I appreciate that many over these past months have got into the routine of attending Mass on line, and our live streaming facility has been a terrific asset for our parish during these times. However, participating at Mass online doesn't beat our coming together in the church as a praying, worshiping, and, thankfully, once again, singing community – even although we all still need to be masked singers. Come back to Mass! Come back and invite and encourage family members, friends, fellow parishioners to come back. Bring them back with you.
Come back to Mass!
If you haven't registered yet for the booking process for Mass, it's easy to do.
Go to www.standrewsbearsden.co.uk
Feast of the Assumption is next Sunday, 15th August. On this special day we proclaim our belief that Mary is one in body and soul in heaven. The Solemnity of the Assumption is the oldest Marian Feast and offers us an opportunity to join our prayers with the prayers of Mary, who prays for us to Jesus in heaven. Masses will be the usual times of Saturday 5pm Vigil, and Sunday 10am and 12 noon. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
If you or someone you know are interested in becoming Catholic, or if you know anyone who might be interested in the Church, why not sign up for St Andrew's RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults)? This group – which meets from after summer through to Easter / Pentecost each year – is for those who are interested in becoming Catholic. No commitment is made until fairly late in the annual process. For more information, call 942 4635 or [email protected]
Update- Covid Changes.
- Social distancing indoors will end from 9th August. As no more obligation to keep 1m distance between household groups, our church and halls can return to their normal capacity.
- Face coverings are still required to be worn.
- The careful cleaning of the church and sanitising of hands will continue until further notice.. Ventilation will continue to be required before, during and after Mass.
- The use of holy water fonts is not advised until further notice.
- Hymn books for Mass and newsletters are now allowed.
- The use of enclosed confessionals should continue to be avoided.
- Test and Protect of collection and temporary retention of parishioner information will continue until further notice.
Catholic Social Teaching Thought for the Week - The Church encompasses with love all who are afflicted with human suffering and in the poor and afflicted sees the image of its poor and suffering Founder. It does all it can to relieve their need and in them it strives to serve Christ. Lumen Gentium, para 8
We are very blessed to have SPRED as part of the life and mission of our parish of
St Andrew. Together we are stronger & more beautiful. SPecial, Religious EDucation (SPRED) need more people for its work in the parishes of the Archdiocese of supporting people with learning disabilities to take their place in the Church. To arrange a chat about what’s involved or to arrange a visit to the SPRED Centre in Provanmill call 770 5055 or email [email protected]
Visit www.spred.org.uk Training sessions are being arranged to take place in our hall during September and October.
All in St Nicholas’ Primary who will be starting P6 this month are invited to become a Pope Francis Faith Award candidate. Invitations to enrol will be going out in the new school term, and sign up in both parishes will be arranged at that time too.
Caritas Award - If you will be in your final year of school beginning this month, or just finished High School and are interested in becoming a candidate for the 2021 / 2022 Caritas award, speak to Fr. Mackle or contact Elizabeth Reid at [email protected]
Archdiocesan Safeguarding ~ All volunteers in the parish who work with children, young people and adults with additional support needs who haven't yet attended training, must attend the mandatory Part 1 Induction Training. The same volunteers must also attend the mandatory Part 2 Training. Please contact the Safeguarding Office - [email protected] to register for video training using Zoom.
Induction Training Part 1 - 18th August at noon.
Training Part 2 dates are 19th August and 6th September at 7pm.
Peer Support Group for Women Of Faith Affected By Separation or Divorce meets first Friday of each month 6pm at St Patrick's Church Hall, Dumbarton. For information and details, see 'Faith Living' Facebook group, which is the Archdiocese of Glasgow's New Evangelisation Group, or contact Tricia Imrie on 07970928028.
Pope Francis on Twitter and Instagram. The Pope's Twitter (@Pontifex) and Instagram (@Franciscus) accounts are worth following for daily content relating to the Pope and the Church in the world. Pope Francis uses his Twitter account to highlight topical issues as well as content from his writings. The Pope’s monthly video is also a great resource of contemporary commentary by the Holy Father on current issues. The videos are available www.the Pope video.org
Children’s Liturgy: each week in the form of a video of the week’s Gospel reading. Available at : https://www.rpbooks.co.uk/celebrate-following-your-faith This is an excellent resource for parents to use until the children’s liturgy at Mass resumes.
Your Giving to St Andrew’s A massive Thank You to all our parishioners who have continued to support our parish over these past seventeenth months. We have, like many other charities, seen our income greatly reduced since March 2020. This is, of course, because of the lockdowns and closures and there being fewer people being able to attend church. Thank you, once more, in these difficult times for your generosity towards your parish. Fr Mackle
Year of St Joseph - Don't forget you can write out your petitions and place them under the sleeping St Joseph statue in the church grounds. It's also possible to send in your special petitions by post in a sealed envelope.
Drumchapel Foodbank. Regularly your donations are dropped off at the foodbank by our parish volunteers. Thanks for continuing to give the foodbank your support.
Our parish’s soup-run’s volunteers continue to collect food donations from M&S Byres Rd & Milngavie for delivery to Drumchapel & St Gregory’s Foodbanks, the Wayside Club & Aspire. Many thanks for good response to the recent appeal for help for holiday cover.
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 – Jim Boyle, John Cairns, Peter Connors, George Crawley, Margaret and Jack Garvey, Fr Gus Hurley, Marjorie Ketley, Pamela McMillan, Alexander McNeill, Frank Rodgers, Connor Shuel,
Anniversary – Charlie Melly, John O'Connor, Annie Scott.