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St. John Vianney’s words to children after their First Holy Communion - beneficial for all “children” of the Lord

“Dear children, you now hold Jesus within your hearts. The greatest honour which can be conferred upon man has been shown to you. Now prove yourselves worthy of this great grace. Let your thoughts enter the chamber of your heart to pass a few moments at least with the exalted guest who has come to visit you, that you may converse with Him undisturbed. Offer up a devout thanksgiving; recommend yourself to His protection, and carry to Him with confidence all the desires and needs of your heart. Do not leave the church without giving Him once more the sacred promise that you will reward His infinite love with a sincere and lasting love in return. Promise Him, sacredly and firmly, that you will never desecrate by sin your heart, which is His abode; that you will never alienate your soul from Him. . Go forth in life with the firm resolution always to remain as pure as you are today, and rather to die than to offend Him by a mortal sin. And, that you may never falter in this resolution, approach the altar frequently to receive the Bread of Angels, the heavenly food of your souls. Happy are you if the bond of love and friendship between you and your Saviour never ceases in this life. You will then be happy in this life, and still greater will be your happiness

and your joy in the life beyond. I will take leave of you in the beautiful words of St. John: ‘Be faithful unto death, and God will give you the crown of eternal life.’ Amen”

St. John Vianney on the Sacrament of Confession, and absolution

“In order to explain to you what absolution is, I will say it is a verdict which the priest, authorized by Jesus Christ, pronounces in His name, whereby our sins are remitted, are wiped out as completely as if we had never committed them, provided the penitent receives absolution with the proper dispositions demanded by this Sacrament. Who can help but admire this merciful verdict? O happy moment for the contrite sinner! Our poor soul, delivered from the tyranny of the evil spirit, restored to the friendship and grace of God, recovers peace, that precious peace which constitutes a man’s whole happiness in this world and the next. His innocence is restored to him with all its claims upon the kingdom of God, of which sin had deprived him. But, remember, this grace is only given to those who deserve it; that is to say, to those who, although sinners, are converted sinners; those who are sorrowfully repentant for their past lives, not only because they had lost heaven, but because they had offended grievously Him who deserved to be loved infinitely… O my God, how great is Thy love for the sinner, for Thou dost offer him this means of regaining heaven!”

A prayer of gratitude and hope after receiving Holy Communion

Thank you, Jesus, that You come to me, weak as I am, as the Bread of Heaven. You come to me to nourish and to strengthen my soul. Thank you for the gift of faith that You have given me in Your Real Presence, Your abiding presence here with us in the Sacrifice of the Mass and in Your Eucharistic Presence reserved in the tabernacles of Your Catholic Church. I am truly blessed to have received You into my heart, and I pray that there may be no stain

of wilful or grave sin there to offend you. May I receive you with the utmost love, with purity of heart, and with the deepest desire to love You above all things. Abide with me, Lord, and continue to be my strength. Keep me in the light of your grace, and defend me from the Enemy. May I draw from your presence within me every grace that I need to save my soul and to love my neighbour. Be my hope in times of darkness and struggle, so that I may not faint or stray on this pilgrimage of faith, but that I may be supported always by You as I journey on to our heavenly homeland. Jesus, my Eucharistic Lord, be my salvation! Amen.

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St. James’, Kinross &

St. Matthew’s, Auchtermuchty

In the Catholic Diocese of Dunkeld

Scottish Charity Number: SC001810

Parish Priest: Fr. Martin Pletts

Postal Address for both churches: 5 High Street, Kinross, KY13 8AW

St. Matthew’s Address: 4 Back Dykes, Auchtermuchty, KY14 7AB

Parish email address: stjames@dunkelddiocese.org.uk

Landline: 01577 863329 Mobile: 07540534480

Parish Website: https://catholickinross.com

Diocese of Dunkeld Website: www.dunkelddiocese.co.uk

Sanctuary Lamp Intentions: St. James’ - Special Intention St. Matthew’s - The McGhee Family’s Intentions.

A DONATION OF £5.00 IS SUGGESTED FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE THE SANCTUARY LAMP TO BURN FOR A PARTICULAR INTENTION

Last week’s collection figures:

St. James’ - 09/02/20 - £ 649.05 St. Matthew’s - 09/02/20 - £ 151.20

Thank you, as always, for your generous contributions to the parish. The parish depends entirely upon your generosity in order to be able to function financially. If you are a tax payer we can claim back 25p for every £1 donated through the Gift Aid Scheme. If you would like to do

this please speak to Fr. Martin, all it requires is the filling in of a simple form and the allocation to you of numbered envelopes. If you are frequently away and would like to give in a more sustained fashion please consider setting up a Standing Order through the bank. If you haven’t increased your contributions over the past years, please also consider if you can afford something extra in your weekly donation. Remember that what comes in through our weekly collections is also levied by the Diocese to support the functioning of the Diocesan

Church as a whole, 15% of our collection income goes every month for this purpose. God bless you, Fr. Martin

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A. Sunday 16th February 2020

Divine Office Volume I, Week I

Bless, O Lord, the sick of our parish, those who care for them, those who support them. Comfort the bereaved and grant eternal rest to our beloved dead. Fill us with trust in your love and your goodness.

2nd Collection for the sick and retired clergy of our diocese - 23/02/20

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Times of Holy Mass & Confessions, etc.

St. James’, Kinross (KY13 8AW)

Monday 17th February Optional Memorial of the Seven Holy Founders Rosary at 9.30a.m.

of the Servite Order Holy Mass at 10.00a.m.

