Our Church

Our Church was officially opened on October 16th 1977.

Our parish was founded in April 1976 as a daughter parish of St. Columba’s.

The parish was established by the late Bishop Francis Thomson.

Founding parish priest was Fr. John F. Givens R.I.P.

He was succeeded by Fr. Bartholomew O’Regan R.I.P.

The present parish priest is Fr. Jim Morris who came to the parish on October 16th 1992

Here at St. Gabriel’s we begin our services with the Angelus prayer.

A tray for prayer intentions can be found at the back of the church.

These prayers remain on the altar all week and then are shredded, so any intentions are confidential.

Prayers, requests, reflections can also be entrusted to the St. Anthony’s Mail Box under his statue.

Any money should be donated separately and will be forwarded to the Chipole orphanage in Tanzania.

After Holy Communion has been distributed, pre-communion age children can come forward (or be carried) to receive a special blessing. This blessing is available to everyone, child or adult, during the final hymn.

The altar stone contains relics of St. Margaret, Queen of Scots, and the Roman Martyr and Deacon St. Lawrence.

Other relics in the church include St. Blaise, St. John Vianney, St. Pius X and St Teresa Margaret of the Sacred Heart, and a new relic of St. Mariam Baouardy.

The banners of St Andrew and St. Margaret are copied from murals in St. Margaret’s Airdrie, the oldest church in the diocese.