Bhileag 23rd January 2022

Recent Funeral: we remember in our prayers the repose of the soul of Alasdair MacKay of Garrynamonie in South Uist. Alasdair was the brother of the late Canon Donald MacKay- who of course was a previous parish priest of Castlebay. Canon Donald passed away on 13th August 2017. Alasdair often came to visit Barra and visit his brother Canon Donald and many here on the island got to meet him. Alasdair had “Down’s Syndrome” and he reached the wonderful age of 71. Up until the lockdown (March 2020) Alasdair had been living in his own home in Garrynamonie but then during lockdown he moved into the Sacred Heart Home in Daliburgh. Alasdair passed away on Monday17th January in Hospital in Glasgow. The Requiem Mass of Alasdair took place on Thursday 20th January in Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Garrynamonie and then Alasdair was laid to rest in the Daliburgh Graveyard beside his parents and brother Canon Donald. Alasdair was a lovely man and a real character who loved his music, his Ceilidhs and dancing. We remember Alasdair in our prayers and give thanks to God for his life. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Children’s Sacraments: The Children will soon be preparing for the Sacraments this Year. There are 10 Children in P4 who will prepare to make their first Confession and then prepare for their First Holy Communion.

Also this year will be the first year that we return back to Children in P7 who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. In the recent past we Confirmed the children in P4 but it was felt that it was far too much for the children to take on in one year. Therefore Bishop Brian in consultation with the Priests of the Diocese decided to move the Sacrament of Confirmation to P7. There will be 9 children who will be confirmed and it is planned that Bishop Brian McGee will come to the island to confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on those children. Let us remember in our daily prayers all the children preparing for the sacraments this year.

Synod on Synodality: this year Pope Francis has begun an important process for the Church called “For a Synodal church-Communion, participation & Mission”. Pope Francis explains that the term “Synodal” is from the Greek- meaning “on the road together”. Pope Francis wants the whole church to come together and pray together and journey together and look at ways of building up the church. Every Diocese has been asked to put forward names for co-ordinators from every parish to help in this process. The Coordinators will then work with the main Diocesan representatives who are Fr Danny Convery (parish priest of Roybridge) along with Marianne Lucchesi (a parishioner of Roybridge).

Canon John Paul is looking for 2 names –someone from Castlebay Parish and someone from Northbay parish to put forward their name and then Canon John Paul will pass on their details to Fr. Danny Convery. They will coordinate information to the parishes. If anyone can help then please get in contact with Canon John Paul. The focus on the first stage of this Synodal process is listening to the local church. What is the Holy Spirit saying to us in Argyll & the Isles? It is an important time of listening to one another.

For more information on the synod please go online– www.synod.va/en.html

WEEKDAY MASS:     

Mon 24th January……..No Mass

Tue 25th January……..10.00am  EOLIGARRY

Wed 26th January…… 12 Noon CRAIGSTON

Thur 27th January…….10.00am  NORTHBAY

Fri 28th January……….10.00am VATERSAY

Sat 29th  January …….10.00am  CASTLEBAY

NEXT WEEKEND’S MASSES

29th  & 30th  JANUARY 2022

4th Sunday of Year C

Vigil Mass………  6.00pm  CRAIGSTON

Sunday Masses…..9.30am  NORTHBAY

11.30am  CASTLEBAY