THIRd sunday of easter (A)
READINGS FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER (A)
First Reading – (Acts 2:14, 22-28) – This is part of a sermon preached by St. Peter to the Jews on the feast of Pentecost. It shows that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the very heart of the Gospel.
Responsorial Psalm – O Lord, you will show me the path of life.
Second Reading – (1 Peter 1: 17-21) – The benefits we enjoy as Christians were won by Christ through the shedding of his blood. We must try to respond with a life of holiness.
Gospel Reading – (Luke 24:13-35) – The story of two men whose dreams were shattered when Jesus was executed, how the risen Jesus joined them and showed them that it was by dying such a death that he entered his glory.
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PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
INTROUCTION: Dear brothers and sisters, filled with joy by the resurrection of Jesus, who walks with us even when our hearts are heavy, we bring our prayers before God the Father, confident in his love and mercy.
The response is… Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for Pope Leo as he continues his apostolic journey in Africa: that God may grant him strength, wisdom and protection as he brings his message of peace and reconciliation to that vast continent. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for world leaders: that they may work together to end violence and killing, fostering a peace that brings security and justice to all nations or world leaders. 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 next weekend: that they may always love him with all their hearts and forever live faithfully. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for our parish community: that we may be a welcoming people, recognising Jesus in the stranger and caring for those in need. 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 Easter remembrances, 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, hear the prayer of your Church as we celebrate with joy the resurrection of your Son and grant to all humanity a renewed faith in your promise to us of resurrection to new 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 – Alex McLeod, 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 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 – Frances Hourigan (Body Reception, Tuesday 21st April 2026 at 6pm; Requiem Mass, Wednesday 22nd April 2026 at 10m), Patricia Gault & Aenie Gallagher (Perth, Scotland).
ANNIVERSARIES – Andrew Harkin (2nd Anniversary), Con & Bridget Duffy, Leslie & Nan McKenna, Christina Kelly, Marjorie Callaghan & Andrew Hardie.
BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCE – Irene Russel.
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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GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY
Next Sunday is the World Day of Prayer for vocations to the priesthood and the religious life. On this annual worldwide event, the Church around the world invites us to pray for those we might know whom God may be calling to a priestly or religious vocation and would benefit from our prayers.
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CALENDAR
On Tuesday we honour St Anselm (+1109), an Italian Benedictine, Abbot of Bec in Normandy, who was appointed to be Archbishop of Canterbury in 1093, but who found himself more than once in exile because he resisted William II’s and Henry I’s efforts to take control of the Church. More importantly, he was the greatest theologian of his time, and his works on natural theology and on Christ’s atonement (‘Cur Deus Homo?’) had long-lasting influence. We also recall the memory of St Maelrubha, an abbot who founded the monastic community of Applecross in Ross, one of the best attested early Christian monasteries in what is now Scotland. On Thursday we remember Saint George (+303). Born in Cappadocia (part of modern-day Turkey), he is thought to have been a soldier in the Roman army. He died a martyr’s death, probably at Lydda in Palestine. George is the patron saint of Greece, England and Portugal, as well as the Italian cities of Venice and Genoa. His name in Greek means “earth-worker” (the “geo” in George and “geology” and “geography” comes from the word “Ge” meaning “earth”. We also honour on Thursday the 10th century martyr Adalbert of Prague. The Reformation martyrs St Fidelis of Sigmaringen and St Egbert (who made the Scots and Irish see sense and celebrate Easter on the same date as the rest of Western Christendom) are remembered on Friday. Saturday is the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, traditionally identified with ‘John Mark’, whose home in Jerusalem was a Christian centre and whom some identify as the young man his gospel describes as fleeing naked from Gethsemane almost naked. He appears to have been a companion first of St. Paul and later of St. Peter. The Gospel associated with his name is the shortest and probably the earliest of the four. Mark’s symbol is a Lion, and he is the patron saint of Venice.
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CHILDREN’S LITURGY
The Children’s Liturgy of the Word takes place at 10am Sunday Mass (except school holidays). 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. Once again, it is my humble and hearty request to parents, guardians & carers that you bring your children to a Sunday Mass on a regular basis. We will resume the Children’s Liturgy sessions again from Sunday 3rd May 2026 at 10am Sunday Mass after their Easter break and we will finish it for summer on Sunday 14th June 2026 with a tea party after 10am Mass in the church house.
