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

Bhileag 31st January 2021

Churches Closed & No Public Mass: Sadly with the positive Covid-19 cases on the island  the Scottish Government has placed our islands of Barra & Vatersay into Tier 4 with the rest of mainland Scotland. Also now the whole of the Western Isles is in Tier 4- with Covid 19 cases in Stornoway and Benbecula. It was lovely to know that there was public Masses still being celebrated in the islands but sadly not any more. Now that the whole of the Western Isles is in Tier 4 therefore the priority is to STAY AT HOME. Now that we are in Tier 4 all the Churches on the island are now closed and you cannot enter them. There is no public Mass until further notice. The Scottish Government will review things on Tuesday 2nd February.

 

Church Private Prayer: Now that we are in Tier 4 you cannot go to the Church for private prayer. Please stay at home and pray in the comfort and safety of your homes.

 

Candlemas: this coming Tuesday (2nd February) is the feast of the Presentation of the Child Jesus and the day we call Candlemas. Normally candles are blessed in our churches on that day and then people are encouraged to take candles home and to light a candle and say a prayer. Even though we cannot go to Church this year because of the restrictions we can still do something from the safety of our homes. On Tuesday please light a candle in your home and say a prayer to the Lord Jesus- the light of the World- to bless and protect your home and your family and our islands during this Pandemic.

 

Prayer for Candlemas

Lord God, you are the source of everlasting light.

Your son, our beloved Lord Jesus

was presented in the temple 40 days after his birth.

He was recognised by Simeon and Anna,

and welcomed as the promised Messiah.

May we like them, behold the glory of the Lord Jesus.

Grant that we may stand before you

with hearts cleansed by your forgiving love.

May we serve you all our days

and make your name known

as we worship you as our Lord.

So may we come by your grace to eternal life.

Lord Jesus, light of the world,

bless my family and my home and keep us

all safe through this Coronavirus Pandemic.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Parish Newsletter / Bhileag: Canon John Paul will leave copies of the Bhileag-/the Church Newsletter in Buth Bhuidsear each Saturday morning. Also the newsletter can be found on the parish website or St Barr’s facebook.

 

Canon John Paul: continues to avoid the Covid-19 virus on the island. He is keeping well and doing what the rest on the island is doing and staying at home. He is remembering you all in a special way in his prayers and in his own private Masses in Our Lady Star of the Sea.  He is praying for those who are unwell with Covid-19 on the island and praying for their quick recovery and praying that as quickly the virus came upon our island that it may disappear just as quick. Let us keep strong and keep faith and look after each other in these difficult times. In our time of isolation in our homes let us use our time of isolation to pray more and to pray for each other and to pray for our islands to be kept safe.

 

Holy Mass on line: please remember that we can watch Sunday Mass (or daily Mass) on line. Bishop Brian in Oban celebrates daily Mass on the Diocesan Facebook /Youtube channel at 10am. You can find lots of parishes around Scotland live streaming their Masses.

 

Prayers for the Faithful departed: we remember in our prayers the repose of the soul of  Brenda Campbell of Kilmarnock and Barra  (Glen) who passed away recently in Kilmarnock. Brenda’s Funeral will be in Kilmarnock on 11th February. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord. Amen.

We also remember those whose anniversaries which occur about now- Mary Catherine MacLeod (Scurrival), Donald Patrick Sinclair (Horve), Flora Gillies ( Caolis), Donald John Galbraith (Castlebay/Glen), Joseph MacKinnon (Barra & London), Charles McShane, William MacInnes (Eoligarry), Hugh MacIntyre, Katie MacIntyre, Katie Douglas (Leinish), Angus John MacIntyre (Brevig), Donald John MacIntyre (Brevig), Micheal MacLeod (Scurrival), Archie MacLean (Eoligarry), Fiona McClements (Earsary), Donald Edward MacLean (Allasdale & Vatersay)l Mary Bell Bezer (Manchester). Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

 

BARRA 200 CLUB: Sadly it has been decided for this year of 2021 that we will not gather the subscriptions for the Barra 200 Club and that there will be NO draws this year. Now that we are in Tier 4 and that we have had our first Covid-19 cases on the island it is important that people stay at home and keep safe. Therefore please do not leave any subscription money at the Post office or in the usual places. Thank you for the support that you have always given!

 

WEEKDAY  MASSES:

Monday 1st Feb……No Mass

Tuesday  2nd Feb…….No Mass

Wednesday 3rd Feb…..No Mass

Thursday 4th Feb…..No Mass

Friday 5th Feb….No Mass

Saturday 6th Feb….No Mass

 

NEXT WEEKEND

6th & 7th February 2021

5th Sunday of Year B

Saturday Vigil Masses…..  No Mass

Sunday Masses………    No Mass