Welcome to our May newsletter that’s crammed full of all things SPRED! Hope everyone is enjoying the good weather and is looking forward to everything that SPRED has coming up in the summer months.
GRAND SUMMER RAFFLE
We are very excited about our upcoming Grand Summer Raffle, with chances to win several brilliant prizes to raise money for SPRED Galloway.
Our 3 top prizes are:
1st – £100
2nd – Tea for 2 at the Marine Hotel in Troon
3rd – Lunch for 2 at the Townhouse in Prestwick
Other prizes also include alcoholic drinks, a SPRED SWAG bag, soft toys and a beach shelter!
We are looking to sell raffle tickets to anyone looking to help donate money to SPRED and will be hopefully selling some at the local Parishes.
If you would like to sell some raffle tickets or donate a prize, or indeed known a business that might want to, then feel free to contact Hugh either at the office number:
01292 738068
Or his mobile:
07306138442
AYR GROUPS RECONCILATION REPORT
Even although the weather was bad, it was a testimony to the Commitment and Faith of SPRED Ayr Group Members and their Families that 20 people came along to our Reconciliation Service.
We were very pleased to have Fr Philip Kitchen once again to lead us in our celebration.
As always with anything SPRED everyone was welcomed, and we sang Companions on the Journey to begin proceedings.
We were reminded that we had come together to feel the love and protection of Jesus. We need the help of Jesus to live in His love.
Another element of SPRED that is included in all our services is a Symbolic Object.
We used a large set of Praying Hands made of stone. We were asked to silently remember times of Prayer in our lives. Everyone was invited to come out and place their hands over the hands of the Praying Hands Statue and make our own prayers. It was very moving as quiet music was played to feel the sense of prayer as people took it turns to do this.
We began our service with the hymn: In Christ Alone My Hope Is Found. This reminded us that we rely completely on Jesus.
Some of our Friends prepared our Table of God’s Word – Kevin, Caitie, Aileen, Jason and Nicola.
We then celebrated God’s Word together. Billy from the Thursday evening group read the Reading and Helena from the Monday evening group did the mime. Fr Philip read our Gospel and Joan also from the Monday evening group did the mime.
A simple Examination based on Love of God, Love of Others and Love of Self was led by Hilary.
After this we sang Lay Your Hands Gently Upon Us as we ended our preparation to receive God’s Forgiveness.
In a very touching but simple act, Fr Philip went to all present individually and asked the simple question: ‘Are you sorry for your sins?’. After each person’s positive response, Fr Philip gave them Absolution.
As some quiet music was played, we all spent a short time in silent reflection thanking God for His Forgiveness.
Led by Fr Philip we all said the Our Father as our Penance.
Before we received the Final Blessing, we all shared the Peace of Jesus with each other. We then Sang the refrain ‘God is so good’.
We ended the evening with a simple Agape in keeping with the Lenten Season.
We all left feeling cleansed and made whole. The words of St Peter to Jesus at the Transfiguration came to mind in trying to sum up this service “it is good to be here”.
Nicola, one of our Friend members, shared the following thought on the service, “it was peaceful and relaxing”.
NEW FULL CHURCH MEMBERS – MORAG AND JOHN
Report by Sandra Bogle
Morag and John have been Friends of the Kilmarnock Parishes SPRED Group for several years and always bring joy and laughter to our regular meetings.
Over the last few months, they have been preparing to receive the Sacraments of Confirmation and First Holy Communion under the guidance of SPRED Catechists/Faith Companions and Father Jim Hayes.
It was a proud moment on Sunday 2nd March at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church when all the preparations came to fruition and the couple were Confirmed and received First Holy Communion from Fr Jim.
We were joined by our wider SPRED family from the Diocese in celebrating this wonderful, uplifting event. John and Morag looked so happy and relaxed during the service. Led by Morag and John the Kilmarnock Parishes group participated in the procession of gifts. Our Diocesan SPRED Family led the singing of ‘Shine Jesus Shine’ with all the actions and clapping.
Parishioners and friends all joined to congratulate the happy couple with gifts and agape, celebration cake and lots of laughter. They have been welcomed as parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and attend Mass regularly. They have also been participating in St Matthew’s community lunch.
