Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I hope you have been refreshed by the celebrations of Christmas and New Year.
As you know, Pope Francis has invited the whole Church to embark on a “synodal journey”, one that will climax at the next Synod of Bishops in October 2023. Continue reading →
My Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Every year we begin the new year by praying for justice and for peace. And each year it seems that justice and peace are beyond our grasp, yet ever more necessary than the year before. As we look around us, we see a world where justice and peace are an elusive dream for so many but not a reality. Continue reading →
At the beginning of Advent, the Bishops of Scotland looked forward to welcoming the faithful back to Holy Mass and anticipated that the restoration of the Sunday Obligation might be possible as we begin the New Year. Sadly, there has been a serious worsening of the situation and the restoration of the obligation will be postponed until a more favourable time. For us, Sunday is always a Holy Day and we invite those who are unable to be with us in person to continue to join with us in prayer and spiritual communion either by personal or family prayers or by online celebrations of Mass. Continue reading →
Following the recent announcement by the First Minister (3rd August 2021) there are two main practical implications: Continue reading →
God saw all that he had made and indeed it was very good.[1]
God’s creation is a great gift to all humanity, and humanity itself is an integral part of that creation. We are blessed by having the earth for our common home. It is a place of great beauty, teeming with life of all kinds, a world full of wonderful resources which enable us not only to live but to enhance our way of life. In nature, God’s glory is revealed for all to see.[2] St Francis of Assisi was prominent among the saints in giving praise to God for the wonder of creation.[3] Continue reading →
In the wake of the First Minister’s recent announcements, from Monday, 19th July, we move to Level 0 of the Covid restrictions. It has practical positive implications for our communal worship:
CTVC in partner with Million Minutes and Father Christopher Jamison OSB, have created a series of online resources to help people live through the pandemic based on real people such as monks and nuns. Continue reading →
“The COVID-19 pandemic has been a great and unexpected trial. But for Catholics this trial is not only economic, social, or medical—it is spiritual.” Continue reading →
The present global pandemic is having a profound effect on everyone. It presents an enormous challenge to us all. That challenge is survival, survival in all sorts of ways: physically, emotionally, spiritually and financially. Continue reading →
The current situation is badly affecting individuals, families and businesses. Many face very difficult decisions on a daily basis and now it’s exacerbated by a very uncertain future. Because our churches remain closed to fight the coronavirus threat, our usual means of upkeeping the parish (Sunday collection) isn’t possible. Some of you have asked how they could continue to support our parish financially, some of you have already made donations (for which I am very grateful). I’m writing this extremely reluctantly because I understand that many of you struggle to keep yourselves above the water.