Church Groups
SSVP (Society of Saint Vincent de Paul)
The Society of St Vincent de Paul is an international organisation of Catholic lay people, men and women, who practice Christianity by helping those in need on a person-to-person basis.
SSVP Conferences (groups) respond to needs in their communities. This usually means visiting people in their homes, in hospital, hospices or in prison. For many people, this visit is all that they need. However, in meeting people in this way, SSVP volunteers get to know people. They may then go on and provide help or assistance in other ways.
To find out more about the work of the SSVP in Scotland, click on the link below
St. Ninian’s and St. Cuthbert’s SSVP meet on Monday evenings at 7.30pm in the St. Martin Room at St. Ninian’s Church.
Our conference organise a bi-monthly collection of non-perishable foodstuffs and toiletries. This is greatly supported by our parishioners and enables us to provide help to those most in need in our community.
To contact the SSVP conference call 07534546955.
The SSVP Furniture Project is based in Wishaw. To donate any items of good quality, second-hand furniture, telephone 01698 372599 / 07483 363888 during office hours of 11.00am – 3.00pm Wednesday or Thursday.
Email. svdpfurniture@outlook.com
Suites/Sofas must have fire retardant labels attached.
Legion of Mary
Who we are
We are an international association of lay Catholics who desire to serve the Church and their neighbour. We strive to proclaim the glory of God through the holiness of our members, develop a life of prayer and cooperate with the Church’s work under the tender care of Mary.
The Praesidium is local unit of the Legion; it meets weekly for prayer and for the management of Legion work.
How to join
St. Ninian’s and St. Cuthbert’s parish have a Legion of Mary presidium.
The requirement for joining is to be a baptised and practicing Catholic.
For further information, please contact:
Frank Nuttall – 07734 809969
Margaret Nuttall – 07946 324431
Mary Tobin – 07305 351389
St. Ninian’s and St. Cuthbert’s Legion of Mary group meets in the Mir Centre on a Wednesday evening at 7.30pm.
To find out more about the work of the Legion of Mary please click on the links
One World Group
The One World Group, within the Parish of St. Ninian’s and St. Cuthbert’s has been active of a number of years with the aim of providing support to Mary’s Meals and SCIAF. We do this by organising events to raise money, most recently our twice yearly Afternoon Teas have been a great success. We are further supported by the generous donations made by parishioners, who enable us to continue providing much needed support.
The main area of support for Mary’s meals is continuing to pay for the food and upkeep of the kitchen in Yorodano Primary School in Malawi . Additionally, any monies raised at the parish Martinmas event, which is held in November, is used to purchase Real Gifts from SCIAF to help families in need throughout the world.
We further support SCIAF by making donations to their Emergency Appeal Funds when disasters occur.
If you would like to find out more about the work we do, or if you are interested in becoming a member of the One World Group, please contact:-
Anne Hamilton – 07776080282
or
Sandra Murray – 07578755089
Email:-
Click on the links below to find out more about the work of SCIAF and Mary’s Meals
Knitting Group / Craft Group
The Knitting Group first started in January 2018 and has helped bring young and old together for a time to chat, have tea and biscuits, and most importantly, to produce knitted squares which are sewn together to make blankets. These blankets are then given to The Sisters of The Gospel of Life.
Younger members have learned an old but useful craft and the older members enjoy their company.
Since we started, we have donated a vast selection of blankets, baby clothes, adult hat and scarf sets, cushion covers, small woolly toys, and sums of money which were raised by raffling a blanket in each of our blanket displays.
Many people, members of the parish and the wider community have given generously of their time and talents, while others have given donations of wool, ribbon, needles, and money.
The Knitting Group is organised by Christine Maillie.
The Knitting Group has now evolved into a weekly Craft Group, incorporating various other crafts including crochet and card making. We meet every Thursday between 10.00am and 12.00pm in the Mir Centre. We have members joining us from Hillhouse Parish Church and other local churches. Anyone can come along and learn a new skill or just for a cup of tea, company and chat.
Care of Creation
The inspiration for the Care of Creation Group comes from Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si,
Care for our Common Home. Pope Francis says that the things which give us cause for
concern….. the climate crisis, consumerism, human trafficking, our children’s connection with
social media, etc…. are only symptoms of the actual problem facing us. The real problem is one
of broken relationships; our broken relationships with God, with one another and with creation.
The Care of Creation group works to help build better relationships.
Through its monthly EcoNewsletter, the Care of Creation Group highlights global ecology issues
as well as local and national ones. It gives advice on how to live more sustainably and raises
awareness of the environmental issues from a Christian perspective. The monthly children’s eco
comic promotes a positive relationship towards the environment rather than focus on an
environmental crisis. It aims to quite simply develop a love for our common home in our young
parishioners.
While the Care of Creation group started as a St Ninian and St Cuthbert’s initiative, it very quickly
developed into an ecumenical group with Hillhouse Parish Church. The two parishes now worship
together at various times during the year as well as studying the bible together .
The Care of Creation group is animated by the phrase, “ Where two or three are gathered in my
name, there I am in their midst”. When Jesus said this he was pointing to the reality that we, the
people gathered together seeking to do His will, are church. With this in mind members of the
group seek to go beyond the walls of the church and into the community. By sharing its skills, the
group supports local charities. It has become founding members of a community garden and
supported another one. It shares what it knows about growing food and planting flowers. It has
involved local craft groups in supporting the parish craft group in knitting and crocheting blankets
for mothers needing support, for people living through a climate emergency as well as for local
people struggling to keep warm in the face of rising energy bills. It supports the work of the local
Men’s Woodwork Group. It has brought together different community groups for guided nature
walks led by the local park ranger. It has invited people who support our blanket project to
concerts in the church hall. The parish has made its hall available for many events led by local
charities.
The first meeting of the Care of Creation group was held in August ‘22. By June ‘23, St Ninian and
St Cuthbert’s Parish had received a Silver Award from Eco Congregation. The Parish was
commended for;-
● it’s connection to the wider community and local community projects
●it’s ecumenical connections and joint working with other churches.
●it’s active involvement of young people and the activities for them, including the eco- comic, the
involvement of Pope Francis and Caritas award pupils.
●the high levels of energy, creativity and commitment from the group and their willingness to act
as an example of an active Catholic eco-congregation
