Hello everyone!
Things have been a bit hectic in the SPRED Office! We have given up our Meeting Room in order to save some money. This has also involved a major reorganisation of the office area we have left. Let’s just say it has kept me busy over the last number of weeks. There is also a lot of News to cover. March was a month of Masses. This included Group Masses in Kilmarnock and Ayr as well as our Diocesan Mass in
St John’s Stevenson. There will be detailed reports on all of them but they will be spread out in the next few Newsletters. This month the Kilmarnock Parishes Group Mass will be featured.
THIS MONTH’S NEWS
GROUP COMMUNITY SESSIONS – APRIL
| GROUP | DATES |
| Ayr/St Margaret’s Group Afternoon Group 1 Evening Group 2 | Monday 15 April Monday 29 April |
| Kilmarnock Parishes Group | Tuesday 16 April Tuesday 30 April |
| St John’s Group | Wednesday 24 April |
| Ayr/St Margaret’s Group 3 | Thursday 18 April |
PRAISE AND PARTY EVENING
When: Thursday 25 April
Where: St Margaret’s Church Hall
Time: 7 pm
Come Dressed up. Easter Bonnet?
Bright clothes? You choose.
But just bring yourself!
KILMARNOCK PARISHES GROUP MASS – TUESDAY 6 MARCH
REPORT BY KATHLEEN JONES
Friends, Faith Friends, Sisters and friends of SPRED Kilmarnock gathered in St Matthew’s Church, Kilmarnock on Tuesday 5 March to celebrate their first annual Lenten Mass presided over by Fr Jim Hayes.
Friends John, Morag and John brought forward a loaf of bread and some grapes to the altar before joining the rest of the gathering in singing Companions on the Journey.
Leader, Kathleen, welcomed everyone and Fr Jim helped us feel at ease by chatting with the group before leading us in prayer. Marjorie, Sandra and Kathleen helped Fr Jim deliver the readings from St Paul and from St John, in word and in mime. Many of us were able to voice personal intentions to pray for and we joined together in the SPRED prayer.
Next Fr Jim led us in a reconciliation rite where we were invited to live as friends of God, living in Jesus’ love and to bless ourselves with water from the baptismal font. Fr Jim gave a prayer of absolution.
With the joy of reconciliation in our hearts, we sang Shalom to celebrate the peace of Christ. We drew even closer to Jesus sharing in the Eucharist and concluded our Mass with a happy rendition of Shine, Jesus Shine.
A lovely spread of hot cross buns and Easter treats was ready for our agape time and to top off a lovely evening, we also celebrated Morag’s birthday with cake and candles!
Many thanks to Fr Jim and all who lent a hand to make this a happy occasion to help us prepare for the great feast of Easter!
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
GROUP COMMUNITY SESSIONS – MAY/JUNE
| GROUP | DATES |
| Ayr/St Margaret’s Afternoon Group 1 Evening Group 2 | Monday 13 May Monday 27 May |
| Kilmarnock Parishes Group | Tuesday 14 May Tuesday 28 May |
| St John’s Group | Wednesday 15 May Wednesday 5 June |
| Ayr/St Margaret’s Group 3 | Thursday 2 May Thursday 16 May Thursday 30 May |
SPRED STROLL
This will take place over the Pentecost Weekend of Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th of May. My thoughts at the moment are as follows:
SATURDAY 18 MAY
A walk along Ayr promenade ending at St Margaret’s Cathedral for the 6 pm Vigil Mass.
SUNDAY 19 MAY
A walk along Prestwick promenade ending at St Quivox’s Church for the 6 pm Mass.
Please let me know which one you would prefer to take part in. I am going to contact both Parish Priests about my proposal. I will contact Group Leaders when I have more firmed up details.
BOWLING EVENT
We are planning this event for June. Dates are still to be announced.
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS
A very happy birthday to Sandra James of the St John’s Group whose Birthday is on April 18th. SPRED wishes you all the best on this very special day!
A SPECIAL COMPETITION
Keep an eye out for an exciting competition next month in our upcoming news letter.
FINAL THOUGHT
‘Jesus has risen! Allelujah!’
‘Christus surréxit! – Surréxit vere, allelúja!’
Hugh McGuire – SPRED Coordinator
SPRED GALLOWAY 