ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICE
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Ash Wednesday Service will not be able to go ahead as usual. However, we have posted the Ash Wednesday Mass transcript on the St. Ninian’s Church website should anyone want to do it at home.
Just go to https://www.stniniansrcc.com/ash-wednesday-service-for-parishioners-at-home/.
ARCHDIOCESAN SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT TO PARISHES 2021
The Bishops’ Conference has stated that the Catholic Church in Scotland is concerned with the lives, safety, wholeness, and wellbeing of each individual person within God’s purpose for everyone. It seeks to safeguard the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults who are involved in whatever capacity with the Church and its organisations. As a Church community, we accept that it is the responsibility of all of us, ordained, professed, paid, and voluntary members to work together to prevent the physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
Pope Francis has asked that our families are made aware that they have every right to expect that they are safe and secure in ‘Our Father’s House’.
As part of our commitment to Safeguarding, it is vitally important that we remember those who have been harmed or abused either by a member of the Church, members of their family, or any other person. It is asked of us that we pray and care about them. In 2019, the Bishops of Scotland established an annual Day of Prayer for those who have suffered abuse and individuals and communities who are affected by abuse. This Day of Prayer is to be marked each year on the Friday following Ash Wednesday. This year the Day of Prayer falls on the 19th of February. This day allows the Church to renew its apology to anyone who has suffered and to stress its commitment to the essential work of safeguarding across our parish communities. In the parish of St Ninian’s, we will be marking this day of prayer in Masses celebrated by Fr Frank and Fr Joe.
The Archdiocese of Glasgow is fully committed to safeguarding as an integral part of life in the Church. Both the Archdiocese and our parish of St Ninian’s embrace the special responsibility we have for all children, young people, and vulnerable adults who are part of our faith community. In our Church porch and parish hall, there is a poster/information which highlights our Safeguarding manual and has contact details for the parish, the parish coordinator, and the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. Please make contact with them or the Parish Priest if you have any concerns regarding the abuse or harm of any child, young person, or vulnerable adult.
Safeguarding in our parish is with us in all aspects of our living faith. Each year, as Parish Priest, Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinators, and volunteers, we commit ourselves to these principles and to renewing and improving our practice. We adhere to the protocols and procedures laid out by the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland in the document In God’s Image. These procedures and the vigilance of those involved in the life of the parish help us to ensure that everyone should feel safe when they come to Mass, services, groups, or social events.
All of us involved in Safeguarding within the Archdiocese are grateful for all the hard work done by all our Parish Priests, Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinators, and our parish volunteers.
If you have any questions about our parish/diocesan policies on Safety and Awareness, or if you have any concerns about any of these matters here in St Ninian’s then please speak immediately to our Parish Child Safety Officer, James Horsfield, tel – 07808898845 or to Fr Frank or Deacon Tommy 0141 959 1754, Fr Celestine or Sister Anne (Helpers of the Holy Souls) – 0141 434 1371.
MAKE LENT MEANINGFUL
In preparing for Lent, Pope Francis quotes the prophet Amos ‘what I want is mercy, not sacrifice’, a shift of emphasis away from what I do, to what God does in me. This is a subtle move to let God work within and to transform us into more loving human beings, not out of our own effort, but from our own poverty and humility that lets God in.
Yet people may still get caught up in Lent as simply a time of self-sacrifice, a giving up of stuff through self-discipline or willpower. Nothing wrong with that but just notice the emphasis on the self and what ‘I’ am doing. It seems almost to cut God out of the picture. The better question is ‘what is God asking of me at this moment, what is holding me back, how can I bloom and grow?’
The quote by Amos is inviting us to act in a merciful or loving way, which is subtly different. For example, a person may be called to go the extra mile with someone, to mend a fractured relationship, to ask forgiveness for a hurt caused, to turn away from vice, and reform their life. Not to mention the ecological crisis facing our planet, the cry of the earth.
Obviously, there is sacrifice involved here and there is always a cost in changing for the better, but the goal is not sacrifice, it’s trying to do the right thing, the loving thing and it can be hard – doing what God wants though brings its own courage, hidden strength, and grace that allows us to go beyond our normal selves.
REST IN PEACE
Our parish community extends our sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of
Louise Murray (Great Western Road)
Robert Haddow (Laurel Street, Partick)
whose funeral Masses and Committals took place on Tuesday (9th February) and Wednesday (10th February) mornings.
– May they Rest in Peace –
PARISH CLERGY
In the absence of Fr Celestine, Fr Joe McNulty is in residence with Fr Frank and are both happy to be contacted at any time. We continue to celebrate our daily Mass for your intentions and hold you each dearly in our hearts and daily prayer.
PARISH FINANCE
Many thanks to all our parishioners for your generosity towards our parish and clergy, it is most appreciated.
MANY THANKS – CARE AND COMPASSION
To everyone who continues to hand in food and clothing for those in need. We continue to make our contribution to all those who are struggling to cope on a day to day basis to anyone in need of our support. Any donations of food or clothing can be handed into the Church house.
‘You pray for the hungry, then feed them. That is how prayer works.’ – Pope Francis
PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO DIED RECENTLY
JANE MORTON
BOBBY IRVINE
JOHN WRIGHT (USA)
MICHAEL KILROY (Canada)
THOMAS QUEEN (Fulton St)
LOUISE MURRAY (Great Western Rd)
WILLIAM RICHARDSON (Golf Dr)
PATRICK WHITE (Carmyle)
JAMES MATHIESON (Greenock)
JAMES COYLE (Rotherwood Avenue)
ROBERT HADDOW (Laurel Street, Partick)
JOSE MARIA DIAZ REGANON (Madrid)
EMMA BURNS (Erskine Care Home, Dorchester Drive)
– May they Rest in Peace –
PLEASE PRAY FOR WHOSE ANNIVERSARIES OCCUR ABOUT NOW
TERESA CONNOLLY
MARY MADDEN
JOHN McCABE (Jnr)
MARGARET McDERMOTT
DANNY O’DONNELL
ELLEN FRIEL
DOROTHY ELLIOTT
GEORGE CANICE MOORE (Cork, Ireland)
PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE SICK
We pray for all our sick – parishioners, family, benefactors, and friends, and all who care for them on our behalf.