BULLETIN                  21 DECEMBER 2014

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
IN YEAR 2

CHURCH SERVICES

Saturday 20 December  

Mass at 10.00 am for Mary Toland and Daniel O’Neill
Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for Arturo and Cosimo Farro

Sunday 21 December  

Sunday Mass at 10.30 am for the parishioners

Monday 22 December  

Mass at 10.00 am for Doris Coulter and Andrew McAteer

Tuesday 23 December  

Mass at 10.00 am for the McSkimming family and Annie Farmer

Wednesday 24 December  

No morning Mass
First Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for Jim Delahunt and Christina Ferguson
Second Vigil Mass at 8.30 pm for Christmas intentions

Thursday 25 December  

Christmas Day
Mass at 11.00 am for all our parishioners and Christmas intentions

Friday 26 December  

Feast of Saint Stephen
Mass at 10.00 am for Jim Delahunt and George Forbes

Saturday 27 December  

Feast of Saint John
Mass at 10.00 am for Christmas intentions
Vigil Mass at 5.30 pm for Tom McKay and John Dolan

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 21 December  

11.30 am

Tea and Coffee after Mass

Monday 22 December  
7.00 to 9.00 pm

Saint Vincent de Paul Society

Tuesday 23 December  
11.00 am
5.00 to 6.30 pm
6.30 to 8.30 pm

Legion of Mary
Irish Dancing Class
Cardio 40 Toning

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Sheila Douglas and Maureen Adamson, both of our parish, Christina Ferguson (Saltcoats), Carolyn Monan (Vancouver, Canada - (widow of Edward) and Denis Wilson who died recently;
Gwen Body 1966, Janet Chapman 2004, Jane Gallagher 2011, Sister Hilda CP 2000, Edward Keogh, John McCourt 2010, Josephine McGeachy 2003, Ellen Barrett 1984, Ted Boyle 1975, Tom Braniff 2003, Doris Coulter 2012, Jenny McAree 2003, Andrew McAteer 1983, Jean Orr 2008, Peggy Hamilton, Patrick McLaughlin 1998, Mereno Berti 2003, Sister Anne Delahunt 2011, Peggy McLaughlan 2006, Bessie Delahunt 2006, Tom McKay, Bessie O'Rourke 2005, George Scott 1973, Jessie Brown 1975, Tom Finn 1993, Anne-Marie Jenkins 2005, Sister Mary McCann, Isobel O'Hare Rae 2004, Patrick Quinn 1969, Margaret Shanks 1966, Margaret Clarkson 2003, Molly Cosgrove 1994, Jim Lindsay 2013, Catherine McEvoy 2009 and Arthur Robertson whose anniversaries occur at this time and those who are sick.
If a member of your family or a friend is sick, please let us know and give us the details. Deacon Bill Corbett (01292 521208, 07904 248948, Rev.BillCorbett@btinternet.com) is the chaplain to Crosshouse Hospital and Canon Keegans (01292 263488) is the chaplain to Ayr Hospital. The priest on call can be contacted through the ward. If deceased members of your family are not on our anniversary list, please tell Canon Matt
, the parish office or contact WebsiteAuthor@SaintPeterinChains.net.

SUNDAY MASS TIMES
Sunday Mass times in Saint Peter's are 5.30 pm Vigil and 10.30 am. Sunday Mass times in other local parishes can be seen here.

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.

FINANCES
Bankers Orders for the parish and Parish Centre amount to £3800 per month. Every month, we pay a levy of £1450 to the Diocese. We are grateful for your generous support in collections. If you can manage a little more from time to time, it would be a great help. 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. Would you consider remembering Saint Peter's in your will?

OFFERTORY COLLECTION
Last weekend's Offertory collection amounted to £593.59 - many thanks.

MAINTENANCE FUND COLLECTION
Last weekend's Maintenance Fund collection amounted to £218.66 - many thanks.


