Prayer Books and Wee Boxes for Lent…Coming to you soon....
Dear Friends,
This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of Lent—a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving in preparation for the celebration of our Lord’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. While we are not yet able to come together for Mass, I want to let you know of an outreach we are making to all of our registered parishioners. In the coming days, you will be receiving a phone call from us to check in with you and also to check that your address has not changed. Then, each of you will be receiving a packet of Lenten materials including a prayer book prepared by the Archdiocese and one of the SCIAF Wee Boxes. If you are not yet registered with our parish, I encourage you to take a moment to complete this online form and you will be included in our mailing. We hope to see you soon, but in the meantime, this is one way we can prepare for Lent together!
Fr Pat
You can also phone or email the parish office with your information: cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk, Tel: 0131 556 1798.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence for all Catholics. What this means is that all of us are obliged to abstain from meat on Wednesday and all who are able are obliged to fast (which means eating only one meal). Even though we are unable to come together for Mass – it is important that we keep this day holy.
Friday Noon Stations of the Cross During Lent
A beautiful Lenten tradition is to follow the footsteps of the Lord on the way to Calvary, meditating on his suffering and death for our salvation. This year, the readers and singers from the parish are providing an online version of this devotion, together with images from the Cathedral, which you can watch or listen to with your family in your own home. These will be posted on the website and on Facebook at 12noon every Friday, as well as on the Cathedral podcast page: https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/podcasts. This would be a great way to pray together as a parish for all those who are suffering at this time - please consider this as a Lenten exercise!
Lenten Preparation Schedule a Time for the Sacrament of Confession
The holy season of Lent begins this week! Have you been to Confession recently? A Cathedral priest is available every day to hear confessions. Contact the Cathedral Office: 0131 556 1798, cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Archbishop Cushley Invites You to a Series of 30-Minute Sunday Talks: “Faith in the Time of Covid”
Archbishop Cushley invites you to a series of free, online 30-minute Sunday talks from distinguished speakers who will offer their thoughts and approach to the Covid pandemic.
Sunday Talks — 5:00pm-5:30pm
14th February —Professor John Haldane, Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of St Andrews, “Finding Faith, Hope & Charity in Times of Desperation” Register bit.ly/FaithCovid-Haldane
21st February — Rt Hon Gordon Brown, United Nations Special Envoy for Global Education and former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Register bit.ly/FaithCovid-Brown
Daily Mass Livestreamed from Cathedral House
Livestreamed Mass from Cathedral House is available at 10am Monday-Saturday on our Facebook page and website https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/filming; Sunday Mass available on the website on Sunday from 10am.
Donations Needed for Major Fabric Expense to Repair Cathedral Chandeliers
As you heard last week, a major mechanical breakdown has happened in the motors of the winching system to lower the Cathedral chandeliers, leaving one of the heavy chandeliers stuck in place. We are still seeking quotes for the repair, particularly exploring if a mechanical solution is available. All 4 motors of the system have failed and must be replaced at an estimated cost of around £50K. Your help towards this expensive repair cost would be greatly appreciated! Donations can be made at: https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/donate If anyone knows of these systems in place, feel free to contact Andy Hilton, complexmanager@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Abortion and Poverty in Scotland: The Reality Monday, 15th February, 7:45 pm-8:30pm
The Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office invites you to an online seminar on Abortion and Poverty in Scotland on Monday, 15th February, 7:45 pm-8:30pm. Register online here.
National Day of Prayer for Those Who Have Suffered Abuse – Friday, February 19th
The Friday after Ash Wednesday is the National Day of Prayer for Those Who Have Suffered Abuse. The Bishops Conference of Scotland has provided a resource for prayers at home for all in the Catholic Church throughout Scotland to pray for people in our families and communities who carry within themselves the deep and traumatic wounds of abuse in any way inflicted by the Church.
Marriage Preparation Courses in the Archdiocese: 26-27th March, 23-24th April, 21-22nd May
If you are getting married at a church in the Archdiocese, you must give the parish priest at least six months’ notice and attend a marriage preparation course, currently taking place on Zoom:
March - Friday/Saturday 26/27.
April - Friday/Saturday 23/24
May - Friday/Saturday 21/22.
