|
Saturday
2 March
|
Vigil
Mass at 4.30pm
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am |
|
Sunday
3 March
|
Sunday Mass at 10.00am |
Sunday Mass at 11.30am |
|
Monday
4 March
|
Service of the Word at 10.00am | Holy Mass at 10.00am |
|
Tuesday
5 March
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am | Service of the Word at 10.00am |
|
Wednesday
6 March
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am | Holy Mass at 9.00am and 7.00pm |
|
Thursday
7 March
|
Service of the Word at 10.00am | Holy Mass at 10.00am |
|
Friday
8 March
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am | |
|
Saturday
9 March
|
Vigil
Mass at 4.30pm
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am |
|
Sunday
3 March
|
11.30am |
|
|
Monday
4 March
|
9.30
to 11.30am |
Parents
and Toddlers |
|
Tuesday
5 March
|
9.00
to 11.00am 3.45pm |
Cardiac
Rehabilitation |
|
Wednesday
6 March
|
9.30
to 11.30am 3.45pm 1.00 to 3.00pm 7.30pm |
Parents
and Toddlers |
|
Thursday
7 March
|
7.00pm |
Private Function |
|
Friday
8 March
|
9.30
to 11.30am 11.00am |
Parents
and Toddlers Tea, coffee and chat in the Snug after Benediction |
PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Billy Sheehan, Father Michael Marmann, Jimmy Carson, James Meechan, David Leishman, Theresa Meaham and Edward McCann
who died recently;
Sister Teresita of Jesus (Valenti), Matthew Johnson 2012, Catherine McCutcheon 2002, Michael Reilly 1995, James Convery 2008, Bishop Joseph McGee 1983, Father Charles McLaughlin, Hugh McGraa 2002, Isabella McLaughlan 2001, Joe Colvin 1908, Olga Mastradomenico 2009, Cosimo Farro 1993, Francis Flynn 1990, Hugh McCluskey 1992, Catherine Robertson 2012, Mary To 2014, Luke Gargan 2001, Father Jerry Sheehy SCJ 2012 and Frances Stannisforth 2017 whose anniversaries occur at this time and those who are sick.
If deceased members of your family are not on our anniversary list, please tell Father Duncan, the parish office or contact WebsiteAuthor@SaintPeterinChains.net.
SUNDAY MASS TIMES
Sunday Mass times in Saint Peter's are 5.30pm Vigil and 10.30am. Sunday Mass times in other local parishes can be seen here.
SACRAMENT OF FORGIVENESS
The Sacrament of Forgiveness is celebrated on Saturdays between 4.45 and 5.15 pm and at other times on request.
READERS
Next weekend's readers are Katrina Pollock at 5.30pm and Peter Brawley at 10.30am.
ALTAR SERVERS
Next weekend's altar servers are Group 1 at 5.30pm and Group 3 at 10.30am.
MUSIC MINISTRY
Next weekend's musicians are George McGrattan at 5.30pm and Catherine Kerr and Catherine Boyd at 10.30am.
CHILDREN’S
LITURGY
Next week's Children's Liturgy helpers are Geraldine
Butcher for the pre-fives, Jacqueline Smith and Claire Sweeniefor Primaries
1, 2 and 3 and Andrena Hughes and Frances Gemmell for
Primary 4.
FIRST SATURDAY DEVOTION TO OUR LADY OF FATIMA
First Saturday devotions will take place on the first Saturday of every month
after the 10.00am Holy Mass. The devotions take about half an hour. All are
welcome!
LENT IS COMING THIS WEK
Do you use the Lenten season to bring yourself closer to Jesus? The season
of Lent is an urgent call to conversion. With Lent beginning on 6 March, we
can reflect on the words of Pope Francis,
who reminds us that 'Christians are asked to return to God 'with all their
hearts' (Joel 2:12), to refuse to settle for mediocrity and to grow in friendship
with the Lord.' We have plenty of opportunities at Saint Peter's to help you
'grow in friendship with the Lord' throughout the Lenten season from Stations
of the Cross to guides to Confession, Adoration, Rosary and reflections for
the season. By making a Lenten Resolution, we have the chance to deepen your
relationship with Christ and experience a conversion of heart this Lent. Our
Lord waits for you to approach him during this penitential season. Will you
accept his invitation?
