Newsletter (Bhileag) 18th December 2022

WEEKDAY  MASSES: 

Mon 19th December………..No Mass

Tue 20th December……….10.00am  EOLIGARRY

Wed 21st December…… 12 Noon CRAIGSTON

Thur 22nd December……..10.00am NORTHBAY

Fri 23rd December……….10.00am VATERSAY

Sat 24th December…….. No morning Mass

CHRISTMAS EVE:   7.00pm  NORTHBAY (Family Mass)

                                          9.00pm VATERSAY

                                          11.00pm CRAIGSTON

CHRISTMAS DAY:  9.30am  EOLIGARRY

                                        11.30am CASTLEBAY (Family Mass)

CHURCH NOTICES

Funerals: we remember in our prayers the repose of the soul of Patrick Carrigan who for the last couple of years has been staying with his sister Margaret MacLeod in Allasdale. Patrick passed away in St. Brendan’s Hospital at the age of 84. The Funeral Mass took place on Thursday 15th December in St. Brendan’s Craigston and then Patrick was laid to rest in Cuithir Cemetery. We extend our prayers of sympathy to Margaret and all the family. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

We pray also for Duncan Campbell of Oban & Vatersay who recently passed away aged 94 in a care home outside Oban. Duncan’s Funeral will take place in Oban on Monday 19th December and he will be laid to rest there too. We extend our prayers and sympathy to all family. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

We also remember in our prayers the repose of the soul of Iain Stewart of Benbecula who passed away recently. Many of us knew Iain very well as he was a BT engineer and he worked on our islands for many years but he also had his own Barra connections! He was also remembered for his work with the Southern isles football especially in his role as a referee. Iain had only just retired from BT and he looked forward to a good long retirement but sadly it was not meant to be. Iain passed away in Benbecula hospital on Friday 9th December aged 66. The Funeral took place on Saturday 17th December in St. Mary’s Griminish. We extend our prayers of sympathy to Iain’s brother Roddy at this very sad time. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Church preparations for Christmas: over the next week all our Churches will begin to get ready for Christmas. Castlebay Church Christmas decorations will go up today (18th December) after the 11.30am Mass. For Craigston Church it will be Wednesday 21st December at 2pm. For the other Churches you will hear by “word of mouth”. If you can help in cleaning or preparing any of the churches then please go along.

Christmas Mass times:

Christmas Eve (Saturday 24th December) 7.00pm Northbay     9.00pm Vatersay      11.00pm Craigston

Christmas Day (Sunday 25th December)  9.30am Eoligarry      11.30am Castlebay

Sacrament of Confession: Saturday 24th December:- 9.30am-10am Castlebay & 12noon -12.30pm Northbay

Annual Community Carol Service: on Thursday 29th December at 3pm in Northbay Hall. Come along and continue the festive Christmas time with singing carols and enjoying a cup of tea with a few nice mince pies! All welcome.

Pastoral Letter regarding the Diocese: please take home the Pastoral Letter from Bishop Brian which is entitled “Discerning together God’s path for our Diocese”. Bishop Brian will visit every parish in the Diocese during the month of January 2023. He will come to Barra on Tuesday 17th January 2023. There will be a meeting for Castlebay parish at 6pm and then a meeting at 8pm for Northbay parish.

Craigston Church Windows: If anyone wishes to help by giving any donations towards the cost of £8500 for the new Church windows then………….The Parish account details are…..RCD Argyll & the Isles Castlebay Mission    Sort Code 839125    Account Number 65627538

Please make out any cheques to – RCD Argyll & the Isles Castlebay Mission. Any donations will be a great support. Moran Taing! Thank you!

Canon John Paul wishes everyone a very happy & Holy Christmas and he prays that as families come together for this festive holy time that the Lord Jesus may pour his blessings upon you all.

Nollaig Chrìdheil a h-uile duine!