S1's celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation has had to be cancelled again, unfortunately. We're working on finding dates to reschedule the four Masses for some time in the new year.
First Communions – It has been a great joy this month for our parish welcoming the children and their families for their First Holy Communion day. We thank all who were involved in helping the children prepare, at school, at home and in the parish. We pray that the blessings of the Eucharist will stay with them for a long time to come and that they will become committed members of the Body of Christ.
Memorial Mass for all families who have lost a loved one over the past year and indeed for all the faithful departed will be live streamed only this Sunday 22nd November at 2pm on our YouTube channel via www.standrewsbearsden.co.uk As a community, it is important for us to remember those who have gone before us in faith.
Just a reminder - Primary Three enrolment for the Sacraments, and Primary Seven enrolment for Confirmation - please collect a form before or just after daily or Sunday Mass.
Advent Appeal 28th November Children’s winter clothing - We are making an appeal for new or clean and in excellent condition children's and teenagers winter jackets, hoodies, sweatshirts. These will be distributed to children in Glasgow who do not have winter clothing. Please bring to the church carpark on 28th November between 12 and 3pm. Please do not bring any adult clothing - we will not be able to take.
Advent Appeal - 5th December Soup Run – Christmas Gifts – Although our soup run volunteers cannot visit their usual places, we have continued throughout lockdown, with some additional volunteers, to deliver hot and cold food to various charities and organisations in Glasgow. Our intention this year is to give Christmas gifts to the Wayside centre for distribution to homeless in Glasgow as well as other centres if possible. Your help is needed to make this happen please. This year unfortunately, all donations will need to be gift wrapped by you or put in a gift bag and include all the items on the list below. These should be brought to the church car park between 12 noon and 3pm on Saturday 5th December. Please make clear whether the gift is for male or female.
Please include these items A hand written Christmas card, small selection box or Chocolates, hat, gloves, scarf, underwear, shampoo, shower gel, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrush and ladies to include sanitary products. Many thanks Veronica McLaughlin
A message to the young people of St Andrew's & St Joseph's ~ An opportunity for young people to come together. There is a limit to what we can offer but we plan to have an Advent service in St Andrew's on Thursday 10th December. With the current tier 4 restrictions, we are having to rethink plans for this.
SPRED Christmas wares go on online this week. It will be first come, first served, as items are limited. Nearer the end of November, look out for our tasty marmalade.
Mary’s Meals Double the Love campaign. Throughout this year of many challenges we have continued to feed children their daily meal in a place of education even when obstacles arose. Provide hope to 43,000 children in Bong County, Liberia. From 2nd November until 31st January 2021, any donations made to the Double the Love campaign will be matched by UK government, up to £2 million. Each little act of love will be doubled to support families in Liberia and the hope of a better future for their children. You can get involved by setting a place at out Big Family Christmas dinner table (https://bigfamilychristmas.marysmeals.org.uk/big-family-christmas-table)
Catholic Social Teaching Thought for the Week - 22 November (International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women is observed on 25 November) Mary was able to turn a stable into a home for Jesus, with poor swaddling clothes and an abundance of love. ... She is the woman whose heart was pierced by a sword and who understands all our pain. As mother of all, she is a sign of hope for peoples suffering the birth pangs of justice. Evangelii Gaudium, para 286
The Piety Stall online store now has a large selection of cards and gifts for First Communion and Confirmation for sale, as well as Christmas cards, Advent calendars, candles and Christmas Eve boxes. Orders can be placed and either collected from the organiser’s homes or delivery can be arranged if collection isn’t suitable.https://www.standrewsbearsden.co.uk/piety-stall.html
As seating capacity in the church is much reduced due to current social distancing guidelines, a booking system is required. To register to use the booking system, please go to www.standrewsbearsden Please note that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass continues to be suspended. It is still fine not to go to Mass during these circumstances.
Here's some helpful guidance from the Bishops' Conference of Scotland
Please familiarise yourself with it ahead of attending Mass.
➡️ Read: bit.ly/BackToMass (includes video)
➡️ Phase 3 guidance: bit.ly/Phase3ScotGov
Drumchapel Foodbank - Thanks to all of our Parishioners who are donating food and toiletries to our collection point in the Chapel House porch to be delivered to Drumchapel Food Bank. Regularly your donations are dropped off at the foodbank by our parish volunteers. Thanks for continuing to help.
Our parish’s soup-run’s volunteers continue to collect food donations form M&S Byres Road for delivery to Drumchapel and St Gregory’s Foodbanks and the Wayside Club.
Parish Website – Bulletin - Just to say that on the latest page and the bulletin page, a subscribe button has been added which allows users to have a daily summary sent each morning with the previous day's posts. If you don't use social media, but would like to be kept posted, then all that's asked for is your email address – you can unsubscribe at any time – it's all clearly marked.
Parish Bulletin: Any items for inclusion in the bulletin (including names for recently dead, month's mind and anniversary lists) should be put through the letter box of the Chapel House or sent by email: [email protected] by12noon on the Wednesday before publication. Copies of the bulletin are available on Facebook, Twitter and on the parish website.
Recently Dead – Rena Curran, Frank Kelly, Nan Hannah, Denis Loney, Theresa McAndrew, Morag McKirdy, Clare Welsh, Thomas Wiggins,
Anniversaries – Frank Gilchrist, Charles McGarry,