Appeal for Mary’s Meals this week
A volunteer from the charity Mary’s Meals will be speaking at all Masses in the Cathedral this weekend, giving an update on their work providing school meals to children living in poverty around the world. There will be a collection following Mass if you would like to make a donation to this important cause. For more information, visit https://www.marysmeals.org.uk/.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Would you like to learn more about the works of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in our parish? Stop by the table in the Octagon after 9am and 12pm Masses this weekend to learn how the St. Vincent de Paul Society serves the poorest and most vulnerable in our community, showing God’s care and love with those in need. For more information, email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
November Lists
As you know November is the month of the Holy Souls when we pray in a particular way for our deceased relatives, friends and fellow parishioners. You’ll find purple sheets at the back of the church on which you can write the names of anyone whom you would like to be remembered in this way. Hand in your ‘November Lists’ to 61 York Place, pass them to the priest at the end of Mass or use the online form at https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/november-list.
Rite of the Signing with the Cross
Today we celebrate the Rite of the Signing with the Cross of those children preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation in February. Please keep them in your prayers throughout these coming months!
The 40 Hours Devotion, 28th-30th November
You will probably be aware that the Archbishop has decided to re-institute the beautiful and much loved tradition of the 40 Hours Devotion. Through the coming year each parish will be allotted a time to hold the 40 Hours. The time allotted for our parish is Sunday 28th – Tuesday 30th November. The 40 hours will be held at the Cathedral. It will begin after the 12noon Mass on Sunday 28th and end in the evening of Tuesday 30th. Each day the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed for adoration throughout the day. And each day will end with a Holy Hour and Benediction. On Sunday at 5pm Fr. Scott Deeley will lead the Holy Hour. On Monday at 7pm Msgr McFadden and on Tuesday at 7pm the Archbishop will lead the Holy Hour. This is a beautiful devotion – please put the date in your diaries and try to save the evenings so that you can participate in the Holy Hours.
40 Hours – Watching with the Blessed Sacrament
Throughout the 40 hours we will need at least 2 people per hour to be present in the Cathedral. There will be lists at the back of the Church from next week onwards and we will ask people to sign up for an hour when they can “watch with the Lord.” Again, please look in your diaries and give it some thought.
Jesus in the Eucharist and You – Monday, 8th November
The Archdiocese has put together a series of three videos titled ‘Jesus in the Eucharist and You’ in order to help us prepare for the launch of the 40 Hours’ Devotion. Watch the first one from 7:30pm this Monday 8 November on the Archdiocesan YouTube channel bit.ly/ArchYouTube
Christmas Gift Collection for Prisoners’ Children – 13th-14th and 21st-22nd November
As always, we will be collecting Christmas gifts for children of prisoners in Edinburgh (Saughton) Prison over the next few weeks. We ask that the gifts are new, wrapped in Christmas gift wrap, and with a label attached stating whether the gift is suitable for a boy or a girl and the age of the child. Gifts for older children from 11 years upwards would be most appreciated. There will be a collection box at the back of both churches before all Masses for the depositing of gifts over the weekends of Saturday 13th/Sunday 14th and Saturday 20th /Sunday 21st November. Please be as generous as you have been in past years. Many thanks in advance!
2022 Cathedral Diary Only £10 —a Must Gift for this Christmas!
And talking of Christmas - the solution to all your gift problems is the 2022 Cathedral Diary with all proceeds supporting the Cathedral! It’s spiritual and practical with all the holy days marked, and prayers and quotes from saints included in each month! With lovely artwork and meditations the diary is thoughtful and meaningful present which anyone would be pleased to receive. Priced at a very reasonable £10 each. Hurry while stocks last!
Prisoners’ Week Launch Service – 22nd November
A prayer service with Archbishop Cushley for the launch of Prisoners’ Week 2021 will take place at 7pm on Monday 22 November at the Cathedral, followed by refreshments in the Coffee Saints café. The goal of Prisoners’ Week is to encourage support for the over 7,000 incarcerated persons in Scotland. Booking is needed for this event, so please register at http://www.prisonersweek.org.uk/events.
Fire Safety Training for Cathedral Volunteers – 27th November
Fire safety training is now scheduled for 10:00 on Saturday 27th of November for all passkeeping volunteers. Please contact the parish office at cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk or 0131 556 1798 to confirm you will attend. Thank you!
