Bulletin 25 April 2021

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 JOHN (John 10:11-18)
Jesus said "'I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep. This is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father and I lay down my life for my sheep. And there are other sheep I have that are not of this fold and these I have to lead as well. They too will listen to my voice, and there will be only one flock and one shepherd. The Father loves me because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me. I lay it down of my own free will and as it is in my power to lay it down, so it is in my power to take it up again and this is the command I have been given by my Father."

REFLECTION
For about four hundred years, the early Church was somewhat shy about depicting the crucifixion of Jesus. Far more common was showing him as the Good Shepherd - the title he claims for himself in today's Gospel. There are two sides to this image - what we see in Jesus and what we see in ourselves! Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, is full of selfless love for every single sheep, unlike a hired hand and will even sacrifice his life for the sake of the flock. Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, was willing to face the wolf that was his persecutors, to lay down his life for our sake. Jesus as the Good Shepherd is the one who will lead us, find us when lost, heal us when hurt and guide us through the narrow gate that leads to eternal pastures. This is all wonderful, but for it to work there is the other side - we must acknowledge that we are his sheep! We belong to him and we will follow his lead and allow him to guide us. We admit that sometimes we are silly and selfish and will get lost, so that he has to come looking for us. We accept that he will protect us by laying down his life, so that we can be free. In our culture to be 'sheepish'is not seen as a good thing. Today, however, let us be proud to be sheep of His flock with the risen Good Shepherd guiding us to eternal green pastures!

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 services are live-streamed and public by booking unless otherwise stated.	Saint Bride's Church, West Kilbride All services are public by booking unless otherwise stated.
Saturday 24 April Fourth Sunday of Easter Good Shepherd Sunday Prayer for Vocations	Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for Sally and Frank McKane and Cathie Slimman who died recently and James McHugh at his anniversary
Sunday 25 April Fourth Sunday of Easter Good Shepherd Sunday Prayer for Vocations	Holy Mass at 10.30am for our parishes	Holy Mass at 12.15pm
Monday 26 April	Holy Mass 10.00am for the special intention of the Lawrence family, Francis McEvoy junior and Noelle Collins at their anniversaries
Tuesday 27 April	Holy Mass at 10.00am for Joe McIver at his anniversary and Winnie McMillan who died recently Private	Holy Mass at 10.00am
Wednesday 28 April	Holy Mass at 10.00am for the special intentions of Gertrude and Andy Gaffney and Patricia Milligan
Thursday 29 April Feast of Saint Catherine of Siena	Holy Mass at 10.00am for the special intention of Christine, Margaret, Caroline and baby Freddie Private
Friday 30 April	Holy Mass at 10.00am for Suzanne in thanksgiving and the special intention of the Ward family	Holy Mass at 12 noon for John McLaughlin
Saturday 1 May Fifth Sunday of Easter	Vigil Mass at 5.30pm for the special intention of Linda Kerr and Michael and Marie Ferguson at their anniversaries
		*Father Duncan* is assisted by the retired priest, Father Gerry Hamill.

SAINT MARY'S AND SAINT JOHN'S CHURCH SERVICES

	Saint Mary's Church, Saltcoats All services are live-streamed and public by booking unless otherwise stated.	Saint John’s Church, Stevenston All services are live-streamed and public by booking unless otherwise stated.
Saturday 24 April Fourth Sunday of Easter Good Shepherd Sunday Prayer for Vocations	Vigil Mass at 4.30pm
Sunday 25 April Fourth Sunday of Easter Good Shepherd Sunday Prayer for Vocations	Holy Mass at 10.00am	Holy Mass at 11.30am
Monday 26 April
Tuesday 27 April	Holy Mass at 10.00am
Wednesday 28 April	Requiem Mass at 10.00am for Teddy Kelly *Private*	Holy Mass at 10.00am
Thursday 29 April Feast of Saint Catherine of Siena
Friday 30 April		Holy Mass at 10.00am
Saturday 1 May Fifth Sunday of Easter	Vigil Mass at 4.30pm
	*Canon Martin Poland is assisted by Father Benjamin Mkeri and Canon Matt McManus who is retired.*

