RC Diocese of Argyll & the Isles

5^th December 2011.

 Ad Clerum 09/2011

 Dear Colleagues and Friends,

I write a few words before heading out to St. Michael’s Deanery for the confirmations over next weekend and the following days.

Silver Jubilee of Fr Sandy Culley:

We congratulate Fr Sandy on his 25 years of priesthood, which we celebrated on St. Andrew’s Day in St. Mun’s, Dunoon. In thanking Fr Sandy for his years of priestly ministry we ask God’s continued blessing upon him and the people he has served so well in Dunoon.

Confirmations:

Through last week and yesterday I administered the sacrament of confirmation in five parishes in St. Margaret’s Deanery – in Fort William, Caol, Morar, Kingussie and Ballachulish. A small group of Polish teenagers will be confirmed also on Wednesday during the Polish Mass in Fort William, which will bring the total confirmed in the deanery to 33. I have enjoyed the celebration of the sacrament in the different parishes and I thank all concerned in the catechesis and preparation, and for the hospitality offered. I look forward now to my visits to the Island parishes. Please remember that, apart from the Sunday celebrations,  the Gospel I wish to use is Luke 4: 16-22.

Christmas Masses:

I notice in the Missal that the second Mass of Christmas is now entitled “Mass During the Night”, which brings me to suggest again that it may be more appropriate in some parishes to celebrate this Mass before midnight. In the severe weather last Christmas some of our most faithful people put themselves in danger in the struggle to get to and from Midnight Mass. The safety of those attending should be taken into account in deciding the time of the Christmas Mass during the night.

Bishop’s Diary:

Tuesday 6^th/Wednesday 7^th December  - Meeting of Bishops’ Conference, Edinburgh

Wednesday 7^th – Confirmations at Polish Mass in St. Mary’s, Fort William

Friday 9^th – Confirmations in Our Lady Star of the Sea, Castlebay, Barra

Sunday 11^th – Confirmations in St. Michael’s Eriskay, and in St. Peter’s, Daliburgh

Monday 12^th – Confirmations in St. Mary’s, Bornish

Tuesday 13^th – Confirmations in St. Michael’s, Ardkenneth

Wednesday 14^th – Confirmations in St. Mary’s, Benbecula

Thursday 15^th – Confirmations in Our Holy Redeemer, Stornoway

Sunday 25^th – Christmas Masses in Oban

Thank you for your continued prayers for me as I reach my third anniversary as Bishop on Thursday. I appreciate very much the assurance given by many of the faithful of their prayers, and I ask the Lord to help us all in the ministry entrusted to us in his name.

With my own prayers and best wishes for you all,

+ Joseph.

Rt Rev Joseph Toal

Bishop of Argyll and the Isles.