SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER: “The Father will give you another Helper to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16).

 

 

 

 

SAINT OF THE WEEK: THE ENGLISH CARTHUSIAN MARTYRS (d. 1534-1540), 11th MAY

Saints John Houghton, Robert Lawrence, Augustine Webster and fifteen Blessed companions
  John Houghton, Prior of the London Charterhouse, was recognised as a man of sanctity even before his martyrdom. Under his rule the community was a model of observance and austerity. Henry VIII was well aware that if the Carthusians could be persuaded to accept first the Act of Succession (1533) and then the Act of Supremacy (1534) others would find it easy to follow their example.
  Presented with the earlier Act, the Prior and his Procurator Humphrey Middlemore at first refused to swear, and were imprisoned for a month in the Tower. On advice from learned bishops, they agreed to take the oath “as far as the law of God allows”, and so were released.
  The following year (1535) the King assumed his title of Supreme Head of the Church in England. The Treasons Act made it treason “maliciously” to deny this title. Prior Houghton began to prepare his community for the inevitable onslaught. He consulted other priors who were visiting London, Robert Lawrence of Beauvale, Nottinghamshire, and Augustine Webster of Axholme, Lincolnshire. They decided to approach the King’s Minister Thomas Cromwell directly, to ask for a form of the oath which they could accept in conscience. Cromwell’s response was immediately to commit them to the Tower. There they were joined by a Brigittine priest, Richard Reynolds, who was to suffer with them.
  Their trial began on 27th April 1535. Cromwell became alarmed that they might be acquitted, threatened the jury with death if they did acquit, and finally went in person to persuade them to bring in the Guilty verdict. On 4th May they were dragged to Tyburn; the Prior was the first to suffer the barbarous execution by hanging, disembowelling and quartering of the body. Lawrence and Webster, undeterred by the dreadful scene, refused to recant and were similarly butchered. They were the first of a long line of martyrs for the Catholic faith in England.
  But this was only the beginning of the trials of the London Charterhouse. Within weeks, three more of the Fathers were committed to prison and interrogated. These were Humphrey Middlemore, now the Vicar, William Exmew, the Procurator, and Sebastian Newdigate. These were singled out as being leading members of the Community, and of good birth (Newdigate had been brought up in the King’s household), in the hope of terrorising the others into submission. The three steadfastly refused the Oath, and went to their execution on 19th June 1535.
  There followed a year during which the remaining Carthusians were constantly harassed and ill-treated. Then some of them were dispersed to other houses; in particular John Rochester and James Walworth to Hull, from where they were brought to trial and executed at York (11th May 1537). Now some brothers gave way to the continual pressure, and took the oath. Ten continued to refuse, and on 1st June 1537 were imprisoned in Newgate. There they were left, and all but one died of starvation and ill-usage. They were: Richard Bere, Thomas Johnson and Thomas Green, priests; John Davy, deacon; and Brothers William Greenwood, Thomas Scryven, Robert Salt, Walter Pierson, Thomas Redyng and William Horn. The last-named lingered in Newgate for nearly three years, and was finally executed on 4th August 1540.
  Some of those who had taken the oath had been promised that if they did so their House would be spared; but within a year, on 15th November 1538, all who remained were expelled and the monastery was desecrated. Other priories suffered a similar fate. The return of the London Charterhouse community to Sheen under Queen Mary (1557) was short-lived; they were finally exiled by Elizabeth, and it was not until 1873 that the Carthusians returned to England, to Parkminster in the parish of West Grinstead.
from Universalis

 

 

 

UPDATE ON PARISH SHRINE TO SS. CARLO, FRANCIS & CLARE: With the help of an architect in the parish, we have now settled on the exact size of the three icons for the triptych which will form the central feature of the shrine. This will enable the iconographer to begin work once the wood required has been supplied from the source he uses in Serbia. We are now working on determining the accessories that will be needed for the shrine, e.g. specialised glass coverings for the icons (non-reflective, UV-proof, etc.), lighting, the display for the first class relic of St. Carlo, kneelers, etc..). A list of these, together with an overall description of the project as well as some initial attempt at costing, has been submitted to the Diocese for approval. This is required for two reasons: first, any expenditure over £10k must receive diocesan approval; second, Bishop Frank has taken a personal interest in this project and so is pleased to be updated on its progress. With St. Carlo’s help, then, things are now beginning to take shape, but again it will be next Spring before we see the work completed and the shrine dedicated and blessed by the Bishop.

Mgr. Peter Magee, PP, 21st March 2026.

 

BISHOPS OF SCOTLAND OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS AND EVANGELISATION: Our Bishops have recently launched this new office to support our common efforts in proclaiming the Gospel and witnessing to the life of the Church in our nation. It is one of the most encouraging initiatives to date coming from the Bishops’ Conference. As part of this mission, Being Catholic TV will now serve as the official digital platform of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland. It will provide video content, livestreamed events, features from around the country, and faith formation resources to assist our parish communities in their work of evangelisation and outreach. To access these resources, visit beingcatholic.org or sign-up to the BCTV social channels.

