Bhileag 1st July 2018

Warm Welcome: a warm welcome to all visitors to the island and to our parishes. This weekend we have the annual Barrathon which brings many visitors to our island. Warm welcome to Fr. Roddy McAuley who is taking part in his 10th Barrathon. We hope Fr Roddy and all our Barrathon runners have a wonderful time.

Lapaich: Fr. John Paul will visit the housebound this coming week. Monday & Wednesday in Castlebay & Vatersay. Tuesday in Eoligarry. Thursday in Northbay.

Good News: Bishop Brian has appointed our newly ordained Priest Fr. Emmanuel to be the assistant Priest of Barra & Vatersay and help Fr. John Paul. Wonderful Good news for our parishes! We are so pleased that Bishop Brian has asked Fr. Emmanuel to come to our parishes and we look forward to his arrival at the end of July. It is planned that he will hopefully be an assistant for a couple of years before he takes up his own first parish in the Diocese. In this week’s Scottish Catholic Observer there is a lovely article on Fr. Emmanuel. Let us continue to pray for Fr. Emmanuel in his Vocation as a Priest of our Diocese.

Vatersay  Sunday Mass: this Sunday there will be Mass at 4pm in Our Lady of the Waves & St. John.

Borve Graveyard: St Brendan’s Borve graveyard committee would like to sincerely thank everyone who attended the Bingo last week and to thank all persons and Business’s who made donations of money and prizes which were very much appreciated. A total of £1,300 has been raised to date, which will look after the grass cutting for another year. Moran Taing! Efforts to obtain funds to repair the perimeter wall, although slow are ongoing but we remain hopeful of getting money and repairing the wall.

Sea Sunday Collection: next Sunday is Sea Sunday when we offer special prayers for all fishermen and all seafarers. There will be a second collection for the work of the Apostleship of the Sea.

Fisherman’s Mass & Blessing of Boats: next Sunday, 8th July there will be the annual Fisherman’s Mass and blessing of Boats at Castlebay pier at 2pm. As always we need help to set up at 9am and then to tidy away about 4pm. If you can help in any way please come along to Castlebay pier.

First Saturday devotion: next Saturday there will be the First Saturday devotion of Confession from 9.15am-9.40am. Rosary 9.40am -9.55am. Mass at 10am and then exposition from 10.30am-11am. Our Lady of Fatima encourages us in this devotion.