Noel... Noel...Come and see what God has done!!!

We all have our favourite Christmas Carols and often their tunes and words reach deep into our hearts in magical ways, heralding the message of the Incarnation.  In Oh Little Town of Bethlehem we sing of an everlasting light that shines in dark streets and, conversing in wonder with the Babe in the manger, we tell of how the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Him tonight.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, I would like to begin this meeting of ours by offering cordial good wishes to all of you, superiors and officials, papal representatives and staff of the Nunciatures worldwide, all those working in the Roman Curia and to your families. Best wishes for a holy and serene Christmas and a happy New Year 2017!

Pope Francis’s document The Joy of the Gospel is loaded with great tips on how to share the faith with others. Since the Christmas season gives us plenty of opportunities to talk about our faith with others, I thought I’d share three of my favourite tips from the pope on how to do so.

We are still waiting and anticipating the pending birth of Jesus Our Saviour. Mary & Joseph are on a journey, the same one we walk today, we follow in their footsteps, with each step we are moving closer to Bethlehem. Let us take a little time to reflect on this journey; let us not get ahead of Joseph & Mary, let us join with them to welcome Our Saviour; the same way they let God lead them.

Starts here on the 16th December for 9 days, join with the diocese in praying. Here are some suggestions for you to consider:  An end to global wars; hunger; addiction; abortion; human trafficking; persecution of Christians.  For a renewal & healing in: Our families; of Cancer & all terminal illnesses; our church - and your own private intentions too. 

Have you put your Christmas Tree up yet? Here is a lovely wee prayer to say over your tree, or as you are putting it up. It's a lovely thing to do as a family, even if they are near or far, think of them and join with them as you pray!

VATICAN CITY – Pope Francis’ 80th birthday Saturday will begin with a concelebration in the Pauline Chapel at 8a.m. with Cardinals in Rome, followed by a ‘normal’ day of commitments and duties for the pontiff, says the Vatican. The head of the Holy See shall receive the President of Malta, the Prefect of the Congregation of Bishops, the Bishop of Chur in Switzerland and the Community of Nomadelfia.

For over 70 years CPW has been providing “holidays that make a difference”, where you’ll find food for thought, faith and friends. All our events offer engaging talks and activities, prayer and socialising, in a community setting. Some are for people of all ages, and others for those aged 18 and over. In 2017, we are holding nine events, on a range of themes including leadership, Newman’s legacy, hope, and holy places. You will find details of all 2017 events on this page, and a printable booking form here. If you would like extra copies of the brochure please ring or email the Secretary (contact details on this page). Alternatively, you can download a complete copy of the brochure here.

“Am I not here, I, who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Are you not in the hollow of my mantle, the crossing of my arms? Am I not the source of all your joy? What more do you need? Let nothing else worry you, disturb you.” – The Virgin Mary, to St. Juan Diego at Tepeyac Hill

One story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home-providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas. And so St. Nicholas is a gift-giver.

December 2016. The Pope Video: That the scandal of child-soldiers may be eliminated the world over. For the Pope's Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer - http://www.popesprayer.net).

Dear Brothers and Sisters,   The inaugural Adoption Week Scotland took place from 21st—27th November and was a great success. With this in mind, I want to bring to your attention our own Catholic Adoption Agency, St. Margaret’s  Adoption Society.  It was set up in 1955 in the trust of the dioceses of Glasgow, Motherwell, Paisley and Galloway and still has the bishops of these dioceses as its President and Vice Presidents.  I have recently visited their Centre for the Family and was most impressed with the work that is being done there to support children and families.

A great initiative to help those in our community prevent & recover from serious falls. The OTAGO programme – run, in this instance, by the Paisley-based charity Roar Connections for Life – is a series of low-impact exercises, specifically designed to improve balance, increase muscle strength and prevent the falls that so often act as a catalyst to decline in elderly people.