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Please remember the following deaths in your prayers
William Dolan RIP — Vigil Reception will take place in St John’s on Tuesday at 6pm. Funeral Mass will take place on Wednesday at 10am followed by burial in High Road Cemetery
Bernadette Christian RIP—Graveside Service will take place in High Road Cemetery on Wednesday at 2pm.
+May they rest in peace+
SYNOD ON SYNODALITY: WHAT IS A SYNOD? ‘Synod’ is an ancient word in the Tradition of the Church. The concept of ‘synod’ is evident from the earliest days of the Catholic Church, for example the Jerusalem ‘Council’ described in Acts 15. For the first time, Pope Francis is inviting all baptised people to participate in a synod on synodality, called For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission. Over the coming months, you will hear the words ‘synod’ and ‘synodality’ regularly. Essentially, a synod is a meeting or assembly of the Church to prayerfully contemplate and discern the path forward, guided by the Holy Spirit. Synodality means journeying together in a prayerful way. Bishop Nolan has produced a video to invite all of us to participate in the Synod on Synodality. He tells us that “Pope Francis asks that we have the courage to speak out, to voice our opinions, but also that we have humility – the humility to listen…to other viewpoints, the humility to be open to change our minds”. We will do this through prayerful encounters which will be facilitated by people who have been trained for this role. The video can be seen at gallowaydiocese.org.uk/synod, or at the dedicated Facebook page https://fb.me/gallowaysynod.
Lists are available for our deceased relatives and friends during the month of November. Please hand them into St Mary’s parish office or St John’s Sacristy where they will be placed on the Altar during this month. Those included on the list will be remembered in masses in both churches as well as Canon Matt and Fr McCabe in Cape Town.
A Celebration of Mass during COP26, Glasgow for Conference Delegates, Visitors to Glasgow and the Faithful of Scotland will take place on Sunday 7th November at 1pm in St Aloysuis’ Church, Glasgow. Places must be booked on Eventbrite in order to attend. To register a place visit bit.ly/MassCop26
SYCAMORE COURSE. Bishop Nolan has invited the diocese to come together to discern the will of God in the way we take forward our faith and Catholic Christian witness after the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. It is a call and an opportunity for the whole diocesan family to pray, reflect and support one another whilst respecting our diversity. The Sycamore Course offers a pastoral response through building faith, prayer, mission and community, If interested please contact your parish Co-Ordinator; Julie Breen Tel: 07877741739 or email jmtbreen@aol.com for St Mary’s and Tricia Monaghan Tel: 07778660712 or email pmonagh25@gmail.com for St John’s. The next session ‘The Gift of Faith’ will take place tomorrow (Monday) 7pm-8:30pm in St John’s parish hall and Tuesday 1pm-2pm in St Mary’s parish hall. All welcome.
The Youth Ministry Office invites all young people (upto 26yrs) to join them in their 6 week sessions on Sunday’s from 6pm-8pm in St Margaret’s Cathedral, Ayr. More information can be found on our website or contact youth@gallowaydiocese.org.uk or visit their facebook page.
GOSPEL REFLECTION. Gospel Reflection live streamed at 2pm on Monday.
Meetings will be suspended during the Sycamore Courses.
The diocesan website has been updated to reflect the current work of the Safeguarding Team. The pages can be accessed by visiting www.gallowaydiocese.org.uk and selecting “Safeguarding”. This will bring you to a new page with a further menu providing information on different aspects of Safeguarding within the diocese. Please note that any volunteers who still require training can visit the “Training” page and contact any trainer to arrange a session, or can join a session scheduled in the calendar.
First Reading: Jeremiah 31:7-9
The Lord says this: Shout with joy for Jacob! Hail the chief of nations! Proclaim! Praise! Shout: “The Lord has saved his people, the remnant of Israel!” See, I will bring them back from the land of the North and
gather them from the far ends of earth; all of them: the blind and the lame, women with child, women in labour: a great company returning here. They had left in tears, I will comfort them as I lead them back; I will guide them to streams of water, by a smooth path where they will not stumble. For I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born son. The Word of the Lord.
PSALM 125
R/ What marvels the Lord worked for us. Indeed we were glad.
1. When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage, it seemed like a dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, on our lips there were songs. R/
2. The heathens themselves said: “What marvels the Lord worked for them!” What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad. R/
3. Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage as streams in dry land. Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap. R/
4. They go out, they go out, full of tears, carrying seed for the sowing: they come back, they come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves. R/
Second Reading: Hebrews 5:1-6
Every high priest has been taken out of mankind and is appointed to act for men in their relations with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins; and so he can sympathise with those who are ignorant or uncertain because he too lives in the limitations of weakness. That is why he has to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one take this honour on himself, but each one is called by God, as Aaron was. Nor did Christ give himself the glory of becoming high priest, but he had it from the one who said to him: You are my son, today I have become your father, and in another text: You are a priest of the order of Melchizedek, and for ever.
The Word of the Lord
Gospel: Mark 10:46-52
As Jesus left Jericho with his disciples and a large crowd, Bartimaeus (that is, the son of Timaeus), a blind beggar, was sitting at the side of the road. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout and to say, “Son of David, Jesus, have pity on me.” And many of them scolded him and told him to keep quiet, but he only shouted all the louder, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him here.” So they called the blind man, “Courage,” they said “get up; he is calling you.” So throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and went to Jesus. Then Jesus spoke, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Rabbuni,” the blind man said to him “Master, let me see again.” Jesus said to him, “Go; your faith has saved you.” And immediately his sight returned and he followed him along the road.
PROMPTS FOR FAITH-SHARING
Today’s psalm tells us, “Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.” How have you experienced this in your life?
The letter to the Hebrews says that a “high priest …. he can sympathise with those who are ignorant or uncertain.” How do you treat others with compassion, especially those you disagree with?
The disciples tell Bartimaeus, “Courage; get up; he is calling you.” How have you experienced the call of Jesus in your life?
Where are you in need of courage at this moment on your journey of faith?
GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION
The Regulation came into force on Friday 25th May 2018, and gives individuals greater rights and control over the use of their personal information. Your privacy is important to the Parish Communities of St. John’s and St. Mary’s. We use the personal data, provided by you for Pastoral support and the administration of weekly collections. The information is held securely and confidentially in electronic or paper format. We will not share this information with third parties without your prior consent. A fuller Privacy Notice is now available on the Diocesan website. www.gallowaydiocese.org.uk/privacy-policy-and-gdpr