first sunday OF LENT (C)
READINGS FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (C)
First Reading – (Deuteronomy26: 4-10) – This describes the ceremony of the offering to God of the first fruits. Through it the people recognise all that God has done for them especially in the Exodus. Our worship of God is also a recognition of his favours to us.
Responsorial Psalm – Be with me, O Lord, in my distress.
Second Reading – (Romans 10: 8-13) – The core of the Christian credo is that Jesus is our risen Saviour. If anyone, Jew or Gentile, can say that and live by it, he or she will be saved.
Gospel Reading – (Luke 4:1-13) – Jesus was tempted like we are but he did not sin. Through his grace we too can resist temptation and overcome sin.
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PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
INTROUCTION: Dear brothers and sisters, with absolute faith in his Father, Jesus overcame temptation. With the same confidence, let us now lift up our prayers to God the Father.
The response is… Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We continue to pray for Pope Francis: that God may bless him with a return to good health and grant him renewed energy to continue his service to the Church and the world. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for our world: that slavery in all its forms and injustice everywhere be ended. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for all young people who are preparing this year for their First Reconciliation, First Holy Communion or to receive the sacrament of Confirmation: that they and their parents may be strengthened in their commitment to the faith of their Baptism. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for ourselves: that we may each seek to renew ourselves spiritually through the Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for all the sick of our families and our parish, those in hospital, in hospice or nursing home and those for whom we are asked to pray: that God may give them strength and fortitude, and bless those who care for them. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for the souls of all those whose anniversaries, months mind and birthday remembrances we are asked to recall, as well as those who have recently died: that they may receive the reward of their faith and enjoy the happiness of heaven. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
CONCLUSION: God our Father, your Son Jesus showed us how to reject temptation. Fill us with grace to be faithful to you in this Lenten season and throughout life. We make this prayer and all our prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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PLEASE REMEMBER THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE
IN YOUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK
SICK – Isobel Cannon, Rona McPhee, Mary McKenna, Rose Gallagher, Thérèse McKeand, Stuart Mason, Martin McGuire, David O’Hare & James Hannaway.
I also ask your prayers for the sick and housebound
– those at home in our parish community, those in hospital,
and those in local nursing and care homes in Cambuslang, Halfway
& Blantyre and elsewhere. Our prayers for them
not only help in their suffering and pain but also reassure them
that they are not forgotten by our community of faith.
Our prayers help relieve their feelings of isolation and loneliness.
To be remembered before the Altar of God
brings them comfort and consolation.
Almighty and Eternal God, you are the everlasting health
of those who believe in you.
Hear us for your sick servants
for whom we implore the aid of your tender mercy,
that being restored to bodily health,
they may give thanks to you in your Church.
Through Christ our Lord.
Our Lady, Help of the Sick, pray for them.
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RECENTLY DEAD – James (Kevin) Coyle (Jean Coyle’s son), John McPike, John Kane & Marjorie Walters.
ANNIVERSARIES – Bella & Eddie O’Donnell & Catherine Phinn (4th Anniversary).
Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let Perpetual Light shine upon them.
May they Rest in Peace. Amen.
CLERGY ANNIVERSARIES – MARCH
Rev. Alexander McBride 10/03/1955
Rev. John Roger 09/03/1958
Canon Patrick McCarthy 15/03/1959
Rev. Michael Little 19/03/1960
Rev. James Walsh 05/03/1965
Rev. Hugh Mahon 05/03/1971
Archbishop James Donald Scanlan 25/03/1976
Rev. Sean Mannion 10/03/1982
Rev. James McGill 12/03/1982
Rev. James Dooley 21/03/1988
Mgr. John O’Donnell 03/03/1989
Canon Patrick Kelly 29/03/1989
Rev. Patrick Kilcoyne 07/03/1990
Rev. Denis Garrity 09/03/1993
Rev. Robert Healey 13/03/1994
Rev. Patrick Brosnan 26/03/1995
Rev. John Givens 19/03/2006
Rev. William Sproule 22/03/2010
Canon Kieran O’Farrell 17/03/2014
Canon Patrick O’Hare 30/03/2016
Rev. Deacon Angus McKinnon 09/03/2018
Fr Timothy Brosnan 13/03/2018
Canon Denis Keane 29/03/2020
Monsignor Thomas O’Hare 10/03/2022
May the Lord who chose them to serve him as priests,
number them among his chosen in heaven.
Requiescant in Pace.
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THE SEASON OF LENT
Lent prepares us for Easter, for the Lenten liturgy disposes both the faithful and catechumens to celebrate the Paschal mystery as the centre of the liturgical year and of the Christian life. Preceded by the penitential rites of Ash Wednesday and the preparatory days following, Lent opens formally on the First Sunday and continues for 40 days until Holy Thursday. Purple is the colour of the season. We all should think about imposing some penitential practice on ourselves during Lent, making use of the Sacrament of Penance, possibly attending Mass more often, and giving more time to prayer and charitable activities.