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FIRST HOLY COMMUNION
First Holy Communion will be celebrated on Saturday 25th April 2026 for St. Charles’' Primary School at 9.30am Mass and St. Cadoc’s Primary School at 11.30am Mass 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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SECOND COLLECTION FOR KILBRYDE HOSPICE
We are once again invited by Bishop Toal to take up a special collection to help support the work of our local hospices. This year we will take up a collection for Kilbryde Hospice. This Hospice has been in existence since August 2018 providing Specialist Palliative Hospice Care to the population of South Lanarkshire. A special collection for Kilbryde Hospice will be taken at all Masses for the next two weekends (18th/19th April 2026 & 25th/26th April 2026).
A box intended for donations to help support the Hospice will be situated at the back of the church for the next two weeks beginning this weekend. Your kindness will help them to make a difference to the patients and their families who need their care and services. I hope you will, again, show generosity in helping the Kilbryde Hospice this year.
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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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GRATEFUL THANKS
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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LITURGY ROTA
Liturgy rota for Readers (April – June 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 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
For those using offertory gift-aid envelopes, the new envelopes for the 2026-2027 tax year, which commenced on the 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. Thanks to them and all others 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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PASTORAL PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING
Thank you to all those parishioners who joined me on Wednesday (15th April 2026) evening for our pastoral planning committee meeting and for their feedback on the topics discussed.
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WELLSPRING PROJECT
You will well remember that two years ago the Diocese of Motherwell launched a renewal project entitled ‘Wellspring” to encourage us respond with fervour to our baptismal calling by involving ourselves in the different ministries of our parish. The Parish needs your help to respond.
Can you help us realise the vision of the wellspring project? I continue to encourage as many parishioners as possible to become involved in the day to day running of the parish. Current volunteering opportunities include Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Committee, laundering the altar linens, arranging flowers and decorating the church, as altar servers, sacristans, help in cleaning the church, readers at Mass, ministers to help distribute Holy Communion, SVDP, as pass keepers, offertory collection organisers, children’s liturgy helpers, safe-guarding co-ordinators, website co-ordinators, crib builders, volunteers to help maintain church grounds and open and close the church, etc. We are fortunate we are a parish community that lends itself to getting involved. However, opportunities exist for more parishioners to give of their time to participate in some aspect of parish life.
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SCIAF WEE BOXES LENTEN APPEAL 2026
Thanks to those who have returned their SCIAF wee boxes. The total contributed in this way to SCIAF amounted to £557.42 so far. If you have not returned the SCIAF box, can I encourage you to please return it to the sacristy/house as soon as possible, or you may send them directly to the SCIAF. Thank you also to Jennifer Adams who sorted out coins and carried them to the bank.
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annual insurance for church & presbytery
Our annual insurance renewal premium invoice for the Church and House for 2025/2026 is £2566.79.
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new parishioners
We would ask those who are new to the parish, or who are moving house within the parish, to record their name, address and telephone number on the registration card provided in the porch of the church. I would greatly appreciate your involvement in the parish. If you have any spare time, talents, or skills to share, I rely on the kindness and support of parishioners like you to help us grow and serve our community better. It is also very helpful if those moving from the parish let us know, so that our statistics can be kept up to date. Please be assured that any data we have (including the parish survey I undertook in 2016) will be held in a secure way and will never be shared or given to anyone else.
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parking in the streets surrounding the church
A core part of our mission is to be good neighbours, both to one another and to those who live around our church. A handful of our neighbours have reached out with concerns about their driveways being blocked by vehicles during our services and gatherings. Please be mindful of where you park to ensure you are not blocking access to our neighbours’ homes. Thank you for your kindness and cooperation.
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right to life uk: praying for the unborn
& women facing crisis pregnancies
April 19th 2026 (Third Sunday of Easter) – “We pray especially for our government that their commitment to support pregnant women and their families may increase, and that they may anchor themselves in the desire to protect all human life.”
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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.
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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