     We are invited to share our parish good news stories by sending them to media@bcos.org.uk We are also invited to consider how digital media can further our own local evangelisation efforts. Parishioners are encouraged to engage with Being Catholic TV and the resources it provides.

 

PASTORAL LETTER OF BISHOP FRANK DOUGAN ON THE UNSUSTAINABILITY OF PARISH STRUCTURES IN THE DIOCESE OF GALLOWAY: PASTORAL LETTER FEBRUARY 2026

 

Notices

 

RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS (RCIA) FOR ST. MARY’S, LARGS, AND OUR LADY’S, MILLPORT:

 

 

Information page for the 2026-2027 program:

https://www.rclargsandmillport.com/rite-of-christian-initiation-of-adults/

 

 

 SIGN UP FORM

Form if you want to volunteer to assist in the RCIA programme for 2026-2027: VOLUNTEERS FORM

 

RELIC OF SAINT CARLO ACUTIS: For information and photos, please click on this link: https://www.rclargsandmillport.com/2024/08/21/relic-of-blessed-carlo-acutis/

 

PHOTO GALLERY, ST MARY’S PARISH FESTIVAL 2024:  St Mary’s Festival Photos

PHOTO GALLERY, ST MARY’S GARDEN 2024: St Mary’s Flower Garden

PHOTO GALLERY, ASSISI PILGRIMAGE OF FEBRUARY 2024: Assisi Pilgrimage 2024

 

OUR LADY’S PARISH CENSUS: If you are a Catholic who lives within the boundaries of Our Lady’s Parish (Millport), please consider filling out a Census form. Hard copies of the form are available in Our Lady’s church porch. Alternatively, you can fill in one on line by using the following link: https://forms.gle

 

ST. MARY’S PARISH CENSUS: If you are a Catholic who lives within the boundaries of St. Mary’s Parish (Largs, Fairlie and Skelmorlie), please consider filling out a Census form. Hard copies of the form are available in St. Mary’s church porch. Alternatively, you can fill in one on line by using the following link:  https://forms.gle/bViFEJBgCRVjuYnE8

 

SCOTTISH CATHOLIC SAFEGUARDING STANDARDS AGENCY (SCSSA): The official website of the new Agency can be found at: https://www.scsafeguarding.org.uk/SCSSA

 

“IN GOD’S IMAGE”, version 2: The Safeguarding Instruction of the Bishops of Scotland. https://www.rclargsandmillport.com/2021/08/28/in-gods-image-version-2-safeguarding-instruction-of-the-bishops-of-scotland/

 

DIOCESAN WEB-PAGE & FACEBOOK PAGE ON THE SYNOD: https://gallowaydiocese.org.uk/synod https://fb.me/gallowaysynod

 

 

VATICAN NEWS: Keep up to date with all news from the Vatican in English at: https://www.vaticannews.va/en.html

 

LITURGY

– SUNDAYS:

LARGS (live-streamed): Saturday Vigil, 6pm & Sunday 10am; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday (with exception of 2nd Thursdays) and Friday: Mass at 10am. Wednesday: Mass at 8am.

MILLPORT (live-streamed): 12.15pm, Sunday; 10am on 2nd Thursdays.

 

LIVESTREAM LINKS:

 

– HOLIDAYS OF OBLIGATION:

LARGS: Vigil Mass at 7pm; 10am Mass on the Day

MILLPORT: 12.15pm Mass on the Day

RC Largs and Millport Twitter

RC Largs and Millport Follow

01475 740019 Roman Catholic Churches in Largs and Millport

RCLargsMillport
rclargsmillport RC Largs and Millport @rclargsmillport ·
17h

The Holy Spirit is the Helper, the Advocate. He teaches us to know and love Christ and empowers us to obey His commandments. He remains with us for ever and imparts to us the life of Christ and the knowledge and love of the Father. Come, Holy Spirit!

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rclargsmillport RC Largs and Millport @rclargsmillport ·
17h

May the Lord richly bless our first communicants and their families on this special day. May it be the beginning of a new adventure of love and joy between them and the Lord and bring new life and hope to the whole parish!

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rclargsmillport RC Largs and Millport @rclargsmillport ·
8 May

Who you are is who God sees you to be, not who you think you are. And His point of departure in seeing you is always His eternal love for you. Yes, eternal. He loved you before creation began. So, don’t give in to destructive thoughts about yourself or anyone. Begin from God!

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Our Location

St Marys Star of the Sea
28 Greenock Road
Largs, KA30 8NE

Tel: 01475 740 019
largs@gallowaydiocese.org.uk

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour

College Street, Millport,
Isle of Cumbrae KA28 0BG
Tel: 01475 740 019
millport@gallowaydiocese.org.uk