SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION FOR ADVENT We encourage you to prepare for Christmas by attending the Sacrament of Reconciliation on one of the following evenings: St Joseph’s Clarkston, Monday, 5th December at 7pm. St Cadoc’s, Thursday, 8th December at 7pm. St John’s Barrhead—TBC. All priests of the Deanery will be available for confession on those evenings.

Join us at Greenock Morton’s Cappielow Football Ground on Sunday 4th December from 4.00-5.00pm. Come along and join Bishop John and other ecumenical leaders in preparing for the coming of Christ at Christmas.  Admission FREE. Tea and Coffee available.

Due to the rising costs of heating and lighting it is not possible to have the church opened outside of Mass/Service times. Please know that the church will be open at least one hour before all Masses or Services to allow for some private prayer. Thank you for your understanding.

CHRISTMAS FETE at The Little Sister of the Poor, Greenock Come along and join us at our Christmas Fete here at the Little Sisters of the Poor on Sunday 11th December.  2pm-4.30pm.  44 Union Street, Greenock, PA16 8DP.  There is plenty on offer for all the family including – bottle stall, baking stall, book stall, bric-a-brac, plants, tombola.  There will be a chance for the children to meet Santa at our Santa’s Grotto and kiddies’ corner.  Tea and toast will be served in the tearoom and there will be an ice cream van on the grounds with treats on sale for the children.  All welcome.

SAFEGUARDING TRAINING – PART ONE – Church Volunteers: Thursday 8th December 2022 at 7pm in St. Joseph’s Parish Hall, Clarkston. As part of the safe recruitment procedures for the Catholic Church in Scotland, new volunteers undertaking regulated work should complete an application form for their role, apply to become a member of the PVG scheme and attend Safeguarding Part One Training.  If you would like to attend this training session, please contact SarahJane Colhoun on 0141 847 6138 or [email protected]

The newly formed Social Committee of the Parish is looking for your help. It is hoped to reintroduce Teas & Coffees following the Sunday morning Mass(es), commencing early in the New Year. However, in order for this to run efficiently, and without it being too onerous on those involved, the Committee are looking for a Team of volunteers to assist with the organisation and running of this weekly event. If you are interested in being involved, please add your name to the lists which are available in both porches, or, please email your details to Catherine Senior ([email protected]). Many thanks in anticipation of your help and support.

An Advent retreat guided by the words of Pope Francis and his encyclical Laudato Si’ to prepare for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ – the light of the world and all Creation. ENROLL HERE: Advent with Pope Francis and Laudato Si’: Preparing for the Good News - Laudato Si' Movement (laudatosimovement.org) “The Lord, in the culmination of the mystery of the Incarnation, chose to reach our intimate depths through a fragment of matter. He comes not from above, but from within, he comes that we might find him in this world of ours.” Pope Francis (LS 236) During Advent, we embark on a journey of preparation for our encounter with God, Jesus Christ who comes to meet us within Creation – this is the Good News! We anticipate with hope and joy the renewal of all Creation through the Incarnation as Jesus takes on the material life we share with all creatures. In this Advent retreat we will be bringing special attention to how we share this path of preparation in communion with Creation, who also eagerly awaits for redemption (cf. Rm 8:19-23). We will be guided by the words of Pope Francis and the encyclical Laudato Si’, his special letter to us all about the call to care for our common home. Each week you will be invited to reflect on a specific theme through a short video from The Letter – a documentary with Pope Francis about the Laudato Si’, a short reflection on that theme and a prayer. Each week you will also be invited to a call to action, a concrete way to prepare for Christmas more sustainably. As Pope Francis reminds us, “Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or a secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” (LS 217) Join us as we eagerly await Christ’s coming, crying out with Creation for the light of the world to come!

organised by the Parent Council, IT will be held on Friday 2nd December; 3.15pm – 6.00pm. There will be a wide variety of stalls, home baking, activities & Christmas fun!

 (From the Feast of St Margaret of Scotland until the Feast of St Andrew)     Celebrated in St Cadoc’s on Sunday 27th November at 10am. (First Sunday of Advent). The Catholic Education Cluster Mass will be celebrated in St Joseph’s Church on Tuesday 15th November at 7pm. Click on the title for more details from SCES.

