This page will have a paragraph of information relating to each group once the group has informed us of what they want to convey. If you are in a group in the parish and would like some information about your group to be included please e-mail me (Anne Marie Aitken) at aitkenam@yahoo.co.uk or fill in the "other" form from the contact us page.
RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
This group is for those who wish to discover more about the Catholic Church, and for the renewal of the whole parish who journey with them. There is no obligation for anyone who takes part in this group to become a Catholic. We have had an RCIA group in the parish for around 20 years.
Bereavement Befriending Support Group
St. John's Bereavement Support Group was set up in 1995 as it was felt there was a need to bring comfort and support to those who were suffering loss and bereavement. The group consists of five members of the parish who have attended various courses relating to breavement befriending, and meets on a regular basis under the guidance of Canon Rae. .
The role of the Eucharistic Ministers in the parish is to assist the priest at Mass with the distribution of the Body and Blood of Our Lord at Communion time; together with a reader, to conduct a service of the Eucharist and the Word when a priest is not available; and to bring the sacrament to those people unable to come to Mass.
The Fairtrade group began about 1994 to raise awareness of Fairtrade issues within the parish. On the first Sunday of each month, and at the vigil Mass, there is a stall of goods including coffee, tea, honey, biscuits, sweets (especially the aptly named Divine chocolate), leather and brass goods, jewellery, candles, wrapping paper, cards and much more. There are leaflets from time to time showing how buying these goods helps those who grow or make them. Our parish now supports this group by buying as much as it can from them. We always need volunteers to set up and man the stall.
SVDP - Saint Vincent de Paul Society
This group uses the donations given by the people of the parish to discretely help the poor of our own parish, and also has a wider involvement both nationally and internationally. SVDP meets every Sunday after 10am Mass and on Thursdays at 7:00pm in the presbytery basement, please come along and join. If anyone is aware of any need or knows of someone who would welcome a visit or any kind of assistance, please put their names and contact details in the post box at the back of the church. Contact Monica Goodwin 07954388929. See Scottish website.
Our Lady, Star of the Sea Praesidium has been working in our parish since 1979. Members meet once a week for prayer, planning and discussion in the Presbytery on Tuesdays at 7:30pm. The object of the Legion is personal holiness through attendance at the weekly meetings and doing the allocated work task. Work is undertaken in pairs for 2 hours each week. All are welcome to join. Link to an image of the Legion Tessera Prayers - side 1; side 2
The role of lay reader was set up as part of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council. Currently there are two groups of readers associated with the Masses which they normally attend: 10am Sunday, rota organised by Anne Marie Aitken and the Saturday Vigil, rota organised by David Codling. Let us know if you would like to be a reader, or if you would just like some training in reading because you have a family event in the offing for which you may have a speaking part e.g. baptism or wedding
Thursday Club - meets every Thursday 1:30pm to 3:30pm in the hall.
The Thursday club commenced in September 1991 and it is a club for the over-50s. The majority of the members are in their 70s or 80s, the oldest member being 99. The club is non-denominational, although most of the current members are Catholics.They meet together in prayer for each other and for their their families, and any other thing for which they may want to pray. They support each other in bereavement and the ailments of old age, and visit each other if they become housebound or have to go into care. They also enjoy the afternoons with bingo, speakers, keyboard players. Once a month they have a Bring and Buy whose proceeds go to charity. At present 14 housebound members are picked up and taken home, and the club is always looking for more help in this very necessary task - please volunteer if you are free to do so. They are also looking for more help in running the club which caters for 44 to 56 members each week. Contact Gena Gallagher.
This is a sub-group of the parish council whose remit is to look at ways we as a parish can communicate better with each other. Its primary task for the first year was to get a parish web site published. We are also looking at all the other ways we communicate. If you have ideas on how we can do this better, fill in the 'other' form from the contact us page of this web site and post it in the box at the back of the church.
This group was established in 1982 with the aim of praising, honouring and glorifying God in song, words and dance, with bible in one hand and rosary in the other. Prayer of Praise, Thanksgiving and Intercession for our parish, our church, our world. No commitment asked - come once ot twice or a hundred times or more. ALL WELCOME, and after there is tea and talk. Contact Ann or Pat Hughes 669 5691.
The 11th Portobello Cub Scout pack is managed by Ernie Moran, and its aim is to achieve the aims of the Scout Association in the physical, spiritual, mental and awareness development of its members. This pack has been in existence since 1927.
The aims and objectives of the group are to advance education and to promote the alleviation of poverty, famine and disease affecting people in developing countries, and also here in Scotland.
We seek to achieve these aims principally through the parish community, by means of fund raising, prayer and other activities.
