St. Joseph's, Greenock

Welcome
 

For over 70 years St Joseph’s has been at the heart of this local community: built up by the hands and the prayers of its people, the Parish has been a home to generations of the Catholic community and given many of its sons to priestly service. That same spirit characterises St Joseph’s Parish to this day: welcoming, generous and good-hearted. We are blessed to be placed under the patronage of the great St Joseph, whose intercession and blessing we invoke upon all visitors to our Parish website!

In both sorrow and joy we heed the counsel ‘Ite ad Ioseph’- Go to Joseph!

(Is 63: 16-17, 64:1. 3-8; 1 Cor 1:3-9; Mk 13:33-37)

Mk 13:33-37: Jesus said, beware, keep alert; for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. Therefore, keep awake--for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.

The word Advent derives from the Latin word ‘adventus’ meaning ‘coming/arrival.’ Advent gives us a vision of our lives as Christians and shows us the possibilities of life. The vision of life that Advent gives us is twofold; it looks back to the first coming of Christ at Bethlehem, and it looks to the future when Christ will come again. In the interval between these two events we find meaning for our life as a Christian. It encourages us to examine our lives, to reflect on our need for God to enter our lives. He will come to us in the celebration of the Incarnation, in His continual coming in our daily living and in His final coming as our Lord to judge us all and to renew the Father’s creation. Using apocalyptic images, the Gospel urges the elect to be alert for the return of Christ because no one except the Father knows the day or the hour of the Lord’s return.

Liturgical Calendar

Monday 30th: St. Andrew-Solemnity, PATRON OF SCOTLAND

Thursday 3rd: St. Francis Xavier-Memorial

From SCIAF: SCIAF is asking people in Scotland to buy a water filter as a Christmas gift to help families in Ethiopia to protect their children from preventable diseases caused by dirty, unsafe water. To give the gift of clean water this Christmas visit www.sciaf.org.uk/water .

You can also support the world’s poorest by texting SCIAF 3 to 70085 to donate £3 to SCIAF’s Christmas Water appeal. 

St. Margaret’s Children and Family Care Society – Virtual Crib

Catholic Adoption Agency, St Margaret's Children and Family Care Society, which supports some of Scotland's most vulnerable children, is hosting a 'Virtual Crib' this Advent. Due to congregation sizes being limited due to Covid19 restrictions the charity could lose out on up to £100k in donations made each year by the Catholic community to its Crib Appeal collection boxes. St Margaret’s Virtual Crib is a peaceful, animated crib scene accompanied by a full Christmas Carol Concert from the St Andrew's Cathedral Choir. St Margaret's Virtual Crib will be live until the Feast of the Epiphany on their website at stmargaretsadoption.org.uk. Donations can be made via the St Margaret’s website or by cheque posted to the charity’s office at 26 Newton Place, Glasgow, G3 7PY.

Our Parish does not currently have online payment facilities but if you wish to make a card payment you can do so through the Diocese at:

https://www.rcdop.org.uk/donate-1

If you let us know how much you have given by emailing Philip McEachen, Diocesan Finance Manager at finance.diocese@rcdop.org.uk the Diocese will ensure we receive your gift.

Also if you wish to make a regular payment then you can download a standing order form at:

https://www.rcdop.org.uk/gift-aid-and-standing-order-forms

There are also Gift Aid forms at this address which if you are a taxpayer would make you gift worth 25% more at no extra cost to you.

Thank you supporting our Parish in these difficult times.

Urgent-respond to scottish government consultation on DIY abortions to save lives

I am writing about an urgent matter. The Scottish Government (along with the Westminster Government) introduced the practice of sending women pills in the post so that they can perform a DIY abortion at home. This was supposed to be a temporary measure during the pandemic, but now the Scottish Government is holding a consultation on whether to make this practice permanent.

We need as many pro-life people as possible to complete the Scottish Government’s questionnaire in order to stop dangerous DIY abortions becoming permanent.

Every pro-life voice counts in this consultation, and it is vitally important that Catholics across Scotland speak out against DIY abortions, which kill unborn babies and harm women.

Thank you for your attention.

With kind regards,

John Deighan, CEO, SPUC Scotland

Respond to Scottish Government consultation to stop home abortions!The Scottish Government is holding a consultation on whether to continue the practice of sending dangerous abortion pills to  women to undergo abortions at home. We need as many pro-life people as possible to complete the Scottish Government’s questionnaire in order to stop dangerous DIY abortions becoming permanent. SPUC has prepared a briefing which gives a step by step guide to completing the questionnaire. Please go to www.spuc.org.uk/Scottish-Consultation

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Every year St. Joseph Church Greenock used to pray the novena to St. Peregrine Laziosi, the Patron saint of cancer patients at this time of the year for nine weeks. This year, however, due to unprecedented situation we are not able to hold it. We can pray at the same time wherever we are. The prayer is given in summary form below. Let us earnestly remember and pray for the suffering people all over the world. 

*O God, our loving Father, You love us. We thank you for the many blessings you have given us. In loving trust we place ourselves before you. Let your healing love fill our lives. 

Give us the strength to understand our illness. Forgive our neglect to help carry the crosses of others. In St. Peregrine, you gave us an outstanding example of one who prayed for others. 

Supported then by his prayers, we ask that the suffering we endure and the suffering endured by our loved ones, may be a source of new life and health. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 

*St. Peregrine, you have prayed for God’s people in the past; so once again we ask for God’s help through your powerful prayers. With your confidence we pray not only for our own wants but also for people suffering today.

That the Church of Jesus Christ scattered throughout the world might witness everywhere God’s commandment to love one another.

R/ We pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer.

That all those suffering from any illness of mind, body and spirit; from any life-threatening illness Such as cancer, heart and kidney diseases, or Aids, may be given the help of recovery and the help of God’s Spirit of peace.

R/ We pray to the Lord. Lord, hear our prayer. 

*O God, graciously hear the prayers which we present to you in honour of St. Peregrine, your beloved Servant and Patron of those with cancer and any other serious illness. Grant that we may receive help in our needs through the intercession of himwhose life was so pleasing to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Loving God, in spite of all that you give us, we still find suffering in our lives. You generously offered healing to our brother Peregrine. Following his example, we turn to you with our troubles. Strengthen those who suffer from cancer and other serious diseases. Look kindly upon all and heal us. Give health to our bodies, that our lives may be long and happy.Give us comfort in the troublesome moments of our personal lives. Heal us of hurt and of resentment. Give grace and joy to our spirit that we may continue to praise you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

St. Peregrine, pray for us. 

We are still discouraged from distributing items from the church, so if the faithful could download and complete the attached November list and then return it in an envelope to the boxes at the door of the church or through the door of the presbytery. Alternatively you could simply complete your list on a sheet of paper and put it in an envelope then drop it off.