St. Paul’s News     

RCIA

For the next 3 Sundays the Candidates who are to be received into Full Communion with the Church at Easter will celebrate “The Scrutinies” and will leave the church after those celebrations.

200 Club

Numbers are now around the 150 level and we will go ahead with the 200 club.  Those who have added their names to the list may pay in the following ways: Direct Debit, Cheque or Cash (annually or monthly).  We aim to begin now on Easter Sunday.

Parish Summer Fayre

The PPC are quite keen to go ahead with a summer fayre in June.  Thank you to those who have volunteered to help run stalls at the summer fayre.  You will be contacted by a member of the PPC in due course!!

Justice and Peace

The next meeting of the J & P group is on Tuesday 9th March at 7.00pm.

Communions to the Sick

This week West of the Railway line and Nursing homes

Eucharistic Ministers

The new rota is available at the back of the church.  Please pick up one.

 SCIAF Lent Day

Next Sunday the  4th Sunday of Lent our J & P group is organising quiet reflection after Mass until 3pm.  SCIAF materials will be available in the hall and a soup lunch will be made available by the  J & P group.  This coming Friday you may wish to help SCIAF by having a day of Fasting and Abstinence.  Next Sunday the Special Collection will be taken up for SCIAF.

 Collection

£1026.50. Many thanks.

Building Fund

A gentle reminder that we have our monthly building fund collection this weekend.

Lenten Family Prayer Group

The family prayer group will run every Sunday during Lent 3.00pm-5.00pm.  If your are interested please contact the McKeown’s 266124 or McGinley’s 283929.

Church Stall

The Repository has recently taken delivery of new Religious articles and cards for Easter and First  Communion. Please feel free to browse around the repository.There is a selection of booklets,rosary’s, candles and cards for all sorts of occasions.  Please support this.

 Papal Visit

Whilst it is not confirmed it would appear the main event in Scotland will be a Mass on Thursday afternoon  16th September in either Bellahouston Park or Glasgow Green.  I would suggest that the use of private transport is probably not advised so we need to book some buses for the event.  Please let me know the number expecting to go in the next month by adding your name to the list in the porch.

Disclosure Scotland

Thank you to those who attended the meeting concerning Child Protection last Sunday.  However I do have to point out that some of the parents  who take their children into the Children’s Liturgy did not come.  I can only stress that attendance at a Child Protection Meeting and compliance with Child Protection Law is MANDATORY. The Child Protection team will return to the parish in just over a month and I do expect compliance with the Child Protection Policy with the Church in Scotland.

Lenten Discussion Groups

Since 4 people have signed up for the discussion group this will take place each Wednesday after Stations of the Cross.  The course we are following is called “By his wounds”.

General Church News

SCIAF Boxes

The SCIAF boxes are available at the back of the church.  Very few were lifted last week so please make an effort after Mass this Sunday to pick up your SCIAF box.

Gonzaga Lectures

The annual Gonzaga Lectures held at St. Aloysius College Glasgow start on the 23rd February.  The theme this year is “Change, Challenge and the Church”.  See poster for further details.

QMA Fashion Show

QMA are having a fashion show in the school on Wednesday 31st March in aid of Badagry.  Tickets cost £5 and include refreshments.  Contact QMA on 01292 268379.   See poster in porch.

Penitential Services for Lent

St. Paul’s Tuesday 16th March, Troon Sunday 21st March, Prestwick Monday 22nd March, Mossblown and Drongan Wednesday 24th March,St. Margaret’s Thursday 25th March, Maybole Sunday 28th March.

Society for Protection of the Unborn Child

The Ayrshire branch of SPUC are trying to organise door to door leafleting in various areas to highlight Pro-Life issues in their political debate leading up to the General Election.  The Church in England and Wales has already highlighted Pro-Life issues in their recent document concerning “The CommonGood”- a 10 page document issued to help us cast our votes.  If you are interested in helping with the distribution of these leaflets please sign up today.

 Marriage Preparation

The Priests of the Deanery have long been trying to have a common policy on Marriage Preparation courses.  This was discussed recently at the Diocesan Council of Priests. At the same time a National initiative on Marriage Preparation is being offered to all the Diocese of Scotland.  Anyone interested in learning more about the course materials for marriage preparation and who may be willing to participate in the programme is invited to a Diocesan meeting in St. Joseph’s Church Hall Kilmarnock on Thursday18th March at 7pm.  Anyone interested in going should let me know as soon as possible.

St. Francis Xavier’s News

Heating in the Church

The installation of the new heating system should be complete on Monday.  We can’t move back into the church until it has had a thorough clean. Perhaps we could meet after Mass tonight to discuss when it might be possible to do the deep clean and only then will be able to determine when we can move back into the church.

Proposed New School

The first plan for the new Patna/St. Xavier’s has now been published.  I’ve seen it and I am quite impressed.  It will be available for general discussion sometime soon.

Communions to the Sick

Homes and Nursing homes in Patna.

Toilets and Hall Kitchen

In the light of the views expressed at the recent parish meeting we intend to modernise  the kitchen with a few new units sink, fridge and cooker.  We will convert the toilet into a disabled toilet and modernise that.  Francis Rooney is going to draw up a plan for the toilet and kitchen and once the plan is approved we will move on with that work.

Eucharistic Ministers/Readers

We are looking for new volunteers in these ministries to augment our present number.  Any volunteers will be Commissioned into the Ministry at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday.