CHURCH
OF SAINT PETER IN CHAINS, ARDROSSAN • A Family of
Parishes • SAINT BRIDE'S CHURCH, WEST KILBRIDE
BULLETIN 30 AUGUST 2020
SERVICES
AND GATHERINGS
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, public Church services and gatherings
are limited till further notice. Father
Duncan
will live-stream Holy Mass every day and assures you of his prayers for you
and your family.
A READING FROM THE BOOK OF THE APOCALYPSE (Matthew 16:21-27)
Jesus began to make it clear to his disciples that he was destined to go to
Jerusalem and suffer grievously at the hands of the elders and chief priests
and scribes, to be put to death and to be raised up on the third day. Then,
taking him aside, Peter started to remonstrate with him. "Heaven preserve
you, Lord" he said "this must not happen to you." But he turned
and said to Peter "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path
because the way you think is not God's way but man's." Then Jesus said
to his disciples "If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce
himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save
his life will lose it but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find
it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life?
Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life? For the Son of Man is
going to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and, when he does,
he will reward each one according to his behaviour."
REFLECTION
Do you remember last week, when Saint Peter got it right? Well, today he gets
it very wrong! The strength of Jesus' condemnation "Get behind me, Satan!"
is almost excessive - something Peter said obviously 'touched a nerve'. Perhaps
the answer comes in the last line of last week's Gospel where Jesus gives
the disciples strict instruction not to tell anyone he is the Christ. Did
you wonder about that when you read it? Surely the whole point is to "Go
out to the whole world, proclaim the Good News!" But Jesus knows what
people are like and he understands his own temptations - do you remember them?
People will see the Christ - the Messiah - as a King who will defeat the Romans,
bring back the Kingdom and make Israel great again. He will be crowned and
powerful and mighty - but this is not who the Messiah is, it is not who Jesus
is. Just as Jesus rejected the devil's temptations when he promised him earthly
power, so now Jesus rejects Peter's desire for him to be the Messiah he is
not. He is the suffering servant, the sacrifice that takes our sins away,
the humble king who rides a donkey and who knows that he must die so that
other may live.
Saint
Peter's - All Masses are live-streamed and
public unless otherwise stated. |
Saint
Bride's - All Masses are public
unless otherwise stated. |
|
Saturday
29 August
Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist Twenty-second Sunday of the Year |
Holy Mass at 10.00am
for Father Gerard Bourke at his anniversary Private Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Canon Patrick Gunning and James McGrattan at their anniversaries |
|
Sunday
30 August
Twenty-second Sunday of the Year |
Holy Mass at 10.30am for our parishes | Holy Mass at 12.15pm for our parishes |
Monday
31 August
|
Holy
Mass at 10.00am
for Mary Fraser at her anniversary and Angela Body on her eightieth
birthday |
|
Tuesday
1 September
World Day of Prayer for Creation |
Holy
Mass at 10.00am
for Robert Kelly and Margaret Friel at their anniversaries Private |
|
Wednesday
2 September
Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great |
Holy
Mass at 10.00am for Jack Campbell and Tony Fraser at their anniversaries |
|
Thursday
3 September
Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great |
Holy
Mass at 10.00am for Margaret Swiercz as a special intention and Maria and
Frank McEvoy at their anniversaries Private |
|
Friday
4 September
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Rona and James Taylor and Jean Fenn at their anniversaries | Holy Mass at 12 noon |
Saturday
5 September
Our Lady's Day Twenty-third Sunday of the Year |
Holy Mass at 10.00am
for Enis Delahunt at his anniversary Private Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Margaret Harvey who died recently |
Saturday
29 August
Twenty-second Sunday of the Year |
Vigil
Mass at 4.30pm |
|
Sunday
30 August
Twenty-second Sunday of the Year |
Holy
Mass
at 10.00am |
Holy
Mass
at 11.30am |
Monday
31 August
|
||
Tuesday
1 September
World Day of Prayer for Creation |
Holy Mass at 10.00am | |
Wednesday
2 September
Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great |
Holy Mass at 10.00am | |
Thursday
3 September
Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great |
Holy
Mass
at 10.00am |
|
Friday
4 September
|
Holy Mass at 10.00am | |
Saturday
5 September
Twenty-third Sunday of the Year |
Vigil
Mass at 4.30pm |
Wednesday
2 September
|
9.00 to 11.00am |
Slimming World |
Scallywags Aftercare is on Monday to Friday from 3.00pm to 6.00pm during term time and 8.00am to 6.00pm during school holidays. |
SAINT
PETER'S NEWS
SACRAMENT
OF BAPTISM |
SAINT
BRIDE'S NEWS
VOLUNTEERS |
A
SIMPLE EXPLANATION OF THE MASS - PART 13
This week, we'll consider the proper disposition for receiving Holy Communion.
