My dear brothers and sisters, December 2021
ST NICHOLAS CARE FUND
It is 29 years since Cardinal Winning established the St Nicholas Care Fund in 1992 to provide grants to people living with poverty and inequality in our locality. The donations we receive from you, the generous people of the parishes, enable us to continue to offer this support. So once again, I ask you to give what you can so that we can continue to offer grants to the schools, charities and other community organisations that are working to improve the lives of others in our midst.
This year, the pandemic has had a profound effect on all of us, but as Pope Francis said recently those less fortunate have suffered most – the gap between the haves and the have nots has widened, there has been a sharp rise in the need to help feed families, to support refugees and asylum seekers who have limited access to benefits and the opportunity to work and support themselves, and to offer friendship and hope to those struggling with addiction and loneliness.
With the money you entrust to us, The St Nicholas Care Fund has throughout the year provided grants to schools, churches and other charities to help struggling families, stepping in to provide educational support and equipment to young people who do not have access to modern technology and helping in practical ways people isolated from their families and communities during lockdown.
For the last decade this appeal has been addressed to you by our beloved Archbishop Philip, who died on the Feast of St Mungo earlier this year. He had a special place in his heart for the St Nicholas Care Fund. He saw it as the Church’s way of taking up Pope Francis’ call to be present at the peripheries of society with the love of God and the care of our Holy Mother Church.
He loved to learn of the projects assisted, especially those which helped young people, and always encouraged us to carry on with our efforts to reach out to those in need on our doorstep.
I ask you to dig deep and give what you can so that we can continue to offer financial support to those listening, supporting and improving the lives of those less fortunate and in their name, I say thank you – genuinely and sincerely – for your generosity and trust.
Yours devotedly, Monsignor Hugh Bradley, Diocesan Administrator, Sede Vacante.
ADVENT CAROL SERVICE – ST NINIAN’S, SUNDAY 19th DECEMBER
We warmly welcome you to our Annual Carol Service with our sisters and brothers from St Margaret’s (Church of Scotland), Knightswood Road at 6.30pm this Sunday (19th December).
PIETY STALL
Now open at each of our weekend Masses. As well as general religious items we have Christmas (stock) of cards, candles, Advent calendars, diaries (2022) and other goods on sale. Orders for religious items can always be left for Betty Barrie (stall co-ordinator) on your behalf.
WESTERN CATHOLIC CALENDARS 2022
Now available from stall – price £3.20.
SHELTER SCOTLAND
‘I’M GIVING. WILL YOU?’ Details of how you can help out by gifting your time, rallying your community and supporting Shelter Scotland this Christmas and throughout the year – contact Michael Hamilton, Regional Community Fundraiser – Glasgow on Michael_Hamilton@shelter.org.uk
PARISH HALL
Has been closed until further notice to help us reduce any possible spread of new Omicron/coronavirus variant. Our apologies to all for any inconvenience.
MARY’S MEALS
Our recent fundraiser on 27 November – afternoon tea and auction raised the most generous sum of £1,731 towards the work of Mary’s Meals. Many thanks to our organisers and supporters.
ST NINIAN’S ST VINCENT DE PAUL CONFERENCE
At this time of the year our parish Conference members would like to wish all parishioners a happy and holy Christmas. Your support is most appreciated and remarkable.
PASTORAL LETTER
From our Catholic Bishops (Hierarchy) on the Season of Christmas and the Restoration of Mass Obligation in the Diocese of Scotland can be found on our parish website (in full) – www.stniniansrcc.com
R.I.P.
Our parish community extend our sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of Maria Capaldi (Dorchester Avenue) whose funeral Mass and Committal took place on Saturday (18th December) morning.
The vigil reception of Helen Prior (formerly Blackwood Street) will be on Tuesday 21st at 6pm. Funeral Mass – Wednesday (22nd December) at 10am.
Reception of Frank McCoid (Priory Road) at 10am on Friday (24th December) followed by Funeral Mass.
Our parishioners are welcome to attend these Funeral Masses.
CHRISTMAS MASSES
Friday 24th December – Christmas Vigil Mass at 5pm (led by Children’s Liturgy Group) and Christmas Vigil Mass at 7pm.
Midnight Mass.
Christmas Day – Saturday 25th December – Masses at 8am, 9.30am, 11am and 12.15pm. Please note no evening Mass on Christmas Day.
Feast of Holy Family – Sunday 26th December – Masses at 8am, 9.30am, 11am, 12.15pm and 5pm.
Saturday 1st January 2022 – 9am morning Mass (only).
Feast of the Lord’s Epiphany – Saturday Vigil at 7pm (1st January), Sunday (2nd) 8am, 9.30am, 11am, 12.15pm and 5pm.
Sacrament of Reconciliation – Fr Celestine and Fr Frank are available for the celebration of this Sacrament after weekday and weekend Masses and on request.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS
Fr Celestine, Deacon Tommy and Fr Frank wish all our parishioners and your loved ones a happy and peaceful Christmas and joyous New Year. We thank you all for support, prayers and goodness shown to us throughout the year and for all your gestures at this time of the year.
RECENTLY DIED
Maria Capaldi (Dorchester Avenue), Stacy Thomson, Elizabeth Lowe, Rosie Dorrans (Kilmarnock), Pauline Boland, Eileen McQuaid, Donald Kilpatrick, Marie Therese Curry (Toronto), Betty Thompson, Paul Foley (Temple), Helen (Ella) Prior (Blackwood Street) and Frank McCoid (Priory Road).
MONTHS MIND
George McGhie (Birthday) and Lewis Miller (Birthday).
ANNIVERSARIES
Alex and Kathleen Jackson, Jane McKendry, Bernadette McKendry, John McCabe (Snr), Edward Murphy, Elizabeth McGeough, Sr Anne O’Reilly, Jack and Maisie McGhie, Jeana White Cairney and Joe Geoghegan.