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St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Church, John Street, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland, UK. Postal address: 8 Bank Street, Blairgowrie, Perthshire PH10 6DE, Scotland, UK. Phone 01250 872171. Email ststephens2010@btinternet.com. (John Street, in the centre of Blairgowrie as the map below shows, is where our resident parish priest Father James Walls (Father Jim) lives. Bank Street is parallel to John Street and our main parish church is between the two streets.
Mass timesSee the latest available Parish Bulletin or below, for Mass times this coming week.
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Weekday Masses (w.c. Monday 14th May)
Monday: St. Stephen's at 10.00 a.m.
Tuesday: St. Stephen's at 10.00 a.m. 17th May - The Ascension of the Lord (Holy Day of Obligation) Wednesday: Vigil in St. Mary's at 6.30 p.m. Thursday: St. Stephen's at 10.00 a.m. Friday: No Mass Saturday: No Mass Sunday Masses Vigil Mass in St. Mary's at 6.30 p.m. Mass in St. Luan's at 9.30 a.m. Mass in St. Stephen's at 11.00 a.m. Reconciliation Saturday: 10.30 - 11.00 a.m. in St. Stephen's 6.0 - 6.15 p.m. in St. Mary's Sunday: Before Mass in St. Luan's Photo left: The Good Shepherd stained glass in St. Stephen's, photographed by Maria Fitzsimmons.
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Earlier printed or digital pdf (for computers) copies of the Parish Bulletin are available for those who wish them. See Contact Us.
Daily Readings
See front page, right, of Diocese of Dunkeld.
Ninewells, Dundee: 01382 225228.
Perth Royal Infirmary (PRI): 01738 622241
Father Jim
Rev. James E. Walls, B.Sc (Hons), BD (2005). Email ststephens2010@btinternet.com. In Blairgowrie since January 2010. 8 Bank Street, Blairgowrie, Perthshire PH10 6DE. Phone: 01250 872171. Before he came to Blairgowrie as parish priest he was an assistant priest in Arbroath. In the 2010 photograph below, children representing the parishes of St Thomas' RC Church, Arbroath, St Anne's, Carnoustie, and St Brides, Monifieth, were pictured after the presentation of gifts to Father Jim Walls who was then their assistant priest. Also shown are Father Jim's mum, Cathy Walls, his aunt, Sister Hildegard, and Fathers Kevin Gregory and Jim Foley.
Arbroath Herald photo of presentation to Father Jim
Rev. Anthony Cousins, MA, DipEd (1996). Phone 01250 875902. He was ordained into the Permanent Deaconate on 9th March 1996.Tony’s wife Helene, with Tony and daughter Nadine, Right Rev. Vincent Logan, Bishop of Dunkeld, sons Gerard and Anthony, and parish priest Hugh Canon Sreenan were among those present on that auspicious occasion.
2005 - January 2010. Canon Ian Mullen.
1988-2005. Rev. Hugh Sreenan.
1981-1988. Rev. Patrick McInally.
1977-1981. Rev. Joseph Creegan.
1977. Rev. James Stuart.
1969-1977. Rev. Edmund Purcell.
1964-1969. Rev. Patrick McNamara.
1959-1964. Rev. Kevin A. Smyth.
1951-1959. Rev. Jeremiah O'Donoghue.
1917-1951. Rev. Walter Robert Stretch.
1890-1917. Rev. John Malcolm.
1882-1890. Rev. Thomas Crumley. During his time, the congregation purchased from the School Board, which then ran all the schools in Blairgowrie, the Parish School at the top of John Street. It became St. Stephen's Roman Catholic School, primary and secondary. And in 1890 came the Formation of St. Stephen's Catholic Union, at which concerts and amateur dramatic entertainments were occasionally given. A reading room and lending library wewre also provided, for the use of members.
1850-1882. Rev. (later, Dr) John Carmont.
1836-1850. Rev. James Mackay (From Perth Mission). Local historian John A. R. MacDonald, in his 1899 book "A History of Blairgowrie" wrote: "Until then, Roman Catholics in Blairgowrie and region numbered about a dozen. Father Mackay came once a month, from Perth and Murthly. He was the first Catholic priest in Blairgowrie since the Reformation. He and his flock met in the old Town Hall... He purchased the ground in Bank Street where the church now stands. Two houses were built and the upper flat of one was used as a church until the present church was built."
Parish History to December 2006.
