Newsletter

Easter Sunday

April 20th 2025

 

My dear parishioners,

 

Easter joy and peace to you and your families!  The eternal Son of God, who became flesh for us, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in the womb of the humble Virgin Mary from Nazareth, and who suffered and died for us, has risen from the dead, Alleluia! Alleluia!

 

This is the faith and experience of the church; this is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad! Light has triumphed over darkness, goodness has triumphed over evil, compassion has triumphed over cruelty, life has triumphed over death. This is humanity’s greatest feast. Like Moses, we too can look forward to the Promised Land, to peace where there is warfare, to justice and mercy for the despised and for those made to endure the indignity of abject poverty.

 

In the triumph of the risen Lord, hope becomes the heartbeat of the disciples. Today on Easter Sunday we celebrate Christ’s invitation to life; the risen Lord invites his disciples to be on his side, to embrace the mystery of light, goodness, compassion and life. May the truthfulness of this feast help each one of us to become more deeply a son or daughter of the resurrection.

 

Easter blessings on you, on all who are dear to you and especially on those who have suffered bereavement in recent months; may this feast be your deepest comfort. May the risen Lord Jesus give St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s the grace to be a parish community of hope and life, where all are welcome, without exception.

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Thank you for your many kindnesses to the church and to me,

Father O’Brien

 

The Parish Council thanks everyone who came around to the hall for a roll and sausage at our coffee morning last Sunday, after both morning Masses. Thanks also to everyone who helped in the kitchen and in the hall; special thanks to the Easter Bunny who hopped around the hall, saying hello to the children and giving them an Easter Egg. Thank you also for the donations which will be used to support the Diocesan Youth Pilgrimage to Lourdes.

 

I offer here the Schedule for the Daily Liturgy:

 

Monday April 21st: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am

 

Tuesday April 22nd: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am

 

Wednesday April 23rd: Mass at 10 am

Rosary at 9.40am

 

Thursday April 24th: Requiem for Marian King at 10.30am

 

Friday April 25th Requiem for Nan Dalton at 10am

Reception on Thursday at 6.15pm

 

Saturday April 26th: St. Paul’s Primary, First Holy Communion at 11am

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Bishop Toal has sent the following Easter greeting to the people of the diocese:

 

As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year there can be no day more hope-filled than Easter Sunday as we celebrate with great joy the Lord’s Resurrection. May the Risen Lord therefore renew our faith, fill us with great hope, and inspire further acts of Christian love and service.

 

A special word of welcome to those received into the Church this Easter. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you experience the power of the Lord’s presence in the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. May your participation in Christ and his Church sustain you in the pilgrimage of life.

 

As we continue to hear the ravages of war and of the terror felt by many in our troubled world we pray earnestly for peace and justice, for forgiveness and healing, for a respite from fear and a glimmer of hope. We pray that the Lord of New Life will keep us and our loved ones safe in his care and bring consolation to all pain.

With my Easter blessing and good wishes,

+Joseph Toal

Bishop of Motherwell

 

Recently Deceased: Nan Dalton, Marian King, John Lavery, Jean McFadden, Tom McLean, Anne Rocks, Christina McKelvie MSP, Jimmy McKenna, Emma Higginson-Walsh (Tralee), Pat Connachan, Maranna Severi (Italy), Jim Hoolahan, David Corns

 

Special Remembrance: Mgr. Alec Devanney, Fr. Walter Scott, John Rimmer, Tom McCabe, Theresa McCartney, Brian Sherry, Jan and Mary Kozak, Diane Kozak, Alice and Michael Sweeney, Brenda Reilly, Thomas and Esther Reid, Catherine Phairs, Maureen Donnachie, Silvio and Lucia Ferri, Mark Hughes, Thomas, Elizabeth and John Kane, Marion Russell, Margaret Stewart, Ann Quigley, Edward McGeary, Ann Terrett, John Seagrave, Eileen Seagrave Wood, Ann Gallacher Dorricot, Catherine and Willie Robertson, John Mallon, Marjory Begley, William and Mary Burns, John Whyte, James and Helen Lennon, Patrick and Joan Lennon, Henry and Isabella Morgan, and all our own deceased relatives and friends, and all the benefactors of our parish.