When it comes to receiving Holy Communion, we should remember the words of
Saint Paul - Whoever therefore eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord
in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the Body and Blood of the
Lord" (1Cor 11:27). With these words in mind, we can say that two extremes
are to be avoided. If we suffer from an overly scrupulous conscience, we might
judge ourselves as never worthy of Holy Communion unless we have received
the Sacrament of Reconciliation the day before. Such a scrupulous conscience
brands God as a very demanding taskmaster who is never satisfied with us.
In contrast, some people might casually approach the Table of the Lord without
regard to their spiritual state as, for instance, when they carry a hardened
heart that absolutely refuses to forgive a hurt or to pray for the grace of
forgiveness. We should conscientiously prepare for the moment of Holy Communion.
This means that we should be in the state of grace and if we are conscious
of a grave or serious sin, we must receive the Sacrament of Penance before
receiving Holy Communion. We are also expected to fast from food and drink
for at least one hour prior to the reception of Holy Communion. Even though
none of us is worthy to receive our Divine Lord in Holy Communion - Lord,
I am not worthy - all of us must make every effort to be the least unworthy
that we can be.
PRAYER
FOR SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
My
Jesus, I believe that you are present in this Holy Sacrament of the altar.
I love you above all things and I passionately desire
to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally,
come spiritually into my soul so that I may unite myself wholly to you now
and forever. Amen.
PRAYER
DURING A PANDEMIC
May we who are merely inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.
May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable.
May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose
between preserving their health or making their rent.
May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools
close remember those who have no options.
May we who have to cancel our trips remember those that have no safe place
to go.
May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market
remember those who have no margin at all.
May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home.
As fear grips our country, let us choose love.
During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,
let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbours. Amen. Cameron
Bellm
LORD
REMEMBER ME
The main theatre in Moscow was getting ready for the opening night of a anti-religious
play called Christ in Top Hat and Tails. Schools, youth organisations and
youth workers were required to include the piece in their programme for the
year. The main part, portraying Jesus Christ was played by the famous actor
and committed communist Alexander Rostowzew. The theatre was full with every
ticket having been sold months before. The curtain opened to a scene with
an altar in the middle, covered with empty beer bottles. Around the altar
were drunken priests and monks. At the second act, Rostowzew came onto the
stage. In his hands he held a copy of the Holy Bible and wore a top hat and
tails. The audience laughed and clapped, waiting for his humorous lines and
superb acting. He opened the Bible and started to read "Blessed are those
who are poor before God, then theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are
those who mourn, for they will be comforted..." The Director stood at
the side of the stage, he knew that soon Rostowzew would break into dancing
and the whole theatre would erupt with cascades of laughter. But nothing happened.
Rostowzew continued reading "Blessed are those who are peacemakers, for
they will inherit the land..." The audience didn't move. They realised
that something was happening in the heart of the actor. The theatre was completely
silent. Only the firm voice of Rostowzew could be heard. He continued reading,
in fact, in read the complete forty-eight verses of the Fifth Chapter of Saint
Matthew's Gospel. No-one interrupted him, no-one called out, everyone remained
completely silent, listening to every word. He finished with the verse "You
should be perfect, just as your heavenly Father in heaven is perfect!"
Rostowzew closed the Bible. It seemed that a chapter in his own life was also
being closed. Very slowly he made the Sign of the Cross and repeated in a
firm and clear voice the words of the repentant thief at the side of Jesus
on Calvary "Lord, remember me, when you come into your Kingdom".
No-one protested, there were no whistles or booing. The audience slowly left
the theatre in silence. The production was never repeated anywhere. After
that evening, Alexander Rostowzew was never seen again.
JUST FOR A LAUGH ...
The ninety-eight-year-old Mother Superior from Ireland was dying. The nuns
gathered around her bed trying to make her last journey comfortable. They
gave her some warm milk to drink but she refused. Then one of the nuns took
the glass back to the kitchen. Remembering a bottle of Scottish whisky received
as a gift the previous Christmas, she opened and poured a generous amount
into the warm milk. Back at Mother Superior's bed, she held the glass to her
lips. Mother drank a little, then a little more and before they knew it, she
had drunk the whole glass down to the last drop. "Mother" the nuns
asked with earnest, "please give us some wisdom before you die."
She raised herself up in bed and with a pious look on her face said "Whatever
you do, don't sell that cow!"
WEEKLY
BULLETIN
If you would like to receive the weekly bulletin and updates by email, please
get in touch with the Parish Office and send us your email address. If you
know of someone who would like to be included on the mailing list, please
let us know. Thanks!
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
It is now possible to make online donations to Saint Peter's. Details are
on the Donations page and this News
page. Thanks for your generosity.
WEEKLY BULLETIN
If you would like to receive the weekly Bulletin and updates by email, please
get in touch with the parish office and send us your email address. If you
know of someone who would like to be included on the mailing list, please
let us know - thanks.
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.