Sunday 4th August 2024 Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
​

---

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.

Summer Mass Schedule:  While Fr Mackle will be on annual leave from 1st August, (until 29th August)  Fr Currie, along with Deacon Tommy, will cover all Masses and liturgies. During this time, please direct any emails to [email protected] or calls to Deacon Tommy’s mobile number is  07771 636904  

Please note: Mass times remain changed during 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. 
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 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.  ​

Catholic Social Teaching Thought for the Week - Sunday 4th August  We beg all governments not to remain deaf to this cry of humanity. That they do all that is in their power to save peace. They will thus spare the world from the horrors of a war whose terrifying consequences no one can predict.
Pope Saint John XXIII, Message to President Kennedy and Premier Khrushchev, October 1962    
 
Laudato Si’ - On Care for our Common Home -  The work of the Church seeks not only to remind everyone of the duty to care for nature, but at the same time “she must above all protect mankind from self-destruction”. (#79)

National Youth Pilgrimage – Sat 21st September – S1s – 35
Join Archbishop Nolan, Archbishop Cushley, the Youth Office and young people from across the country for a walking pilgrimage through the streets of Glasgow City Centre, recalling the saints that walked them before us, concluding with Mass at St Andrew’s Cathedral 12:30-17:00.  If we have enough interest from the parishes we can arrange to attend as a group.  Please contact the Youth Team via [email protected] if you would like to join us and we will make all arrangements.

Pastoral Area  - On 6th September, we'll say farewell to Fr Mackle, who will leave to take up his new post of parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes, Cardonald.  We wish Fr Mackle all the very best in his new role.  We look forward to welcoming Fr Michael Maloney, who has been appointed the new parish priest of St Andrew's. Fr Maloney will also continue in his role as chaplain to Faslane Naval base.  A sad day for Milngavie as Fr Currie retires on 22nd September after 12 years in St Joseph's and over 50 years in parishes in the archdiocese. Fr Currie, we're sure, will continue to serve the archdiocese in his retirement.  We look forward to welcoming to the Pastoral Area, Fr John Lyons, who will take up his post next month as the new PP of St Joseph’s, and we wish him every peace and happiness in his new role. 
 
 
St Nicholas' Primary.  With the new term on the  horizon, we look forward to welcoming the new P1s and their families. We look forward, too, to welcoming the school's new acting head, Mr Glancey, and the new Principal Teacher, Mrs Paul, and wish them both every happiness and success in their new posts in St Nicholas'.  
 
Hiroshima Day  Tuesday 6th August marks the anniversary of the world’s first nuclear attack on the city of Hiroshima in 1945 and 3 days later on Nagasaki killing over 200,000 Japanese civilians.  Nuclear disarmament wholesale, is now more than ever needed to provide a safer, fairer, better world, free from the dangers of nuclear weapons.
 
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]. 
 
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. 
 
Second Collection 18th August for Assisted Parishes.

Please remember in your prayers those in need, those who are sick and housebound and those in hospital.
Recently Dead:  Ann Marie Brimms, Mrs Ferguson, Tess Gallagher, Tommy Leonard, Anne Trimble McGowan, Joe McGowan, Catherine O'Neil and Maureen Watters
Anniversaries: James Bradley, Jim McGhee,  Kathleen McNamara, Mabel Cecelia McQuade,  Charlie Melly, Annie Nesbit, John O'Gorman, Alexander McNeill and Angela Lambie.

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