No booking for during the week, booking only for the weekend:

Beginning from this week I will only be taking bookings for Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses in St. Matthew’s and St. James’. What this means, practically, is that if you would like to come to weekday Mass you now just have to turn up and give your name and your contact telephone number to the steward at the door. You will still need to book for Masses at the weekend.

Admittance to the church for weekday Masses and services will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Usually our churches are open 30 minutes before Mass or services are due to begin, so prompt arrival should always secure a place.

I will continue to post the times of Masses and services during the week, but will not take any telephone bookings for them. We always, during the week at least, tend to have plenty of free places so I imagine that most people who are able or want to come to weekday Mass should not have a problem attending.

The new approach will take place with immediate effect so that you will not need to book for Masses or services from Monday 3rd May to Friday 7th May inclusive, but you will need to book for Masses for Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th May.

Bookings have already been taken for the current week (26th April to 2nd May) and are closed. There are still spare places for these dates and times and they too will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

You will have the opportunity to book Masses for the weekend of the 8th and 9th of May by calling 01577 863329 only, at the following times exclusively:

Wednesday 28th April from 11a.m. to 12 noon, Thursday 28th April from 11a.m. to 12 noon, Friday 30th April from 11a.m to 12 noon, and Saturday 1st May from 7.45p.m. – 8.45p.m.

WEEKDAY MASSES THAT DO NOT REQUIRE YOU TO MAKE A BOOKING:

Monday 3rd May – NO MASS

Tuesday 4^th May – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 7.00p.m. (Confessions available from 6.30p.m.)

Wednesday 5^th May – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m. & brief novena prayer to St. Joseph at the end of Holy Mass (Confessions available after Mass)

Thursday 6^th May – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Thursday 6^th May – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in St. James’ at 3.00p.m.: Holy Hour and Rosary, with Holy Communion for those who have not been at Holy Mass (Confessions also available during this time upon request).

Friday 7^th May – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

WEEKEND MASSES THAT DO REQUIRE YOU TO MAKE A BOOKING:

Saturday 8th May – Holy Mass in St. Matthew’s at 3.00p.m. (Confessions available from 2.30p.m.)

Saturday 8th May – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 5.00p.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Saturday 8th May – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 6.30p.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Sunday 9th May – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 9.00a.m.

Sunday 9th May – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 11.00a.m.

Sunday 9th May – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 1.00p.m.

(Sunday 9th May – Holy Mass in Kilgraston School at 5.00p.m. – currently only for pupils & staff)(Please note the addition of Holy Mass at 6.30p.m. on Saturday and also Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursday afternoon)

Bookings for Holy Mass from Monday 26^th April to Sunday 2^nd May inclusive:

These bookings can only be made by calling 01577 863329 at the following times – Wednesday 21^st April between 12 noon and 1.00p.m.,  and from 7.00p.m. to 8.00p.m., Thursday 22^nd April between 12 noon and 1.00p.m., Friday 23^rd April between 12 noon and 1.00p.m., Saturday 24^th April between 7.45p.m. and 8.45p.m.

Booking opportunities for Mass for the week of 21^st April to 2^nd May will close after 8.45p.m. on Saturday 24^th April, so please make sure you have booked your Masses by then.

Places that are then still free will be advertised (after official booking times have closed), and these places will then be available on a first come, first served basis by simply turning up at church and giving your contact details.

If you want to guarantee your place at Mass the very best thing to do is to book in advance at one of the times offered.

Monday 26^th April – NO MASS

Tuesday 27^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 7.00p.m. (Confessions available from 6.30p.m.)

Wednesday 28^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m. & brief novena prayer to St. Joseph at the end of Holy Mass (Confessions available after Mass)

Thursday 29^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Thursday 29^th April – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in St. James’ at 3.00p.m.: Holy Hour and Rosary, with Holy Communion for those who have not been at Holy Mass (Confessions also available during this time upon request).

Friday 30^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Saturday 1^st May – Holy Mass in St. Matthew’s at 3.00p.m. (Confessions available from 2.30p.m.)

