Sunday 7th December 2025 Second Sunday of Advent (Year C)

"Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths:
All flesh shall see the salvation of God."
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UPDATE ON MASSES/SERVICES 
Due to Fr. John being on Sick Leave, the following schedule of Masses/Services will continue and be reviewed at the end of January 2026;
· St Andrew's, Bearsden.

• Masses - Thursday and Friday - 10a.m.
• Eucharistic Services - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - 10a.m.
• Vigil Mass (Saturday) - 5.30p.m.
• Mass - Sunday morning - 10a.m.
• Confessions - Sunday - 9.10a.m. until 9.40a.m.
• It may be of help in Bearsden on Sunday mornings if you wish to speak to Fr. Michael to do so after morning confessions which end at 9.40a.m.

· St Joseph's, Milngavie.

• Mass - Monday - 10a.m.
• Vigil Mass (Saturday) - 4p.m.
• Confessions - Saturday - 3.30p.m. until 3.50p.m.
• Mass - Sunday morning - 11.30a.m.

· Many thanks for your understanding and please keep Fr. John in your prayers. There is a little flyer in the porch and below with these details on it. If you haven't already done so, pick one up and for anyone you know or send the image below. ​

CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Wednesday, 17th December

• ​Advent Confessions from 6p.m.-7p.m.

Christmas Eve

• Vigil Mass - 5p.m.
• Carol Service - 8.30p.m
• 'Midnight' Mass at 9p.m.

Christmas Day

• Mass - 10.30a.m.
• No Mass Boxing Day. 

New Year's Day Mass

• Mass 10a.m.
• No Mass 2nd January.

 
Saturday mornings Holy Hour

• 10a.m.-11a.m.
• This usually takes place every Saturday and you are welcome to pop in for whatever amount of time you can give.

 
Funeral Arrangements for Frederick McDermott

• Reception - Wednesday, 10th December at 6p.m.
• Funeral Mass - Thursday, 11th December at 10a.m.

Confirmation December 4th 2025
Forty five S7 pupils from the parishes of St Andrew's and St Joseph's were confirmed by Archbishop Nolan at a very well attended Mass in St Andrew's.

Plate Collections.
23/11/25.

• Plate - £917.
• Catholic Education Collection - £1,265.

30/11/25 

• Plate - £870.
• Many thanks.

For the diary.

• There will be a second collection next weekend, 13th/14th December.
• This is the St Nicholas Fund (Caring Sunday) and helps those who are in need.
• When they arrive, there will be Advent Boxes from the St. Nicholas Fund.
• You are asked to take one away, fill it up and return to the parish when full.

 
Our parish Advent Service for Peace

• Friday, 19th December at 6.30p.m. followed by a short festive celebration with refreshments in the Upper Hall.
• This service is organised by the Youth Ministry Team whose spirits would be raised by a good turn-out of families and friends to spend a brief moment of calm together at this busy time.
• Please join us!

 
Pop-Up Choir

• Next rehearsal for our Pop-Up Choir will be in the Church on Sunday, 6 December at 2pm.
• It isn't too late to join our preparations for the Advent Service. (We mainly sing but we also laugh quite a bit!)

 
LAST COFFEE MORNING OF THE YEAR

• Sunday 14th December. 
• Please join us for mince pies, tea/coffee/mulled wine in the Upper Hall after 10a.m. Mass.
• This month we will be raising funds for the St Nicholas Care Fund. Last month we raised an amazing  £527 for The White Lily Fund!
• Thanks to all our wonderful bakers/helpers/parishioners for your continued support and generosity.
• We wish you all the compliments of the season, Veronica and David Maguire.

​CARITAS FOOD BANK APPEAL
​​Many thanks to all the parishioners who supported the Caritas Food Bank appeal last weekend. 

• Two car loads of bags were delivered to Drumchapel Food Bank this week. 
• Over £100 was also donated which will be used to buy more food items for the food bank. 
• Thanks very much as your generosity will make such a difference to those in need this Christmas.

FireCloud Nativity 2025
Make the most of Advent by coming to see the Christmas story brought to life in music and drama.

• Sunday 14th December, 7pm (Doors open 6.30p.m.) St. Margaret’s Church, Clydebank, G81 1AE.
• Tuesday 16th December, 7.30p.m. (Doors open 7.00p.m.) St. Flannan's Church, Kirkintilloch, G66 2HY

Advent Appeal for Christmas Gifts  - your help needed to make it happen! 
Please leave in the porch 12th – 14th December: 
Glasgow’s Homeless men or women.

