second sunday OF LENT (C)
READINGS FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT (C)
First Reading – (Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18) – In this reading we learn of the solemn covenant God made with Abraham which was the foundation of God’s relationship with the people of Israel. Through Christ we are the heirs to this covenant.
Responsorial Psalm – The Lord is my light and my Salvation.
Second Reading – (Philippians 3:17-4:1) – From this reading it is obvious that even in the early Church not all lived up to the demands of the Christian life. St. Paul, therefore, urges us to remain faithful.
Gospel Reading – (Luke 9:28-36) – On Mount Tabor, Peter, James and John got a glimpse of the glory that was hidden in Jesus, and they were delighted by it. Through faith we too glimpse the glory of the risen Jesus who lives on in the Church and in each of us.
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INTROUCTION: Dear brothers and sisters, inspired by Abraham’s trust and faith, let us now place before God the Father our own needs and those of the Church and the world.
The response is… Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for Pope Francis whose ministry as Bishop of Rome and Pope of the Church was inaugurated 12 years ago: that God may continue to 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 the children of Abraham – for Jews, Christians and Muslims: that they may recognise their common belief in the one God, treat each other with dignity and respect, and seek ways to work together. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for our young people from St. Cadoc’s Primary and St. Charles’ Primary who will be making their First Confession on Tuesday and Thursday of this week: that they will experience the love and kindness of God when they come to a confession and continue to grow in their appreciation of this Sacrament. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for ourselves: that, as we journey through Lent, we may continue to be transformed as we seek to become more like Christ through prayer, almsgiving and fasting during this holy season. 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, you are our help and our shield in times of difficulty. We humbly ask for your mercy and grace amid the many trials and tribulations of 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 – Linda Findlay, 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, Sadie Masson, Bernard Phimister & Eilish O’Neil.
MONTHS MIND – Andrew Harkin & Gillian Chalmers (Former head teacher of St. Charles’ Primary School).
ANNIVERSARIES – Christine Elliot (1st Anniversary), Maria Wilson (1st Anniversary), Moira McLaughlin, Charlie Coyle, Hugh & Peggy Rafferty, Mary Pearson & Dennis Stewart.
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 SECOND 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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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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SCIAF SUNDAY
Next Sunday (23rd March 2025) we celebrate in our parish ‘SCIAF’ Sunday’, a day when we remember the poor and the needy of the world and show our solidarity with them by praying for them and also by helping them financially. The annual collection for the work of the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund which will be taken up at all Masses on the weekends of 22ns/23rd March 2025 and 29th/30th March 2025, will go to help communities in 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.
Any financial contributions you make will go to help bring hope to those struggling to find it in both Colombia, and around the world by supporting their ANNUAL LENTEN APPEAL.
A box intended for the SCIAF SUNDAY COLLECTION will be situated at the back of the church for the next two weeks beginning next weekend. I hope you will contribute with your usual generosity to this collection.
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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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GIFT-AID SCHEME
We have two additional parishioners who have recently signed for the Gift-Aid Scheme. Thanks to them and all those who have answered our appeal. We are still looking for new members. If you pay tax on income/pension the church can claim back the tax through the Gift-Aid Scheme. Forms are available at the back of the church if anyone wishes to join the scheme. If you have any queries about the Gift Aid system, please contact the parish Gift Aid organiser, Mr. Jim Cunningham or Fr. Cirilo. Alternatively, you can contribute to the Sunday Mass collections via a direct debit or standing order arrangement with your bank. Thank you once again for your enduring generosity and support.
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GRATEFUL THANKS
Officially we are now into the final week 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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READERS NEEDED FOR WEEKDAY
& WEEKEND MASSES
Please help your parish. New readers are required for weekday and weekend Masses. If you are able to be part of this important ministry, then please contact Mrs. Anne Moran, our readers’ rota organiser, or Fr. Cirilo.
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RIGHT TO LIFE UK: PRAYING FOR THE UNBORN
& WOMEN FACING CRISIS PREGNANCIES
16th March 2025 -- “As we celebrate the Solemnity of St Joseph on Wednesday, let us pray for all fathers, that, through their example, they may demonstrate the loving provision and compassion of Almighty God to their children.”
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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