Peace be with you.
NEWSLETTERS
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Thank you
Parish bulletin for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C.doc
PARISH NEWS
End of Life Assistance Bill - A Christian Response
As you are aware, Margo MacDonald, one of our MSPs, has presented an “End of Life Assistance” Bill, which seeks to legalise ‘physician assisted suicide’. In other words, doctors would be allowed to prescribe or administer a medication to cause the immediate death in those requesting it. The wording of the bill also opens the door for euthanasia.
This bill is a threat to the current values of our society, where we care for people through their suffering, rather than abandoning them to thoughts of suicide. The End of Life Assistant (Scotland) Bill Committee are calling for written evidence from all interested parties on the general principles of Bill proposed by Margo MacDonald. Written evidence needs to be submitted not later than 12 May 2010.
In order to help you submit your opposition medical and other health professions in Aberdeen have come together to produce a brief information leaflet indicating some of the arguments against legalising assisted suicide. Click here to see this document.
To help you word your submission, Dr Stephen Hutchison , a Consultant Physician in Palliative Medicine working in Inverness has written this document.
For further details on how to submit your evidence, click here.
Click below to watch a video on doctors speaking about "assisted Dying".
2010 GENERAL ELECTION
Scottish Catholics Bishop's Conference Election Message
Catholic Church in England & Wales Election Information
Christian Institute Briefing Paper
As Christian citizens, we should think carefully about how we should vote. The Christian Institute is a registered charity and cannot endorse any political party or candidate in the Election. It cannot tell you who to vote for. That is a matter for you. What they can do is provide you with factual information about the policies of the political parties and key background information on legislation and public policy. This is set out in this Election Briefing. 
YOUTH ATTEND PRO-LIFE CONFERENCE
On 19th March, three members of St. Peters Parish, Barbara, Jutta and Lizzie, went to the 3rd International Pro-Life conference Glasgow with the theme "I exist therefore I am". 160 people world wide attended. We heard talks from ten speakers from gynaecologists to lawyers. The topics covered included personhood, palliation, NaPro technology, abortion, along with its impact on black Americans (to name a few). We also covered the bill put forward by Margo Macdonald which goes some way in legalizing euthanasia. We found the talks informative and the experience enlightening, especially by meeting like minded people from all walks of life. We left with constructive goals, a better understanding of the topics discussed and optimism for the future. The facts are on our side. 
If you would like to know more please contact Lizzie.
For info about writing to your MSP's concerning opposition to 'Margo's Bill' e-mail Joe.
Related links:
Cardinal Winning's Pro-Life Initiative
Generation Life
John Smeaton's Blog
Life
Linacre Centre for Healthcare Ethics
Protecting Black Life
Socetyfor the Protection of Unborn Children
Students for Life
HAITI EARTHQUAKE APPEAL
Here is the latest information we have from Haiti sent to us by Peter McMillan, the SCIAF Parish Officer.
Because of the many donations we have received, we were able to pledge an initial £100,000 to the church’s response, which is being co-ordinated in Haiti through Caritas Internationalis, the international network of Catholic aid agencies, of which SCIAF is a member. Caritas Haiti responded immediately the earthquake struck, and they have now been joined by Caritas USA and 11 international Caritas staff with specialist skills. They will co-ordinate the work of helping those who have survived the tragedy, which has killed so many and destroyed so much. By the end of this week there will be a team of around 24 Caritas staff in Port au Prince.
Their initial target is to help 50,000 survivors with water, sanitation, shelter and food. Parishes are helping provide basic services in camps for survivors. Food packages are being distributed and water storage containers, water purification tablets, hygiene kits, cooking utensils and plastic sheeting are being prepared in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Bishop Pierre Dumas, President of Caritas Haiti, sent this message yesterday (19th January):
“I believe that our charity and the way in which we live this crisis will help increase our humanity. It will help us be more generous, open and available to each other, because the symbolic ways of living together have been destroyed. All of the symbols which join us together: the cathedral, the president’s palace, ministries, the schools, religious communities and many more places are in ruins.”
Michelle Hough from Caritas International said: “Every night around 11.30pm, people who are sleeping in the street start to sing and pray. It’s one of the few signs of hope amid the shock and devastation. The streets of collapsed houses and rubble look like a post apocalyptic landscape.”
