21st Sunday of the Year - Year B

Congratulations…

… to our parish secretary, Sister Miriam Fidelis, RSM, who professed perpetual religious vows as a Sister of Mercy last week. Thank you, Sister, for your dedication to serve Christ and his Church in this way and for all that you and your sisters bring to our parish – we are extremely grateful!

Sacramental Initiation For Children

As our children return to school, we’re now finalising the dates for a new programme of sacramental preparation for children. Registration for these sacraments will open next weekend with catechetical preparation being provided both at St Mary’s Primary School and on Sundays at Ravelston. Watch this space for more details next week!

Parish Bible Study: Resumes 6th September

Our parish Bible study group meets regularly to discuss the coming Sunday’s Mass readings. Each week a brief commentary on each reading is provided in preparation for a guided group discussion on Monday evening at 7pm. The group will continue to meet online, perhaps with occasional in-person meetings – ad experimentum! To register, please email frjamie@stmaryscathedral.co.uk

Interested in Becoming Catholic?

If you or someone you know would like to become Catholic, you can sign up to learn about the teachings of the Catholic Church in preparation for receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at Easter 2022. Invite a friend to join you! The Cathedral’s Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) group meets between September and April each year. For more information, call parish office at 0131 556 1798 or email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk

Courses at Gillis Centre

Applications are now open for a variety of courses run by St Mary’s University at the Gillis Centre Campus in Edinburgh, starting this autumn. Why not improve your knowledge of the Catholic Faith with an MA in Theology? Teachers are invited to register now for a of MA Education courses as part of their continuing professional development. All details at www.stmarys.ac.uk/edinburgh

Vocations

The monthly Mass for Vocations will be at 6:30pm on Monday 6 September at St Columba’s, 9 Upper Gray Street, Edinburgh (EH9 1SN).

Vacancy - Pastoral Co-ordinator

St Joseph’s in Rosewell, a house of support for those with learning difficulties, has a vacancy for the Pastoral Co-ordinator post. They are looking for an individual who can build positive relationships, has good communication skills, and is committed to the Vincentian Values of St Joseph’s to lead the pastoral team. For more info, see the poster in the Octagon.

Safeguarding webinar

The Bishops of Scotland invite clergy, religious, church employees and volunteers across Scotland to a national safeguarding webinar at 11am on Saturday 2 October. The link to register is: bit.ly/3gQRdPu

Justice & Peace Mass

The Annual Archdiocesan Justice & Peace Mass takes place at 7:30pm on Monday 6 September at St Columba’s, Upper Gray Street, Edinburgh (EH9 1SN). Refreshments will served after Mass. Register at bit.ly/JusticeAndPeaceMass2021

Event: A Call to Action

During the Season of Creation and in advance of COP26, the Archdiocesan Commission for Caritas, Justice & Peace invite you to a mini-colloquium titled ‘The Human Face of the Climate Emergency: A Call to Action' It takes place at 3-5pm on Sunday 12 September on Zoom. For more details and to register, visit: bit.ly/ACallToAction2021

Synod

A synod of the bishops will take place in Rome in 2023. It will begin with a period of consultation and discernment on Sunday 17 October this year. Sr Anna Marie McGuan RSM has been asked to be the Archdiocese’s lead delegate in the national synodal process and will be assisted by Fr John Deighan. An announcement will be made soon on how that process will take shape in our Archdiocese.

Read the newsletter 22nd August (pdf)