Our East Perthshire parish is a fairly extensive area 18+ miles from Perth and Dundee and about 80 miles from Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Mostly in Perth and Kinross Council Ward 3, the parish covers all of Blairgowrie, Rattray and the Glens, plus Alyth and Coupar Angus in Ward 2. Thus they also include the areas Forneth, Craigie, Concraigie, Lunie, Achalader, Lornty, Kinloch, Kirkton of Lethendy, Spittalfield, Delvine, Meikleour, Kinclaven, Cargill, Rosemount, Keithick, Woodside, Burrelton, Campmuir, Markethill, Kettins, Leys, Keillor, Arthurstone, Ardler, Auchtertyre, Newbigging, Newtyle, Pitcur, Lundie, etc. They and our St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Primary School in Blairgowrie are in the Diocese of Dunkeld.
Diocese of Dunkeld Scottish Charity No SCOO1810. The Catholic Church restored the diocese on 4 March 1878, by decree of Pope Leo XIII. Dunkeld is one of the suffragan sees in the archiepiscopal province of St. Andrews and Edinburgh, and includes the counties of Perth, Angus, Clackmannan, Kinross, and the northern part of Fife. The diocesan cathedral is dedicated to Saint Andrew and is located in Dundee rather than Dunkeld, Dundee being the residence of the majority of the Catholics of the diocese and the largest centre of population. The cathedral chapter, erected in 1895, consists of a provost and eight canons.The present bishop is the Right Reverend Vincent Paul Logan who assumed office on 26 February 1981. In 2010 the diocese comprised 35 parishes (including this one, with about 650 Catholics) of 43,000 Catholics from a total population of 400,000 (10.8%) served by 48 priests and 9 deacons. In area the diocese is 8,495 square kilometres (3,281 square miles).
John Street, Blairgowrie, PH10 6NQ. Phone: 01250 872171. Email ststephens2010@btinternet.com. Our main parish church. In October 1849, the Rev. John Carmont was appointed as resident priest. Overcoming many difficulties, and with the financial assistance of Mr and Mrs Trotter of Woodhill, he was able to purchase further ground, on which St. Stephen’s Church was built. The building was designed by Mr. W. E.Pugin, who reversed the original plan, and placed the entrance towards John Street rather than Bank Street. Pugin planned it as a plain Gothic rectangle, now roughcast except for the front south gable, cement-rendered. The gable contains a tall window of tree cusped lights. Originally, the end of the building included a school. Stained glass windows show Our Lady and St. Joseph; St. Stephen; Our Lady and St. Anne; and the Good Shepherd.
Mass was celebrated within the Church before the end of 1855. Rev. John Carmont served the mission well for 32 years. Through his dedication the new church and school were built. On 13th January 1856 the church was formally opened with great ceremony by Bishop Gillies of Edinburgh. Father William Smith, later Archbishop of Edinburgh, preached the first sermon from the church. When Rev (later, Dr) Carmont left in 1882 the congregation had increased to 600.In 1906 the Church celebrated its Golden Jubilee, under the pastoral care of Canon John Malcolm. The church was painted and re-decorated, and an organ purchased, half the cost of which was met by the late Andrew Carnegie. Also during Canon Malcolm’s 28 year charge, a heating system was introduced, and a new Presbytery built. By 1917, when Canon Malcolm moved on, the Parish was self-supporting, and free of debt, thanks to the generosity of benefactors. As the 100 year milestone approached, St. Stephen’s underwent extensive renovation, instigated by Father, soon to become Canon, O’Donoghue. During the renovations, the pews were taken out, and replaced with pews of Japanese oak. The old pews, complete with space for a name card denoting the “tenant” of the pew, went into the Stand at Blairgowrie Junior Football Club in Davie Park. (These were later removed, when the “Stand” became just that, and there was no seating). In January 2006, the-then new incumbent, Father Ian Mullen, concelebrated Mass to mark the 150th Anniversary of St. Stephen’s with the Bishop of Dunkeld, the Right Reverend Vincent Logan, assisted by Deacon Tony Cousins. Organist Tom Buckham composed a hymn in honour of St. Stephen to mark the occasion, and was joined by musicians and singers from the parish schools, St. Stephen’s Primary and St. Columba’s High School in Perth. As congregations and priests have changed, so have the social and parochial gatherings. Each priest has brought his own strength to the Parish, and has introduced or supported innovations to encourage the spiritual and temporal growth of St. Stephen’s Church. The above are extracts from "St. Stephen's: A Church and it's people 1856-2006."
