Will you fast and pray every First Friday for Life? Bishop John invites you to fast and pray on the First Friday of each month to protect the unborn child and for the flourishing of the Pro-Life movement so that our society will build an authentic culture of life. Join your priests throughout the diocese on the First Friday of each month as we pray for life! Next Mass for Life is in St. Aidan’s, Johnstone at 7pm on Friday 5th January 2024.

On the Feast of the Holy Innocents (28th Dec 2023), SPUC and the Knights of St Columba launched a year-long Spiritual Bouquet called “Let Life Flourish.” During this year of prayer in preparation for the Jubilee Year of 2025, you are encouraged to pray that the dignity of human life—from conception until natural death—be upheld and defended. During 2024, there will be monthly special intentions. A website will be launched in mid-January, where you can notify the organisers of prayer activities you have organised or been involved in. At the end of the year, bound books detailing these activities will be presented to the Presidents of the Bishops’ Conferences of Scotland, and of England and Wales, and to the Papal Nuncio. Examples of prayer activities include Holy Masses, Rosaries, Holy Hours...

The Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency has reorganised safeguarding induction training into one course only, combining the previous Parts 1 & 2. If you are a new volunteer or one who completed the Part 1 training course more than a year ago, you are invited to sign up for a Safeguarding training session taking place on: Tuesday 16th January at 7pm in St. Mirin’s Cathedral Hall, Paisley; Saturday 17th February at 10.30am in St. Mary’s Parish Hall, Greenock; Tuesday 5th March at 7pm in St. John’s Parish Hall, Barrhead; Saturday 20th April at 10.30am in St. Mirin’s Cathedral Hall, Paisley; Wednesday 1st May at 7pm in St. Mary’s Parish Hall, Greenock; Saturday 8th June at 10.30am in St. John’s Parish Hall, Barrhead. Please contact Sarah Jane Colhoun at [email protected] or telephone 0141 847 6138 to book a place.

“Make known to all nations to bring about the obedience of faith.” Is Christ calling you to let Him manifest His love in you as a Priest? Contact our Diocesan Vocations Director, Fr. John Morrison - tel 01418895056 or email [email protected].

 God gives you a mission.  How will you respond?  Rejoice in the Spirit who is at work in you. (Isaiah 61: 1-2, 10-11). If you think God is calling you to be a priest, speak to our Vocations Director, Fr John Morrison; call 0141 8895056 or e-mail [email protected].

Wednesday 20th December at 7.30pm in Holy Cross, 113 Dixon Ave, G42 8ER. Adoration begins at 6.15pm. Tea in the hall afterwards – all welcome. The celebrant will be Fr Paul Denney. 

Christmas Eve: 4pm & 6.30pm. Christmas Day: 10am & 12 Noon. This year Christmas Day, which is a Holy Day of Obligation, falls on a Monday. To fulfil our obligation for both the 4th Sunday of Advent and The Solemnity of The Nativity of The Lord, we are obliged to attend two Masses.

Wednesday 27th December 2023 at 2.30pm. This is a Diocesan annual event in St. Mirin’s Cathedral and is a lovely way for all of the families to come together as a Diocesan community and worship in song the birth of Our Saviour Jesus Christ.  Refreshments in the Hall afterwards.  All donations will go towards SPRED. 

DECEMBER 2023 Dear Church Members, ‘WOW!’ What a donation ‘you wonderful people’ gave to us to distribute to children in need. And what an amazing job that Catherine and her husband did delivering them, how they got all those parcels inside their car was amazing. The parcels were delivered to myself at 12. 30pm. And by 2.00pm. six 4x4s’ of Strathclyde 4x4 group were on the road delivering them, to the Hospital and Ronald McDonald House the respite center for children and their parents awaiting operations or post operations and the like. This year the donations have been very generous indeed, however what we have noticed so too has the increased demand for family support. I have like countless others been concerned about this for a fair while, but no it is very concerning on every front, and will definitely come to a head this Christmas and New Year period, for many families. Your donation has made an impact on this need! And I can only say thanks once more for your kindness and generosity. I will send more pictures as they come in, but I hope the ones I have sent keep you informed of what is being achieved. Yours in Faith. Rev. Neil Galbraith Glasgow Caring City Charity.

Are you passionate about helping those struggling after abortion? ARCH is employing a full-time Operations Administrator to join our team based in Glasgow. ARCH is dedicated to promoting the emotional and psychological well-being of service users, by the provision of counselling and support to women, men and families after abortion. To find out more about us and the work we do at ARCH please go to: www.archtrust.org.uk  The role includes a variety of administrative tasks. Duties of the Operations Administrator include providing support to the Director and Counsellors, assisting in daily admin needs and assisting with the running of our Helpline, which includes liaising with our volunteer Befrienders. Closing date: 18th December. Contact Louise for an application pack: [email protected]    Part-time requests will be considered if two promising candidates match shared availability.

God calls us to proclaim the Good News. How do you share that Good News? Pray for the grace to be a faith-filled witness of God’s love. (Isaiah 40: 1-5, 9-11). If you think God is calling you to be a priest, speak to our Vocations Director, Fr John Morrison; call 0141 8895056 or e-mail [email protected].

Read/download the Report from Bishop McGee at Diocese of Paisley | Synod: Report from Bishop McGee | Paisley, UK (rcdop.org.uk)

For details and to register visit: Diocese of Paisley | Marriage Preparation Registration Form  | Paisley, UK (rcdop.org.uk)

The ‘Christ in the Covenants’ series continues with a talk from Fr Paul Denney, who will explore God’s covenant with Moses. Aged 18-35? Come along to learn more about the Faith and to meet other young Catholics. The talk begins at 7pm in the diocesan office on Wed 10th Jan. It will end with adoration and Benediction, followed by an opportunity to socialise. Email Fr Ryan ([email protected]) for more info and to be added to the WhatsApp group.

 Ongoing conflict in the Holy Land, particularly the Occupied Palestinian Territories, is causing unimaginable fear and suffering.  Through the global Caritas network, SCIAF is working with local organisations to act as soon as possible.  Please donate to our funds for essential support to the families in urgent need by following the link:  https://www.sciaf.org.uk/get-involved/appeals/579-israeli-palestinian-emergency-appeal

1st edition December 2023 available to read/download at https://marriagefamilyandlife.org.uk/newsletter/

1st £1000 Ticket: 22860 Anne Marie Kelly St Joseph’s Parish, Clarkston; 2nd £750 Ticket: 28269 Mary Barry St Laurence’, Greenock; 3rd £500 Ticket: 11546 Jin McCaul Our Lady of Lourdes, Bishopton; 4th £250 Ticket: 2872 Mary Heywood St Laurence’, Greenock.

To launch the new committee, we invite you to the screening of the film, ‘The Letter’, in the Parish Pastoral and Social Centre on Tuesday 12th December at 7pm. The film focuses on Pope Francis’ encyclical, ‘Laudato Si’, on the subject of climate change. If you wish to attend, please put your name on the sheet in the porch TODAY!

4 Fabulous Prizes: 1st £1000; 2nd £750; 3rd £500; and 4th £250. The draw will take place on Sunday 3rd December.