Pope to young people: Cry out with your life that Christ lives and reigns! Beginning in 2021, the celebration of World Youth Day in the local churches will take place on Christ the King Sunday. Diocesan World Youth Days are observed in the years between the major intercontinental edition of the premiere Catholic event for young people. At the conclusion of the Holy Mass for the Solemnity of Christ the King (20.11. 2020) Pope Francis announced that he has decided to transfer the diocesan celebration of World Youth Day (WYD) from Palm Sunday to Christ the King Sunday. Christ at the centre In announcing the change, the Holy Father said, “The centre of the celebration remains the Mystery of Jesus Christ the Redeemer of Man, as Saint John Paul II, the initiator and patron of WYD, always emphasized.” Dioceses celebrate World Youth Day in the years between the major, intercontinental edition of the event, which takes place every 2-3 years in a location chosen by the Pope. The most recent international WYD was held in Panama City in 2019, with the next, in Lisbon, scheduled to take place in 2022. WYD Lisbon, however, has been moved back to 2023 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cry out that Christ reigns The announcement of the changed date came ahead of the ceremony of the passage of the WYD Cross and the icon of Our Lady Salus Populi Romani, the symbols of the World Youth Days. At Holy Mass in the Vatican - On Christ The King Sunday (22.11.20) - a delegation of young people from Panama handed over the Cross and icon to their counterparts from Lisbon, in what Pope Francis described as “a significant ceremony.” In his remarks prior to the ceremonial passage of Cross and icon, Pope Francis said, “Dear young people, cry out with your life that Christ lives and reigns,” while recalling Christ’s words from the Gospel: “If you keep silent, the very stones will cry out!”
On Tuesday 17th November, the First Minister announced that Renfrewshire would move from Tier 3 to Tier 4, beginning at 6pm on Friday 20th November until Friday 11th December. WEEKEND MASSES -TIER 4: In Tier 4, 20 people are able to attend Mass. This means that we will have to move to a 3 week rota with our present numbers. If you have supplied us with an email for Mass attendance (season tickets) we have sent 20 people an email for this Sunday (21/22 November), please check the email address you supplied. If you supplied a phone number we are in the process of phoning. If you have supplied an email address it might be useful if you sent an email to StPeter@rcdop.org.uk to confirm that we have the right email address. God Bless, Fr Andrew
Please keep in your prayers the young parishioners from the Paisley area (St. Andrew's Cluster) who are celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation this month. PLEASE NOTE: Confirmations which were scheduled to take place in St. Mirin's Cathedral have been re-located. ARRANGEMENTS: Confirmations for S1 pupils in St. Andrew's Academy will take place over two time slots each evening. A maximum of 10 pupils will be confirmed at each time slot. Due to current restriction in numbers it will only be possible for each family to have four places at their respective service: the child (Candidate) who is being Confirmed, their Sponsor, plus an additional two family members. Unfortunately, there is no flexibility regarding the numbers attending. CONFIRMATIONS in ST. PETER'S - WEEK BEGINNING 16th NOVEMBER: 1.1 Monday 16th November 6pm and 7.30pm 1.1 Tuesday 17th November 6pm and 7.30pm 1.2 Tuesday 17th November 6pm and 7.30pm 1.3 Wednesday 18th November 6pm and 7.30pm 1.4 Thursday 19th November 6pm and 7.30pm IMPORTANT UP-DATE: Covid-19 / TIER 4 restrictions take effect from Friday 20th November. REVISED ARRANGEMENTS: CONFIRMATIONS in ST. JAMES' PAISLEY - WEEK BEGINNING 23rd NOVEMBER: 1.5 Monday 23rd November 1.6 Tuesday 24th November 1.7 Wednesday 25th November 1.8 Thursday 26th November Arrangements have been amended to comply with Government and Diocesan directives.