Location in Blairgowrie of St. Stephen's Church
St. Stephen's, main church of the parish. Facing the front, with stained glass windows and altar.
Facing the back of the church, and the organ loft.
There is also St. Stephen's Hall, repairs to which, including a new heating system and treatment for dry rot, were carried out in September and October 2010.
No parking in church courtyard, please park on John Street or nearby.
By Sunday dates:
20/05/12 A. Scott/M. Clark
27/05/12 M. Young/M.Wojtowicz
03/06/12 M. Fitzsimmons/A. Fitzsimmons
10/06/12 M. Young/R. Boland
17/06/12 M. Clark/A. Scott
24/06/12 M.Wojtowicz/M.Young
01/07/12 A. Fitzsimmons/M.Fitzsimmons
08/07/12 R.Boland/M. Fitzsimmons
15/07/12 A. Scott/M. Clark
22/07/12 M. Young/M.Wojtowicz
29/07/12 M. Fitzsimmons/A. Fitzsimmons
| Sunday | 1st Reading | 2nd Reading | Offertory | Intercessions |
| 20/05/12 |
P.Simpson |
M. Simpson |
D. Gordon | A. Stewart |
| 27/05/12 |
J. Cameron |
J. Yates |
M. & G. Stewart | V. Naughton |
| 03/06/12 |
V. Naughton |
A. Scott |
C. & C. Laboriante | G. Proctor |
| 10/06/12 |
M. Simpson |
P. Simpson |
A. Stewart | J. Yates |
| 17/06/12 |
M. Coyle |
G. Kendall |
L. & J. McGregor | G. Proctor |
| 24/06/12 |
A. Scott |
V. Naughton |
M. Petrie | M. Glenville-Sutherland |
| 01/07/12 |
M. Simpson |
P. Simpson |
D. Gordon | G. Proctor |
| 08/07/12 |
M. Glenville-Sutherland |
J. Cameron |
C. Duffy | V. Naughton |
| 15/07/12 |
P. Simpson |
P. Simpson |
M. & G. Stewart | J. Yates |
| 22/07/12 |
G. Kendal |
M. Coyle |
L. & J. McGregor | G. Proctor |
| 29/07/12 |
M. Glenville-Sutherland |
A, Scott |
A. Stewart | M. Galbally |
If any of the above will be away on a particular Sunday, please arrange a replacement and amend the reader's list in the church porch.
Alyth, Alexandra Street. Saint Luan (otherwise Saint Moloc or Murlach or Molluog) was born around 530 in Scotland, though some say Ireland.
There is some uncertainty about this. However, it is known he trained under Saint Brendan the Elder at Birr in Ireland.
At some point he sailed back to Scotland, establishing himself on the island of Lismore.
From there he voyaged to the mainland and also the islands, as far north as Skye and the Outer Hebrides, preaching the Christian message.
He died at Rossmarkie in 572 and may have been a bishop by that time.
450 years later, King Malcolm II attributed a great victory to his intercession and founded a see, an abbey and cathedral at Murlach in this saint's name.
His feast day is June 25th. A good photo of the church will be forthcoming. In the meantime, see this small one, as used in the Parish Bulletin.
Coupar Angus, Queen Street. Originally Coupar Angus United Presbyterian Church, also understood to have once been a cinema. Nearly opposite the site of the former once very significant Coupar Angus Abbey built by Catholic monks from about 1350. The latter was destroyed in 1558 at the start of the Scottish Reformation which later begat the Coupar Angus Abbey church of Scotland, there in its present form since the mid 19th century. Our church celebrated her 44th anniversary on 6th October 2010. Parishioners attending Mass often park further down on the main road leading to Dundee.
2010 Photos of St. Mary's by parishioners Keith and Lois Forbes
Blairgowrie Community Campus, Elm Drive, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, PH10 6UZ. Phone 01250 871950. Fax 01250 871075. Email headteacher@st-stephens.pkc.sch.uk.
Blairgowrie Advertiser newspaper photos from the official dedication on Wednesday, September 22, 2010 of our parish's St. Stephen's Roman Catholic Primary School at it's new location at the Blairgowrie Community Campus to its patron saint, St. Stephen.
