PARISH CLERGY – WELCOME RETURN
To Fr Celestine from his annual holiday in Nigeria. We wish Father every happiness in the forthcoming year. We thank Fr Joe (McNulty) and Fr John (Clark) for their ministry with us and uplifting and comforting friendship to Fr Frank over the past seven weeks and throughout the past years.
REST IN PEACE
Our parish community extends our sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of
Tommy Queen (Fulton Street)
Whose funeral Mass and Committal took place on Friday 26th February.
– May he Rest in Peace –
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION – PRIMARY 3
Due to the current (Covid) restrictions on public/communal worship in our Churches, we will not be able to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation with our parish P3 schoolchildren during the month of March (8th and 15th). If it is at all possible we hope to celebrate this important Sacrament with our children before the end of the school year in June.
CATHOLIC UNIVERSE AND CATHOLIC TIMES
Regular readers are unable to collect these papers from the Church stall but may have it delivered directly to your home every week. POST FREE. Please go to https://thecatholicuniverse.com/ or call 0161 820 5722 – special offer 3 months – £25. Special offer 12 months – £99 – digital copy 12 months – £55. Digital copy/and hard copy for £115 (Easter special offer).
SOUP KITCHEN ISSUES PLEA (Evening Times: Friday 19th February 2021)
A soup kitchen is appealing for donations to buy kitchen utensils. Due to an ‘increase in demand’ for its services, Homeless Project Scotland – which runs the facility from underneath the Hellanman’s Umbrella (Argyle Street) – are in urgent need of new supplies. To donate towards the cost of new equipment, visit localgiving.org/charity/homeless-project-scotland.
SCIAF – WEE BOX, BIG CHANGE
SCIAF’s Lenten Appeal 2021 focuses on the ongoing crisis in South Sudan and how a generation of children with disabilities are locked out of an education and trapped in a cycle of poverty. The frequent conflict has left behind a legacy of fear, displacement, and despair, making it one of the world’s poorest and most fragile states. Children with disabilities were already the most vulnerable in society. Now the coronavirus pandemic has deepened already existing levels of poverty, putting them at greater risk. When a crisis comes, be it conflict, famine, or even the coronavirus, its vulnerable children in the poorest countries who suffer most.
Many children with disabilities in South Sudan are not able to go to school or, later on, to work and earn a living. They may have no access to support services or hospitals for treatment. They may face stigma and exclusion. Due to a lack of education and opportunities, children with disabilities can miss out on vital learning that helps them to break out of the cycle of poverty, unlock their potential and live life to the full.
Vaida, who features in your WEE BOX pack, was just 14 when she became paralysed and completely dependent on her family members. After years of war and instability, South Sudan has little infrastructure to provide even emergency medical treatment for children with disabilities, let alone the long-term care required for a child-like Vaida to live a healthy, happy life.
Children born in the world’s poorest places deserve a chance to live a full life.
Our parishes can change the future of children like Vaida for the better and help more children with disabilities in South Sudan to live life to the full. When you support our WEE BOX appeal, you help us to work hand in hand with our local partners and key community members, so that children with disabilities in South Sudan can access the education and support they need to improve their lives.
Our parish’s support will help to adopt six schools so that pupils with disabilities can access mainstream education. Teachers will be trained so they understand the needs of children with disabilities and how to include them in their classes. The children will be provided with aids, such as wheelchairs, ramps, hearing aids, and canes, as well as healthcare, so they can live more independently and actively participate in lessons, sports, and other activities with their classmates.
Even a small amount can make a big difference, especially as, this year, your donation will be doubled by the U.K. government. £35 could buy a classroom desk so that children don’t need to sit on the floor.
‘We need to care for and accompany people with disabilities in every condition of life – taking on situations of marginalisation with strength and tenderness’ – Pope Francis.
SCIAF DAY OF PRAYER – FRIDAY 12th MARCH
We hope that you will join thousands of parishioners and pupils throughout Scotland for our SCIAF Day of Prayer on 12th March, as we come together as one to offer our prayers for our sisters and brothers living in South Sudan.
UK AID MARCH 2021
We are delighted to announce that from 12 February to 11 May, all public donations to our WEE BOX, BIG CHANGE appeal will be doubled by the UK government.
Your generosity helps to support SCIAF’s life-changing work worldwide, while match funding from the UK government will provide a lifeline to children with disabilities, their families, and communities in South Sudan.
24 HOUR LENTEN FAST FOR SCIAF
You can take part on a date of your choosing. Find out more at www.sciaf.org.uk/24hourfast
SCIAF’s work is saving and transforming lives, however, this is only possible because of the generosity and prayers of our parishes throughout Scotland.
Together, we will help children with disabilities in South Sudan to access the education and support they need to build a bright future.
Thank you again for your ongoing support year on year. You are helping to improve the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable children.
The deadline for sending donations to SCIAF in order for them to be doubled by the UK aid match is 11 May 2021.
If you would like a WEE BOX, BIG CHANGE pack – please contact the Church house.
During this prolonged lockdown, we can still support SCIAF and share their Lenten message. Everything you need can be found at www.sciaf.org.uk/weebox