Newsletter

Second Sunday of Lent

March 16th 2025

 

My dear parishioner,

I hope this finds you well as we make our journey through the holy season of Lent, I offer the following words from Pope Francis for your reflection:

 

The Gospel of this Second Sunday of Lent presents the narrative of the Transfiguration of Jesus. The brightness which characterises this extraordinary event symbolises its purpose: to enlighten the minds and hearts of the disciples, so that they may clearly understand who their teacher is. It is a flash of light which suddenly opens onto the mystery of Jesus and illuminates his whole person and his whole story.

 

By now decisively headed towards Jerusalem, where he will be sentenced to death by crucifixion, Jesus wanted to prepare his own for this scandal – the scandal of the Cross -this scandal which is too intense for their faith, and, at the same time, to foretell his resurrection by manifesting himself as a Messiah different from their expectations, from how they imagined the Messiah, how the Messiah would not be a powerful and glorious king, but a humble and unarmed servant, not a lord of great wealth, a sign of blessing, but a poor man with nowhere to lay his head, not a patriarch with many descendants, but a celibate man without home or nest. It is truly an overturned revelation of God, and the most bewildering sign of this scandalous overturning is the Cross, but it is through the Cross that Jesus will reach the glorious resurrection, which will be definitive, not like this Transfiguration, which lasted a moment, an instant,

 

Transfigured on Mount Tabor, Jesus wanted to show his disciples his glory, not for them to circumvent the Cross, but to show where the Cross leads. Those who die with Jesus shall rise again with Jesus. The Cross is the door to Resurrection; whoever struggles alongside him will triumph with him. This is the message of hope contained in Jesus’ Cross, urging us to be strong in our existence. The Christian Cross is a call to the love with which Jesus sacrificed himself to save humanity from evil and sin. In this Lenten Season, we contemplate with renewed devotion the image of the crucifix, Jesus on the Cross: this is the symbol of Christian faith, the emblem of Jesus, who died and rose for us. Let us ensure that the Cross marks the stages of our Lenten journey, in order to understand ever better the seriousness of sin and the value of sacrifice by which the Saviour has saved us all. Pope Francis

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I offer here the Schedule for the Daily Liturgy:

 

Monday March 17th: Mass at 10am, Feast of St. Patrick,

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

 

Tuesday March 18th: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am; First Confessions at 6pm

 

Wednesday March 19th: Mass at 10am

Feast of St. Joseph; Stations of the Cross at 9.35am

 

Thursday March 20th: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am; First Confessions at 6pm

 

Friday March 21st: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am

 

The Daily Liturgy enables us to listen to the words of Jesus and to find real hope in what he says and does; the moment of Holy Communion is indeed a moment of personal encounter with Jesus. If you are free on weekdays, please consider joining us for the rosary and Mass as part of our parish pilgrimage of hope,

 

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help: The Novena consists of some beautiful prayers of intercession and thanksgiving, a moment of reflection and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, then the opportunity to receive Holy Communion; please consider making the Novena part of your Pilgrimage of Hope, You would be most welcome.

 

Aid to the Church in Need: Scottish Conference, ‘Courage to be Catholic’ Saturday 29th March, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 9.30-4pm. Hear from inspiring speakers, meet representatives of Catholic organizations from around Scotland and help build the Catholic Community. To register: https://www.trybooking,com/uk/EHSR

 

Credo, the Parish Faith Sharing Group meets on Tuesday in the meeting room at 1 o’clock; new members are always welcome.

 

Coffee Morning next Sunday, March 23rd after the 9am and 10.30am Mass: Fairtrade invite you to come around to the hall and enjoy some coffee, tea, toast and home-baking. Some Fairtrade goods and Easter Eggs will be available to purchase.

 

Recently Deceased: Robert McGuire, Sandra Bogan, Kevin Moon, Margaret McDaid, Rosemary O’Hara, Sister Monica McDonald, Amy Warren , Fr. John McMillan, Fr. John Callaghan, Leo Morgan, Anita Boni, Alice Gallagher,  Jimmy McTaggart, Jim Devlin

 

Special Remembrance: Jaime Donnelly, Scott Docherty, Winnie Maxwell, Fiona Seal, Philip Wilson, Edward McGeary, Christine Zambonini, George Cree, Diane Kozak, Catherine Coyle, Brigid Lynas, Marie Lynas, Betty Lennox, Helen and James O’Donnell, Esther ad Alex Malone, Robert Bogan, Sheena Bogan, Bella and Owen Currie and all our own deceased relatives and friends and all the benefactors of St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s.

 

For Reflection,

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If we have no peace,

it is because we have forgotten

that we belong to each other.

St.Teresa of Kolkata