CHURCH OF SAINT PETER IN CHAINS, ARDROSSAN  •  A Family of Parishes  •  SAINT BRIDE'S CHURCH, WEST KILBRIDE

                                                        

BULLETIN                                                  13 SEPTEMBER 2020

TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME IN YEAR 1

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 HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO MATTHEW (Matthew 18:21-35)
Peter went up to Jesus and said "Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?" Jesus answered "Not seven, I tell you, but seventy times seven times. And so the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who decided to settle his accounts with his servants. When the reckoning began, they brought him a man who owed ten thousand talents but he had no means of paying so his master gave orders that he should be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, to meet the debt. At this, the servant threw himself down at his master's feet. "Give me time" he said "and I will pay the whole sum." And the servant's master felt so sorry for him that he let him go and cancelled the debt. Now as this servant went out, he happened to meet a fellow servant who owed him one hundred denarii and he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him. "Pay what you owe me" he said. His fellow servant fell at his feet and implored him, saying "Give me time and I will pay you." But the other would not agree. On the contrary, he had him thrown into prison till he should pay the debt. His fellow servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened, and they went to their master and reported the whole affair to him. Then the master sent for him. "You wicked servant" he said "I cancelled all that debt of yours when you appealed to me. Were you not bound, then, to have pity on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you?" And in his anger the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debt. And that is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart."

REFLECTION
This is a Gospel of exaggerations! 'Seventy times seven' is a ridiculous number, not to be taken seriously. Does Jesus really mean that we forgive someone 490 times and then refuse to have mercy on the 491st? It simply means 'Never stop forgiving'. Similarly, the parable Jesus tells has a ridiculous exaggeration. The sum the first servant owes is 10000 talents. Lots of estimates can be found to work out what this would equal in modern money at anything between £3 billion and £7 billion! Obviously this is a debt that can never be repaid. This is what Jesus says our sins are like - a debt we owe to God that we can never hope to repay. But God's mercy not only forgives but wipes out the debt! The 100 denarii, on the other hand, is still a significant amount, though much less - perhaps about £10000. This is what other people owe us - which we should forgive. Letting someone off a debt of £10000 is not easy! Perhaps forgiveness is even harder!

THE LORD'S DAY AT HOME
If you are housebound or self-isolating at this time, please use these prayers to unite yourself with the worship of the Universal Church, and your own parish, this Sunday. If alone, read or say these prayers quietly to yourself. If with another, or in a family, someone should read the Gospel and others respond. It might be suitable to find a special, quiet place at home for your Sunday prayers.

SAINT PETER'S AND SAINT BRIDE'S CHURCH SERVICES
 
Saint Peter's - All Masses are live-streamed and
                          public unless otherwise stated.
Saint Bride's - All Masses are public
                          unless otherwise stated.

Saturday 12 September  
Memorial of the Most Holy 
Name of Mary 
 
 
Twenty-fourth
Sunday of the  Year 

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Geraldine Kent as a special intention
  Private

Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Kevin Rennie as a special intention
 
Sunday 13 September  
Twenty-fourth Sunday of the  
Year
 
Holy Mass at 10.30am for our parishes Holy Mass at 12.15pm for our parishes
Monday 14 September  
The Exultation of the Holy  
Cross
  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Ritano Betti and Audrey Orlege who died recently  
Tuesday 15 September  
Memorial of Our Lady  of Sorrows 
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Daniel McGoogan who died recently and Angela Body at her birthday
  Private
 
Wednesday 16 September  
Memorial of Saint Ninian  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for the Knit and Knatter Group at its anniversary and Frances Giblin and Mary McLellan at their anniversaries  
Thursday 17 September  
 
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Hugh Donohoe at his anniversary and Marie Murray as a special intention
  Private
 
Friday 18 September  
Special Mass in time of 
pandemic  
Holy Mass at 10.00am for Anne (Nancy) Sheehan at her anniversary and Jimmy Templeton as a special intention Holy Mass at 12 noon

Saturday 19 September  
Our Lady's Day  

 
 
Twenty-fifth
Sunday of the  Year 

Holy Mass at 10.00am for Margaret McCabe
  Private

Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Ronnie Cairns at his anniversary
 

SAINT MARY'S AND SAINT JOHN'S CHURCH SERVICES
 

Saturday 12 September  
Twenty-fourth Sunday of the  Year 

Vigil Mass at 4.30pm

 
Sunday 13 September  
Twenty-fourth Sunday of the  
Year
 
Holy Mass at 10.00am

Holy Mass at 11.30am
Monday 14 September  
The Exultation of the Holy  
Cross
  
   
Tuesday 15 September  
Memorial of Our Lady  of Sorrows 
Holy Mass at 10.00am  
Wednesday 16 September  
Memorial of Saint Ninian  
  Holy Mass at 10.00am
Thursday 17 September 
Holy Mass at 10.00am  
Friday 18 September  
  Holy Mass at 10.00am

