Getting kids ready for the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist is super important to help them grow and mature in their Catholic faith. Sacramental classes are a great way for them to understand their existing religious experiences, especially if they attend church regularly and live their faith every day. After all, learning about religion without having experiences to back it up just doesn’t cut it! That’s why we kindly ask parents to join their children in attending Sunday Mass when they sign up for sacramental classes. It’s a great way to support your child’s growth in the faith and make it a fun family event, too!
Jubilee 2025
Pope Francis has declared that next year, 2025, will be a Holy Year in the Universal Church and that 2024 should be a year of preparation for this great Jubilee.
The idea of Jubilee has its roots in the Old Testament, with a celebration of a year of forgiveness and reconciliation. The Sabbath was the seventh day, a day of rest, and the Jubilee year was the year following seven times seven years, so the Jubilee took place every 50th year. In the tradition of the Catholic Church, we now celebrate the Jubilee every 25 years. The Holy Year of 2025 will begin at the Christmas Vigil 2024 when the Holy Father will open the Holy Door of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
The Uganda Appeal results!
You may remember the Emergency Uganda Appeal from a few weeks ago when we raised £650 to assist with the repairs of the severely storm-damaged church of the Mulajje Parish. Your contribution truly had a positive impact, as evidenced in the photos below. Fr Gerald sent a message of gratitude, too:
St John Ogilvie Deanery Pastoral Council
Bishop Hugh has recently created a new deanery, which includes parishes from Moray and Aberdeenshire. These parishes range from Forres in the west to Peterhead in the east, and from Stonehaven in the south to Lossiemouth in the north. Fr Colin Stewart from St Sylvester’s in Elgin is the Dean of this new Deanery.
Assisted Suicide
Cut Off from Me, You Can Do Nothing
Called to Care, Not to Kill – a Pastoral Letter on Assisted Suicide
In the parable of the Vine and the Branches, Jesus teaches us that we are one community, one family and one society. We live in a world where any one of our decisions affects all of us. We are all brothers and sisters with responsibility to each other.