PRAYERS
Please remember in your prayers:
Jim Boyle, Annie Watt, Sandra Wilson, Bill Holden;
Winnie McMillan, Teddy Kelly and Ellen Robertson who died recently;
Joseph McIver 2020, Patrick Doherty 2005, Mark Hughes 2012, Kathleen McEvoy 2016, Canon Alex McGarry 2013, Father John Murphy 1978, Lilian Pattinson 2005, Jack Ferguson, Frank Robertson 1989, Joseph Clarke 2016, Patricia McVeigh 2013, Philomena O'Hare 2009, Angel Doyle 2006, Edward McNamara 1977, Cecilia McNulty 2008, Aldo Agostini 1974, John Brownlow 2012, Tommy Morgan 1992, Kathleen Walsh 1955, Annie Mathieson Dorian 1974, Elizabeth Scott 2018, Roseann Ward 2017, Simon Charles Cawley 2004, Mary Crossan 1981, Iain Currie 2018, Elizabeth Hendry 1998, Mary McCaul 2014 and Hugh Donald 2013 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.

FEED YOUR SOUL - RENEWING OUR PARISH COMMUNITIES
Evangelising is the grace and vocation proper to the Church, her deepest identity. She exists in order to evangelise. She begins by being evangelised herself. She is the community of believers, the community of hope lived and communicated, the community of brotherly love, and she needs to listen unceasingly to what she must believe, to her reasons for hope, to the new commandments of love. She has a constant need of being evangelised if she wants to retain her freshness, vigour and strength to proclaim the Gospel.
Pope Saint Paul VI
Evangelising is not, in the first place, the delivery of a doctrine but rather making present and announcing Jesus Christ. Evangelisation makes this enduring presence of Christ concrete in such a way that those who draw near to the Church may encounter in his person the way to 'save their lives' (Matt 16:25) and open themselves to a new horizon.
Directory of Catechism 28-31

SAINT PETER'S NOTICES

MASS BOOKINGS
To book for Mass, please phone the Parish Office 01294 464063 on Monday to Friday from 9.00 to 11.30am. Saint Peter's can accommodate fifty people.

FUNERAL SERVICE FOR WINNIE McMILLAN
Please pray for the Repose of the Soul of Winnie McMillan who died on Sunday 11 Apri 2021 aged 54 years. Her Funeral Service will be on Friday 30 April at 2.30pm at Holmsford Bridge Crematorium, Dreghorn. May she rest in peace and rise in glory!

THANK YOU
The family of Cathie Slimman would like to thank all relatives and friends for the beautiful flowers, Mass cards, sympathy cards and phone calls which provided the family with much needed love and comfort since Mum passed on 23 March. Special thanks to Father Duncan and Canon Matt for spiritual support and a comforting Requiem Mass at Saint Peter 's, Andrena for your beautiful singing and Carly and the team at William Wallace and Son for funeral arrangements. Thanks also to all who attended, both inside and out, at the Requiem Mass and the Crematorium as well as everyone who paid their respects in Rowanside Terrace and at Ardrossan Cemetery.

PARISH STEWARDSHIP
The Offertory Collection last weekend amounted to £580.35 and the Maintenance Fund Collection to £160.00 - many thanks.

SAINT BRIDE'S NOTICES

MASS BOOKINGS
To book for Mass, please phone Phyllis Howie on 01294 822320 or 07843 602745 between 7.00 and 9.00pm.

PARISH STEWARDSHIP
The Offertory Collection last Sunday amounted to £89.00 - many thanks.

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.

MILL HILL MISSIONARIES
As this is the Year of Saint Joseph, the Mill Hill Missionaries have produced a shortened version of the Advocate devoted entirely to Saint. Joseph. Please collect your copy as you leave the Church.

