Advent

 

As we begin this season of hope and expectation for the coming of Christ our desire is to draw closer to Christ so that we experience in a new and deeper way his presence within and among us. I recently got some information about a campaign entitled “KEEP CHRIST IN CHRISTMAS” and I think we can all sign up for that and do our best to keep our parishes and wider communities on board as the secular celebrations take over so much of the time of preparation for the Feast of the Lord’s Birth.

 

Clergy Matters

 

As we do not have a resident parish priest in Ballachulish at present, Mgr Donald MacKinnon has been appointed as Administrator of St. Mun’s Parish until the further notice.

 

The following priests will make up the Diocesan College of Consultors for the next five years: Mgr James MacNeil, Mgr Donald MacKinnon, Canon William Fraser, Fr Michael MacDonald, Fr Andrew Barrett, Fr Michael Hutson, and Fr John Paul MacKinnon.

 

The next Diocesan Day to mark The Year of the Priest will be Thursday December 3^rd – Feast of St Francis Xavier. In marking this day of the great Patron of the Missions we are reminded that the whole Church is missionary and every priest has to have a deep sense of mission, in his particular case to go willingly where he is asked to serve and to bring Christ to that particular community. In our own diocese in the future it is very likely that priests will be expected to serve wider areas and more communities and this will require generosity of spirit on the part of priests and understanding and support from the faithful. Looking ahead to 2010 we will continue to mark the Year of the Priest on a monthly basis. Here are my suggested dates:

 

-         Wednesday January 13^th – Feast of St Kentigern

-         Thursday February 11^th – Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (World Day of Prayer for the Sick)

-         Wednesday March 10^th – Feast of St John Ogilvie

-         Thursday April 1^st – Holy Thursday.

 

Religious Life

 

The funeral of Sr. Margaret Campbell, a Good Shepherd Sister, is taking place in Eriskay on Thursday 26 November. We pray for her eternal rest and extend our sympathy to her elderly mother and all her relatives.

 

Sr. Catherine Burns of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary is leaving South Uist on December 11^th. We thank Sr. Catherine for her years of service in Daliburgh Parish, and in earlier years in the Sacred Heart Hospital, and wish her well in the future. With Sr. Catherine’s departure the presence of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary in South Uist will end, so we thank the congregation for all the years they have spent in South Uist and for all the great work they did, especially in the hospital.

 

The Sisters of St Joseph in Caol, Audrey and Therese, are hopeful that the Canonization of Blessed Mary MacKillop will take place next year, and if that happy news is announced it would be good for us to organise a Diocesan pilgrimage to Rome for the occasion. The probable time will be October. We await more news!

 

The sisters also propose that we run a weekend for youth (or at least younger people) at the time of Blessed Mary’s Feast Day on August 8^th. It would be based in the Lochaber area over the Saturday and Sunday, and would be a follow-up to our celebration this year for the 100^th anniversary of Blessed Mary’s death, focusing on her spirituality and her commitment to youth, along with visits to places associated with her family or visited by her during her stay in Lochaber. We will hear more about this in the next few months.

 

Churches

 

I have been asked by a couple of priests about the possibility of dedicating their parish churches on the occasion of a special anniversary or after a major repair has been carried out (and perhaps paid for). I think it would be appropriate to do this as it has not always been done in the past and it would be an appropriate way of recognising the importance of the Church building in the community and its contribution to the faith and lives of the people in the past and into the future.

 

Administration

 

I hope all parishes received the leaflets for the Faith for the Future initiative advertising the Bishop’s Capital Fund. One parish started early and there has already been a very good response,

 

Formation

 

I believe everybody got information on the new website www.beingcatholic.org  It will provide information on courses, talks, etc about faith formation from across Scotland. Hopefully it will be a fine resource for us as individuals and parishes. Look it up to see what it has to offer.

  

As the first anniversary of my Episcopal ordination approaches I thank you for your support and prayers over the last year, and ask that this will continue. I am certainly more aware of the blessings and the difficulties of this particular ministry, and I pray that the Lord will give me the health and the strength to continue to fulfil it as best I can. I renew my good wishes for Advent and a Happy and Holy Christmas.

 

 

With my best wishes and blessing

 

Yours in the Lord,

 

 +Rt. Rev Joseph Toal

Bishop of Argyll and the Isles