posted on 3rd December 2021
PARISH UPDATE:
To help anyone who is thinking about participating in the synod meetings, which will begin in January, an outline of what will happen at these meetings has been made available at the church and can be downloaded here. The Vatican has produced a series of ten questions for reflection at these meetings, if you would like time to consider the questions in advance of the January meetings, they are available to download here. They are also available on the Diocesan web site, here, along with the videos that accompany them.
Pope Francis wants to include as many people as possible in these discussions and, as well as contacting the ministers and pastors of other churches in the area to invite members of their faith communities, we would like to include those we no longer see in church and those who have no particular church affiliation. A letter will soon be available and I would ask you to pass a copy on to anyone you think might be interested in taking part in this dialogue.
SYNOD TOPIC FOUR - CELEBRATION:
The celebration of the Eucharist - i.e. Mass - is at the centre of our Catholic communities, and forms the basis for our 'walking together'. How well do communal prayer and liturgical celebrations inspire and guide our sense of community? How well do we allow and enable every member of the faithful to participate? Fr. Stephen Latham has created a short video reflection, which is available on the diocesan webpage at gallowaydiocese.org.uk/synod-news, or here to help you consider these questions. The diocesan team will be pleased to receive all feedback on these questions at synod@gallowaydiocese.org.uk, which will also be addressed during parish synod encounters in the coming weeks.
Next week: Synod topic five - Sharing Responsibility for our Common Mission
posted on 3rd December 2021
Last Sunday we resumed the Sunday Evening Mass, albeit with a small but enthusiastic congregation. This evening Mass will also be available on Sunday 5th, 12, and 19th December. After this time we will review both the need for this mass and the level of support and commitment those who have requested it are able to give. If it is to continue into 2022 we will need sufficient people to comit to a rota for a hospitality team, readers and ministers of communion. There will not be an evening Mass on Sunday 26th December nor Sunday 2nd January.
posted on 27th November 2021
SYNOD TOPIC THREE - SPEAKING OUT:
We are invited to speak out boldly and responsibly. What helps us to do this? What prevents us from doing this? How does the relationship with local media work (not only Catholic media)? How well do we choose the people who speak on our behalf to the wider community? Fr. Stephen Latham has created a short video reflection, which is available on the diocesan webpage at gallowaydiocese.org.uk/synod-news, or here to help you consider these questions. The diocesan team will be pleased to receive all feedback on these questions at synod@gallowaydiocese.org.uk, which will also be addressed during parish synod encounters in the coming weeks.
Next week: Synod topic four - Celebration
posted on 27th November 2021
The Reintroduction of the Sunday Obligation
In a Pastoral Letter - 'On the Season of Christmas and the Restoration of the Mass Obligation in the Dioceses of Scotland' - to be read in all parishes on the 1st Sunday of Advent (28th November 2021), the Bishops of Scotland have encouraged all the Catholic faithful "to renew their covenant with the Church and her worship". With Christmas Day falling on a Saturday this year, the following day is the Sunday when we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. The Bishops "strongly encourage" the Catholic faithful to attend Mass on both days, or at least once that weekend. Saving any serious worsening of the pandemic in Scotland, the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holydays of Obligation will be reinstated from Sunday 2nd January 2022, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. In accordance with the common teaching of the Church this obligation does not bind those in ill health or those otherwise impeded from attending Mass. Nor, in the context of Covid, does it bind those showing symptoms of the virus or with underlying health conditions, or those with responsibilities for people in need of special care. Read the full letter here.
posted on 20th November 2021
SYNOD TOPIC TWO - LISTENING:
The first step in walking together is to really listen to one another, without prejudice or personal agenda. When we can listen like this, we may hear God’s voice speaking to us through other people. You are invited to consider the following questions: How well do we listen, especially to people who have different views than our own? How can we better listen to young people, women and minority groups? Fr. Stephen Latham has created a short video reflection, which is available at gallowaydiocese.org.uk/synod-news, or here to help you consider these questions. Please discuss them with your family members, and email the diocesan team at synod@gallowaydiocese.org.uk with any responses which you would like to share with us. If you wish to discuss these questions with people who no longer attend church or who have fallen away from their faith, this will be very welcome and should be done with the aim of listening to what they have to say, without seeking to try and make them understand your own point of view. The diocesan team will be pleased to receive all feedback on these questions, which will also be addressed during parish synod encounters in the coming weeks.
Next week: Synod topic three - Speaking Out
posted on 20th November 2021
On the four Sundays of Advent, 28th November, 5th, 12, and 19th December there will be a 6pm Sunday evening Mass. After this time we will review both the need for this mass and the level of support and commitment those who have requested it are able to give. If it is to continue into 2022 we will need sufficient people to comit to a rota for a hospitality team, readers and ministers of communion.
posted on 20th November 2021
Mass on Christmas Eve will be at 6pm in St Ann's and 9pm in St Quivox.
On Christmas Day mass will be at 10am in St Quivox.
And on Sunday 26th Deember Mass will be at 9.45am in St Quivox and 11.30am in St Ann's. There will be no Sunday evening Mass that day.
All seats for Masses at St Quivox on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve will need to be booked in advance to avoid overcrowding, sadly no one will be able to just turn up and get a seat.
posted on 13th November 2021
SYNOD TOPIC ONE - COMPANIONS ON THE JOURNEY:
The Acts of the Apostles tells us how the first disciples worked together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to build the early Church. Pope Francis invites every baptised person to work - or 'walk' - together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to build today's Church. You are invited to consider the following questions: How are we already working/walking together? How can we do this better? Who is getting left behind and why? Fr. Stephen Latham has created a short video reflection, which is available here to help you consider these questions. Please discuss them with your family members, and email the diocesan team at synod@gallowaydiocese.org.uk with any responses which you would like to share with us. If you wish to discuss these questions with people who no longer attend church or who have fallen away from their faith, this will be very welcome and should be done with the aim of listening to what they have to say, without seeking to try and make them understand your own point of view. The diocesan team will be pleased to receive all feedback on these questions, which will also be addressed during parish synod encounters in the coming weeks.
