Bhileag 14th February 2021

Ash Wednesday: this coming Wednesday (17th February) is Ash Wednesday and begins the season of Lent. Sadly this year there will be no Public Masses on the island and therefore Canon John Paul will not be able to distribute the Ashes. However the Bishops of Scotland have produced a Family Service which can be found going to the website www.bcos.org.uk and go to the section called “Covid-19 Resources” and there you will find the Ash Wednesday  family service for home with prayers and readings for a family Ash Wednesday service. A key part to the service is to receive Ashes. Of course Ashes are made from burning palm crosses or palm leaves from the year before. If you feel adventurous and want to have a go at making your own Ashes then that’s lovely. If you want to take a short cut then please contact Canon John Paul as he has plenty sachets of Ashes which families can use.

If you don’t have any ashes then simply on Ash Wednesday  take your Palm Cross from last year or any Crucifix you have in your home- place it on a table along with a candle (on your home altar). Begin by making the sign of the Cross and then say…..

O Jesus Christ, my Lord with what great love you passed over the painful road which led you to death, and I, how often have I abandoned you. But now I love you with my whole soul and because I love you I am sincerely sorry for having offended you. My Jesus, pardon me, and permit me to accompany you in this journey. You are going to die for love of me and it is my wish also, my dearest Redeemer, to die for love of you. My Jesus, in your love I wish to live, in your love I wish to die.

I love you Jesus, my love, above all things: I repent with my whole heart for having offended you. Never permit me to separate myself from you again. Grant that I may love you always and then do with me what you will.

I adore you O Christ, and I praise you because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world.

Say……Our Father……a Hail Mary…..a Glory Be…… and then conclude with making a sign of the Cross.

Fast & Abstinence: Ash Wednesday is also a day of fast & abstinence which is a day when we don’t eat meat and also we cut back on the amount we eat.

Lent: Many people will feel that this last year of “lockdown” will feel like one long Lent and that we have made enough sacrifices over the past year. However Lent does begin on Wednesday and it is important to start thinking now how we will embrace Lent this year with all our heart, mind and soul even during this time of lockdown and with it’s restrictions. Many graces and blessing come upon us when we learn to put God first and enter into the true spirit of Lent.

So think now what you will give up for Lent this year? or what extra you will do for Lent this year?

Lent is a good time to deepen our prayer, saying our prayers, learning new prayers, reading more of the scriptures, spending some quiet time in God’s presence. Anything we can do to put God first in Lent brings great blessing and graces upon us. Let us all pray during this Lent that our churches may open again for private prayer and especially for holy Mass.

SCIAF Wee Boxes: another important part of Lent is think about the needs of others before ourselves especially our brothers and sisters in the third world. Our Catholic charity of SCIAF does a lot of good work and each year for Lent we have an opportunity to support SCIAF through the “Wee Box” appeal. We take him a Wee box and fill it with money and return it  to church in Holy week. This year SCIAF is focusing on helping the poor people of South Sudan. Remember for every £1 you give then the Government will double. Please look up www.sciaf.org.uk and see for yourself the good work of SCIAF.  Canon John Paul will leave some SCIAF Wee Box packs in Buth Bhuidsear or please get in contact with him and he can arrange how to receive a wee box.

Stations of the Cross:another important prayer we can do through Lent is the Stations of the Cross. The Bishops Conference have a nice prayerful Stations of the Cross on their website which you can look up (www.bcos.org.uk). Canon John Paul also has various booklets of the Stations of the Cross which can be sent to you. If you wish a booklet just get in contact with Canon John Paul.

Churches Closed & No Public Mass: the Churches are closed till the end of the month of February. The priority is to STAY AT HOME. There is no public Mass until and you cannot go to the Church for private prayer for the moment. Please stay at home and pray in the comfort and safety of your homes.

Parish Newsletter / Bhileag: Canon John Paul will leave copies of the Bhileag in Buth Bhuidsear each Saturday.

Prayers for the Faithful departed: We remember those whose anniversaries which occur about now………..

Canon Angus J. MacQueen (Barra & South Uist), Kate MacNeil ( Earsary), John & Janet Heron (Musselburgh),  Alastair MacDougall (Nask), Roddy MacDougall (Nask), Dolina MacDougall (Cleat).  Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

WEEKDAY  MASSES:

No Weekday Mass till further notice

NEXT WEEKEND

20th & 21st February 2021

1st Sunday of Lent

Saturday Vigil Masses….No Mass

Sunday Masses…………..No Mass