Sunday March 2nd. 2008 Mothering Sunday
Bishop Murray to say a Lenten Mass in
St. Margaret’s, this Wednesday at 7 p.m.
In the early Church, bishops visited the parishes in their diocese during Lent, and stopped to say mass for the people to encourage them in their Lenten devotions. These became known as Station Masses. Over the years, our bishops in Scotland have renewed this practice, and our own bishop has said Station Masses in most parts of the diocese during the season of Lent.
We will have the joy of welcoming Bishop Ian on Wednesday evening for a Station Mass There will also be nine priests from the Lochaber Deanery present to concelebrate mass with the bishop.
I ask the whole parish to come to this mass, and share it with the bishop and the
priests as they pray for our spiritual well-
PLEASE NOTE THE TIME IS 7 P.M.
We hope it will not be long until we invite the bishop back to administer the sacrament of confirmation to five of our children.
After Easter, we will have a special collection, in union with all the other parishes, so that the diocese may make a presentation to Bishop Ian on his retirement to thank him for all he has done for us. In the eight years he has been our spiritual father and leader, he has achieved an immense amount of good for the diocese. He took over at a difficult time, but by his wisdom and quiet enthusiasm, he guided and inspired us. Among many of his achievements was the initiative he brought to solving the financial situation in the diocese and parishes. The whole diocese now is in a very sound financial state.
Through his pastoral zeal, he had a large barn converted into a lovely church at Broadford, Skye, and two years ago, he had the joy of opening a brand new church in Portree.
He has had a particularly heavy load presiding over various commissions on behalf of the hierarchy, and especially being a member of the liturgical committee, which is preparing a revised English text for the mass. This has involved his travelling all over the world to attend meetings.
He will be greatly missed by the clergy, but he can retire with the assurance of knowing that he has given of his best and that he leaves a diocese in very good heart and in a healthy state both spiritually and financially. He has always made himself available wherever his presence was need in the diocese, and he is very popular with his clergy because of his humour and solicitude for all their needs. It will probably be a few months yet before his successor is appointed. It will be sad for us to bid him goodbye.
Church rota for March 8th—9th
St. Joseph’s
Reader: Almy Leider
Prayers: Lindsay Simpson
Euch. Mins: David MacFarlane Moira Coutts
Cleaning: Private rota
St. Margaret’s
Readers: Lorna MacGregor Betty Campbell
Prayers: Deirdre MacDonald
Euch. Mins: Ishbel Campbell Ann MacKintosh
Cleaning: Catriona MacDonald