“Sadly abortion is currently available in the UK, right up to birth, for babies with cleft lip, cleft palate and club foot. All of these conditions can be corrected. A cross-party group of MPs from the three largest parties in the UK Parliament have come together to bring forward the Abortion (Cleft lip, cleft palate and club foot) Bill. The Bill will change the law to clarify that cleft palate, cleft lip and club foot are not grounds for abortion in the UK. Can you help with getting your MP to support the Bill? Please visit www.standupandsmile.org.uk to email your MP asking them to support the Bill. It only takes 30 seconds.” (Catherine Robinson, Right To Life UK +44 (0) 1732 460911 info@righttolife.org.uk righttolife.org.uk )
On behalf of the St Andrew’s Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education, I extend a warm invitation to you and the members of your parish to attend the 2020 Cardinal Winning Lecture. Despite the unusual circumstances this year, this event remains a highlight in our calendar and we do hope that you can take the time to join the wider Catholic Education community in Scotland as it pauses during Catholic Education Week to reflect on our faith contribution to the lives of our young people. This year’s lecture will be given by Dr Rebekah Lamb from the University of St Andrews. The title of her lecture is: Thérèse of Lisieux: A Doctor of the Church for Our Times. Please see the flyer on the Parish web. The lecture will take place on Saturday 28th of November from 11am-12.15 and will be presented via Zoom. The annual Cardinal Winning Lecture Mass will be celebrated before the event—at 10am by Fr Stephen Reilly—and this can be attended via YouTube. To obtain the links for this event you and your parishioners can register by clicking here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cardinal-winning-lecture-2020-registration-126250563835 (Dr Roisín Coll Director of the St Andrew’s Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education School of Education University of Glasgow)
The Scottish Interfaith Group on Domestic Abuse invites you to their Webinar on Wednesday 25th November 7.30pm (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women). The webinar will inform you with: insights into domestic abuse from a survivor: how COVID-19 has impacted abuse (Women’s Aid and an MSP): the collaboration of all faiths against domestic abuse: the international aspect of domestic abuse from a leading charity; learning how to help. To register and receive the Zoom code go to http://ifgoda.org.uk You will receive an email with all the details. We can all help in the work of countering abuse.
The Scottish Government (along with the Westminster Government) introduced the practice of sending women pills in the post so that they can perform a DIY abortion at home. This was supposed to be a temporary measure during the pandemic, but now the Scottish Government is holding a consultation on whether to make this practice permanent. We need as many pro-life people as possible to complete the Scottish Government’s questionnaire in order to stop dangerous DIY abortions becoming permanent! ... Every pro-life voice counts in this consultation and it is vitally important that Catholics across Scotland speak out against DIY abortions, which kill unborn babies and harm women. Respond to Scottish Government consultation to stop home abortions! The Scottish Government is holding a consultation on whether to continue the practice of sending dangerous abortion pills to women to undergo abortions at home. SPUC has prepared a briefing which gives a step by step guide to completing the questionnaire. Please go to www.spuc.org.uk/Scottish-Consultation Thank you for your attention. John Deighan CEO SPUC Scotland
Future talks: Monday 21st December - Canon Michael McMahon & Fr. Ryan Black on theme of New Testament; Monday 18th January - Bishop John on theme of Teachings of Saint John Paul II.
The Renfrewshire Bereavement Network, comprising local hospices ACCORD and St Vincent's, as well as the Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership (HSCP), Renfrewshire Council and RAMH, has recently launched a new grief and bereavement service for families in Renfrewshire. The Network aims to provide support to people in the Renfrewshire area who are experiencing loss or dealing with grief - by offering access to the most appropriate advice, guidance and counselling available - all from a single point of access. People who need support will be able to self-refer by contacting a new helpline where they can discuss the help they need. After an assessment, staff who have been trained to manage calls, will aim to make sure they receive the most appropriate support for their individual circumstances. The service is available to adults in the Renfrewshire area, regardless of their gender, social group or location. Following a review of the pilot (running until February 2021) and depending upon demand, there is potential for the service to become a more permanent feature. If you know of anyone who needs to get in touch with the Renfrewshire Bereavement Network, they can do so by calling 0800 038 6020 or by emailing: support@renfbn.org.uk. For more information visit: www.renfbn.org.uk Families in Renfrewshire can seek support from new grief and bereavement service.
COMMUNITY CIRCLE OF PRAYER: Every Friday evening people gather online at 7pm for this half hour event simply consists of a little music, some readings and the opportunity to share our prayer petitions and support others in theirs. Each week there is a different broad theme; we have explored The Call to Discipleship, Care of our Sick, Forgiveness, Guardian Angels, The Faithful Departed, The Way of the Cross to name but a few. Last week was our 6 month anniversary! Why not spend half an hour with us this Friday in community and fellowship? You would be most welcome! To join please use the Zoom link. Just click and you are in! All Welcome. https://zoom.us/j/8510142970?pwd=UUtVa2ZhOFUxa2NSZmJCckZOek0rUT09
Missio Scotland is the Scottish branch of the Catholic Church’s mission aid agency. It enables missionaries to help communities in need through grassroots projects. They build and maintain hospitals, schools and seminaries, care for people in need and act for justice in the developing world, regardless of race, stigma, religion or gender. Texting MISSIOSCOT to 70085 will donate a default £3, while MISSIOSCOT with any number between 1-20 after it will donate your desired amount (for example MISSIOSCOT10 will donate £10) .
