Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Sat 21 Aug 10
I am writing to everyone in the Parishes which are served from St Mary’s, Inverness to raise some issues with you which need to be addressed as a matter of urgency. Please take the time to read, to pray and to act.
The Papal Visit: The Bellahouston Mass on Thu 16 Sep 10
We have spare places in our allocation for seats. Many of you have been generous and kind and have made donations to support the attendance of others who might find the suggested £20 per person difficult. Thank you for that. At no time have we expected that family groups, with young children, should have to pay £20 per person. There are a few ways available to subsidise and I would not want anyone to be deterred from going by the costs alone. You will recall that in the previous letter about this I clarified the position regarding shuttle buses from the coach park to Bellahouston Park. For those who would find the walk between the two locations difficult there will be buses. You will recall that portable seats, folding chairs, may be taken. There will be retail outlets catering for food, drink and souvenirs. You would be advised nevertheless to take some food and drink of your own. There will be many people attending. Bellahouston Park is spacious. There will be a plentiful supply of loos!
I attended a Meeting in Glasgow last Thursday (as Diocesan Treasurer). I was reassured by the expertise, enthusiasm and dedication of those organising this event. There is an enormous amount of good-will being expressed by the Glasgow City Council which is being generous with practical help and assistance in a wide variety of ways.
What is needed is your fullest co-operation. It is not too late to sign up for Bellahouston.
Please spread this word. Please think again if you had already decided not to go. Please actively consider how you might attend, and who you will take with you. This is an historic occasion and one which enables us to show the Catholic Church in a good light, supporting our Holy Father by making him welcome in Scotland, being at Mass with him.
There are at the back of the churches new copies of the Bellahouston Mass letter, and attendance sheets for you to sign up for Bellahouston. Please help to make this the wonderful occasion it ought to be. That really does depend on us taking up the challenge.
I am hoping and praying that many of you will respond to this invitation.
The Deanery Pilgrimage to Beauly on Sat 4 Sep 10 : Mass 12 noon
The Bishop will be with us, probably his last as Bishop of the Diocese. The Mass theme will be Mary, Queen of Heaven. Fr
Piotr
Koczorowski will be supervising the musical aspects of the Liturgy, and there will be a refreshing young people’s perspective. After the Mass there will be a Procession to Beauly Priory, and after our prayers there, a short concert will be given by the Young People. We are very much preparing for World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid.
Please come and support this. It will be helpful to the organisers if we could have some indication of numbers......hundreds expected. Please make a day of it!
The New Stained Glass windows at St Mary’s, Inverness (Memorial)
As you may know we have invited donations towards the cost of the windows (about £11,000) and we have had many generous donations. There are still opportunities for donors to remember a loved one or friend. Please consider this and if you would like to do so then send your donation to me at the Parish Office. Cheques should be made to RCDA St Mary ‘s Inverness Number 2 account. This is our Fabric account.
Names to be inscribed on the memorial tablet should be written in block capitals please.
The Windows will be in place by Sunday 24 Oct 2010, when they will be blessed.
Please put this date in your diary, as at the 1100 am Mass the Mass will be offered for the donors and the departed, those whose names are on the Memorial Tablet below the windows.
The Pakistan Flood Victims: Fund-raising and Collection
I know that Jean and Ina who organised the two Big Tea Parties at Drumdelnies for the relief of the flood victims (through SCIAF and British Red Cross) would want to thank everyone who supported their efforts. Over £1200 was raised. This is a marvellous sum. Thanks to everyone for this. It was a spontaneous and generous reaction to the plight of so many.
There will be a Second Collection at all Masses next Saturday and Sunday (28/29 Aug) towards this. It will be a SCIAF collection.
Thank you for reading through this. I am aware of how dedicated you all are, and how generous you are in so many different ways. It is because of your on-going supportive kindness that I have ventured to ask you to read this letter and to support my invitations as best as you are able.
With every good wish,
Yours in Christ
Fr James Bell, Parish Priest
