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EXTRA NOTICES FROM THE DIOCESAN OFFICE

Safeguarding Induction Training – 2026 If you are a new volunteer, or one who has attended Part 1 but yet to complete Part 2 training, you are invited to sign up for one of the following training sessions.  Please contact Sarah Jane Colhoun at the Safeguarding Office to register.  Tel: 0141 847 6138 or safeguardingadmin@rcdop.org.uk

Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes 2027: This will take place from Friday 2nd July to Thursday 8th July 2027. Further details to follow. If you would like to come as part of our medical/nursing/helper team please attend the meeting on Monday 31st August at 7pm in Saint Ninian’s hall, Gourock or telephone Anne Louise on 01475638132 for details.

March for Life UK 2026: In partnership with SPUC you are invited to join Bishop John Keenan on his coach to London for March for Life UK 2026. Departing midnight Friday 4th September from Paisley Saint Mirin’s Cathedral, with a pickup 12:30am at Glasgow Saint Andrew’s Cathedral. Arriving in London at Emmanuel Centre approx. 7:30am to 8am Saturday 5th September for the exhibition, Mass, talks and stall. Departing on Saturday 5th September at approximately 6pm, dropping off at Glasgow and Paisley. £30pp. For further details, visit rcdop.org.uk/marchforlife2026.


Season of Creation film showings: Everyone is warmly invited to watch together two films about the care of the Earth, our Common Home:
Wednesday 9th September 7pm to 9pm, Saint Mary’s Church Hall, Greenock, P16 8NA. “People’s Emergency Briefing”. Featuring Chris Packham, 10 experts, celebrities and members of the public – based on a briefing offered to MPs in Westminster last November about the climate and nature crisis.
Wednesday 23rd September, 7pm to 9pm Saint Mary’s Church Hall, Greenock, P16 8NA. “The Letter” A Message for our Earth. Featuring Pope Francis and people representing the voice of the poor, the voice of the youth, the voice of indigenous leaders and the unheard voices of wildlife. 

Pregnant? Worried? No support? You can choose to have your baby and we will help. Any woman, from any ethnic origin, any religion or none, faced with a crisis pregnancy is welcome to contact The Cardinal Winning Pro-life Initiative for help and support (see poster in porch). Phone 0141 433 2680 or 07377 565291

Rachael’s Vineyard retreat for spiritual and emotional healing after abortion: A retreat will be held in Glasgow on Tuesday 8th September to Thursday 10th September. This confidential, supportive retreat is powerful for anyone who has been affected by their own or someone else’s abortion experience. For more information, please call/text Sister Andrea on 07816942824 or email sisterandrea@rachelsvineyard.org.uk. For more details, see www.rachelsvineyard.org.uk.

Marriage Support: If you are just in a rut or for more serious issues – Retrouvaille could be the solution. Email www.retrouvaille.org.uk; call 0797 338 0443.

WhatsApp: Follow the St Mirin’s Cathedral channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbCIX8s1dAvw0CJkBv05.

Sick List: Given the complications associated with Data Protection regulations—and the length of sick lists in both parishes—we do not publish the names of the sick in the bulletin. Please keep all sick and housebound parishioners in your prayers. If a member of your family falls ill and wishes to be added to parish sick list or visited, please speak to Msgr Joe or Fr Paul

Supporting the Parish: The best way to make recurring weekly or monthly donations is by setting up a standing order; you can set this up with your online banking or by calling in at a branch of your bank with the Parish bank details (from Fr Joe). Alternatively, parishioners can use PayaCharity (for single and repeat donations) but please note that PayaCharity receives 5% commission from all contributions. Following recent changes to the PayaCharity scheme, the new QR code you can scan to support the parish can be found at the top of the bulletin. Or see the Support Us page on the website. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Vocations: Come and pray before the Blessed Sacrament for vocations to the priesthood. In St Mirin’s, on Fridays, from 12 noon until 1pm.

Beaver Scouts: There are now spaces available for some more girls and boys (aged 6-7) to join the St Mirin’s Beaver Scouts on Tuesdays from 7-8pm in the cathedral halls. Beavers believe that fun, friendship and adventure are what matter most. If you enjoy being creative, playing games, going on visits and discovering the world around you then you will love what we do. Young people aged 7 ½ can join the Cubs. Come along on a Tuesday or email stmirinscubs@gmail.com for more info.

The Sanctuary: The sanctuary, as the place where the altar stands, where the word of God is proclaimed, and where the priest, the deacon, and the other ministers exercise their offices, is a place of special significance in a Catholic church. As such, everyone is reminded that before and after Mass, children and adults should refrain from entering the sanctuary, even for photographs.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion: For various reasons, St Mirin’s parish needs additional extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion who can assist at the 4pm Saturday Vigil and 8am Sunday Masses. EMHCs serve Christ’s Church through bringing the gift of Jesus Christ Himself to their brothers and sisters. If you would like to know more, please speak to a priest or email margaret.mills@rcdop.org.uk.

Car Park Gates: Due to the increase in people parking all day in our car park from early morning—leaving very few spaces for parishioners attending Mass—we have no choice but to resume locking the car park gates from 9.15pm until 9.15am. Parishioners attending 8am weekday Masses can enter the grounds via the Incle Street gates.

Card Readers: Two new card readers have been installed in the cathedral. You can now donate to St Mirin’s parish with the tap of a bank card or phone! These donations can be Gift Aided for those who pay tax. One card reader can be found in the porch; the other, at the side door leading to the car park. Thank you for your support.

Sacred Silence: At recent Parish Council meetings, the level of noise in the cathedral before and after Holy Mass has been discussed. It is worthwhile to reflect upon what the Church says about the importance of sacred silence, in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal: “It is commendable that silence to be observed in the church, in the sacristy, in the vesting room, and in adjacent areas, so that all may dispose themselves to carry out the sacred action in a devout and fitting manner.” We should all try to enter into a sacred silence in preparation for—and in thanksgiving after—Holy Mass.

Holy Communion at Home: In such a large parish, it is only natural that the list of housebound parishioners should be so long. With the recent growth of the cathedral parish, this list will no doubt grow. Msgr Joe and Fr Paul are appealing for parishioners who are interested in bringing Holy Communion to the housebound. If you are interested, please email or speak with Msgr Joe or Fr Paul. All who bring Holy Communion to people’s homes must be PVG-checked by the Church.

Gift Aid: If you pay tax and you haven’t already signed a Gift Aid declaration for the parish, please do so. All your contributions will be augmented by 25% at no cost to you. Forms can be downloaded from the Support Us page.

Parish Register: We have established a register of parishioners with contact details, enabling us to email bulletins and other important information from the parishes. Click here to register. We would appreciate it if as many people as possible would register.

Receiving Holy Communion: Receiving the Eucharist is the greatest gift imaginable. Before receiving Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, we are asked to make an act of reverence. After the priest, deacon or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion says, “The Body of Christ,” each communicant responds, “Amen,” before receiving the Sacred Host. This response is a sign of our belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Please consume the Host in front of the priest, deacon or extraordinary minister. If you are receiving the Host in your hand, please be careful to ensure that no particles remain on your hands.

Mailing List: The diocesan Youth Office seeks to provide opportunities for children and young people from the ages of 5-35 to foster faith and develop friendships. Parents/guardians and young people can complete an online form to sign up to a mailing list and stay informed about events for young people in the Diocese of Paisley. Access the form here: www.tinyurl.com/dpy-mailing.