St. Joseph's, Helensburgh

NOVEMBER - MONTH OF THE HOLY SOULS

November, which begins with All Saints Day and All Souls Day, is traditionally the month in which the Church remembers those who have died and gone before us marked with the sign of faith. In this month we pray especially for our family and friends who were inspirations to us and who trusted in the fulfilment of Christ's promises of eternal life.

Spiritually, November symbolizes remembrance of the departed, reflection on life and death, and the mystical transition into darkness and the unknown. It is a time for spiritual contemplation, as seen in various traditions that use the month to honour ancestors and reflect on the cycle of life, the end of the year, and the "otherworldly".​

​

COMMEMORATION OF THE FAITHFUL DEPAARTED

Mass will be celebrated for this intention on Monday 3rd November - 10am St. Joseph's and 6pm at St Gildas'. ​

 

NOVEMBER LIST

There are envelopes at the back of church for the November Lists. Please complete (and return them) with the names of family and friends who have died so that we can remember them in prayer.

​

BLESSING OF THE GRAVES

We will continue the tradition of blessing the graves this month on Sunday, November 16th, meeting at Cardross cemetery at 2pm before going to Helensburgh cemetery for 3.30pm. Please join us for one or both of these short services.

​

FAMILY MASS

This Sunday, 2nd November, we will celebrate our monthly Family Mass and welcome the younger members of our parish in taking an active role in the mass.

​

ESTABLISHMENT OF PARISH FABRIC AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

Our parish is required to form a fabric and finance committee to strategically plan and execute necessary building and maintenance project work, beginning with the essential roof repair work for our church. We are particularly looking for individuals with proven skills in:

• Project management

• Business planning

• Management accounting or financial planning

• Building and planning

Your professional contribution will ensure the prudent stewardship of our resources and the long-term integrity of our parish building.

Thanks to those who have already offered to be part of this group. If anyone else has these skills, and is willing to volunteer your time kindly contact Fr. Greg. We really need your help!

​​​

​EVANGELISATION

​After the success of the first programme, Firecloud will be running another 'Salt, Leaven and Light' course from November 2025 to May 2026 (starting 8th November). This is a practical evangelisation course for lay parishioners. If you are interested in taking part, please speak to Fr. Greg.​​​​​

​

SECOND COLLECTIONS

The next second collection will be on the weekend of 22nd/23rd November for Catholic Education.​

​

​CHILDREN'S LITURGY

Children's Liturgy continues this Sunday at the 11am mass in St. Joseph's. Please encourage our younger members to take part.

​​

​​​JUSTICE AND PEACE

The chair of the Archdiocese of Glasgow Justice and Peace Commission is seeking volunteers to get involved in responding to and campaigning on a range of issues including cost of living, asylum seekers, war in Gaza, human rights. If you are interested, please speak to Fr. Greg for more information.

​

​DEANERY YOUTH MINISTRY

Theology on Tap: The next evening of discussion and fellowship takes place on Thursday 13th November at 7pm at the Abbotsford Hotel, Dumbarton. The theme for the third event is "The Church: Christ's Voice in the World."

​

This is part of the monthly series of talks and fellowship for 16–30 year olds in West Dunbartonshire, led by Fr. Ross Campbell (St. Patrick's, Dumbarton).  For more information on the series, see the Youth Ministry section of our Parish Groups page. You can also contact CatholicYoungAdults.WD@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook (Catholic Young Adults in West Dunbartonshire) and Instagram (@CatholicYAWD).

​

​​​​​​DEVOTIONS

There will be a time of adoration before the Blessed Sacrament starting at 9am on Tuesday and Thursday this week.

​​​​​

FOODBANK

250 Food Bags were issued by the Food Bank last month, each bag providing a five-day supply of food to local individuals and families experiencing financial hardship and food poverty. This was a total of 4,570 food items distributed by the Food Bank. Most needed this month is Cartons Long Life Milk, Tins of Stew, Mince, Fray Bentos Chicken Pie and Mixed Vegetables. A full list is on the church notice board.

Grateful thanks for your continued support.

​

​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.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

​

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, Maureen Hendrick, Christopher Hendrick, Gerald McGoldrick, Sabina Kosovyck, Ian O'Donnel, Anne Kelly.

• the recently deceased, especially Heather Kennedy, Fr. John Keane SMA, Michael McGettigan, Thomas Bernie.

• all those whose anniversaries occur about this time, especially:  Moira Elizabeth Ward, Andrew Brabender, Cathie Gunn, Eric Edwardson, Trifonia Villastiqui, Mary Crowe, Hannah Hosie.

 

​

​