the baptism of the LORD (A)
READINGS FOR THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD (A)
First Reading – (Isaiah 42: 1-4 6-7) – Here we are given a picture of a true servant of God. He is gentle and humble of heart, and totally dedicated to his missions, which is to bring about true justice.
Responsorial Psalm – The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Second Reading – (Acts 10:34-38) – Here we are given a description of how the first Christians saw Baptism. The baptised person was said to have been ‘anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power.’
Gospel Reading – (Matthew 3:13-17) – This tells of the Baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan by his cousin John, how his identity was revealed, and how he was given power for the mission he was about to begin.
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PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
(The Baptism of the Lord, A)
INTROUCTION: Dear brothers and sisters, on this Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, when Christ was revealed as the Beloved Son, we now turn to God the Father confident that he will hear and answer our prayers.
The response is… Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for the Church: that it may always welcome those seeking God’s grace through the sacraments with open arms and a joyful heart. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for peace in all war-torn countries: that there may be an end to hatred and violence, and that people may live in safety and peace. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for all those who do not yet know Jesus as the beloved Son of God: that they may open their hearts and come to believe in the Good News. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for ourselves and all Christian people: that the Holy Spirit may help us to follow Jesus by living as he has taught us. 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 be their strength and grant them health, 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, open the heavens and pour out your Spirit upon your people gathered here in prayer. Renew in us the grace of our Baptism so that we may reflect ever more faithfully the image of your Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. 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 - Sheila Gallagher, Jim & Susan Jamieson, Baby Archie Thomson, Alex McLeod, Ron Docherty, Rona McPhee, Rose Gallagher, Thérèse McKeand, Martin McGuire & 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 Halfway,
Cambuslang, 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
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 – Sr. Rosemary Reilly (Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace), Joseph Doran (Body Reception, Monday 12th January 2026 at 6pm; Requiem Mass, Tuesday 13th January 2026 at 10am), James McFadden (Requiem Mass, Friday 16th January 2026 at 10am), Norman Mulgrew & Patricia Walsh.
ANNIVERSARIES – Celia Wilson.
Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let Perpetual Light shine upon them.
May they Rest in Peace. Amen.
CLERGY ANNIVERSARIES – JANUARY
Very Rev. James Canon McKenna 30/01/1949
Rev. William J. Smith 16/01/1961
Rev. Patrick Plunkett 20/01/1963
Rev. Peter Aloysius Murie 11/01/1964
Rev. Thomas McGhie 13/01/1965
Rt. Rev. Patrick Monsignor McGonagle 20/01/1970
Rev. Daniel McGlinchey 21/01/1972
Rev. Thomas Sheehan 22/01/1975
Rev. Anthony Donnelly 30/01/1982
Rev. Gerald B. McColgan 25/01/1987
Very Rev. James Canon Kilpatrick 04/01/1989
Very Rev. Bernard Canon Keenan 02/01/1992
Rev. James Quinn 10/01/1994
Rev. James Boyle 31/01/1998
Very Rev. John Canon Sheridan 06/01/1999
Very Rev. George Canon Fryer 20/01/1999
Rev. Isaac McLaren 11/01/2001
Very Rev. John Canon Gallagher 22/01/2003
Rev. James Small 14/01/2014
Rev. Jeremiah O'Riordan 11/01/2006
Very Rev, Thomas Canon Barry 26/01/2006
Very Rev. Henry Canon Allison 03/01/2013
Very Rev. George Canon Boyd 22/01/2013
Rev. Joseph Brannigan 02/01/2014
Rev. Henry Canon McGinn 14/01/2014
Leo Muldoon 27/01/2014
Very Rev Edward Canon Glackin 18/01/2016
Rev. Brian Donnelly 26/01/2016
Rev. Patrick McGovern 17/01/2017
Very Rev. Noel Canon Carey 09/01/2018
Very Rev Joseph Canon Clements 05/01/2023
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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the BAPTISM OF the LORD
The Christmas Season concludes today as we celebrate the event which marks the beginning of the public mission of Christ – his Baptism by John the Baptist in the river Jordan and the coming of the Spirit upon him. It is a day to reflect on the promises that were made on our behalf on the day of our Baptism by our parents and godparents, and an opportunity to ask ourselves how well we live out those promises.
