Many thanks for last weekend's collections which realised:

• Offertory £2,808.

Upcoming second collections:
None this weekend.

Offertory Collection
As you will be aware our local bank in Clarkston closed some time ago and we are now required to deposit our cash collections further afield. If you are able to set up a standing order, with your bank's on-line banking facilities, this would be of a great benefit to the volunteers who deal with the weekly collections.

For bank details please email Michael O'Connor.

Email Michael O'Connor →

If you pay income tax, please consider signing a Gift Aid form, if you have not already done so, in order that the parish can claim an extra 25% on your contribution.

For further information please email Michael O'Connor.

Email Michael O'Connor →

The Charities Trust is a useful additional way of giving to your parish. It allows parishioners and visitors to parishes to make a one-off donation.

Click here to donate to Saint Joseph's now.

Donate online now →

When making a will, please consider leaving a legacy to our parish or diocese.

Please come along and support our after Mass coffee mornings. These run on the first Sunday of the month after 10:15am Mass, with children's craft activities, and on the second and fourth Sundays of the month after 12 noon Mass with lovely home baking.

Please get in touch if you would like to help, or to start your own! Email wjohnstone3@yahoo.co.uk.

Get in touch to help →

The latest school newsletter (March 2026) is available here.

Read the March 2026 newsletter →

If you or someone you know would benefit from financial assistance or a visit from a friendly face please get in touch.

To find out how your contributions to the SSVP boxes in the church helped others this Christmas please visit our page on the parish website.

Visit the SSVP page →

We are the Saint Joseph's Justice and Peace parish group. Our aim is to work within the Justice and Peace structure to formulate a response to justice issues locally and globally. We aim to do this by encouraging parishioners to take action through prayer, letter writing and/or appropriate non-violent actions. As the Care of Creation deanery group, we aim to work with neighbouring parishes to improve our Care of Creation. Inspired by the Laudato Si encyclical by Pope Francis.

Our main current focus are the Assisted dying bills currently going through Holyrood and Westminster. We encourage all parishioners to write against the bills to their MPs and MSPs.

For more information about all our current issues and meeting times, visit our page on the parish website.

Visit our Justice & Peace page →

If you are a parishioner at Saint Joseph's, or even an occasional visitor, it helps us a great deal if you register with us. This allows us to contact you about parish events and other relevant business. For this reason please remember to update your profile if your contact information changes.

Please access the online registration form on the Saint Joseph's Clarkston parish website here. If you require assistance email website@stjosephclarkston.com or call Chris McLaughlin on 07957644546.

Register online now →

Please email bulletin notices directly to the parish (stjosephclarkston@rcdop.org.uk) rather than use Facebook or by replying to this email. Deadline for inclusion is Thursday evening.

Email your notice →

We welcome Father Dan who has been confirmed as our new Parish Priest. Please keep him and our parish in your prayers.

The Parish Council, Father Dan and Deacon Paul are organising events and opportunities for all who have been hurt by recent events. We begin in prayer, with a Holy Hour on Tuesday from 6:30pm to 7:30pm. We are also exploring small groups for reflection and sharing, opportunities for prayer and healing, and other ways in which we can support those experiencing trauma. We will have more news after Easter. Let's keep each other in our prayers this Holy Week.

Recent events relating to Canon Baillie's conviction has prompted a range of emotional responses and may have caused distress for some parishioners across the diocese. In partnership with Epione Consultants, a specialist trauma support organisation, the diocese has produced a resource leaflet to help people understand and process their feelings.

Anyone who may benefit from support is encouraged to access this resource, which includes information and contact details for additional support services. The leaflet is available here.

Download the support leaflet →

God of endless love, ever caring, ever strong, always present, always just: You gave your only Son to save us by the blood of his cross.

Gentle Jesus, shepherd of peace, join to your own suffering the pain of all who have been hurt in body, mind, and spirit by those who betrayed the trust placed in them.

Hear the cries of our brothers and sisters who have been gravely harmed, and the cries of those who love them. Soothe their restless hearts with hope, steady their shaken spirits with faith. Grant them justice for their cause, enlightened by your truth.

Holy Spirit, comforter of hearts, heal your people's wounds and transform brokenness into wholeness. Grant us the courage and wisdom, humility and grace, to act with justice. Breathe wisdom into our prayers and labours. Grant that all harmed by abuse may find peace in justice.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Holy Thursday
9:30am Morning Prayer.
7pm Mass of the Lord's Supper.
9pm Night Prayer.

Good Friday
9:30am Morning Prayer.
12 noon Clarkston Churches Together.
1pm Children's Liturgy.
3pm Solemn Celebration of the Passion of the Lord.
7pm Stations of the Cross.

