Anyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God.
What's New? Parish History News Apologetics Dawkins
Welcome to our website. St. Columba's is a small and very welcoming parish in the north of Aberdeen. There are only about 130 of us here on Sundays but we are a friendly bunch; the celebrations are lively and there is a lot going on. There's something here for nearly everyone. There are many young families in the parish, so the children's liturgy is well attended with excellent leaders. We have a number of dynamic groups meeting during the week for prayer and faith formation. Our Masses always finish up with the "mandatory" tea/coffee and biscuits with the chance to meet new folk or catch up with those you already know.
Parish Quesionnaire
For those of you who didn't get the chance to fill in this weekends Questionnaire, you can download it here and then send it back to us either by e-mail or snail-mail. If you are abroad and have been to St. Peter's you might want to fill this in too. Thanks for your participation!
Here are two things that are coming together just now:
1. EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
We now have adoration of the Blessed Sacrament an hour before each Mass, apart from the Sunday 9.45am Mass. The big question is:
Why bother with Eucharistic Adoration?
“The Church is not just a space in which sometimes something happens early in the morning, while for the rest of the day it stands empty, “unused”. There is always the “Church” in the church building, because the Lord is always giving himself, because the Eucharistic mystery remains present...”
Pope Benedict XVI
Maybe you feel called to approach this mystery and divine gift more often?
We plan to establish more times in the week when people can come and be with Jesus in silence and adoration. For more information please speak to:
Katerina and Andrew Kellighan or watch this space!
2. SMALL CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES
Over the last year we have been working towards starting Small Christian Communities within the parish, groups of parishioners meeting in their homes to share on scripture so as to grow in faith and friendship. Our hope is to launch this initiative during Advent. To find out more, check out Sr. Brenda's vision here.
We hope you'll be able to take some time to look through our website and see what's going on. We look forward to seeing you here soon. God bless.
Fr.
Keith
Eucharistic Adoration and Small Christian Communities as seen above.
What's Not So New?
Prepare for Pentecost - A novena to the Holy Spirit beginning the Solemnity of the Ascension.
Family & Community Experience (FCE) - This is a parish and home experience during Advent which we are trying to encourage everyone to take part in for the development of family and community life in the parish.
Child Protection - Our policy statement on the protection of children and vulnerable adults.
Journey of Faith - Find out how to learn more about being a Catholic or how to become one.
Sr. Brenda Brennan joins the team. Find out more about her and her plans.
Fr. Keith's Conversion Story - At last you can actually see, on this website, the interview with Bo Sanchez from 21st June when I told him my story.
Night of the Living Catechism - a horror by That Catholic Show
Daily Mass Online - Now if you can't get to Mass you have the opportunity to see it every day online. Have a look at our new link.
That Catholic Show #2: Candles & Light - What is it with Catholics and Candles!?!
That Catholic Show #8: I Confess - Here is an entertaining yet informative look at the sacrament of Confession.
Character Confirmed is a video by LifeTeen.com about the Sacrament of Confirmation. Really good stuff!
That Catholic Show is Catholicism like you've never seen before! It is absolutely perfect for anyone who has ever asked questions about the faith. This one is about the priesthood: "You Are A Priest Forever"
Cardinal Keith speaks out on YouTube - Watch the video on our newsletter page where he warns of the dangers in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.
ST COLUMBA'S CHURCH HISTORY
In the summer of 1979 Fr. Myles Lovell, a Jesuit priest, arrived in Bridge of Don to find a suitable venue for a Mass Centre. He was directed to the soon to be opened "new" Bridge of Don Academy and Community Centre, where he was allocated the Senior Pupils Area,
and the first Mass was held on the last Sunday in September with about twenty people.
The numbers grew and there was support from FMM Sisters who held catechism classes and visited families in the area. There was weekday Mass on Tuesday evenings, and bible study groups in houses. With coffee after Mass, people were happy to stay behind and meet each other, and help dismantle the altar and put away chairs.
The School was used for nearly four years, with the numbers attending growing steadily. Cheese and Wine evenings and Christmas Sales of Work and other events helped to raise funds for a church building, and eventually it happened.
Bishop Mario Conti and Dr. Stewart Todd, (Minister of St. Machar's Cathedral) were each looking for land on which to build a church in Bridge of Don, and it was decided to build adjoining churches on ground adjacent to the Academy.
St. Columba's Ecumenical Church Centre is jointly owned by the Roman Catholic Church
and the Church of Scotland, a situation unique in Scotland. The Centre comprises two places of worship, the larger one (the Church of Scotland) also serving as a Church Hall.
In the Catholic Chapel the Altar, Font and the support for the Tabernacle are of Aberdeen granite. The antique Tabernacle, a gift from Marydale Cannich, has an embossed golden door representing the Lamb in majesty. The statues of Our Lady and St. Columba were commissioned from local artist Mrs. Anne Davidson.
The Centre was dedicated on Wednesday 7th September, 1983 in the presence of Rev. J. Fraser McLuskey, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, and Cardinal Gordon Joseph Gray, Archbishop of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, other invited guests and members of both congregations. The service began in the Church of Scotland and then processed into the Catholic Church for the final prayers and Benediction. Afterwards there was an opportunity to mingle and chat with refreshments being served in the Church Hall.
The Mass of Consecration of the Altar in the Catholic Chapel took place on Friday 8th June 1984, the feast of St. Columba, by Bishop Mario Joseph Conti.