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LITURGIES FOR the FIRST WEEK OF LENT
q Daily Mass - Monday to Friday at 10am.
q Stations of the Cross – Wednesday at 9.30am, with Mass at 10am.
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FIRST CONFESSIONS
Please pray for the young people of our parish whose parents are offering them for First Reconciliation on Tuesday 18th of March 2025 from St. Cadoc’s Primary School at 6.30pm and Thursday 20th of March 2025 from St. Charles’ Primary School at 6.30pm in St. Cadoc’s Church.
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COLLECTION FOR church building
& maintenance FUND
This will be the last weekend if you would like to contribute to our normal Church Building and Maintenance Fund Collection for the month of March.
A box meant for the Church Building & Maintenance Fund Collections is situated at the back of the church. Please be generous towards our second collection as this greatly helps pay for essentials such as continued maintenance and much needed repairs to our parish buildings and existing facilities.
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CONFIRMATIONS
Some of our young people attending St. Charles’ Primary School will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation in St. Bride’s Church, Cambuslang, on Thursday 27th March 2025 at 7pm. Please pray that our young people, strengthened by the Holy Spirit through the Sacrament of Confirmation, will be true witnesses of Christ to others. May they spread and defend the faith by word and deed.
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CHILDREN’S LITURGY
The Children’s Liturgy of the Word takes place at 10am Mass (except school holidays). I encourage parents, guardians & carers to bring their children to the church to participate in our children’s liturgy. Our young ones are the future of our parish. Their participation in parish activities, such as the children’s liturgy, is an important step in their faith formation. It is my humble and hearty request to parents, guardians & carers that you bring your children to a Sunday Mass on a regular basis.
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WELLSPRING RENEWAL PROJECTS
As part of this renewal project, children from St. Cadoc’s Primary School will be bringing the offering gifts in procession today at 10 am Sunday Mass (second Sunday of the month). I thank Mrs Faloon, the head teacher, and other staff members of St. Cadoc’s Primary School for taking this initiative and for her commitment to get pupils more involved in the life of the parish. Thank you also to the parents, guardians and carers for their presence at Mass and for bringing their children to our Sunday Mass on regular basis.
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GRATEFUL THANKS
Officially we are now into the final month of winter, though April can still be a cold month. Keeping warm during the cold weather is vital for our well-being and also required to protect the fabric of church buildings from both surface and interstitial condensation, no matter how full the pews. Our parish relies entirely on your donations and contributions to heat the church and presbytery. Thank you to all who donated and contributed financially to help us pay the heating and electricity bills over the winter months. Every little bit helps. Thank you once again for always being there to support your parish church. I look forward to your continued help and constant support.
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SCIAF WEE BOX LENTEN APPEAL 2025
SCIAF Lenten boxes are now available at the back of the Church. During this year’s Lenten appeal SCIAF will be focusing on the country of Colombia.
For six decades, a violent civil war involving guerrilla groups, private armed groups, drug cartels and government forces have left hundreds of thousands of people dead and forced nearly seven million to flee their homes. Despite the recent peace agreement, conflict remains and Colombia has one of the highest number of internally displaced people in the world. Poverty and displacement continue to be significant problems. SCIAF has been working in Colombia since 1985, focusing on promoting peace, helping indigenous and afro-Colombian people to preserve their land, protect their land rights and protect themselves from threats from illegal mining operations. They are helping communities who were forced to flee their homes to stand up for their rights and reclaim legal access to their land. They have also provided seeds, tools, livestock and training to marginalised communities to enable them to grow more food and support themselves.
In the Jubilee Year of Hope, SCIAF is asking you once again to help bring hope to those struggling to find it in both Colombia, and around the world by supporting their WEE BOX LENTEN APPEAL. Please make sure that you collect a 'WEE BOX' for SCIAF Lenten donations for you and your family on your way out after Mass. The boxes should be handed in at the end of Lent.
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RIGHT TO LIFE UK: PRAYING FOR THE UNBORN
& WOMEN FACING CRISIS PREGNANCIES
9th March 2025 -- “As we begin this season of Lent, we offer up the merits of our daily sacrifices to the needs of the most vulnerable in society. We offer them especially for the poor, the terminally ill, the lonely, the homeless and the unborn, that the Lord would see their needs and pour out his love and blessing upon them.”
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AN ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
(St. Alphonsus Liguori)
(This is a simple and loving act of Spiritual Communion we are called to make in these times,
while we are unable to attend Mass and receive the Eucharist)
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the
Most Holy Sacrament.
I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace you as if you were already there
and unite myself wholly to you.
Never permit me to be separated from you. Amen.
PRAYER TO ST. MICHAEL
St. Michael the Archangel,
defend us in the day of battle.
Be our safeguard against the wickedness
and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Hosts,
by the power of God, cast into Hell Satan, and all the evil spirits
who prowl the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Holy mary, mother of god,
st. Joseph,
st. Michael and holy angels,
ST. CADOC,
Pray for us