Saturday 19 September  
Twenty-fifth Sunday of the  Year 

Vigil Mass at 4.30pm  

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
John Clarke, Frances Stalker, Anthony Brennan, Cathie Currie, Cathie Slimman, Cathie Newale;
Ritano Betti, Audrey Orlege, Daniel McGoogan, Alice Morgan, John Boyle (Ireland), Margaret Harvey and Margaret Timmons (Dunfermline) who died recently;
John Burns 1997, Alberto Carrino 2009, Dolores Fairhurst 2014, Thomas Fernes 2011, James Love 1996, James Hughes 2010, Anne McCabe 1995, Sister Annette, Cross and Passion 2016, Joe Brady junior 1999, Joseph Brady 2006, Elizabeth Cawley 1997, Frances Giblin 2017, John Marshall 2000, Patrick Joseph O'Hare 1955, Thomas White 1995, Mathew Folan 1994, Tom Howieson 2007, Walter Jones 1985, James Lawson 1992, Kathleen MulIin 2012, Hugh Donohoe 2008, George Hall 2007, Alison Lawson née Giebler 2015, Frances McLaughlin 2008, Mary McLellan 2004, Victor and Charlotte Mitchell, Joshua O'Neill 2017, Jim Vernon 2014, Cornelius Burke 1988, Chris Glenn 2011, Eamon Lennon junior, Margaret Finnegan 2010, Patrick Joseph McKay 1989, Sister Pauline Cross and Passion 1999, Father Alastair Tosh 2007, Brian Loy 2014 and Patricia Trainer 2002
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. If members of your family or friends are in need of our prayers, please tell Father Duncan or the parish office.

SAINT PETER'S NOTICES

WEDDING CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations and special blessings for Heather Drysdale and John Lenaghan who married last Thursday. We wish them a love for a lifetime.

PARISH STEWARDSHIP
The Offertory Collection last weekend amounted to £655.98 and the Maintenance Fund collection to £110.00 - many thanks.

PARISH CENTRE
There is a new contact number for Parish Centre bookings and so on. Fiona's number is 07907 389703.

LIVE-STREAMING OF MASS
All our Celebrations of Mass and other services are live-streamed, starting five minutes beforehand. You can access them every day by going to our websites. On SaintPeterInChains.net, in the top right corner, click on Live Streaming at Mass Times. On SaintPeterInChains.co.uk, click Services in the red menu bar, select Mass Times then scroll down to Click here to view Mass.

PIETY STALL
If you should require anything from our Stall, for example, Mass Cards, religious items, et cetera, please ask Betty Craig and she will organise it for you.


SAINT BRIDE'S NOTICES

NEW WEBSITE
We are delighted to announce that our new website will be live from Saturday 12 September at StBridesChurch.co.uk. A big thank you goes to Joe McAleavy for all his efforts to make this happen. If you would like to include any news or information, we will be happy to put it on the website. Please send it to HowiePhyllis@yahoo.co.uk.

HOLY MASS
We have enjoyed seeing and speaking to those parishioners who have managed along to the Friday or Sunday Mass. We understand why some of you have not yet come along and have included you in our thoughts and prayers at Mass. We hope you are all safe and well
.

A SIMPLE EXPLANATION OF THE MASS - PART 15
In the hand or on the tongue? We have the option of receiving Communion in the hand or on the tongue. Many Catholics who were raised in the pre-Vatican II Church think that receiving Holy Communion in the hand was a Vatican II initiative. It is not. Though we do not know for certain, we can safely assume that the Apostles at the Last Supper received the bread in their hands from Jesus. We also know that back in the first millennium, Catholic Christians usually received Communion in their hand. Saint Cyril of Jerusalem describes the fourth century procedure in this way - When you approach, do not go stretching out your hands or having your fingers spread out but make the left hand into a throne for the right one, which shall receive the King, and then cup your open hand and take the Body of Christ, reciting the Amen. During the distribution of Holy Communion, an appropriate hymn is sung. Our participation in the singing of the communion hymn expresses our spiritual union with all communicants. At the end of the communion song, there is a period of silence for interior prayer and contemplation of the gifts received.

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


FOOD FOR THOUGHT
I often wondered as a young person what the secret was to being a good parent. Reflecting on my childhood now, I can see clearly that my mother and father taught me with their actions. The secret - be there. Be there for your children. It is not about quality time. It's about quantity time.

THE NECKLACE
The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh mummy, please, mummy, can I have them? Please, Mummy, please?" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. "£10. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself." As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pence. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbour and asked Mrs McJames if she could pull out the weeds for £2. On her birthday, grandma did give her £5 and slowly she had enough money to buy the necklace. Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed-up and grown up. She wore them everywhere - to school, Church, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a shower. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green. Jenny had a very loving Daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh, Daddy, not my pearls - but you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my very favourite." "That's okay, Honey, Daddy loves you. Goodnight." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss. About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's Daddy asked again, "Do you love me?" "Daddy, you know I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh Daddy, not my pearls - but you can have my baby doll, the brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful." "That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss. A few nights later when her Daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. "What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?" Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her Daddy - and when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy, this is for you." With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's Daddy reached out with one hand to take the cheap necklace and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. So it is, with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures. Isn't God good? Are you holding on to things that God wants you to let go of? Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary habits and activities that you have become so attached to that it seems impossible to let go? Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing - God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.

JUST FOR A LAUGH ...
After the Baptism of his baby brother in Church, little Johnny sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied "That priest said he wanted us brought up in a Catholic home but I want to stay with all of you."

SUNDAY OBLIGATION
Sunday obligation to attend Holy Mass remains suspended for the time being and availability is restricted for those wishing to attend. Some of our parishioners are working during the week and can only attend at the weekend. Therefore, to make Holy Mass available to everyone we would be grateful if you wish to attend Mass and are able to attend on a weekday please do so, leaving seats for those parishioners working during the week. Thank you.

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.

STANDING ORDERS - PLEASE THINK ABOUT IT
The parishes have taken quite a 'knock' through lockdown when public Mass was not available for sixteen weeks. This has had a huge impact on our parishes' finances. Could you consider taking out a Standing Order? It would be of great benefit to our parish. Forms are available from the Parish Office and here. Thank you


RETIRED PRIESTS' COLLECTION
A special collection will be made on the last weekend of September for our Retired Priests in the Diocese. Please collect the special donation envelopes. Thank you for your support and 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.