Bhileag 15th August 2021

Canon John Paul & Covid Test: it was last Friday (13th August) after 9pm Canon John Paul was notified by NHS Western Isles that a close contact family member in South Uist had tested positive for Covid-19. Therefore Canon John Paul had to immediately self-isolate and then wait to have a PCR test at St. Brendan’s Hospital on Saturday morning and for the test to be sent to Stornoway and to wait for the result. Canon John late on Saturday evening received a phone call to say that his test was Negative! Good News! Therefore Canon John Paul is back to parish duties because of his double vaccination. It just shows that Covid-19  is very much out there and causing problems and disruptions in all our lives. Canon John Paul at the last minute had to get Fr. Ross Crichton to come over to look after a wedding on Saturday and then he had to cancel all his weekend Masses and postpone a Baptism to another date. Sadly these disruptions are bound to happen again. So we still have to be very cautious even with restrictions easing.

Attending Mass in the Parish: You will NO longer need to phone or email or text Canon John Paul about reserving a seat at Sunday Mass or weekday Mass. You can just turn up at the Church and just sign in at the Church Porch with your name & telephone number (for track & trace purposes) and sit anywhere you want in the church. All pews in the Church will be available but we will be sensible in where we sit in the church and respect people’s space. We continue to sanitise our hands as we enter and exit the Church. We still have to wear a face covering at all times in the Church unless you have an exemption. There is still no Sunday Obligation for the moment therefore you can come along to a weekday Mass instead of Sunday.

Sanitising the Church: after every Mass the pews in Church need to be wiped down with Anti-bacterial spray. In some of our bigger churches like Castlebay & Northbay (especially on a Sunday) we need extra hands to help-now that all pews are available to sit on. If you can help just remain behind after Mass. Canon John Paul is so grateful to all those who give of their time to help sanitise all our churches on the island. Moran Taing!

Vigil Mass: Since July 2020 we have had two Vigil Masses in Craigston every Saturday. When the Churches reopened last year after “lockdown” Canon John Paul was keen to keep the Vigil Mass in Craigston. Now that we are slowly moving forward with more relaxation in our social distance restrictions Canon John Paul will go back to celebrating ONE Vigil Mass at 6.00pm in Craigston.  Next Saturday begins the only Vigil at 6pm.

Congratulations: to Allan MacLean & Sarah MacLellan who were married on Saturday 14th August in Our Lady Star of the Sea. We wish Mr & Mrs MacLean every health, happiness and blessings in their marriage. Canon John Paul wishes to thank Fr. Ross Crichton for traveling over at the last minute to look after Allan & Sarah’s Wedding.

Bishop’s Fund Collection: we will take up a second collection next weekend to support Bishop Brian in his Office Administration and his travels around the Diocese.

Fr. David Stewart : plans to arrive on the island on Friday 20th August and he will be here celebrating next Weekend’s Masses. He will then stay another week –till about 30th August and while Fr. David is on the island Canon John Paul will take the opportunity for a break.

Deacon Philip Bua: We have been very blessed to have Rev. Philip with us on the island these last 8 weeks and helping out in the parish. Philip has been loving life on the island and especially living in the chapel house on Vatersay. Philip will be heading away at the end of this week for his second parish placement this summer which will be in Stornoway for a month. Canon John Paul had hoped this weekend at all the weekend Masses to wish Deacon Philip well- but the “self-isolation” scuppered those plans. After Philip spends a month in Stornoway he will return back to Rome for his final year of studies and hopefully in early summer of 2022 he will be ordained a Priest for our Diocese. Therefore please keep Rev. Philip in your prayers and we look forward to hearing of his Ordination date and hopefully many of us will be able to attend.

WEEKDAY MASS:    

Mon 16th August….11.00am CASTLEBAY

Tue 17th August…..10.00am  EOLIGARRY

Wed 18th August…… 12 Noon  CRAIGSTON

Thur 19th August…. 10.00am  NORTHBAY

Fri 20th August..  No Mass

Sat 21st August…..10.00am CASTLEBAY

(*please note that there is now a Saturday morning Mass)

NEXT WEEKEND

21st & 22nd August 2021

21st Sunday of Year B)

Saturday Vigil Mass……6.00pm   CRAIGSTON

Sunday Masses………..9.30am    NORTHBAY

                                     11.30am  CASTLEBAY