The Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen

The Parish of St Mary, Inverness with St Columba, Culloden

Registered Scottish Charity AC 005122

A Letter from the Parish Priest

Dear Friends in Christ,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                1Aug 2011

Our Seminarians : Some of you have been asking about Andrew Niski, formerly of St Mary’s and at present on vacation in Poland from his courses of study at the Angelicum University and Scots College, Rome. He has successfully completed his initial studies in Philosophy, and will enter his third year next October. Please pray for Andrew’s mother, Beata Niska, whom some of you have met, and who is suffering from cancer. Andrew will meet those of us going to WYD Madrid when we get together in Edinburgh on Fri12 Aug. We are hoping to welcome Andrew sometime in late August / September when he will be back in the Diocese doing a parish placement. Emmet O’Dowd is presently in Sligo with his family, and after that he too will rendezvous with us in Edinburgh for WYD and after that he will be preparing for entry to Scots College, Rome. Lukasz Poplawski has now returned from his holiday in Poland and, is already packing up for the move to Rome after WYD. He is a familiar face in the Parish Office, a tireless worker who has endeared himself to many of you by his helpful kindness. Lukasz will be with us at Sunday Mass for the last time on Sun 7 Sep as he too is much involved in WYD Madrid. He will remain behind at Salamanca to prepare for Seminary. Please continue to pray for the three young men from the Parish that their studies and priestly formation may go well for them.         

“Thanks be to God.”                                                      

 Children’s Liturgy at St Mary’s:  After eight years committed service Angela Armstrong is withdrawing from the Children’s Liturgy. We are all very appreciative of the dedicated work that she has done and extend our warmest thanks. Please consider how best you can help with this important work. If you would like to know more about it please speak to Iona Mackay (at the Sacristy) after the Mass. The Children’s Liturgy is held only during school-term time. It is due to begin shortly.            

“Let the little children come to me!”

The Highland (St Joseph’s Deanery) Pilgrimage: Sat 8 Oct 11   The Minister of Dornoch Cathedral, The Rev’d Susan Brown, has graciously agreed to us having the use of the Cathedral for our Pilgrimage Mass at 1200 noon on Sat 8 Oct. Our new Bishop, The Rt Rev’d Hugh Gilbert OSB, will lead our Pilgrimage. It is a little later than usual due to the busyness of this summer, however by then we will all be well practised in the Revised Mass Texts. Please mark the date in your diaries and support this with your attendance. Dornoch is a most beautiful Royal Burgh, with many cafes and places in which to enjoy a meal afterwards. There are interesting shops, and a most lovely beach!                                                    

“Hills of the north rejoice!”                                       

Liturgical Music : At St Mary’s we have made a good start on the St Francis Mass by Paul Taylor. Week by week we will add to our repertoire and improve our techniques. There are two Mass settings on A4 sheets to aid our introduction. One is the St Francis Mass and the other is the Mass as set out in the New Missal. Within the Diocese it is hoped that we will become familiar and accomplished in the Missal setting. At a recent study day for Highland Deanery Clergy we opted to try to become equally familiar with the St Francis setting. With the Missa de Angelis, which is already familiar, this will give us a sound base for developing our worship in a truly devoted way. At St Columba’s we hope that it will be possible to form a small musical group that will enable us to explore these two settings. I would like to encourage as many as possible to attend the courses being run at St Ninian’s by Fr Stuart Chalmers. The next session is on Fri 26 Aug at 7.00 pm in the Hall. Please ensure that you have a copy of the Booklet “Understanding the Revised Mass Texts" which is freely available in the Church.

Please note also that there is  “Singing the Mass ; a day for everyone” at Pluscarden Abbey on Sat  27 Aug from 11.00 am until 3.30 pm. A light lunch and tea will be provided. If you want to attend please inform the Abbey by e-mail : pluscarden@gmail.com Please read the notices about this which are on the Church notice-boards.                                        

 “Sing a new song to the Lord”!

Parish Mission : Fr Francis Maple ofm cap

After Easter in 2012 it is proposed to hold a Mission for a week at St Mary’s and, for a week at St Columba’s. Fr Francis Maple is a Franciscan friar, a Capuchin who has had an extensive musical ministry. He is an experienced giver of Parish Missions. This will be a wonderful opportunity for us to prepare together, from Advent ,so that by study, prayer, praise and friendly get-togethers we may deepen our faith and be receptive to the special graces which a Mission brings.                                                        

 “Rejoice with me!”

Michaelmass : Thu 29 Sep : 7.30 pm Mass and Harvest Supper at St Columba’s, Culloden Please sign up to support this seasonal celebration. It should be a good family evening with traditional fare. It would be good to see some support for this from the St Mary’s parishioners, joining in at Culloden, which is after all a daughter Church from St Mary’s, part of the heritage from Canon Duncan Stone.                                    “Come let us celebrate together!”

With every good wish and Blessing,    

 

 Fr James   (Fr James Bell)