Coffee Saints - Now Open!
7 Days a Week 8:30am-5:00pm
Dear Friends,
As you may know – our new café called Coffee Saints is now open every day 8:30am-5:00pm! The café is beautifully decorated and is serving delicious food and superb coffee all day every day. This new initiative is a partnership between the Cathedral and the Grassmarket Community Project, a charity which supports Edinburgh’s most vulnerable citizens. All profits go to charity – and so this is the only café in the St. James’ Quarter where you can get an ethical coffee. The friendly and welcoming staff are serving a wide range of coffees, cold drinks, milkshakes and Frappes, meals and light bites, and cakes! To see the full menu, visit https://www.coffeesaints.co.uk/
Please support this new venture and please spread the news about it. There are many other options for eating and drinking in this neighbourhood – so it is vital that we not only support but also advertise Coffee Saints by word of mouth, Fr. Patrick
Parish Bible Study: Resumes Monday, 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
Young Adults Group - Tuesdays at 7.30pm Beginning 21st September
All young adults aged 18-35 are very welcome to join our Young Adults Group which will begin meeting again on Tuesday evenings from 21st September, 7:30pm at 63 York Place (around the corner from the Cathedral) for a talk on some area of Christian life / theology, followed by some prayer and then a trip to the pub! The theme for the semester is Christian Discipleship, covering a range of topics relevant to the joys and the challenges of following Jesus in the modern world! If you'd like to receive regular updates, please look us up on Facebook (St Mary's Cathedral Young Adults' Group) or watch for news in this Newsletter.
Interested in Becoming Catholic? Meetings Start Tuesday, 14th Sept. – Sign Up Now!
The Cathedral’s Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) group will meet each week on Tuesdays, 7:00pm-8:30pm at Cathedral House from Tuesday, 14th September until Christmas and then from January to Easter, with a few sessions after Easter. To sign up email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Cathedral Cleaning Volunteers Needed, Wednesdays 2pm-5pm
The Cathedral cleaning team meet every Wednesday afternoon between 2pm – 5pm to clean the church. We are seeking to recruit more volunteers to join the group with a view to easing the burden of the current volunteers and to cover holidays/other absences. If you cannot attend every week, helping once or twice per month would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to join the group, or find out more, please contact Elizabeth Andrews at Elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com
Marriage Preparation Course on Saturday, 27th November
Are you planning to get married next year? Please contact Fr Jamie as soon as possible to make arrangements for Marriage Preparation. We will offer our own, regular parish-based course on Saturday, 27th November.
Registration For Mass: New System!
Thank you for all who have been registering in advance for our new sign-in system for weekend Masses! We continue to maintain a record of those who Mass as part of the Trace and Protect scheme. Last weekend we had over 60 people register on-line and nearly 50 people completed paper sign-in sheets! By registering online in advance your details are held securely in the office and your surname added to a door-list which will be ticked off as you enter Mass.
Sacramental Preparation for Children: Registration Open!
Registration is now open for sacramental preparation for children for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation (P3), First Holy Communion (P4) and Confirmation (P7). Catechetical preparation will be provided both at St Mary’s Primary School and on Sundays at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston. To register online, simply use your phone to scan the QR code on the poster in the back of church or visit the following links:
First Reconciliation (P3 and above): https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/first-reconciliation
First Holy Communion (P4 and above): https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/first-communion
Confirmation (P7 and above): https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/confirmation
More information about class format and dates will be provided on registration. Please spread the word!
“Shakespeare: A Catholic Perspective” Webinar 7:30pm, Monday, 6th September
Explore the Bard's plays in a free 6-week webinar series titled “Shakespeare: A Catholic Perspective”. The sessions will look at six of his best-known works (Macbeth, Measure for Measure, King Lear, Twelfth Night, Richard II and Romeo and Juliet) with insights on human nature from St Thomas Aquinas. Don't worry if you haven't read Shakespeare, you’ll be guided along each week! The event is organised by the Archdiocesan Catechetics Commission. For more details, visit https://archedinburgh.org/register-now-for-mini-course-on-shakespeare/ Register at bit.ly/ShakespeareWebinar
Saturday, 11th September: Permanent Diaconate Ordination, Lector Installation
At the Cathedral on Saturday, 11th September, 2:00pm, Archbishop Cushley will ordain Tom McEvoy as a Permanent Deacon for our Archdiocese and Douglas Roberston will be installed as a Lector, one step closer to becoming a Permanent Deacon. Deacons can baptise, proclaim the Gospel, preach the homily, assist the bishop or priest in the celebration of the Eucharist, assist at and bless marriages, and preside at funerals. To find out more about the Permanent Diaconate, contact Deacon Ronnie Macauley on 01501 740348 or macaulay_ronnie@yahoo.co.uk
Justice & Peace Mass 7:30pm on Monday 6 September
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). It marks the beginning of the Season of Creation and will be a chance to pray for the success of COP26. Refreshments will served after Mass. Register at bit.ly/JusticeAndPeaceMass2021
Courses at Gillis Centre by St Mary’s University
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 MA Education courses as part of their continuing professional development. These are: Catholic School Leadership; Leading Innovation and Change; Pedagogy; Religious Education.
Watch testimonies from students on the Archdiocesan YouTube channel
All details at www.stmarys.ac.uk/edinburgh
Monthly Vocations Mass
The monthly Mass for Vocations will be at 6:30pm on Monday 6 September at St David’s in Dalkeith. Come and pray for vocations!
‘The Human Face of the Climate Emergency: 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
Sunday, 17th October White Mass for Doctors, Nurses and Healthcare Workers
Archbishop Cushley will celebrate a White Mass on Sunday, 17th October at 12noon, followed by a reception, for doctors, nurses and all healthcare workers in Scotland in gratitude for their service throughout the COVID pandemic. The White Mass is traditionally celebrated on or near the Feast of St. Luke (18th October), the patron saint of physicians and surgeons. To attend, please RSVP by Sunday, 10th October to cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk