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 Lent
This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!’
Today’s readings are full of hope, encouraging us to reflect on faith and transformation, and to trust in God’s promises. As Lent continues, we try to spend extra time in prayer, giving ourselves more opportunity to recognize the presence and action of God in our lives.
In Luke’s Gospel of the Transfiguration, Jesus takes Peter, James and John up the mountain to pray. In the presence of Moses and Elijah, they see a glimpse of Jesus’s true identity: his divinity is revealed. A voice from the cloud confirms Jesus as God’s Son, and commands us: ‘Listen to him!’
Faithful Abram also hears God’s voice, promising him offspring and land to him and his descendants. (First Reading)
St Paul (Second Reading) tells the Philippians to model themselves on those who already live as Christians. He encourages us to hold fast to Christ rather than focusing on worldly distractions (‘earthly things’). Those who are faithful will have their true home in heaven, where Jesus will transform our bodies to be like his.
The Psalm is full of trust and hope. We are encouraged to seek God’s face and strength always: he is the light in our darkness, and our salvation.
As Pilgrims of Hope in this Jubilee Year, we pray that, like Peter, James and John, we may have a deeper trust and faith in Jesus, as we focus on listening to him. We remember especially this week those who are victims of natural disasters and the climate crisis.
(With thanks to St Beuno's Outreach)
ARTWORK
Convento San Marco, Florence