Holy Saturday
9:30am Morning Prayer.
8:00pm Easter Vigil Mass.

Easter Sunday
Masses 9am, 10:15am, 12 noon. No evening Mass.

These are now available for collection at the back of the Church. The 52 weekly boxes are at the Sacred Heart statue. For those who pay by standing order, envelopes for special collections and the building fund are in front of the Cry Chapel.

If you would like to support the parish by regular giving, either weekly envelopes or standing order, then please contact Michael O'Connor or Father Dan. You should also see one of them if you would like to use the Gift Aid Scheme, which is for all tax payers, not just those in employment.

Email Michael O'Connor →

Good Friday pilgrimage with reflections from Saint Matthew's Gospel. All welcome.

7am: Carmunnock CofS — Betrayal: Matt 26:17-25
8am: Cartsbridge Evangelical — First Communion: Matt 26:26-30
9am: Busby CofS — Gethsemane: Matt 26:36-46
10am: Greenbank CofS — Arrested: Matt 26:47-56 (with refreshments)
11am: Williamwood CofS — Before the Sanhedrin: Matt 26:57-67
12 noon: St Joseph's — Tried by Pilate: Matt 27:11-26
1pm: Saint Aidan's Episcopal — Mocked by soldiers: Matt 27:27-31
2pm: Netherlee and Stamperland CofS — Crucified: Matt 27:32-44
3pm: Orchardhill CofS — Jesus died: Matt 27:45-56 (with refreshments and a labyrinth)

Do return your Wee Boxes as soon as you can, but please — no foreign coins! We have no way of changing them, they jam the counting machine and they cause problems at the bank. Thanks.

There were four £100 prizes in the draw for February. The lucky winners were Peter McCourt, Janice Hughes, Gavin Connor, and Claire Catena.

The parish lottery raised £17,555 in 2025 for the upkeep of the parish buildings and grounds. Click here to join the lottery now on the parish website or contact Chris McLaughlin by phone, text, or WhatsApp on 07957644546.

The latest lottery newsletter for March can be read here.

Join the parish lottery →

For an ongoing commitment to safeguarding within our community and the Church. May we create a safe and nurturing environment for all, especially the vulnerable. We ask for guidance and strength for those working to protect and support survivors, as well as wisdom for leaders as they implement effective measures to ensure safety and transparency. Lord, hear us.

The Seven Last Words of Christ are the final phrases spoken by Jesus from the Cross, recorded across the Gospels. For centuries, Christians have reflected on these words as a way of entering more deeply into the mystery of Christ's Passion and the love revealed on Good Friday.

Each word offers a window into the heart of Christ: forgiveness for His persecutors, mercy for the repentant thief, the gift of His mother to the Church, the depth of human suffering, His thirst for souls, the completion of His saving mission, and finally His total trust in the Father.

One reflection will be released every day from Friday 27th March to Maundy Thursday 2nd April.

Find the video series on our YouTube channel here or find the audio only on our new Diocese of Paisley Spiritual Reflections podcast here.

Watch on YouTube →

In this episode we get to know Monsignor John Tormey, from Saint John the Evangelist in Barrhead, as he reminisces over his vocation of 45 years in the priesthood, and his hopes for the future of the Church.

You can listen on the diocesan website here or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

Listen on the diocesan website →

If you are a new volunteer, or one who completed Part 1 training more than two years ago, you are invited to sign up for one of the following training sessions. Please contact Sarah Jane Colhoun at the Safeguarding Office to register. Telephone 01418476138 or email safeguardingadmin@rcdop.org.uk.

• Tuesday 21st April 7pm — Diocesan Centre Paisley.
• Saturday 16th May 10:30am — Saint Mary's Greenock.
• Tuesday 9th June 7pm — Diocesan Centre Paisley.

Register for safeguarding training →

If you have not already managed to support our peaceful 40 Days for Life Lenten prayer vigil, it's not too late.

Please consider joining our close of Vigil on Palm Sunday evening Sunday 29th March. The Vigil will draw to a close at 8pm. Between 7pm and 8pm there will be a final silent candlelit hour in memory of the millions of children and their parents whose lives have been aborted or damaged by abortion.

If you can, please come along to the vigil location situated outside the buffer zone at the traffic lights junction on Shieldhall Road where it intersects with Hardgate Road. Please arrive at 6:30pm. Candles and holders will be provided by 40 Days for Life stewards on duty. This is our 11th annual Lenten 40 Days for Life.

Sunday 12th April at Saint Mary's Church, 163 George Street, Paisley PA1 2UN.