THE LEGEND OF THE STARFISH
A businessman on holiday was walking along a beach when he saw a young boy. Along the shore were many starfish that had been washed up by the tide and were sure to die before the tide returned. The boy walked slowly along the shore and occasionally reached down and tossed the beached starfish back into the ocean. The businessman, hoping to teach the boy a little lesson in common sense, walked up to the boy and said "I have been watching what you are doing, son. You have a good heart and I know you mean well but do you realise how many beaches there are around here and how many starfish are dying on every beach every day. Surely such an industrious and kind hearted boy such as yourself could find something better to do with your time. Do you really think that what you are doing is going to make a difference?" The boy looked up at the man and then he looked down at a starfish by his feet. He picked up the starfish, and as he gently tossed it back into the ocean, he said "It makes a difference to that one."
    Through me - let there be kind words, a warm smile, and a caring heart.
    Through me - let there be a willingness to listen and a readiness to understand.
    Through me - let there be dependability, steadfastness, trust and loyalty.
    Through me - let there be compassion, forgiveness, mercy and love.
    Through me - let there be every quality I find, O Lord, in Thee. Amen.

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS
Loving Father, help the young men and women of our parish family of Saint Bride's and Saint Peter's to hear the call of Jesus Christ to follow him. Our needs are great and our people thirst for your presence. Open the hearts of many, raise up faithful servants of the Gospel, dedicated holy priests, sisters, and brothers, who will spend themselves for your people and their needs. Bless those who are serving now with courage, everyday sanctity and perseverance. Grant that many will be inspired by their example and faith and so we turn to you in Christ's Name and pray with confidence.
    Our Father, who art in heaven ...
    Hail Mary, full of grace ...
    Glory be to the Father ...

JUST FOR A LAUGH ...
An old man lay sprawled across three entire seats in the cinema theatre. When the usher came by and noticed this, he whispered to the old man "Sorry sir, but you're only allowed one seat." The old man just groaned but didn't budge. The usher became more impatient. "Sir, if you don't get up from there I'm going to have to call the manager." Once again, the old man just groaned. The usher marched briskly back up the aisle and in a moment he returned with the manager. Together the two of them tried repeatedly to move the old disheveled man but with no success. Finally, they called the police. The officer surveyed the situation briefly then asked "All right sir, what's your name?" "Fred" the old man moaned. "Where are you from Fred?" asked the police officer. With terrible pain in his voice and without moving a muscle, Fred replied "The balcony."

ORDINATION AS DEACON OF KEVIN RENNIE
Kevin Rennie is to be ordained a Deacon on Sunday 2 May in Rome. We are invited to pray for him as a Diocese and for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Short video clips will be available on the Diocesan website from 24 April onwards. Saint Peter's and Saint Bride's will be featured on Saturday 1 May. Kevin writes 'On Sunday 2 May, the Pontifical Scots College invites you to join us in celebrating the Ordination of four of our men to the Order of Deacons. The Ordination Mass will be celebrated at 11.30am (10.30am British Standard Time) in the College Chapel and presided over by Archbishop Arthur Roche, the Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship. To join us, you can go to the College's Facebook page or YouTube at tinyurl.com/diaconate2021. I would ask for your prayers during this time as my brothers and I complete our final weeks of preparation and I assure you of my own prayers.'

SCOTTISH CATHOLIC INTERNATIONAL AID FUND (SCIAF) WEE BOXES
Please hand in all SCIAF boxes and donations by 4 May as for SCIAF to benefit from the Government Scheme they need to be in the SCIAF account by 7 May. Thank you.

PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
Canon Matt has signed up to go on a five-day pilgrimage to Lourdes for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on 8 December. Travel restrictions permitting, the flight will be from Edinburgh. Full details are available from www.NorthernStarTravel.com and 0161 773 2115.

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.

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.