Welcome

Thank you, for visiting us here in Saint Paul’s, we hope you get a flavour of the life of our parish family and, maybe learn a little bit more about “Coming Home” or even returning to your Catholic faith.

Here in Shettleston, Saint Paul’s is a true reflection on how God created a big and loving family in His Church. As a Parish Family of Saint Paul’s we wish to invite you to learn more about our family in faith: a Church filled with beauty, music, everyday miracles, real people, history, love and peace.

Our goal in Saint Paul’s is to provide you with a very wide array of helpful and thought provoking resources that will help you understand more clearly the Catholic Church and take part in a real community of life and faith. This information, in a small way, will show you the number of activities, clubs and groups that fill the church building with vibrancy and life long friendship. Please take the time to read through it and should you wish to participate, offer help or just know more about any of the groups please do not hesitate to speak to Father John or any other parishioner.

What support can you expect from Saint Paul’s?

In Saint Paul’s we promise to always give you the honest truth, with nothing held back. We won’t shy away from difficult subjects, nor will we refrain from pointing out the many beautiful, wonderful and even miraculous aspects of the Catholic Church, as well as the positive impacts we have as a Catholic community here in Shettleston.

Saint Paul’s continues to be a vibrant and growing family…and we would love you to join us.

Why are you here?

Maybe you’ve been away from the Church for a while. Maybe you’re not sure if you want to return but you are willing to at least take a second look. We understand. That’s why we’re here. We want to offer the people of Shettleston the opportunity and place where they may “Come Home”.

Perhaps you’re not sure if you agree with or even fully understand some Catholic teachings. You may have issues concerning marriage or divorce, or even had your faith shaken by an event in your life. Well, you’ve come to the right place.

With all the various groups shown in this site we are here for you to find the answers to those questions and concerns. There’s plenty of informative and detailed information here, so please read on!

Why Saint Paul’s and why today?

While we are on this earth our lives should be a number of things, one being – a wholehearted search for God and His truth. For some, the search is easy and quick, for others it can be long and laborious. The purpose of this information, our welcome and our support to you is to make your search for the fullness of the truth easier and more fruitful.

The old saying is so true: God loves you. He loves you so much that He sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross and rise again from the dead to redeem and save you from sin and alienation. And, as Christ Himself promised, I will not leave you orphans (John 14:18).  He established a Church, the Catholic Church, with all its human imperfections as the shelter from the storms of this life.

God loves you so much that He will not stop searching for you, reaching out to you, and seeking you, so He can bring you safely home to a big, warm, and loving Catholic family and we truly believe that Saint Paul’s reflects that love that God has for you.

God is gentle and forgiving…the choice is yours.

Parish Groups

Here you will find the information in relation to our various Parish Groups – buildings do not make the Church. The people of the parish are the church and it is very important that there is a strong spiritual and social life within the parish.

In Saint Paul’s we have never lacked enthusiasm for these two important elements and listed below are some of the societies and groups, both spiritual and social, which give life to our parish. As a parishioner you are very welcome to make contact with any of the groups or societies.

If you require more information please contact the presbytery or speak to Fr. John.

Parish Pastoral Council

This Council was established in 2003 under the leadership of Mrs. Marion Connelly (Chairperson) and Mrs Anne Anderson (Secretary). This enlarged group took on the tasks previously accomplished by the parish animating team. Our principle task is pastoral planning for the spiritual and social renewal of our parish. We also hope to be outward looking in terms of keeping in contact with all the baptised; though our messenger system, ecumenism and the wider community.

Fete Committee

Organises and staffs our very successful Christmas Fayre. The Fayre takes place in our hall complex and begins after the Family Mass on the First Sunday in December.

Messengers

Our parish is divided into six pastoral units. Each unit has an area leader:

Springboig – Bobby Hamilton

Larchgrove – Georgina Furrie

Shettleston – Margaret Durie

Mount Vernon – Margaret Murray

Hawthornlea – Kathleen Henderson

Sandyhills – Suzanne and Colin Dowie

The area leader has messengers who deliver invitations to special events, Christmas & Easter Cards and New Year calendars to all catholic households in our parish. The messengers are a vital link with the parish, for all the baptised.

Altar Society

Care for the sanctuary of the church, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel and sacred vessels used during our liturgies.

We have four teams who take week about in caring for our worship spaces.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

Meet in our Queen Saint Margaret room on Thursdays at 7:30pm-9:30pm.

This group prepares adults who have expressed an interest in finding out about Catholicism to explore our faith with a view to joining the church if they find their faith to be consistent with the belief of the Catholic community.

Rite of Christian Initiation of Children

Meet in our Cube on Thursdays at 7:30pm-9:30pm.

This group prepares children who have expressed an interest in finding out about Catholicism to explore our faith with a view to joining the church if they find their faith to be consistent with the belief of the Catholic community.

This group meets at the same time as the adults to facilitate families who have expressed an interest in our faith.

