First Confession: Rite of Illumination at Mass this Sunday
Today at Mass we welcome in a particular way the children who are preparing to make their First Confession in early February. They will participate in a brief Rite after the homily at the 9am Mass in the Cathedral and at 10.30am Mass in Ravelston. Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare to meet Jesus in this beautiful sacrament of the Lord’s forgiveness.
St Luke’s Gospel – Bible Study with Fr Patrick: Thursday 27 January
Our weekly online parish Bible study with Fr Jamie resumes this Monday evening at 7pm, looking at the upcoming readings for Sunday Mass. For those who’re not able to commit every week but would still like to go deeper into the Scriptures please consider attending a one-off, special event with Fr Patrick on Thursday 27th January at 7pm, where he’ll give an introductory overview of St Luke’s Gospel. This will take place on Zoom – those already signed up for the Bible Study mailing list will automatically receive the link, but all are very welcome to attend. For more information, email frjamie@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Children’s Catechism Classes for First Communion and Confirmation
Soon we’ll be getting ready to start catechism classes for First Holy Communion and Confirmation. First Communion is open to all children in Primary 4 and above and will begin with a meeting for all parents on Monday 21st February. For children aged Primary 7 and above, there will be an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, with an introductory meeting for parents on Monday 24th January. Prior registration is essential!
First Holy Communion: https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/first-communion
Confirmation: https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/confirmation
Young Adults Group (18-35): Film Night on Tuesday 18th January 7pm
To start off our series of talks on the Pontificate of St John Paul II, this Tuesday evening (18th January) the Young Adults Group will be watching a cinematic portrayal of his early life: 'Karol: A Man Who Became Pope.' Popcorn and soft drinks will be provided - feel free to bring your own left-over Christmas chocolates etc.! We’ll start at 7pm sharp at 63 York Place, as usual! The following week, Fr Michael John Galbraith will pick up where the film left off, with a talk about St John Paul’s first encyclical and the impact of his pontificate as a whole (25th January). Look forward to seeing you all there!
Grow Deeper in Your Catholic Faith - 2022 Diploma in Catechetics
The on-line Archdiocesan Diploma in Catechetics program is back by popular demand! The courses are held on Zoom on Thursdays at 7:30pm and will all be recorded, so if you can’t attend you can watch them at your convenience. We begin 27th January and finish 8th December, with a break over the summer holidays. Register at bit.ly/DiplomaCatechetics2022
After each 6-week module, participants meet one-on-one with Sr. Anna Marie, the course leader, to go over the content. For information, contact SrAnna.Marie@staned.org.uk . Reductions and student rates are available
Synod Events for St. Giles’ Deanery at the Cathedral – 19th and 26th January
Pope Francis invites the whole Church to question itself on synodality. For all the parishes in our St. Giles’ Deanery, two events will be held at St. Mary’s Cathedral:
Wednesday, 19th January - Preparatory Holy Hour: 7:00pm Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament with silent prayer, 7:30pm-8:30pm Holy Hour
Wednesday, 26th January - Synodal Meeting: 7:00pm-9:00pm, Coffee Saints café
All are welcome to both events. Find out more about the Synod process in our Archdiocese visit https://archedinburgh.org/synod-deanery-events-in-2022/
Coffee Saints Café Open 7 Days a Week
Mon–Sat 8.30am–5.00pm, Sun 9.00am–5.00pm
Stop in for a Friendly Chat with Engagement Officer for Over 60’s Parishioners
Do you need a little computer help to use Zoom to join a class or meeting or have a chat? Would you like to learn about art classes or join a free mini-bus trip? Friendly help is just around the corner at our own Coffee Saints café with Graham Burnett, the new ‘Engagement Officer’ for St Mary’s for over 60’s parishioners. Pop in and enjoy a chat with Graham over a FREE cuppa and cake! He is in Coffee Saints every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10am-4pm. Do stop in or contact Graham: graham@grassmarket.org, 07568 202 547 to arrange a time to meet.
