Mercy Bus Takes To The Road Again

Friday 26 July 2019 - Call Notice

 

The Friends of Divine Mercy Scotland (FODMS) are taking the Mercy Bus back out on the road for the third year this summer thanks to an overwhelming response in the past two years.

 

To date they have touched over 2,000 people on the streets of Scotland, over 400 people have boarded the Mercy Bus and over 2,000 Miraculous Medals and Divine Mercy Chaplets and many rosaries were given to the people the team met on the streets of Scotland.

 

This year, the bus will visit Johnstone, Coatbridge, Greenock, Cumbernauld, Glasgow and Paisley. Mass will be celebrated by Bishop John Keenan, of Paisley on board the bus at on Saturday 3 August 2018 at 2 p.m. in Paisley town centre.

 

Organiser Helen Border said:

 

“Pope Francis has urged the church to ‘leave her four walls behind and to go out in search of those who are distant, those essentially on the outskirts of life.’ We are taking up Pope Francis’s invitation in taking the Church to the people. Everyone is welcome to come along and visit our ‘Church on wheels!” 

 

“Taking the church to the people shows them that the Lord loves, cares and wants them to return to him. People think that they cannot be forgiven for what they have done. No sin is too great for the Lord to forgive as long as there is repentance from the sinner. Stepping on board the bus could be the first step in changing their lives for the better and leaving the guilt on the bus. There will be priests hearing confessions on the top deck of the ‘Mercy Bus’ and the FODMS team will be welcoming visitors with tea, coffee and home baking.”

 

Commenting on the initiative, Bishop John Keenan said: 

 

“Up and down the UK the Mercy Bus has been a great initiative of the New Evangelisation Pope John Paul II hoped for.  Its presence in the heart of town centres is welcomed by shoppers and workers of all faiths and none, as a joyful and hopeful presence of God in their midst. They see the Church coming to be among them with the Good News of God’s mercy very close at hand, so they can reach out and touch it, or simply rejoice in its nearness. 

 

Bishop Keenan added;

 

“The Mercy Bus works because so many lay men and women reach out to shoppers in the environment of the Bus and invite them to go in to chat with the priests inside or receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  So, the Mercy Bus is a sign of the essence of the Church where lay faithful go out to their peers to welcome into the pastoral care of priests who teach and heal.”

 

ENDS

 

Peter Kearney 

Director 

Catholic Media Office 

5 St. Vincent Place 

Glasgow 

G1 2DH 

Tel:    0141 221 1168

Mob:  07968 122291

ISDN: 0141 204 4956 

pk@scmo.org 

www.scmo.org

 

Notes to Editors:

 

- For further information please contact Helen Border on 07786097147

 

- You are invited to send a reporter/photographer/camera crew to Houston Square, Johnstone at 11.a.m. on Monday 29 July 2019 when the bus will be blessed by Fr Joe Burke and begin its journey.

 

- The bus is a Stagecoach Dennis Alexander Trident, fleet number 18334, of Kilmarnock depot and is 55 registered. Sir Brian Souter has donated it for a week’s use with a driver. It’s been branded with the Mercy logo.

 

- Image of the bus can be found here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmFttpro

 

DATES, TIMES AND VENUES

 

- Monday 29 July 2019 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Houston Square, Johnstone, Renfrewshire


- Tuesday 30 July 2019 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Quadrant Shopping Centre, 126 Main Street, Coatbridge


- Wednesday 31 July 2019 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Cathcart Square, Greenock town centre, Greenock


- Thursday 01 August 2019 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Antonine Centre, Tryst Road, Cumbernauld


- Friday 02 August 2019 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Argyle Street, Glasgow


- Saturday 03 August 2019 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Paisley High Street, Paisley where Fr Joe Burke will be celebrating Holy Mass at 2 p.m.

 

 

Subscribe to Updates

Subscribe to:
Like   Back to Top   Seen 232 times   Liked 0 times

Subscribe to Updates

If you enjoyed this, why not subscribe to free email updates ?

Subscribe to News updates



Subscribe to:

Alternatively, you can subscribe via RSS RSS

‹ Return to News

All email subscriptions must be confirmed to comply with GDPR.

