Bishop Vincent Logan RIP
The Requiem Mass for Bishop Vincent Logan, retired bishop of Dunkeld, who died 14th January, will take place at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Dundee at midday on Tuesday, 26th January. It will be recorded and available later that day at www.dunkelddiocese.co.uk. The Reception of Remains with Vespers is at 5pm on Monday, 25th January and will also be recorded and made available thereafter to view.
Confessions, Last Rites and Availability of Livestream Masses during Church Closures
The Scottish Government has said that the present lockdown is likely to continue until mid-February. There will be another review on 2nd February. In the meantime, we will continue to livestream Mass from Cathedral House at 10am Monday-Saturday on our Facebook page and website https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/filming. Sunday Mass from the Cathedral can be viewed the website each Sunday from 10am. A priest is available every day to hear confessions. To schedule, please contact the Cathedral Office, 0131 556 1987, cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk. Also, anyone who is ill and in need of the Sacrament of the Sick should call the office. We will respond to all requests for the Last Rites.
Friendly Chat, Prayerful Support: ☎️ Telephone Apostolate ☎️ is Available to Help!
Stay connected! As lockdown continues, our parish telephone apostolate volunteers are on hand to assist you or anyone you may know who could benefit from a friendly chat and a check-in. A phone call from our volunteers can be a wonderful means of prayerful support as well as a great encouragement in the faith! Please contact the Cathedral Office, 0131 556 1987, cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Sunday Eucharistic Adoration through the Convent Chapel Window of the Religious Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Sisters of Mercy invite you to stop by outside their Convent Chapel window on Sunday afternoons 1:00pm to 3:45pm at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston (77 Belford Road) to Adore the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. The Blessed Sacrament in the monstrance is beautifully visible through the window during the Sisters’ hours of Eucharistic Adoration every Sunday.
“Gathered and Sent: A Valentine's Retreat for Engaged and Married Couples”, Saturday, 13th February, 3pm-4:30pm
Engaged and married couples are invited to a Valentine’s retreat Saturday, 13th February, 3:00pm- 4:30pm on Zoom. Canon John Udris, Spiritual Director at St Mary’s College, Oscott (Birmingham), has specially prepared two video reflections for the event which offer couples the opportunity to reflect on the joy, beauty and purpose of marriage and family. There will be time for each couple to reflect together on these themes and a time of guided prayer together. This is a free event organised by the Archdiocesan Marriage Commission. Register at bit.ly/CouplesRetreat2021
Videos and Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2021
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity began Monday, 18th January and concludes on Tuesday, 25th January, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul. To encourage prayer for an end to divisions among all Christians, the Archdiocese has provided many resources and videos for this annual octave of prayer on its website: https://archedinburgh.org/event-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity
Take Action and Ask your MSP to Oppose Introducing Assisted Suicide
The assisted suicide lobby have launched a large campaign to put pressure on the Government to reconsider the legalisation of assisted suicide. Ask your MSP to make it clear to the Government that it should not give into demands from the assisted suicide lobby to reconsider the legalisation of assisted suicide. It only takes 30 seconds to email your MSP by visiting https://beta.parliament.scot/msps/current-and-previous-msps
Speak Out to Stop ‘DIY’ Abortion Services Being Made Permanent in Scotland
The Scottish Government is currently deciding on whether to make the temporary measure allowing ‘DIY’ home abortions in Scotland permanent. It is vital that as many people as possible contact their MSPs to ask them to write to the First Minister laying out the serious dangers with ‘DIY’ home abortions and ask that the temporary order allowing ‘DIY’ home abortion be revoked and not made permanent. Contact your MSPs in less than 30 seconds at www.righttolife.org.uk/notodiyabortion
Stations of the Cross – Monday Evenings Online During Lent
The Archdiocesan Pro-Life commission is organising an online Stations of the Cross that will take place each Monday evening throughout Lent on Zoom. Details to follow soon.
