St. Gabriel's Merrylee

05/09/2026

Saint Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us

05/09/2026

Bulletin 23rd Sunday year A
6/9/26

02/09/2026

A lot was discussed at last night’s Deanery Council meeting at OLOL Chapel House.

Looking ahead, the Southern Deanery aims to strengthen collaboration between parishes, deepen faith formation, engage all generations, and renew our missionary outreach in local communities.

The plan centres on four focused periods throughout the liturgical and pastoral year, with parishes working together around shared themes while adapting activities locally to reflect their own needs, strengths and resources.

01/09/2026

COMING UP ACROSS SCOTLAND

▪️𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Saturday, 5 September 2026, 10.00am–3.00pm
Eyre Hall, Archdiocese of Glasgow Offices, Clyde Street, Glasgow, G1 4JY

The Bishops’ Conference Care of Creation Office invites you to a day of inspiration, reflection, and practical action. Dr Lorna Gold, Executive Director of the Laudato Si’ Movement, will deliver the keynote address, alongside workshops exploring how parishes, schools, and communities can care for our common home.

Register: https://bit.ly/SeasonofCreation26

▪️ 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗳𝗶𝗻 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼
Sunday, 6 September 2026, Holy Mass at 3.00pm
Carfin Grotto, Carfin

Catholics from across Scotland are invited to gather at Scotland’s National Marian Shrine for the annual National Pilgrimage. This year’s celebration will mark the 800th anniversary of the death of St Francis of Assisi. Archbishop William Nolan will be the principal celebrant and homilist.

▪️𝗦𝗣𝗨𝗖 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝗴𝗼𝘄 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Saturday, 19 September 2026, 10.00am–4.30pm
Destiny Church, 1120 Pollokshaws Road, Shawlands, Glasgow, G41 3QP

Join SPUC for a day of inspiring talks and practical guidance on standing up for unborn children and defending human life. The conference offers an opportunity to connect with others, share ideas, and become better equipped to support the pro-life cause.

Tickets cost £30 and include meals and access to all talks, workshops and seminars.

Book your place: https://spuc.org.uk/event/glasgow-one-day-conference-2026/

▪️𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲
Sunday 20 September 2026, 12.30pm–5.30pm
St Patrick’s Church, Cowgate, Edinburgh, EH1 1NA

The annual Venerable Margaret Sinclair Pilgrimage brings people together to pray for her Beatification. Margaret is entombed within the Sacred Heart Chapel at St Patrick’s Church.

The day will include refreshments, a Holy Hour and Benediction, a reflection from Canon Jock Dalrymple, and Holy Mass celebrated by Archbishop Leo Cushley.

Find out more about Venerable Margaret Sinclair: https://www.margaretsinclair.scot/

▪️ 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗯𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗙𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮
Thursday, 24 September 2026, 7.00pm
Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral, Motherwell

The Diocese of Motherwell will welcome Archbishop Rino Fisichella to Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral for the celebration of Holy Mass. All are warmly invited to attend this special diocesan celebration.

▪️𝗣𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱: 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗪𝗲 𝗗𝗼 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲?
Saturday 3 October 2026, 10.30am–4.00pm
The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB

This event will explore the reality of poverty in Scotland through talks from speakers working on the frontline. Participants will hear what is already being done, discuss how parishes and communities can respond and consider practical ways to do more. It will also offer an opportunity to connect, exchange ideas and inspire further action.

Register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/poverty-in-scotland-can-we-do-more-tickets-1998209395091?aff=oddtdtcreator

▪️𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗥𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗮𝘇𝗮: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝘆 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀
Thursday 22 October 2026 at 7:00pm
Immaculate Conception Church Hall, 2049 Maryhill Road, Glasgow G20 0AA

SCIAF’s annual Romero Lecture, delivered by peace mediator Oliver McTernan, followed by questions, discussion and refreshments. Admission is free.

Register: https://sciaf.beaconforms.com/form/32f88aa5

▪️𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
Saturday 24 October 2026
St Augustine’s Parish Centre, 12 Dundyvan Road, Coatbridge, ML5 1DQ

Catholic families from across Scotland are invited to a special day organised by the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland’s Marriage, Family and Life Office. The conference will include talks for adults, catechesis for children and young people, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration and a ceilidh to conclude the day.

