ECUMENISM
St Jude’s has strong links with our local Church of Scotland, Barlanark Greyfriars.
- A joint letter from both churches is sent to all homes in Barlanark twice a year at Easter and Christmas.
- Each church sends representatives to each others church services at various times of the year.
- The churches join together twice a year taking alternate turns to host the Songs of Praise service as part of the Barlanark Alive celebrations in the autumn and just before Christmas we go carol singing around the streets of Barlanark, finishing at one of the churches for a get together with warm refreshments.
The Church of Scotland in Barlanark
Barlanark-Greyfriars Church
365 Hallhill Road
Barlanark
Glasgow
G33 4RY
www.barlanark-greyfriars.co.uk
SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME
The Congregation of Sisters of Notre Dame was founded on February 2, 1804, when Julie Billiart and Françoise Blin de Bourdon vowed themselves to God and promised to devote themselves to the education of young girls, especially the poor, and to the formation of teachers. Julie worked tirelessly for her good God’s glory and for the poor. She spent her life training her young Sisters both as religious and as educators. Julie Billiart died on April 8, 1816, only 12 years after the founding of her religious community.
Today, Sisters of Notre Dame are in mission throughout the world, working with refugees in London, street children in Nairobi, immigrant farm workers in Florida, AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe… and always, women and children, who are among the very poorest.
Nearly 1,800 Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur live and serve in Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America. Sisters work in a variety of ministries. Sisters of Notre Dame are recognized as outstanding educators and, over the years, thousands of Sisters of Notre Dame have taught children and adults on five continents.
It was in 1894, at the request of Archbishop Eyre of Glasgow that the Sisters came to Scotland. They were invited to open a college to train Catholic women to teach in Catholic Primary Schools. For a hundred years the sisters trained Catholic teachers for the West of Scotland and beyond. They also served as teachers in Primary and Secondary schools. Today sisters are still involved in education in its widest forms maintaining their foundress’s commitment to stand with the poor, especially women and children, in the most abandoned places.
Julie’s simple phrase, “Ah! Qu’il est bon le bon Dieu” or “How good is the good God” echoed the depth of her appreciation of God’s love and generosity and that same phrase echoes on down the years in the heart of every sister of Notre Dame.
The Sisters make known God’s goodness and love of the poor through a gospel way of life, community and prayer. They commit themselves to live and work with others to create justice and peace for all.
“We work with others to transform unjust structures and systems as we participate in creating new ways of relating which enable all to experience more fully the goodness of God.”
Why not look at our website: www.snddn.org
SISTERS IN SCOTLAND
Sisters work in:
- Archdiocese of Glasgow
- Diocese of Paisley
- Diocese of Galloway
- Diocese of Argyle and Isles
Sisters are involved in:
- Teaching
- Chaplaincy
- Notre Dame Clinic and Adolescent Unit/Counselling and Phsycological Services
- Caring for the Retired Sisters
- Running an Apostolic Centre
- SPRED – Special Religious Education for the Disabled
- Parish Ministry
- Catechesis
- Work with Asylum Seekers/Refugees
- Adult Literacy Projects
- Working with Marriage Advisory Council
Why not look at our website: www.snddn.org
SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME
IN
St JUDE’S
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur came to live in Barlanark and became a presence in the Parish of St Jude’s in March 1982. From their second storey flat they travelled to their teaching posts in the City of Glasgow.
Around that time the Archdiocesan Pastoral “Renew” Plan was initiated and parishes were invited to volunteer to pioneer the plan. St Jude’s was one of the first parishes to get involved. The sisters together with all the other parishioners found themselves setting up liturgical groups such as Readers, Cantors, Children’s Liturgy etc. as well as non- liturgical groups for the young people of the parish. St Jude’s youngsters became proficient in Scottish Country Dancing! A Prayer group and Justice and Peace group met regularly in the Sister’s flat. Directed Retreats in Daily Life were also arranged for the members of theses groups. Small Faith Sharing groups met in every area in Barlanark and one still continues to meet in the Sisters’ house some 21 years on!
Many ministries have developed in the parish since the early days of renewal. The sisters still feel privileged to be a part of a small but vibrant parish team which continues to work toward the growth and ongoing development of the Community of St Jude’s.
Why not look at our website? www.snddn.org