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

 

 

Stephen is the first martyr. He was one of the deacons appointed by the Apostles to organize the distribution of food to the poor. He performed many miracles and confounded the Jews in disputation. They fabricated false charges against him. At his trial he preached the risen Christ to them, so they stoned him to death. He prayed for his persecutors as he was dying. One of them, Saul of Tarsus, who was looking after the cloaks of the stone-throwers, was later converted and became the great missionary St Paul.

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:

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/20241024-enciclica-dilexit-nos.html

 

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 SYNODhttps://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

RC Largs and Millport Twitter

Everyone is willed by God. God has a will for everyone. It surpasses eternally any will we could have for ourselves. Our task is to will His will and so eternally surpass ourselves in Him.

Wherever the Holy Spirit is present, He brings the Christ. Wherever Mary is present, the Spirit finds an active and total yes to Christ. Mary “mothers” us into Christ if we imitate her yes, “birthing” Him into our hearts by the power of the Spirit.

The long list of the forefathers of Joseph given by St. Matthew emphasises to us the true humanity of Jesus and that God was faithful to the promises He made to them about the Messiah. True God and true man. Not a fairy story or a fable, but Gospel truth.

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Our Location

St Marys Star of the Sea
28 Greenock Road
Largs, KA30 8NE

Tel: 01475 740 019
largs@gallowaydiocese.org.uk

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour

2 George Street, Millport,
Isle of Cumbrae KA28 0BE
Tel: 01475 740 019
millport@gallowaydiocese.org.uk