Welcome to St Andrew's Parish, Rothesay
The Diocese of Argyll and the Isles has many parishes in some of the most beautiful parts of Scotland. Mountains, glens, lochs, rivers, and the sea give a dramatic background to our heritage, both past and lived. Many lives continue to give witness to our faith and how it is celebrated here.
Among the Highlands and the Islands is the Isle of Bute with its main town Rothesay and just a few hundred yards from the ferry terminal, is the magnificent Catholic Church of St. Andrew’s. Now just shy of being one hundred years old, St. Andrew’s continues to be the centre of Catholic worship in Bute.
On this website we hope to introduce you to our beautiful Church and parish, showcasing our long history and highlighting some of the many things we do today.
Feel free to browse the menu and explore the site.
2nd Sunday of Easter
‘Peace be with you!'
Full of the joy of the resurrection, the Sunday readings also stress the love and mercy the risen Lord has for all of his people.
In the First Reading we see the joy and enthusiasm of the young Church. The faithful are united in their belief, in their prayers and in the ‘breaking of bread’, as also in their care and attention to one another.
The Easter Psalm is in tune with the theme of Divine Mercy. It is a song of thanksgiving to God whose ‘mercy endures forever’. It also recalls the suffering of our Saviour who was raised up on Easter Sunday.
The Second Reading is similarly a type of hymn. It celebrates the new life that comes from the risen Jesus. We are born again to a living hope. Even in the trials and anxieties of the times we are living through, faith will always be enough.
In the Gospel, Jesus invests the disciples with the Holy Spirit. Thomas, who was absent from Jesus’s first appearance to them, is challenged to believe. Thomas now professes his faith with the wonderful words,
‘My Lord and my God!’
This week, as we continue to rejoice in the Lord’s resurrection, may we also reach out to others with compassion and understanding.
(With thanks to St Beuno's Outreach)
ARTWORK
Rembrandt (1634)
Pushkin Museum, Moscow
Pope Leo's April Prayer Intention
For priests in crisis
Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.
Visit the website of Pray With the Pope
Visit the website of Pray As You Go for a reflection on this month's video.
Scottish Parliament Elections May 2026
Click here to open and download the Bishops' Election Briefing Pack, with guidance on some of the issues that should be on our minds as we select the candidates to vote for.
Pope Leo's Lenten Message
Abstain from harsh words and rash judgement
This season of Lent, Pope Leo XIV invites Catholics to open ourselves to listening, fasting, and community, urging us to abstain from words of hatred in order to make space for words of hope and peace.