Tuesday Evenings Open Door Meal at Coffee Saints
Coffee Saints offers a free Open Door Meal (soup, main and sweet), followed by a free weekly film from Grassmarket’s Community Cinema on Tuesday evenings 5:00pm-6:30pm. The Open Door Meal is for anyone, but especially for those who are homeless, vulnerably housed or suffer from poverty. Parish volunteers are needed to help! Volunteers do not need to commit to every week, but will need to complete basic training before going on the rota. For information contact kevin@grassmarket.org
You can also help by purchasing a Pay it Forward voucher for £5 – you give the voucher to someone in need to redeem at the café or to hand back the voucher to Coffee Saints to go towards the Open Door Meal. Just visit Coffee Saints to find out more or email hello@coffeesaints.co.uk
2022 Marriage Preparation Courses: 29th January, 10am – 5pm
Congratulations to all recently engaged couples in the parish! To help to accompany them in their preparations for this important vocation, the Cathedral organises four courses each year, featuring presentations, testimonies and workshops led by married couples from the parish. The next course will take place on Saturday 29th January from 10am-5pm, with future courses running on the 18th of June and 27th of August. Although priority is given to Cathedral / Ravelston parishioners, this course is also open to people from other parishes and dioceses – feel free to spread the word! To register, email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Want to become Catholic? RCIA Tuesdays 7pm on Zoom in January
The Cathedral’s Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) group is a place for those not baptized or baptized in a non-Catholic Christian tradition to ask questions and deepen their journey of faith in preparation for the sacraments of initiation at Easter. Meetings are on Zoom during January each Tuesday, 7:00pm-8:30pm. To register, email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Confirmation Class for Adults: Begins March
Once again, this Lent the Cathedral will be offering Catholics who were baptised as infants but, for whatever reason, didn’t go on to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. This course offers an overview of the Catholic faith aimed at adults, with opportunities for group discussion, in preparation for receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Easter Vigil on Saturday, 16th April 2022. To register, contact cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Special Collection for Justice & Peace Next Weekend
Next weekend (22nd-23rd January) there will be a special collection for the National Commission for Justice and Peace which advises the Scottish Bishops’ Conference in matters relating to social justice, international peace and human rights.
Progress Report on Rewire of Parish House
The team of electricians arrived promptly on Monday and are making good progress on the urgently needed rewire of the Parish House, beginning in the Parish Rooms. The furniture is stacked away and there are new cables oozing out of holes in the floors and walls. A 'thermometer chart' in the bay window shows funding progress. Our achievable target is £5,000, 25% of the total cost. Many thanks to those who have already donated to the current amount of £2,610. More donations are very welcome to achieve (or even exceed?) the target amount. Find out how you can donate and view the pledge board here.
Ravelston Sunday Café Cancelled for 16th January
Whilst great progress is being made in the works being carried out in the parish rooms, the rooms will not be ready for use for after-Mass teas and coffees today (January 16th). We hope to resume these soon – we’ll keep you posted!
Lunchtime Talks on Family Life and Love on Zoom: Monday, 17th January
A free mini-course about family life and love in God's plan of salvation is offered explaining Pope Francis’ 2016 Apostolic Exhortation “The Joy of Love” (Amoris Laetitia). The Monday lunchtime talks began on 10th January and run for two more weeks continuing at 1:30pm on 17 & 24 January on Zoom. Register at bit.ly/AmorisTalks
The talks are led by Sr Anna Marie, RSM, the Archdiocese’s Catechetics Advisor, and Fr Nick Welsh, Vice Rector of the Scots College in Rome. Watch the 10th January talk anytime at bit.ly/ArchYouTube in which Fr. Nick explains the history and beauty of the Church’s teaching in Humane Vitae (St. Paul VI) and Theology of the Body (St. John Paul II) leading up to Amoris Laetitia.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Ages 3-7)
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a program rooted in Scripture and the liturgy of the Church, 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. 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 to register your child.
To learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, visit http://www.cgsuk.org/
Overnight Adoration at Benedictine Monastery, Largs
Schedule a time for overnight Adoration of the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament from 9:30pm to 6:30am at the Benedictine Monastery, 5 Mackerston Place, Largs KA30 8BY. Take two hours of Adoration with a break for coffee or tea, then join the Benedictine Sisters for morning prayer. Women’s time of Adoration is the third Friday of each month and men’s is the last Friday of each month. You can also make a private retreat! More information at https://www.tyburnconvent.org.uk/tyburnlargs or contact 01475 687 320, benedictinemonasterylargs@yahoo.com
Mass of Thanksgiving – Rutilio Grande SJ
The Archbishop will celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at Sacred Heart Church, Lauriston, 6:30pm on Saturday 22 January to celebrate the news that Rutilio Grande SJ will soon be beatified. Fr. Grande was a Jesuit priest and friend of St Oscar Romero, assassinated alongside two parish workers in El Salvador. All are welcome.
SPUC Youth Conference
The largest UK pro-life youth conference takes place 25-27 February 2022 in Stone, Staffordshire. It’s open to people aged 16-35 and a chance to meet fellow young pro-life leaders, be inspired and have fun. Register at https://www.spuc.org.uk/youthconference2022
Sponsorship is available to enable young people in our Archdiocese to attend. Please contact the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office: prolife@staned.org.uk