PENTECOST SUNDAY (A)
READINGS FOR THE PENTECOST SUNDAY (A)
First Reading – (Acts 2: 1-11) – The reading describes the event of Pentecost itself, with the disciples receiving the Spirit and speaking in diverse languages.
Responsorial Psalm – Send forth your spirit, O Lord,
and renew the face of the earth.
Second Reading – (1 Corinthians 12: 3-7, 12-13) - The reading emphasises the diversity of gifts within the church, all working together under the Spirit.
Gospel Reading – (John 20:9-23) – On Easter Sunday evening Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit upon his apostles, a Spirit of forgiveness and of peace.
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PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
INTROUCTION: Dear brothers and sisters, today, as we celebrate the great beginning of the Church and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the first disciples, we turn to God the Father and pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Church in every place, and upon all people.
The response is… Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for the leaders of the Church: that they may be filled with fresh zeal, wisdom and the courage to proclaim the Gospel to people of all languages and cultures. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for peace and understanding among all nations: that the Holy Spirit may break down barriers of violence and prejudice, bringing comfort to those who suffer from the effects of war and conflict. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for all in the Church who are engaged in the ministry of sharing faith in journalism, television, internet and radio: that they may always work to spread the truth in what they write and say. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for each one of us here present: that we may receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the spirit of fortitude needed to do good and resist evil. 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 died recently: 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 opened the doors of the upper room and sent the Holy Spirit to guide and empower your people. Hear the prayers we offer today, and grant that we may always walk in the light of your presence. 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 – Jessie Tinman (Body Reception, Monday 1st June 2026 at 6pm; Requiem Mass, Tuesday 2nd June 2026 at 11am), Rose McFadden, James Reid, Bert Denniston, Mary Tracy, Michael Magee, Lorraine Murray, Joanne Brown & Maureen Boyce.
MONTHS MIND – Frances Hourigan.
ANNIVERSARIES – John Hourigan, Margaret Hastings, Mary & Patrick Hastings, Catherine (Kitty) Innes, Margaret Coyle, John Leydon,
BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCE – Jackie Reilly & Kevin Coyle.
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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solemnity of pentecost
Today, the fiftieth day since Easter Sunday, is the Solemnity of Pentecost, when we recall the coming of the Holy Spirit on Our Lady and the Apostles, recorded by St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles. Eastertide ends this evening and tomorrow sees the resumption of the Ordinary Season, Week Eight.
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CALENDAR
On Monday we mark the memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, a new Marian feast to be observed on the Monday following Pentecost instituted in 2018. As Mary is mother to the Head of the Church (Christ), so too is she Mother to His Body, of which we all are a part! The Gospel reading for the feast, which technically is called a ‘memorial’, is John 19:25-31, which recounts how from the cross Jesus entrusted Mary to his disciples as their mother and entrusted his disciples to Mary as her children. As a caring guide to the emerging Church Mary had already begun her mission in the Upper Room, praying with the Apostles while awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 1:14). In this sense, in the course of the centuries, Christian piety has always honoured Mary with various titles, in many ways equivalent, such as Mother of Disciples, of the Faithful, of Believers, of all those who are reborn in Christ; and also as “Mother of the Church” as is used in the texts of spiritual authors as well as in the magisterium of popes Benedict XIV and Leo XIII. On Tuesday we honour St. Philip Neri (+1595), the Roman saint who founded the Oratorian Order. He was a particularly cheerful saint, who cared for the underprivileged but had a great influence on people of all ages and classes. Cardinal Newman was an Oratorian, as was Faber, the writer of so many popular hymns. Wednesday is the memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury (+604). Sent by Pope St. Gregory the Great to evangelise the English, he was the first Archbishop of Canterbury.
