SERVICES
AND GATHERINGS
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, public Church services and gatherings
are suspended till further notice. Father
Duncan
will celebrate Holy Mass privately every day and assures you of his prayers
for you and your family.
A READING FROM THE PROPHET EZEKIEL - 37:12-14
The Lord says this. I am now going to open your graves. I mean to raise you
from your graves, my people, and lead you back to the soil of Israel. And
you will know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and raise you from
your graves, my people. And I shall put my spirit in you and you will live
and I shall resettle you on your own soil and you will know that I, the Lord,
have said and done this. It is the Lord who speaks.
A READING
FROM THE LETTER OF SAINT PAUL TO THE ROMANS - 8:8-11
People who are interested only in unspiritual things can never be pleasing
to God. Your interests, however, are not in the unspiritual but in the spiritual,
since the Spirit of God has made his home in you. In fact, unless you possessed
the Spirit of Christ you would not belong to him. Though your body may be
dead it is because of sin, but if Christ is in you then your spirit is life
itself because you have been justified and if the Spirit of him who raised
Jesus from the dead is living in you, then he who raised Jesus from the dead
will give life to your own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in you.
A
READING FROM THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN - 11:1-45
There was a man named Lazarus who lived in the village of Bethany with the
two sisters, Mary and Martha, and he was ill. It was the same Mary, the sister
of the sick man Lazarus, who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his
feet with her hair. The sisters sent this message to Jesus, 'Lord, the man
you love is ill.' On receiving the message Jesus said "This sickness
will end not in death but in God's glory, and through it the Son of God will
be glorified." Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, yet when
he heard that Lazarus was ill he stayed where he was for two more days before
saying to the disciples "Let us go to Judaea." The disciples said
"Rabbi, it is not long since the Jews wanted to stone you. Are you going
back again?" Jesus replied "Are there not twelve hours in the day?
A man can walk in the daytime without stumbling because he has the light of
this world to see by but if he walks at night he stumbles, because there is
no light to guide him." He said that and then added "Our friend
Lazarus is resting. I am going to wake him."
The Gospel continues the story of the raising of Lazarus.
MASS
AND PRAYER TEXTS ONLINE
During this challenging time, we are unable to attend Mass. We can go through
the Order of Mass on our own at home. Mass is being streamed live from some
of the Churches in our Diocese. Please visit GallowayDiocese.org.uk
for live stream details and access to other spiritual resources in this time
of isolation. Also, Magnificat is honoured to provide complimentary access
to our online version to help people pray from home. You can access morning
and evening prayers and the full texts for the daily and Sunday Masses on
www.Magnificat.com/free.
HOLY WEEK SERVICES
Please join us at home for the Holy Week services at the same time that they
are being celebrated in Church. We can be connected spiritually, although
we cannot come together as a Parish Family at this time.
Palm Sunday
- 5 April 2020
Palms and a copy of the latest bulletin will be available in the porch of the
Parish house. If you can, please come along and collect palms. You do not need
to ring the doorbell.
Holy Thursday - 9 April 2020
The Mass of the Lord's Supper will be celebrated at 7.00pm. As Jesus washes
the feet of his disciples, we pray especially for all those in the front line
services who are 'washing the feet' of their brothers and sisters as they support
them in so many ways during this crisis.
Good Friday - 10 April 2020
The Good Friday Service will be celebrated at 3.00pm. An extra petition for
deliverance from the Coronavirus will be added to the traditional ten petitions.
The Crucifix will be placed in front of the altar in the sanctuary in Church.
"Behold the wood of the Cross, on which hung the Saviour of the world".
Easter Vigil - 11 April 2020
The Easter Vigil will be celebrated at 7.30pm. We pray that the Light of Christ
comes into our world. Christ's Resurrection will change everything.
Easter Sunday - 12 April 2020
We wish each other a Blessed and Happy Easter in these difficult times. The
Easter Candle will remain lit all day in Church, in the middle of the Sanctuary,
for the Parish and for all our families and loved ones.
CORONAVIRUS
AND PRAYER
I know this is heartbreaking. The Catechism affirms that 'the Sunday celebration
of the Lord's Day and his Eucharist is at the heart of the Church's life'
- making this a particularly difficult day in an already difficult time. Whether
you live alone or with family, you will still be gathering with Catholics
around the world to worship God, keep his day holy, and receive the grace
of an act of spiritual communion. A prayer card is available on our parish
website. Holy Mass is celebrated in various Churches throughout the Diocese
for the foreseeable future, not only on Sundays, but every day of the week,
so please join with them each day or as often as you can. Holy Mass is also
celebrated every day in Saint Peter's without a congregation. Please continue
to pray for all those impacted by Coronavirus. I include you all and all your
families and loved ones, every day in the Holy Mass in in my prayers. Our
Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us! Saint Peter, pray for us!
FINANCIAL
SUPPORT
The financial support and upkeep of the Parish is also drastically affected
by the present situation. Please try and hand in your Offertory envelopes
to the Parish Office when you can or better still, consider taking out a Banker's
Order for Saint Peter's as the social isolation will probably impact us
for the next months. Banker's
Order and Gift
Aid Declaration forms are available in the Parish Office and on our website.
If you would prefer that we email you or post the forms, please let the Parish
Office know. If you require any assistance in completing the forms, please
contact George at the Parish Office and he can speak to you by phone. Thank
you for all you do and for your solidarity and generosity. In
these difficult financial times, there is no obligation to give to the Sunday
Collection. If, however, you feel able to, you can donate by text message
to an account set up by the Diocese of Galloway. It is not possible to nominate
a particular parish so all text-giving donations will be shared among parishes.
To donate, text the word SUNDAY to 70085 followed by the number of pounds,
from 1 to 20. For example, SUNDAY 5 to 70085 gives £5. This message
would cost £5 plus one standard rate message charge. Thank you for all
your commitment and support.
THOUGHTS
FOR THE DAY
Every day, Father
Duncan will celebrate Holy Mass privately, focusing on
these Thoughts for the Day.
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.
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.