The Parish of St David’s, St Mary’s and St Dominic’s

🌑 A chance to be part of something extraordinary

Tomorrow, Wednesday 12 August, there will be a major partial solar eclipse visible across the UK. In Scotland and parts of the UK, around 90% or more of the Sun will be covered by the Moon, creating an unusual period of darkness and an incredible, almost other-worldly atmosphere. It’s a rare event, and one that many of us will remember for years to come.

As a parish we’d love to create a very short film capturing this moment through the eyes of you, our parishioners and from our friends further afield.

Film the eclipse from wherever you happen to be tomorrow evening — whether that’s from your garden, a local park, out on a walk, on holiday, from a window, or somewhere else that feels meaningful to you.

The idea is to gather as many different perspectives as possible: different countries, towns and cities, communities and landscapes across Scotland, and further afield across the UK and beyond. Some of our friends are in England, some of our parishioners are on holiday, so we’re hoping we can capture the eclipse from as many different locations as possible and bring all of those individual moments together.

The footage will form part of a short film accompanied by a poem, creating a shared story of one extraordinary moment experienced by lots of different people in lots of different places.

It doesn’t need to be professionally filmed or complicated. A short clip on a phone is absolutely fine. What matters is simply capturing your perspective and being able to say: I was there, and this is what I saw.

If you would like to be part of this and do it, send your footage on WhatsApp to 07813557772 or simply on messenger.

It would be fantastic to see just how many different perspectives we can bring together.

☀️ Important safety information

Looking directly at the Sun during a solar eclipse can cause permanent eye damage, even when most of the Sun is covered. You should never look directly at the Sun through your eyes, ordinary sunglasses, a phone camera, binoculars, a telescope or other optical equipment unless the equipment is specifically designed and properly fitted for safe solar viewing.

If you want to observe the eclipse, you should use properly certified solar/eclipse viewing glasses or an appropriate solar viewer, following the manufacturer’s instructions. An alternative is to film the surroundings and the changing light rather than attempting to film the Sun itself.

🎒 A new school year begins

Over the coming days, schools across Scotland will begin to return for a new academic year.

As pupils, teachers and staff prepare to return to the classroom, we keep all of our school communities in our prayers.

We pray especially for those beginning school for the very first time, those moving on to secondary school, and all those starting a new chapter in their education.

May the Lord bless our pupils, teachers, staff and families, and may the year ahead be filled with opportunities to learn, grow in faith and flourish.

🙏 St Thomas Aquinas, Patron Saint of Students and Catholic Education, pray for us.

We welcome back our teachers, teaching staff and all who work within both schools, St David’s and St Mary’s, as well as St Margaret’s for a new academic year. May God bless you all 🙏

Just a little reminder mums and dads, grandparents…. We have the blessing of children with their school bags and all school contents including mobile phones during 5pm Mass tonight. A little preparation for the new school term. Hope to see you at 5pm Mass 🙏

Today the Church celebrates St Dominic. We wish everyone at St Dominic’s, Greengairs a blessed and joyful feast day as they celebrate their patron saint.

🙏 St Dominic, pray for us.

Mum and Dads, remember our 5pm Mass on Saturday, for all our young students returning to and starting Nursery, returning to and starting Primary School, returning to and starting High School, returning to and starting College and University. Tonight we will bless you and all your things that you need, and use in your places of education. One of the important things to bring is your mobile phone, we want to be part of keeping you safe. We as our parish community look forward to seeing you all. May God Bless you all. 🙏

SAINT OF THE DAY, ST. JOHN MARY VIANNEY
The Humble Curé of Ars and Patron Saint of Parish Priests.

On this day we pray for our own Parish Priest, Father Bergin as well as Father Hattie, Father Ryan and the priests of the Diocese.

PRAYER:
Father of mercy,
you made Saint John Vianney outstanding
in his priestly zeal and concern for your people.
By his example and prayers,
enable us to win our brothers and sisters
to the love of Christ
and come with him to eternal glory.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.