Monthly Online Liturgy

Remembrance Service and Roll of Remembrance

On Saturday 13th November in St Gregory’s 10.00am there was a very moving and uplifting service to remember our dearly departed loved ones. The service remembered them through the symbolism of Scripture, poems and music and candles were lit in their memory. You can watch the entire service here. We hope to bring this kind of online liturgy on a monthly basis with a specific theme each time.

In addition there was a Roll of Remembrance where everyone in our cluster who has died in the last year was lovingly remembered. You can watch this here.

It has been a busy few weeks here at St John Vianney.  

Our pupils have been focusing on COP26, next week I will be able to share some pictures of what they have been doing with you.

Book Week Scotland starts on Monday, we are looking forward to focusing on this across the school and have various things planned such as guess the genre, sharing and reading our favourite stories as well as designing book covers.  If you are interested in finding out more about it here is the link to the website.

Book Week Scotland - Scottish Book Trust

Our pupil RE group met last week and we were brainstorming how we can support the school this year.  Our first tasks will be Catholic Education Week and Advent. 

Aisling Christie

One thing I do enjoy the most about being the head teacher of a school in the ‘modern’ era, is the times I get to spend with the kids in class. For that time, there are no phones, no emails, no surveys and no Teams meetings! What is the best, is just having the time to chat with the kids. Find out their news and share their feelings.

Many of us over a certain age will remember the times you just sat and chatted. By that, I mean using our mouths and not our fingers (or thumbs!). With the new way of working, chatting has taken on a whole new guise and a new set of issues. Does the phrase ‘You’re on mute’ ring any bells with anyone?

This week and beyond, let’s think about having an old fashioned chat with someone. It could be someone you know well or someone you haven’t seen for ages that you bump into. There is a well known advertising slogan that says ‘It’s good to talk’. How right that is and you can’t beat a good chinwag!

Paul Hunter

Justice matters: World Day of the poor

This was instituted by Pope Francis in 2016, with the words “let us love, not with words but with deeds” to focus our mind on concern for justice.  Blessed Frédéric Ozanam founder of St Vincent de Paul Society (SSVP) says “The question which is agitating the world today is a social one. It is a struggle between those who have nothing and those who have too much…. Our duty as Christians is to throw ourselves between these two camps in order to accomplish by love, what justice alone cannot do."  As COP 26 ends these words couldn’t be more relevant.  The climate crisis can’t be separated from the crisis of inequality and poverty.  The behaviour that causes climate disruption creates poverty and inequality.  Like it or not our behaviour has got to change. 

See:  Our view of the world as a commodity, has allowed practices which have brought nature and its people to their knees in many areas.  A commodity can be bought and sold. There needs to be no concern for its wellbeing as it can be replaced or reproduced. It is without rights. In the global south, the consequences of our behaviour is writ large in flooding, crop failure and migration. Painful to see also, is our view of people as commodity. We see its results in desperate work practices, supply chains and child labour.

Reflect:   Pope Francis gives us much to reflect upon in his message “..acts of charity presuppose a giver and a receiver, whereas mutual sharing generates fraternity. Almsgiving is occasional; mutual sharing, on the other hand, is enduring. The former risks gratifying those who perform it and can prove demeaning for those who receive it; the latter strengthens solidarity and lays the necessary foundations for achieving justice. In short, believers, when they want to see Jesus in person and touch him with their hands, know where to turn. The poor are a sacrament of Christ; they represent his person and point to him.” Pope Francis, Fifth World Day of the Poor 

Act:  Read the pope’s message to us on this world day of the poor (above).  More practically we have a SSVP group in each parish who are seeking to engage with those locally who are struggling.  All support is an act of solidarity with the poor. Finally, look at Church Action for tax justice. They seek a fair tax system. Sign their pledge asking the government to introduce wealth taxes.

Tricia Kaminski