The parish team The story of the church What's new? Links

NEWSLETTER

of

St. Ninian's, Inverness

The Immaculate Conception, Whitebridge, and

Sts. Peter and Benedict, Fort Augustus

5th February 2012 - Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

St. Ninian's

Sunday Collection: £600, Flowers: £6.50, SPUC White Flower appeal: £325, SCIAF: £31. Many thanks.
There are teas and coffees in the hall after Sunday Morning Mass.
The February edition of 'My Day by Day' is available in the porch, price £1.
Next Sunday is Catholic Education Sunday and marks the start of Catholic Education Week. There will be a retiring collection at both Masses next weekend for the work of Catholic education.

Today (Sunday) is 'Cupcake Sunday', with cupcakes and other homebaking on sale in the hall after Mass (in aid of parish funds). Old and new parishioners, do come down and meet each other!

The parish finance committee met recently to review the financial position of the parish. The balance in the parish account at 31 December stood at £21,466, a drop of only £4,422 since the start of the financial year (1 April 2011). This is a much more favourable position than was anticipated during the autumn, and is despite the outlay of £14,620 on the repairs to the front gables. The parish benefitted during the quarter from receipt of the gift aid tax rebate for 2010-11 of £12,415, fund raising and gifts totalling £2,740, and the much appreciated way the weekly offertory collections continue to hold up despite the general economic situation. The committee thanks parishioners most sincerely for their continued generosity to the parish and their support for fundraising events and for the Gift Aid scheme. It now looks probable that the parish balance at 31 March 2012 will be of the order of £18,000-£19,000. Forecasts of income and expenditure for 2012-13 have to be prepared shortly, and the committee noted that provision would need to be made for drainage works in the grounds.
Parish funds received an extra boost recently with receipt of £263.75 Gift Aid tax rebate on sponsorship monies for David Atkinson's sponsored walk last September, making the final total raised by David towards the gable repairs a wonderful £1,950.75. Thank you to everyone who gift aided their donation.

Please do your best to remember that we are requested, when receiving Holy Communion, to make an act of reverence to the Blessed Sacrament by a small bow immediately before receiving the Host and before receiving from the chalice. Thank you to everyone for co-operating with this. Bishop Hugh's recent Pastoral Letter encouraged us to 'Create silence' in our churches, especially before and after Mass. There are prayers in the Parish Mass Books (inside the front cover and at the back) to help our recollection and thanksgiving. Please do your best to help us all become quieter and more reverent in church.

The Mothers & Toddlers Group meets again on Friday 10 February. Contact Miriam Hamilton, tel. 248844.
Catechism Classes meet again on Monday and Tuesday 6/7 February at 4pm in the hall, and then on 20/21 February (after the mid-term break). Contact Alison Francis, tel. 226511.
Confirmation class meets again on Monday 6 February from 6.0-7.30pm in the hall. Contact Marlene Atkinson, tel. 225350.
The Post Confirmation Class meets again on Monday 6 February at 7pm in the presbytery.
The Youth Club meets again on Monday 27 February (not 13 February, due to the mid-term break) at 7.30pm in the hall. Contact Agnes MacDonald, tel. 794510.
The next Drop-in afternoon takes place on Wednesday 8 February from 2-3.45pm. Enquiries to Joan Kelly, tel. 713302 or Rosa Finlayson, tel. 238560.

Bishop Hugh will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation at St Ninian's at the Vigil Mass on Saturday 21 April.
The St Vincent de Paul Society meets on Wednesdays at 7.30pm in the Ninian Room at St Ninian's.
The Knights of Saint Columba meet on the first Monday of every month at 7.30pm in the Marian Room at St Mary's, Inverness. The Inverness Catenians meet on the second Monday of each month in the
Glenmoriston Hotel, Ness Bank at 7.30pm.

Please pray for the sick of the parish, for vocations and for the repose of the souls of Colin Dawson, Irene Olszyczka, Isabel Chisholm and Margaret O'Connor, whose anniversaries occur at this time.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Immaculate Conception, Stratherrick and St. Peter's & St. Benedict's, Fort Augustus

Sunday Collection: £47, SPUC 'White Flower' appeal: £17.10. Many thanks.

It is hoped to establish rotas at Stratherrick for both church and hall cleaning and flower arranging. Please speak to Therese if you would be willing to help.
Catechism classes at Fort Augustus meet on Mondays from 3.30-4.30pm. Contact Lorraine McDonald.
Fort Augustus has a fund-raising parish ceilidh on Saturday 11 February from 7-10pm in the Church of Scotland Hall: entry by donation. Donations for raffle prizes will be much appreciated. Please bring a contribution to the finger buffet and your own bottle. All welcome.
The ecumenical World Day of Prayer this year is on Friday 2 March. There will be a service at Stratherrick at 3pm (our church) and in the Church of Scotland, Fort Augustus at 6.30pm. All welcome.
Looking ahead, Fort Augustus parishioners plan a fund-raising whist drive on Friday 13 April at 7.30pm and a coffee morning on Saturday 14 April from 10.30am-12 noon. More information later.
The balance in the Stratherrick parish account at 31 December was £5,413 and in the Fort Augustus parish account £2,646. Fr Stuart is grateful to parishioners for their generosity and support.

News for all Parishes

'THIS IS OUR FAITH' is the new syllabus, approved by the Holy See, for religious education in Catholic schools in Scotland, guiding the learning and teaching from Primary 1 to Secondary 3. It will help teachers, and catechists in parishes, to structure opportunities for young people to encounter Jesus, to learn about Him, to understand His teaching, to develop virtues and values which He promotes and to follow Him as the Way, the Truth and the Life. Fr Stuart, as Vicar General (unfortunately, Bishop Hugh is now unable to be present), and Michael McGrath, Director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, will launch the syllabus in this area of the Diocese at a meeting on Tuesday 7 February at 7pm in St Ninian's Hall. Teachers, catechists, and interested parents and parishioners will all be very welcome.

New CTS Sunday Missals are still available from St Ninian's sacristy (tel. 236620). The Daily Missal from the CTS (covering Sundays and weekdays) is due to be published by end February/first week in March (price £45): please contact Janet in the St Ninian's sacristy if you wish to reserve a copy. CTS is also offering a leather cover (price £17) for the standard Sunday Missal: contact Janet to order one.

There will be a Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes, led by Bishop Hugh, from 4-11 July 2012 inclusive. Bishop Hugh is hoping for a generous response to this, and he invites especially the younger members of the diocese to be part of the pilgrimage. Mancunia Travel is arranging the hotel and flights. The basic price is £658 per person. Detailed information and a booking form are in the porch or contact St Ninian's sacristy. (Some assistance with costs may be available for younger members of the parishes.)

Please consider buying a Catholic paper