Newsletter

Second Sunday of Advent

December 7th 2025

 

My dear parishioners,

 

I hope this finds you well as we begin the journey towards Christmas, the celebration of the Light of the World, and this light of Christ shines continually, especially in the celebration of the liturgy. I offer these words from Pope Benedict for your reflection:

 

“The Gospel of this Second Sunday of Advent presents to us the figure of St. John the Baptist, who withdrew to the desert of Judaea and, with his preaching, called the people to convert so as to be ready for the coming of the Messiah, now at hand. The Precursor of Jesus, situated between the Old Covenant and the New, is like a star that heralds the rising of the sun, the coming of Christ. In the Season of Advent, we too are called to listen to God’s voice, that cries in the desert of the world through the Sacred Scriptures, especially when they are preached with the power of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, faith grows all the stronger the more it allows itself to be illumined by the divine word.” Pope Benedict XVI

 

Monday, December 8th is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary; as a doctrine of the Church, it was only promulgated in 1854 but had been a strong popular belief for centuries. Our own Blessed John Duns Scotus (1266-1308) was one of the greatest champions of this dogma. Of course, this is a Solemnity very special to our parish dedicated to St. Mary. Please join us for Mass at 12 noon to celebrate this beautiful feast.

 

The church’s daily liturgy is a wonderful gift and enables us to journey with Jesus, Mary and the saints every day of the year. The daily Eucharist offers us the opportunity to contemplate the great mystery of Christ for one more year and indeed to follow in the footsteps of those who have gone before us in the life of faith, hope and charity. Have you considered making this Advent a type of pilgrimage of prayer by coming along to our weekday Mass whenever time permits? You are always welcome to join those of us who are privileged to gather each day to celebrate the eucharist in memory of Jesus. It is a beautiful way to prepare for Christmas.

 

Requiem Mass for Fr. Patrick Gaffney will take place in St. Francis Xavier’s Church, Carfin on Thursday 11th December at 12 noon; we offer our sincere condolences to Fr. Pat’s family and to the Spiritan Community at Carfin.

 

Memorial Service at Co-Op Funeral Parlour for all who have died in 2025 on Thursday evening, December 11th at 7pm; family and friends of the deceased are warmly welcome.

 

Schedule for the Daily Liturgy:

Monday December 8th: Mass at 12 noon

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception; Rosary at 11.40am;

Confessions at 6.30pm; Novena at 7pm

 

Tuesday December 9th: Requiem Mass for Stanley McGinley at 10am; reception on Monday at 6.15pm

 

Wednesday December 10th: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am; Adoration until 2.30pm

 

Friday December 12th: Mass at 10am

 

 

Christmas Masses:

December 24th: Vigil Mass at 4pm

First Mass of Christmas at 8pm

 

December 25th: Mass at 10.30am

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St. Mary and St. Paul’s Parish, Senior Citizens Christmas Meal, Tuesday 30th December, John Carrigan’s Restaurant, Eddlewood Toll at 2pm. Attendance Forms will be available this week at the back of the church and the tear off should be returned by 20/21 December. Please join us for this very enjoyable afternoon together.

 

Bishop Toal has asked us to share the good news that he has accepted three men to begin formation for the priesthood by participating in the 2026 Propaedeutic Period in the Royal Scots College, Salamanca. These men are, Craig Paterson of St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s Parish Hamilton; Aiden Quinn of St. Ignatius Parish Wishaw; Matthew Graham of St. John the Baptist Parish Uddingston. Let us remember the three candidates in our prayers, and especially Criag who is a member of our own parish.

 

Are you considering a vocation to the diocesan priesthood? Please come along to the Cathedral House on Sunday 16th December at 7.30pm; Bishop Toal and Fr. Charles O’Farrell will host this informal evening of discussion and prayer.

 

The Befriending Group has now met twice to prepare for this new ministry within our parish. Are you someone or do you know someone who would like to receive a visit from a member of the parish? It could be that the visit is meeting for a coffee rather than meeting in your home. Please contact Justine on 07951397616 or speak with Fr. O’Brien.

 

Parish Choir: Do you enjoy singing? Please come along to the choir practice on Monday, December 8th in preparation for Christmas, in the parish meeting room at 7pm.

 

Santa’s Sausage Sunday, a special coffee morning to be enjoyed by all after our two morning Masses on Sunday December 14th; Christmas cards and some Fairtrade goods will be on sale. Please join us in the hall.

 

Recently Deceased: Fr, Patrick Gaffney, Mary (Maime) Brown, Stanley McGinlay, Margaret Kelso, Janet Conway, Gordon Drummond, Maeve Mulrooney, Edward McGeough, Lewis Cuthbert, Ian Donnelly, Martha McAllister

                                                                                                                         

Special Remembrance: William Ward, John Fitzpatrick Jnr., Minnie and Edward Morgan, Margaret Bonar, May Kinnie, Ellen and Daniel Gallacher, John and Mary McCaig, John Rimmer, and all our own deceased relatives and friends, and all the benefactors of our parish.