Book your place: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/4EAU3ueKgU

▪️𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲
Saturday 31 October 2026, arrivals from 9.30am
Conforti Institute, Calder Avenue, Coatbridge, ML5 4JS

Join the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland’s Committee for Interreligious Dialogue for a one-day conference exploring the Church’s commitment to interreligious dialogue and how this can be lived out within our parishes and communities. The day will include talks, discussion, practical guidance, and opportunities for reflection.

The conference is free to attend, and a light lunch will be provided.

Register: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/Ai8qdDPULb

29/08/2026

Bulletin 30 August 2026
22nd Sunday year A

28/08/2026

Today the Church celebrates Saint Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, whose journey from a restless search for fulfilment to a life centred completely on Christ has inspired Christians for centuries.

Born in North Africa in 354, Augustine was the son of Saint Monica, whose persistent prayer for his conversion is remembered by the Church to this day. Although raised with knowledge of Christianity, as a young man Augustine distanced himself from the faith and spent years searching for truth and happiness elsewhere.

A brilliant student and teacher of rhetoric, Augustine pursued philosophy and joined the Manichaean movement. His search eventually took him to Milan, where he encountered Saint Ambrose, whose preaching helped him to understand Christianity in a new way.

At the age of 32, after years of intellectual and spiritual struggle, Augustine underwent a profound conversion. In his Confessions, he describes hearing a voice telling him to “take and read”. Opening the Scriptures, he encountered words from Saint Paul that spoke directly to his struggle. Augustine was baptised by Saint Ambrose at the Easter Vigil in 387.

Returning to North Africa, Augustine embraced a life of prayer and community. He was ordained a priest in 391 and, a few years later, became Bishop of Hippo, serving his people for more than three decades.

Augustine became one of the greatest theologians and spiritual writers in the history of Christianity. His works, including the Confessions and The City of God, profoundly shaped the Church’s understanding of grace, sin, freedom, the Scriptures and the human longing for God.

At the heart of Augustine’s life was the discovery that nothing created could ultimately satisfy the deepest desires of the human heart. As he famously wrote:

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

Saint Augustine died in 430 as Hippo was under siege. His extraordinary journey from searching and uncertainty to faith and holiness continues to remind us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace.

🙏 Saint Augustine of Hippo, pray for us.

22/08/2026

22/08/2026

Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated eight days after the Solemnity of the Assumption.

The feast was established by Pope Pius XII in 1954, but the Church’s recognition of Mary as Queen has much deeper roots in Christian tradition and Sacred Scripture.

At the Annunciation, the Angel Gabriel tells Mary that her Son will receive “the throne of his ancestor David” and that “of his kingdom there will be no end.” At the Visitation, Elizabeth greets Mary as “the mother of my Lord.” Mary’s queenship, therefore, can never be separated from Christ: she is Queen because her Son is King.

From the earliest centuries, Christians honoured Mary with this title. Saint Ephrem referred to her as “Lady” and “Queen” in the fourth century, while generations of Christians have continued this devotion through prayers and hymns including the Salve Regina – “Hail, Holy Queen” – and the Regina Caeli – “Queen of Heaven.”

The celebration is closely connected with the Assumption. Having been assumed body and soul into heavenly glory, Mary shares in the victory and glory of her Son and continues her maternal intercession for the Church.

In establishing the feast, Pope Pius XII reflected upon Mary’s unique place in God’s plan of salvation: as Mother of God, as the woman intimately united with Christ in his saving work, and as a mother who continues to intercede for her children.

Mary’s queenship is not one of worldly power or privilege, but of humble service, love and complete faithfulness to God. She always points beyond herself towards her Son and invites us to do the same.

🙏 Mary, Queen of Heaven, pray for us.

22/08/2026

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul would like your assistance with a charity survey. Please assist if you can.

22/08/2026

Bulletin 23 August 2026
21st Sunday year A