St. Joseph's, Helensburgh

​​​​​​​​​

​​​​

BAPTISM OF THE LORD​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​​​​

​The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord commemorates the moment when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River. This significant event marks the beginning of Jesus' public ministry and emphasizes the importance of baptism as a sacrament of initiation. It is a time for reflection on our own baptism, reminding us of our call to live in a manner that reflects our commitment to God. Celebrated on the Sunday following the Epiphany, this feast invites the faithful to renew their baptismal promises and embrace their identity as children of God.

​​

​​

THIS NEW YEAR 

As we journey together as a parish community this New Year 2026, let us resolve to:

 Collaborate: Share your ideas and help us shape the future of our parish life.

 Volunteer: Offer your unique talents, whether in liturgy, hospitality, or maintaining our beautiful church.

 Work as a Team: Remember that we are at our strongest when we move forward with a single heart and mind.

 May the year ahead be one of peace, health, and spiritual renewal for you and your loved ones. Let us continue to build a vibrant, welcoming home for all in St. Joseph’s. ​

​​

​​

PARISH MERGER

After due consultation with the PPC members of the two parishes of St. Gildas'  Rosneath and St. Joseph's, Helensburgh, the Archbishop having consulted the Council of Priests, has formally decreed the merger of the two parishes into one, and this comes into effect on Wednesday 1st April, 2026. By this merger, St. Gildas ceases to exist as a parish, while St. Joseph's parish continues to exist. St. Gildas and Saints Peter and Paul, Arrochar will maintain their names and will be secondary churches in the parish of St. Joseph's (for more information, kindly pick at the back of the church, printed decree of the archbishop). 

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

DEATH NOTIFICATION​

The parish received the sad news of the death of Mrs Anne Strickland. kindly keep the family in your prayers. Funeral is on Tuesday 20th January by 10am at St. Josephs church. 

​​​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​SECOND COLLECTIONS

The collection last weekend was for Justice and peace. £347.34 was raised. Grateful thanks for your generosity. 

Future second collections are as follows:​​​

• 17th/18th January: White Flower Appeal (Society for Protection of Unborn Children)

• 24th/25th January: Assisted Parishes

• 7th/8th February: Stella Maris Minna Children support

​​​

CRIB DONATIONS BOX
All Crib Donations will go to St Margaret’s Children & Family Care Society, supporting children and families through adoption. 

​​​​​

​​​​​​​​​​​​DEVOTIONS

There will be adoration on Tuesday and Thursday by 9am followed by daily mass.

​​

RCAG young Adult / St Mungo's City Pilgrimage Walk / Sat 17th Jan 2026, 1000-1500:

Join RCAG Youth for a pilgrimage walk through Glasgow, exploring historic sites and celebrating our patron Saint, St. Mungo. A chance to pray, meet new people, and enjoy the city together. Open to anyone aged 16-35. 

​​​​​​​​

​​NOTICES​​

If you have any notices for the bulletin or noticeboard, please send them to parish email address (see above) or give to Fr Greg no later than Thursday of each week.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​​​​

FOOD BANK
December was a very busy month with 354 Food bags issued, including 128 containing Christmas food, biscuits, and seasonal treats. This amounted to 6,944 food items distributed to local households experiencing financial hardship and food poverty. 

Most needed in January is Cartons of Long Life Milk, Teabags x foil wrap 40s, Tinned Meat, Fruits and Vegetables. Grateful thanks to parishioners for the very generous food and cash donations received last month and throughout the past year. Thanks also to the members of our parish community who volunteer their time helping at the Food Bank and Food Bank Store.

​​​​​

We remember in our prayers:​​

• The sick, including Janice Keeper, Margaret Cavana Mckechnie, Mgr. John Hughes, Anne Cunningham, Paul Letters, Louie Sims, Maxine Widdop, Mary Campbell, Nicola Maruyama, Gerald McGoldrick, Sabina Kosovyck, Ian O'Donnel, Anne Kelly, Christopher Hendrick, Shaun Hendrick, Evie Hutton. 

• The recently deceased, especially: Iain Campbell, Jimmy Mulholland, Mary Morley, Maureen Langtry, Roseen McCUlloch, John McNeill, Mary Campbell, Mary Gill, Anne Strickland, Fr. J. Wiley SJ, Fr. Thomas Hendry

• All those whose anniversaries occur about this time, especially: William Harkin, John McCaffrey, Jenny Hutton, Betty Mullen, Bernard Darroch, Andrew Brabenda Snr, Alicia Murphy and James Murphy.

​​​​

​​​​​

The Archdiocese of Glasgow is a Religious Charity Number SC018140​​​​​​