Please find below the Mass Times & Devotions for the coming week, make your bookings as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Confirmation of bookings should be received within 24 hours, if not please contact Fr. Martin to check. Parishioners are kindly reminded to wear a face covering and observe social-distancing and to leave church after Holy Communion to allow cleaning to take place. Confessions are available before or after all Masses, apart from before the 11.00a.m. Mass on Sunday. A box is available at the back of the churches in order for you to deposit your weekly collections. God bless, Fr. Martin

Wednesday 2nd December – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m.

Thursday 3rd December – Adoration & Holy Rosary in St. James’ at 3.00p.m., Holy Mass in St. James’ at 7.00p.m.

Friday 4th December – Adoration & Holy Rosary in St. James’ at 10.00a.m., Holy Mass in St. James’ at 3.00p.m.

Saturday 5th December – Holy Mass in St. Matthew’s at 3.00p.m.

Sunday 6th December – Holy Mass in St. Matthew’s at 9.00a.m.

Sunday 6th December – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 11.00a.m.

Sunday 6th December – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 3.00p.m.

God bless you, Fr. Martin

The 11.00a.m. Mass at St. James’ will be livestreamed today for those unable to attend – click on the link below to join us, and please subscribe on the YouTube page:

https://www.youtube.com/user/CatholicApostolic

Having significantly curtailed some of what happens at Holy Mass during the time of re-opening after lockdown, I think it is now time, with the imminent beginning of the new Church year to reintroduce those elements that were omitted, and that can be reintroduced. So from this coming Sunday we will return to praying the Creed together, having Prayers of the Faithful, and having a homily at Holy Mass, as well as having the full complement of readings (still read by the priest at the moment). Hopefully this will give us a greater sense of normality in our celebration of Holy Mass, and provide further for our spiritual nourishment. Still without the ‘Gloria’ during the season of Advent and without hymns and sung Mass parts Holy Mass will remain somewhat briefer that what we were used to. However, I hope that in the not too distant future we can resume an even more fitting celebration of the Sacred Liturgy.

God bless you,

Fr. Martin

Remember that at 3.00p.m. today we have livestreamed Adoration & Holy Rosary, and then at 7.00p.m. we have the livestreaming of Holy Mass. God bless, Fr. Martin

Follow livestreaming by clicking on the link below (please also make sure to subscribe once on the YouTube channel in order to keep updated):

https://www.youtube.com/user/CatholicApostolic

I don’t need to say to you that Christmas will be more than a little unusual this year because of current circumstances. This will not stop us celebrating the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ worthily, however. I want to offer an explanation of my intentions for Christmas Masses remembering that this is provisional and may be subject to change. I must emphasize that I will not take any bookings for these Masses until I make it clear that the times are hard and fast – so please keep looking on this web page to keep up-to-date.

My intention will be to give priority to our normal parishioners, and to give priority to parishioners in their own church, i.e. Auchtermuchty people will have priority in St. Matthew’s and Kinross people in St. James’.

Because of the exceptional nature of things I must insist that people book for places. Unfortunately, and much against the nature of what we are about but necessary because of social-distancing etc., people who do not book a place in advance will risk being turned away at the door – so please do not put yourself in that situation and make sure you do book when places become available. Booking will be absolutely necessary over the Christmas period in both churches I cannot make this clearer to you. If you know of people without internet access or who struggle with getting in touch with me please offer to assist them so that they do not miss out on the opportunity.

Bookings for Christmas will only be accepted by email on Fr. MartinPletts@gmail.com or by calling the landline: 01577 863329, bookings will not be accepted by any other means. Again I give you advance warning to make this absolutely clear.

So my current plans are as follows (subject as they are to being changed):

Thursday 24th December Christmas Eve Mass in St. Matthew’s at 4.00p.m.

Thursday 24th December Midnight Mass in St. James’ beginning at 12 Midnight.

Friday 25th December Christmas Day Mass in St. James’ at 8.00a.m.

Friday 25th December Christmas Day Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m.

Naturally, individuals or ‘bubbles’ will only be able to book for one of these Masses and not several, in order that as many people as possible have the opportunity to attend.

Once again, I emphasize that these times are provisional, may be subject to change, and are not able to be booked yet. I offer this information to facilitate your planning.

God bless, Fr. Martin Pletts

Please find below the Mass Times & Devotions for the coming week, make your bookings as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. Confirmation of bookings should be received within 24 hours, if not please contact Fr. Martin to check. Parishioners are kindly reminded to wear a face covering and observe social-distancing and to leave church after Holy Communion to allow cleaning to take place. Confessions are available before or after all Masses, apart from before the 11.00a.m. Mass on Sunday. A box is available at the back of the churches in order for you to deposit your weekly collections. Holy Souls lists will still be accepted from those who have not yet handed them in. God bless, Fr. Martin

Wednesday 25^th November – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m.

Thursday 26^th November – Adoration & Holy Rosary in St. James’ at 3.00p.m. (also livestreamed)*

Thursday 26^th November – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 7.00p.m. (also livestreamed)*

Friday 27^th November – Adoration & Holy Rosary in St. James’ at 10.00a.m. (also livestreamed)*

Friday 27^th November – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 3.00p.m.

Saturday 28^th November – Holy Mass in St. Matthew’s at 3.00p.m.

Sunday 29^th November – Holy Mass in St. Matthew’s at 9.00a.m.

Sunday 29^th November – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 11.00a.m. (also livestreamed)*

Sunday 29^th November – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 3.00p.m.

Please click on the link below to follow our livestreamed Mass this morning for the Solemnity of Christ the King:

https://www.youtube.com/user/CatholicApostolic

This link will take you to the parish YouTube channel where you will find the livestreamed video. God bless!

I will post Mass times available for booking this week later on today. God bless, Fr. Martin

We now have livestreaming facilities thanks to the chaps at Sancta Familia Media. If you wish to join us for livestreamed Masses or devotions you can follow us via the YouTube link: youtube.com/user/CatholicApostolic

I will generally post a notice on the parish Facebook page to indicate which devotions or Masses will be livestreamed, and hopefully will include this in the advance weekly schedule for bookings that I usually post here and on Facebook at the weekend. I hope that if you’re unable to join us in person at the moment you might be able to join us “virtually”.

God bless you, Fr. Martin

Dear parishioners, your generosity is always outstanding, and because of it the Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul has flourished in St. James’ and St. Matthew’s since its establishment around about two years ago. In present circumstances, with attendance at Mass being somewhat more erratic and door collections being suspended I wanted to ensure that you are able to continue to contribute to the very important charitable work of the Society which assists the needy and struggling in our locality. To this end I would encourage you, if you’re able, to set up a Standing Order to guarantee regular donations to the Society’s work. If you feel you are in a position to do this please contact Mr. Sid Grant (Treasurer) who will assist you in setting this up. Please call Sid on 07713582628 or email him on sid.j.grant@gmail.com

Thank you and God bless you for your ongoing support of the SSVP,

Fr. Martin