Next week: Synod topic two - Listening
posted on 6th November 2021
FOR A SYNODAL CHURCH: COMMUNION, PARTICIPATION AND MISSION:
This is the theme of the synod. The three dimensions of the theme—Communion, Participation and Mission—exist like ‘pillars’ for a synodal church. It helps to think of them like the legs of a three-legged stool—if one is in any way defective, the whole stool is not properly supported and cannot bear the weight it was built for. Communion refers to how we live and worship together as the People of God. Participation refers to how we serve one another using our natural and supernatural gifts and talents. Mission refers to our living witness as People of God. So during this synod on synodality, we will journey together through a series of encounters to explore how we are currently journeying together in Communion, Participation and Mission; and how the Holy Spirit might be inviting us to grow together in these areas.
Next week: Companions on the Journey
posted on 25th October 2021
Thanks to everyone who offered suggestions of who could best represent the veiws of the parishioners of St Ann's and St Quivox at the Diocesan Synod meetings. A doven names were suggested and I am very grateful to those who allowed their names to be put forward. In the end we have chosen Lesley-Anne Pratchett and Karen McGahon to work with the Diocese on our behal. I am very grateful to them both.
posted on 23rd October 2021
The Diocese of Galloway has launched a Web Page intended to keep everyone up to date with what is happening with the Synod on Synodality. You can find it here or via the Diocesan Web Site.
Anyone wishing to make suggestions of who might best represent St Ann's and St Quivox at a diocesan level should do so before Sunday afternoon, 24th October, at the very latest.
posted on 23rd October 2021
The repository, the church stall, will reopen from the begining of November and is already fully stocked ready for Christmas. Shope early to avoid disappointment.
posted on 11th October 2021
As you will know, the Synod on Synodality was launched at the weekend, with the diocesan phase commencing next weekend. A diocesan team are planning, developing resources, and organising training to carry out the participatory phase of the Synod. They will soon begin sending short, weekly bulletin inserts which will help us understand what a synod is, introduce people to the language of synodality, and explain the purpose and practicalities of this first, diocesan phase.
We have been asked to identify one or two people who may be willing to work with the diocesan team for the participatory phase, the bulk of which is likely to take place in January and February, both in person and online.
These "coordinators" will be provided with training in November, and will be asked to facilitate leading prayerful discussions in their own parish/parish cluster and then feed back to the diocesan team. It is not necessary for coordinators to feel comfortable running online sessions, as the diocesan team will be able to assist with these. We have been asked to respond to this request by Monday, 25th October with the names and contact details of any parishioners identified as willing to assist in this role.
We stand before You, Holy Spirit,
as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us,
make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go
and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful;
do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path
nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity
so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth
and what is right.
All this we ask of You,
who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and the Son,
forever and ever. Amen.
posted on 25th September 2021
Several documents have been produced in anticipation of the Synod that is due to be launched in Rome on the 10th October, with a diocesan launch a week later on 17th October. Everyone is not only invited but encouraged to participate as best they are able. Two documents have been published on the official web site (see below), they are a Preparatory Document and a Handbook, known as a Vedemecum, which are intended to be read in tandem. The Vaemecum is sixty pages long so a summary of that document has also been produced. All of which can be found on the link above.
We stand before You, Holy Spirit,
as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us,
make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go
and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful;
do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path
nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity
so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth
and what is right.
All this we ask of You,
who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and the Son,
forever and ever. Amen.
posted on 20th September 2021
The Church of God is convoked in Synod.
With this convocation, Pope Francis invites the whole Church to question itself on synodality:
a decisive theme for the life and mission of the Church.
There is an official web site available by following this link that will accompany the two-year journey (2021-2023) of reflection and sharing of the whole Church.
We stand before You, Holy Spirit,
as we gather together in Your name.
With You alone to guide us,
make Yourself at home in our hearts;
Teach us the way we must go
and how we are to pursue it.
We are weak and sinful;
do not let us promote disorder.
Do not let ignorance lead us down the wrong path
nor partiality influence our actions.
Let us find in You our unity
so that we may journey together to eternal life
and not stray from the way of truth
and what is right.
All this we ask of You,
who are at work in every place and time,
in the communion of the Father and the Son,
forever and ever. Amen.
posted on 4th September 2021
With more people returning to mass it is now possible to reintroduce rotas for those who read at mass both on weekdays and on Sundays as well as a rota for ministers of Communion on a Sunday. If you said you were willing to be included on these rotas you will find printed copies at the church. If you would prefer an electronic copy please email me and I will send a copy to you. The rotas start on Monday 6th September.
posted on 18th May 2021
From Monday 24th May Mass on a Monday morning will resume, this means there will be three masses each week at the following times:
Monday 10am, Thursday 10am and Sunday 9.45am. There is also Mass at St Ann's on a Sunday at 11.30am
We now have three hospitality teams at St Quivox and one at St Ann's, corresponding to the number of masses we are able to offer. With more volunteers we will be able to offer more masses. Please consider helping if you can.
Please remember that spaces at mass are limited by the current 2m rule and seats have to be reserved by phoning the parish well in advance. Masks must also be worn by all those who are not exempt.