The Mass was celebrated by Monsignor Ken McCaffrey, Vicar General, Diocese of Dunkeld. He was assisted by our parish priest Father Jim Walls, St. Stephen's Church, Blairgowrie, school chaplain; Monsignor Charles Hendry, St. John's Perth, who had earlier conducted the first Mass at the new St. Stephen's campus; and Father Tobias Okoro, St. Bride's, Pitlochry. A welcome was given by Elizabeth Douglas, head teacher. Guests included Mr. John Fyffe, executive director, Education and Children's Services; Maria Walker, depute director; Mrs Fiona Patton, head teacher, Newhill Primary School; Councillor Liz Grant, convenor, Life Long Learning Committee; and Councillor Caroline Shiers. Singers were Mia Johnston, Jordanne Finlayson, Megan Osbaldstone and Chloe Donaldson. They sang the Responsorial Psalm, You Who Dwell (On Eagles' Wings). Scripture readings were by pupil Andrew Grant and Father Jim. Prayers of the Faithful were led by Ruth Croll and Eddie Richards, P1; Lucy Fraser, P3; Alex Adams, P4; Maximillian Adams, P5; Catriona Rennie and Olivia Bannaghan, P6; and Michael Junka, P7. The Offertory procession was led by Cole Webster-Baxter and Jessica Mahoney, P1/2. Praise was led on piano by Susan Cassidy, music teacher and also principal teacher of guidance at St. John's.
Proud family members are shown, including Wilma Doig and her daughter Clarissa (bottom photo). Mrs. Doig presented a gift to Monsignor McCaffrey on behalf of the school and parish.
New in 2011. For St. Stephen's Primary 6 and 7 children as well as ex St. Stephen's first years now attending St. John's Academy in Perth. The club has the support of Dunkeld Youth Services and offers children a chance to have lots of fun in a safe environment. The club is run by adult volunteers all of whom are Disclosure Scotland-checked. Meets every Thursday from 24th February from 6-8 pm in the church hall. For further information contact Jim Allison at 01250 875662.
Parishioners with a singing voice are welcomed. They help the parish to develop its Liturgy. Contact the organists or Father Jim or Deacon Tony.
The children enjoy hearing the Word of God in a manner to which they can relate so parishioners are asked to give serious consideration to becoming part of a team, whether as a Liturgist or as a helper. It is hoped to gather enough volunteers to establish a roster.
Collections
At St Stephen's the traditional method of gathering in offerings will be reinstated from Sunday 3 July 2011 and, as has been the practice at St Mary's and St Luan's, a collection will be taken just before the Offertory procession. At all churches there are occasional retiring collections.
Parishioners who qualify for HMRC tax purposes to use this for their Collections are encouraged to do so in our churches, as it helps boost Parish income at no extra cost to themselves.
In the process of being formed from among resident members of the parish, to help give appropriate advice to our parish priest and deacon on parish issues, for the parish priest to decide on at his discretion. When this advisory body is elected or appointed, names of members will be shown here, with contact details. To help get it going Father Jim contacted Father Angus McDonald (Parish Priest, St Catherine Laboure, Balornock) and he arrived at St. Stephen's at 1 pm on Saturday, 22nd January 2011 with several of the Pastoral Council of his parish to give us a flavour of what the Council is like and how it relates to our pastoral community and other relevant bodies. 22 St Stephen's parishioners attended.
The Paish Pastoral Council now meets once a month. At its last meeting, held on 1st June, it explored further the purpose of a PPC, which, research issues, reflect on them and recommend conclusions to the parish priest so that he can make the best possible decision. to put this into practice, Fr. Jim has asked the PPC to investigate how best we can implement the new Roman Missal, as well as what our Parish needs to fufil its purpose in furthering the Kingdom of God.
One thing that has already been highlighted is the need for clear and open communication, with Father Jim stressing the fact that every parishoner has a right of access to their priest and have their voice heard.
Pastoral council members: Rachel Stevenson; Eileen Houston; Mary O'Brian; Sandra Morrison; Deacon Tony Cousins; Martyn Glenville-Sutherland; Jim Young; Anthony Simmons.
Such as baptisms, confirmations, marriages, renewal of marriage vows and funerals are by arrangement.
