BULLETIN                 10 APRIL 2011

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT IN YEAR 1

CHURCH SERVICES

Saturday 9 April 
Mass at 10.00 am for the sick
Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for Margaret and John Murphy
Sunday 10 April 

Sunday Mass at 10.00 am for Donald Cullinane
Sunday Mass at 12.00 noon for the congregation

Monday 11 April 
Mass at 10.00 am for Lilli McCulloch
Penance Service in Saint Palladius's Church, Dalry at 7.00 pm
Tuesday 12 April 

Mass at 10.00 am for a special intention
Penance Service in Saint John's Church, Stevenston at 7.00 pm

Wednesday 13 April 

Mass at 10.00 am for a special intention
Penance Service in Saint Mary's Church, Saltcoats at 2.00 pm

Thursday 14 April 
Mass at 10.00 am for John Maher junior
Penance Service in our Church at 7.00 pm
Friday 15 April 
Mass at 10.00 am for Kenneth McSkimming
Wedding of Stef Todd and Richard Harvey at 4.00 pm
Saturday 16 April 
Mass at 10.00 am for the sick
Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for the congregation

The Mass intention list is just over two weeks ahead. Please notify anniversaries as early as you can. Thanks.
Any changes to the above times caused, for example, by a funeral will be notified on the home page of this website.


PARISH CENTRE EVENTS

Sunday 10 April 

11.00 am
12.00 noon

Tea and Coffee after Mass
Karate

Monday 11 April 
7.00 to 8.00 pm
7.00 to 9.00 pm
Weight Watchers
Saint Vincent de Paul Society
Tuesday 12 April 
11.00 am
6.15 to 9.00 pm
6.30 to 9.00 pm
7.30 to 8.30 pm

Legion of Mary
Zumba Fitness
Saint Anne's Guild
Keep Fit

Wednesday 13 April 
6.00 to 7.00 pm
7.00 pm

Karate
Zumba Fitness

Thursday 14 April 
1.30 to 3.00 pm

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Friday 15 April 
4.00 to 12.00 pm Wedding Reception

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
   Andrew Coldwell 1994, Father John Collins 2002, Donald Cullinane 2009, Frank Kelly 1994, Michael Mulligan 1982,
   Billy Smith 2009, David McLaren 2006, Helen Theresa Magee 2000, George Monaghan 2004, Martha Lynas 2009,
   David Walsh 1962, Janie Clark 2010, James McKibben 2002, Ann McEvoy 1980, Francis Joseph Smith 1999,
   and Jean Taylor 2006 whose anniversaries occur at this time and those who are sick.
   Information for the anniversary list is appreciated.

SACRAMENT OF FORGIVENESS
The Sacrament of Forgiveness is available at any suitable time as well as from 4.30 pm before the Vigil Mass on Saturday evenings.

OFFERTORY COLLECTION
Last weekend's Offertory collection amounted to £605.65 - many thanks. We are grateful for your generous support of the parish and the diocese to which we pay a monthly levy of £1250.

PAPAL AND EPISCOPAL CHARITIES INCLUDING SCOTTISH CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL AID FUND (SCIAF)
Last weekend's collection for the Papal and Episcopal Charities including SCIAF amounted to £908.70 - many thanks.

BANKER'S ORDERS
Have you thought of using a Bankers Order? It assists us with the safe handling of cash. Banker's Orders for the Parish and Centre amount to an average of £3800 per month. Forms are available.

COLLECTION ENVELOPES
Would you like collection envelopes for the coming year? Please contact the Parish Office on 464063 or add your name to the list at the stall. Standing Orders made through your bank are handier. Forms are available. If you pay tax and sign a Gift Aid form then the Church is entitled to the tax paid on your contributions. We apply and it is paid directly to the Church. You need do nothing except sign a form. Could you consider putting a little bit more in your collection? A new form is available.

GIFT AID
Have you signed a Gift Aid Form? If you pay tax, then every £1 you give to the Parish is worth £1.28 to us. Forms are available.

WILLS
Would you consider remembering Saint Peter's in your will?


FUNDRAISING
Following my Financial Statement last week and my appeal about the work we need to do on the church building, I am launching a 'brown envelope' collection. Please take one home and read what is in it. Take as many as you like and drop them in the collection bag. We received £565 this week to make the total so far £3734. I am very grateful.

READERS
Next weekend's readers are Pauline Taylor at 5.30 pm, Margaret Harvey at 10.00 am and Tom Reid at 12 noon.

ALTAR SERVERS
Next weekend's altar servers are Group 1 at 5.30 pm, Group 3 at 10.00 am and Group 7 at 12 noon.

CHILDREN'S LITURGY
Next Sunday's Children's Liturgy helpers are Emma Paterson and Helen Pengilley for the pre-5s, Sharon McLaughlin and Maria Paterson for primaries 1 and 2, Frances Gemmell and Gayle Paterson for primary 3 and Jacqueline Waugh and Michelle Champion for primary 4.

