Fifth Sunday Of Lent – Year B

The Cathedral and St. Andrews will Open Again on Friday 26th March

Daily Masses will be at 10am, 12.45, 6pm (Polish) and 6pm (Ravelston)
Sunday Masses will be at 5pm (Vigil), 6pm (Vigil)
8am, 9am, 10am (Polish), 11am, 12pm, 4pm, 5pm, 6pm (Polish), 7.30pm
Ravelston: 9am, 10am, 11am, 12pm (Old Rite), 5pm (Old Rite)

Booking Opens on Monday, 22nd March, 9am for Vigil & Sunday Masses of March 27-28

As you know, the government’s limit of 50 people per Mass will be in effect as of Friday, 26th March, so it is important that you register for one of the weekend Masses before you arrive. Once you do have a place reserved, please make every attempt to attend your chosen Mass. On Monday, 22nd March at 9:00am, booking for seats for Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses of March 27-28 will open on the Cathedral website:

You may also call the parish office 0131 556 1798.

Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter booking opens Monday, 29th March, 9:00am.

Cathedral Stations of The Cross – Fridays of the Weeks of Lent

The beautiful Lenten tradition of praying the Stations of the Cross is available from the Cathedral online. By 12noon every Friday, the recordings of the Stations have been posted on the website. Each Friday in Lent, on the website and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/edinburghcathedral/ as well as on the Cathedral podcast page: https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/podcasts

Lenten Talk: “Praying the Passion According to St. Mark” by Archbishop Leo Cushley

Tuesday, 23 March, 7:00pm-8:00pm

Register here bit.ly/LentCushley

This is the final event in the Archdiocese’s series of INSPIRE talks to guide you prayerfully through Lent. The talks are organised by the Catechetics Commission of the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh.

Watch earlier INSPIRE Lent Talks:

Br. Joseph Carron, OSB  Songs of the Redemption: The Benedictine Liturgy of the Hours

https://archedinburgh.org/watch-the-prayer-life-of-a-benedictine-monk/

Sr. Anna Marie McGuan, RSM  Becoming Saints Today: Unlocking the Present Moment

https://archedinburgh.org/watch-lenten-prayer-talk-with-sr-anna-marie/

Sister Sally Rollo, OCD  Prayer as a Relationship Reflected in St Teresa of Avila

https://archedinburgh.org/watch-let-sr-sally-inspire-you-to-prayer/


Cathedral Holy Week And Easter Schedule

Palm Sunday, Sunday, 28th March: 5pm (Vigil), 6pm (Vigil), 8am, 9am, (Polish) 10am, 11am, 12pm, 4pm, 5pm, (Polish) 6pm, 7.30pm

Holy Thursday, 1st April: 7pm

Good Friday, 2nd April: 3pm Passion of the Lord; 7pm Stations of the Cross

Holy Saturday, 3rd April: 8pm Easter Vigil

Easter Sunday, 4th April: 8am, 9am, (Polish) 10am, 11am, 12pm, 4pm, 5pm, (Polish) 6pm, 7.30pm

Confessions: after 12:45pm Mass on Monday-Wednesday of Holy Week

Ravelston Holy Week And Easter Schedule

Palm Sunday, Sunday, 28th March: 9am, 10am, 11am, 12pm (Old Rite), 5pm (Old Rite)

Holy Thursday, 1st April: 7pm (Old Rite)

Good Friday, 2nd April: 3pm Passion of the Lord

Holy Saturday, 3rd April: 8pm (Old Rite)

Easter Sunday, 4th April: 9am, 10am, 11am, 12pm (Old Rite), 5pm (Old Rite)


Your “Spiritual Toolbox”: St. Joseph Family Prayer Book is a Treasure!

A wealth of prayers awaits you in just 35 little pages! The new, pocket-sized St. Joseph’s Family Prayer Book is a “spiritual toolbox” and a treasure filled with prayers for the whole family. To get your copy, please contact cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk or 0131 556 7798.

SCIAF Wee Box Donations Doubled through 11th May by UK Government

This year £1 = £2! Your SCIAF Wee Box donation will make twice the difference to 11th May, with all public donations to be doubled by the UK government. Your contributions to the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) help children with disabilities in South Sudan access the education and support they need. Wee Boxes are still available at Cathedral House. To collect a Wee Box, please contact cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk or 0131 556 7798.

New Winching System to be Installed for Cathedral Chandeliers

Sometime after Easter, a new mechanical winching system for the Cathedral chandeliers will be installed. Thank you to all parishioners who have so generously contributed to the purchase of the new winching system repair effort so far! Please donate at https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/donate

Easter Knitted Goods to Support the Cathedral

Please support the Cathedral by buying some Easter-themed knitted gifts! Easter items are for sale from £10 at https://www.kathedralknits.etsy.com

All the profits from all sales are very generously donated by our own wonderful parishioner Joanna Kopystynska to the Cathedral.

Marriage Preparation Courses in April and 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: 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 at https://archedinburgh.org/wp-content/uploads/Marriage-Preparation-Application-Form-2021.pdf

Alternatively, email irene.furlong@staned.org.uk (0131 623 8900).

Pro-Life Stations of the Cross: Monday, 22nd March, 7:45pm-8:15pm

Join us every Monday in Lent to pray for unborn children, their mothers and all Pro-Life intentions. This week, we will pray the stations of the cross together followed by a reflection from Fr Andrew Kingham, Parish Priest at Our Lady & St Andrews, Galashiels. Book your space online: https://standrewsandedinburgh.eventbrite.co.uk

Ask your MP to Attend Tuesday, 23rd March Event on the Dangers of DIY Abortion

To ensure that politicians are aware of the negative impact of ‘DIY’ home abortions, the All-Party Parliamentary Pro-Life Group will be hosting a parliamentary event on Tuesday, 23rd March where experts will cover the latest evidence on how ‘DIY’ home abortions are placing women at risk. As your MP to attend! Please visit: www.righttolife.org.uk/DIYabortionMeeting

Equally Human: Sign Petition to Stop Abortion for Babies with Disabilities

On 15 March, Northern Ireland Assembly passed the Severe Fetal Impairment Abortion (Amendment) Bill by 48 votes to 12. The bill proposes removing the current provision in the abortion regulations that allows abortion for ‘severe fetal impairment’ up to birth for babies with disabilities including Down’s syndrome, cleft lip and club foot. The bill now goes to Committee Stage so please sign the petition and pray for its success! Take 30 seconds to sign the petition: https://citizengo.org/en-row/signit/200634/view

Outdoor Stations of the Cross at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston

The Lord’s Passion is beautifully depicted in 14 outdoor Stations of the Cross at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston (77 Belford Road) along the walking path. Prayers to carry with you are provided near the First Station, or bring along the podcast of the Stations of the Cross by our Cathedral readers and singers: https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/podcasts

Voter Registration for EU Nationals Resident in Scotland

All EU Nationals resident here in Scotland can vote in the Scottish Parliamentary Election on the 6th of May. Registration must take place by 15th April, via the website www.gov.uk/register-to-vote. Also, all EU nationals of the UK must apply for Settled Status before the 30th of June 2021, for themselves and their children, even if they are married to a UK national and regardless of how long they have been here. More information is available www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

Read the newsletter for 21st March (pdf)