Newsletter

First Sunday of Advent

November 28th 2021

My dear parishioners,

On November 29th 1846, the First Sunday of Advent, our lovely church, dedicated to St. Mary, the Mother of the Lord, opened its doors onto Cadzow Street; so this weekend we celebrate our 175thAnniversary. These are days of heartfelt thanksgiving for the graces and blessings of these years, even if we have postponed the festive celebration of this special anniversary until Eastertide of 2022. Hopefully, by that time, things will have improved even further regarding the pandemic to enable our schools to take part in the celebration, especially at the liturgy. 

In the meantime let us mark the occasion at our Masses this weekend and then celebrate our November Memorial Mass for the Faithful Departed on Monday, November 29that 6.30pm. It feels fitting to celebrate this Mass on the actual day of the 175thAnniversary, and so offer thanks for all who have gone before us here at St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s. These liturgies are also moments for us to rededicate ourselves to what began as the Hamilton Mission all those years ago; so much has been handed on to us and now there is so much for us to hand on to those following after us. The Lord is always with us, so let us rejoice and be glad!

I look forward to celebrating these liturgies with you and for you and then, in Eastertide 2022, to mark our 175thanniversary in a more festive way,

Father O’Brien

The Journey of Advent: in this special season the church prepares to celebrate the Nativity, when we recall Christ’s First Coming. As we remember so also we look forward in faith to his Second Coming at the end of time. It is a period of joyful hope. The hope of Advent is expressed during the first part of Advent with the concentration on the Second Coming while the First Coming is recalled particularly from the 17thDecember, when Christ is seen as the fulfilment of the hope of Israel.

Early appearance of the crib: you may be wondering at the early appearance of the crib this year; pupils from St. Mary’s Primary will be making class visits to the church beginning on Monday 29thNovember. We will be gathering together around the crib to prepare to welcome Jesus at Christmas. Donations at the crib will be donated to St. Margaret’s Adoption Society. Thank you.

A Pastoral Letter from the Bishops of Scotland: this letter is an invitation to the lay faithful to renew their communal participation in the liturgical and sacramental life of the church, particularly at Christmas, then through the Christmas season and into 2022, The Bishops wish to restore the Sunday Obligation from the first weekend in January, when we will celebrate the Epiphany.

You can read the full letter on the diocesan website: www.rcdom.org.uk

Thank you for your very generous response to the appeal for Missio;our combined gifts came to a total of £2,000 and this has been forwarded to Missio Scotland.

Christmas Cards are now availablein the parish stall at St. Mary’s and at St. Paul’s; some Fairtrade cards are also available there for purchase.

Request for Christmas Gifts for Children:we have been asked once again to provide a Christmas present for a child of primary school age. At the back of the church you will find a gift tag with the age of a child from Primary 1-7; would you be able to provide a little gift? If so, please wrap up the gift and bring it along to church and it will be passed on. Thank you.

A much loved Catholic practiseis to write the names of loved ones on the November List, which is then placed before the altar so that those we have loved and appreciated can be prayed for at every Mass offered in this month of special remembrance. November Lists can be found at the back of the church; many people enclose a little offering in the envelope and these will be gathered together and donated to one of the Catholic charities working with refugees; these good charities are trying hard to give people a chance at life.

A Message from Fertility Care Scotland: Family Planning-God’s Way-Nature’s Way: the Billings Ovulation Method of Natural Fertility Regulation is 99% effective in avoiding pregnancy with no side effects. This method is also highly effective in helping couples achieve a much-wanted pregnancy. For an information pack or details of a teacher in your area, please tel: 0141 221 0858, or E-Mail: info@fertilitycare.org.uk; website at www.fertilitycare.org.uk

Support for those living with cancer: ‘My Light’is there to support you whenever you need it, wherever you are. Whether you’ve just started treatment, you’re living with cancer or supporting a loved one, access My Lightfor advice, blogs, information articles and helpful videos, tailored to every stage of your cancer journey. For more help and advice: 0141 212 0505, email: Info@beatsoncancercharity.org, www.beatsoncancercharity.org/my-light.

The Holy Ghost Fathers’ Charity Shop in Carfin will now be open Monday to Saturday from 10am-2pm. Donations of good quality clothing and bric-a-brac will always be gratefully received.

I offer here the schedule for the days ahead:

Saturday November 27th: Vigil Mass at St. Paul’s at 4pm and at St. Mary’s at 5.30pm

Sunday November 28th: Mass at St. Paul’s at 9.15am and at St. Mary’s at 10.30am

Monday November 29th: Mass for All the Faithful Departed, at St. Mary’s at 6.30pm

Tuesday November 30th: Requiem Mass for Mrs. Geraldine McCarthy at St. Mary’s, 10am

Wednesday December 1st: Mass at St. Mary’s at 10am

Thursday, December 2nd: Mass at St. Paul’s at 10am

Saturday December 4th: Vigil Mass at St. Paul’s at 4pm and at St. Mary’s at 5.30pm

Sunday December 5th: Mass at St. Paul’s at 9.15am and at St. Mary’s at 10.30am

Please remember in your prayers:

All who are ill and have asked us to pray for them: Canon Joseph Clements

Recently Deceased:Geraldine McCarthy, Margaret Gemson, John McRoberts, Catherine Corrins, Alice Campbell, Winifred Brass, Ellen Rolwich, John McGhee, Desmond Bonnar, Canon Herbert Flack.

Special Remembrance: Jim Cox, Hugh Morgan, Anna and Alex Darragh, Minnie and Edward Morgan, William (Bill) O’Mailly, Tom Docherty, Ellen Gallacher, Dan Gallacher,Peter Maxwell, Helen Connor, Michael Meechan and all our deceased relatives and friends and the benefactors of St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s, requiescant in pace. 

  St Mary's Mass Times

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Contact St Mary's and St Paul's, Hamilton

120 Cadzow St, Hamilton ML3 6HP, UK

01698 423552