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St Mary’s, Irvine, will host the first of our deanery Vocations Masses for all the parishes of North
Ayrshire on Tuesday 13th May at 7pm, during “Good Shepherd week”, the 4th Week of Easter. Please come along to support our efforts to promote Vocations to the Priesthood and to pray that those called by the Lord will say “yes” to him.
Have organised a public meeting on Thursday April 24th in the Volunteer Rooms, Irvine at 730pm . The meeting is to discuss the recently announced cuts in the International Aid Budget and the implications for some of the poorest people. Our speakers at the meeting are Lewis Ryder Jones, advocacy advisor for Oxfam, Scotland and Anne Callaghan, Campaigns Officer for SCIAF. All are welcome. If you want to watch on Zoom, please email jamesandagj@ btinternet .com.
“The death and resurrection of Jesus is the heart of our faith and the basis of our hope”. So, the Holy Father reminded us when he invited us to be Pilgrims of Hope in the Holy Year. Once again in Holy Week, we have been privileged to make the journey of faith from hearing the horrible cry of Jesus on the cross “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me” to listening to the message of the angel at the empty tomb “He is not here, but has risen”. We know this.
But do we make it known?
Our faith in the risen Lord is not a treasure to be held close and nurtured in private. It is Good News that must be celebrated and proclaimed out loud. In the Church’s liturgy, our Alleluia has been silenced for the 6 weeks of Lent. This is so we can sing and shout it out even more in Easter. But it is a word not to be reserved to our churches. Many of those who need to hear it most are unlikely to be inside our churches. So we need to take it to them, to our families and our communities.
As I wish you and your families a happy and holy Easter, I encourage you all to be Pilgrims of Hope who are not afraid to share the message of the risen Christ with your neighbour. Let your Alleluia ring in the ears of others.
Bishop of Galloway
Sunday 27th April in St John’s Hall from 3-4pm. Come along and celebrate Easter with Afternoon Tea. The children of St John’s and Sr Anthony’s will sing their Easter songs. St Matthew’s Malawi Group will look ahead to their trip. All Welcome
St Winin’s have organised a coach for Sunday 25th May. It will leave Dalry Road, Kilwinning at 12 Noon. For more information or to book a place please contact Gerry Quirk on 556680 or 07795632889. Cost person £10.
Let us pray that the use of the new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crises of our times. “How I would like for us to look less at screens and look each other in the eyes more!”
https://thepopevideo.org/april-for-the-use-of-the-new-technologies/
Gospel: John 20:19-31
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.’ Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.’ Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
PROMPTS FOR FAITH-SHARING
When you are feeling anxious, do you focus on solving the problem leading to your anxiety, or do you focus on finding peace in the situation? How might finding peace before all else benefit you?
Have you ever experienced a miracle or something miraculous in your life?
What is a “rejected cornerstone” in your life—something you dismissed early on but later came to realise was essential?
The apostles in today’s reading gather in “Solomon’s portico.” Is there a home or meeting space where you usually gather with your community? What is the benefit of having a gathering place to be and pray?
St John’s – will return again later in the year
St Mary’s – will return again on Wednesday 30th April
The Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes this year will take place from 7th – 14th July. Direct Return Flights from Glasgow Prestwick to Lourdes.Cost £1045 p.p. ( Based on two adults sharing) Full Board. Further information and booking details are available from Joe Walsh Tours. Email: info@joewalshtours.co.uk. Freephone: 0808 1890468.
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