YOUTH SAFEGUARDING FORUM: The new Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency is developing a forum for young Catholic adults. This forum will in the first instance look at the current safeguarding training and resources for people in youth ministries, discuss ideas which have been proposed for development, and ultimately create a comprehensive package of training and resources for ministries involving young people. We will be joined at some online meetings by experts on particular aspects of Church teaching such as Theology of the Body and Catholic Social Teaching, to ensure all work created is informed by our faith and in line with our safeguarding instruction ‘In God’s Image’, which can be downloaded at scssa.org.uk/In-Gods-Image-v2. If you are between the ages of 18 and 25 and would be interested in joining this forum, or would like to know more, please contact Helena Rameckers by emailing [email protected] or phoning 07394 862 279 by Friday, 9th December. Please note that we also have a small number of spaces on the forum for older adults experienced in youth ministry!

Join us for a game of mini golf at Soar Braehead on Sat 26th Nov at 7:30pm. Our events are a great opportunity to meet and socialise with other young adults. For more info and tickets email: [email protected]

You are warmly invited to come along to this event for families on Sunday 27th November in St. John’s Barrhead from 2pm.The event will include light refreshments, a family Advent wreath activity and Rosary, concluding with Mass at 4pm."

This mass will be Celebrated by Bishop McGee, Bishop President of SCIAF and held in St Augustine’s Church, 12 Dundyvan Road, Coatbridge, ML5 1DQ, on Tuesday 22nd November at 7pm. Please join us to remember those who have shown so much support for SCIAF throughout their lives and pray for our sisters and brothers around the world struggling at this time. If you would like a loved one remembered at the Mass, even if you are unable to attend, please contact us on 0141 354 5555 or email [email protected]

Part Two Training is for volunteers who have previously attended Safeguarding Training Part One, or Safeguarding Training Level One, more than eighteen months ago. Part Two training: Saturday 19th November at 10.30am in St. Mirin’s Cathedral Hall. If you would like to attend a training session please contact SarahJane Colhoun -0141 847 6138 /[email protected]

CHRISTMAS FAYRE St. Clare’s Primary is on Saturday 26th November 12-3pm and has been organised by the Parent Council. Family entry is £5 and this includes free children’s arts and crafts. There will be a variety of stalls, tombola, raffle, home baking and lots more Christmas fun.

Sadly, Archbishop Conti passed away on 8th November. The Funeral arrangements for Archbishop Conti are as follows: Reception of Remains with Sung Vespers on Thursday 17th November at 7.00 pm in Saint Andrew’s Cathedral. Requiem Mass on Friday 18th November at 12 noon in Saint Andrew’s Cathedral.

“We continue to carry out regular Home Visits to our parishioners, telephone contacts and visits to our local Nursing Homes. Through TWINNING, we help to support two very poor Parish Conferences in India. They are so grateful for our donations and I have attached correspondence and photos from these projects.(See SSVP page on Parish web) In September we hosted an Autumn Lunch for forty parishioners which was a great success. In November we donated £1000 to three of our Special Works Projects - St Vincent’s Hospice, Jericho House (which helps and assists those with Addiction Issues) and Emergency Relief to those in need. We are now planning to host a Christmas Lunch in early December. SSVP would like to thank everyone who supports us thus allowing us to support others in great need”. Thank you for your support and generosity. If you or someone you know would benefit from either a visit or financial assistance, please phone us. Our number is 07561640489 or alternatively please contact Canon Eddie and he will give your details to us, or speak to us after Mass. If you would like to join the St Cadoc’s SSVP Conference please phone or speak to us or Canon Eddie. More information and photos see our SSVP page on the Parish web.

This is a community council committee formed just few months ago. We meet every 1st Wednesday of the month at 7pm, Albertslund Community Hall at Westacres, G77 6WW. We would like to invite to anyone living in the area to attend to the meetings and take part in making our Community a better place for all. The agenda and minutes are available on East Renfrewshire website.

MASS FOR MARRIAGE (Rescheduled) Bishop John warmly invites all who wish to celebrate and give thanks for the gift of marriage, especially engaged and married couples, to the Diocese of Paisley's Inaugural Mass for Marriage at 11am on Sunday 20th November 2022 in St Mirin's Cathedral.  Reception in the Cathedral Hall to follow.  Details of those celebrating significant anniversaries can be emailed to Rebecca Harrison at the Marriage and Family Office ([email protected])