I've already subscribed / don't show me this again

Recent Posts

Ordination of new Bishop of Galloway

| 08th March 2024 | Blogging

Ordination of new Bishop of Galloway 8 March 2024   The Episcopal Ordination Mass of Fr Frank Dougan as the ninth Bishop of Galloway will take place on Saturday 9th March at the parish of St Peter in Chains, Ardrossan at 11,00am. Fr. Dougan was appointed on 22 December 2023, by Pope Francis as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Galloway. He succeeds Archbishop William Nolan who was Bishop of Galloway from 2014 to 2022 when he became Archbishop of Glasgow.   The bishops ordaining Fr. Frank on 9th March are Archbishop Leo Cushley, Archbishop William Nolan, and Bishop Joseph Toal. Archbishop Miguel Maury Buendía the Apostolic Nuncio will be present both at the ordination and at the Mass of Reception in St Margaret's Cathedral in Ayr on Sunday 10th March at 15.00 when Fr. Frank will take possession of his cathedral.   The ordination will be livestreamed on YouTube (@RCGalloway) and Facebook (/GallowayDiocese). The stream will begin at 10.30 am, with the Mass beginning at 11.00 am. To watch the livestream online, click here or use the embedded player.   Bishop Dougan will formally be received into St Margaret's Cathedral on Sunday 10th March. The Mass of Reception will be livestreamed on YouTube (@RCGalloway) and Facebook (/GallowayDiocese). The stream will begin at 2.30 pm, with the Mass beginning at 3.00 pm.      ENDS   Peter Kearney MA (Hons)Director Catholic Media Office0141 221 116807968 122291 pk@scmo.org www.scmo.org   Note to Editors:   Photographs will be available from Paul McSherry on 07770 393960    ...

Pope Francis appoints new Bishop of Dunkeld

| 02nd February 2024 | Blogging

Pope Francis appoints new Bishop of Dunkeld 2 February 2024   At 12 noon today (2 February 2024) in Rome (11am GMT) it was announced, that Pope Francis had nominated Fr. Martin Chambers as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Dunkeld. He will succeed Bishop Stephen Robson who was Bishop of Dunkeld from 2013 to 2022 when he retired on health grounds, since when it has been administered by Fr. Kevin Golden.   Reacting to his appointment, Fr. Martin said;“One of the catchphrases of Pope Francis is that, as Christians, we are called to be ‘Missionary Disciples’. The Pope reminds us that, yes, we are all called to take our part in the mission of spreading the Good News in our families and within our local community. However, the Pope reminds us that, first of all, we must sit as disciples at the feet of Jesus, listening to Him and letting Him guide our steps.”   “As I set out on this new Mission as Bishop of Dunkeld, I pledge to sit in prayer as a Disciple at the feet of Jesus, listening to his voice calling me forward in faith. Together, with Christ’s strength and inspiration, we will all be able to continue to build the Kingdom in the Diocese of Dunkeld.”   Fr. Martin added;   “I am also conscious that many years ago, I was accepted into seminary by Bishop Joseph McGee. He was the Bishop of Galloway who had started off as a priest of Dunkeld Diocese. In a strange way, I am returning a compliment in faith for, having started as a priest of Galloway, I am now becoming Bishop of Dunkeld.” Responding to the news Diocesan Administrator Fr. Kevin Golden said: “The whole community of the Diocese of Dunkeld will rejoice with me today at the appointment of Father Martin Chambers as our new Bishop. We assure him of a warm welcome as he comes among us and offer him our prayers and a steadfast commitment to working with him as he shepherds our Diocese into the future, inspired by the vision of our Holy Father Pope Francis. We renew our appreciation of the sterling work of our Bishop Emeritus, Stephen Robson.” Welcoming the appointment of his successor, Bishop Robson said:   “I have known Fr Martin for many years since he was in the Sixth Form of Blairs College in 1981. Since then, I have followed with great admiration his journey in the priesthood thus far. He was educated in the Royal Scots College in Spain, and he has had great experience in Ecuador as a missionary priest. Various appointments as pastor, school chaplain and diocesan responsibilities in Galloway diocese then followed. All this previous experience will stand him in great stead going forward as bishop here in Dunkeld.   Personally I am delighted for Martin, and I know that the people, priests and religious of the diocese will welcome him with open arms.”    ENDS   Peter Kearney MA (Hons)Director Catholic Media Office0141 221 116807968 122291 pk@scmo.org www.scmo.org Notes to Editors:   Images of Fr Chambers can be downloaded here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBcG9V The date of the Episcopal ordination will be announced in due course. Biography: Fr Martin Chambers   Born: 8th June 1964Baptised: St Paul’s, ShettlestonSchools: St Mary’s Primary, Irvine Guardian Angels Primary, Bury St. Vincent’s College, Langbank, St Mary’s College, Blairs Senior Seminary: Royal Scots College, Valladolid (1982-1988) & Salamanca (1988-1989)   Ordained Priest for the Diocese of Galloway: 25th August 1989 Priestly Ministry:Assistant Priest St John’s, Stevenston (1989-1993)Parish Priest St Thomas’, Muirkirk (1993-1996) Parish Priest St Bride’s, West Kilbride (1996-1997)Parish Priest St John’s, Stevenston (1997-2004)Served with the Missionary Society of St James in Ecuador (2004-2009) Parish Priest St. Matthew’s, Kilmarnock (2009-2023)Administrator St Sophia’s, Galston & St Paul’s, Hurlford (2013-2015) Parish Priest Our Lady of Mount Carmel (2015-2023)Parish Priest St Sophia’s, Galston (2017-2018...