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THE ORDINARY TIME
Tomorrow we enter upon the Ordinary Season of the Church’s year. The liturgical colour is Green, representing life and growth.
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SECOND 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 January. A box meant for the church building & maintenance fund collection is situated at the back of the church. Please be generous towards our second collection as this greatly helps maintain our church and grounds.
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CHILDREN’S LITURGY
We will resume the Children’s Liturgy sessions on the 1st Sunday February 2026 at 10am Mass.
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CALENDAR
Tuesday 13th January, is the Feast of St. Kentigern, patron of Glasgow. Also known as Mungo; Kentigern appears to have founded a Christian centre at Glasgow in the 6th Century. Popular devotion at his tomb by the Molendinar Burn and the erection of a Glasgow bishopric led to the building, between the 12th and 15th Centuries, of the wonderful Cathedral we can still visit today. Its design was intended to allow hundreds of pilgrims at a time to visit the shrine and tomb of the saint and hear Mass at one of the altars. Why not visit and pray in the church of our city’s founder and patron? On Saturday we remember St Anthony, 251-356, a hermit of the Arabian desert, famous for his self-discipline, his struggles with temptation, his founding of communities of his followers which were the first Christian monasteries, his wisdom & good sense, his opposition to heresy and his friendship with St Athanasius, who wrote his influential biography.
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LITURGY ROTA
Liturgy rota for Readers (January – March 2026) 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 Mrs 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. Anne Moran or Fr. Cirilo.
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PASTORAL PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
Our next pastoral planning committee meeting will take place on Wednesday (21st January 2026) at 7pm in the church house. Minutes of the last meeting and the agenda for the next meeting can be found on the notice board at the back of the church.
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crib offerings
Crib offerings will go as always to St. Margaret’s Adoption and Child Care Society. The donations they receive from the Crib Appeal each year helps them enormously to support their adoptive families and to recruit and train new adopters for children in need of forever families. Please remember an offering for this worthy cause when visiting the crib. Please note this will be the last weekend if you want to contribute to this worthwhile appeal. Thank you to everyone who contributed to the annual crib appeal.
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CHRISTMAS COLLECTION
Thank you for your offerings and donations for the upkeep of your church and parish’s ministry during Christmas period. I know there are many demands placed on you at this time of year, especially financial ones, and so I appreciate all you give to support the smooth running of the parish. Thank you for your ongoing generosity to the parish during the Christmas Season and the rest of the year. All your offerings and donations are greatly appreciated. May the peace and joy of the Infant Lord be with you and all your loved ones.
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FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO HELP WITH RISING
ENERGY BILLS (GAS & ELECTRICITY)
We are well into the cold season now. Keeping warm over the winter months is vital for our well-being and to protect the fabric of the building from both surface and interstitial condensation, no matter how full the pews. And that means high heating bills. Irrevocably this means high heating bills.
Since the aftermath of Covid-19, the cost of living, from buying groceries to heating our church and presbytery, has been on the rise sharply every day. Overall, our expenditures have increased faster than income. Our parish relies entirely on your contributions to pay our bills. I kindly appeal to your generosity to add an extra pound or two to your weekly contributions to help defray, in particular this winter, the high costs of energy bills. A big thank you to those of you who have already increased your regular giving to help defray the rising energy bills.
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DO YOU WANT TO JOIN THE GIFT-AID SCHEME
AND HELP THE PARISH
It’s so simple. If you are a tax payer, normally come to Church, and are prepared to put your money offering in a confidential numbered envelope (or pay by Standing order) and sign a simple form, then the parish can (at no cost to yourself) reclaim the tax you have already paid on that offering. For every pound you give, your parish will get back an additional 25 pence from the Inland Revenue. Thanks are extended to all those who have answered our appeal and have committed to gift-aid their offerings. Anyone wishing to join the scheme, please contact Jim Cunningham, our parish Gift Aid organiser 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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RIGHT TO LIFE UK: PRAYING FOR THE UNBORN
AND WOMEN FACING CRISIS PREGNANCIES
11th January 2026: “We pray for the families and friends of pregnant women, that they would recognise their responsibility to care for the mother and child, and shower them with love and support through the journey of pregnancy and beyond”
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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