Bhileag 30th December 2018

Annual Community Carol Service: today (30th December) there will be the annual community carol service in Northbay Hall at 3.00pm. Come along and join in the singing of some favourite Christmas Carols and enjoy a “wee mince pie or two!” Everyone welcome.

Christmas: Fr. John Paul and Fr. Emmanuel wish to thank everyone who prepared our churches for Christmas. All the Churches look so beautiful. Thank you to all who helped in the Christmas Masses- thank you to the Musicians and choirs, to the Altar servers, flower arrangers, readers, pass-keepers & Eucharistic ministers. Fr. John Paul & Fr. Emmanuel wish to thank everyone for their lovely Christmas cards and gifts. Moran Taing uile!

Monday: is the last day of 2018. For so many years Fr. Peter Banyard used to celebrate a Mass late on New Year’s Eve to look over the past year and then to look forward to a New Year. We will continue this- therefore the Mass will be at 9.00pm in Vatersay and in a special way we will remember Fr Peter.

New Years Day: Tuesday is of course New Years Day (the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God) and what better way to begin a New Year than to go to Mass and receive God’s blessing upon you and your families. There will be Mass in Castlebay at 11.00am and in Northbay at 12.30pm. It is not a holyday of Obligation but it is an important day to pray for God’s blessing for 2019.

Justice & Peace: next weekend of the 5th/6th January there will be a letter read out on behalf of Justice and Peace Scotland. Also there will be a special collection for the work of Justice and Peace at each of the Masses.

Vatersay Sunday Mass: next Sunday (6th Jan) being the first Sunday of January there will be Mass at 4.00pm in Our Lady of the Waves & St. John on Vatersay.

Mgr. Gerard McKay: we remember in our prayers the repose of the soul of Mgr. Gerard McKay who was a priest of our diocese of Argyll & The Isles. Mgr. McKay was from Dunoon and for a few years he served in the Diocese (in Taynuilt) but for most of his ministry he worked in Rome, in the Roman Rota (Defender of the bond of Marriage) in the Vatican. Mgr.  McKay passed away peacefully on Saturday 29th December. His Funeral will take place in Rome on Friday 4th January. On Monday 7th January Bishop Brian will celebrate a Mass for the diocese in praying for the repose of the soul of Mgr. McKay. The Mass will be in St. Columba’s Cathedral in Oban at 12 Noon. May he rest in God’s eternal peace.