Newsletter

Easter Sunday

April 5th 2026

 

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, is 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.

Very sincere thanks for your many kindnesses to the church and to me,

Father O’Brien

 

A very warm welcome to Yvonne, Hannah, Paul, Robert, Andrew and Reece, who become members of the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil.

Please remember them in your prayers.

 

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 Lucy, our Easter Bunny, who hopped around the hall, saying hello to the children and giving them an Easter Egg. Thank you for the donations: £500 to the HCPT and £300 to the Hamilton Foodbank for Easter.

​

Schedule for the Daily Liturgy:

 

Monday April 6th: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9,40am

 

Tuesday April 7th: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am

 

Wednesday April 8th: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am

 

Thursday April 9th: Requiem for Nancy McInally at 1.30pm

No 10am Mass

 

Friday April 10th: Mass at 10am

Rosary at 9.40am

 

The church’s daily liturgy is a wonderful way of beginning the day; you are always welcome to join us for the Rosary and Mass.

 

******************************************

 

Bishop Toal’s Easter Message to the Diocese in available online and can be accessed via the diocesan website; details at the bottom of the page; other important diocesan events, dates and times, can be found on this webpage.

 

The Parish Pastoral Council meets on April 22nd at 7pm; the Council is there to serve the parish community and your comments, suggestions and ideas are always welcome. We will do or best to respond positively. Sometimes you notice practical needs, for example, someone asked for a coat hook in the toilet, simple yet important. It’s now there! Please speak to one of the Council members or email PPC1846@hotmail.com.uk or write your comment and place it in the box at the back of the church.

 

Walking Pilgrimage from Motherwell to St. Andrews: you are warmly invited to take part in a Diocesan Walking Pilgrimage from Motherwell Cathedral to St. Andrews. Beginning on Tuesday 7th April and continuing each Tuesday until 9th June; we will walk approximately 10-12 miles each week as we journey together in prayer and fellowship. There is no charge to take part; the only cost will be transport to the starting point each week. For more information, please contact Jim McKelvie at pilgrimage@rcdom.org.uk or call 07957847290

 

Recently Deceased: Nancy McInally, Lina Pakevecute, Eileen McCluskey, Thomas Whalen, Mary Josephine Falconer, Helen Hilson, Betty McGarry, Susan Burke, Marian Ward, Catherine Connor, Frank Tierney,

 

Special Remembrance: Ann Gallacher Dorricott, Robert Dorricot, Alice and Michael Sweeney, Isaac Gunn, Margaret Gunn, Hugh Morgan, Margaret Feenie, John and Hannah McGuire, deceased members of the McGuire and Gallacher families, Nan Dalton, deceased members of the Dalton and McKenna families, Mark Hughes, Thomas, Elizabeth and John Kane, George Cree, Jan and Mary Kozak, Neil McMurray, deceased members of the McMurray, Miller and Toner families, 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