Newsletter

Fifth Sunday of Lent

March 22nd 2026

 

My dear parishioners,

I hope this finds you and your families well as we move further into Springtime. The Bishops of Scotland have sent the following Statement and asked that it be shared in every parish this weekend. I offer it here for your own reflection and consideration:

 

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Following a request from the Holy See, the Bishops of Scotland have been invited to reflect on how the structures of the Church in our country can best serve her mission in the years ahead, specifically whether the present situation of eight dioceses is suitable.

 

We are all aware of the challenges before us – fewer clergy, changing patterns of religious practice, and increasing pressures on our diocesan resources, among other things. Yet our mission remains unchanged: to proclaim the Gospel and to lead people to Christ, the Saviour.

 

Two possible pathways are being proposed: 1. Retaining the same number of Dioceses but with greater cooperation and mutual support: 2. Reducing the number of Dioceses through the merging of some Dioceses.

 

In order to best inform ourselves and the Holy See, each bishop will engage with the clergy and people of his diocese over the coming months for the first part of this process. Everyone will be given the opportunity to pray, reflect and contribute. Following on from the presentation of a discussion paper, responses from each diocese will contribute to the initial findings which will be given to the Holy See in the Autumn,

 

This is not simply an administrative exercise; it is a pastoral and missionary response to our changing landscape. This process will ensure our Church in Scotland will continue to grow ever more missionary, more Christ-centred, and more collaborative in the service of God’s people.

Entrusting this work to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and to the intercession of Our Lady, we will move forward together with confidence and renewed hope.

 

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A Second Collection will be taken up this weekend

to support the good work of SCIAF

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Schedule for the Daily Liturgy:

 

Monday March 23rd: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9,40am; Novena at 7pm

 

Tuesday March 24th: Requiem: Mary Fitzpatrick 10am; Reception on Monday at 6.15pm

 

Wednesday March 25th: Mass at 10am

Solemnity of the Annunciation; Rosary at 9.40am;

adoration until 2.30pm

 

Thursday March 26th: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am; confession after Mass

 

Friday March 27th Mass at 10am

Stations of the Cross at 9.40am                                    

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The church’s daily liturgy is a wonderful way of making the Lenten journey in the company of others; the daily Eucharist offers us the opportunity to contemplate the great mystery of Christ day by day; we can be a source of encouragement to one another. Please join us if you are free.

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The Parish Pastoral Council invites you to our Easter Bunny Breakfast on Palm Sunday, March 29th after the morning Masses. Please come around to the hall and enjoy a roll and sausage.192 The Easter Bunny will hop in to say hello and will have some goodies for the children. Fairtrade goods and Easter Eggs will be available for purchase. Thank you to all who came to the coffee morning on March 1st. £300 was raised for the Hamilton Foodbank.

 

RCIA: please remember our six candidates in your prayers, Hannah, Yvonne. Reece, Paul, Robert and Andrew, who will be presented with the Our Father at the 10.30am Mass this Sunday; this is a further step on their journey to becoming a member of the Catholic Church at Easter. We meet as usual on Thursday at 7pm.

 

Young Adults Cathedral Night, in Motherwell Cathedral on 29th March at 7.30pm; for all S6’s and 16-30 yr olds; an evening of Talks, Eucharistic Adoration, Confessions, Live Music and Social Time with pizza and a pub quiz; for more info, email frreilly@rcdom.org.uk

 

The Diocesan Choir invites you to the Cathedral in Motherwell for two presentations: ‘The Last Words of Christ’ on Tuesday 31st March at 7.30pm and ‘The Crucifixion’ on March 29th at 4pm. Further details on Diocesan website.

 

Sincere thanks: Mrs, Isabella Cosgrove, who died on 29th October 2025, has left a bequest of £5,000 to St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s Hamilton; Isabella will be remembered among the benefactors of our parish, requiescat in pace.

 

Recently Deceased: Mary Fitzpatrick, Nancy McInally, Lina Pakevecute, Eileen McCluskey, Sylvia Kaye, Mary Boyle, Peter Phairs, Helen Hilson, Bridget Boyle, Mary Carroll

 

Special Remembrance: Helen Harkins, Annie Miller, Tom McLean, Moya McDermott, Catherine Grant, Christina McKelvie (MSP), Scott Docherty, Jaime Donnelly, Anna and Elizabeth Donnelly, Mark Hughes, Thomas, Elizabeth and John Kane, and our deceased relatives and friends and all the benefactors of our parish.

 

Diocese of Motherwell Website:

for good and reliable information about events across our Diocese

please consult www.rcdom.org.uk