Booked your place yet on one of our 'Have Your Say' synodal gatherings?
See this link for details

Book using the Google form on this link or call 0141 942 4635 or email [email protected].

This upcoming synod really is unlike any previous one, for it is starting with, and involving all the faithful in parishes across the world, promising to listen to all. Don't miss this opportunity to participate and get involved.

Book your place now.

Piety Stall - Next Sunday there will be a half price sale of selected piety stall stock in the lower hall after the 10am and 12 noon Masses. Unfortunately, no card payment facilities this time. All profits go to parish funds. Thank you.

Mary’s Meals will be visiting our parish to give a short update and information talk at all Masses. A retiring collection will be taken up to support their vital work. Please note that unwanted clothing will not be collected this year.

Youth Ministry - At this evening's Youth Ministry meeting, among items for discussion are:

• NET Retreat
• Pope Francis Faith Award
• Altar Servers' Social
• P7 Retreat and Leavers' Mass.  

The NET Retreat is on Sunday 27th Feb in St Andrew's beginning with 10am Mass. Calling all young people in P6 to S6. We can guarantee you'll have a great day led by the team of ten young Americans.
​To book, email: [email protected]

Synod 2021 ~ 2023

Have your voice in our journey together

​You’ll be aware from various communications over the past few weeks that Pope Francis has asked the whole Church to be involved in and journey together towards, a meeting of the world’s Bishops in 2023. The focus of that General Assembly will be to discuss ways of improving the process by which the Church, on all levels, is open to hearing the voices of people from all walks of life.
  
As a parish we would like to gather as many views as possible from as wide a group as possible and so have planned a number of opportunities to take part. All views will then feed into our Archdiocese, and in due course, onwards towards the Synod of Bishops in October 2023. To give as many parishioners as possible the opportunity to encounter and listen to one another and to pray in order to discern the way forward, gatherings, expected to last around an hour, will be held on the following days and times:

• Saturday 19th February at 5:45 p.m.
• Sunday 20th February at 10:45 a.m.
• Sunday 20th February at 12:45 p.m.
• Thursday 24th February at 7:00 p.m.​

To allow reflection before the gatherings, the areas to be considered are shared below. To help us manage the evening, it would be useful if you could book a place using the Parish booking system at the end of this email. We very much hope you will be able to come along but if this is not possible, there will be other opportunities to express your views. 

Reflecting on journeying together

• Reflecting on your experience of the pandemic, in what way have you experienced a journeying together as a parish family?  What strengths did you draw from your faith and the faith community of the parish?
• In what ways does our parish family journey with and support others? In particular those Catholics who no longer participate in our community, those who are not Catholic, and those experiencing poverty, hardship and exclusion?
• Thinking of the good news of what the Catholic Church / parish does for others, in what ways can this good news be shared?
• What can we do to help people participate in the sacramental and prayer life of our parish, and reach out to all in and beyond our parish community?
• How can our parish be more evangelising in reaching out to all?

Reflecting on journeying in Mission

• How can we offer support to families whose children leave the faith after the celebration of the Sacraments?
• As a parish, in what way could we give more pastoral support to married couples?
• How can we support and encourage vocations to the priesthood, permanent diaconate and the religious life?
• All people are called to share in the work of evangelisation by their Baptism and Confirmation. Jesus sent out his first Apostles and disciples to share the Good News. How do I respond to that call using my God given gifts and talents?
• In what ways can I live out my faith and bear witness to Christ among those with whom I live, work and socialise?
• The Catholic school is a community of Faith and Learning. How can the Church or Parish help to promote the distinctive nature of the Catholic School to develop effectively the faith formation of our young people? 

​Everyone’s views are sought and there are no right or wrong answers – please come along and share this invitation with anyone you know, whether they attend church or not. 

"The Synod..... is intended to inspire people to dream about the church we are called to be, to make hope flourish, to stimulate trust, to bind up wounds, to weave new and deeper relationships, to learn from one another, to build bridges, to enlighten minds, warm hearts, and restore strength to our hands for our common mission.”
​
At Andrew's Synod Meetings' Sign Up Form

It is announced today at 12 noon (Rome time) that the Holy Father has appointed Bishop William Nolan, Bishop of Galloway to succeed the late Archbishop Philip Tartaglia as Archbishop of Glasgow.The Archbishop elect will take possession of the Archdiocese during a Mass in Saint Andrew’s Cathedral at 12 noon on Saturday 26th February. 