Confessions after Holy Mass

Prayer Group 8.00-10.00p.m.

Tuesday 18th February Votive Mass of the Holy Angels Rosary at 9.30a.m.

Celebrated ‘ad orientem’ Holy Mass at 10.00a.m.

From now on, on Tuesday, at the end of Mass we will add, after our prayers to St. Michael and our prayer for the parish, a very short novena prayer to St. Philomena, who amongst other things, is patron saint of children and young people, and was given the popular title “wonder worker” because of the efficacy of her intercession for healings and the solution of difficult problems. Confessions after Holy Mass

Catechetical Talk in the church hall 7.00-8.00p.m.

Wednesday 19th February Votive Mass of St. Joseph Rosary at 9.30a.m.

Holy Mass at 10.00a.m.

Teas & Coffees after Holy Mass - all welcome Confessions after Holy Mass

Church cleaning - volunteers are most welcome

Thursday 20th February Votive Mass of the Holy Eucharist Adoration 8.45-9.45a.m.

Holy Mass at 10.00a.m.

Confessions after Holy Mass

Friday 21st February Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3.00p.m. with Adoration

Optional Memorial of St. Peter Damian Rosary at 6.30p.m.

Holy Mass at 7.00p.m.

Confessions after Holy Mass

Saturday 22nd February FEAST OF THE CHAIR OF ST. PETER, APOSTLE Rosary at 9.30a.m.

Celebrated ‘ad orientem’ Holy Mass at 10.00a.m. Confessions after Holy Mass

Confessions 5.30-5.50p.m.

7th Sunday of the Year - Year A. Vigil Mass at 6.00p.m.

Sunday 23rd February 7th Sunday of the Year - Year A. Rosary 8.55-9.15a.m.

Offered for all parishioners Holy Mass at 9.30a.m.

Tea/coffee etc. in the hall after Holy Mass

St. Matthew’s, Auchtermuchty (KY14 7AB)

Wednesday 19th February Votive Mass of Our Blessed Lady Holy Mass at 7.00p.m.

Celebrated ‘ad orientem’ Novena to Our Lady after Mass

Confessions after Holy Mass

Sunday 23rd February 7th Sunday of the Year - Year A. Holy Mass at 11.30a.m.

Confessions after Holy Mass

Kilgraston School, Bridge of Earn (PH2 9BQ)

Sunday 23rd February Confessions 4.30-5.00p.m.

7th Sunday of the Year - Year A. Holy Mass at 5.15p.m.

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A reading from the book of Ecclesiasticus 15:15-20

He never commanded anyone to be godless.

Psalm 118:1-2.4-5.17-18.33.34. R/.v.1.

Response: They are happy who follow God’s law!

A reading from the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians 2:6-10

God predestined wisdom to be for our glory before the ages began.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening:

You have the message of eternal life.

Alleluia!

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 5:17-37

You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors, but I say this to you.

This Sunday’s readings from the Sacred Scriptures:

Prayer Intentions: Please remember in your prayers all who are sick or suffering at this time, as well as those who care for them, may

God grant them healing and strength, especially: Jean Crawford, Sylvia Panetta, Mary Lavery, Bishop Stephen Robson, Carrie

Krumwiede, Frances Namyslo, Billy Kenny, Clare Hughes, Brenda Gilmartin, Cliff Edwards, Margaret Kirby, Mary Kearney, Lesley Law, Kath Reilly, Mark Laughlan, John & Agnes Kenny, Joseph Kierney, Eva Clarke, Joan Paterson, Anne McGinley, and all who are sick

and have asked for our prayers. Please pray, too, for those who have died recently and those whose anniversaries occur around this time,

especially: Petra Loe, Mary & Manus Boyle, Chic Henderson, Joan Boyle, Bruno Panetta, Michael Toolan, Niall Gilmartin, Catherine

Sherry, Ellen Sherry, John Kenny, Douglas Hill, Jean Appleby, Mary Waters, Sadie Whitehead, Helen Kvedas, Bridie Gilmartin, Moyra

Scully, Roberta Caine, Dan & Anna Hendry, Melanie Reilly, Mary Hintze, Patrick Hampsey, Sarah Reilly, Rhoda Reilly, Daniel

McLindon, John Rosales, George Reilly (Grandfather of Fr. Paul Denney), Monica Enos, Sean McCaffrey, Fr. Bill Tollan, Anna McCloy, Maureen Humphrey, Audrey Steedman, John D. Brady, Ernest Gowland, Helen Lynas, Jack Etherington, Michael Scully, Margaret

Bradley, Christine Beveridge. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiescant in pace.

Ash Wednesday Masses - 26th February 2020:

For Ash Wednesday (26th February) there will be Masses at 9.00a.m. in Kilgraston School, at 12 noon in St. Matthew’s, and at 7.00p.m. in St. James’.

Catechetical Talks for Adults:

I plan to hold a series of brief catechetical talks for adults on a Tuesday evening, beginning Tuesday 18th February from 7.00 - 8.00p.m. The talk will last around 15 to 20 minutes and may include video material, there will be an opportunity for discussion during and afterwards and also for tea, coffee and

biscuits. The dates and topics will be:

Tuesday 18th February - Why an obligation for Mass on Sundays and holydays?

Tuesday 25th February - What does the Church really teach about same-sex attraction, and why?

Tuesday 3rd March - Do angels and the devil really exist?

Tuesday 10th March - What do we mean when the Church speaks of the sanctity of human life (including contraception, abortion, and euthanasia)?