Parish Meeting, Monday 2 November - A date for your diaries
In order to try to discern how we, as a parish community, should respond to the Covid crisis and how we try to listen to the God in this situation, we have decided to hold a parish meeting on the evening of Monday 2 November, 7-9pm. The meeting will be held on Zoom (which is not ideal) but it will be very well moderated and we will have break out rooms for small group discussions. There will be more details about the meeting next week but I just want you put the date in your diaries and encourage you to participate in this initiative.
If you would like to know more about the idea behind the meeting watch the video in this post and register with the form below or send us an email. Please mark the date and please make every effort to participate.
Pastoral Letter from Archbishop Cushley
His Grace the Archbishop has published a Pastoral Letter about the Pandemic. The letter is available here.
SCIAF – Wednesday 14th October at 7pm
The Cathedral is hosting a Zoom meeting with speakers from SCIAF to find out more about the impact of the current pandemic on the poorest societies and links between poverty and climate change. We’ll be joined by Alistair Dutton CEO, Blessings Kachale, Programme Officer, and Thomas Mulvey, Community Engagement Officer, to explore these questions and much more. If you’d like to join us, please email the Cathedral Office to register.
Parish Bible Study – Thursdays at 7:30pm on Zoom
Fr. Jamie’s Bible Study continues on Thursday evenings. Email frjamie@stmaryscathedral.co.uk to sign up. You will receive a short and accessible commentary for the coming Sunday’s Gospel in preparation for the Bible study. At the meetings, we ask questions, share our reflections and pray together. Come and join us as we build community and seek to nourish our friendship with God.
Live-streamed Mass from Glasgow for Persecuted Christians, Tuesday, 13 October
“Aid to the Church in Need” will host a live-stream Mass on Tuesday 13th October at 7pm at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow, to pray for persecuted Christians. The Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Philip Tartaglia and Bishop John Keenan. For further information please see https://acnuk.org/events/
The Debut CD from the Schola Cantorum of the 12noon Mass — For Sale after Mass!
Available now for purchase is With Angels and Archangels, the Cathedral Choir’s first CD. You can have a look at the beautiful CD and buy one after the 9am and 12pm Masses at the Cathedra this weekend. You can also purchase it online. All proceeds from the sale of the CD will go directly towards ensuring the future of our cathedral music. Thank you for your support of music at St Mary’s through your purchase of the CD!
Society of St Vincent de Paul
While the presence of our SSVP Conference has not been as visible as usual during these COVID restricted times, we have been able to continue our work through telephone calls and virtual meetings. Please know we are always here to help, supporting individuals and families. If you become aware of ways in which our support would be welcome or needed, please contact the Parish Office . While we have had to suspend our communal activities and home visits, we remain committed to responding to requests for assistance and/or to give support wherever and to whomever we can. A grateful and heartfelt thank you to all who have made donations to the Conference in recent months.
Daily Confessions in the Cathedral
Confessions are available at the Cathedral Monday – Friday following the 12.45pm Mass and on Saturdays from 10.30am – 12noon and 5pm – 5.45pm. For the sake of providing better ventilation, we are not using the confessionals. Rather, the priests are hearing confessions in the sacristy, but still with a screen to provide anonymity. If you do not know where the sacristy is, our volunteers in the back of the Cathedral will be happy to show you. Also, if you need help remembering how to go to Confession, no worries—the priest will be happy to walk you through it. Do take advantage of this great Sacrament of healing!
Could you help us keep the Cathedral open?
We are still looking for generous volunteers who can act as passkeepers to help the Cathedral comply with all COVID-19 regulations. This is an essential capacity, so if you are able to help, please contact Elizabeth Andrews, who coordinates the volunteers. Thank you, one and all, for your help—many people have been so grateful to be able to pray in our Cathedral during the day!
Congratulations and Return of Catechism Classes
Warm congratulations to all of the children who celebrated their First Holy Communion in our churches on Saturday! We now welcome to catechism class those children (P3 and above) who do not attend a Catholic school and have been registered for their First Confession / Reconciliation in 2021. The class meets at 10am in the Parish Rooms at St Andrew's, Ravelston. For those children (P4 and above) who have registered for First Holy Communion in 2021, and those children (P7 and above) who have registered for Confirmation in 2021 - please note that these classes are scheduled to begin in January 2021. More details will be provided nearer the time. Thank you for your patience.
October: Month of the Rosary
October is the month of the Holy Rosary. To mark this special month, the Archdiocesan pro-life office have produced a series of prayer intentions to pray for this intention. Pray the rosary here.
Pilgrimage Opportunities
Need to ‘Get Out’? Take a “Day Out” on one of Scotland’s great pilgrimage trails, to Rosslyn Chapel a few miles south of Edinburgh or north along St Margaret’s Way to St Andrews. Check the “Little Camino” on http://www.thewayofstandrews.com/.
40 Days for Life: 23rd September – 1 November
Since 2007, 40 Days for Life has been organising pro-life outreach that is prayerful and supportive of future moms. 40 Days for Life is an inter-denominational, faith-based effort made up of three key components: 1) prayer and fasting—inviting people of faith to join together for 40 days of fervent prayer and fasting for an end to abortion; 2) a 40-day peaceful prayer vigil outside Chalmers Sexual Health Centre; and 3) community outreach: taking a positive, upbeat pro-life message to as many as possible. To learn more about 40 Days for Life or to register for events, visit www.40daysforlife.com.
Conferences from Lauriston Jesuit Centre
The Lauriston Jesuit Centre will offer conferences in October on the “Four Last Things.” Sign up is available through Zoom.
Black History Month
St Andrew's and St George's West is hosting ‘Stories from Scotland and Beyond’ – a panel discussion of speakers sharing their experiences and stories with opportunities to ask questions. This will take place on 15th October.