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 would like 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.
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)
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.
