FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT: “You shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:23).

SAINT OF THE WEEK: SAINT STEPHEN, PROTOMARTYR, 26 December

From Universalis
PARISH DIARY DATES
| Date | Event | Where | When |
| Mon 22/12 | Confessions | St. Mary’s church, Largs | 7-8pm |
| Tue 23/12 | Confessions | St. Mary’s church, Largs | 7-8pm |
| Wed 24/12 | Christmas Carols
Vigil Mass |
Our Lady’s, Millport | 4.30pm
5pm |
| Wed 24/12 | Christmas Carols
Midnight Mass |
St. Mary’s church, Largs | 7.30pm
8pm |
| Thu 25/12 | Christmas Day Mass | St. Mary’s church, Largs | 10am |
| Fri 26/12 | Mass of St. Stephen Protomartyr | St. Mary’s church, Largs | 12 Noon |
| Sat. 27/12 | Baptism, Innes Kerr | St. Mary’s church, Largs | 12 Noon |
| Mon 29/12 | Mass | St. Mary’s church, Largs | 12 Noon |
| Tue 30/12 | Mass | St. Mary’s church, Largs | 12 Noon |
| Wed 31/12 | Mass | St. Mary’s church, Largs | 12 Noon |
| Thu 1/1 | New Year’s Mass, Mother of God | St. Mary’s church, Largs | 12 Noon |
| Fri 2/1 | Mass | St. Mary’s church, Largs | 12 Noon |

Devotion in our parishes to the newly canonised Saint Carlo Acutis has taken deep roots and produced much fruit in many people’s lives, often in surprising ways. We have obtained a first class relic of Saint Carlo (hair cuttings) which it would be good to make available for people to see and venerate when they visit St. Mary’s in Largs. With the Bishop’s permission, it is hoped to erect a SHRINE TO SAINT CARLO in St. Mary’s church, at the back of our current side aisle. The basic idea is to erect a “triptych” of icons: at the centre, will be a representation of Saint Carlo and, on either side, representations of SS. Francis and Clare of Assisi. A few benches will be removed to make room for a votive candle stand and a kneeler. Our first class relic of Saint Carlo will be embedded appropriately to ensure security and accessibility.
BISHOPS OF SCOTLAND OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND EVANGELISATION: Our Bishops have recently launched this new office to support our common efforts in proclaiming the Gospel and witnessing to the life of the Church in our nation. It is one of the most encouraging initiatives to date coming from the Bishops’ Conference. The Office will:
- Manage and distribute statements for the Bishops’ Conference
- Share the Good News of the Gospel confidently and clearly
- Highlight the positive impact of Catholic life across Scotland
- Strengthen communication and collaboration across dioceses, parishes, schools, religious communities and lay apostolates
- Engage constructively with secular media and public discourse
- Support and develop digital evangelisation initiatives at a national level
As part of this mission, Being Catholic TV will now serve as the official digital platform of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland. It will provide video content, livestreamed events, features from around the country, and faith formation resources to assist our parish communities in their work of evangelisation and outreach. To access these resources, visit beingcatholic.org or sign-up to the BCTV social channels.
We are invited to share our parish good news stories by sending them to media@bcos.org.uk We are also invited to consider how digital media can further our own local evangelisation efforts. Parishioners are encouraged to engage with Being Catholic TV and the resources it provides.
Notices
MRS. MARY ASKEW, RIP (St. Mary’s): I regret to announce the death of Mrs. Askew who passed away peacefully at home on Friday, 19th December, fortified by the Rites of the Church. May she rest in the peace of Christ and may all her family, relatives and friends know the consolation of our Blessed Mother at this difficult time. Funeral details to follow.
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA) FOR ST. MARY’S, LARGS, AND OUR LADY’S, MILLPORT:
Information page for the 2025-2026 program: https://www.rclargsandmillport.com/rite-of-christian-initiation-of-adults/
Form if you want to sign up for the RCIA course and enter into full communion with the Catholic Church: https://www.rclargsandmillport.com/2025/06/28/rcia-form-for-applicants-to-join-the-programme/
Form if you want to volunteer to assist in the RCIA programme for 2025-2026: https://www.rclargsandmillport.com/2025/06/28/rcia-form-for-volunteers-to-assist-in-the-rcia-programme/