His Holiness the Pope greeting the faithful in Glasgow, 16th September 2010. It was the first visit to Scotland of the Pope, therefore of special significance, with continuous newspaper and television coverage over several days. See Papal-Visit.pdf. For those whose interest has been sparked in Pope Benedict and his visit, a booklet and other resources describing the Papal Visit 2010 to Scotland and other parts of the UK are sale in the foyer of the parish churches. They provides insights into the Pope and his Pastoral travels. An official DVD (issued by the Bishop's Conference) is available at a cost of £10.99. Contact Jim Young for details.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen. There are many churches, Catholic and non-Catholic, named in his honour.
St. Stephen's Cathedral, Passau, Germany, visited by Blair parishioners November 2010
But none are as beautiful and divinely spiritual as the awesome and simply magnificent Roman Catholic St. Stephen's Cathedral in Passau, SouthernBavaria, Germany. A married couple from Blairgowrie, St. Stephen's parishioners who attend St. Mary's Church in Coupar Angus, were there in November 2010 on a Danube riverboat cruise from Passau, then Linz (and from there a side trip to Salzburg), Melk and Vienna in Austria and Bratislava in Slovakia to Budapest, Hungary.
At St. Stephen's Cathedral in Passau, the 11:30 am Sunday Mass for the 90% or so of the city's folk who are Catholic includes a massed choir and orchestra. This grand 15th-17th century reconstructed (built on an earlier one) cathedral has a unique and huge church organ, with 17,774 pipes, one of the wonders of the musical world. The organ is the third-largest in the world and the largest one by far in any cathedral. This baroque cathedral's dramatic height, astounding painted ceilings, tinted (not stained) glass windows and other spectacular adornments make it a must-see for both Roman Catholics and non-Catholics alike. It's no wonder it tops the list in all riverboat cruises of places to see in Passau.
At Melk, the vessel organized a tour of the huge, splendid Melk Abbey (Stift Melk in German) Benedictine abbey there, a baroque architectural gem with its ornate interior, elaborate frescoes and it's library’s extensive collection of medieval manuscripts. The abbey is one of the world's most famous monastic sites. It is located above the town of Melk on a rocky outcrop overlooking the river Danube in Lower Austria, adjoining the Wachau valley. The abbey was founded in 1089 when Leopold II, Margrave of Austria gave one of his castles to Benedictine monks from Lambach Abbey. A school was founded in the 12th century, and the monastic library soon became renowned for its extensive manuscript collection. The monastery's scriptorium was also a major site for the production of manuscripts. In the 15th century the abbey became the centre of the Melk Reform movement which reinvigorated the monastic life of Austria and Southern Germany. Due to its fame and academic stature, Melk Abbey managed to escape dissolution under Emperor Joseph II when many other Austrian abbeys were seized and dissolved between 1780 and 1790. The abbey managed to survive other threats to its existence during the Napoleonic Wars, and also in the period following the Nazi Anschluss that took control of Austria in 1938, when the school and a large part of the abbey were confiscated by the state. The school was returned to the abbey after the Second World War and now caters for nearly 900 pupils of both sexes from Germany, Austria, Hungary, other members of the European Union and beyond. In November 2010 when our Blairgowrie parishioners visited this famous Benedictine monastery, it had experienced than 900 years of unbroken devotion to their Roman Catholic religion, scholarship and culture.
Melk Benedictine Abbey
A side trip to the city of Salzburg, with its own Catholic churches and other religious revelations was sheer delight.
The cruise made it clear how the majority of citizens of those cities in Lower Germany, Lower Austria, Slovakia and Hungary and nearby are Catholic. Their principal city attractions, which all riverboat cruise passengers are invited at no additional cost to see via organized tour guides, specifically include their historic Catholic churches. The upkeep and repair of these churches, because they represent the biggest single religious group of their city dwellers, are financially supported by their regional authorities. An unexpected bonus to the trip was how many passengers on this river cruise who were not Catholic found out for themselves how spiritually nourishing these magnificent Catholic places of worship are.
Also visited in November 2010, in Vienna, Austria, was this beautiful St. Stephen's Cathedral (German: Stephansdom).
It is the mother church of the Archdiocese of Vienna and the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, OP. It is situated at the heart of Vienna, Austria in the Stephansplatz. It began in 1147 as a parish church. As the most important religious building in Austria's capital, the cathedral has borne witness to many important events in that nation's history and has, with its multi-colored tile roof, become one of the city's most recognizable symbols.
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This website was formed by our parish priest Father Jim Walls for and is owned by this Parish.
© 2012. Revised: May 13, 2012