Spaces are filling up fast, so please register now in consultation with the parish priest. Download an application on the Archdiocese website (pdf). Alternatively, email irene.furlong@staned.org.uk (0131 623 8900).
World Day of Prayer
This annual ecumenical event takes place on Friday, 5 March, 2021 and the theme is “Build on a Strong Foundation” (Matthew 7: 24-27). For more information please visit: http://www.wdpscotland.org.uk/ or contact Marjorie Paton for details.
INSPIRE - Lent Talks – Tuesday Evenings 7:00pm-8:00pm Beginning 16th February
Register now for the Archdiocese’s INSPIRE talk series for Lent. Guest speakers will guide you prayerfully through the season. All talks on Zoom, 7-8pm.
Becoming Saints Today: Unlocking the Present Moment
with Sister Anna Marie McGuan, RSM. 7pm, Tue 16 Feb. Register: bit.ly/LentMcGuan
Songs of the Redemption: The Benedictine Liturgy of the Hours
with Brother Joseph Carron, OSB. 7pm, Tue 02 Mar. Register: bit.ly/LentCarron
Prayer as a Relationship Reflected in St Teresa of Avila
with Sister Sally Rollo, OCD. 7pm, Tue 16 March. Register: bit.ly/LentRollo
Praying the Passion According to St Mark
with Archbishop Leo Cushley. 7pm, Tue 23 March. Register: bit.ly/LentCushley
Twice a Week Free Meals to Over 65s in North Edinburgh - LifeCare’s Meals on Wheels
LifeCare’s Meals on Wheels service is delivering fresh, nutritious meals, hot and ready to eat to over 65s in North Edinburgh, twice a week. If you know of anyone who would benefit from the service please do get in touch 0131 343 0940, www.lifecare-edinburgh.org.uk/services/meals-on-wheels. Free of charge, this project is currently fully funded thanks to Barclays 100x100 UK Covid-19 Community Relief Programme.
LINKnet Mentoring: Assisting Ethnic Minorities with Job-Seeking and Education
LINKnet Mentoring is the only mentoring organisation in Edinburgh and the Lothians that helps minority ethnic individuals in their pursuit of employment, education and personal development in order to improve their quality of life. LINKnet can help you develop your CV and complete a job application, prepare you for job interview and offer advice on job seeking. If you are looking for help, please contact–Afaf Azzahari, linknet2@linknetmentoring.com, 07447228686/0131 261 4463, http://www.linknetmentoring.com/
Mary’s Meals: Emergency Appeal for Aid for Tigray, Ethiopia
Mary’s Meals has launched an emergency appeal for aid for Tigray, Ethiopia where millions of people have been displaced as a result of civil conflict and are lacking food basic necessities. Please donate at https://www.marysmeals.org.uk/crisis-in-ethiopia
Clinics for Application Assistance for EU Settlement Scheme
For EU, EEA or Swiss citizens, there are less than 5 months left to apply under the EU Settlement Scheme to legally reside in the UK after 30 June 2021. Feniks, Citizens Rights Project and the Scottish Precariat Office have joined forces to deliver more clinics to provide free, multilingual and regulated support people in Edinburgh, East Lothian and the Scottish Borders applying to the EU Settlement Scheme. Help is available in English, Romanian, Spanish and Polish.
Saturday, 20 February | Dunbar, Belhaven Parish Church Hall | 11am-6pm
Saturday, 27 February | Edinburgh, St Margaret's House | 11am - 6pm
Register in advance on Eventbrite on this link: Advice for Applying for EU Settlement Scheme. For questions, contact euss@feniks.org.uk
Ask your MP to Support an Amendment to Help Stop Forced Abortion in Xinjiang, China
There is extensive evidence that many women in the Uyghur Muslim community in Xinjiang, China are being subjected to forced abortions. If you would like to email your MP asking them to support the amendment, you can do this using a tool which has been set up on the Genocide Response campaign website https://genocideresponse.org/
Fairtrade Fortnight from 22 February to 7 March 2021
For two weeks each year at the end of February and start of March, thousands of individuals, companies and groups across the UK come together to learn more about Fair Trade matters during a Fairtrade Fortnight. As Fairtrade stalls cannot take place now, one option to buy Fair Trade goods is from the One World Shop here in Edinburgh: https://www.oneworldshop.co.uk/ delivered to your door.