ARCHDIOCESE OF GLASGOW SOUTHERN DEANERY NEWSLETTER No. 3 SEPTEMBER 2004

As the summer recedes, we hope that you have seen some sunshine and enjoyed some rest. In the parishes in the South of Glasgow there have been some changes and developments.

At a recent meeting of the Deanery Council a range of changes that had taken place over the summer in personnel and in parish developments were announced. These included the acceptance of the document on the categorisation of parishes as requested by the Archbishop. The recommendations made have arose from widespread consultation and discussion, and the results can be found in the most recent (September) edition of Flourish.

The Deanery believes this distribution of parishes offers the optimum use of the resources available and will provide the most satisfactory base for evangelisation and service to the Catholic communities.

The recommendations made take account of the declining predicted number of active priests in the Deanery, currently 19, and likely to be 12 in 5 years’ time, and 9 priests in 10 years’ time. 

The parishes have been categorised in 3 groups, namely

• Category A which are parishes likely to be supported by the Archdiocese for over 10 years;
• Category B which are parishes to be supported for at least the next 5 years and kept under review thereafter.
• Category C which are parishes likely to merge, close or change within the next 5 years.

It is not a preferred list of closures but an advisory list which may be used by the Archbishop in taking decisions about the future of parishes and the allocation of priests. In each case of change in the parishes the boundaries of the parishes will require to be redrawn.  As a consequence of such changes the current Pastoral Areas may be realigned.

This phase of the work of the Deanery Council is now completed and attention would now turn to the process of evangelisation.

CHANGES OF MASS TIMES

St Albert’s: From Sunday 22^nd September Mass at St Alberts will change from 11am to 10am. There will be no Saturday Vigil Mass and no weekday Masses except for Holydays and funerals which will be arranged by Fr. Benneth.

St Margaret Mary’s and St Bartholomew’s: From Sunday 8^th September Sunday Mass will be 9:30am in St Margaret Mary’s and 11:30am in St Bartholomew’s.

Blessed John Duns Scotus: 6pm Sunday evening Mass cancelled. All other Mass times for this and the above remain unchanged.

EVANGELISATION

The essential work of the Church is focused on evangelisation.  The reason for having strong parishes is that they will be able to be the dynamos for evangelisation.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus instructs His disciples: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matt. 28:19). This is not just a task for a select few; it’s a call to every Christian. Evangelisation is the heart of our mission as followers of Christ.

As we embark on this journey of faith together in the parishes of the South of Glasgow, you are invited to reflect on how we can share the Good News with those around you. Whether it is through simple acts of kindness, a listening ear, or inviting someone to Mass, we can all take part in this mission of love and faith.

Evangelisation: What Does It Mean? Evangelisation is more than just preaching—it’s living out our faith in a way that draws others to Christ. It should not be thought of as a complex set of activities. Indeed, it is simply how Christ meant us to live our lives and to share that Good News with others.  

It involves:

1. Personal Witness: Sharing your story of faith with others.
2. Service: Acting with love and charity in everyday life.
3. Invitation: Inviting others to share in the Church’s life, whether through Mass, events, or prayer groups.

Our parishes are committed to fostering a spirit of welcome and outreach, helping people of all walks of life encounter the love of Christ.

Examples of Events for Evangelisation in the Deanery

Within the Deanery there are events which take place which might be of wider interests. We hope that providing this information will encourage each person to feel that is a huge amount of good going on through the Deanery.  From time to time, we shall offer examples and hope this encourages the wider participation for all people in the Southern Deanery.

Some events that offer opportunities to share faith and invite others:

1. Food Banks
2. Prayer Groups
3. Community Outreach Day

Evangelisation Resources

For those looking to deepen their understanding of evangelisation, here are some recommended resources:

• Books:
  “Evangelii Gaudium” by Pope Francis
  “Forming Intentional Disciples” by Sherry Weddell
• Websites:
  Catholic Evangelisation Resources
  Alpha UK
• https://www.sycamore.fm/about-sycamore/the-sycamore-story/
• https://divinerenovation.org/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3b3E8IquiAMVxpFQBh00OTeSEAAYASAAEgJuufD_BwE
• Diocesan Agencies
• FireCloud   
• Diocesan Youth Office

Ways to Get Involved: Fr John Carroll will chair a Deanery Committee on Evangelisation and welcomes any contribution.