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Newton Stewart, Wigtown and Whithorn RC Churches |
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Catholic Churches in the Machars of Galloway |
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Announcements |
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Catholic Churches East Wigtownshire Diocese of Galloway Charity No. SCO10576 |
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Upcoming Diary Dates: August 31st, 4pm: Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Whithorn. ♦ August 31st, 7pm: “Fifth Sunday” Ecumenical Service, Church of Scotland, Monigaff. ♦ September 7th, 3pm: Cruggleton Ecumenical Service. ♦ September 21st, 2—6pm: Parish Day, Newton Stewart. —————————————————————————- |
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21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), August 24th, 2008 |
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Fr. Steven Purnell: We welcome back Fr. Purnell of Our Lady and St. Peter’s church in East Grimstead, who is in the area for a few days’ holiday. Fr. Purnell has kindly agreed to give me a hand by celebrating the Friday morning Mass (August 29th) and the 12 Noon Sunday Mass on August 31st.
Helpers from Heaven: 25/8 St. Louis IX of France (+1270): king at 11 yrs of age, assuming his reign at 21; promoter of Christianity, judicial and legal reformer, founder of leper hospitals, attentive to the poor. Married with 11 children. He was a strong supporter of the Pope, and led two crusades, being killed in the second one. Patron saint of barbers, difficult marriages and in the case of the death of a child. Also 25/8: St. Joseph of Calasanz (+1648): Spanish nobleman’s son who changed from a secular career to priesthood after a near-death experience; sold all his earthly goods and worked for the poor, especially their religious education; after many trials, founded the Piarists to educate the children of the poor. He is the patron of such schools. 27/8: St. Monica (+387): cradle Catholic, married to a violent and adulterous husband who converted on his death-bed. Her tears also converted her son, Augustine. Monica herself was devoted to Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, to whom she introduced Augustine. She was herself a reformed alcoholic. Patron of all the issues that affected her: alcoholism, abuse, rebellious children, etc. 28/8: St. Augustine (+430): in his teens he turned aside from the Christian faith (he was not baptized) and lived a wild life, morally and philosophically. Through his mother, he came to know St. Ambrose, whose preaching changed him and who baptized him. On his mother’s death, he gave up everything and became a monk, then priest, then bishop in N. Africa, at that time still Christian. The greatest father of the Western church. Fought strenuously against heresies. Patron saint of theologians –and brewers! 29/8: The Beheading of John the Baptist.
Whithorn Pilgrimage: August 31st, with Mass at St. Ninian’s Cave at 4pm. An alternative Mass is available in our Whithorn church at 4.45pm for those unable to go to the Cave. Any volunteers (may they be many!) who wish to help set things up for Mass at the Cave, please gather round behind the church in Whithorn on Saturday, August 30th, at 1pm; likewise on the pilgrimage Sunday itself, again at 1pm. The heavier work will be done on the Saturday. Parents with children of scout and girl guide age may wish to come along with their young ones so that they can meet and join in with the little army of youngsters that comes each year to help prepare things at the Cave. To avoid falling into Disclosure Scotland requirements, the parents, or a parent, would have to accompany their own child(ren).
National Pilgrimage to Carfin: Sunday, September 7th at 3pm. Details in church porch.
Parish Day: Please remember to return your completed slip for the Parish Day as soon as possible so that catering, transport and child-care arrangements can be made in good time. Everyone is welcome: Sunday, Sept. 21st, 2-6pm in Newton Stewart.
Vocations: “Who has known the mind of the Lord?” Through prayer our minds become imbued with the mind of Christ and his will for us. If the Spirit is prompting you to know Christ as a religious sister, brother, deacon or priest, either call me or visit www.priestsforscotland.org.uk Let us also pray for vocations to the Sacrament of Marriage, the seedbed of the other vocations.
Young Adults, 18-35: Jon Massanet, one of our parish’s representatives at the recent World Youth Day in Sydney, is willing to be a contact person for any of our young adults who would like to meet up on a very informal basis, just to get to know one another and perhaps promote one or other youth activity. Jon’s phone number is 07825 561713, and his e-mail address is: wazei@hotmail.co.uk.
Ecumenical Activities: Unfortunately, the next “5th Sunday” ecumenical service to be held in Newton Stewart, August 31st, coincides with the Pilgrimage to Whithorn. It will be held in Monigaff church at 7pm. Although the Pilgrimage Mass is at 4pm, I have to host a clergy dinner afterwards. I have apologised for my absence to the Minister of Monigaff, Rev. Peter Aiken. I can only encourage parishioners who are unable to attend the Pilgrimage to attend the Monigaff service. Other ecumenical services to come are as follows: Cruggleton, Sunday, September 7th, 3pm; Wigtown Book Festival Service, October 5th (time to be announced); the “Wigtown Players” service on October 12th at 3pm in Sacred Heart church; the last “5th Sunday” service of this year, to be held on November 30th, Our Lady & St. Ninian’s, Newton Stewart, 7pm. I encourage as full a participation as possible by everyone!
Catholic Singles: See details on poster in the church porch.
Visitors and Gift Aid: We welcome most warmly our visitors this weekend! If you are a tax payer, please pick up an orange Gift Aid envelope from the back of the church, fill it in and pop your donation into the collection basket. We will be able to claim back an extra 28p in the £1.
Retired Priests’ Fund: On Sunday, September 7th, a special collection will be taken up for the retired priests of our Diocese. Priests now retired or semi-retired who worked in the Machars are: Mgr. Stephen Kennedy, Fr. Ralph Mancini, Canon Denis Quinlan and Canon Samuel McGinness. At least on their behalf, I appeal to your generosity! If you are a tax payer, please be sure to use the Gift Aid envelopes provided.
Sunday Collection totals: August 3rd: £525.56. |