Third Sunday of Year B

           Third Sunday of Year B:           20th January 24
                                                                               
COLLECTIONS
First Collection GA £418.00 NGA £ 920.39                                      Monthly Standing Orders: £5,194.50
Justice & Peace GA £63.50                                                                  St Anthony’s Box: £62.42                         
Building Fund GA: £583.10  NGA  £513.82                                                                   
Second Collection Today: Sick & Retired Priests: We have twelve retired priests, still active in prayer and witness. In 2022 our two special collections and Friends Campaign raised £50,953 which represents 37% of our expenditure of £136,824 i.e. a shortfall of £85,871, which was met by the Sick & Retired Priests Investment income.

Parish Primary 4 Catechism Class: As part of the First Communion Sacramental Preparation, Fr Joe Balmer will lead Sunday’s Catechism Class. The dates return to the normal First/Third Sunday  of each month for  30 minutes after the 10am.
Funeral this week: Agnes Mather on Friday 26th January ay at 10.00am.
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Young Adults Aged 18-35?  Fr Ryan Black, who will explore God’s covenant with David. Come along to learn more about the Faith and to meet other young Catholics. The talk begins at 7pm in the Diocesan office on Wednesday 7th February. It will end with Adoration and Benediction, followed by an opportunity to socialise in a local bar. Email Fr Ryan ([email protected]) or Fr Joe McGill ([email protected]) for more info, and to be added to the WhatsApp group.  
 
Conversion Therapy Practices: The UK Government committed in its 2018 LGBT Action Plan to end the practice of conversion therapy. The Scottish Government plans for taking forward legislation to end conversion practices in Scotland. The consultation containing the Scottish Government proposals is now live. This is your opportunity to have your voices heard on the issues.  You can read and respond to the consultation on Citizen Space. You can also view a full PDF version of the consultation, a summary version and an easy read version. Translations of the summary will also be available shortly.
 
Conversion Therapy Ban- Praying Shouldn’t be a Crime: The Scottish Government is consulting on banning so-called “gay conversion therapy” with a view to bringing forward legislation. The Scottish Bishops are not alone in raising concerns that, as it stands, it will have the effect of criminalising sensitive conversations between parents and their children as well as mainstream prayer, preaching and pastoral conversations which uphold church teaching on sexual ethics and gender. The Christian Institute is hosting an open meeting at 10am on Saturday 17th February at Newton Mearns Baptist Church, 2 Greenfarm Road, G77 6FA. Come along to find out how to respond to the Government’s plans which could impact our ability to share the Gospel and raise our children in the Faith. Further information at 
https://letuspray.uk
 
P4-P7 Diocesan Lenten Retreat Day: This takes place on Sunday 18th February, from 2pm- 5.30pm, in St Mary’s, Paisley. It will start in the church hall. The retreat day will include activities, Mass and the chance to meet new friends. All participants must bring a signed consent form, which can be obtained from your parish or primary school, or by contacting Fr John Morrison at [email protected] or on 0141 889 5056. The forms will soon be available on the diocesan website.
 
Safeguarding Training – 2024:  If you are a new volunteer or one who completed the Part 1 training course more than a year ago, you are invited to sign up for a Safeguarding training session taking place here on Tues 5th March at 7pm or, Sat 8th June at 10.30am in St. John’s Parish Hall, Barrhead. 
 
Parish Fundraiser: This has been Cancelled due to poor number sales and therefore not being able to break even. All those who bought tickets can have a full refund. Please see Fr Joe Balmer to get your monies back.
 
We pray for those who have died recently: Denis Connaghan, Agnes Mather and Six Months Mind of Sarah Hill, and for the Anniversaries of Patrick Brady, Jim Casey, James Connor, Sylvia Harris, Agnes Kelly, Catherine Mc Lachlan, Rina Owens, Gordon Roy, Sandra Wylie.