 
World Day of Prayer (Friday 6th March):
The ABC (Action of Barrhead Churches) is taking part in this annual event, and this year St. John’s is hosting the service, which will be held in the hall from 2–4pm. There will be readings and prayers, music, a collection, then tea and chat. Everyone is very welcome.

Coalition Against Assisted Dying Vote (Thursday 26th March):
The next few weeks are very important for our country and we must make every effort both practically and spiritually to defeat the assisted suicide bill which will be voted on, before our parliament goes into recess and before the election, on Thursday 26th March 2026.
We have prepared a letter for all parishioners to send to Mr Tom Arthur MSP detailing the key reasons he should vote against the bill and I would ask you to sign and address the letters which will be available at the back of the church. These letters should be sent to Mr Arthur to show our collective opposition, as a parish community, to the bill.
 
Please take time to sign a letter to lobby our MSPs not to vote for the Assisted Dying Bill. Letters at the back only need your signature. Many thanks. Fr John
 
Spring Fling – Thank You!
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and supported this year’s Spring Fling. Your presence, enthusiasm, and generosity made it a wonderful day for the whole church community.
We are especially grateful to all the volunteers and helpers who worked tirelessly before, during, and after the event. From setting up tables to serving drinks, selling raffle tickets, clearing up, and everything in between - your efforts were deeply appreciated and truly made the day a success.
Thanks to the kindness and generosity of everyone who came along, we raised an impressive £2,920 for the Restoration Fund.
 
We would also like to extend a very special thank you to Pearl Wilson, who pledged to match every pound raised. In the end, Pearl generously donated £3,080, bringing our total to an astonishing £6,000!
This incredible amount will go a long way in supporting the restoration plans, and we are deeply thankful for the continued support of our congregation and friends.
Thank you all for making the Spring Fling such a joyful and successful event