• Either a gift bag with all items below OR in box provided, any of items below:
• Socks/underwear
• Scarf/gloves
• Toiletries - toothbrush/paste, shampoo, shower gel, shaving foam/ razor, deodorant,
• Selection box
• Book
• Christmas card

Many thanks   Veronica McLaughlin and team
 
RCAG Young Adults
Advent Reflection Evening with Archbishop Nolan

• Monday 8th December, 7p.m. to 9p.m. St. Andrew’s Cathedral G1 4JY.
• Young adults (16+) are invited to a special Advent evening to gather, pray, and prepare for the coming of Christ this Christmas.
• Stay after for festive treats and a chance to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones.
• Find out more and register at www.tinyurl.com/rcagadvent25

 
Association of Bearsden Churches (ABC) Carol Singing

• Saturday 13th December 2025.
• Do you like singing carols? Can you spare an hour? If the answer is “yes”, please come along on Saturday 13th December to ASDA, Bearsden between 12 Noon & 13:00 to join with other local churches to raise money for St Margaret’s Hospice and East Dunbartonshire Foodbank. 
• Many thanks in advance.

 
Children's choir dates

• 14th December
• 21st December
• 25th December.
• If your child is not in St Nicholas and would like to join, please contact Annamaria Strachan ([email protected]) 07749 715514 for details.

Catholic Social Teaching Thought for the Week –Sunday 7th December 2025 (Nearest Sunday to World Human Rights Day)
"Above all, in one way or another, fight for the common good, serve the poor, be protagonists of the revolution of charity and service, capable of resisting the pathologies of consumerism and superficial individualism." 
Christus Vivit, 147
 
Laudato Si’ - On Care for our Common Home – 
Developing the created world in a prudent way is the best way of caring for it, as this means that we ourselves become the instrument used by God to bring out the potential which he himself inscribed in things. (#124)
 
SSVP at the Ozanam Centre 

• Are looking exclusively for boy’s/men’s jackets, jeans and trainers as these are in high demand just now.  
• They must be clean and wearable, not ruined.  
• The sort of thing that has just been grown out of.
• Contact [email protected] and we will come and uplift. 

 
SCIAF Real Gifts 

• It’s that time of year again!  
• If your children want a puppy for Christmas, surprise them with a GOAT from SCIAF!  
• Give your loved ones an ethical gift that makes a real difference to people who need it the most.  
• Visit sci-fi.org.uk/realgifts  or see the catalogue on the notice board.

 
EASYFUNDRAISING 

• St Andrew's RC Church Bearsden has raised £864.15so far.
• You can raise FREE donations for the parish every time you shop online.
• Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/StAndrewsBearsden2023

 
DIFFICULTY READING LOCAL NEWS
The Bearsden & Milngavie Talking Newspaper Association – BEAM- provides recordings each week, to the blind and visually impaired in the local community, of the following:

• Milngavie & Bearsden Herald
• Extracts from the Community News
• Stories from e.g. the Scottish Book Trust, adding a bit of light-hearted interest. 
• Free boom boxes are supplied -the Post Office provides a free postal service - therefore no cost to listeners. 
• For more information contact Graham Silcock – 07770 524983.

 
Support for Drumchapel Foodbank

• Non-perishable food items are always gratefully received. Please place in the box in the Church porch during usual opening times.
• Donations can 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 contact [email protected].
• Thank you for continuing to give the foodbank your support.

Saint Carlo Acutis.

• YouTube Playlist on this link and by clicking the image below

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Parish Bulletin

• Items for inclusion should be sent to [email protected] by 5p.m. on the Tuesday before publication, maximum 80 words.
• The Parish Bulletin is available weekly on our website/by email for all those on our Parish database (subscribe here to have it emailed weekly) and on the noticeboard in the Church porch.

Please remember in your prayers those in need, those who are sick and housebound and those in hospital.
Recently Deceased: Margaret Burns, Fred Flynn, Tommy Harvey, Gloria Kelly, Frederick McDermott, Clare Mulcahy, Rena O'Neil and James Smith.
Anniversaries: Roy Chapman, Elizabeth Coyle, Jessie McColl and Father John McKelvie.