The Archbishop elect invites the clergy of the Archdiocese to join him in Saint Andrew’s Cathedral on Tuesday 8th February at 12 noon for a time of prayer and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament after which he would welcome the opportunity to meet the clergy over a simple sandwich lunch in the Curial Offices.

Speaking of his appointment, the Archbishop elect gave the following message…..

​"I feel overwhelmed by the trust Pope Francis is putting in me by appointing me as Archbishop of Glasgow.
It will be wrench for me to leave Galloway Diocese where for seven years I have experienced the kindness and friendship of so many people, particularly the clergy. God truly blessed me by sending me to Galloway and I hope that my successor there will be similarly blessed.
As I overcome my initial shock at being appointed Archbishop my thoughts now turn to the challenges that lie ahead. I look forward to working with all in the Archdiocese, laity and clergy, to carry out the mission that we share of proclaiming God’s good news and of bringing the joy of the gospel into the lives of the people of today.
I am well aware of my own inadequacies and of the difficulties the Church faces today. Thank God therefore that we can be sure of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the Church.
As I leave the Diocese of Galloway behind, from now on I belong to Glasgow. And I assure the people of Glasgow of my commitment and dedication to them."

Please remember Bishop Nolan in your prayers.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-60260778

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

The obligation for Catholics to celebrate Sunday as a Holy Day by gathering together for Mass will be restored from the First Sunday in Lent, Sunday 6th March. 

Given the easing of restrictions in every other walk of like, the Church looks forward to welcoming Catholics back to Holy Mass. 

As always, the obligation does not apply to those who are sick and their carers or to those aware of their greater vulnerability to the virus.

May the continuing recovery of our country bring new hope to us all especially those who are ill, those who mourn loved ones, those who are apprehensive and those who have sustained us in so many ways throughout the Pandemic. 

We, the Bishops of Scotland, take this opportunity to thank our clergy and our parish volunteers for all their efforts. 

May our Lenten journey this year lead us to a renewed appreciation of our Catholic faith, of the celebration of the Eucharist and of the presence of the Risen Christ who is always at our side.

Bishop Hugh Gilbert

The Beginning Experience are holding a weekend next month at St Mary’s, Kinnoull, Perth, on March 25 – 27, for those who find themselves suffering through divorce, separation or widowhood.

For more details contact Catherine on 0131 665 3383 or email [email protected] before March 12.

The support group meets at 6pm on the first Friday on each month in St Patrick’s, Dumbarton.
The next meeting is Friday 4th February.

Huge thanks to all the parents for their time yesterday evening coming along to the Confirmation meeting. Again, it’s been so good to get back to these parents' meetings in person.

If you didn't manage along, please collect from the sacristy a Live Stream consent form, as one of the things we need is parental consent to live stream the Confirmation Masses. We’ll be posting details soon of a joint parishes’ catechesis afternoon for the P7s.

Don't forget to book for the NET Retreat on Sunday 27th Feb beginning with 10am Mass. Booking details are on our social media or drop the Youth Ministry Team an email [email protected]. 

Also, details soon of both parishes and the school's arrangements for the celebration of Ash Wednesday on 2nd March. 

If you're down around Bearsden Cross today or on your way back from the school run, why not pop in to the church for a wee prayer.
Open now on Fridays until 5pm.

The following Part 1 Training dates will take place on zoom

• 19th Feb at 10am
  
• 31st March at 7pm
  
• 21st May at 10am
  
• 23rd June at 7pm.
  

Volunteers who work in the parish with children and vulnerable adults and wishing to book are asked, please, to email [email protected] with their name / parish and role.
Please note, Part 1 Training is mandatory for all volunteers.

Part 2 training dates are

• 21st Feb at 7pm
  
• 14th March at 7pm
  
• 24th March at 7pm
  
• 21st Apr at 7pm
  
• 9th May at 7pm
  
• 19th May at 7pm
  
• 13th June at 7pm
  
• 23rd June at 7pm
  

Similarly, please email the same address to book.