16th sunday in ordinary time (A)
READINGS FOR SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)
First Reading (Wisdom 12:13, 16-19) – The reading focuses on God’s leniency and mighty power. It highlights that God judges with clemency and gives his people "good ground for hope" that he will grant repentance for sins.
Responsorial Psalm – O Lord, you are good and forgiving.
Second Reading (Romans 8:26-27) - St. Paul reassures us that we are weak, but the Holy Spirit comes to our aid, interceding for us with “inexpressible groanings”.
Gospel (Matthew 13:24-43) – The Gospel contains the parables of the wheat and the weeds, the mustard seed, and the yeast. Jesus explains that the Kingdom of Heaven grows quietly from small beginnings and that good and bad will coexist until the end of the age.
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PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
INTROUCTION: Dear brothers and sisters, in today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that we are all part of the same field where both good and bad can be found. As we strive to follow the Lord’s teachings, let us pray for our own needs and those of the Church and the world, trusting in his ultimate harvest of love.
The response is… Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for the Church: that she may be a beacon of patience and understanding, allowing the Word of God to grow in the hearts of all people without rushing to judge or condemn. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray especially for the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception: that God may continue to bless their missionary charism and fill them with strength and grace as they minister to the poor and vulnerable in our local communities and across the globe. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for all travellers and vacationers during this summer period: that their journeys will be safe and their time away restful. Lord, hear us; Lord graciously hear us.
╬ We pray for ourselves: that we may bear abundant fruit in our daily lives through acts of love, justice, and compassion, trusting that God’s patient mercy gives us the time we need to grow in holiness. 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, you sow the seeds of your kingdom in our hearts and tend to us with unfailing love. Hear the prayers we bring before you today, and help us to grow in faith, hope, and charity, so that we may bear a rich harvest of good works. 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 – Cameron Harvie, Margaret McGeachie, 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 – Nicole Davies, Tommy Graham & Linda Cooper.
MONTHS MIND – David O’Hare (Jnr) (7th Months Mind) & Mary Hunter.
ANNIVERSARIES – Jim & Joe Bradley, Margaret McLaughlin, Grace & John Reynolds.
Eternal Rest grant unto them, O Lord,
and let Perpetual Light shine upon them.
May they Rest in Peace. Amen.
CLERGY ANNIVERSARIES – JULY
Rev. Henry Corr 20/07/1954
Rev. Denis Hoban 06/07/1962
Rev. Charles McKinley 25/07/1963
Rev. Pat Clarke 11/07/1969
Very Rev. John Canon McCrory 13/07/1972
Rev. Tom Egan 02/07/1973
Rev. Thomas Murray 02/07/1975
Rev. Bernard Oates 31/07/1988
Rev, Aidan D’Arcy 05/07/2021
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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CALENDAR
Monday is the optional memorial of St. Apollinaris (also known as Apollinare), the first bishop of Ravenna, Italy, and a recognised martyr of the early Church. According to tradition, he was a disciple of St. Peter in Antioch, who sent him to evangelize the ancient Roman port city of Classe. On Tuesday we recall the memorial of St Laurence of Brindisi, an Italian Capuchin scholar of Counter-Reformation times, who spoke and wrote in defence of Catholic teaching in many parts of Europe. On Wednesday we celebrate the feast of St Mary Magdalene, a foundational figure in Christian history. Known as the “Apostle to the Apostles”, she was the first to witness the empty tomb and is revered for her unwavering devotion, courage, and role in spreading the Resurrection message. Thursday is the feast of St Bridget of Sweden. This other St Bridget was a noble lady of 14th century Sweden, who found time to have a family of eight and as a widow to found the order of the Holy Saviour (the ‘Bridgettines’), which still exists. Friday is the memorial of St Charbel Maklouf, a saintly 19th century Lebanese hermit. Saturday is the feast of St James ‘The Greater’, brother of John the Apostle and witness at the Transfiguration and Gethsemane. This St James was the first martyr among the apostles, executed by Herod Agrippa I to please Jewish opponents of the first Christians. Legends grew up about his accuser being converted and executed with him, and (much later) about his having preached in Spain and his body being brought there. Whether or not the relics preserved at Compostela are his, it remains today a great centre of pilgrimage and devotion
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FRANCISCAN SISTERS MISSION APPEAL
Once a year Bishop Toal gives permission to a religious missionary order to appeal at all Masses for the work of their society/organisation.
