Newsletter

Thirty-Third Sunday of the Year

November 16th 2025

 

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 next week at the back of the church and the tear off slip should be returned by 20/21 December. Please join us for this very enjoyable afternoon together.

 

 On #Red Wednesday, our Scottish Cathedrals will join Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) in celebrating Mass to remember Christians across the world who suffer for their faith. 80% of all religious persecutions in the world is directed against Christians, and our brothers and sisters in Christ desperately need our prayer and support. Will you help us ‘to break the silence’ on Christian persecution? Please join us for Mass in Motherwell Cathedral on Wednesday 19th November at 10am.

 

Diocese of Motherwell, Monthly Mass for Life, November 27th in St. Francis Xavier Church, Carfin at 7.30pm; adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, with opportunity for confession at 7pm; after Mass all are welcome for some refreshments in the Parish Centre. Come, be a voice for the voiceless.

 

Xavarian Missionary Fathers send their very sincere thanks for the warm welcome and generous response to the appeal made last weekend; our donation came to £1,750. Thank you!

 

Holy Cross High School Christmas Fayre: please come along to the annual Christmas Fayre in the school on Saturday 29th November, from 11am until 2pm. There will be activities for all the family and plenty of goods for sale. As well as providing vital funds to support the good work of the school, the Christmas Fayre provides a wonderful opportunity for people within the school and the surrounding parishes to come together as a community. Please come along and join in the fun.

  

Schedule for the Daily Liturgy:

Monday November 17th: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am; Confessions at 6.30pm; Novena at 7pm

 

Tuesday November 18th: No Mass at St. Mary’s

Mass in St. Paul’s Primary for the retirement of

Mr. John McTear, who has served as the school janitor.

 

Wednesday November 19th: Requiem at 10.30am for Sarah (Sandra) Devlin

 

Thursday November 20th: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am

 

 

You would be most welcome to join us for the daily liturgy at any time. It’s a beautiful way to begin the day. The Rosary provides a prayerful opportunity to intercede for our world and for those we feel special concern. The daily eucharist invites us to listen deeply to the word of God and to receive Jesus as Bread of Life, food for our journey through life. Come as you are!

 

The Parish Pastoral Council meets this Wednesday, 19th November, in the parish meeting room at 7pm. The Council is there to support the parish community. Your comments and suggestions are welcome; please use the box at the back of the church or email PPC1846@hotmail.com or speak with one of the Council members.

 

Catholic Education Week: we will mark this significant moment in the calendar on Sunday, November 23rd, the Feast of Christ the King. We look forward to welcoming representatives from Holy Cross High, St. Mary’s Primary and St. Paul’s Primary.

 

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.

 

RCIA will meet this Thursday evening at 7pm in the parish meeting room.

 

Parish Choir: Do you enjoy singing? Please come along to the choir practices in preparation for Christmas. Monday evenings in the parish meeting room from November 17th at 7pm.

 

Coffee Morning and Christmas Card Sale: the parish stall and Fairtrade are holding a joint coffee morning on 16th November after both morning Masses. Christmas cards, Nativity sets, Advent Calendars including Fairtrade Chocolate Calendars, Christmas ornaments will be on sale. A small selection of Fairtrade food and crafts will also be available. Toast and home baking will be served. Proceeds to the Hamilton Foodbank. Please join us in the hall.

 

Please join us for our special Mass for Deceased Clergy and Parishioners of St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s on Monday November 24th at 6.30pm and then afterwards to the parish hall for some refreshments. All are welcome and especially those families who have been bereaved since last November.

 

Recently Deceased: Sarah (Sandra) Devlin, Isabella (Ailsa) Cosgrove, Janet Conway, Pamela Bell, Margaret McQuade,

                                                                                                                         

Special Remembrance: Anne Frances McMenemy, Joseph Patrick McMenemy, George Terrett and all our own deceased relatives and friends, and all the benefactors of our parish.