Newsletter

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

March  29th 2026

 

My dear parishioners,

I hope this finds you and your families well as we move into the sacred days of Holy Week 2026. Under the pastoral guidance of Pope Leo, the whole church will remember with reverence the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. On Saturday evening, during the Easter Vigil, we will welcome six people into the life of the Catholic Church: Yvonne, Hannah, Paul, Robert, Andrew and Reece, who have prepared for this moment through the RCIA. Please remember them in your prayers.

 

During the week I read the following remarks made by Bishop James Curry, Auxiliary bishop of Westminster, and I thought you might like to hear what he was saying:

 

“The language that the White House is using with reference to the war in Iran, ‘reducing people’s suffering to a game’ is appalling. The wounds that will be created by this conflict will exacerbate the wounds that already exist in the region, the mistrust that already exists.

 

War robs us of the future. The vast amount of money that is being spent on armaments and war will not be recouped. It could have been spent on education, on peacebuilding, on peace enforcement. When the war ends, there will have to be a rebuilding of trust among peoples, of civic structures. The international community will have to play their part to rebuild trust.”

 

Peace is an active activity; it is not simply the absence of war. Peace is promoted by dialogue, peace is getting to know the other, peace is always seeking the good of the other. That is always the vocation of the Christian.”

(Podcast: Middle East Analysis: Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales)

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Pope Leo has appealed for a ceasefire in the Middle East as the war between Iran and Israel and the US continues. In his address after the Angelus in St. Peter’s Square last Sunday, he said, “On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East, and of all women and men of goodwill, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict: cease fire. Violence can never lead to the justice, stability and peace for which the peoples are waiting.” The Pope expressed prayerful closeness to all who have lost loved ones in the attacks, which have struck schools, hospitals and residential areas.

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Schedule for the Daily Liturgy:

 

Monday March 30th: Mass at 10am

Mass in St. Paul’s Primary at 1.45pm

Rosary at 9,40am; Confessions from 6.15pm; Novena at 7pm

 

Tuesday March 31st: Mass at 10am

Stations of the Cross 9.40am; Confessions after Mass

Choir practice at 7pm in Church

 

Wednesday April 1st: Mass at 10am

St. Mary’s Primary will be with us for Mass.

Adoration in side-chapel until 2.30pm

 

Holy Thursday April 2nd:

Chrism Mass in Cathedral at 11am

Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7pm

Watching at the Altar of Repose until 9.45pm

 

Good Friday April 3rd

Stations of the Cross at 12 noon

Solemn Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion at 3pm

Stations of the Cross at 7pm

Veneration of the Cross at all Services                                    

 

Holy Saturday, April 4th: Vigil of the Resurrection at 8pm

Please join us in the parish hall after the Vigil for some refreshments

 

Easter Sunday. April 5th: Mass at 9am and 10.30am

 

The church’s daily liturgy is a wonderful way of making the Holy Week journey in the company of others; please join us if you are free

 

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.

 

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: Nancy McInally, Lina Pakevecute, Eileen McCluskey, Thomas Whalen, Mary Josephine Falconer, Sylvia Kaye, Mary Boyle, Peter Phairs, Helen Hilson, Bridget Boyle, Mary Carroll

 

Special Remembrance: Silvio and Lucia Ferri, Hugh Morgan, Frances Collins, Daniel Devine, Bridie Tansey, John Lavery Snr and Jnr, Moira Boyd, Theresa Giusti, Tom McLean, Jean McFadden, Nan Dalton, Marian King 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