Bhileag 10th January 2021

Sunday & Weekday Masses: to attend any Mass you must contact Canon John Paul –for track & trace purposes- to see if there is availability at Mass. Please phone, text or email Canon John Paul.

Face Coverings & hand Sanitiser: Face Coverings must be worn at every Mass. If you forget to bring a mask –there will be some available in the church porch. Also you must always sanitise your hands as you enter and leave the church.

Holy Mass  in Tier 3 : the Scottish Government has announced stricter restrictions especially for the mainland. On the Mainland there is now a LOCKDOWN and there is no public Mass for the next couple of weeks. However here on the islands of Barra & Vatersay and the rest of the Western Isles we can still celebrate Public Mass as normal- which is wonderful. So nothing changes for us here in the parish. The weekend & weekday Masses continue as normal (until we are told differently). The maximum number is set at 50 for Sunday Mass.

Baptisms and Funerals are also set at  20 people maximum.

Let us all continue to follow the Scottish Government guidelines of FACTS- Face Coverings, Avoid crowded places, Clean your hands, Two metre distance and self isolate if you have any symptoms. Let us all follow FACTS and keep ourselves and our islands safe in these difficult times.

Recent Funeral: we pray for the repose of the soul of Effie MacLean (Effie a dookie) of Borve who peacefully passed away on Saturday 2nd January in hospital in Glasgow. Effie had not kept the greatest of health for a long time and sadly she passed away at the age of 73. Effie’s Requiem Mass took place on Thursday 7th January in St. Brendan’s, Craigston and then Effie was laid to rest in Cuithir Cemetery. We extend our prayers of love and sympathy to Michael and all the family at this very sad time. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

Funeral: we remember in our prayers the repose of the soul of Mary MacDonald of Caol in Fort William  & Eoligarry who peacefully passed away on Wednesday 6th January in Fort William. Mary will be brought back to Barra to be laid to rest in Eoligarry. The Funeral Mass will be on Wednesday 13th January at 11am in St. Vincent’s Church in Eoligarry and thereafter burial at Eoligarry Cemetery.  We extend our prayers of sympathy to her son Gerry and all the family & relatives at this sad time. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shone upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

Justice & Peace: today on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord we will take up a collection for Justice and peace. Also there will be a letter read out at all Masses on behalf of Bishop William Nolan-who is the Bishop in charge of Scotland’s Justice and peace. Let us always remember to pray for the gifts of justice and peace for all people in our world especially as we begin a new year.

Crib collection- Holy Childhood: instead of leaving a basket at the crib we will instead take up a collection for the Holy Childhood. We will take up this special collection next Sunday 17th January at all the weekend Masses.

Church Christmas Decorations:  will be taken down after this Sunday. Canon John Paul wishes to thank all those who are going to help tidy up the churches and pack away our Christmas decorations for another. Moran Taing!

WEEKDAY  MASSES:

Mon 11th Jan………No Morning Mass           

Tues 12th Jan……10.00am   EOLIGARRY

Wed 13th Jan……11.00am EOLIGARRY

(Requiem Mass)

Thur14th Jan……No Mass

Fri 15th Jan………No Mass

Sat 16th Jan…….No Mass                    

NEXT WEEKEND

16th & 17th January 2021

2nd Sunday of Year B

Saturday Vigil Masses…. No Mass

Sunday Masses……. No Mass