Welcome

Dear parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes,

I am very happy to have been appointed your new Parish Priest by Bishop Robson albeit in sad circumstances after the death of Fr. Colin, something which came, I'm sure, as a blow to you all. As we mourn his loss, let's continue to pray for the happy repose of his soul, asking the Good Lord to reward Fr. Colin for good the work he accomplished in that part of God's vineyard entrusted to him.

I am looking forward to getting to know you and to praying and working with you. As with all changes there will no doubt be learning and challenges for us but approached with faith and love, patience and understanding, and a sense of service to the Lord these will be things that help us to come closer together and to grow as a community of faith.

Some of us may already know each other, many of us will be strangers to each other, but part of the joy of coming to a new parish is getting to know each other and hopefully becoming friends and companions in Christ. I hope for the first weekend to give you a little introduction to who I am and my background and to have the opportunity to meet you and become acquainted with you better after Holy Mass.

You will be aware that because of my other responsibilities (in St. James', Kinross and at Kilgraston School) that I have had to make adjustments to the Mass times some of which overlapped between the two parishes, and I believe Fr. Ian Evans has made you aware of these changes this weekend. On your behalf I want to thank him for everything he did to assist Fr. Colin and everything he has done to keep things going since Father's death. Fr. Ian has also been a tremendous help to me already in terms of making this transition so much smoother.

With immediate effect then, the weekend  Mass times in Our Lady of Lourdes will be:

Saturday Vigil Mass - 5.00p.m.

Sunday morning Mass - 11.00a.m.

I will issue a newsletter next week (available in the Newsletter Section) which will also include weekday Mass times, times for Confessions, etc. and will also include the Mass times and so on for St. James', Kinross. Please be so kind as to keep me in your prayers. I am very much looking forward to meeting you all this coming weekend.

This is the first parish under the patronage of Our Blessed Lady to which I have been appointed as Parish Priest - and for me this is something very special!

God bless you and keep you,

Fr. Martin Pletts