Scottish Parliamentary Election

Sunday 14th March 2021

IS IT ETHICAL TO TAKE THE ANTI-COVID-19 VACCINES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE?

We invite you to join in a Novena to St Joseph beginning on Wednesday 10th March until 18th March,

Our Paisley Diocese SPRED offers people with learning disabilities: a personal friend who takes time to share life and faith, spiritual nurture in a small community of faith; and a sense of belonging to a parish community. Twenty-one SPRED groups meet in our church halls and special needs schools, allowing two hundred parishioners to come together in faith and friendship to share and experience God’s love. Sadly, our groups have not been able to meet in the past year due to the pandemic. Paisley SPRED supports three employees. In 2018 SPRED merged with the Diocese brining in one-off restricted reserves of £95,492. Our SPRED boxes and Friends Campaign raised an additional £20,834 bringing the total income to £116,326. The Diocese also contributed £44,131 from our General Fund (pre-merger) and Papal & Episcopal Funds. With our expenditure of £72,221, SPRED restricted reserves ended the year at £88,235. To donate please click the image

Craig Lodge Community is offering a new opportunity to young Catholics on how to live a life of mission. Craig Lodge Mission House is a nine-month residential programme for any young adult between the ages of 18-30 who desires to become a passionate lover of Jesus and become Spirit-filled evangelisers for the renewal of the Church,” (Pope Francis). Community, prayer and studying of the Catholic faith and learning to proclaim the Good News to others”. The mission house will begin in September 2021 and applications are now being accepted. Visit the Craig Lodge website for more details. www.craiglodge.org/missionhouse

Theology Thursdays is a programme of seminars aimed at non-experts and beginners. Each seminar has a theological focus, lasts for one hour and is taught by an expert in the field. It may be of interest to teacher educators, teachers, parents, catechists, students and senior school pupils. Click for more details and contact

Our Thirty Three Day Consecration to Jesus through Mary begins Saturday 9 January at 9.00pm UK time. All you have to do is join Bishop John's livestream on his Facebook page each evening at 9.00pm for around 10 to 15 minutes as he reads a chapter and leads you in the prayers. It will remain on the Page so that if you miss the livestream you can play it as catch up anytime.

Father Joe Burke, Vicar General, now has the role of overseeing the Approval process. Applications and references for posts in the three local authorities within our Diocese should be returned to: Rev Joseph Burke, Teacher Approval, Diocesan Centre, Cathedral Precincts, Incle Street, Paisley PA1 1HR or email: approvals@rcdop.org.uk Please note that applications for posts in Our Lady of the Missions Primary School and St Ninian’s High School should be sent to the Archdiocese of Glasgow in whose territory they are located: Archdiocese of Glasgow, Teacher Approval , 196 Clyde Street, Glasgow G1 4JY. Email: approval@rcag.org.uk Arrangements for the pastoral care of staff and pupils in these schools will continue to be the responsibility of the Diocese of Paisley.

MARRIAGE MATTERS (www.twoinoneflesh.org.uk) Second Sunday of Advent (Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-4 2 Peter 3:8-14 Mark 1:1-8) Let us be a sign for all

To mark St Andrew’s Day, the St Andrew’s Foundation for Catholic Teacher Education is launching a brand new blog called The Cloisters. The aim of the blog is to stimulate discussion, debate and collaboration in the area of Catholic religious education, and Catholic education more widely. They invite contributions to the blog from academics in Scotland and beyond, teachers, alumni, students, parents, clergy, and all interested in the mission of Catholic education. Click on the image to visit The Cloisters. There you will find their opening editorial, and instructions regarding how to submit a blog and comment.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, I want to write to you as lockdown relaxes and our schools return after summer holidays, and as our churches recommence public Masses and plan for the full resumption of parish life in the months ahead. 

MARRIAGE MATTERS (www.twoinoneflesh.org.uk) Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Isaiah 55:6-9 Phil 1:20-24, 27 Matt 20:1-16) ‘My thoughts are not your thoughts’ God can put thoughts into our minds, but how can we ensure these make a difference to our lives?

"I want you to know that in this kind of warfare, the battering ram has always been the Rosary" - St Dominic

An ancient custom still alive today... By the end of the eighth century the Anglo-Saxons felt so closely linked to the Bishop of Rome that they decided to send a regular annual contribution to the Holy Father. It was thus that the Denarius Sancti Petri (Alms of Saint Peter) originated and spread throughout Europe.

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Eccles 27:30-28:7 Rom 14:7-9 Matt 18: 21- 35) How can I love my spouse and bring life? We are called to set aside resentment, to listen gently to our beloved, seeking understanding.

We remember our Sick & Retired Priests of the diocese with great love and affection. We have fifteen retired priests, still active in prayer and witness: one living in Rome, six in houses throughout the diocese, three in parish presbyteries, and five at the Residence of the Little Sisters along with Bishop John Cunningham.