PRAYER AT THE SENDING OUT OF THE EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS TO THE SICK AND HOUSEBOUND Priest: Almighty and loving Father, as we have received your Son in this Holy Eucharist, we ask you to hear our prayer for our brothers and sisters: All: Give your healing, Lord, to those who are sick and housebound. May those who take the Body of Christ to them also be a loving sign of our prayers and thoughts. Keep us united with them in all their sufferings so that we will grow together as one community with the presence of Christ among us. Please Pray For SICK Margaret Agnew, John Casey, John Clarke, Patrick Connelly, Ryan Coyle, Andrew Dick, Reane & Brenda Dick, Stacey Docherty, Catherine Donaghey, Anne Doyle, Mary Dunion, Helen Evans, Eric Forster, Jean Graham, John Harkins, Frank Hilley, John Howell, Brian Kane, Maddie Kelly, Marcella Kyle, Felix McAleese, Cody McAllister, Margaret McAuley, Bobby McCafferty, Marion McCann, Nicola Marie McCrory, Josephine McDade, Andrea McGeechan, Mary McGeough, Les McGhee, Charles McGlynn, Geraldine McGrath, Sarah McShane, Toni Molloy; Joe Oakes, Mary O’Donnell, Christine O’Hara, Eleanor O’Neil, Alice Rea, Mamie Reid, Nancy Rookes, Linda Slevin, Elizabeth Sludden, Mark Smith, Theresa Smith, Hugh Strain, Annie Sweeney, Rachel Thain, Anne Toal, Karen Thompson, Margaret Traynor, Danielle Trower, Helen Watson and Ronnie Whitelaw. St. Monica's C oat b r i d g e 10th/11th January 2015 Baptism of the Lord (B) LITURGY OF THE WORD 1st reading Isaiah 55:1-11 Come to the water. Listen and your soul will live. Responsorial Psalm (Is. 12) With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. 2nd reading I John 5:1-9 The Spirit and water and blood. Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia! John saw Jesus coming towards him, and said: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Alleluia! Gospel Mark 1:7-11 You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you. SUNDAY MASSES: RECENTLY DIED Nan McCusker (Sharp Avenue) Receiving: Sunday at 6pm; Funeral Mass: Monday at 10am Rev. John Ferguson (Deacon of St. Mary’s, Whifflet) Sarah McLaughlin (Deanston House - formerly St. Monica’s) (Funeral: Monday, 19th at 10am) ANNIVERSARY Robert Dillon; Archie Shaw; Janet Gallagher; Helen Trower; Joseph Cullen Jukes; Margaret Smith; Tommy Reynolds; Hugh Lochran; James McGraw; William and Margaret McGoldrick, Ann and Daniel McPhail; Catherine Tobin; Ellen Slevin and Michael Mitchell. MONTHS MIND Thomas and Margaret Smith, Sadie Purfield, John Smith, Mary Kelly, Mark Kelly, William Davidson, Bridget Smith, James and Charlotte Daly; Thomas and Rose Tiernan, Denis Leonard; John, Francis and Janet O’Donnell; James & Anne Mooney; Bridget and Joseph Hughes; Anne and Thomas McGoldrick. Vigil: 5:30 pm (Sat), 10 am, Noon & 6:30pm WEEKDAY MASSES: Monday 10am (Funeral); Tuesday 7pm Wednesday & Thursday 10am Eucharistic Service Friday & Saturday at 10am CONFESSIONS: Saturday after 10am Mass & 5 - 5:20 pm Sharp Avenue, Coatbridge ML5 5RP Telephone: 01236 421750 Email: [email protected] Website: www.saintmonica.org.uk F ather of us all, in Baptism we have been filled with the light of Christ. May we walk always as children of the light and keep the flame of faith alive in our hearts. May we live each day knowing our true identity as beloved children of God. And when the Lord comes, may we go out to meet him with all the saints in the heavenly kingdom to live with him forever and ever. Parish Staff: Fr. Vincent Lockhart, Sr. Kathleen Owens & Sean Wyllie Feasts this week Tue 13th: St. Kentigern Sat 17th: St. Anthony First Reconciliation Parents’ Meeting Wednesday, 21st January at 7pm in the church - behind the screen Parents should bring a copy of their child’s baptism certificate to register their child for the sacrament. Western Calendars 2015 are available for sale in the porch First Holy Communion Parents’ Meeting Wednesday, 28th January at 7pm in the church - behind the screen Parents who have already come to see Fr. Vincent should have received a letter with the date their child will make their first Holy Communion. Conforti Institute Question Time Wednesday 21st January: 7 to 9pm A panel from a wide array of disciplines have been invited to share some of their own thoughts and opinions on the issue of sectarianism in Scotland today and beyond. This will be an opportunity for audience members to ask questions and express their own thoughts on this issue. Copies of Pope Francis’ letter for the World day of the Sick, 14th February, are available in the porch. 