Star of the Sea, Castlebay, The Isle of Barra. HS9 5XD.
Phone 01871 810267
Email Addres castlebay@rcdai.org.uk

Bhileag 23rd May 2021

Reserve a seat for Mass: If you wish to go to Sunday Mass please phone /text /email Canon John Paul and let him know which Mass you would like to go to. Let Canon John Paul know if you want your name left down for each Sunday and he is happy to do that.  For Mass on Wednesday in Craigston and Thursday in Northbay you can sign in at the church door.

Please note that there is no Sunday Obligation at the moment. Therefore you can treat a weekday Mass as your Sunday Mass just now. If you are still wondering about returning to Mass- then think about firstly going to a quieter Mass through the week.

 

The Feast of Pentecost: today the Church brings the Easter season to a close with the Solemnity of Pentecost. We pray on this Feast for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to come down upon our homes, families and churches today. May the Holy Spirit bless and strengthen us all in this strange and difficult times of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Bishops of Scotland, England and Wales have written Pastoral letters for all people to read on the Solemnity of Pentecost. The Bishops highlight our need to take care of our world and its resources. As the Scottish Bishops say “we have been entrusted by God with the care of the earth, but sadly we have not just used the earth we have abused it. The earth, our common home is given to all humanity and its resources are not just for us to use now but to be preserved and passed on to future generations”. Canon John Paul will read out the Pastoral letter of the Scottish Bishops at all Masses for Pentecost.

 

Baptisms & Weddings & Funerals: please note that the capacity for Baptisms, weddings and Funerals in the Church is now at 50-however that depends on the size of the church.  That’s fine for Castlebay and Northbay Church but not really for the other three Churches. Also the people you invite to a baptism or wedding or funeral-You will have to write down a list of the names & phone numbers of those who wish to attend and for that list to be handed to Canon John Paul.

 

Recent Funeral: We continue to remember in our prayers the repose of the soul of John MacPherson who died on 5th May in Glasgow at the age of 55.  John had spent a large part of his life in Glasgow working as a barman in the Park Bar, The Ben Nevis and latterly the Lismore Bar. John’s Requiem Mass took place on Friday 21st May in St. Barr’s Church in Northbay and afterwards John was laid to rest in Eoligarry Graveyard. May he rest in peace. Amen.

 

Housebound visits: Canon John Paul received his 2nd Vaccine on Saturday 8th May and now that we are in Level one in the islands -he is happy to visit any housebound. Please get in touch with Canon John Paul and a day and time can be organised for a house visit. Or if there are any family members who wish to phone on behalf of any housebound then please get in contact with Canon John Paul.

 

Rosary & Benediction: today (23rd May) in Our Lady Star of the Sea- Castlebay  Church at 4.00pm.

 

Prayers for the Faithful departed: We remember those whose anniversaries which occur about now….Eilidh MacLeod (Castlebay/Vatersay),  Michael “Lach” MacLean (Craigston/Borve), Dindac Buchanan (Leanish), Peigi MacNeil (Leanish), Iain MacNeil (Earsary),  Flora MacNeil (Daliburgh).  

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

 

Recent Baptisms: we warmly welcome into the family of the Church Iona Campbell who was baptised in St. Brendan’s in Craigston on Saturday 22nd May. We wish Iona and her parents Ewen & Mairead and the Godparents every blessing.

We also welcome into the family of the Church Freya Helen MacInnes who was baptised in Our Lady Star of the Sea in Castlebay on Saturday 22nd May. We wish Freya and her parents Anna & Ally and the Godparents every blessing.

 

WEEKDAY MASS:

Mon 24th  May…………No Mass

Tue 25th May……….  10.00am EOLIGARRY

Wed 26th May….. 12 Noon  CRAIGSTON

Thur 27th May…….. 10.00am   NORTHBAY

Fri 28th May…………. 10.00am  VATERSAY

Sat 29th  May……….No Mass

 

NEXT WEEKEND

29th & 30th May 2021

Solemnity of  the Holy Trinity

Saturday Vigil Mass..4pm & 6pm CRAIGSTON

Sunday Masses……. 9.30am    NORTHBAY

11.30am   CASTLEBAY