Sunday 8th March 2026 Third Sunday of Lent (Year A)

"Lord, you are truly the Saviour of the world;
give me living water, that I may never thirst again."
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March Thought:
"God of hope and love, help me to use this time to grow in understanding and acceptance of others."

St Andrew's, Bearsden.

• Vigil Mass (Saturday) - 5.30p.m.
• Mass - Sunday morning - 10a.m.
• Confessions - Sunday before Mass - 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 9.40am.
• Masses – Monday, Thursday and Friday - 10a.m.
• Eucharistic Services - Tuesday and Wednesday - 10a.m.

St Joseph's, Milngavie.

• Vigil Mass (Saturday) - 4p.m.
• Confessions - Saturday - 3.30p.m. until 3.40p.m.
• Mass - Sunday - 11.30a.m.

 
FOR THE DIARY:
The 40 Hours will take place in the parish from Sunday, 22nd to Tuesday, 24th March.

• Come and spent some time before the Blessed Sacrament.
• The general theme will be Vocations - Single, Married, Religious and Priesthood.
• Fr. P. Boyle will be with us for the Monday evening Service.
• There will be a sheet asking for helpers to watch going up soon in the porch.
• Further details will follow later.

 
PLATE COLLECTION 1/3/26

• Plate - £1046
  
• Sick & Retired Priests - £775.
  
• Many Thanks.

SECOND COLLECTION:

• This weekend for The Sick & Retired Priests of the Archdiocese
  
• Next weekend for SCIAF.

 
Lenten Stations of the Cross:

• Fridays at 6p.m.
• Representatives of some of our parish groups will lead Stations of the Cross in St Andrews every Friday in Lent. 
• All warmly invited to join. 

Our young people in P3 will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the First Time:

• Saturday 14th of March from 10:00 to 11:00 am at St Andrew's Church.
  
• Please keep them in your prayers. 
  
• Note: there will be no Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament that morning. 

 
St Patrick’s Day Mass: The annual St Patrick’s Day Mass will take place on Saturday 14th March at 10a.m. in St Andrew’s Cathedral, Clyde Street, Glasgow. All welcome.
 
Coffee Morning - Sunday 15th March. 

• Please come along and join us after 10a.m. Mass in the Upper Hall.
  
• This month we are raising funds for Fr Mathew Parumoottil’s parish school in India. He runs the school to improve the children’s employment prospects and, in India, every penny counts for them.
  
• Many thanks to all who came along and to the Caritas Students who helped raise the fantastic sum of £533.30 for SCIAF at February’s coffee morning.

 
The Ignatian Spirituality Centre is delighted to be running their annual Lent retreat again this year. The retreat can be accessed online.
Here is the link: https://www.onlineprayer.net/L26-M/
 
The Glasgow Phoenix Choir in its 75th season and under our conductor Cameron Murdoch, will be performing a concert:

• Friday 11th April 2026 in the RSNO Auditorium, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3NY.
  
• The concert begins at 14:30 and tickets cost £22.00 and £25.00 (+ fees) online from the GRCH; Box office 0141 353 8000 or via the choir’s website.
  
• See poster in the church for more details.

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK –8th March - International Women’s Day
"Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire!"
Saint Catherine of Sienna
 
Laudato Si’:
He (Saint John Paul II) made it clear that the Church values the benefits which result “from the study and applications of molecular biology, supplemented by other disciplines such as genetics, and its technological application in agriculture and industry”. But he also pointed out that this should not lead to “indiscriminate genetic manipulation” which ignores the negative effects of such interventions.. (#131)
 
Before receiving Holy Communion, we are asked to make some act of reverence such as a bow.
 
SAVE THE DATE:
The Halls Committee is holding a "Race night" after the Vigil Mass to raise funds for St. Andrew's SPRED group.

• Saturday 29th August 2026 at 6.30p.m
• We encourage everyone to 'save the date' and attend the evening to help with this great cause. 
• Tickets: Adult £10/ Child £5 to include sandwiches and cakes.
• We will send out a reminder nearer the time with details on how to purchase tickets etc.
• Thanks in advance for your support.

 
The Justice & Peace groups of St Joseph's, St Andrew's, and Immaculate Conception, have invited the political parties in Scotland to a series of Q&A evenings on Thursdays during March/April, 7.00 - 8.30pm, to respond to a range of pre-set questions on issues such as poverty, addiction, immigration, net zero targets, health, and environmental protection.
Details are:

• 12th March - Cllr Thomas Kerr - Reform - St Joseph’s
• 19th March - Ross Greer - Green Party - St Joseph’s
• 26th March - Marie McNair - SNP - St Andrew’s Lower Hall
• 9th April - Adam Harley - Lib Dem - St Andrew’s Lower Hall
• 16th April - James Adams - Scottish Labour - Immaculate Conception

 
Choir Dates for this term all at 10a.m. Mass:

• 8th &15th March
• 5th April
• 10th &17th May
• 14th & 21st June.
• If your child is not at St Nicholas and would like to join the choir, please contact Annamaria Strachan 0141 942 9799 /07749 715514/ [email protected]

 
The Piety Stall has a range of cards and gifts on sale for St Patrick's Day and Easter.
 
ST ANDREW’S EMBROIDERY GROUP:

• Gavin’s Mill is holding an embroidery exhibition from 19th February until 5th May 2026.
• Some artwork from the St Andrew’s Embroidery Group will be featured. 

 
The Beginning Experience is holding a weekend for those suffering through divorce, separation or widowhood:

• 27th-29th March 2026
• Conforti Centre, Coatbridge.
• For more details contact Louise on 07786 687631 or see the notice in  the porch.
• Completed applications must be returned by 13th March.

 
Since September Carly Adams has been attending RCIA meetings every week to learn about the teachings and practice of Catholicism in preparation for joining the Church at the Easter Vigil.  Please keep her in your prayers during Lent.
 
RETREAT WEEKENDS FOR PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT WHAT IS NEXT IN LIFE:
'Navigating the way forward' -

• Either 13-15 March (Conforti, Coatbridge) or
  
• 8-10 May (Benedictine Monastery, Largs)
  
• Take time out with God for reflection, input and community as we consider how to discern where we are and where we might be invited to next steps.
  
• For those facing choices in life, or wondering if there are changes which would lead to greater growth.
  
• Go to https://www.iscglasgow.co.uk

 
World Youth Day 2027 | RCAG Youth Expression of Interest:

• World Youth Day will take place in Seoul from 3rd–8th August 2027.
• Young people who will be 19 by 1st July 2027 and aged 19–35 at the time of the pilgrimage are invited to register their interest in travelling with RCAG Youth by completing the Expression of Interest form: https://tinyurl.com/wydrcagyouthEOI
• An Information Evening will be held on 23rd March 2026 at 7.00 pm at the RCAG Youth Office, 196 Clyde Street, G1 4JY.
• For enquiries, please email [email protected]. 

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: Jim Barton, John Costello, Ann Craig, Anne Kearney, Cathie McEwan, Anne Murphy, Patrick Tierney and Grace Walsh.
Anniversaries: Roberta Bradley, Pat Fearon, Joseph, O’Rourke, May Porter and Belinda Sands.