SUNDAY TEAS
Next Sunday's teas will be served by Saint Peter's School team.

JOURNEYING TOWARDS EASTER
By prayer, fasting and almsgiving we are journeying towards Easter.

CAN YOU DO WITHOUT SOMETHING FOR LENT?
Sweets, cakes or biscuits is an obvious sacrifice, but what about cigarettes or - the real biggie - alcohol? There is a 'short term pledge' leaflet available. More than half the world is hungry.

CAN YOU GIVE A BIT MORE TIME TO PRAYER?
Most mornings there is Mass at 10.00 am and there is usually one evening Mass on Thursdays at 7.00 pm. Morning and evening prayers would be good to try again.

CAN YOU SPARE SOMETHING FOR THE POOR?
Scottish Catholic Internatiional Aid Fund (SCIAF) boxes are available and there is the annual collection on the Fourth Sunday of Lent.

CELEBRATE FORGIVENESS IN PREPARATION FOR EASTER
The Sacrament of Penance is available on:
  Monday 11 April at 7.00 pm in Saint Palladius's Church, Dalry
  Tuesday 12 April at 7.00 pm in Saint John's Church, Stevenston
  Wednesday 13 April at 2.00 pm in in
Saint Mary's Church, Saltcoats
  Thursday 14 April at 7.00 pm in our Church

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Stations of the Cross can be made anytime you visit the Church. We will make the Stations at 9.40 am on Friday mornings before Mass.



LENTEN EVENINGS
The Temptations of Christ is a time of prayer and reflection offered at Smithstone House, Kilwinning on Mondays 28 March, 4 April and 11 April.

HCPT - THE PILGRIMAGE TRUST
HCPT - The Pilgrimage Trust, the group which takes handicapped children to Lourdes needs our help! Despite the fact that I have promised the bishop I will find the money the diocese needs from us without more collections, I have agreed that this cause is well worth supporting so, yet again, dig deep for the collection outside the Church next Sunday and help to make the pilgrimage possible at Easter.

50/50 CLUB - THANKS
Sincere thanks go to the 50/50 Club for a £2000 cheque to the Parish Building Fund.

CROSSHOUSE HOSPITAL
The system for visiting chaplains is constantly changing. At the moment, ten priests do a week each of emergency only calls. In an emergency please ask the ward staff to contact the chaplain on duty. Ordinary visits through the day are by Father Martin Chambers who has no way of knowing who is in unless he is notified. Please let us know and we will pass the message to him.

PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
The parish pilgrimage to Lourdes will be from Monday 4 to Friday 8 July 2011. The costs are £413 for bed and breakfast, £448 for half board and £490 for full board. We need to get and pay for a coach to and from Manchester but there will be direct flights to and from Lourdes. This involves an early start from Ardrossan. Anyone interested in joining the Group or who would like to know more details, please contact Harry Sammons or phone 01294 469006. Booking forms are available now.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
The diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes will be from 4 to 11 July 2011, flying from Prestwick. Full details are on the poster and booking forms are available. If you could make the journey as a sick pilgrim and want more information, contact Janie Agnew or phone 07739 399222.

SUNDAY LUNCH FOR OLDER PARISHIONERS
There will be a Sunday Lunch for all our older parishioners - ages with the Canon or older - on Sunday 8 May after the 12 noon Mass. We are looking for you to arrange to bring those not really able to get out to Mass very often. Nearer the time, we will have free tickets to give us an idea of how many we need to cater for. Suggestions and comments are welcome.

MAGNIFICAT
Magnificat is a daily Mass and Prayer Book which is issued in a monthly format. We had copies for the Pope’s visit. Now Magnificat is available for use every day There are free sample copies available at the stall for use during March and the possibility to take out a subscription.

PAPAL BLESSINGS
Papal Blessings for a wedding, wedding anniversary or a special birthday can be ordered at the stall. The cost of the parchment and postage is about £30. Please leave plenty of time.

MASS INTENTIONS
Holy Mass is offered individually for each request received. Where two or more anniversaries fall on the same day they are shown on the day together.

REDUNDANT MOBILE PHONES AND COPIER CARTRIDGES
Redundant mobile phones and copier cartridges are required by the pupils of Saint Matthew’s Academy who can turn them into good money for charity. There is a box in the porch.

SPARE WOOL REQUIRED
The Knitting Group at Barony Saint John’s Church meets on Wednesday mornings from 10.30 am to 12 noon. The group knits for various good causes and asks if anyone has any spare wool. The odd ball is often useful. For more information, please contact Fiona Liddell or phone 462504. Thank you.

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY TOILETRIES COLLECTION
The Saint Vincent de Paul Society has its annual Lenten collection of toiletries for Oznam House. The box is in the porch.

SPECIAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION GROUP (SPRED)
SPRED meets in Saint John’s Parish Hall, Stevenston on Wednesday evenings from 7.00 to 9.00 pm. If you know anyone who may be interested or would benefit from the SPRED group, please contact Liz Petrie at the SPRED Centre, Queen Margaret Academy, Ayr on 01292 263196 or 01294 467296.

VISITORS
Are you visiting us for Mass? Please know that you are very welcome. During the 10.00 am Mass there is a Children’s Liturgy provided for preschool children, children in Primaries 1 to 3 and a Sacramental Programme for children in Primary 4. After the 10.00 am Mass, tea, coffee cakes and buns are available in the Parish Centre. At all of our weekend Masses, we have a second collection for our Parish Centre debt.

MARY'S MEALS, SCOTTISH CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL AID FUND AND THE MISSIONARY SOCIETIES
These charities are always in need of any help you can give them.

LEGION OF MARY
The
Legion of Mary meets weekly and prays for the parish. The members visit the sick and house-bound. The Legion can always do with new male and female members giving as much or as little time as they can afford. Speak to Canon Matt or any of the members.

SAINT VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY
The
Saint Vincent de Paul Society meets weekly, assists with the passkeeping and collecting duties in Church and runs a telephone helpline for those in financial difficulty. To ensure its survival, the Society urgently requires new male and female members. You must be over 18. The work is difficult. There are many people in our parish and community who require assistance with finance, advice and encouragement. “The harvest is great, but the labourers few.” Please speak to Canon Matt or any of the members.

SAINT ANNE'S GUILD
Saint Anne's Guild meets weekly on a Tuesday at 7.00 pm. It is open to all women in the parish and beyond. Speak to any of the members and feel free to join any of the meetings.

50/50 CLUB
Congratulations to our winners for January and February who each recieve £25:
  March - 160 Brenda McDonald, 264 Brian Beattie, 193 Jean Smith, 79 Patricia Barry
  February - 243: Ann Henry, 46 Bernard McCormick, 12 Josephine Atkins, 2 H Sammons
A few members still need to renew their membership - time is running out. Our Bonus Draw takes place at the end of April so anyone
interested in joining the 50/50 Club is invited to do so now. Please contact the Promotor, Mrs M Sammons or phone 469006.

RAINBOWS AND BROWNIES
Parents please note that during school holidays there will be no Monday meetings of Rainbows and Brownies in the Parish Centre. We will meet on Monday 18 April at Basebowl in Saltcoats as detailed in the recent Parents' Newsletter. Anyone wishing further information should contacat Mrs. Sammons or phone 469006. Have a nice holiday.

ELECTION TO THE SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
The Ardrossan Churches Group has organised a Hustings Meeting in the Civic Centre, Ardrossan on Friday 15 April starting promptly at 7.00 pm. The Labour, Conservative and Scottish National Party candidates have so far agreed to take part.
Canon Matt will chair the meeting. Written question for the candidates can be handed in beforehand or on the evening of the meeting.

AYRSHIRE HOSPICE LAND O’BURNS MIDNIGHT WALK
The Walk promotors would like to invite Church members, family and friends to join us in the sponsored Midnight Walk on Saturday 14 May. This is their largest community fundraiser when you will have the choice of completing either the full route of thirteen miles or shortened versions of around nine or four miles starting and finishing at Ayr Racecourse. There will be lots of entertainment before and during the walk and a welcomed revival coffee and bacon roll at the end. For further information or to register for the walk, please call the Fundraising Office on 01292 288488 or visit www.ayrshirehospice.org.

IGNATIAN PRAYER GROUP
Each month, the Ignatian Prayer Group meets on the first Wednesday at 7.30 pm, the second Tuesday at 7.30 pm and the last Tuesday at 2.00 pm.

EUCHARISTIC EXPOSITION AND SOLEMN SUNG EVENING PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
To mark the Lenten season, there will be an hour of prayer in Saint Margaret’s Cathedral, John Street, Ayr on Sunday 10 April at 6.00 pm. During this time of prayer , the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed and the Evening Prayer of the Church from the Liturgy of the Hours will be sung, supported by the Galloway Music Network. You will be very welcome to this solemn and yet still time of prayer.

KITS FOR KIDS
There is a box will be at the stall for any tokens from the Daily Record to aid Tass Thistle Under Twelves Football Club. Thank you.

PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS - MISSION STATEMENT
The Catholic Church in Scotland is concerned with the lives, safety, wholeness and well-being of each individual person within God's purpose for everyone. It seeks to safeguard the welfare of people of all ages who are involved in whatever capacity
with the Church and its organisations. As a Church community, we accept that it is the responsibility of all of us, ordained, professed, paid and voluntary members, to work together to prevent the physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect of children, young people and vulnerable adults.