Advent 2021
Rorate Mass by Candlelight at the Cathedral: Thursday 23rd December
This week we have our last of the popular candlelit Advent Masses at the Cathedral on Thursday night at 7:00pm — a beautiful way to prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ our Lord!
Christmas Masses 2021
St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral
Christmas Eve, Friday 24th December: 9am Mass (Polish), 10am Mass, 6pm Mass, 9pm Mass (Polish),
11.15pm Carols and Readings, followed by midnight Mass
Christmas Day, Saturday 25th December: 10.30am Mass, 12noon (Polish) Mass
6pm (Polish) Mass
St Andrew’s Church, Ravelston
Christmas Eve, Friday 24th December: 6pm Mass
Christmas Day, Saturday 25th December: 10.30am Mass
Final Advent Talk: Faith, Hope & Love – Monday, 20th December
Find out more about the season of Advent and the virtues of Faith, Hope and Love in a series of online talks held each Monday in Advent. Hosted by the Archdiocese, the final talk is on Monday 20 December 7:30pm-8:00pm, with Sr Anna Marie McGuan. To join visit: bit.ly/AdventTalk (or webinar ID: 891 8951 4801). All talks are recorded and available to watch on YouTube: bit.ly/ArchYouTube
Advent: Rosary for Life with Archbishop Cushley – Tuesday, 21st December
Parishioners and clergy from across the Archdiocese having been praying the Rosary online each Tuesday throughout Advent for unborn children, their mothers and all Pro-Life intentions. The final Rosary is at 7:45pm this Tuesday (21 December) and includes a reflection from Archbishop Cushley. Event on Zoom, register at bit.ly/21DecRosary
Limited Supply of 2022 Cathedral Diaries
We’ve the very last of the 2022 Cathedral diaries left. With all the holy days marked and prayers and quotes from saints included in each month, as well as lovely artwork and meditations, this diary will be your spiritual companion all year round. Priced at a very reasonable £10 each, don’t start 2022 without it!
Children’s Catechism
Classes for First Communion (P4 and above) and Confirmation (P7 and above)
In 2022, the First Confession class returns on 9th January. The First Holy Communion class (P4 & above) starts on 27th Feb at 9:30am, with its parents’ meeting on 21st Feb. The parents’ meeting for the Confirmation class (P7 & above) is on 24th Jan with classes starting 30th January. If you have not already done so, please register your child for First Holy Communion (P4 and above): https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/first-communion or Confirmation (P7 and above): https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/confirmation
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for Children Ages 3-7 at St. Columba’s Parish
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is offered, free of charge, to children ages 3-7 at St. Columba’s Parish, 9 Upper Gray St, Edinburgh EH9 1SN. Children from any parish are welcome to take part. This Montessori-based method of Catechesis focuses on the development of the child and the unique relationship children have with Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Sessions for children ages 3-4 are held Tuesday mornings from 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and sessions for children ages 5-7 are held on Friday afternoons. Please contact Sister Anna Marie McGuan, RSM at SrAnna.Marie@staned.org.uk for more information or to register your child.
New Engagement Officer for Over 60s Community.
Together with the Grassmarket Project, we welcome the appointment of Graham Burnett as the new ‘Engagement Officer’ for St Mary’s Coffee Saints café to work with the over 60’s community here. Graham’s background is Occupational Therapy & from New Year onwards he will be based in Coffee Saints most days (times to be confirmed). He will be running small group activities & trips (Covid permitting). Contact: graham@grassmarket.org 07568 202 547.
Marriage Preparation Courses
If you’re planning to get married in 2022, please contact Fr Jamie frjamie@stmaryscathedral.co.uk as soon as possible to book onto our upcoming Marriage Preparation courses 29th January and 18th June.
Holy Innocents' Mass with Archbishop Cushley at Gillis Centre 28th December
Join Archbishop Cushley and priests of the Archdiocese to pray for unborn children, their mothers and all who care for them on Tuesday, 28th December at 12noon. Refreshments and a glass of wine available afterwards. Book your space: https://bit.ly/InnocentsMass21
This year Stanton Healthcare, the new pregnancy support service, will have a table in the Hall afterwards to provide an opportunity to meet Donna Cameron, the new Executive Director, and find out about their plans.
