Welcome to St Mary's & St Joseph's Parish
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
‘My thoughts are not your thoughts’
This week, the readings focus on God’s generosity, even if it is sometimes difficult for us to accept that God’s ways are not our ways.
In the First Reading, Isaiah encourages the people of Israel to seek the Lord and turn to him, so that they can experience his forgiveness and compassion.
The Psalm promises kindness and mercy to all who call on the Lord.
St Paul (Second Reading) speaks of his dilemma. He wants to be with Christ, but also realises that he is needed on earth to continue to preach the Gospel around him. Of two good things, he chooses the better: that is, to remain alive for the sake of the new Christians.
The Gospel further illustrates that God’s ways are not our ways, and that God’s generosity is without bounds. Here, Jesus tells the parable of the vine workers: all will be paid the same amount, regardless of the number of hours they have spent in the field. This story helps us understand that in God’s eyes, those who turned to God later in life are worth just as much as those who have followed him from the beginning.
In our prayer this week, we may like to meditate further on God’s unconditional love and generosity for us all, and remind ourselves that his ways are not our ways.
(With thanks to St Beuno's Outreach)
ARTWORK
Vincent van Gogh (1888)
Welcome Message
On the 1st of September 2025 we saw the coming together of our two former parishes under the new Parish name of St Mary & St Joseph.
My vision for our future is that we will become stronger together under one umbrella of cooperation, practice of faith and going forward as pilgrims of Hope.
We do this with an optimism that challenges us to be involved and to ask ourselves 'what can I do for my Parish', rather than what can the Parish do for me?
We need that vitality of volunteering and being involved, of helping each other and caring for each other into the future.
I see our new parish as a way of thanking God for all that has been achieved in the former parishes and as an opportunity to forge new ways ahead.
By nature, we don't like change, but with the Lord at the helm, all will be well and good, to those who trust in his love.
Our new parish website will develop over time, as we grow, but in the meantime please enjoy browsing the site. Please also keep me, Deacon Andrew, and all of our parishioners in your prayers.
Fr John McGinley
Parish Priest
Pope Leo's Prayer Intention for September
Click the image above to play the video
For the care of water
Let us pray for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it.
Visit the website of Pray With the Pope
Visit the website of Pray As You Go for a reflection on this month's video.
Diocesan Structures
Click here for an important statement from the Bishops' Conference of Scotland about upcoming consultations on the structuring of our Scottish dioceses.
Clydebank Pastoral Area
CHECK IT OUT!
The new website for the Clydebank parishes is launched across all Parishes
The website address is www.rcclydebank.org
ALSO contains the summer schedule for Parish masses across the Clydebank area.
Latest Online Edition
Mass and Confession Times
Sunday Masses
St. Mary’s - Sat Vigil Mass 5pm; 10am
St. Joseph’s - 12 Noon
Weekday Mass
St. Mary’s - Monday – Friday 9.30am
Sacrament of Reconciliation
St. Mary’s - Saturday 3.30 - 4.30pm
(Please note that the Confession box is the one next to sacristy)
St. Joseph’s - Sunday 11.45am
Live Stream Mass
See our live stream of masses on our YouTube page.
Find us on Facebook.