Second Sunday of the Year in Ordinary Time Year A.

St John the Evangelist Parish
Aurs Rd., Barrhead, G78 2RW.
 
Secondary Sunday in Ordinary Time
18th January 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: £320.00: £971.92
Building Fund GA: £633.05  NGA: £481.43
St Margaret’s Adoption Society: £646.60
Restoration Fund: £150
 
The Second Collection this week will go towards supporting the sick and retired clergy of our Diocese.
 
Response to Psalm: ‘Behold, I have come, Lord, to do your will.’
 
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. (All information will be treated confidentially).
 
Parish Pastoral Council
The PPC will meet at 7pm on Tuesday 27th January in the Tea Room. Agenda will be sent by email this week. Points for discussion can be submitted to Fr John by email or letter.
 
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 Hogmanay party are available to view online. 
https://www.stjohns-barrhead.org/renovation-fundraising.html
 
We pray for those who have died recently:
Ann Marie Carberry and Robert McCann, Charles Wright
 
We pray for the anniversaries of:
Helen Bannatyne, Leonard Bradley, Patrick Brady, Mary Buchanan, Joseph Callaghan, Jim Casey, Isabella Docherty, Mary Donnelly, Madge Fox, Maria Hannigan, Helen Hughes, Irene McLaughlin, Liam McLaughlin and Betty Paterson and for the first anniversaries of Mary McShane and Janice Paterson.
 
Funerals Notices:
Requiem Mass for Robert McCann will be celebrated at 10:00am on Wednesday 21st January with the Vigil reception at 6:00pm Tuesday 20th January.
 
Restoration Fund Update:
St John’s Social Committee are delighted to announce that, in addition to the £10,000 raised at the summer fête, ongoing fundraising initiatives including the Afternoon Tea, Hogmanay Party, Dr Who raffle, monthly quizzes and more have contributed a further £9,461.65 towards the Church Restoration Fund! Thank you again to everyone who has contributed in any way to raising this incredible amount. We look forward to your continued support and generosity in the year ahead!
 
The Social Committee meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:00pm in the tea room. If anyone has any fundraising ideas, initiatives, grant awareness or simply wants to get involved, please come along — everyone is welcome.
 
Week of Prayers for Christian Unity (18-25 January):
Please have an intention for ecumenism in your prayers. We’ve held numerals events with the various Christian churches of Barrhead over the last year which included the ABC Quiz night, which St John’s Parish won with the help of Fr Joe; and we had a joint Christmas Carol Service in St Andrew’s Church of Scotland, which was well represented by Fr John and a good number of our parishioners. We also took part in the Good Friday walk around the town of Barrhead during Holy Week last year, with the walk beginning at St John’s.
 
To commemorate Christian Unity Week, Bishop Keenan has invited Reverend James Gibson, interim moderator and minister of Paisley Abbey, to preach at the 11:00am Mass on Sunday 25th January in St Mirin’s Cathedral. All are most welcome.
 
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.
 
Word of God Sunday (25th January 2026):
The Dicastery for Evangelisation in the Vatican have asked parishes throughout the world to celebrate Sunday 25th January as Word of God Sunday. St John’s Parish will have three events to mark this day:
We will have a Holy Hour from 9am-9.45am followed by Benediction We will have a blessing for all Parish Readers. This will take place at all Masses We ask you to bring your bible (and/or Missal) to be blessed. This short blessing of bibles and missals will take place at all Masses next week.  
World Leprosy Day (Sunday 25th January 2026):
On Sunday 25th January we also mark World Leprosy Day, a time to pray for and stand in solidarity with people affected by leprosy around the world. Please keep the people of Mutemwa in your prayers and consider supporting this vital work of the John Bradburne Memorial Society, who assist those with leprosy, through prayer, awareness, or donation. www.johnbradburne.com, Tel: 07979 187498, Post: JBMS, PO Box 32, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0YB, Email: [email protected]
 
St John’s Primary Parent Council Laser Light Spectacular (Friday 30th January):
St John’s Primary Parent Council is delighted to present a Laser Light Spectacular on Friday 30th January at 6.00pm, taking place in the grounds of St John’s Church Hall.
This family-friendly event features an exciting laser show synchronised to popular favourites, including Taylor Swift, Fortnite, Stranger Things, Disney and more. All funds raised will go towards a fun and safe playground upgrade for the children of St John’s Primary School.
For tickets or further information, please contact Jennifer on 07846 600881.
 
New location for Catholic Mother’s Group (Monday 2nd February):
From Monday 2nd February, the Catholic Mother’s Group will be meeting in St Vincent de Paul's Church Hall in Thornliebank after 10:00am Mass in anticipation of renovation work beginning soon in St John’s. Everything else is the same, just different location and on Mondays. Please get in touch if you have any queries [email protected]
 
2025 Diocesan Safeguarding Action Plan:
A copy of the completed Safeguarding Action Plan for 2025 is now available on the Diocesan website.  This plan was reviewed at the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Group on 11.12.25 and has now been approved by Bishop John.  As always, we extend our thanks and gratitude to all our Clergy, PSC’s and church volunteers who commit themselves to ensuring our church communities remain as safe and protected as humanly possible.
Ladies' Spring Fling in aid of the Restoration Fund (Sunday 22nd February):
St John's Fundraising Committee is delighted to announce there will be a Ladies ‘Spring Fling’ in the Church Hall on Sunday 22nd February from 2pm to 6pm. 
There will be live music, dancing and games as well as a licensed bar. Tickets are priced at £5 each and are available from any member of the Committee. Tickets can also be purchased by calling Teresa O’Hara on: 07896988096.
 All proceeds will go to St John’s Church Restoration fund.
Please support if you can because this will be the last event in the Church Hall before Masses are celebrated there.
 
Love & Beauty in St John’s Spiritual Canticle (Friday 20th – Sunday 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/
 
Safeguarding Induction Training – 2026:
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:                                                                      
Tuesday, 10th February, 7pm, Diocesan Centre Paisley 
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
 
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion in St John’s and the Diocese of Paisley:
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion will shortly receive a letter from Fr John. They are asked by the bishop to attend two Saturday meetings next month for an opportunity to deepen their understanding of what the Church teaches about the Mass and Holy Communion, and to be re-commissioned to give out Holy Communion at Mass. The dates for the two sessions are in three locations in the Diocese:
Inverclyde: January 3rd and 10th in St. Mary’s Hall, Greenock.
Renfrewshire: January 31st and February 7th in St. Charles’ Hall, Paisley.
East Renfrewshire: 21st and 28th February in St. Joseph’s Hall, Clarkston.