500 Club Winners (14th Dec 2014) 1st Prize: 592 E. Chatfield 2nd Prize: 165 A. Clements 3rd Prize: 259 A. Craig SVdP The St. Vincent de Paul Society would like to thank all parishioners who supported us very generously throughout the past year. Thank you also to all the drivers who helped at the Christmas party. Thank you and happy retirement, Pat Our sacristan, Pat McGurk, has retired after 20 years of serving our parish faithfully. Our sincerest thanks go to Pat from all the parishioners, priests and former priests of the parish for his untiring and unselfish generosity. Happy retirement 400th anniversary of the death of St. John Ogilvie 10th March 2015 St Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow on Tuesday March 10th at 7.30pm 70 places at the Mass for the people of Motherwell Diocese. Anyone wishing to attend please give your name to Fr. Vincent. On the same day Fr. Vincent has been asked to address the Scottish Parliament. St. Margaret’s Children & Family Care Annual Crib Appeal Boxes Please return the boxes to the parish as soon as possible. WORD OF LIFE January 2015 “Jesus said to her, ‘Give me to drink’” (John 4:7). Copies are available in the porch. Last Sunday’s collection: £1,169.34 Justice and Peace: £922.69 Many thanks Hall Bookings Phone Agnes on 431502 Reflection It would have been so easy for John to have responded to the great interest of the people with self-aggrandisement. Instead he never lost sight of his role as the one who was to prepare the way for the one who was greater. John’s faith and understanding of his role was vindicated when Jesus presented himself to be baptised by John. The mystery of the heavenly intervention would have confirmed for John that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, if indeed he had any doubts. John was a strong and assertive man. His preaching enthralled many people, and his lifestyle was not for the faint-hearted. But his deep faith was accompanied by the humility which enabled him to rejoice in his secondary role to that of Jesus. If he had been affected by pride or jealousy he would have made much of himself and less of Jesus. Perhaps he had encountered that type of temptation during his time in the desert, and any delusions of grandeur had been destroyed in the spiritual furnace of the desert. There are many times in our lives when we are called to be a supporting act for someone else. Parenthood is an obvious example. John’s words about Jesus “He must increase; I must decrease”, are at the heart of being a good parent. Parents instinctively put their children first in order to give them the best possible life. Parents are not consumed with jealousy of their child’s achievements but rejoice in them. There are many people who have done good and great things whose achievements have only been possible because of the dedicated work of someone else. When people receive awards they often say the award is an acknowledgement of the team which has worked with them. The best people really mean that, because they have enough humility to know that their achievements would have not been possible without others. Jesus spoke about John in ways which revealed his deep admiration for the role John played, and the price he eventually paid for his dedication. Those who lead and achieve great things must always be aware of those who make these things possible, and be open about the contribution of others. If we are called to play a supporting role to another at some stage in our lives, it is important to be sure that who and what we are supporting is morally good, and stands up in the light of our faith. We also need to be sure that we are not being exploited or taken advantage of because of our dedication to the person or cause. Our human dignity and potential should never be diminished by what we do for another. Playing a John the Baptist role requires wisdom and self-knowledge, humility and faith. It is never a lesser role because it is an essential role. I went to the cemetery yesterday to lay some flowers on a grave. As I was standing there I noticed 4 grave diggers walking about with a coffin... 3 hours later and they're still walking about with it... I thought to myself, these guys have lost the plot!
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