fifth sunday OF LENT (C)
READINGS FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT (C)
First Reading – (Isaiah 43:16-21) – This was addressed to the Jews exiled in Babylon. It assures them that there will be a new Exodus. Its message of hope should inspire us also.
Responsorial Psalm – What great deeds the Lord worked for us!
Indeed, we were glad.
Second Reading – (Philippians 3:8-14) – Frequently we see holiness as something that we can achieve by our own efforts. Instead, we should try to see it as something that comes through faith in Christ and in the power of his resurrection.
Gospel Reading – (John 8:1-11) – This relates the incident concerning the woman caught in adultery, and how Jesus told her accusers that they should look to their own sins before condemning her.
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INTROUCTION: Dear brothers and sisters, as Easter draws near, we turn to God our Father in heaven and place before him our own needs and those of the Church and the world.
The response is… Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for the leaders of the Church: that they may continue to be faithful witness to the love and compassion of Christ. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for the people of Myanmar and Thailand following their earthquake: that those who have died may have eternal life, and that families and friends may have the support to rebuild their homes and livelihoods. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for compassion for the thousands of men, women and children faced with death from hunger, disease and terrifying warfare in Gaza: that those world leaders with influence may use it to bring an end to this most horrific war. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for those young people of our parish who are to receive the Lord Jesus in Holy Communion for the first time in weeks to come: that they may always love him with all their hearts and forever live faithfully. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for ourselves: that we may refrain from judging others and recognise that as Christians, God is the only judge. 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 never fail to open your arms to us when we turn to you. Create in us forgiving and merciful hearts that can recognize the distress of others. 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 – Patricia Scanlan, 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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BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCE (LIVING) – Canon Humphrey O’Mahony (90th) & Ann McTamney (80th).
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RECENTLY DEAD – Sr. Anne L’Estrange (Sisters of Charity, Lanark) & Agnes Welsh.
ANNIVERSARIES – Patrick Dolan (46th Anniversary), Theresa McLaughlin, Elizabeth Gregson, Peter Sweeney & Thomas Mochan.
BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCE – James Connelly.
Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let Perpetual Light shine upon them.
May they Rest in Peace. Amen.
CLERGY ANNIVERSARIES – APRIL
Rev. John O’Callaghan 15/04/1955
Rev. Edward Lafferty 05/04/1958
Rev. Charles Doherty 23/04/1982
Rev. James Flynn 11/04/1985
Very Rev. Hugh Cahill 11/04/1990
Rev. Lawrence Kenny 13/04/1992
Rt. Rev. Mgr. John Conroy 20/04/1994
Rt. Rev. Mgr. John Gillen 16/04/1995
Very Rev. Christopher Condon 08/04/1996
Very Rev. Anthony McGurk 29/04/1997
Rev. Bernard Mahoney 03/04/1998
Rev. Denis Power 28/04/1999
Rt. Rev. Mgr. Alex Devaney 18/04/2004
Rev. Michael Gallagher 23/04/2007
Very Rev. Patrick Moss 18/04/2014
Rt. Rev. Mgr. Jack Burns 11/04/2017
Rev. Richard J. Rodgers 10/04/2020
Canon Michael Walsh 28/04/2022
Rev Damien Gilhooley 10/04/2023
Rev George Donaldson 29/04/2023
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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HOLY WEEK
Next Sunday is Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. Each Mass will begin with a commemoration of Our Lord’s entrance into Jerusalem, the blessing of Palms, and the traditional procession leaving from the porch of the Church.
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LITURGIES FOR the FifTH 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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COLLECTION FOR church building
& maintenance FUND
This Sunday (6th April 2025), being the first Sunday of the month, the normal second collection will be taken up at all Masses to help support our Church Building and Maintenance Fund for the month of April.
A box intended for the Church Building & Maintenance Fund Collection will be situated at the back of the church for the next two weeks beginning today. 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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CONFESSIONS FOR EASTER
Please find time to make a good Confession in preparation for Easter. Fr. Rodrigues will be available in the sacristy to hear confessions from Monday to Friday between 9.30am – 9.50am & Saturday 4.15pm – 4.45pm (in the confessional box) during the remaining time of Lenten Season.
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LITURGIES OF HOLY WEEK
We are looking for volunteers who would help out as readers. A sign-up sheet has been left in the porch for the various liturgical needs of Holy Week. Please consider volunteering for our parish ministry opportunities during Holy Week. Thanks to Mrs Anne Moran for giving her time to prepare sign-up sheet. Those who have put down their names to read the Passion on Palm Sunday are asked to collect the book of readings from the sacristy this weekend.