Saturday 1^st May – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 5.00p.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Saturday 1^st May – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 6.30p.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Sunday 2^nd May – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 9.00a.m.

Sunday 2^nd May – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 11.00a.m.

Sunday 2^nd May – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 1.00p.m.

(Sunday 2^nd May – Holy Mass in Kilgraston School at 5.00p.m. – currently only for pupils & staff)(Please note the addition of Holy Mass at 6.30p.m. on Saturday and also Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursday afternoon)

If you haven’t as yet returned to Holy Mass and your health permits I strongly encourage you to now join us again to worship the Lord as a community of faith. Stringent cleaning procedures and social-distancing norms are in place when coming to church, so you can be reassured that all is being done to keep you safe and healthy.

It is recommended that you look frequently at this parish website and these posts to keep up-to-date with the Masses and devotions available, and that you book in advance at the allocated times each week to secure your place. You can always come along, too, if spare places are available – as indicated below. These spare places should not be booked but will be given on a first come, first served basis. The churches usually open thirty minutes before Mass or devotions begin, it is recommended, then, that if you haven’t booked you should turn up as early as possible to secure one of these spare places.

I look forward to seeing you soon at Holy Mass.

God bless, Fr. Martin Pletts

The following spaces are still available at Masses. If you would like one please just turn up at church, please do not phone to reserve these places, they will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Each space can accommodate up to 3 people from the same household/bubble.

Tuesday 20^th April at 7.00p.m. in St. James’ – 2 spaces

Wednesday 21^st April at 10.00a.m. in St. James’ – 5 spaces

Thursday 22^nd April at 10.00a.m. in St. James’ – 6 spaces

Thursday 22^nd April at 3.00p.m. in St. James’ – 8 spaces

Friday 23^rd April at 10.00a.m. in St. James’ – 7 spaces

Saturday 24^th April at 3.00p.m. in St. Matthew’s – 8 spaces

Saturday 24^th April at 5.00p.m. in St. James’  – 4 spaces

Saturday 24^th April at 6.30p.m. in St. James’ – 7 spaces

Sunday 25^th April at 9.00a.m. in St. James’ – 6 spaces

Sunday 25^th April at 11.00a.m. in St. James’ – 1 place

Sunday 25^th April at 1.00p.m. in St. James’ – 6 places

Booking in advance is recommended if you want to guarantee your place at Mass given current limits on our capacity. The list of available slots and times to book for them will be posted on this website during the forthcoming week.

It’s been wonderful to have our churches open again and to be able to come together for Holy Mass, Confession, and devotions, and a delight to catch up again more regularly with parishioners. What has facilitated this is the core group of people who have volunteered to manage re-opening which entails arranging and participating in opening and closing the churches, stewarding people at Mass, and sanitising the churches as necessary. Unfortunately, because of either new commitments or ill-health our group of volunteer assistants has shrunk somewhat, and so I’m appealing to you, as a parishioner, to think about assisting your fellow parishioners and me in continuing to keep things going in our churches. If you would kindly consider assisting we would all be very grateful and it would help to ease the burden on those people who seem to be helping all the time. To become a steward/cleaner requires a simple induction because of the nature of current circumstances (nothing too demanding at all) and registration as a volunteer for these purposes with the parish – all very simple and straightforward and not at all intrusive. Please consider joining our small team to make it a little bigger, to lighten the load, and to help your fellow parishioners. If you think you can help please contact me (Fr. Martin) on the parish landline: 01577 863329, or speak to one of the stewards at Mass, or speak to Bob Corrieri or Tina Hill who are responsible in St. James’ and St. Matthew’s respectively. God bless you, and thank you in advance for your support.

Bookings for Holy Mass from Monday 19^th April to Sunday 25^th April inclusive:

These bookings can only be made by calling 01577 863329 at the following times – Thursday 15^th April between 12 noon and 1.00p.m., Friday 16^th April between 12 noon and 1.00p.m., Saturday 17^th April between 7.45p.m. and 9.45p.m.

