Welcome to Fr. Frank Condi
You may remember that two years ago Frank Condi, a French seminarian, came to do a summer pastoral placement at the Cathedral. Frank was ordained to the priesthood last month and has asked to return to the Cathedral to offer a “First Mass” here. Next Sunday, therefore, Fr. Frank will be offering the 12noon Mass at the Cathedral and will be giving his first blessing after the Mass. This will be a lovely occasion and I know that you will make Fr. Frank very welcome.
Festival Mass – 18th August
Then – the week after next we will welcome Sir James MacMillan as our special guest at the 12 noon Mass, which is our annual Festival Mass. Cardinal Vincent Nichols will preach at the Mass and The Sixteen (an internationally acclaimed choir) will be singing in place of our Choir. It will be a very special occasion. During this Mass, a photographer will be visiting the Cathedral, if you wish to avoid being photographed, please avoid sitting in the central seating block.
Catholic Voting Rights on the Education Committee
The Catholic Church and others presently have the right in Scotland to sit on local Council Education Committees and to vote on matters affecting our Catholic schools. On 22 August, the City of Edinburgh Council is to vote on a Green Party motion to remove those voting rights. If this motion is carried it will pose a serious threat to the Church’s capacity to influence decisions regarding Catholic education and Catholic Schools in the City of Edinburgh. I would therefore ask you to contact your local councillors, as a matter of urgency, and urge them to vote against this motion. Write to your councillor soon, a template letter is available on postcards at the back of the Church. The contact details for Edinburgh councillors are here: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/councillors/ward
God bless you all,
Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie, Sr. Mary Simone and Deacon Peter