Our appeal is this weekend (18th/19th July 2026) which will be made by the Franciscan Sisters. A box intended to help support the work of the Franciscan Missionaries Sisters will be situated at the back of the church for the next two weeks beginning this weekend (18th/19th July 2026 & 25th/26th July 2026).
The Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception is a religious congregation founded in the East End of Glasgow in 1847. Through regular deanery mission appeals held across Scotland, they raise vital funds to support their ongoing pastoral care, education, and social outreach work for poor and vulnerable communities globally.
As a missionary people, we are called to stretch our hearts beyond the boundaries of our own parish. We have a marvellous record in St. Cadoc’s in helping the spread of the Faith in mission lands and the missionaries, and I look forward to your continued generosity in our second collection at all for the next two weeks.
A box intended to support the work of the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception will be situated at the back of the church for the next two weekends beginning today (18th/19th July 2026 & 25th/26th July 2026). Thank you in advance for your generosity and your prayers.
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WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR GRANDPARENTS
& THE ELDERLY
Next weekend we celebrate the Feast of Saints of Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus. In 2021, Pope Francis established a Church-wide celebration of a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly into the Universal Church calendar, recognising the vital part they play in all societies and families, and in the life and mission of the Church. This annual feast is celebrated on the fourth Sunday of July, the Sunday closest to the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (26 July), parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus. The Feast honours their deep devotion, their spiritual nurturing of Mary for her future role, and their vital intergenerational role in family heritage.
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SOLEMN CONSECRATION OF ST. MARY’S
SYRO-MALABAR CHURCH
The Syro-Malabar Catholic community in the Motherwell Diocese cordially invite all parishioners, families, and friends to join them for the solemn consecration of St. Mary's Church, Craigneuk Street, Wishaw, on Sunday, 26th July 2026 at 2.30pm. The consecration and Holy Qurbana will be presided over by Mar Joseph Srampickal, bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchial of Great Britain, alongside community leaders and local representatives. We keep the Syro-Malabar Catholic community in the Motherwell Diocese in our prayers as they prepare for this sacred day.
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LITURGY ROTA
Liturgy rota for Readers (July – September 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.
While our 10am Sunday Mass is well-covered, we urgently require volunteer readers for the Vigil Saturday Mass and 11.30am Sunday Mass. Sharing the scriptures is a beautiful way to serve your parish family. If you can help us in the reading ministry, please let Anne Moran or me know before or after any of the weekend Masses.
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JOIN US FOR THE PARISH ANNUAL ‘THANK YOU’ PARTY
Please join us for our Annual ‘Thank You’ Party on Tuesday 18th August 2026. The celebration will take place in the church house (presbytery) from 6pm to 7.30pm. All parishioners and well-wishers of St. Cadoc’s Parish Community are warmly invited to the fellowship buffet. This invitation, will afford me the opportunity to say “Thank You” for supporting and contributing to the life of our parish. A great strength of our parish is that we all pull together to make the parish work. We all participate in every aspect of the church from attending Mass to providing a welcoming atmosphere at every service to cleaning up the grounds. There is no job that is too great for this parish family. Marvellous! I look forward to welcoming you on that day. There is no charge for the party, however, a donation would, if possible, be greatly appreciated. Raffle prizes (such as bottles of wine, spirits, chocolates, or any useful products you can donate) needed! It would be amazing if some of our wonderful parishioners and well-wishers could donate items to be used as raffle prizes.
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CHURCHC GROUNDS & GARDEN MAINTENANCE
Many thanks to Michael Hannaway for cutting the grass and tidying the church grounds, Liam McGurk for planting new flowers plants in front of the church, Charles Clements for tidying the church grounds at the entrance area of the church and William Mullen for helping to tidy the grounds around the church. Their hard work and dedication truly help keep our grounds looking welcoming and vibrant for everyone who walks through our doors.
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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
19th July 2026 (16th Sunday in Ordinary Time) – “Let us pray for all those who are close to death, especially those who are alone, that they would always be treated with respect and have their human dignity upheld.
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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