Welcome to St Brigid's Roman Catholic Church

St Brigid's Church

Welcome to St Brigid's Roman Catholic Parish in the Diocese of Motherwell, Scotland.

St Brigid's is a thriving parish of some 1,600 people, with a proud history in Newmains that stretches back to 1871.

Indeed the chapel/school established here in 1871 is still standing - though it is now a Parish Centre serving the social needs of the whole community.

We became a Parish in 1896 and our present Church was built in 1933. Now we gladly carry the Gospel of Christ into the third millenia.

Visit the heritage section of the website to find out more about the history of St Brigid's.

Words from Father Stephen

The Light of the WorldWelcome to our Parish web page.

We have been quickly moving through the Holy Season of Lent.

The greatest week of the Church's Liturgical Year---Holy week is almost upon us.  For some Lent has last more than 40 days and 40 nights, more than 12 months. 

It may seem that we have been living lent for more than a year. 

Holy week brings us new hope as we will be celebrating with congregations being present.  Lent is a reminder of God's love and mercy.  Holy Week underlines this.  It reminds us that darkness can not over power the light.  The Light of Christ will shine for all to see. 

"We behold the splendor of God shinning on the face of Jesus.  We behold the splendor of God, shinning on the face of the Son." 

These words come from the hymn to celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration.  In the Transfiguaration, Jesus reminds us of our ultimate goal, life with Him in the Kingdom of His Father. 

Although we loose hope from time to time, hope is restored in the personage of Jesus if we keep Him as our focus.  Let the Light of Christ shine in our hearts, leading us forward into the glory of Easter.  

“I plead with you – never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.” --

Pope St. John Paul II

Parish Prayer to St Brigid

Saint Brigid
You were a woman of peace.
You brought harmony where there was conflict.
You brought light to the darkness.
You brought hope to the downcast.
May the mantle of your peace
cover those who are troubled and anxious,
and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world.
Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made.
Brigid you were a voice for the wounded and the weary.
Strengthen what is weak within us.
Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens.
May we grow each day into greater
wholeness in mind, body and spirit.

Amen

St Brigid's Cross

The Saint Brigid’s cross is a custom that marks the feast day of St. Brigid, which falls on the 1st of February, the beginning of spring.

The making of the cross has many meanings and stories; one ritual is that the cross is hung over the door as a way of protecting the household from evil spirits and energies.

Another tradition that is practiced is that a new cross is made each year on St. Brigid's day, and the old one hanging from the year before is then burned to keep fire from the household.