Booking opportunities for Mass for the week of 19^th to 25^th April will close after 9.45p.m. on Saturday 17^th April, so please make sure you have booked your Masses by then.

Places that are then still free will be advertised (after official booking times have closed), and these places will then be available on a first come, first served basis by simply turning up at church and giving your contact details.

If you want to guarantee your place at Mass the very best thing to do is to book in advance at one of the times offered.

Monday 19^th April – NO MASS

Tuesday 20^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 7.00p.m. (Confessions available from 6.30p.m.)

Wednesday 21^st April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m. & brief novena prayer to St. Joseph at the end of Holy Mass (Confessions available after Mass)

Thursday 22^nd April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Thursday 22^nd April – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in St. James’ at 3.00p.m.: Holy Hour and Rosary, with Holy Communion for those who have not been at Holy Mass (Confessions also available during this time upon request).

Friday 23^rd April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Saturday 24^th April – Holy Mass in St. Matthew’s at 3.00p.m. (Confessions available from 2.30p.m.)

Saturday 24^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 5.00p.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Saturday 24^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 6.30p.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Sunday 25^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 9.00a.m.

Sunday 25^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 11.00a.m.

Sunday 25^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 1.00p.m.

(Sunday 25^th April – Holy Mass in Kilgraston School at 5.00p.m. – currently only for pupils & staff)

(Please note the addition of Holy Mass at 6.30p.m. on Saturday and also Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursday afternoon)

Below is a list of places that are still available for Holy Mass this week (13/04/21 – 18/04/21 inclusive). If you wish to take one of these places please just turn up and provide your contact details at the church door – it will, however, be on a first come, first served basis, so please do not phone me now to book these places. (Each place can accommodate 1 individual, or a maximum of 3 from a household or bubble)

Tuesday 13th 7.00p.m. – St. James’ – 4 places free

Wednesday 14th 10.00a.m. – St. James’ – 5 places free

Thursday 15th 10.00a.m. – St. James’ – 5 places free

Thursday 15th 3.00p.m. (Holy Hour) – St. James’ – 2 places free

Friday 16th 10.00a.m. – St. James’ – 3 places free

Saturday 17th 3.00p.m. – St. Matthew’s – 11 places free

Saturday 17th 5.00p.m. – St. James’ – 3 places free

Saturday 17th 6.30p.m. – St. James’ – 6 places free

Sunday 18th 9.00a.m. – St. James’ – 6 places free

Sunday 18th 1.00p.m. – St. James’ – 2 places free

Bookings for Holy Mass from Monday 12^th April to Sunday 18^th April inclusive:

(these bookings can only be made by calling 01577 863329 at the following times – Thursday 8^th April between 12 noon and 1.30p.m., Friday 9^th April between 12 noon and 1.30p.m., Saturday 10^th April between 7.00 and 9.00p.m.)

Monday 12^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 7.00p.m. (Confessions available from 6.30p.m.)

Tuesday 13^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 7.00p.m. (Confessions available from 6.30p.m.)

Wednesday 14^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m. & brief novena prayer to St. Joseph at the end of Holy Mass (Confessions available after Mass)

Thursday 15^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Thursday 15^th April – Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in St. James’ at 3.00p.m.: Holy Hour and Rosary, with Holy Communion for those who have not been at Holy Mass (Confessions also available during this time upon request).

Friday 16^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 10.00a.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Saturday 17^th April – Holy Mass in St. Matthew’s at 3.00p.m. (Confessions available from 2.30p.m.)

Saturday 17^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 5.00p.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Saturday 17^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 6.30p.m. (Confessions available after Mass)

Sunday 18^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 9.00a.m.

Sunday 18^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 11.00a.m.

Sunday 18^th April – Holy Mass in St. James’ at 1.00p.m.

