Parish News

Clergy Appointments: On Thursday 14^th August, Bishop Keenan made clergy appointments. Fr Joe Burke and Fr Ryan Black will remain in St Mirin’s parish and will continue to provide pastoral care of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Bishopton while the parish priest—Fr Dan Fitzpatrick—administers St Joseph’s parish in Clarkston. Fr Laurent Bahati will remain in St Mirin’s parish to assist Fr Joe and Fr Ryan. For the full list of appointments, visit https://www.rcdop.org.uk/news/clergy-appointments-2025. Please continue to pray for your priests.

Bishopton: Fr Dan Fitzpatrick continues his role as Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes parish. Should you wish to contact him directly, please note that he retains access to the email inbox OurLadyofLourdes@rcdop.org.uk; he can also be reached by telephone on 0141 644 2640.

Prayers: Please pray for those who have died recently, including: Robert Doherty, Margaret Stewart, Christopher McGinlay, Elizabeth Dalton, Patrick Gallagher, Jim Buntine, Mercia Murray, Margaret Mary Byrne, Joyce Gladys Chapman, Manus Boyle, and George Kashoulis; and for those whose anniversaries occur around now, including: Bernard Devlin, Hector MacDonald, John McFadyen, James Hogan, Mary White, and Duncan White; and for the 1 month’s mind of Anne Messer, and the 6 months’ mind of Robert Davidson. Please pray also for the sick, especially in our parishes.

Safeguarding Announcement: This year’s annual Safeguarding Announcement will be read out at all Masses this weekend, coinciding with the Sunday nearest the Feast of the Guardian Angels.

Cathedral Baptisms: Please pray for Baby Gracie Gilbert who will be baptised in the cathedral today, Sunday 5^th October; and Baby Aoibheann Donnelly who will be baptised on Saturday.

Bishopton Baptism: Please pray for Niamh McKernan who will be baptised in OLOL church today, Sunday 5^th October.

Reunion Cancelled: Due to adverse weather forecasts, the reunion for those who came on pilgrimage to Lourdes that had been scheduled for today, Sunday 5^th October, has been cancelled.

No 8am Masses: Bishop Keenan is travelling this week. There will be no 8am weekday Masses this week. These will resume on Monday 13^th October.

Retreat for P7 Families: TOMORROW. We are excited to announce that this year, the parishes in Paisley will continue their preparation programme for children receiving Confirmation during the Easter season of 2026 (those currently in Primary 7). The programme will kick off with a retreat for parents, carers and guardians on Monday 6^th October at 6pm, held at St Andrew’s Academy. We warmly invite sponsors to attend as well. Children receiving Confirmation are also welcome to join us; there will be a programme of activities planned for them during the retreat. The retreat will conclude at approximately 7.30pm.

Bishopton Rosary: During the month of October, the Rosary will be prayed at 9.30am in OLOL church on Tuesdays and Thursdays, before Holy Mass begins at 10am.

Day of Prayer for Peace: The Bishops of Scotland invite all Catholics to keep Tuesday 7^th October as a day of prayer for peace. Tuesday marks two years since the terrible massacre in Israel and now the continuing atrocities in Gaza. Our world today is troubled by so many wars and conflicts; it is appropriate that we as Catholics pray individually and together on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary for the Holy Land, Gaza and Israel. Pope Leo has also asked all Catholics to pray the Rosary during the month of October for peace in our world. God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of the Holy Land: Israeli and Palestinian, Jew, Christian and Muslim. We pray for an end to acts of violence and terror. We lift to you all who are fearful and hurting. We ask for wisdom and compassion for those in leadership. Above all, we ask that Jesus the Prince of Peace, establish lasting reconciliation and justice for the Holy Land and all nations. Amen.

Cathedral Funeral (Tuesday): A Requiem Mass will be celebrated in the cathedral at 1pm on Tuesday 7^th October for the happy eternal rest of the soul of Robert Doherty, whose mortal remains will be received at 6pm on Monday 6^th October. Requiescat in pace.

