Sunday 28th July 2024 Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

“This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” 
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St. Andrew’s Whist Drive will take place on Wednesday 31st July in the Lower Hall from 2p.m. – 4.15p.m. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served.  Entry £3.  Looking forward to seeing everyone.  New members always welcome.
 
End the British Government's cruel two-child benefit cap    Did you know that BPAS, one of Britain’s biggest abortion providers, has identified that the government’s punitive two-child Universal Credit limit is “a significant factor” in many women deciding to abort their child?    The 2-child family credit cap is causing unnecessary suffering and is not worthy of a caring society.
Please sign a Petition card at Mass on Pro Life Petition weekend 10th & 11th August (or go online https://www.spuc.org.uk/end-benefit-cap) calling on the Prime Minister to end the cruel and punitive two-child family credit cap.

Catholic Social Teaching Thought for the Week - Sunday 28th July
God loves all men and women on earth and gives them the hope of a new era, an era of peace. His love, fully revealed in the Incarnate Son, is the foundation of universal peace. When welcomed in the depths of the human heart, this love reconciles people with God and with themselves, renews human relationships and stirs that desire for brotherhood capable of banishing the temptation of violence and war.
Pope Saint John Paul II, Message for World Day of Peace, 1 January 2000

Laudato Si’ - On Care for our Common Home - We are free to apply our intelligence towards things evolving positively, or towards adding new ills, new causes of suffering and real setbacks. This is what makes for the excitement and drama of human history, in which freedom, growth, salvation and love can blossom, or lead towards decadence and mutual destruction. (#79)
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Summer Mass Schedule - The first few weeks of the summer mass schedule seem to have gone well. Your cooperation and willingness to move between both parishes for Mass has been very much appreciated. With the enlarged gathering at each Mass there's been an experience of shoulder to shoulder, like the good ole days, and the increased volume in singing was a joy to hear. 
Fr Currie is on annual leave this month, and Fr Mackle will be on annual leave in August. 
 
Please note: Mass times remain changed during July and August. They will revert to the usual times in September. St Andrew’s and St Joseph’s are in the same pastoral area; therefore, the two parishes will cooperate over Mass times. You can pick up a leaflet in the church entrance which gives all the details. Also check our social media. 
From 7th July, St Andrew’s will have only one weekend Mass which will be on Sunday at 12 Noon. St Joseph’s will have Sunday Mass at 10a.m. and Saturday Vigil Mass at 5.30p.m. Confessions will be from 4.30p.m. until 5.15p.m.
In August, St Andrew’s will have Saturday Vigil Mass at 5.30p.m. and Confessions from 4.30p.m. until 5.15p.m. and Sunday Mass at 10a.m. St Joseph's will have Mass at 12 Noon.
On Wednesdays, both churches will have a Service of the Word and Holy Communion, 10a.m. at St Andrew’s and 9.30a.m. at St Joseph’s.
The Feast of the Assumption is on Thursday, 15th August and Mass at St Andrew’s is at 7p.m. and 9:30a.m. at St Joseph’s.
Weekday Masses are on Thursday and Friday only, at 10a.m. in St Andrew’s, and Monday and Tuesday at 9.30a.m. at St Joseph’s. These changes have been brought about by a lack of priests, making it harder to get cover while priests take their annual leave.
Remember that the changes are for July and August only.
Pray for vocations. Pray for priests and for more priests for our Archdiocese

During July and August, ideally, a funeral Mass would take place on one of the weekday Mass days at the parish church of the loved one who has died.  
 
30th July is World Day against People trafficking which is the fastest growing crime globally. At any given time, an estimated 2.5 million people are trapped in modern-day slavery. Men, women and children fall into the hands of traffickers both in their own countries and abroad. Every country in the world is affected by human trafficking, whether as a country of origin, transit or destination for victims.  
Please say a prayer and be aware of victims of human trafficking. If you suspect that someone is in slavery, Call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700, or download the “Unseen” App on your phone. 
 
St Joseph - praying for something or someone? You can write out your petition and place it under the sleeping St Joseph statue in the church grounds. Let St Joseph sleep on your prayer intention.
 
Calling all First Communicants - like to become a Server or join the Children’s Choir or become a reader? Mum and dad, do get in touch. 
 
Catholic…? Thinking about it…? Know someone who is…? Please speak to Fr. Mackle if you would like to know more about becoming Catholic and the RCIA process.
 
Before receiving Holy Communion, we are asked to make some act of reverence such as a bow.    
 
Regarding young children who haven’t made their First Communion being given a blessing at Communion time. Parents who wish their child to receive a blessing must come forward, please, in the Communion line to the priest or deacon. Many thanks. 
 
The Sacrament of Confirmation for all going into P7 this August will be celebrated on Tuesday 29th April 2025 at 7p.m. in St Andrews. Save the date!  
 
During July and August, the Hut will be open for teas/coffees after 10a.m. Mass on Thursdays and Fridays.  Hospitality is extended to any visiting St Joseph parishioners on both these days.
 
For women affected by separation and divorce - confidential and peer support, Friday 2nd August 2024 St Patrick's, Dumbarton 6-8p.m. [email protected]

JUSTICE AND PEACE - A final push for our Peace Vigil at Faslane a week on Saturday.  It would be fantastic to see a strong turnout.   FASLANE PEACE VIGIL Saturday 3rd August 2024, 10.30 - 12.00pm, HMNB Clyde (Faslane), Southgate Maidstone Rd.  Speakers:  Archbishop William Nolan, Rt Rev Shaw J Paterson, Bishop Andrew Swift.

You can raise FREE donations for the parish every time you shop online. Take a moment to sign up at https://tinyurl.com/StAndrewsBearsden2023   
 
Support For Drumchapel Foodbank. Drumchapel Foodbank is particularly in need of extra donations during the summer holidays when school meals are not provided, and many families are under additional pressure to provide for their children. Collection box for all donations is in the house porch. Any cash donations handed in are used to purchase from Asda for immediate delivery to the Foodbank.
 
Parish Bulletin: Items for inclusion should be sent to [email protected] by 5p.m. on the Tuesday before publication and should not exceed 80 words. The Parish Bulletin is available weekly on our website/by email for all those on our Parish database and on the noticeboard in the Church porch.
 
The Legion of Mary.  Can you spare a few hours each week?  If so, we would love your help in our work of supporting the Parish Priest in pastoral work.  If you would like to know further about our work and have a little chat about what we do, please  phone Ann on 07988258977.

Please remember in your prayers those in need, those who are sick and housebound and those in hospital.
Recently Dead:  Maurice Brewster,  Fr Tony Cogliolo, Peter Crainie, Michael Cusick, John Gavan, Mary Knight, Jonathan Lawrence,  Joe McGowan,  James Peacock and Maureen Watters. 
Anniversaries: Clement Chateau, Kathleen McNamara, Gerry Traynor and Benny Rooney. 

A4 version of the bulletin is on this link and below.