GIFT AID
The Inland Revenue now requires us to use a new style of Gift Aid form. These are available at the back of the Church and on the parish website. If you pay tax, please complete the new form and return it to the box provided. This allows us to provide the additional information required on the Gift Aid claim. Gift Aid is a vital source of income. All that is needed is that you pay tax. You simply declare that you give funds to the Church. We do the rest. Why not sign a form today? We get back an extra 25p for every £1 you give the Church in your weekly collection or by way of a donation. There is no need to cancel or renew it. We simply claim in the income we receive.


COLLECTION ENVELOPES
New collection envelopes are now available at the stall. Please let us know if you wish to switch to a standing order. Forms are available.

READERS
Next weekend's readers are Pauline Taylor at 5.30 pm and Patricia Milligan at 10.30 am. Beginning in January, we would like to have children from Primary 5 and above and young people from Saint Matthew's Academy, Saltcoats assisting with the Readings at the 10.30 am Mass. If you or your child is interested in doing this, please put the name on the list available at the Stall at the back of the Church and a meeting will be arranged in the coming weeks.

ALTAR SERVERS
Next weekend's altar servers are Aidan and Calum at 5.30 pm and Group 3 at 10.30 am.

SUNDAY TEAS
Next Sunday's teas will be served by Sharon McLaughlin’s team.

CHILDREN’S LITURGY
The Children's Liturgy will resume on Sunday 11 January 2015.

OUR NEW BISHOP
Our new Bishop is Father William Nolan currently Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, East Kilbride. His ordination will take place on Saturday 14 February 2015 in the Grand Hall, Kilmarnock at 11.00 am. None of our Churches is big enough. We will try to organise a bus. We have been asked to give an indication of how many places we might need so there is a list at the Stall. This is not a bus list nor a firm booking list. It is just to have an indication so that places can be reserved.


CHOIR FOR BISHOP-ELECT NOLAN'S ORDINATION
Singers are invited to join the Diocesan Choir for the Bishop-elect's ordination. Rehearsals are on Wednesdays and some Sunday evenings from 7 January 2015 in Saint Margaret's Cathedral, Ayr. The contact is David Robinson on 07714 340854.

PARISH INTERNAL CHRISTMAS CARD
The Parish Internal Christmas Card is available. Please take one.

STALL
Memoriam Candles are now available at the Stall. There is also a lovely selection to Christmas cards, calendars and gifts. The Stall is open before and after each Mass.

MARY THE GIRL FROM GALILEE
The painting, Mary the Girl from Galilee, was a gift to the parish in memory of a former parishioner. It was commissioned by an Ardrossan resident and painted by David Reid of Irvine. There will soon be an explanatory plaque. It is hoped that we can get a few prints made from it for sale.


CHRISTMAS MASSES
The first Vigil Mass of Christmas will be on Wednesday 24 December at 5.30 pm and the second Vigil Mass will be at 8.30 pm. The Mass of Christmas Day will be celebrated at 11.00 am on Thursday 25 December.

MASS AND CHRISTMAS LUNCH FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
There will be a Mass for young people of the diocese aged 14 and over on Tuesday 30 December at 1.00 pm in Saint John’s Church, Cumnock followed by a Christmas lunch in the hall. The cost is £5. Please give your name to Father Stephen McGrattan on info@rccumnock.org.uk for catering purposes.

BURNS SUPPER
The 2015 Burns Supper will take place in the Parish Centre on Saturday 17 January at 7.00 pm. Patrons are asked to be seated by 6.50 pm for a prompt start. The Immortal Memory will be delivered by Drew Cochrane, for forty years the Editor of the Largs and Millport Weekly News. Brian Kerr, former Head of the Music Service in North Ayrshire Council will propose the Toast to the Lassies and Joan Sturgeon, Provost of North Ayrshire will reply. Other participants are Bill Andrew, Rachel Brown, Michael McCulloch, Pam McGlynn, Aidan and Bethany McGrath, George McGrattan, Ciaran Sinclair and Mamie Stewart. Tickets cost £15.00 and should be booked in advance though the Parish Office on 01294 464063. Patrons can request group seating arrangements to be with friends. The meal will be prepared and served by Michael and Fiona Brown, family and friends. Vegetarian meals are available with notice as an alternative to the traditional Burns Supper main course. There are more details on the Church website on www.SaintPeterInChains.net. Your support is appreciated.


