St. John & St. Columba, Rosyth

Introduction

The present Church at the Crossroads, built in 1926, serves the Catholics of Rosyth, Charleston, Limekilns and Crombie. In 1926 the Church of Ss John & Columba Rosyth was built and the attached Presbytery became the residence of the priest.

History

The original Church of St John's Rosyth was founded certainly before 1178 AD; for in that year the Church and land was given by Papal Bull to the community of the Augustinian Abbey on Inchcolm Island. From 1913 work began on the construction of the Dockyard, and Mass was being celebrated in temporary accommodation in 'Tintown' from then. Fr Anthony Sweeney, a priest of the Diocese of Dunkeld loaned to the Archdiocese in 1909, took up residence in 1913 in Clarence House, Inverkeithing and ministered to the workers and other Catholics of the area based in Jamestown.

In 1919 a timber building was erected on Church land in Admiralty Road in Rosyth and was the first Catholic school in the area known as St John's; Mass was celebrated there on Sundays. A new purpose built school was opened in Crossroads Place, Rosyth on 28th July 1924, replacing the timber building, and again Mass was celebrated in the school every Sunday. On 16 November 1936, Archbishop Andrew Joseph McDonald OSB erected the Parish of Rosyth under the patronage of St John and St Columba. From 2010 both parishes of St Peter in Chains Inverkeithing and Ss John & Columba Rosyth have shared the same Parish Priest, resident in Rosyth. On 28 October 2018, the parishes were formally amalgamated by decree of the Archbishop to become one single parish, retaining all three churches with their patron saints, named the Most Holy Trinity.

Parish life

Musically gifted parishioners provide the music in each of the parish churches. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul exists to help alleviate material poverty and to carry out the corporal works of mercy, with assistance available to all irrespective of religious affiliation. The parish men's group is open to all men within the parish to provide a supportive and prayerful environment for men to relax and get to know each other. The men's group meets on Thursday evening once a month and is hosted in a different group member's home.

Landings is a Paulist ministry of compassionate listening and hospitality for the reconciliation of returning Catholics and those who may feel on the fringes of the faith community. Several parishioners carry out church cleaning tasks on a fortnightly basis, including vacuum cleaning, dusting, mopping floors, cleaning toilets, and glasswork and brass-work. Landings contact details cards are available at the back of all three churches.

Sacraments and pastoral care

Baptisms are generally administered during the Sunday Mass. Confirmation is open to those who are baptised and in Primary 4 or those not confirmed who are called to relive their baptismal promises. First Holy Communions are generally celebrated around the Feast of Corpus Christi (May/June), with parents of children in Primary 4 or above invited to register interest. Marriage enquiries and preparation are handled by contacting a member of the Parish Clergy.

The seriously ill can receive the sacrament of anointing by contacting the Parish Priest. The parish encourages contacting them sooner rather than later if sick or dying, and asks if the priest can visit at home. The parish offers information to organise a funeral Mass or service at St Peter in Chains, Ss John & Columba’s or Our Lady of Lourdes. The parish asks to be advised as soon as possible when a relative has died, to include them in prayers at Mass and in the Parish Newsletter.

The parish can provide specimen readings and a list of appropriate hymns for funerals. A eulogy by a family member usually takes place after Holy Communion at Mass, or towards the end of a service. The front benches are left for family and friends of the deceased at funerals.