No Exposition: Please note that there because of the Requiem Mass, there will be no Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the cathedral on Tuesday 7^th October.

Cathedral Funeral (Wednesday): A Requiem Mass will be celebrated in the cathedral at 10am on Wednesday 8^th October for the happy eternal rest of the soul of Margaret Stewart, whose mortal remains will be received immediately before Mass. Requiescat in pace.

St James’s: Please note that although there will be a Requiem Mass celebrated at 10am in the cathedral on Wednesday 8^th October, the 9.30am Mass in St James’s church will be celebrated as usual.

St Mirin’s Men’s Group: A men’s group in the parish will meet for weekly at 7am on Friday mornings in the diocesan office, for faith and fraternity, finishing for 8am. Coffee, prayer and time to reflect. All men aged 18+ are welcome. Email Fr Ryan for details: ryan.black@rcdop.org.uk.

Fringe Play Comes to St Mirin’s: AGAP Theatre presents “Pilgrim of Hope”, an uplifting comedy for the Jubilee Year. Straight from the Edinburgh Fringe, the hit play is based upon themes in the papal letter for the Year of Hope!  Written and Performed by Stephen Callaghan. Thursday 20^th November at 7.30pm in St Mirin’s Cathedral Hall. Tickets: £10/£7/£5 (Pay What You Can – you choose) from the parish or www.agap.org.uk/pilgrimofhope or call 07495 347 884.

Scouts Centenary: This year, the Scouts are celebrating 100 years of Scouting at St Mirin’s! To honour this occasion, they’ve set up an exhibition of memorabilia and photographs in the parish hall (ground floor). All are welcome to explore their rich history. They’re also launching Squirrels, a new section for children aged 4-6, joining their vibrant programme of weekly activities and exciting outings. This year includes trips to the coast, a day at the farm park, an overnight at the Science Centre, and a festive visit to the Paisley Panto. New members and volunteer leaders are warmly invited to join them. For more info, go along on a Tuesday at 7pm or email stmirinscubs@gmail.com.

Irish Music Night: The Social Committee invites you to a night of fun and Irish music on Friday 31^st October in the Cathedral Hall, from 7-11pm. The Wild Geese (as heard at Celtic Park) will entertain with a wide range of Irish tunes. Tickets cost £10pp. BYOB and snacks. Raffle prizes will be gratefully received. To book, email/call Fr Joe or Fr Ryan.

Bishopton Pensioners’ Dinner: This SSVP dinner will be held on Monday 13^th October, starting at 6pm in the church hall. Those wishing to attend should sign up on the sheet in the church porch (one name per line, please). They should also choose their menu options. Maximum of 60 places available. Any food allergies should be raised with a member of SSVP.

Rome Meeting: A final meeting for those booked on the parish pilgrimage to Rome will take place at 6pm on Wednesday 15^th October in the cathedral hall. Anne Marie from Alba Tours will present pilgrims with their packs at this meeting.

Quiz Night: The next cathedral parish Quiz Night will take place from 7pm until 10pm on Friday 17^th October. Entry costs £2 per adult and £1 per child. Bring your own drinks and snacks. A maximum of 8 per team. Raffle prizes will be gratefully received. All are welcome.

Free DVDs: Please help yourself to the Little Flower in Scotland DVDs, which document the 2019 visit of the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux to Scotland. These are available in the cathedral porch.

St Carlo Acutis: There are copies of Monsignor Anthony Figueiredo’s book, Carlo Acutis: Saint of the Young, available in the cathedral piety stall for £7.95 per copy.

SMFC: We have 4 tickets for sale for the following fixtures at the SMiSA Stadium: Aberdeen (19^th October); and Hearts (29^th October). Reduced price of £20 for adults and £10 for children. Contact Fr Joe or Fr Ryan to book.