EMBRACING CHANGE
The Embracing Change meeting took place in Saint Matthew's Academy on Sunday 30 November. The idea was to look at themes produced by previous meetings and then move on to some practical ideas we might try to carry out as we look for a way forward. Many ideas were put forward. A full report will follow.

50/50 CLUB
As always, you can join anytime or why not give a friend a membership of the 50/50 Club as a present? Just contact any of our collectors or telephone the Club Promoter, Myriame Sammons on 469006.

YOUTH FOR LOURDES (YfL).
This diocesan group is now recruiting young people in the current fourth year of secondary school to 23 years of age to join it. The YfL Group assists sick and frail participants on the diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes with their mobility, helping them to take part as fully as they can in the week long pilgrimage. The dates are 5 to 15 July 2015. The full cost is £630 which includes all food, travel, accommodation and insurance. The first meeting will take place in Saint John's Hall, Glaisnock Street, Cumnock, KA18 1JU on Sunday 5 October from 3.00 pm till 6.00 pm. Application forms are available in the Church porch or through the YfL office on 01387 252603, teamyfl@yahoo.co.uk or Facebook Youth for Lourdes (Galloway).

JUMBULANCE TO LOURDES - EASTER 2015
Our local Across Group is looking for sick or limited mobility pilgrims and any helpers who wish to travel to Lourdes next year from 23 April to 2 May by the specially adapted coach with fully medical support and staffing. Please contact the group leader Alison Neil on 07749 555955 or amd.neil@outlook.com for more details or to book a place.

DIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will take place from 6 to 13 July 2015. Full details are on the poster at the Stall where booking forms are available.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Pope Francis, visiting a parish in Rome met with parents of newly-baptised children and he revealed that he was baptised on 25 December, just eight days after his birth, as was the custom at the time. Francis asked all those present to pray for him, and added “Babies and children cry, they make noise, they run about … and it bothers me greatly when a child cries in Church and people expect him or her to leave. No! It is the best sermon. The cry of a child is the voice of God. Never, ever send them out of the Church!”
If you would like to produce a Thought for the Week, please email it to Office@SaintPeterInChains.net. Thanks.

POPE FRANCIS
On Friday 12 December, Pope Francis received in audience a delegation from the Salvation Army, well-known for their mission of evangelisation and voluntary work. “I hope with all my heart that Catholics and Salvationists may continue to bear witness to Christ and the Gospel together in a world that greatly needs to experience God's mercy. Catholics and Salvationists, along with other Christians, recognise that the needy have a special place in God's heart, to the extent that the Lord Jesus Christ made Himself poor for us. As a consequence, they frequently encounter one another in the same places and it is my fervent hope that common faith in our Saviour Jesus Christ, the sole mediator between God and Man, may become an increasingly solid foundation for friendship and collaboration between us”.


VISITORS
Are you visiting us for Mass? Please know that you are very welcome. During the 10.30 am Mass outwith holidays, 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 10.30 am Mass, tea, coffee cakes and buns are available in the Parish Centre. At both of our weekend Masses, we have a second collection for our Parish Centre upkeep.


ADVERTISER SUPPORT
Our advertisers would welcome your support. We are grateful for their continuing sponsorship. We are grateful for the support of Mr and Mrs Sohal, Nisa Stores, Glasgow Street for the weekly donation of tea, coffee and milk for the Sunday teas.

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.