Parish Synod Meeting – 2nd December
Parishes are being encouraged to host 'spiritual conversations' so people can contribute their voice to the Synod 2021-2023. Herewith advance notice that the meeting for our parish will be on Thursday, 2nd December, 7pm in 63 York Place.
Bible Study on Zoom – Every Monday at 7pm
Join us for our weekly online parish Bible Study on Monday at 7pm! We’ll look at the readings for the coming Sunday – a great way to prepare for Sunday Mass! This is an excellent opportunity to ask questions about anything that is unclear in the readings. A word of encouragement from Hugh of St. Victor (10th century): “All divine Scripture is one book, and this one book is Christ, speaks of Christ and finds its fulfilment in Christ.” To register, please email frjamie@stmaryscathedral.co.uk.
Current Parish Volunteers: Update Your Record with Safeguarding Officer
The Parish Safeguarding Officer, Chris McCabe, has emailed all volunteers to check whether they are still active and to confirm their volunteer role(s). If you have not had an email and you volunteer then can you please email Chris at Chris.McCabe@staned.org.uk and let her know what you are doing?
More Parish Volunteers Needed!
We really need new volunteers to help in the parish! If you are interested in volunteering, please drop an email to our Safeguarding Officer, Chris McCabe, at Chris.McCabe@staned.org.uk and she will explain what you can do and what each role involves.
Thank You to Our Volunteers
Thanks to so many of you who attended our Thursday 4th of November meeting for Communion Ministers, Readers and Passkeepers / Stewards. We also welcomed a few new volunteers. It was a great evening of discussing our service to the parish, ways to improve and sharing ideas.
Teas and Coffees After 10:30am Mass
Thankfully our regular teas and coffees after Sunday Mass have resumed. Please join us for a cuppa and a chat in the parish rooms, with some delicious teas & coffees! And of course, delicious cake…
Friday Morning Cafe at 10am
And on Fridays we have our regular Café at 10am – with tea coffee and good company. Come along and join us!
C.S. Lewis Film ‘The Most Reluctant Convert’ Sunday, 7th November Only!
Fourteen UK cinemas are trying out a new feature about C.S. Lewis for one showing only this coming Sunday 7th Nov., including the Vue Edinburgh Omni Centre! The film is about “C.S. Lewis' incredible, true journey from hard-boiled atheist to the most beloved Christian writer of the century.” For more details and to book tickets, visit www.cslewismovie.com.
8th November 6:30pm Vocations Mass at St Albert’s Chaplaincy
Is God calling you to serve the Church as a Priest, Deacon, religious Sister or Brother? Come to the Vocations Mass, 8th November, 6:30pm at St Albert's Chaplaincy at 23-24 George Square in Edinburgh. Access the chapel from George Square Lane. Fr. Andrew Garden, Vocations Director, will celebrate the Mass. For information, email vocations@staned.org.uk. Priesthood and Permanent Diaconate information is at https://archedinburgh.org/vocations/. For women discerning religious life, contact Sr. Mirjam Hugens, FSO at religiousvocations@staned.org.uk or to learn more about religious life visit https://www.ukvocation.org/religious-life.
Thomistic Institute: ‘We Don’t Do Truth’ (Professor John Rist): 9 November
The Thomistic Institute at the University of Edinburgh have invited Professor John Rist, Professor Emeritus from the University of Toronto, to speak on the title ‘We Don’t Do Truth’, addressing the issues of truth and relativism in the modern world. The lecture will take place at the Gillis centre and will begin at 6pm. To attend, register online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/we-dont-do-truth-tickets-189801731087
Second Collection for World Day of the Poor – 13th/14th November
For World Day of the Poor on Sunday 14 November, Caritas, Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese will use the Special Collection that weekend to support two projects of the Society of St Vincent de Paul: The Furniture Project based in Kingseat and the Caravan Project in Port Seton.
Varia…
I am sorry that there have been so many second collections recently. I’m afraid there is another next week for the World Day of the Poor – which is at least for a good cause. Also, just to let you know that I was made a Canon last week and will be installed (!) in the Cathedral in December. God Bless. Fr. Pat