Ladies Night

Dancing to a live band, bar, tea/coffee and sandwiches.

The ladies of all ages meet on the first Friday of every month. The dance begins at 7:30pm until 11:00pm.

All Welcome.

Pay at the door.

Rainbows

As the first part of the uniformed organisation for girls this group is open to all girls in P1 & P2. It meets for fun and games at 5:15pm-6:15pm in our main hall every Thursday evening.

Brownies

After Rainbows girls can join our Brownie Pack. This group also places much emphasis on fun but also on human and character formation. We meet on Thursday at 6:15pm-7:30pm.

Come along and join us.

Guides

Our seniors, we meet on Thursday at 7:30pm-8:30pm in our main hall. As well as the objectives listed above we also try to develop a more mature caring attitude for others and show this in our tasks, targets and projects.

Union of Catholic Mothers and Women’s Guild

Meet on alternate Mondays at 1.30pm in the cube. The ladies have a mixture of social and spiritual events to help them deepen their discipleship as catholic mothers. They also work in conjunction with the Archdiocesan Council in adopting national projects supporting marriage and vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Helping Hands

Are a group of ladies who will provide funeral breakfasts for parishioners at cost price.  The bar committee will also be on hand if required. This is seen as a service and support to our fellow parishioners in their time of need.

Visiting Group

We know being in hospital can be isolating and can make people feel out of things. A small dedicated group of parishioners will visit those in hospital whose names are put on the visiting book in the sacristy. They will bring the regards and best wishes of our parish family, a card from the parish as well as flowers or chocolates through the generosity of the SVDP.

Baptismal Preparation Group

A group for young parents who will spend time with the parents and godparents seeking baptism for their children.

Meetings will be announced in the weekly bulletin and take place in the informal setting of the Queen Margaret Room. After the Faith Sharing/Instruction the first anointing of baptism is celebrated at the font symbolising the child’s entry into the catechumenate – the period of preparation for baptism.

Pastoral Care Trust

Our representative on the Archdiocesan is Kath Hunter who keeps the profile of the Trust in the forefront of our minds. Kath organises parish fundraising on behalf of the Trust and will assist small groups who might be eligible for a grant from the Trust.

Supporting Christian Marriage

This initiative is led by a steering group of three couples who organise events to support those living out their baptismal vocation as married couples. Although this group is to support married couples, some events are open to all couples and some events include their children. Our hope is to support and accompany each other as we journey together as disciples.

Catechists for Children’s Initiation

This splendid group work with our primary school children to compliment their formation in faith. Parents are the first and best teachers of faith. Our schools do tremendous work with our children and now to strengthen this “trinity” our parishioners are taking responsibility and assisting in the formation of our children.  These groups meet for a few weeks in the parish hall preparing for the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation.

Toddlers and Carers Group

Conscious that many parents work and other family members look after many of our pre school children we established this group for such people. We meet in the Queen Saint Margaret room after mass on Thursday until 11am. We play, socialise and have outside agencies come and lead our play. Groups supporting a better local quality of life.

Alcoholic Anonymous

The group meet in our Queen Saint Margaret room on Sunday evenings after the Youth mass. They follow the AA Programme and are always ready to welcome and help anyone of any age or faith.

Al Anon

Meets on Mondays Mornings at 11.00am and Wednesday evenings at 7:30pm in our Queen Saint Margaret room. Fully affiliated to the AA organisation.

Cocaine Anonymous

The group meet in our Queen Saint Margaret room on Monday and Tuesday evenings at 6:30pm. Again this group follow the AA Programme and are willing to take on new members.

Keep Fit for Ladies – Zumba

Meet in our hall on Wednesdays at 8pm.

All ladies welcome.

Faith Sharing Groups

Sheila Healy masterminds these groups which assemble in various houses to prepare for the major festivals of Christmas and Easter by praying with the scriptures and through faith sharing. A young persons group also meets in the Comboni Sisters house.

Piety Stall

The ladies who run this stall sell Catholic newspapers, periodicals, cards and gifts for all occasions at a reduced rate and as a service to our fellow parishioners. Our stall is opened on each weekday and after Saturday evening and Sunday morning Masses

Gorsilaure Project

Direct Aid for the Congo. Jars of change are collected and sent to Father Simon in the Congo to assist the welfare of the children in his care. So far (Nov 2011) we have donated £10,500 to this worthwhile cause.

Sacred Strands

Are a sewing and needle work group, setup to assist across the Archdiocese in the production of vestments and banners for Church Liturgy.

Bar Committee

Capably led by John Cummings are our group of volunteers who assist as bar staff at parish functions, funeral breakfasts and when parishioners hire the hall for family functions.

Saint Vincent de Paul

This is an international, fraternal organisation of Catholic lay people in the church. Its membership of approximately one million men and women practise Christianity by helping the poor i.e. those in need, on a person to person basis, regardless of race, colour or creed. The conference of Saint Paul’s was welcomed into the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in April 1868 and has been very active in its mission since then.