REQUIEM MASS FOR JIMMY CARSON
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of Jimmy Carson who died recently.
Jimmy will be received into Church on Monday 4 March at 6.00pm and his Requiem
Mass is on Tuesday 5 March at 10.00am. May he rest in peace and rise in glory!
ASH
WEDNESDAY - BEGINNING OF LENT
The holy season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, 6 March. Ashes will be distributed
at the morning Mass at 10.00am and also at an evening Mass at 7pm. Ash Wednesday
is a day of fasting and abstinence from meat.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS FOR LENT
The Stations of the Cross are a fourteen-step devotion that commemorates Jesus
Christ's last day on Earth as a man. The fourteen devotions, or stations,
focus on specific events of His last day, beginning with His condemnation.
The stations are commonly used as a mini pilgrimage as the 'pilgrim' moves
from station to station. As last year, we will pray the Stations every Tuesday
of Lent, starting on Tuesday 12 March before Mass at 9.30am.
GETTING READY FOR LENT
Ash Wednesday marks the start of Lent. This Lent, don't be stuck in a rut.
If we want things to be different - that is, better - we must do things differently.
A fresh approach can be invigorating. Consider a two-part plan for starters.
Part 1 is to give something up for Lent. As Ash Wednesday approaches, several
people will whisper their little secret to me - "Father, I'm not going
to give up anything for Lent this year. All of this denial stuff is too negative."
And then they proudly declare, "I am only going to do something positive
this Lent." I realise it is not nice to say in reply "Bad plan"
but it truly is misguided. Lent is a penitential season and self-denial is
an indispensable penitential practice. Repentance is important. The 'negative'
part of Lent is the focus on sin. It is not very 'positive' to pay attention
to our evil-doing but we must. Jesus said "repent" in his opening
statement in Mark's Gospel (Mark 1:15). 'Repent, and believe in the Gospel'
is one of the formulas for the signing with ashes. Repent means 'Quit sinning',
'Be sorry for sin' and 'change for the better.' It takes tremendous self-control
and self-denial to stop sinning. We may not like self-denial but Jesus demands
it: "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself" (Mark 8:34).
Self-denial is extremely beneficial because it teaches self-mastery and builds
strength to battle temptation. It is relatively easy to give up a little pleasure.
Select something different to give up this year. It could be sweets, crisps,
biscuits, snacks at bedtime or a favourite television programme. Make a firm
resolution to give it up for forty days with no exceptions. Our desires should
not control us. Part 2 is to do something positive for Lent. The people who
only wanted to do something positive for Lent had a good idea but it was incomplete.
A balanced approach is both negative and positive - we should give something
up and do good works. When it comes to good works, try to be sneaky and invisible.
In the Gospel reading for Ash Wednesday, Jesus tells us "Be on guard
against performing religious acts for people to see" (Matthew 6:1). Jesus
wants us to be invisible. He also advises "Do not let your left hand
know what your right hand is doing" (Matthew 6:3). He wants us to be
sneaky - in a good sense. Surprise blessings of unknown origin are gifts from
God. When we are sneaky and invisible, we are like angels - God's messengers
bringing God's blessings. Leave an encouraging note in someone's place at
work. Put a chocolate bar on someone's desk or a little gift in someone's
mailbox. Let someone else go first. Anonymously pay for the meal of someone
at another table. The possibilities are endless. Be creative in finding new
ways to be kind to others and be so clever as to go unnoticed. Then, to God
goes the glory!
JUST FOR A LAUGH…
RITE OF ELECTION
The Rite of Election is the first welcome of Catechumens and Candidates to
be received into full communion with the Church and will take place on Sunday
10 March at 3.00pm in Saint Margaret's Cathedral, Ayr. We have one Catechumen
this year, Rebecca Macdonald and one Candidate, Jacqueline Macdonald. Please
keep them in your thoughts and prayers at this special time.