POPE FRANCIS’ DOCUMENT convoking the Jubilee Year of 2025: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/bulls/documents/20240509_spes-non-confundit_bolla-giubileo2025.html
PORNOGRAPHY: The Bishops of the United States have just produced the second edition of their document: “Create in Me a Clean Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography.” It gives a word of hope and healing to those who have been harmed by pornography and raises awareness of its pervasiveness and harm. If you, or someone you know or love is struggling with pornography, this document looks like a great gift to help you. The full text of the document can be found at: https://www.usccb.org/resources/Create-in-Me-a-Clean-Heart-Statement-on-Pornography.pdf
ENCYCLICAL LETTER OF POPE FRANCIS ON THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS:
RELIC OF BLESSED CARLO ACUTIS: For information and photos, please click on this link: https://www.rclargsandmillport.com/2024/08/21/relic-of-blessed-carlo-acutis/
PHOTO GALLERY, ST MARY’S PARISH FESTIVAL 2024: St Mary’s Festival Photos
PHOTO GALLERY, ST MARY’S GARDEN 2024: St Mary’s Flower Garden
PHOTO GALLERY, ASSISI PILGRIMAGE OF FEBRUARY 2024: Assisi Pilgrimage 2024
OUR LADY’S PARISH CENSUS: If you are a Catholic who lives within the boundaries of Our Lady’s Parish (Millport), please consider filling out a Census form. Hard copies of the form are available in Our Lady’s church porch. Alternatively, you can fill in one on line by using the following link: https://forms.gle
ST. MARY’S PARISH CENSUS: If you are a Catholic who lives within the boundaries of St. Mary’s Parish (Largs, Fairlie and Skelmorlie), please consider filling out a Census form. Hard copies of the form are available in St. Mary’s church porch. Alternatively, you can fill in one on line by using the following link: https://forms.gle/bViFEJBgCRVjuYnE8
SCOTTISH CATHOLIC SAFEGUARDING STANDARDS AGENCY (SCSSA): The official website of the new Agency can be found at: https://www.scsafeguarding.org.uk/SCSSA
“IN GOD’S IMAGE”, version 2: The Safeguarding Instruction of the Bishops of Scotland. https://www.rclargsandmillport.com/2021/08/28/in-gods-image-version-2-safeguarding-instruction-of-the-bishops-of-scotland/
DIOCESAN WEB-PAGE & FACEBOOK PAGE ON THE SYNOD: https://gallowaydiocese.org.uk/synod https://fb.me/gallowaysynod
Catholic Families For Life Newsletter
VATICAN NEWS: Keep up to date with all news from the Vatican in English at: https://www.vaticannews.va/en.html
LITURGY
– SUNDAYS:
LARGS (live-streamed): Saturday Vigil, 6pm & Sunday 10am; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday (with exception of 2nd Thursdays) and Friday: Mass at 10am. Wednesday: Mass at 8am.
MILLPORT (live-streamed): 12.15pm, Sunday; 10am on 2nd Thursdays.
LIVESTREAM LINKS:
– HOLIDAYS OF OBLIGATION:
LARGS: Vigil Mass at 7pm; 10am Mass on the Day
MILLPORT: 12.15pm Mass on the Day
Posts
- Giving 100%. Homily for the Requiem Mass of Mrs. Kathleen McComish, RIP, 16.12.25
- Establish your heart in Christ. Homily notes, 14.12.25
- Winnowed unto joy. Homily, 07.12.25
- Minutes of the Parish Pastoral Council, 27.11.25
- Pope Francis’ Jubilee Year Reasons for Hope, n.10: “Christian Unity”, December 2025
RC Largs and Millport Twitter
This is so amazing.😍🥹
He made this Jesus'art, just by writing JESUS, 14,983times,and the writing done in 29 hours 😲
🎥🎥jaycethallart
Our Location
St Marys Star of the Sea
28 Greenock Road
Largs, KA30 8NE
Our Lady of Perpetual Succour
2 George Street, Millport,
Isle of Cumbrae KA28 0BE
Tel: 01475 740 019
millport@gallowaydiocese.org.uk







