Any pupil currently in S5 who would like to be considered for the Rome Trip 14 – 21 September 2020 should see Mr Bradshaw as soon as possible.

The school Carol Service will take place on Thursday 19 December at 7.00pm. We invite all our families to come and join in our joyful singing of Christmas Carols. Tea will be served at 7.45pm and will be followed by the excellent Christmas Concert performed by pupils of the Music Department. 

“For unto us a child is born …and He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

On the third week of Advent, we were led by members of the Prayer Breakfast as we focused on the theme of Joy. The third candle on the Advent wreath otherwise known as the Shepherd Candle, was lit to reflect the joy that comes through Jesus’ arrival, and through the salvation he has gifted us.

We would like to thank the large number of pupils who attended our final Advent Reflection making it a very special and spiritual occasion for all involved.

Thank you to all staff and pupils who have attended and participated in the Advent Reflections throughout the month of December. Thank you to Mr Cumming for coordinating this event.

You can view this via the following links:

• Advent Reflection 17.12.19 Part 1
• Advent Reflection 17.12.19 Part 2

We will be continuing to collect for our charity campaigns during this last week of term and encourage a final push. Love and care for our neighbour especially those in difficulty is not an added extra to our faith.

First and Second Years have been great at bringing in items for new born babies to support the work of the Cardinal Winning Pro Life Initiative. A group of First Years have supported the work of SPUC’s Tiny Feet by filling a baby bottle with coins.

Third Years are bringing in item for Mary’s Meal’s ‘Back Pack’ Appeal, either a full pack or individual items for packs. We are also encouraging S4, S5 and S6 to continue to collect for the East Renfrewshire Food Bank. A special mention and thank you to S6 pupils Daniel, David and Luke who put together £40 and bought items for the food bank at Asda.

Thank you for the generosity of those who have already donated .

Next week Mass will be celebrated in the Oratory on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 8:25am.

There will be a School Mass celebrated on Friday 20 December at 11:30am.

Our final Rorate Mass will take place on Monday 16 December 2019 at 8:25am in the Oratory.

The Rorate Mass takes its name from the opening words of the Introit which is said as the priest approaches the Altar and which comes to from Isaiah 45:8.

“Rorate, caeli, desuper, et nubes pluant justum, aperiatur terra, et germinet Salvatorem.”

“Drop down dew, ye heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain the just: let the earth be opened and bud forth a Saviour.”

The Rorate Mass is lit only by candlelight. Because it is a votive Mass in Mary’s honour, white vestments are worn instead of Advent violet. In the dimly lit setting, priests and faithful prepare to honour the Light of the world, Who is soon to be born, and offer praise to God for the gift of Our Lady. As the Mass proceeds and sunrise approaches, the church becomes progressively brighter, illumined by the sun as our Faith is illumined by Christ.

At the end of the Mass we will sing the Marian Anthem, Salve Regina.

Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae:
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus, exsules, filii Hevae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
In hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia ergo, Advocata nostra,
Illos tuos misericordes oculos
Ad nos converte.
Et Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis, post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens! O pia! O dulcis Virgo Maria!

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, Our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, Mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, O most gracious Advocate, Thine eyes of mercy towards us. And after this, our exile, Show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement! O loving! O sweet Virgin Mary!

Our School Carol Service will take place at 7.00pm on Thursday 19 December 2019 and we invite all our families to come to join our joyful singing of Christmas Carols. Tea will be served at 7.45pm and will be followed by the excellent Christmas Concert performed by pupils of our Performing Arts Faculty.

“Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself. By faith “man freely commits his entire self to God.” For this reason the believer seeks to know and do God’s will. “The righteous shall live by faith.” Living faith “work[s] through charity.” – CCC 1814

On the Second week of Advent, we were led by members of the Fifth Year Catholic Leadership Group as we continued our solemn preparations for the celebration of the Birth of Jesus. The theme for this week was Faith and we reflected on how faith helps us remain on the path towards God in Heaven.

The second purple candle on the Advent wreath was lit as a symbol of Faith in God.

• Advent Reflection 10.12.19 Part 1
• Advent Reflection 10.12.19 Part 2

Many thanks to all pupils, parents and staff who attended the Advent Service on Monday 9 December which marked the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.  Thanks to Father Stephen who was the lead celebrant of the Service where we started with introductory prayers and took part in a rosary procession to the Atrium for Eucharistic Adoration.

Well done to Sinead (S6) who led the singing, to Mhairi (S2) and Eoghan (S6) who read and our S6 bearers who carried Our Lady.

The Service can be viewed below:

• Advent Service 9.12.19 Part 1
• Advent Service 9.12.19 Part 2
• Advent Service 9.12.19 Part 3
• Advent Service 9.12.19 Part 4
• Advent Service 9.12.19 Part 5
• Advent Service 9.12.19 Part 6

A simplified explanation of the theology of the Immaculate Conception can be viewed below:

This week there are many opportunities for our young people, staff, parents and friends to join with us to prepare for the Nativity of The Lord.

At 4pm on Monday we mark the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception in the Forum with introductory prayers followed by the rosary procession to the Oratory for Eucharistic Adoration.

Mass at 8.25am on Tuesday celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Loreto. A new feast added to the calendar by Pope Francis to recall the mystery of the Incarnation, when in ‘the fullness of time,’ the Virgin Mary responded to the message of the Angel Gabriel.

Our Advent Service on Tuesdy at 3.45pm, in the school’s Oratory, will be led by the S5 Catholic Leadership Group.

Pope Francis has written an Apostolic Letter on the meaning and importance of the incarnation of Jesus made visible in the Christmas crèche. Click on the link below to access the full document:

Pope Francis Apostolic Letter

Click on the following link to read our school Focus for the Week

Admirabile Signum

All are most welcome to join with our pupils, staff, friends and parents each morning in the Oratory to celebrate Holy Mass at 8.25am. No better way to prepare for the day ahead placing our trust in God.