Newsletter

First Sunday of Advent

November 30th 2025

 

My dear parishioners,

I hope this finds you well as we begin our journey through December, this month which holds so much beauty and hope; already the bright lights of Christmas are softening the darkness of winter. How wonderful is that! Today with the First Sunday of Advent, we begin the new liturgical year in the life of the church; it feels like a great grace to have the opportunity, for one more year, to journey through the months with Christ, the Light of the World. I offer these words from Pope Benedict for your reflection and encouragement:

 

“In Advent, the liturgy repeats and assures us, as if to overcome our natural diffidence, that God ‘comes’;  he comes to be with us in every situation of ours, he comes to dwell among us, to live with us and within us; he comes to fill the gaps that divide and separate us; he comes to reconcile us with him and one another. He comes into human history to knock at the door of every man and woman of good will; to bring to individuals, families and peoples the gifts of unity, harmony and peace. This is why Advent is the season of hope in which believers in Christ are invited to remain in watchful and active waiting, nourished by prayer and by the effective commitment to love.” Pope Benedict XVI

 

The church’s daily liturgy is a wonderful gift and enables us to journey with Jesus, Mary and the saints every day of the year. The daily Eucharist offers us the opportunity to contemplate the great mystery of Christ for one more year and indeed to follow in his footsteps and in the footsteps of those who have gone before us in the life of faith, hope and charity. Have you considered making this Advent a type of pilgrimage of prayer by coming along to our weekday Mass whenever time permits? You are always welcome to join those of us who are privileged to gather each day to celebrate the eucharist in memory of Jesus. It is a beautiful way to prepare for Christmas.

 

St. Mary and St. Paul’s Parish, Senior Citizens Christmas Meal, Tuesday 30th December, John Carrigan’s Restaurant, Eddlewood Toll at 2pm. Attendance Forms will be available this week at the back of the church and the tear off should be returned by 20/21 December. Please join us for this very enjoyable afternoon together.

 

An Invitation from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN): Carols for Peace: please join us for a beautiful evening of music, stories and prayer as we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. Together we will sing carols of hope and joy while remembering our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land, Nigeria, Syria, Lebanon and Ukraine: places where peace is longed for. Afterwards enjoy refreshments and a friendly chat in the hall and take the opportunity to purchase cards and gifts from our project partners.

 

Join us at St. John the Baptist’s Catholic Church, Uddingston on 4th December from 7.30-9.30pm. The event is free, but donations are welcome to support our projects around the world. Register for your free ticket here: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/FNIM.

 

 

Schedule for the Daily Liturgy:

Monday December 1st: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am; Solemnity of St. Andrew

Confessions at 6.30pm; Novena at 7pm

 

Tuesday December 2nd: Mass at 11am

St. Paul’s Primary School will be with us

 

Wednesday December 3rd: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am; Adoration until 2.30pm

 

Thursday December 4th: Mass at 10am

 

 

Friends of the Holy Land extend a warm invitation to an Ecumenical Advent Service on Saturday 6th Dec in St. Andrew’s West Parish Church, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 4JP at 2pm; Prayers from the Heart of Glasgow to the Heart of Bethlehem, a simulcast between these two twinned cities. All invited to the reception afterwards.

 

The Befriending Group has now met twice to prepare for this new ministry within our parish. Are you someone or do you know someone who would like to receive a visit from a member of the parish? It could be that the visit is meeting for a coffee rather than meeting in your home. Please contact Justine on 07951397616 or speak with Fr. O’Brien.

 

Parish Choir: Do you enjoy singing? Please come along to the choir practice on Monday, December 1st in preparation for Christmas, in the parish meeting room at 7pm.

 

Santa’s Sausage Sunday, a special coffee morning to be enjoyed by all after our two morning Masses on Sunday December 14th; Christmas cards and some Fairtrade goods will be on sale. Please join us in the hall.

 

Fr. Patrick Gaffney RIP: we offer sincere condolences to Fr. Pat’s family and to the Spiritan Community at Carfin on the death of Fr. Pat, who was such a faithful and good friend to us here at St. Mary and St. Paul’s; requiescat in pace.

 

Recently Deceased: Mary (Maime) Brown, Stanley McGinlay, Isabella (Ailsa) Cosgrove, Janet Conway, Sarah Devlin, Michael McCafferty, Lai Mak Koi, Martha McAllister, Alice Chatfield,

                                                                                                                         

Special Remembrance: John Rimmer, Helen Mallagh, Cornelius (Neil) McMurray, Helen and George Connor, Michael Meechan, Bill O’Mailly, Peter and Betty Maxwell, Andrew Montgomery, Mario and Gina Fionda, Giuseppe Treta, Geraldine and John McCarthy, Ian McAvinchy, Margaret Feeny, Bishop Francis Thomson, and all our own deceased relatives and friends, and all the benefactors of our parish.