DAY OF PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO HAVE SUFFERED ABUSE
In Scotland, at the start of Lent, there is to be an annual Day of Prayer
for those who have suffered abuse. This year, the Day of Prayer takes place
on Friday 8 March. The Parishes of the Three Towns will celebrate Mass together
at Saint Mary's
Church, Saltcoats on that day at 10.00am. Please note that there
will be no Mass at Saint Peter's on Friday.
OASIS DAY FOR PARISH READERS
A special day is planned for all our Parish Readers on Saturday 23 March 2019
from 12 noon until around 4.00pm. The Day for Eucharistic Ministers was a
great success last year and we thought it would be good to have a Day for
Readers. Please put the date firmly in your diary as your participation is
really important. Leaflets are available in the Sacristy for Readers with
all the Information. Thanks!
IN AND AROUND THE CHURCH
You might not have noticed yet but the lights that light up the tower window
from inside and been repaired and replaced. The window looks very special
in the dark and can be seen all around Ardrossan Bay. Loose tiles on the entrance
steps to the Parish Centre have been repaired and repositioned. Sincere thanks
for all the hard work!
AYRSHIRE CURIA OF THE LEGION OF MARY
The Acies Ceremony will be held on Sunday 24 March at 3.00pm in Saint Winin's
Church, Kilwinning. Rosary Legion Prayers will be followed by our consecration
to Our Lady and Benediction. Refreshments will be available in the Church
hall after the ceremony. All active and auxiliary members and friends of Legion
of Mary are welcome!
THE RIGHT SIDE TOUR - JUSTICE, TRUTH, HISTORY
Be on the right side! The Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child is
organising a tour of Scotland informing on and resisting the campaign for
the extension and decriminalisation of abortion. The meeting is on Thursday
28 March at 7.00pm in Saint Winin's Hall, Kilwinning.
50/50 CLUB
Membership renewals of £15 are nearly complete. We still have thirty
members outstanding. This is holding up the January and February winners'
draw. We would appreciate returns being made as soon as possible. The Early
Bird Draw of £50 for those paid before 31 January was won by 141 Lynn
Shaw. Many thanks to all our members for their continued support of the 50/50
Club. We welcome new members. To join, contact Myriame Sammons on 469006.
NEW EMAIL ADDRESSES
To comply with the recent changes to Data Protection Act, Saint Peter's has
two new email addresses. If you are contacting the Parish Office, please use
Ardrossan@GallowayDiocese.org.uk. If you wish to contact Father
Duncan personally, then use Duncan.McVicar@GallowayDiocese.org.uk
- thanks!
MUSIC FOR SUNDAY MASS
We are looking for parishioners who are able and willing to operate the recorded
music on the Digital Piano in the choir loft in Church on Sunday mornings.
You would go on a rota and be asked, more or less, every three weeks. Training
will be given. We would really appreciate any help you could give. Senior
pupils would also be welcome. Please speak to Father Duncan or get in touch
with the Parish Office on 464063. Thank you!
OUR CLEANERS NEED SOME HELP
We are asking able-bodied parishioners - men and women - to help to keep God's
House clean and tidy and to support our wonderful team of cleaners. If you
can help in any way, please let us know. Thank you! Cleaning is usually on
Tuesdays after Holy Mass.
HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY
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 is assisted by the priest on call
each week.
FINANCES
Bankers Orders for the Parish and Parish Centre amount to £3500 per
month. 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. A Standing
Order would make the handling of money so much easier. Have you signed a Gift
Aid form? If you are a taxpayer the Church would get 25p added to every £1
you donate.
COLLECTIONS
Last weekend's Offertory collection amounted to £608.88 and the Maintenance
Fund collection to £267.20 - thanks.
SUNDAY TEAS
Tea and coffee will be served after the 10.30am Mass next Sunday in the Parish
Centre by Maria Boyle's team.
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.
VISITORS
Are you visiting us for Holy Mass? Please know that you are very welcome.
During the 10.30 am Holy 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 Holy Mass, tea, coffee
cakes and buns are available in the Parish Centre. At both of our weekend
Holy Masses, we have a second collection for Church maintenance.
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.