This week

Feasts this week:
Thursday, St. Martha.
Saturday, St. Ignatius of Loyola

I will be away on holiday from after Mass today until 13th August. Fr Stephen de Kerdrel will be supplying on 1st August, but he will not be able to come for the Vigil on 31st July, so there will be no Mass that evening. The following weekend, an appeal priest is coming, and he will be here for the Vigil as well. He will take up a Special Collection for his mission. I am sure you will make them welcome, as you always do. If you really need a priest in my absence please contact Fr. Azad in Campbeltown, (01586 552160), or Fr. MacKay in Oban (01631 562123).

The allocation of tickets for the Papal Mass has arrived. We are getting 45 tickets. Please consult the information in the porch. Without wishing to discourage anyone who wants to go, I think it is important to stress that the Mass will be over 2 hours long, and there is no seating provided. The timing of the Mass means that we may not be getting back here until midnight or later. The cost per person will be £20, and I will ask John MacFadden to collect this and organise anything to do with the Mass when I am away. If you need to contact him about it, his number is 602645.

The Mthunzi Culture Group arrives in Mid Argyll tomorrow. I am sorry to be away for most of their visit, but I am sure you will all make them very welcome. There will be some old friends, and some new faces. They will be at Mass in St Margaret's next Sunday, which will be an opportunity to meet them.

Please could people look around for any waterproofs, fleeces and jerseys for the Mthunzi boys. Even though it is our summer (?), it is colder than the winter they are leaving, so they will feel the cold when they come here.

Fr. William