Here is a link to this week’s newsletter: 4th Sunday in Lent - Laetare Sunday (Year C) Welcome: to all our visitors, feel free to look around our beautiful church, particularly the St John Ogilvie Chapel & Exhibition. Second Collections in March: 29/30 SCIAF Last week Collection £236.52 Attendance: 59 Welcome back to Fr Peter, almost on Easter break from his studies. Lent: We will have Stations of the Cross before Mass on Fridays, replacing Exposition during Lent. Confessions available on request. Final Station Mass is Fraserburgh on 4th April at 6.30pm, Confessions available from 5.30pm. Quiz Night: Raffle prizes or any donations can be handed to Kathleen or Raymond this weekend. (Before or after mass) There will also be an opportunity to buy squares in the 100 squares during these weekends. SCIAF: SCIAF SUNDAY On this SCIAF Sunday, we pray for all mothers around the world. We thank you, Lord, for giving us this precious gift – and we thank our mothers for the love and care they provide. We especially give thanks for mothers in Colombia, who, despite the challenges they face, provide their children with the love and support they need to survive. Please give what you can in today’s collection for SCIAF. You can also donate to SCIAF at sciaf.org.uk/donate or by calling 0141 354 5555. Thank you! Lenten Retreat: on Saturday, 12th April from 10am, in St Thomas Church, Keith. An opportunity for all four parishes to get together to prepare for Holy Week and Easter. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available. Lunch is provided at 1pm to close the day. To help with catering, please let Fr Kingsley, Fr Peter or Deacon Graeme know if you are attending, particularly if you have any special dietary requirements. Second Collections: this weekend SCIAF; April 5/6th Easter Flowers; 18th Holy Places of Jerusalem Holy Week Ecumenical Services: These will be in St Rufus Kirk each night. St Thomas’s will lead on Monday 14th April. St Thomas pupils: will be constructing an Easter Garden which we are all invited to visit during Holy Week. More details to follow. Prayer Group: Monday evenings, 7pm in the hall. Contact Elizabeth Danby for information. St Thomas’ Church is open each day from 10am to 3pm for private prayer. Please note, the church may not be open on weekdays in the event of severe weather. The Community of Pluscarden Abbey Pentecost Lectures from Tuesday 10 – Thursday 12 June 2025 our Lecturer will be Professor Tracey Rowland from the University of Notre Dame, Australia. Her topic will be “Trinitarian Anthropology: What Does it Mean for all of Creation to be Marked by the Form of the Trinity?” Pope’s prayer intention: March 2025: For broken families to discover healing through forgiveness and rediscovering each other’s gifts. April 2025: For the use of new technologies: Let us pray that the use of the new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person and will help us face the crises of our times. Safeguarding: The Parish Safeguarding Coordinator is Elizabeth Danby, and she can be contacted as shown on the Contacts page. The diocesan Safeguarding page can be found at Safeguarding – Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen (rcda.scot) and the text of In God’s Image (V2) is accessed by clicking on https://www.bcos.org.uk/LinkClick.aspx?link=131&tabid=124& portalid=0&mid=584 PRAYER FOR THE SICK & HOUSEBOUND AND ALL THOSE IN NEED Father in Heaven; grant them comfort in their suffering. When they are afraid, give them courage, When afflicted, give them patience, When dejected, afford them hope, And when alone, assure them of the support of your holy people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.