10 July 2020
Dear parishioners and friends,
Consequently,
public Mass will resume in St Joseph’s next Wednesday and we will follow our
usual Mass schedule: Wednesday 10am,
Thursday 10am, Friday 10am, Saturday 10am, Saturday 5pm and Sunday 10.am.
Please note that currently you are not under any obligation to attend Mass and
Mass will continue to be broadcast live on Facebook. I will be unable to upload
Mass to YouTube as you cannot broadcast live unless you have 1000 subscribers.
Can I mention again that you do not need to join Facebook in
order to view Mass – go to our Facebook page and click Not now when
it asks you to join/log in. www.facebook.com/stjosephsburntisland
Numbers able
to attend are strictly limited to 29 and to avoid disappointment and ensure
your place you are asked to use Eventbrite
www.eventbrite.co.uk Reservations for next week will be possible
from Sunday at 12.00noon. Initially, please do not try to attend more than one
Mass a week to allow others to come who may wish to. Reservations will be
possible up to 30 minutes before Mass begins.
If people turn up without using Eventbrite they will not be turned away
if there are places available. The use of Eventbrite may prove not to be
necessary, or we may find a better way of doing things, so we will monitor this
as we go along.
This feels
like a big step and I admit to being a bit anxious as we move forward, but I am
grateful for the help of our parish Co-vid Group and for your own understanding
and support.
The Church
will be open again this Sunday for private prayer from 2.00pm-4.00pm.
Coming to Church - a reminder: Hand sanitiser
is provided, but it would be helpful if you brought your own, as well as your
own face covering. You should sanitise your hands on
the way in and out of the Church. A face covering should be worn and please
respect physical distancing. Please only sit on the yellow disks. It may not
be possible to sit together as a couple – this is to maximise
available space. There are four pews reserved for families/same household
groups. A one way
system is in operation – please exit by the Fire Door. The toilets and hall are
not be available for use.
Press release from the Bishops Conference of Scotland: Scotland’s
Catholic Bishops have welcomed the First Minister’s comments today (Thursday 9
July) on places of worship and have announced the resumption of communal
worship in Catholic parishes from 15 July. Commenting on the move, the
President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, Bishop Hugh Gilbert said;
“Over the past month, our parishes have been preparing for the
safe resumption of communal prayer and the celebration of Mass, which is at the
centre of the life of the church. To have been unable
to attend Mass for many months has been a source of real sadness for Scotland’s
Catholics and I am sure there will be great joy at the prospect of returning.”
“Thanks to the widespread implementation of the church’s Infection
Control protocols, Catholic parishes will begin the resumption of public Masses
and other communal activities from 15 July.”
Bishop Gilbert added;
“The bishops are extremely grateful to all those who have worked
tirelessly to prepare our parishes for public worship and to those who made
their views known to their parliamentary representatives and the government on
the subject of communal worship.
While thanking the Scottish Government for listening to these
calls, we would remind parishioners that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass
remains suspended and ask those who return to do so in accordance with the
infection control measures in force in each parish, mindful always of the need
to protect themselves and others.”
Some
reflections on Sunday’s Gospel: Today’s Gospel marks the
beginning of the third long discourse given by Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.
Over the next few weeks, the Gospel readings will consist of the entire 13th Chapter
of Matthew’s Gospel, a lengthy teaching discourse.
Throughout this discourse, Jesus will offer several parables to
illustrate for his listeners what he means by the kingdom of heaven. He begins
with the parable of the sower, which appears rather straightforward—of course
seeds grow best in good soil. Seeds that miss the soil, are sown on rocky
ground, or are sown among other plants will not grow. The surprise in the
parable is the enormous yield of the seed that is sown on good soil.
Jesus then explains his use of parables. Jesus seems to suggest that he
uses parables to teach because the meanings of parables are not self-evident.
The hearer must engage in some degree of reflection in order
to comprehend the message of a parable. In this way, the medium—the
parable—models the point of the parable of the sower. Those who are willing to
engage themselves in the effort to understand will be rewarded by the discovery
of the message and will bear fruit.
To bring home the point, Jesus interprets the parable of the sower to
his disciples. The different types of soil in which the seeds are sown are
metaphors for the disposition with which each individual
hears the teaching about the kingdom of heaven. Some will be easily swayed away
from the kingdom of heaven. Some will receive it for a time but will lose it
when faced with difficulties. Some will hear the word but will then permit
other cares to choke it out. Yet some will receive it well, and the seed will
produce abundant fruit.
Children’s
Liturgy during Lockdown:
Resources are available on the
Archdiocesan Facebook page and also https://www.facebook.com/Childrens-Liturgy-during-lockdown-101967264838340/
Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh
Virtual Lourdes Pilgrimage July 10th-17th: Several daily events are available via Edinburgh
Lourdes Website and Facebook pages. Please join us in prayer and celebration,
everyone is welcome. Pope Francis has
granted a Plenary Indulgence to all who participate. Fr James will offer
prayers for the Rosary on Saturday night and Mass on Tuesday.
www.edinburgh-lourdes.com https://www.facebook.com/edinburghlourdes/
Online - Spiritual Conversation
Course -September 2020 - May 2021: Open
up to speak about things that matter. A course helpful to care workers,
teachers, NHS workers, parish visitors etc. If you need a grant for this course
please apply in July.
Further Information on SC Course
Online - Growth in Prayer and
Reflective Living - September 2020 - May 2021:
A course of introduction to prayer and a reflective life using the
techniques associated with Ignatian Spirituality. A
very popular programme.
Take one day at a time… with God:
St
Ignatius of Loyola recommended a simple prayer for each day called the Examen,
when we can review our day with God and ask him to help us the next day. This
is helpful especially at the moment, when thinking
about the future may be hard.
A new Hymn for our Times – from
John Bell of the Iona Community
We will meet when the danger is
over,
we will meet when the sad days are
over;
we will meet sitting closely
together
and be glad our tomorrow has come.
We will join to give thanks and
sing gladly,
we will join to break bread and
share wine;
and the peace that we pass to each
other
will be more than a casual sign.
So
let's make with each other a promise
that when all we've
come through is behind,
we will share what we missed and
find meaning
in the things that once troubled
our mind.
Until then may we always discover
faith and love to determine our
way.
That's
our hope and God's will and our calling
for our lives and for every new
day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y4DpYuncrg
Reflection
How awful!
How obscenely extravagant!
How indiscriminate of God
to throw open the gates of the
kingdom
so that anyone might find a way
in.
No standards.
No safeguards.
But a generosity that is sure to
be abused
and just as scandalous today
as was this message to those who
listened to Jesus.
Still there are those
who do not want to believe,
who want to rewrite the story
of God’s unconditional welcome,
who want to maintain standards and
conditions
and limit the sphere of the
impossible kingdom of God.
Thankfully, the God of the
Universe
knows no bounds
and cannot be subdued
but carries on regardless,
sowing and reaping,
shuffling and shoogling,
making space for all,
throwing wide the doors
and gathering us in.
Mass Intentions this week:
Sunday: Charlie Robertson RIP
Monday: Special Intention
Tuesday: Thanksgiving
Wednesday: Rosina
MacDonald RIP
Thursday: Eddie Coyle RIP
Friday: Special Intention
Saturday: Denis McKay
Saturday Vigil: Evelyn
Rosiejak RIP
Sunday: Gustavo Veneroni
RIP
Thank you to those who submitted
contributions. If you want to share anything you have found helpful, please
e-mail me. Please keep safe and well.
Father James