We at the Kilmarnock Parishes SPRED Group plan to continue to support and nourish both John and Morag in their faith journey. It truly was an uplifting and inspiring day for all!
LOCAL PARISH MASS INITIATIVE – ST QUIVOX CHURCH REPORT
The main aim of our Parish Mass initiative is to help increase inclusion opportunities for our Friends and a secondary aim of publicising SPRED itself at a Parish level. To that end our first Parish Mass involvement was a great success. A big thank you to Fr Willie and those involved in organising the Mass.
A group 10 people came along to 6 pm Mass in St Quivox’s Parish, Prestwick on Sunday 6 April. The group was made up of Friends, Faith Companions and others.
It was good that several of us were given the opportunity to be involved as follows:
Margaret Rose and her young son John helped with the Welcome before Mass by handing out Hymns Books.
Kevin with his Mum Evonne as well as Caitie and her Faith Companion Morag took the Gifts down. Mary Woods placed the collection bags in front of the Lectern. Hugh rang the bell at the consecration.
The group was warmly received, with one parishioner expressing a little disappointment that we did not sing Shine Jesus Shine at the end of Mass. A thought for the next time perhaps.
It is hoped that Kevin and his Mum Evonne will now be placed on the list of those volunteering to bring down the Gifts during the Procession of Gifts at Mass.
KILMARNOCK LENTEN GROUP MASS
Report by Kathleen Jones
Kilmarnock SPRED gathered in St. Matthew’s Church on Tuesday 25th March to celebrate a Lenten Mass with Fr Jim Hayes.
We began by singing ‘Companions on the Journey’. Marjorie read our first reading from St Paul and Heather mimed along with her as well as to the Gospel from St John.
Fr Jim allowed us all to participate in discussing what reconciliation means and why we might need it. We also each had the opportunity to offer an intention and to pray the SPRED family prayer.
During a solemn but beautiful ceremony, Fr Jim blessed us and offered the prayer of absolution, after which we received the message ‘Jesus says to you – live in my love’ before making the sign of the cross with water from the baptismal font.
Our Friends brought forward the offertory gifts – grapes and wine, fresh baked bread and altar bread.
It was lovely to share a sign of peace with one another and to sing Shalom together before we all received communion under both kinds.
Mass concluded with singing Shine Jesus Shine before we retired to the church hall to share a simple agape.
IN MEMORY OF KEVIN O’BRIEN
Sadly, the Lenten Mass was the last time that Kevin was to be with the SPRED family as he passed away, unexpectedly, in Crosshouse Hospital, a few days after the Mass.
Kevin had been a valued Friend of Kilmarnock SPRED for a number of years, having earlier been part of the St Francis Club as a child and teenager. He was one of seven children born and brought up in Kilmarnock. He was well known in the town and was often seen in the main street, in his motorised wheelchair, chatting and befriending many, despite his own illness and infirmities. He attended Mass regularly in each of the Kilmarnock Parishes where he also had many friends.
His funeral took place in St. Joseph’s, Kilmarnock on 23rd April 2025. Kilmarnock SPRED were privileged to be able to support Kevin’s family by delivering the Readings and Intercessions and bringing up the Offertory gifts. A number of members of the wider SPRED family also attended the funeral which was much appreciated.
Kevin had celebrated his 40th birthday in November 2024, and although he will be sadly missed, the Kilmarnock Group would like to remember him as happy as he was in this photo.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Check Website: www.spredgalloway.org
EASTER PRAISE AND PARTY – THURSDAY 29 MAY
Where: St Margaret’s Church Hall
When: 7pm
GRAND SUMMER RAFFLE – SUNDAY JUNE 15
Check Website for finalised details.
Books of Tickets still available. Prizes can be donated.
SUMMER FAYRE STALL – SATURDAY 21 JUNE
Where: Low Green, Ayr
When: 11.45 am – 4 pm
DIOCESAN MASS – SUNDAY JUNE 22
Where: St John’s Church, Stevenson
When: 11.30 am
SPRED GALLOWAY 