'In God’s Image' - the document which is an 'Instruction on Safeguarding' from the Bishops of Scotland to all Catholic jurisdictions in Scotland - was published in March 2018 initially for a three-year period. The Bishops are now preparing for the publication of version 2 of this document to reflect any significant Safeguarding developments that have occurred since first publication. The intended publication date is June 2021. Until then, 'In God's Image' V1 will remain valid. The Bishops are seeking views from all interested groups and individuals on any changes they would propose to the current text in the light of their experience. This invitation extends to dioceses, parishes, religious congregations, organisations, to clergy and laypeople, to professional Safeguarding staff and volunteers, to those in Scotland and beyond, to those in other churches or faith groups and to all who are interested in keeping children and vulnerable adults safe in every Church environment. Above all, the Bishops are keen to hear from survivors or victims of abuse so that the Church can learn from past mistakes and plan to ensure appropriate and sensitive responses to all allegations and concerns. If you wish to offer any suggestions for changes to the current text of ‘In God’s Image’, please use this form: https://bit.ly/3cuTsnP. Please Note CLOSING DATE FOR REPLIES: 30th NOVEMBER 2020
Book from 12 October. SEMINAR DATE: SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2020 (11am - 1.30pm). See poster attached for details. This Webinar is open to anyone involved in Safeguarding in the Catholic Church.
– Diocese of Paisley Evangelisation Commission - Alpha's mission is to equip and serve the Church in its mission to help people discover and develop a relationship with Jesus. 2020 has been a particularly challenging year due to the Covid-19 pandemic: lots of parishes are struggling financially; limitations on Mass attendance; parish ministries have had to reduce or stop altogether; continued social distancing has left priests and parishioners feeling disconnected and isolated; many priests feel overwhelmed and under resourced at this time. The idea of doing anything new can feel daunting, if not impossible. That's why, at Alpha, we want to help lighten that burden and equip parishes to raise leaders, share the good news of Jesus, connect people with each other and with God and create community with other parishes. The team at Alpha - Catholic Context UK have developed new training for parishes in your diocese. This is a unique opportunity to be trained directly by the Alpha UK team to get up and running with Alpha Online. To register for training on Saturday 14th November 10am-1pm please click the link: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAscO-orjgpHdyHL9P3_CLEycZB3peW4rRf If you have any questions, please contact Mike Roche at michael.roche@alpha.org. We can't wait to see you in November for the Alpha Online training!
"Let us dream, then, as a single human family, as fellow travelers sharing the same flesh, as children of the same earth which is our common home, each of us bringing the richness of his or her beliefs and convictions, each of us with his or her own voice, brothers and sisters all.” 8th November is the beginning of Scottish Interfaith week. It is an opportunity for Catholics to follow the example set by our Holy Father Pope Francis to reach out to our neighbours and to recognise all people of faith as our brothers and sisters. Take the opportunity this week to pray that people of faith might work together for peace in our world and in our country. Interfaith Scotland’s website www.interfaithscotland.org gives notification of the many interfaith events happening throughout the country this week if you would like to get involved.
Father Joe Burke will celebrate IN ST. MIRIN’S CATHEDRAL the Annual Holy Mass for the souls of the faithful departed of Hawkhead Cemetery. Sunday 8th November at 12.00pm. Unfortunately, due to COVID, Mass will not be in the cemetery itself this year. All those with loved ones resting there are invited to join him online or in church through Eventbrite booking. Mass is livestreamed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOpDi2GliU0&feature=youtu.be
The Diocesan Liturgy Commission will host a Zoom music day on Saturday 7th November at 11.00am- finishing at approx. 1.00pm or before. The group will look at learning some Mass parts to be used by cantors during these covid times and for parish choirs to use once restrictions are lifted. Everyone is invited to join the meeting. Musicians, cantors and choirs are all welcome. Details of the zoom meeting are below. Please just click on the link, or use the meeting id, if required. Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/7247466974 Meeting ID: 724 746 6974
"... It was my pleasure and delight to have served at St Peter’s these past twelve years and to have worked with so many wonderful people to build a strong, vibrant and welcoming parish community where God is very much alive and His kingdom thrives – long may that continue to be the case for many years to come. I am proud and honoured to have been part of the success story that is St. Peter’s..." CLICK ON THE TITLE TO READ FULL TEXT.