We have already received many donations from parishes and we know that more collections are planned for his weekend. We will have Gift Aid envelopes available tomorrow, which can be used for donations for Haiti. If you would like any, please call us on 0141 354 5555 with the quantities you need. Our volunteers will dispatch them first class.
With many thanks for all your support and generous donations, which are arriving every day.
Peter McMillan
SCIAF Parish Officer
Office 0141 354 5555
Direct 0141 354 5508
Mobile 07902841276
URGENT APPEAL FOR HAITI EARTHQUAKE: Thousands of people have already lost their lives. Countless others are trapped under rubble or awaiting medical attention. Please donate now to help SCIAF reach the survivors. Click here to donate online or call us on 0141 354 5555.
SCIAF, the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund, is the official aid and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland, working in over 20 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America to support some of the world's poorest people.
FR. KEITH'S CONVERSION STORY - BO SANCHEZ INTERVIEW
On Saturday 21st June 2008 Bo Sanchez, the Preacher in Blue Jeans, visited Aberdeen and spoke at St. Peter's. Having never heard of him before I was interested to see what he be like. Well, he turned out to be a gift for us. What a speaker! A real encouragement to all of us who listened. After the talks were over Bo interviewed me for his daily podcast. I thought you might be interested in watching it.
SISTER BRENDA BRENNAN
Maybe you have seen a new face around the parish?
My name is Brenda Brennan and I am a Franciscan Missionary of Mary – fmm. In the past some of my sisters worked in St.Columba's parish, and now I hope to do my little bit by working for a few days each week in both St. Peter's and St.Columba's. I have heard glowing reports from various people about how good the parishioners are, and I look forward to getting to know you and working with you for the building up of the kingdom.
A little bit about myself
I am a Glaswegian but speak English quite well! Like many Catholics from Glasgow I have Irish connections. I was educated in Glasgow and later when I was a sister I studied theology and pastoral subjects in Dublin.
I went to South Africa in 1972 and until 1999 did educational work in various capacities in parishes, dioceses, and nationally. I have always loved my work in formation, in training leaders, and in producing formation journals 
and pastoral material. My last five years in South Africa were spent teaching in the national seminary in Pretoria. Over the years I have been in educational work in the church I have built up a lot of resources which I will be happy to share with you if you so desire.
Returning to UK in 1999 I was sent to Coventry! During my seen years there I continued to be involved in educational work. Last year I came up to Ellon, and it is from that I will come to the parishes, generally on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning.
I hope you like my vision
for a parish
Perhaps one of the most positive pastoral experiences I have had over the years both in Africa and in UK is with the Small Christian Communities or house groups which I have seen transforming a parish into the sort of community that I am sure we all want. I believe this is the way forward for any parish that really wants to grow.
We are one body in Christ and the Church and Eucharist is the centre of our life together. However, to share our faith we need a smaller grouping, which results in the parish becoming a community made up of smaller communities (of course there is also room for members of the one body who choose not to be part of one of these smaller groups) In the outline below we see the centrality of the Eucharist, and the Small Christian communities in the parish reflecting together regularly on the gospels and then trying to respond to the message of the gospel in their everyday life.
To get to know the parish, and to visit you on behalf of Father Keith and the parish I am looking for parishioners to go round the homes with me on a Friday and Saturday. One week it will be St. Peter's and the next St.Columba's. We will have a meeting at 7.30 on Friday 12 September at St. Peter's to talk about this and decide how to organize ourselves. Please speak to me if you would like to help in the visiting and I would love to see you at the above meeting. Click here for my contact details.
FAMILY COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE (FCE)
This experience began during Advent of 2008 where families and groups in the parish were invited to prepare for Christmas as we began to work towards our parish goal of becoming a community of communities.
Each week a theme was introduced at the Sunday Mass and, using a booklet, families and groups gathered around a table with a small crucifix, bible and candle to reflect and pray as a Small Christian Community on the appropriate theme for that week. These themes were from JP II's letter on the role of the Christian family/Small Christian Community:
Everyone in the parish was invited to say the FCE prayer daily during advent either as a family/group or individually.
YOUTH ATTEND PRO-LIFE CONFERENCE