New Address for Catholic Parliamentary Office
As of Thursday, 21st January, the Catholic Parliamentary Office has move from its previous location in St Patrick’s, Edinburgh to a new address: 64 Aitken Street, Airdrie, ML6 6LT. View latest news at https://rcpolitics.org/latest-news/ or sign up for their newsletter using the form at the bottom their homepage https://rcpolitics.org/ The Catholic Parliamentary Office is an agency of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland established in 1999 to aid the Church in contributing to the work of both Government and Parliament in accordance with the principles of Catholic Social Teaching.
Free Online Courses: Job Seeking and Budgeting Skills
Are you looking to find work? The Mustard Seed Scottish Episcopal community in Edinburgh is sponsoring the Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Job Club course with practical help seeking employment and 1 to 1 coaching tailored to each person's needs. The course is free and will be on Zoom each Monday, 1st Feb-8th March, 1.00pm-2:30pm. Do you want to learn how to take control of your spending? Mustard Seed will also offer the first half of the CAP Life Skills course, including how to manage spending and build a simple budget, on Zoom each Monday, 1st Feb-15th, 10.00am-11.30am. The Life Skill course will be a smaller group, with just five places available. To register for either course or for more information, contact Mark Harris, markharris@capuk.org, 07519 268800 or David Strang, davidstrang@capjobclubs.org, 07735 513536.
Online Talks in January and February
Monday, 25th Jan., 7:30pm: Rediscover the Power of Baptism and Confirmation: “Fire & Water” Talk
The final online talk of the Archdiocese’s “Fire & Water” series, covering Confirmation and Baptism, takes place on Monday, 25th Jan at 7:30pm on Zoom. This 45-minute session, given by Archdiocesan Catechetics Advisor, Sister Anna Marie McGuan, RSM, will be followed by a brief question and answer period. Parents whose children are being prepared for Baptism or Confirmation will find this talk helpful,. Sign up by emailing sranna.marie@staned.org.uk
Tuesday, 26th Jan, 7:00 pm “Are Science and Religion Compatible?”
The Thomistic Institute at the University of Edinburgh presents a lecture by Fr. Michael Dodds, O.P. of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California. The event will be held on Zoom on Tuesday, 26th January 26 at 7:00pm. To register in advance, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/are-science-and-religion-compatible-tickets-132851800311
Four Consecutive Sundays (31st Jan., 7th Feb., 14th Feb., 21st Feb.): Faith in the Time of Covid Talks
Archbishop Cushley invites you to join a series of Sunday online talks from distinguished speakers who will offer their thoughts and approach to the pandemic. Each event is free and lasts 30 mins.
Bishop Philip Egan, 5pm, 31 Jan. Register bit.ly/FaithCovid-Egan
Dr Mary Rice Hasson, 5pm, 07 Feb. Register bit.ly/FaithCovid-Hasson
Professor John Haldane, 5pm 14 Feb. Register: bit.ly/FaithCovid-Haldane
Rt Hon Gordon Brown, 5pm, 21 Feb. Register bit.ly/FaithCovid-Brown
“Science, Faith & the Meaning of Life: Comparing Richard Dawkins and Albert Einstein”, Monday, 8th Feb.
Heriot-Watt University Chaplaincy’s 2021 Annual Public Lecture on the topic “Science, Faith & the Meaning of Life: Comparing Richard Dawkins and Albert Einstein” will be given by Professor Alister McGrath via livestream on Monday 8th February at 7.30pm-9:00pm. Professor McGrath, an Anglican priest, is the Andreas Idreos Professor of Science and Religion and Director of the Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion at the University of Oxford. This lecture will be based on his current unpublished research. Please register on Eventbrite at Science, Faith and the Meaning of Life (Heriot-Watt University Chaplaincy) If you are unable to access Eventbrite please email: chaplaincy@hw.ac.uk before Wednesday 3rd February.