(Sunday 18^th April – Holy Mass in Kilgraston School at 5.00p.m. – currently only for pupils & staff)

(Please note the addition of Holy Mass at 6.30p.m. on Saturday and also Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursday afternoon)

For those who haven’t managed to book Masses yet for the week of 5^th to 11^th April the following spaces are still available. Please do make sure to check the parish website each week and look at how to book Masses, it is quite straightforward and accessible. God bless you, Fr. Martin

Places still available for the week of 5^th-11^th April 2021 (as of 03/0421)

(each place can accommodate up to 3 people from the same household or bubble)

Monday 5^th April, 7.00p.m. – 2 places in St. James’

Tuesday 6^th April, 7.00p.m. – 3 places in St. James’

Wednesday 7^th April, 10.00a.m. – 4 places in St. James’

Thursday 8^th April, 10.00a.m. – 4 places in St. James’

Friday 9^th April, 10.00a.m. – 5 places in St. James’

Sunday 11^th April, 9.00a.m. – 1 place in St. James’

Sunday 11^th April, 1.00p.m. – 5 places in St. James’

Sunday 11^th April, 3.00p.m. (Divine Mercy & Adoration & Holy Communion) – 5 places in St. James’

FOR ST. MATTHEW’S, AUCHTERMUCHTY…

Sunday 4^th April, 9.00a.m. – 1 place in St. Matthew’s

Saturday 10^th April, 3.00p.m. – 10 places in St. Matthew’s

All these bookings will only be taken on the parish landline: 01577 863329 (call as soon as possible to take a place, bookings will be taken in person only in order to be able to confirm, or otherwise, immediately).

What is required from us on days like today (Good Friday) in terms of fasting and abstinence?

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church: (“You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence.”) ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts; they help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.

Church Law on Fasting and Abstinence

Fasting is listed as a precept of the Church: “You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church” (CCC 2043). This means that Catholics are under grave obligation to substantially observe these laws. Christians are required by divine law to do penance for their sins, penance is not optional.

The Church, as a caring mother, is providing us a specific means and season for completing acts of penance. Her goal is to see to it that her children attain eternal life. Her precept on fasting, then, is for our spiritual benefit. Catholics who intentionally neglect and/or reject all forms of penance violate divine law and thus would be guilty of grave sin. Grave sin committed with full knowledge and full consent is by definition mortal sin and thus places a soul in peril (CCC 1857).

Because the season of Lent is of penitential character, the Church sets forth the days of penance as Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent. Catholics are obliged to both fast and abstain from flesh meat on Ash Wednesday and Friday of the Lord’s Passion and abstain from flesh meat on all other Fridays during Lent. These requirements are binding on Catholics of the following age ranges:

Latin Rite Catholics from age 18 up through to the beginning of their 60th year (their 59th birthday) are required to fast, unless they have a serious reason for not doing so. According to Pope Paul VI’s apostolic constitution Paenitemini, “The law of fasting allows only one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking some food in the morning and evening, observing, as far as quantity and quality are concerned approved local custom.” (Paenitemini, ch. III., III., 2).

It’s often thought that a person can have one full meal and two “lesser meals” that cannot add up to a full meal. But Paenitemini doesn’t require us to weigh up food to make sure it doesn’t equate to a full meal. The point is, only one full meal is allowed, and one can take some food two other times on that day. Liquids such as juice, coffee, tea, or milk do not technically violate the fast, although refraining from ingesting any animal products such as milk is virtuous.

Please remember that the last day for booking Masses for the week of Monday 5^th April to Sunday 11^th April will be this Friday. No Mass bookings are being taken this evening (Thursday April 1^st) since the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is celebrated this evening.

If you wish to book any of the remaining places for Mass for the week of Monday 5^th April to Sunday 11^th April for either St. Matthew’s or St. James’ you must call the parish landline: 01577 863329 tomorrow (Friday 2^nd) between 7.00 – 8.30p.m. Booking every week for your places is unfortunately necessary. After this the booking opportunity for Masses from 5^th to 11^th April will close. I appreciate your co-operation with this.

So far there are still a good number of places available as bookings have been very slow this week.

God bless you, Fr. Martin