Newsletter

Thirty-Second Sunday of Year

November 8th 2026

 

St. Mary’s Church opened on the First Sunday of Advent, November 29th, 1846, and we will mark the 180th Anniversary on the First Sunday of Advent, November 29th, 2026. This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad! Bishop Toal will join us for our 10.30am Mass and for some refreshments in the hall afterwards. Please save this date!

 

Catholic Education Week: this special week of prayer is to be celebrated each year between the Feast of St. Margaret and the Solemnity of St. Andrew; as a parish we will celebrate it from 22nd-28th November; representatives from our schools, Holy Cross High, St. Mary’s Primary and St. Paul’s Primary, will be with us at our 10.30am Mass on 22 November; the bishops have asked that a special collection be taken up to support our Scottish Catholic Education Service.

 

Prisoners Week, November 15-22, 2026: this special week invites us to pray for and support everyone affected by imprisonment, including prisoners, their families, victims of crime and their families, prison staff and chaplains. This year’s theme, Show Mercy encourages us to recognise the dignity of each person and consider how kindness, understanding and practical support can make a difference. The national launch service will take place at Freedom City Church in Cumbernauld. From 3pm visitors can explore stalls, showcasing the work of charities and support organisations; for more information, wwwprisonersweek.org.uk

 

St. Mary’s Primary School Parent Council invites you to a Prize Bingo: please come along on Thursday November 12th at 7pm to the school hall and enjoy 6 games of Bingo, Tea/Coffee and delicious home baking, bottle tombola; to buy tickets (£10) please scan the Prize Bingo Poster in the side porch of the church.  

 

Holy Ghost Fathers Annual Draw: Books of raffle tickets are available at the back of the church to help support the good work of the Spiritan Fathers. Please hand in any tickets by December 1st; tickets are in books of 5 and cost £1 per ticket; 1st Prize is £500. Thank you for your support.

 

Please consult the diocesan website, www.rcdom.org.uk for further details

about events across the diocese

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Schedule for the Daily Liturgy:

 

Monday November 9th: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am; Confessions at 6.30pm; Novena at 7pm

 

Tuesday November 10th: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40pm

 

Wednesday November 11th: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am; Adoration after Mass until 2.30pm

 

Thursday November 12th:

Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am

 

The daily liturgy is a wonderful gift to the church and a beautiful way to begin the day; you are always welcome to join us for the recitation of the Rosary and for morning Mass.

 

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November is the special month of Prayer for the Faithful Departed. November Lists are available at the back of the church. Please take one and write down the names of those you wish to be remembered at the liturgy. Enclosed donations will support the good work of Friends of the Holy Land; for more information consult www.friendsoftheholyland.org.uk

 

Special Remembrance Mass for all who have died in 2026, Saturday 21st November at 10am; please join us to pray for family members and friends who have gone to the Lord during this year; afterward there will be some refreshments in the parish hall. All welcome.

 

Annual Education Mass: Bishop Toal invites pupils, families, teachers and school staff to Motherwell Cathedral on Thursday 19th November at 7pm to celebrate our Catholic schools and to give thanks for everyone who helps our young people learn, grow and discover their gifts and talents. All are welcome!

 

Motherwell Diocesan Children’s Choir: Enjoy singing or interested in giving singing a try? Please join the new children’s choir! We are delighted to invite children from across the Diocese to become part of this new choir; it’s a place to sing, make new friends and share our faith through music; the choir is open to all children in P5-P7, with no audition required and no cost to take part; Wednesday evenings 6-7pm in Cathedral Primary School, Motherwell.

 

Thank you to everyone who came around to the hall for last Sunday’s coffee morning; it was a great success; we donated £320 to Hamilton Foodbank, and £422 of Fairtrade Goods were sold. Thank you to those who handed in home-baking, and to those who helped in the kitchen, especially our young volunteers from the Caritas.

 

Please pray for those who are ill: Cathie Young, Adrienne Mulholland

 

Recently Deceased: Mary Killean-Steven, John Martin, John Penman, Marian McLaughlin, Pauline De Carlo, Thomas McCrum, Rose Lanyon, Isobel Houlton, Patrick Duffy, Mary MacIrroy

 

Special Remembrance: Mark Owen McGuire, Stanley McGinlay, Marion Russell, Bertie and Maureen Dawson, Frank Lyons, Jon Smith, Brian Bonnar, Sadie Burns, Paul McGinn, George Terrett, Fr. William O’Sullivan and our own deceased relatives and friends, and the benefactors of our parish.