Hall Committee

Look after maintenance and usage of our hall.

Parish Liturgy Group

This committee is made up of representatives of the parish, Extra-Ordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, readers, choirs, band, children’s liturgy, funeral liturgy, altar servers and passkeepers. This group was expanded in 1990 to co-ordinate the liturgical life of our parish and has undertaken several initiatives such as youth masses, children’s liturgy, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament regularly with each group in the parish taking turns to lead and put together appropriate services. Leaders of each group represented on this committee are:

Readers – Gerry Febers

Eucharistic Ministers – Tom Wallace

Senior Choir – Sister Margaret Rose Bradley

Family Mass Group – Tony Valbonesi

Band – James Cluckie

Servers – Peter McAree

Passkeepers – Jim Marley

Children’s Liturgy – Caroline Henderson

Funeral Liturgies – Betty Snowball

Church Cleaners

The cleaners meet on a Monday after 9:30am Mass, and again on Tuesday after 9:30am Mass. These different groups tackle different tasks.

Mondays group sweep, mop and polish the floor.

Tuesdays group polish seats and shine the windows and spruce up the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.

Anyone who wishes to help, please just come along and join the merry gang.

Parish Social

Every Saturday evening (except Holy Saturday) the dancing begins at 7:30pm until 11:30pm. Dance the night away in good company, bar service, pay at the door.

All welcome.

Café

We have a café every day after 9:30am Mass. Come along and enjoy tea/coffee and toast. Special breakfasts on high days and holy days. All welcome.

We also run a café after our Family Mass on a Sunday. Tea/coffee, toast and a tuck shop for the children.

We often have speakers and special visitors and displays at this event.

Lourdes Group

Meet as required to organise the financing and pilgrimage, of three sick parishioners each year, to Our Lady’s shine at Lourdes in France.

Every second year this group will organise the Parish Pilgrimage to the Marian Shrine.

Bereavement Group

This group will visit every family who has suffered the loss of a loved one. They will offer support and prayer of our parish family and any practical assistance that they can at this time. When the person’s months mind occurs, they will return again to offer support and assure the bereaved that they have not been forgotten. Every November a memorial Mass will be celebrated for all the dead and recently bereaved.

Holiday Group

One of our ministries as a parish family is to provide, where we can, safe and inexpensive holidays for our parishioners, many of whom live alone and maybe would not venture abroad on their own. We recently have visited the Royal Scots College Salamanca, Belgium, Ireland and Rome.

Men’s Breakfast

Meet on a Saturday morning about ten times per year. They begin with tea and coffee at 9am. A pre-arranged speaker gives their input, there is a prayer time, question time and then a grilled Scottish Breakfast.

All men welcome.

Justice and Peace Group

Meets as advertised to study, pray and work effectively to promote justice issues at home and abroad as set out in the social teaching of the Catholic Church.

Saint Paul’s Book Group

Meet monthly in the Cube on a Tuesday evening at 7:30pm.

Cancer Support Group

Meet monthly on Thursday afternoons to support, talk and listen to each other and invited speakers.

Parish Finance Council

Meet to consider the financial provision of the parish. The week to week work of this council is carried out by teams of money counters, led by Margaret McAree who deal with, and, bank collections and also assist those who are signatories for the various group bank accounts.

Gerry O’Neill (tel: 0141 573 1135) is our Gift Aid Organiser. If you pay tax and would sign a form to declare your contributions to the parish suitable for Gift Aid, then you will receive Pink Collection envelopes and we will claim back your tax already paid on your contributions. This is a massive help to our parish finances.

Youth Commission

Meets before the Pastoral Council meeting and is part of the Pastoral Council. We mainly organise events for secondary school pupils such as outings to bowling, indoor rock climbing, cycling, go-karting and deep sea world visits etc.

Pizza Nights are our talk-in time.

Senior Citizens

Meet in our hall on Tuesdays at lunchtime for tea and bingo. Their outings are particularly popular as are visits by outside agencies. The club provides companionship, care and friendship and is open to all who come.

Service Times

Weekday Mass: Monday to Friday: 9:30am

Sunday Mass: Vigil 5:30pm

                        10am (Family Mass and Children’s Liturgy)

                       11.30am

                       6:30pm (Youth Mass)

Eucharistic Services for workers Advent & Lent 7.30am

Holidays of Obligation: Vigil Mass 7:30pm then at 9:30am and 1pm

Blessed Sacrament Chapel: Open Daily 7:30am till 7:30pm

Morning Prayer: Monday - Friday 9:10am Main Church

Contact Details for Saint Paul’s

Parish Priest: Rev. John G. Campbell

Deacon:  Rev. Eddie McDonald

Parish Name: Saint Paul The Apostle

Address: 1653 Shettleston Road,

                Shettleston,

                Glasgow,

                G32 9AR.

Tel: 0141 778 1014

E-mail:  stpaultheapostle@btconnect.com