Bhileag (Newsletter) 26th February 2023

Requiem Mass: We pray for the repose of the soul of Flora MacLean (Floraidh Aoidh of Allasdale) who passed away last Saturday in St. Brendan’s Hospital at the wonderful age of 91. Flora has been in and out of the Hospital for the last four months. The Requiem Mass will be on Wednesday 1st March at 11.30am in St. Brendan’s Church in Craigston. Afterwards she will be laid to rest in Cuithir Cemetery. We extend our prayers of love and sympathy to all family. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

Bishop Brian’s Meetings with the Parish: Sadly the Meetings that Bishop Brian planned for Tuesday 28th February have been cancelled. Sadly Calmac “put a spanner in the works” with no boat sailing to Barra on Tuesday 28th February. Hopefully another date & time will be organised.

Special Collection: today for the Pastoral Fund. This Fund helps support safeguarding in the Diocese and also the “Led by the Spirit” project.

Lenten Devotions: today on Sunday 26th February- the 1st Sunday of Lent- there will be Stations of the Cross in St. Barr’s Northbay at 2.00pm.

Stations of the Cross: Each Wednesday evening at 7pm in Craigston. Also after Mass on Tuesday in Eoligarry &  Friday in Vatersay.

Funeral Mass:  The Funeral Mass of the late James Charles MacNeil or CHA as we all knew him will take place on Saturday 4th March at 11.30am in St. Barr’s Northbay and afterwards to be laid to rest in Eoligarry Cemetery. CHA passed away last Sunday in Inverness at the age of 88. CHA had lived for many years in Inverness with his wife Mary. He was very well known in Inverness and beyond and especially here on Barra. CHA was a faithful parishioner wherever he lived and this was recognised when he received the “Bene Merenti” medal which the Pope gives to parishioners who do so much work in their parish. We extend our prayers of love and sympathy to Mary and all the family. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

World Day of Prayer: will take place on Friday 3rd March in Northbay Hall at 7pm. After the service there will be tea and refreshments. This year the Service has been written by the Women of Taiwan. Are there any volunteers to help read at the service? All are welcome to come along.

SCIAF Wee Boxes: during Lent an important thing we do is “Almsgiving”- Please pick up a SCIAF Wee box.

Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal: Thank you for your kind donations from the recent collections to support the SCIAF earthquake appeal. Northbay parish £620.50 and Castlebay Parish £1019.63. Moran Taing!

Recent Baptism: we warmly welcome into the family of the Church Avery MacDonald who was baptised last Sunday in Our Lady of the Waves & St. John on Vatersay. We wish Avery every health, joy and happiness and every blessing upon his parents and Godparents.

Parish 200 Club: We will restart the parish 200 club now. The annual subscription is £12. There are various ways to give the subscription. Please pass the envelope with £12 to Canon John Paul or to leave the envelope in the Sunday Collection basket or to leave at Buth Buidesar/Top Shop or to leave it with Mary Sarah at 20 St. Brendan’s Road. Once we collect all the subscriptions we will then make the first draw for the months of January & February. Sadly over the last couple of years we have lost quite a few names in the Club and we are always looking for new names for the Parish 200 Club. If you wish to join then please see Canon John Paul or contact Mary Sarah (810539). Thanks for all your support.

Lourdes Parish Pilgrimage 2024?: A number of parishioners have approached Canon John Paul to ask about a parish pilgrimage to Lourdes. To give ourselves time and to save up we will look next year to 2024 and look at possible dates and prices. If it is something you might be interested in then let Canon John Paul know and then we can begin to look at all possibilities and especially with numbers who might wish to go.

Tea in Northbay Hall: on the first Sunday of each month there will be tea in Northbay Hall after the 9.30am Northbay Mass. Therefore next Sunday 5th March! All welcome!

WEEKDAY  MASSES:    

Monday 27th Feb……….No Mass

Tuesday 28th Feb………10.00am EOLIGARRY

(& Stations of the Cross)

Wednesday 1st March…11.30am CRAIGSTON

(Requiem Mass)

Thursday 2nd March……….  10.00am NORTHBAY

Friday 3rd March……………. 10.00am VATERSAY

(& Stations of the Cross)

Saturday 4th March…………  11.30am NORTHBAY

(Funeral Mass)

NEXT WEEKEND’S MASSES

4th & 5th March  2023

2nd Sunday of  LENT

Vigil Mass……. 6.00pm   CRAIGSTON

Sunday Masses..9.30am NORTHBAY & 11.30am  CASTLEBAY