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INVITATION TO the MASS OF CHRISM
As in previous years, the Mass of Chrism in Motherwell Diocese will be celebrated on Holy Thursday morning in Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral at 11am. As Bishop, I extend an invitation to all the faithful of the Diocese to attend, and look forward to welcoming you there. At this Solemn Mass, I bless the Oils to be used in the celebration of the Sacraments in the parishes through the year ahead, while the priests renew the promises made at ordination.
I see this year’s Mass of Chrism as an important occasion in the Diocese’s celebration of the Jubilee Year and I encourage you to come in parish groups as Pilgrims of Hope, united with me as Bishop in the Communion of the Holy Catholic Church, led by Our Holy Father, Pope Francis. We continue to pray that his recovery will continue.
From the Mass of Chrism, we move into the Sacred Paschal Triduum in our parishes and I ask for your generous and prayerful participation in the Liturgies of the Mass of the Last Supper, the Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion and Death, the Easter Vigil and the Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection. Let us ensure that these holy days are truly a time of intense prayer and renewed zeal, celebrating the great mysteries of our faith, purified by our Lenten sacrifices and fully open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. - + Joseph Toal
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FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
First Holy Communion will be celebrated on Saturday 26th April 2025 (St. Cadoc’s Primary School) at 9.30am Mass and at 11.30am Mass (St. Charles’ Primary School) in St. Cadoc’s Church. The prayers of parishioners are requested for these young people and for their families that their first meeting with Jesus in the Eucharist may lead on to a life in his loyal service. Parents, guardians & carers of candidates for First Communion are reminded of the importance of attending the Sunday Mass faithfully each week.
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EASTER COLLECTION
Please support your parish’s ministry and help to maintain your Church and grounds by giving generously to our Easter collection. Special Easter Collection envelopes are situated in the porch. Gift-aid members should use the Special Offering envelope at the end of their book of envelopes; if they use a special Easter collection envelope, they should have their number added on it.
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CHILDREN’S LITURGY
Children finished school for their Easter/Spring break on Friday (4th April 2025). I hope you and your children enjoy the Spring break. The Children’s Liturgy will not be on during the holiday period. We will resume the Children’s Liturgy sessions on Sunday 4th May 2025 at 10am Mass. We thank the volunteers who organise the Liturgy for our children and we are still looking for new people to volunteer. Thanks also to the parents, guardians & carers who bring their children to the church to participate in our children’s liturgy.
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BULLETIN NOTICES
Please ensure that notices & Easter Remembrances for the Easter Sunday bulletin reach the sacristy or the church house by Wednesday of Holy Week.
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PASTORAL PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
Our next pastoral planning committee meeting will take place on Tuesday (8th April 2025) at 7pm in the church house.
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BIRTHDAY WISHES
Our congratulations and best wishes to Canon Humphrey O’Mahoney (St. Luke’s, Motherwell) on celebrating his 90th birthday this week. May God continue to bless him with good health, peace and happiness! And may the good Lord continue to bless him in the work he called him to and may his constant love guide him along his future way. Our warm congratulations and best wishes also to Ann McTamney on turning 80! May her special birthday be greatly blessed! May she continue to be blessed with love, health and happiness for many more years to come.
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COLLECTION FOR SCIAF
Collection for SCIAF realised £837.19. Thanks for your generosity. Thanks also to those who have returned their SCIAF wee boxes. If you have not already returned the box, can I encourage you to please return it to the sacristy/house by Low Sunday (Second Sunday of Easter), or you may send them directly to SCIAF.
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LITURGY ROTA
Liturgy rota for readers (April – June 2025) for 5pm (Saturday) &10am & 11.30am (Sunday) Masses is available in the sacristy. Please collect a copy before or after any of the Sunday Masses. Thanks to Anne Moran for giving her time to prepare the readers rota. If you are able to be part of this important ministry, then please contact Mrs Moran or Fr. Cirilo.
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GIFT-AID SCHEME
For those using offertory gift-aid envelopes, the new envelopes for the 2025-2026 tax year, which commences this weekend of (5th/6th April 2025), are now available for collection at the stall. Gift-Aid members should put the date on the building fund envelope as the printer has not done this. May I ask those who haven’t done so to collect them from the stall please?
We now have three additional parishioners who have recently signed for the Gift-Aid Scheme. 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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CHURCH CLEANING
Next general cleaning of the church will take place on Saturday 12th April 2025 at 8.45am. Please come along and help for just over half an hour.
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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
6th April 2025 -- “Let us pray for the ears to hear God’s call to help the vulnerable in our midst, including people with disabilities, people in hospitals, those in nursing homes, the housebound, and those nearing the end of their lives.”
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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