Sixth Sunday of the Year in Ordinary Time

St John the Evangelist Parish
Aurs Rd., Barrhead G78 2RW
 
6th Sunday of the Year in Ordinary Time
16th February  2025  
 
Rev Monsignor John Canon Tormey: Parish Priest
Rev Fr Joseph J McGill:   Assistant Priest
Rev Denis Murphy:  Deacon
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: £447.00NGA £887.65
SPRED GA: £646.70  NGA £719.78
Monthly Standing Orders: £4,271.50
 
Response to Psalm:
“Blessed the man
who has placed his trust in the Lord.”
 
Cardinal Winning Lecture Saturday 1 March 2025
Catholic Teacher Education – the next 25 years
To mark the 25th anniversary of the merger of St Andrew’s College and University of Glasgow, a panel of key speakers will discuss the future of Catholic Teacher Education: Profs James Conroy and Margery McMahon (University of Glasgow), Bishop John Keenan, Barbara Coupar (SCES), Graeme Young (CHAPS) and Christopher Smith (CHAS).  Reserve your place here https://buytickets.at/standrewsfoundation/1579271  Panel event: 11.15am - Bute Hall, preceded by Holy Mass: 9.30am in the Memorial Chapel.

Conference 'Courage to be Catholic'
 
Saturday 29th March, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 9:30am - 4:00pm
Hear from inspiring speakers, meet representatives of Catholic organisations from around Scotland, and help build Catholic community. Scan the QR code below or go to https://www.trybooking.com/uk/EHSR to register

We pray for those who have died recently: Fr Douglas Macmillan, David Bennett,
 
Funerals this Week Fr Douglas Macmillan – St Joseph’s Clarkston Vigil: Thursday 20 February 6.30pm
Requiem Mass Friday 21 February at 12noon
Thereafter to St Conval’s Cemetery, Barrhead.
 
We pray for the anniversaries of John and Mary Dickson, Edward McCool, James Carrol SNR, William Finnigan, Jack and Chrissie Stuart, Ged Farrell, Isabel Keegan, Elizabeth Moe Tek Moi, Philip McKenna, John and Mary McMullen, Austin Sproule
 
Retreat Day for pupils in P4, P5, P6 and P7.
Sunday 9th March 2025 in St James’s church and halls in Paisley, from 1.45pm-5pm. Please ask your children to participate if they can. Thank you. See poster in porch for more details.

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 any questions, please contact Anne Louise pilgrimage co-ordinator on 01475 638132
 
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
 
Children's Liturgy.
Only children, who attend Primaries 1-7, or nursery pupils, who are four years old, may attend Children's Liturgy. Children, who are under four years old, are not eligible to take part in Children's Liturgy, as they have to be able to take part in the Children’s Liturgy Activities.
If your child has additional support needs, please inform Fr John or Mary Hallan
​
Catholic Mothers.
Catholic Mother's Play and Pray Group 
Tues 10.30am in Parish Hall, (after 10am Mass)
All children and mothers welcome
Contact Rachel Callaghan for more details
07508835310
[email protected] 

Jubilee Year Indulgence and St Mirin’s Cathedral. We can obtain an indulgence with  a pilgrimage to our Cathedral, especially for the celebration of Holy Mass, purified by the Sacrament of Penance (in the days around the visit); and refreshed by the worthy reception of Holy Communion; and we can pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff or devoutly visiting the Cathedral for a period of
time.

Diocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage - Fundraising Dinner 2025: Saturday 1st March 2025, Greenock Town Hall, 7pm(for 7.30pm). Tickets cost £40 (including 3 course meal). For tickets and further information please email [email protected]  or phone  07950483042. Donations for the raffle/auction greatly appreciated. Bus provided from the Paisley side of the Diocese
 
Beginning Experience for anyone suffering bereavement, separation or divorce.  4-6th April at Conforti Centre Coatbridge. Book to attend on 07926 571 004 or [email protected]
100 Club Winners for month of February
W &  J Sinclair        £50  (Env 150 A & MB McNee      £40 (Env 77) J & M Trainor         £30  (Env 146) A. Lapsley                £20  (Env 5) Theresa Wright      £20  (Env 2)

Parish Pastoral Council Meeting.
There is a copy of the minutes in the church for all parishioners to take away and read.
 
Church Renovation Project
I have recently been told by the diocese that the costs are now projected at about £1.2 - £1.5 million, according to the latest investigations carried out by the project management team, KSNPM, which the diocese has employed to oversee the renovation work.  The original cost of the renovation was projected at around £800k. I gave a summary of this to the parish last month, of what would be done and when. There were some reports still to come in about the dampness in the walls.
 
The bishop has now instructed a due diligence report to see if there are viable options instead of renovating the existing parish church, (which we have heard before), namely a): the rebuilding of a smaller new church on the same site, or b): to build an extension to the church hall to operate also as a church and hall. Both these options would mean the demolition of the present church, but not necessarily include selling some of the church land.
 
My original intention as PP was to repay the renovation of the present church with a projected loan of £400k from the diocesan building fund over a five-year phase. If we were granted a bigger loan and repayments were scheduled over a ten-year phase, we I believe we could still go ahead with the first option to renovate the existing building. This is my preferred option, and the Parish Pastoral Council concur.
 
To do this, I will be appealing to parishioners to look at what they give either by Gift Aid and Standing Order contributions or by their weekly contributions at Mass and to support any fund-raising initiatives. The start of the new financial year would be a good time to review weekly and monthly donations. We also ask parishioners to kindly consider a legacy in their will to the parish.
 
Rachel’s Vineyard Retreat: A Rachel's Vineyard retreat for spiritual and emotional healing after abortion will be held north of Glasgow on Friday, 21st to Sunday 23rd March.  This confidential, supportive retreat is powerful for anyone who has been affected by their own or someone else’s abortion experience. For more information, please call/text Sr Andrea on 07816 942824 or email at [email protected]. For more details, see www.rachelsvineyard.org.uk