Semi-Final: We have tickets available for the St Mirren – Motherwell semi-final of the Premier Sports Cup at Hampden Park on Saturday 1^st November. The cost is £36 per adult and £19 per child. Tickets for the East Stand cost £30 per adult and £15 per child.

Bishopton Centenary: In 2026, we will mark the centenary of Our Lady of Lourdes church in Bishopton. The Parish Pastoral Council hopes to set up a sub-committee to plan for a celebration of this. If you are interested, contact Fiona on 07572 157648.

Cathedral Crafts: Interested in joining the Cathedral Crafts group? They meet every Thursday afternoon, after 1pm Mass. All are welcome to drop in for a chat and cuppa. Crafts new and old including knitting, crochet, embroidery, card making, hand sewing, machine sewing, water colours painting, patchwork, etc. For more info, pat_murdoch@hotmail.com or drop in any Thursday.

Vocations: Come and pray before the Blessed Sacrament for vocations to the priesthood. In St Mirin’s, on Fridays, from 12 noon until 1pm; in Bishopton, on Mondays and Fridays, from 9.25am until 10am.

The Cathedral and the Jubilee Indulgence: Pope Francis reminds us that “God’s forgiveness knows no bounds”. The Jubilee Indulgence during the Holy Year 2025 is a beautiful expression of the mercy of God. The “indulgence” of our Loving Father frees the sinner, already forgiven through the Sacrament of Penance, from every residue left by the consequences of sin, enabling us to grow in love rather than fall back into sin. To obtain the indulgence at St Mirin’s Cathedral during this year, as pilgrims of hope we undertake a pilgrimage to our cathedral, especially for the celebration of Holy Mass; are purified by the Sacrament of Penance (in the days around the visit); are refreshed by the worthy reception of Holy Communion; and we also pray for the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff. As groups or as individuals, we can also receive the indulgence by devoutly visiting the cathedral for a period of time for Eucharistic adoration and meditation, concluding with the Our Father, Profession of Faith, and invocations to the Blessed Virgin Mary (for example, Hail Mary; Hail, Holy Queen; Memorare).  The indulgence may be obtained each day and may be applied in suffrage for the souls in purgatory.

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.

OLOL Exposition: All are invited to pray for vocations to the priesthood in the Diocese of Paisley before the Blessed Sacrament exposed in OLOL church on Monday and Friday mornings.

Bulletin: Notices and names for the bulletin should be submitted no later than Thursday each week. Parishioners in Bishopton can continue to pop names and offerings through the letterbox at the Chapel House, or they can give them to Fr Joe or Fr Ryan after Masses.

Contact: Should anyone from either parish wish to speak to a priest, please contact Cathedral House (details above).

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. The practice in Our Lady of Lourdes of presenting the Sick List during the Offertory Procession will continue. Please keep all sick and housebound parishioners in your prayers.

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/Fr Ryan). 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. Thank you for your ongoing support.

Cathedral Choir: If you are interested in joining the choir and meeting new people, speak with Pat Murdoch after 11am Mass or email pat_murdoch@hotmail.com.

Cathedral Crafts: Interested in joining the Cathedral Crafts group? They meet every Thursday afternoon. New members always welcome. Email pat_murdoch@hotmail.com.

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. Fr Joe and Fr Ryan are appealing for parishioners who are interested in bringing Holy Communion to the housebound. If you are interested, please email or speak with Fr Joe or Fr Ryan. All who bring Holy Communion to people’s homes must be PVG-checked by the Church.

Standing Orders: The bank accounts of St James’s parish have now been closed. Any Standing Orders that were paying into those accounts will have been cancelled, and new Standing Orders will have to be set up. This gives us an opportunity to remind all parishioners that Standing Orders are a secure and reliable way to support your parish. Standing Order and Gift Aid forms will be available after all Masses this weekend. Thank you for your continued support.