58th World Day of Social Communications

| 26th January 2024 | Blogging

58th World Day of Social Communications   In his message for the 58th World Day of Social Communications, Pope Francis has urged humanity to cultivate wisdom of the heart in the age of artificial intelligence. AI is “radically affecting the world of information and communication, and through it, certain foundations of life in society,” says the Pope in his Communications Day message, adding that “these changes affect everyone.”  Commenting on the dangers of referring to “machine learning” as “intelligence” the Pope explains that it is not enough to be able to store data, like machines do, but that this data must be made sense of, and “human beings alone” are capable of this. The Pope notes that the technology of simulation behind AI algorithms can be useful in certain specific fields.   The full text of the Pope’s message is shown below. Communications Sunday will be on 12 May 2024   Peter Kearney MA (Hons)Director Catholic Media Office0141 221 116807968 122291 pk@scmo.org www.scmo.org    Artificial Intelligence and the Wisdom of the Heart: Towards a Fully Human Communication Dear brothers and sisters! The development of systems of artificial intelligence, to which I devoted my recent Message for the World Day of Peace, is radically affecting the world of information and communication, and through it, certain foundations of life in society. These changes affect everyone, not merely professionals in those fields. The rapid spread of astonishing innovations, whose workings and potential are beyond the ability of most of us to understand and appreciate, has proven both exciting and disorienting. This leads inevitably to deeper questions about the nature of human beings, our distinctiveness and the future of the specieshomo sapiensin the age of artificial intelligence. How can we remain fully human and guide this cultural transformation to serve a good purpose? Starting with the heart Before all else, we need to set aside catastrophic predictions and their numbing effects. A century ago, Romano Guardini reflected on technology and humanity. Guardini urged us not to reject “the new” in an attempt to “preserve a beautiful world condemned to disappear”. At the same time, he prophetically warned that “we are constantly in the process of becoming. We must enter into this process, each in his or her own way, with openness but also with sensitivity to everything that is destructive and inhumane therein”. And he concluded: “These are technical, scientific and political problems, but they cannot be resolved except by starting from our humanity. A new kind of human being must take shape, endowed with a deeper spirituality and new freedom and interiority”.[1] At this time in history, which risks becoming rich in technology and poor in humanity, our reflections must begin with the human heart.[2]Only by adopting a spiritual way of viewing reality, only by recovering a wisdom of the heart, can we confront and interpret the newness of our time and rediscover the path to a fully human communication. In the Bible, the heart is seen as the place of freedom and decision-making. It symbolizes integrity and unity, but it also engages our emotions, desires, dreams; it is, above all, the inward place of our encounter with God. Wisdom of the heart, then, is the virtue that enables us to integrate the whole and its parts, our decisions and their consequences, our nobility and our vulnerability, our past and our future, our individuality and our membership within a larger community. This wisdom of the heart lets itself be found by those who seek it and be seen by those who love it; it anticipates those who desire it and it goes in search of those who are worthy of it (cf.Wis6:12-16). It accompanies those willing to take advice (cf.Prov13:10), those endowed with a docile and listening heart (cf.1 Kg3:9). A gift of the Holy Spirit, it enables us to look at things with God’s eyes, to see connec...

Bishops welcome release of Nicaraguan clergy

| 26th January 2024 | Blogging

Scotland’s Bishops welcome release of Nicaraguan clergy Friday 26 January 2024   The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland has issued a statement, following the release of Bishop Rolando Alvares and 19 others by the Government of Nicaragua.   “Following the condemnation of Scotland’s Bishops in February 2023 of the unjust sentencing of Bishop Rolando Alvares to 26 years imprisonment in Nicaragua together with other clergy, we welcome the news that Bishop Alvares, together with 2 other bishops, 15 priests and 2 seminarians have been released.   Although the clergy concerned have been released, it is a matter of great sadness that they have been exiled from Nicaragua by the regime of President Daniel Ortega. We welcome the diplomatic efforts of the Holy See, which has allowed them to travel to the Vatican.   Scotland’s Bishops join with Pope Francis in praying that “that the path of dialogue will always be sought to overcome difficulties” and that the persecution of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua will end.”   Peter Kearney MA (Hons)Director Catholic Media Office0141 221 116807968 122291 pk@scmo.org www.scmo.org   ...