Reflection –
Concluding the self-revelation of the Feast of Tabernacles (starting at 7:1), Jesus finally accepts, while at the same time transcending, a traditional messianic image as the Shepherd of his people. Could the door be a reference to the ancient custom of the shepherd himself laying his body across the gate-space of the fold and thus being both shepherd and door?
Mass readings.
Fourth Sunday of Easter, 25th & 26th of April, 2026
1st Reading: Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Responsorial Psalm. The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want
Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:20b-25
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia.I am the good Shepherd says the Lord. I know my sheep and my sheep know me. Alleluia
Gospel: John 10: 1-10
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PARISH UPDATES:
World Day of Prayer for Vocation – Special Collection today. There will be a special collection for Ecclesiastical students. Your donation helps cover tuition fees and living costs for seminarians. Donations can also be made online at bit.ly/eccstudents25
‘Our Lady’s 60th Anniversary Celebrations – photos now showing on our parish website!
Everyone is encouraged to take a look at the photos and short video of our anniversary celebrations on 15th March, which are now showing in the ‘Archive Information & Gallery’ section of our parish website. These are a great memento of a marvellous day, when Archbishop Leo Cushley conducted Mass here and then we celebrated with music and food at the Gibson Craig Hall in Currie. Our thanks to Mandy Kwan for taking the photos and creating the short video, and to Carla for uploading everything to the website.’
Mass Bookings. We are reminded that the booking of mass for our special intentions, wedding anniversaries, Birthday thanksgiving, Death anniversaries of our loved ones and general prayers is highly recommended. The mass stipends (Donations) are part of our contribution towards the good of the church and support of our priest.
Gift Aid – If you haven’t already done so, please pick up your Gift Aid envelopes from the back of the Church. The new tax year starts this Sunday so its important the new envelopes are used from now on.
Corpus Christi Procession – Save the Date – The annual Archdiocesan Corpus Christi procession, led by Archbishop Cushley, will take place from Our Lady & St Andrew’s, Stirling Street, Galashiels, on the afternoon of Sunday 7 June 2026. Details to follow soon.
Family Picnic & Mass –Join families from around the Archdiocese at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB for a picnic at 1:00pm on Saturday 9 May, followed by a time of catechesis, games, a Rosary procession and concluding with a Vigil Mass at 4:00pm. Bring your own picnic, and the Archdiocese will provide tea/coffee, soft drinks & a dessert. The day is aimed especially at families with school-age children. Register at bit.ly/archpicnic26. Event hosted by the Marriage & Family and Catechetics Commissions of the Archdiocese.
The Gillis Centre – The Archdiocese has announced that The Gillis Centre, which has long served as its administrative home, will be placed on the market for sale later this year. This follows a long process of review and time of reflection and discernment about how best to support the mission and future needs of the Archdiocese. The Gillis Centre holds a special place in the life of many, and Archbishop Cushley asks us to keep this transition in our prayers. The Curia team will continue their work there for now and will move to new premises in due course. Further information is available on the Archdiocesan website: archedinburgh.org/news
Fundraising event – Diana Fakhoury would like to warmly invite you to a special dinner on the 23rd May at St. Joseph’s Broomhouse Church Hall from 2pm-6pm. This afternoon is not only an opportunity to enjoy good food and great company, but also to come together in support of an important cause raising funds to support the people of Lebanon during this challenging time. All proceeds from the evening will go toward providing much-needed assistance to people affected by ongoing hardships. The evening will include a delicious meal, an opportunity to learn more about the Lebanese culture, meaningful conversation, raffle prises, Lebanese music and a chance to make a real difference. Your presence would mean a great deal. Please let Diana (07846929052) know if you are able to attend. Ticket price £20. Feel free to bring a guest who may also be interested in supporting this cause.
Our Lady’s Offertory Collections.
Last Sunday’s collection: £235
Month total collections (Bank & Cash) £2,656
Special Collections: £-
Bank Total (month) £778
Mass Bookings.
We are reminded that the booking of mass for our special intentions, wedding anniversaries, Birthday thanksgiving, Death anniversaries of our loved ones and general prayers is highly recommended. The mass stipends (Donations) are part of our contribution towards the good of the church and support of our priest.
MASS TIMINGS
MASS INTENTIONS
MASS DONOR
Wednesday, April 29th, 10.00am
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Friday May 1st, 10.00am
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Sunday, May 3rd, 11.30am
- Sue Ward
- Gerry Higgins
Blessings to you, your families and those who are dear to you in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jesus said: ‘I am the gate of the sheepfold’
John 10:1-10
Jesus said:
‘I tell you most solemnly, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold through the gate, but gets in some other way is a thief and a brigand. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out. When he has brought out his flock, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow because they know his voice. They never follow a stranger but run away from him: they do not recognise the voice of strangers.’
Jesus told them this parable but they failed to understand what he meant by telling it to them.
So Jesus spoke to them again: ‘I tell you most solemnly, I am the gate of the sheepfold.
All others who have come are thieves and brigands; but the sheep took no notice of them. I am the gate. Anyone who enters through me will be safe: he will go freely in and out and be sure of finding pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.’
Reflection on the painting
We continue the theme today of the shepherd and the sheep. The painting I am sharing with you is by Julien Dupré. It shows a shepherdess attending to her flock. She is gazing into the distance. Dupré specialised in unapologetically portraying daily life of ordinary rural, working people. Farmers, miners and street workers were his main themes, themes that were very novel at the time. At the beginning of his career in Paris, people wondered who would actually buy these paintings and want to hang them in their homes. But the new bourgeoisie in Paris found them charming, and so a whole genre of these realist paintings came to the fore during the 19th century.
Our figure looks rather solitary. She is pensive. Leading a flock comes with responsibility.
Whilst Jesus is talking about himself as the Shepherd we need to follow, our Gospel reading today also prompts us to think about our own leadership and initiative in our communities. Reading the Gospels yesterday and today probably makes us always identify with the sheep. Yes, we are sheep who are vulnerable to predators, we tend to walk into danger, even to get lost; we have a herd mentality; we graze and gaze at what is in front of us, but don’t look at things in the distance… But today’s reading is also calling us to be modern day shepherds ourselves: shepherds who start teaching lambs their own names as soon as they are born; shepherds who bring sheep to the Christian flock; shepherds who bring their flock to green pastures; shepherds who help produce the most magnificent wool.
Like Jesus, we can be shepherds, swinging open the gates of our love and care, welcoming everyone into the fields of our communities.