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. In the year 2022-2023, the Gift Aid on contributions to the cathedral parish amounted to £18,000+.

Parish Register: We have established a register of parishioners with contact details, enabling us to email bulletins and other important information from the parishes. To register, please visit the website. 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.

Diocesan and Other News

Safeguarding Thought for the Month: Survivors of abuse deserve special care from the Church as they struggle to understand what has happened (Oct 2025).

SPRED Drivers Needed: SPRED is looking for volunteer drivers to assist with bringing our learning disabled friends to their SPRED group on either a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday evening. This would involve taking them to/from our Centre at St Peter’s church (Glenburn) once a fortnight, term-time only. For more info, call 0141 884 8866 or email spred@rcdop.org.uk.

National Family Conference: Internationally acclaimed speaker Chris Stefanick features at the National Family Conference on Saturday 25^th October. Known for his dynamic talks, Chris brings a wealth of experience in helping families deepen their faith and embrace the joy of Catholic family life. His keynote speech will be broadcasted live from the US, at this landmark event which takes place from 10am to 5pm at St Bride’s Hall, Muir Street, Motherwell, ML1 1PP. Register at https://www.bcos.org.uk/NFC25.

Divine Mercy Conference: The 12^th National Conference will take place in the cathedral hall on Saturday 25^th October from 10am – 5pm; Holy Hour from 3pm and Holy Mass at 4pm in the cathedral (Saturday Vigil Mass). All are welcome.

BCOS Vacancy: The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland is looking for a new National Director for the Marriage, Family & Life Office. The successful candidate will work in various areas alongside the National Commission for Marriage, Family & Life and will, among other tasks, organise and promote national events, liaise with associations with shared mission, and support single people, couples and families, as well as the pro-life mission in the context of family life. For more information, please visit: https://rcdop.org.uk/news/vacancy-national-director-of-marriage-family-life-office.-

Bible Study: Join Fr Matthew for Bible Study in St Aidan’s, Johnstone on Mondays at 7pm in the parish house. Using a course called “Genesis to Jesus,” we will learn about the story of God’s covenant with His People, especially in the Old Testament. Please bring a Bible if you have one, but don’t worry if you don’t!

Safeguarding Training: Safeguarding Induction training has been organised into one course only. If you are a new volunteer—or one who completed Part 1 training more than two years ago—you are invited to sign up for one of the following training sessions.  Please contact Sarah Jane Colhoun at the Safeguarding Office to register (0141 847 6138; safeguardingadmin@rcdop.org.uk). Next session is in the Diocesan Office: Tuesday 18^th November at 7pm.

Diocesan e-Bulletin: This weekend, the diocesan Communications Commission is launching the Diocese of Paisley e-Bulletin. The bulletin does not replace individual parish bulletins but adds to them by allowing news and events from across the diocese to be shared with the wider diocesan community. In order to receive the e-Bulletin each week by email, please subscribe at rcdop.org.uk/diocesan-bulletin.

Think Vocation: In this weekend’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us of the importance of our calling and the unique roles we play in God’s plan. If you feel a stirring in your heart for a more profound commitment to the Church, consider a vocation to the priesthood. It is a path of service, love, and profound joy. For more info, contact our diocesan Vocations Director, Fr John Morrison (0141 889 2602; vocations@rcdop.org.uk).

Holy Land Appeal: SCIAF has launched an emergency appeal for the crisis across the Holy Land. Through the global Caritas network, they are working with local organisations to reach those caught up in this devasting humanitarian crisis. Your donations will help provide emergency support to those most in need. Donate here: https://www.sciaf.org.uk/?form=holy-land-crisis.

Podcast: The Diocese of Paisley Podcast is celebrating its first anniversary, with over 5,000 downloads in 40 countries and more than 25 episodes featuring voices from across our Diocese. Now we’ve been nominated again for an award! Listen at rcdop.org.uk/podcast or on major platforms.

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.