News

Here is a link to this week’s newsletter: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) Welcome: to all those visiting us while on holiday, feel free to look around our beautiful church, particularly the St John Ogilvie Chapel & Exhibition. Ecumenical Coffee Morning: the final total was £3620, an incredible sum, thanks, once again, to all who rallied round. Fund raising: Unfortunately, the Whisky Tasting scheduled for 18th October has had to be postponed due to other functions on in the town that night. We hope to rearrange it for early in 2025. Clergy information: Fr Peter will be studying Optometry at UHI Inverness for the next 4 years. To help him with commuting, Bishop Hugh has decided that he will stay in Fortrose during term time. It is doubtful that there will be anyone to stand in for him, so this will add to the demands on Fr Kingsley and Deacon Graeme at times when Fr Peter is not here. His home visits will be as announced during this time, and Fr Kingsley will also try to fill in. Please be patient until a new routine is in place, Fr Kingsley will keep us all informed, and please remember Fr Peter in your prayers, returning to studying can be stressful, especially on such a demanding course. Ladies’ Retreat: at Pluscarden Abbey 4th – 6th October. For more details contact Moira Jannetta on moirajannetta8@gmail.com. Some ladies from Buckie have been doing this for a number of years, and they are inviting new faces! Scriptures in Doric language: to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Mither Tongue Marguerite Cruickshank has donated copies of the New Testament in Doric to St Thomas’s. These are available from Deacon Graeme if you would like to borrow them. We are very grateful to Marguerite for her generosity. St John Ogilvie Deanery Pastoral Council: An inaugural Mass to launch the Deanery will take place on Saturday 28 September in St Thomas, Keith at 10.30am which you are very welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served afterwards. Please speak to your priest for any further information. Second Collections in September: 7/8th Maintenance Fund. Last Week:  Collection: £201.65 Sick & Retired Priests £47 Attendance: 56 RCIA: Please pray for Wendy & Pauline as they continue their preparations.   Prayer Group: Monday evenings, 7pm in the hall. Contact Elizabeth Danby for information. Tea & coffee in the hall after Sunday Mass. St Thomas’ Church is open each day from 9am to 3pm for private prayer. Pope’s prayer intention for September: For the cry of the Earth: Let us pray that each of us listen with our hearts to the cry of the Earth and the victims of environmental disasters and the climate crisis, making a personal commitment to care for the world we inhabit. Safeguarding: The Parish Safeguarding Coordinator is Elizabeth Danby, and she can be contacted as shown on the Contacts page. The diocesan Safeguarding page can be found at Safeguarding – Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen (rcda.scot) and the text of In God’s Image (V2) is accessed by clicking on https://www.bcos.org.uk/LinkClick.aspx?link=131&tabid=124& portalid=0&mid=584  PRAYER FOR THE SICK & HOUSEBOUND AND ALL THOSE IN NEED Father in Heaven; grant them comfort in their suffering. When they are afraid, give them courage, When afflicted, give them patience, When dejected, afford them hope, And when alone, assure them of the support of your holy people.  We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.