2022 Diploma in Catechetics Begins 6th January – Concessions Available!
Get ready to explore the richness and depth of the Catholic faith with course leader Sr Anna Marie McGuan, RSM from the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh. She and a range of guest speakers bring you online lectures each Thursday, guided reading, one-to-one support, retreats and supplementary courses on Zoom and YouTube. The Diploma in Catechetics lasts one year, begins in January 2022 and costs £200. Students £150. Concessions available. Register at bit.ly/DiplomaCatechetics2022
Free Disabled Parking in St. James Centre Car Park
If you have a disabled badge, drive to Mass and would like to use the St. James’ Car Park in the future, please fill out a form at the back of Church and return it to the Office. For those who have sent in their details, the Car Park will have free disabled parking on Sundays only 8:30am-1:30pm. Outside of those hours, normal parking fees will apply. Questions? Email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Thirsting for God? RCIA Meetings Tuesdays 7pm at Cathedral House
Do you know someone not baptized or baptized in a non-Catholic Christian tradition, who is thirsting for what it means to become Catholic? Do you know someone already Catholic who hasn’t received Confirmation? The Cathedral’s Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) group is a place to ask questions and deepen your journey of faith in preparation for the sacraments of initiation. After Christmas, meetings will resume every Tuesday, 7:00pm-8:30pm at Cathedral House until to Easter, with a few sessions after Easter. To register, email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
To find out more about the truth and beauty of the Catholic faith and making the journey to full communion with the Catholic Church, visit The Coming Home Network, https://chnetwork.org/
Rorate Mass by Candlelight at Ravelston on Monday 20th December
Our beautiful and popular candlelit Advent Masses conclude on Monday at 7pm at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston. Do come along and bring your children to this beautiful liturgy of Advent!
Fundraising Pledge Board for Donations to Rewire Parish House
The Ravelston Parish House and Rooms have an electrical circuit which is over 50 years old and which needs to be replaced urgently. The capacity of the circuit needs to be increased and we also need to install mains-wired interlinked smoke alarms (by Feb 2022). In summary, to avoid the accident which is waiting to happen and make the house and rooms safe and legally compliant we need to rewire. We have put out to tender and this will cost in the region of £19,000.
We have created a pledge board to allow parishioners to donate towards a particular item. For details of how to donate and to view the pledge board, please see the parish noticeboard or contact finance@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
You can find out more about the project and how to donate here
No Daily Masses at Ravelston between Christmas and New Year
Please note that there will be no daily Masses at Ravelston in the week between Christmas and New Year. Daily Mass will resume on Monday 3rd January.
Friday Café Closed Until Early February
Please note the Friday Cafe at Ravelston is closed now until early February. Have a peaceful Christmas.
Assisted Suicide Bill consultation by 22 December - Just Say No’
Please make a quick response to the public consultation on a bill proposed by Liam McArthur MSP to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland. The consultation is running until Wednesday 22 December 2021. It only takes 10 minutes – just tick the boxes and provide short answers. If you have more time you can add text, but any response is better than none. There have been 6,000 responses so far. To complete the form and find information visit: https://www.spuc.org.uk/assisteddyingscotlandconsultation
Craig Lodge House of Prayer Welcomes Applications for Mission House 2022 -23
Want to join a community of young people striving towards holiness and mission? We are pleased to be welcoming applications for our 2022-23 Mission House. Craig Lodge's new Mission House offers a nine-month programme, for anyone between the ages of 18-30, that sets out to form spirit-filled evangelizers for the renewal of the Church. The year includes prayer, community, mission, study, service and worship. To learn more visit: https://www.craiglodge.org/
Save the dates
Amoris Laetitia – The Joy of Love: Monday, 10th January
There will be three talks explaining this important document, an apostolic exhortation by Pope Francis, beginning 10 January and led by Sr Anna Marie, the Archdiocese’s Catechetics Advisor, and Fr Nick Welsh, vice rector of the Scots College in Rome. Details to follow soon.
Music Day: Saturday, 22nd January
Music Day takes place on Saturday 22 January at the Gillis Centre, Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, 10:00am-3:30pm. The theme is `Liturgical Music Making in a Post-Pandemic World.’ The day is open to everyone, especially those involved in leading and playing music, as well as singers. Details to follow soon.