• 4pm: Adoration and Confessions.
• 5pm: Holy Mass.

Celebrants: Bishop John Keenan, Monsignor Joe Burke and Father Charles Coyle, the University of Glasgow.

All are very welcome.

This August, Michael Riddoch will be taking part in "The Drop", a 15-mile navigation challenge which will involve him trying to find his way home with no phone, electronics, map, or compass.

He's raising funds for the Diocesan Youth Commission, which supports young people in our community, providing them with opportunities for growth, faith, and community involvement.

To sponsor Michael click here.

Thank you!

Sponsor Michael →

The Diocese of Paisley has a WhatsApp channel where you can keep up to date with all diocesan news and announcements. Due to the algorithms employed by social media companies like Facebook and X, even if you follow us there, you are likely to see only around 10% of our posts. By contrast, following our WhatsApp channel guarantees that you will see all of our communications. Follow the channel here.

Follow the WhatsApp channel →

To receive the Diocese of Paisley Bulletin automatically every week by email please register your details here.

Subscribe to the diocesan bulletin →

To listen to Holy Mass by phone on Sundays and holy days of obligation call 01414734869.

Our Marriage and Families Commission asked us to pass onto you this resource for children attending Sunday Mass. Each week it gives the narrative on the Gospel for the day and a storyboard of the life of a Saint with a feast that upcoming week. It is free but donations welcome.

Visit https://thekidsbulletin.com/

Visit thekidsbulletin.com →

Join us for a Lasallian Projects Ceilidh celebrating 40 years of Lasallian community and impact. Enjoy live music, ceilidh dancing and a relaxed, welcoming evening together. Saturday 25th April from 7:30pm at Christ the King Church Hall. The ticket price includes food at the event.

Buy tickets here.

Buy tickets →

Friday 1st May to Sunday 3rd May. Pluscarden Benedictine Monastery, Elgin. Arrivals from 5pm on Friday 1st May and leaving after 12:00 noon lunch on Sunday 3rd May.

Take time to pause and reflect on your faith journey in the beautiful surroundings of Pluscarden Benedictine Monastery. This residential retreat is designed for those who have been through RCIA. The weekend will include opportunities to try different ways of praying, exploring some of the Ignatian (Jesuit) and Benedictine traditions, and sharing with others on living a reflective life.

https://www.pluscardenabbey.org/

Visit Pluscarden Abbey →

A retreat for singles, dating and engaged couples who want to think more deeply about relationships and the call to marriage. A relaxed weekend with input, prayer, discussion and social, as well as the opportunity to meet like-minded others! This year's retreat will have as its theme masculinity and femininity. Runs from Saturday 2nd to Sunday 3rd May, with the option of staying Friday night.

Click here for more information and to book.

Find out more and book →

Join the inaugural Stella Maris Lourdes Pilgrimage: Monday 25th May to Saturday 30th May 2026.

We warmly welcome serving or retired seafarers, fishers and their family members or carers to spend six grace-filled days of prayer, healing, and fellowship in the beautiful sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes.

This pilgrimage will be fully funded (including travel, accommodation, and meals).

To register your interest, or request further information please contact:
John Fogarty: john.fogarty@stellamarismail.org — 07986723015.
Hugh Ramsay: hugh.ramsay@stellamarismail.org — 07432654032.

Email John Fogarty to register →

Saturday 6th June. We invite YOU to the National Festival of Synodality at Glasgow Caledonian University, a day inspired by Pope Francis' call to be "witnesses to synodality." The Festival will focus on Conversation in the Spirit, a simple and powerful way of communal discernment rooted in listening, conversion and mission.

The day will celebrate the fruits already flourishing in the Church in Scotland and include input from Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, Father David McCallum SJ and Sandra Chaoul. Participants will also have the opportunity to experience Conversation in the Spirit firsthand. Lunch is included.

All are welcome, especially those involved in parish and diocesan life, pastoral councils, schools and faith organisations.

Tickets £65. Parishes and dioceses are encouraged to support those wishing to attend.

Tickets available here.

Buy tickets →

Two summer courses exploring faith, ethics and leadership for sixth form students, offered by the Christian Heritage Centre at Stonyhurst.

Join us for 6 days in the beautiful Ribble Valley to explore themes linked to The Common Good (S5, Monday 10th August to Saturday 15th August) and The Human Ecology (S6, Sunday 5th to Friday 10th July).

Meet new friends, discuss and share with peers, tutors and academics, learn new skills, develop your relationship with Christ, build your character.

Click here for more information and to book.

Find out more and book →

For disarmament and peace: Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.