St. Joseph's, Helensburgh

FEAST DAYS

On Tuesday of this week (25th) is the feast of the Annunciation, celebrating the appearance of the angel Gabriel to announce to Mary that she had been chosen to become the Mother of our Lord. For more on this important feast, see our Sunday Reflection page.​

​

​THE SEASON OF LENT

Lent is a time of awakening; an opportunity to ‘start again’; a chance for renewal and re-commitment. Above all, it is a call to love in the way that Jesus loved the Father and each of us: continually, and through self-giving.

Here's a reminder of the services and events offered to aid our own preparations this Lent. 

​​

Stations of the Cross

Each Friday, starting 7th March, at 7pm in St. Joseph's

Faith Reflections

Each Monday at 2pm, starting 10th March, in St. Joseph's Chapel House.

Penitential Service

Tuesday 8th April, 7pm in St. Joseph's.

Walk of Witness

Good Friday, 12noon, starting at the Hope Church, Helensburgh Community Hub and then proceeding to St. Joseph's.

 

Services and events elsewhere in the area include:

• 'The Margaret Sinclair Story', marking the 100th anniversary of the death of the Edinburgh factory girl who could be Scotland's next canonised saint. Various venues, 20 March - 4 April. For more information and tickets call 0749 5347884 or see www.agap.org.uk/tickets

• 'Courage to be Catholic' - Aid to the Church in Need: Scottish Conference, 29th March 9.30am-4.00pm, Glasgow Royal Concert Halls. For bookings and more information go to https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/75521

• Lenten Retreat at home from the Ignatian Spirituality Centre - order booklets via www.iscglasgow.co.uk 

• 'Even the Winds' a reflection on the last days of Jesus, presented by Firecloud. Dates tbc

• Good Friday Service of Witness - 12noon, St Serf’s church (ruins) Levengrove Park

• Helensburgh Parish Church is hosting a Passover Meal on Monday 14th April at 6.30pm. There is no charge for the event, although donations are welcome. If you would like to take part please let Fr. Greg or Karen Morris know no later than Monday 31st March so we can advise the organisers for catering purposes.

​

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Mass on the evening of Maundy Thursday marks the start of the Easter Triduum ('three days') commemorating the Passion, Crucifixion, Death, burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. At mass we recall Jesus' Last Supper with his disciples and are reminded of the importance of humility, selflessness, and service to others. A symbol of this is the 'Mandatum' or 'Washing of the Feet'. As we plan for this service we are looking for 12 volunteers to participate. If you would like to be involved, please add your name to the list on the notice board at the back of church.

​

SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION

A number of our young people are preparing to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Communion and Confirmation. Please pray for them and their families as they prepare for this next stage of their faith journey.​

​

PARISH CALENDAR

To help us all plan ahead and keep up to date with what is going on in the parish and our community, we have created a new 'Parish Calendar' section on the website. Why not check it out and also let us know if there are any events you like to see added?​

​​​​​

SECOND COLLECTIONS

In keeping with the traditional practices of Lent, there will be a number of opportunities for Almsgiving. Almsgiving is an outward sign of love for others, to focus and give, to help the needs of others.

 

Today’s Lenten Almsgiving Second Collection is once again for our Archdiocese Sick and Retired Priests. Last week’s collection for this cause was £317.71 and the previous week £377.62. Many thanks for your generosity.

Next week’s Second Collection will be taken up for SCIAF.​

​

GIFT AID

Gift Aid is a way for tax payers to increase the value of their regular donations ... at no additional cost to themselves. Donating through Gift Aid means we can claim an extra 25p back from HMRC for every £1 you give. If you would like to gift aid your donations, there are forms at the back of Church.

Existing weekly Gift Aiders - please collect your new Box of Offerings Envelopes today from the table at the back of the church. Many thanks for gift aiding your regular offerings to Saint Joseph’s Church.

Grateful thanks also to parishioners who contribute to the parish by Monthly Bankers Order.

​

DEVOTIONS

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place on Tuesdays and Thursday each week, from 9am until the 10am Mass.

​

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.​​​​​​​​​​​

​

​​​​​​​​FOODBANK

5,714 Food Items were issued from the Food Bank in February, assisting 194 local families and individuals, all suffering financial hardship and food poverty. Most needed this month are Long Life Milk, Breakfast Cereals and Tins of Custard, Vegetables and Meat. A full list is on the noticeboard in the church porch. Grateful thanks for continued support of our local Food bank.

​

We remember in our prayers​​

• the sick, including Janice Keeper, Margaret Cavana Mckechnie, Maxine Widdop, Lesley O’Neill, Grace Dunn, Mgr. John Hughes, Tilda Evans.

• the recently deceased, especially Jim Fowlis, Marilyn Cutler, Billy Black, Stephen McNamee, Janet O'Neill, Patricia Boswell.

• all those whose anniversaries occur about this time, especially Mary Shields, Bishop Charles Renfrew, Carolann Mundie, Bridie McCann, Maureen O'Brien, Helen McGunnigle, Karl Andrews.

​