Third Sunday in Lent.

St John the Evangelist Parish
Aurs Rd., Barrhead, G78 2RW.
 
3rd Sunday of Lent
8th 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: £449.80 NGA: £1,150.19
Building Fund GA: £960.00 NGA: £694.15
 
The Second Collection next week is in aid of the Papal and Episcopal Charities, which includes SCIAF.
 
Response to Psalm:
‘O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts.’
 
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.
 
St John’s Sacred Heart Companion Prayer Group (Tuesday 10th March):
The prayer group will meet in St John’s Tearoom on Tuesday 10th March from 1:00pm to 2:00pm.
 
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:
Kathleen Collins, James William Jackson and Ann Ruddy
 
We pray for the anniversaries of:
Anne Carlton, Carlo Fazzi, Mary Hughes and Theresa Moore.
 
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
​
World Day of Prayer.
St. John's hosted a very successful and uplifting afternoon for World Day of Prayer. St. John's, St Andrew's, Bourock Parish Church and the United Reform Church were all represented. 
Prayers, hymns, stories and delicious tea and cake afterwards, made it a very successful afternoon, enjoyed by all. Thank you to those, who were involved in organising it, on a beautiful and sunny afternoon. 
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.
 
Parish Quiz (Friday 13th March):
The Parish Quiz will take place on Friday 13th March at 7:00pm in the Parish Hall. All are 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
 
Individually Guided Retreat in daily life (Sunday 22nd - Sunday 29th March):
A chance to have a retreat experience without going away by meeting a guide each day at the Ignatian Spirituality Centre, Glasgow.  For more information please contact [email protected]
 
 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
 
Called to Love (Saturday 2nd – Sunday 3rd May):
A retreat for singles, dating and engaged couples who want to think more deeply about relationships and the call to marriage. A relaxed weekend with input, prayer, discussion and social, as well as the opportunity to meet like-minded others! This year's retreat will have as its theme masculinity and femininity. Runs from Saturday 2nd to Sunday 3rd May, with the option of staying Friday night.
https://christianheritagecentre.com/events/called-to-love/
 
Festival of Synodality (Saturday 6th June):
We invite YOU to the National Festival of Synodality at Glasgow Caledonian University, a day inspired by Pope Francis’ call to be “witnesses to synodality.” The Festival will focus on Conversation in the Spirit, a simple and powerful way of communal discernment rooted in listening, conversion and mission.
The day will celebrate the fruits already flourishing in the Church in Scotland and include input from Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, Fr David McCallum SJ and Sandra Chaoul. Participants will also have the opportunity to experience Conversation in the Spirit firsthand. Lunch is included.
All are welcome, especially those involved in parish and diocesan life, pastoral councils, schools and faith organisations.
Tickets: £65. Parishes and dioceses are encouraged to support those wishing to attend. Tickets available: bit.ly/synodality26
 
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.
 
Prayers for Fr Joe McGill’s dad, Stephen:
Fr Joe’s dad was taken into hospital on Monday and is in a critical condition after sustaining a head injury as a result of a fall. Please keep Stephen, Fr Joe and his family in your prayers.