
united in respect and love."
New Year’s Day Mass - 10a.m.
Tuesday 2nd January - No Mass
Every blessing and peace, everyone, for the Christmas Season and for 2024.
The crib in the church and the two cribs in our grounds will remain up for 40 days through to Candlemas on 2nd February. Why not keep yours up in your home until then? It's such a terrific visual aid and the 40 days allow us to adore the new-born Christ for longer. Call in for a wee prayer before our cribs.
Annual Crib Donations are vital for the running of St Margaret's as the UK's only Catholic adoption agency. St Margaret's aims to ensure that every child has the right to grow up in a safe, loving and secure family environment.
Sunday 7th January 2024 – Feast of the Epiphany. All families who have had a Baptism in the past year are invited to attend the 10:00a.m. Mass. The Coffee Morning will follow to coincide. The Parish will make a donation to the relevant charity so that it is free for those who attend.
There will also be a Second Collection for Justice and Peace Scotland at all Masses next weekend.
Young Adult St. Mungo City Pilgrimage Walk: Join RCAG Youth and other young adults on Saturday 13th January 2024 to celebrate the City’s Patron Saint whilst walking off some of those pigs n blankets! 18–35 year olds welcome. 1000–1500. Pilgrimage Walk – Mass – Pub. www.tinyurl.com/stmungowalk
Advent Reflection Evening – Huge amount of thanks to all in the Youth Ministry Team for looking after all the preparations for what was a wonderful Evening celebrating and reflecting on Advent and preparing us for Christmas ~ great turnout of folk. Special thanks to all who were involved in various ways, both in the church and in the hall, and for the amazing artwork from St Nics pupils. Next event is NET day retreat for all young people on Sunday 28th January 2024.
WOW~what a magnificent effort by St Nicholas’ Mini Vinnies and huge response from the pupils for the Wayside Club. Lovely the care and thoughtfulness of the children in drawing up their cards and Christmas messages, and the kindness and consideration shown towards the Wayside clients in wrapping their gifts up so beautifully. It is of immense credit to Mrs Wright and her Mini Vinnies team ~ huge thanks to all.
Young people in P6 – S6 You are invited to join us for our NET Retreat Day. Sunday 28th January beginning with 10a.m. Mass, followed by group discussions and fun activities with the NET Team. Lunch will be provided. Finishing around 2.30p.m.
Please register here forms.gle/cMZqLmGowYHFz52G7
SACRAMENTS IN 2024 ~
- For all parents whose children will be celebrating First Confession during Lent, there will be a preparation meeting for the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Thursday 18th January at 6.30p.m. in St Nicholas’. Date for First Confession is Saturday 9th March 10a.m. until 11a.m. in St Andrew’s.
- Also, for all parents whose children will be celebrating First Holy Communion in May, there will be a preparation meeting on Thursday 1st February at 6.30p.m. in St Nicholas’. The date for First Holy Communion is Sunday 19th May at 12 Noon Mass.
- Sacrament of Confirmation rehearsal for all P7 pupils (& sponsors) will be at 11a.m. on Monday 22nd January in St Andrew’s. We look forward to the celebration of Confirmation on 25th January at 7p.m. followed by refreshments in the Upper Hall.
St Nicholas Care Fund. The Care Fund aims to support people and communities facing poverty and hardship.
Please return all Advent Caring Boxes by 14th January. Many thanks
Laudato Si’ – On Care for our Common Home – There are regions now at high risk and, aside from all doomsday predictions, the present world system is certainly unsustainable from a number of points of view, for we have stopped thinking about the goals of human activity. (#61)
Unity Lunch ~ Date for your diary: Unity Lunch, organised by the Association of Bearsden Churches, will take place on Saturday 20th January 2024 in Baljaffray Parish Church at 12 Noon. The Speaker is Michelle Candlish, the National Scottish Development Manager, from ‘Linking Lives UK’, a charity organisation working towards putting an end to loneliness.
Tickets cost £8 are available from Margaret Sanders on 942 7519.
Lectionary. A new translation of the Lectionary is expected to be introduced by Advent 2024. The Archbishop has asked Fr Andrew McKenzie to be parishes’ liaison with the National Liturgy Commission overseeing its introduction.
Always good having a doctor or nurse whom we can call at our Masses. Been needed a few times recently, and grateful for your services.
"Lunch Club" A very special thank you to everyone who attended our Christmas lunch club on 21st December and to all the very special group of helpers who made the event very memorable. We look forward to many more special L/C events in 2024 ~ the dates are posted in the church porch. Please note there is no lunch club on 4th January. Have a very special and peaceful new year ~ from St Andrew’s &St Joseph’s lunch club.
On Saturday 16th December from 11:00 to 13:00, members from the majority of churches within the Association of Bearsden Churches sang carols in ASDA, Bearsden. £715.22 was raised. What a wonderful result! The money will be divided equally between St Margaret’s Hospice and Drumchapel Foodbank. Many thanks to all those who gave of their time and to those who contributed to this wonderful sum.
The Church is open until 5p.m. Monday to Saturday. Call in and enjoy the peace and quiet, and take time to sit in the stillness in the silence of God.
Tea is served in the hut after daily Mass Monday to Thursday. All most welcome.
Before receiving Holy Communion, we are asked to make some act of reverence such as a bow.
For women affected by separation and divorce-confidential and peer support Friday 5th January 2024 St Patrick's, Dumbarton 6-8p.m. [email protected]
You can raise FREE donations for the parish every time you shop online. Take a moment to sign up at https://tinyurl.com/StAndrewsBearsden2023
Our soup-run volunteers collect donations every evening from M&S Milngavie for delivery to
St Gregory’s Foodbank and Aspire West End. If you are interested in volunteering once or twice a month, please get in touch with Veronica McLaughlin - [email protected]
Support For Drumchapel Foodbank. Non-perishable food items are always gratefully received and can be placed in the House porch. Donations can also be taken straight to the Foodbank at Ladyloan Pl Unit 9, G15 8LB. We regularly use cash donations to purchase food items for delivery straight to the foodbank. Our rota is always looking for more foodbank volunteer drivers. If you can help, please get in touch. Thanks for continuing to give the foodbank your support.
Parish Bulletin: Items for inclusion should be sent to [email protected] by 5 p.m. on the Tuesday before publication. The Parish Bulletin is available weekly on our website/by email for all those on our Parish database and on the noticeboards in the Church porch and the Church grounds.
Recently Dead: David Connor, Beth Coyle, Barbara Currie, Ohna Dalziel, Catherine Dean, Irene Doyle, Philip Drake, James Hannah, Kathleen Haveron, Frank Hayden, Denis Keeshan, Ian McDonald, John McKenna, Betty McKeown, Len Murray, Henry Rossi, Sorcha Smith and Michael Stevenson.
Anniversaries: Tilda Clarke, Bernard Connolly, Isabella Gallacher and Patricia McNeill.