Parish News

First Sunday of Lent: 26 February 2023

Services this week:

  • Sunday 26th February 2023: Mass at 10am
    First Sunday of Lent
  • Monday 27th February 2023: Holy Communion Service at 10am
    Monday in the First Week of Lent
  • Tuesday 28th February 2023: Lenten Service at 7pm
    Tuesday in the First Week of Lent
  • Friday 3rd March 2023: Holy Communion Service at 10am
    Friday in the First Week of Lent
  • Saturday 4th March 2023: Holy Communion Service at 10am
    Saturday in the First Week of Lent
  • Saturday 4th March 2023: Vigil Mass at 6pm
    Vigil of the Second Sunday of Lent
  • Sunday 5th March 2023: Mass at 10am
    Second Sunday of Lent

In your charity, please remember in your prayers...

Father Forrest, Jean Blair, Mary Robertson, Gerry Henderson and all the sick and the housebound. Also, Helen Ward-Birkby, Eddie Tooey, Roseann Temperley, Gloria and Annette Dunn, Danuta Wojtasinska and Andrew Cummings who died recently, and Andrew Liddle who died yesterday (Saturday).

Latest news...

The Vigil Mass this week (Saturday 25th February) is being celebrated for Jean Blair, who celebrated her 94th birthday on Friday. Happy birthday, Jean! Please keep Jean in your prayers.

The offertory collections last weekend amounted to £388.96. The special collection for the Ecclesiastical Student Fund raised £213.95. Grateful thanks to all donors! There will be a special collection today for the Turkey/Syria earthquake appeal.

The Society of St Vincent de Paul needs new members. Over the last few years we have lost a few members. There is not a lot involved - we meet only monthly, and that can last only half an hour. Many hands make light work!

Thank you: Orla King who recently visited the parish with an appeal for HCPT Group 77 has been in touch with grateful thanks for the generosity of St Mary’s parishioners. She says “Thank you to all St Mary’s parishioners who welcomed me and who donated to HCPT Group 77. Your donations totalling £581 almost cover the cost of a child’s fare to travel to Lourdes. Group 77 and I are extremely grateful for everyone’s generosity.“ Orla has offered to take any written prayer petitions or bring Holy Water or prayer cards back from Lourdes on request. Please let a passkeeper know and we will pass on your request. 

Lenten Services: A reminder that you are invited to join us each Tuesday evening throughout Lent at 7pm. All are very welcome as we gather to pray the Stations of the Cross and conclude with a Holy Communion Service. 

School transport: Falkirk Council is proposing to change its Children’s Services Transport policy. It would mean a reduction in the entitlement of children and young people to free school transport. This will affect Catholic families the most, as our children tend to travel further distances to get to school. Please ensure your voice is heard by taking part in the online consultation by 15 March at bit.ly/falkirkconsultation Please also consider attending the final public consultation meeting to express your concerns to councillors in person: Denny High School, Tuesday 7 March 2023 at 6:30pm.

Lent talks: Discover Jesus Christ in the Servant Songs of Isaiah with four online talks from the Archdiocese. They are hosted by Fr Jamie McMorrin of St Margaret’s, Davidson’s Mains, and Sr Anna Marie McGuan RSM and take place at 7:30pm on Wednesday 1, 8, 15, 22 March. Register at bit.ly/lenttalks2023

Lent reflections: Prepare for each Sunday in Lent with a reflection from Canon Hugh White, a retired priest of the Archdiocese. The ‘Listening in Lent’ talk is posted each Tuesday on the Archdiocesan YouTube channel: bit.ly/ArchYouTube

Retreat: A retreat takes place at St Kentigern’s Church, Parkgrove Avenue, Barnton, Edinburgh, from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 March. It is led by Fr Bart Parys, A Divine Word Missionary based in Ireland. The retreat is open to all to find time in Lent to draw closer to Jesus and renew a personal relationship with Him. Times: Friday 24 March 7:30pm-8:30pm, Saturday 25 March10:00am-3:00pm, Sunday 26 March 9:30am-11:00am. No registration required.

Vocations Mass: The Archdiocesan Mass for Vocations is a chance to pray that more young people answer God’s call to the priesthood and religious life. The next one takes place at 5:15pm on Monday 6 March at St Albert’s chaplaincy, 24 George Square, Edinburgh. Refreshments served after Mass.

Pope Francis’ Prayer Intention for February has been that “parishes, placing communion at the centre, may increasingly become communities of faith, fraternity and welcome towards those most in need.” Reflecting on this theme, the Holy Father offers us his wisdom:

“Parishes should be close-knit communities, without bureaucracy, people-centred - a place where the gift of the sacraments can be found. 

They have to become once again schools of service and generosity, with their doors open to those who are excluded. And to those included. To all. 

Parishes are not a club for the few, which give a certain kind of social belonging. Please, let us be daring. Let us all rethink the style of our parochial communities. 

Let us pray that parishes, placing communion - communion of people, ecclesial communion - at the centre, may increasingly become communities of faith, of fraternity and of welcoming the most in need.”