Newsletter

Twenty-First Sunday of the Year

August 23rd 2026

 

My dear parishioners,

 

I hope this finds you and your families well. The following information has been sent by the diocese: it is always worthwhile consulting the diocesan website for more detailed news about what is happening across the Diocese of Motherwell, www.rcdom.org.uk.

 

Annual Vocations Mass, Tuesday, 25th August, 7pm in Motherwell; Bishop Toal invites us to gather as a diocesan family to pray for vocations to the priesthood and to the permanent diaconate, as well as women entering religious life. We also celebrate the vocation of marriage and family life. Please join us as we pray for an increase in vocations throughout our Diocese.

 

Season of Creation Conference: Saturday, 5th September at 10am-5pm, in Eyre Hall, Archdiocese of Glasgow Offices, Clyde Street, Glasgow G1 4JY: the Bishops’ Conference invites you to a day of inspiration, reflection and practical action as we celebrate the Season of Creation. We are delighted to welcome Lorna Gold, Director of the Laudato Si’ Movement as our keynote speaker. The day will also include practical workshops exploring how parishes, schools and communities can engage young people and parish groups in caring for our common home. Register today at: bit.ly/SeasonofCreation26.

 

National Pilgrimage at Carfin, Sunday 6th September 3pm; this is an opportunity for Catholics from across Scotland to come together in prayer, renewing our devotion to Our Lady and celebrating the gift of faith as one national community. Everyone is warmly invited to join this special day of prayer and pilgrimage at Scotland’s National Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes.

 

Walking Pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Monday 21st to Monday 28th September 2016: the pilgrimage package includes bed and breakfast accommodation in Sarria, Portomarin, Palas de Rei, Arzua, near O Pino and Santiago de Compostela. The approximate cost is £552 per person, excluding flights; for more details contact: ALBA TOURS Ltd, 01698 262941 or 0794 1301 431.

​

Schedule for the Daily Liturgy:

 

Monday August 24th: Requiem Mass at 10.30 am;

Mr. Charles Dempsey; Novena at 7pm

 

Tuesday August 25th: Requiem Mass at 10am;

Mr. Gerald McDonald; Reception on Monday at 6pm

 

Wednesday August 26th: Requiem Mass at 1pm

Mrs. Patricia McKale

 

Thursday August 27th:

Requiem Mass at 10am

Mrs. Elizabeth McPhelim

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

Parish Pastoral Council met on Wednesday evening; thank you to those who sent comments and suggestions, some of which are more straight-forward to respond to than others, some new hymn books for example. Please find on the notice board at the back of the church a little summary, prepared by the PPC, of some of the work attended to during the session 2025-2026. Let’s continue to work at making St. Mary’s and St. Paul’s an open and welcoming parish community for all; each one of us has our own special part to play in making this happen. The PPC is there to serve the parish community and will meet again on Wednesday 23rd September at 7pm; please speak with one of the Council members or put a note in the box at the back of the church or email PPC1846@hotmail.com

 

Ignatian Spirituality Centre, 35 Scott Street, Garnethill, Glasgow G3 6PE, offers a good variety of workshops, retreats and courses throughout the year.

Please consult www.iscglasgow.co.uk; www.onlineprayer.net.

 

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA): this is the recommended way for an adult to become a member of the Catholic Church; it involves a period of instruction in the Catholic Faith from late September until Easter of 2027. If you are interested in exploring this further, please speak with Fr. O’Brien.

 

Mission Appeal: every year Bishop Toal gives permission for a Missionary Order to make an appeal to support their good works in various parts of the world; the Comboni Missionary Order will visit our parish on the weekend of August 29/30th. A second collection will be taken up.

 

Please remember in your prayers Craig Paterson, one of our parishioners, who will leave at the end of August to begin his formal studies for the priesthood at the Scots College in Rome.

 

Recently Deceased: Charles Dempsey, Gerald McDonald, Patricia McKale, Elizabeth McPhelim, Luciana Fullerton Polli, Grainne Dunn

 

Special Remembrance: Janet and Stephanie Higgins, Guiseppe Treta, Jean and James Ward,

John Lynch, Elizabeth Mudie, James and Helen Lennon, Mary and Michael O’Brien, and deceased relatives, friends and benefactors of our parish.

 

For Reflection

“The human person is sacred,

and life’s journey, with all its joys and sorrows,

 demands our greatest attention.”