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many thanks
Thank you for supporting your parish while I was away homme for my summer break. Thank you to everyone who has made this possible through their time, hard work, support and commitment. Thank you also to Fr. Joe McNulty for his time and help over the past three weeks. His assistance and dedication was very much appreciated. In addition, my sincere thanks to all others who contributed in any way whatsoever, during my time away home. Finally, I am most grateful to all parishioners and well-wishers who have been making their contributions regularly during my time away. As ever, thank you, once again, for your support and prayers.
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SEMI-ANNUALLY MASS CENSUS
Semi-annually mass census will take place during Masses on the weekend of Saturday 6th/Sunday 7th June 2026). Please come and show your support for the parish by attending one of these weekend’s Masses to register for our parish census. I would like to thank all those who, through their presence Sunday after Sunday, faithfully and generously contribute to the spiritual and material welfare of Saint Cadoc’s parish.
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second collection for the catholic communications
This will be the last weekend if you would like to help support the Church’s efforts to spread the Word of God by every modern means of Communications.
The theme for the 60th World Day of Social Communications (May 17, 2026), chosen by Pope Leo XIV, was "Preserving Human Voices and Faces". This theme addresses the need to protect human dignity, authenticity, and critical thinking against AI-driven simulation and disinformation, emphasising that technology must serve humanity, not replace it. Face and voice are unique traits of every person and form the foundation of human identity and relationships.
Reflecting on this truth, Pope Leo XIV introduces his message for the 60th World Day of Social Communications, with a focus on digital communication and artificial intelligence, highlighting the need to protect human dignity in an age increasingly shaped by technological innovation. Human beings, the Pope recalls, are created in the image and likeness of God and called into relationship through the Word. Preserving human faces and voices, therefore, means preserving the divine imprint present in each person and upholding the irreplaceable vocation of every human life.
A box intended to help support the work of the Catholic Communications is situated at the back of the church. Thank you very much in anticipation for your kind generosity in supporting this vital work.
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CHILDREN’S (summer) tea party
We finish the Children’s Liturgy for the summer holiday on Sunday 7th June 2026 with a tea party after 10am Mass in the church house.
An open invitation is extended to all the children attending the children’s liturgy and other children who may not be part of it, their parents, guardians, carers and all those who prepare, deliver and supervise it on a weekly basis. I look forward to welcoming you on that day. A big “thank you” to the Children’s Liturgy helpers (Elizabeth Gray, Marie Claire Faller, Anne-Frances McLaughlin, Bernadette Sheppard & Lucy Murdoch) for their valued support during the year. Thanks also to the parents, guardians and carers who bring their children to the church to participate in our children’s liturgy.
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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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‘THANK YOU’ ON BEHALF OF ST. CADOC’S PARISH
Thank you to the Diocese for the recent act of kindness shown toward St. Cadoc’s Parish, Halfway, by reducing our levy for 2026 by £5,064.01 which would be paid from the Levy Relief Fund. Their thoughtful gesture towards the Parish of St. Cadoc’s is very much appreciated by the parishioners. In the last five years, the Diocese has been able to support parishes which, due to lower-than-average income streams and/or particular high expenditure, appeared to need some financial support towards levy costs. Once again, thanks are extended to the Diocese of Motherwell for their continuing support of the parish. Their timely practical support will provide much needed help and financial stability in the months to come.
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CHURCH CLEANING
Thank you to all our parish volunteers who generously gave of their time to clean the Church yesterday. It makes all the difference! We are very lucky in St. Cadoc’s that our church is cleaned every third Saturday. Many on coming to church comment on how clean, tidy and welcoming our church is, and that is testament to the wonderful cleaning team. We could do with more people willing to give of their time every three weeks to help with general cleaning of the church which takes place on a Saturday morning. If you would like to help with cleaning, please contact Anne Lennon, the parish co-ordinator, or Fr. Cirilo.
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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
May 24th 2026 (Pentecost Sunday) – “At those times when we believe we must defend the weak and the vulnerable, let us pray for knowledge, wisdom and fortitude - three of the Holy Spirit’s seven gifts.”
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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