Called and Chosen: At the end of June we will celebrate the ordination of Rev. Matthew Carlin to the priesthood. Matthew’s ordination will be the first for our Diocese in over ten years. The ordination provides all of us with a unique opportunity to reflect on the Rite of Ordination and how it speaks to us as we all follow our different vocations in the Church. With this in mind, our Diocesan Vocations Commission have developed a program entitled ‘Called and Chosen: Reflections on Ordination’. Starting from next Monday, 2nd May we are encouraging parishioners throughout the Diocese to reflect upon different aspects of the Rite of Ordination. The program of reflections will last eight weeks and will be paralleled by a social media campaign on our paisley vocations facebook and twitter which will be led by school pupils from throughout our Diocese. Booklets will arrive in our parishes this week. If you wish a pdf copy of the booklet please e-mail Father John Morrison johnmorrison1976@gmail.com or visit the Diocesan website http://rcdop.org.uk. In week one, we will consider ‘God’s Call’.

Dear brothers, please find attached a newsletter about our first session of the Synod. It gives some news of how the day went and some of the things discussed. The idea is to keep our parishioners informed and engaged in the process so they can feel they are there with us. The more they feel part of it the more they are likely to participate in the post-synod implementation of the decisions. You might think to print out a few dozen copies and leave them at the back of the Church and to direct them to Our Synod page on our diocesan website. It was a really good first session and many thanks again for all your good support that made this possible.

Fr Stephen along with 11 Glasgow uni students undertook the Holy door challenge, visiting all 8 cathedrals in Scotland within 24 hours.

Our Lady of Paisley Icon is now available to purchase. This lovely icon can be displayed in your church, prayer group or in your home for your own private prayer time. Commissioned by Bishop John, the original icon has travelled to each parish in the diocese, calling us to renew our prayer life and to pray for the diocese as a united family of God. What a lovely way to venerate and pray to Our Lady of Paisley, asking for her intercession and guidance. Icon Repro Graphic Printed Foamex 3mm Board Height 52cm Width 30.5cm Unit price £15.00 P&P £3.50. Can be purchased by either sending a cheque for the total unit price and p&p, or by collection at the diocesan office. Link for detals http://rcdop.org.uk/diocesan-synod

Dear brothers and sisters Welcome to this Opening Mass of Our Paisley Synod. Those words are sweet on the lips and honey on the tongue. After much effort and preparation we have reached this auspicious moment in the life of the diocese...

Tonight we celebrated Holy Mass, to pray that our Synod may be fruitful & blessed...it was a great way to begin our journey together. God is indeed very good. Our Lady of Paisley pray for us! Pictures from our evening can now be viewed...

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Today on Good Shepherd Sunday we join Catholics around the world in praying for Vocations to the Priesthood and Consecrated life.

Priests for Scotland in association with the Pontifical Scots College in Rome have asked Catholics throughout the country to join with the bishops, clergy and seminarians as they pray for an increase in vocations to the priesthood in all dioceses of Scotland.

POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION AMORIS LÆTITIA OF THE HOLY FATHER FRANCIS TO BISHOPS, PRIESTS AND DEACONS CONSECRATED PERSONS CHRISTIAN MARRIED COUPLES AND ALL THE LAY FAITHFUL ON LOVE IN THE FAMILY

Report on responses from the consultation period Spiritual, catechetical and formational preparation Throughout the preparatory year care has been taken to not only hear the recurring themes and messages, but also to be sensitive to the quiet voices that raised issues of hope and concern. The preparatory year was intended to reach every part of our Diocese and the methods of prayer, catechesis and consultation were deliberately varied in order to be accessible to as many people as possible. "The new evangelization that can make the twenty-first century a springtime of the gospel is a task for the entire People of God, but will depend in a decisive way on the lay faithful being fully aware of their baptismal vocation and their responsibility for bringing the good news of Jesus.” Saint John Paul II 5th June 1998