Pastoral Letter & Petition on Assisted Suicide
Archbishop Cushley has written a pastoral letter about the immorality and the dangers of legalising of assisted suicide in Scotland. It is available at the back of the church – please take a copy home with you.
Proposed legislation coming before the Scottish Parliament shortly seeks to legalise assisted suicide in this country and will, thereby, undermine the provision of palliative care to the terminally ill. Care Not Killing (CNK), an organization supported by the Catholic Parliamentary Office, has launched a petition which aims to stop these plans to legalize assisted suicide in Scotland. You can sign the petition which aims to stop plans to at the back of the church or sign online at https://www.carenotkilling.scot
The ‘Catenians’
This week we welcome some members of The Catenian Association – who will be making an appeal for new members at all Masses this weekend. The association is an international body of Catholic laymen who meet once a month and offer friendship and support to Catholic men at all stages of their lives. All are welcome to a membership meeting Wednesday 9th November, from 7.00 p.m.-9.00 p.m. in 63 York Place, EH1 3JD. Visit https://www.thecatenians.com/ for more information. To learn more, speak to one of the representatives after Mass or contact membership@thecatenians.com, 024 7622 4533.
Over Sixties Club – Coffee Afternoon and Gallery Visit
The Cathedral’s Over Sixties Club is hosting its weekly Coffee Afternoon on Tuesday 18th October, at Coffee Saints 2.30 - 4pm, and on Wednesday a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, 1 Queen Street; meet at Coffee Saints at 2.30pm before walking along to the Gallery.
Farewell ‘Do’ for Fr. Jamie and Fr. John Peter - Friday, 11th November
Mark your diary for our Farewell Celebration for Fr. Jamie and Fr. John Peter – which will be on Friday, 11th November at 7:00pm in Coffee Saints. Please put the evening aside for what will be a lovely community event to express our thanks and to wish them both well!
Next Sunday’s Noon Mass for Missio Scotland 100th Anniversary
Archbishop Cushley will preside at the Noon Mass next Sunday to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Missio Scotland, the official mission aid agency of the Catholic Church. Fr Vincent Lockhart, National Director of Mission Scotland, will concelebrate the Mass. The second collection next week will be for the work of Missio Scotland. To learn more Missio’s work, please visit https://www.missioscotland.com/
Parish Youth Group
We are delighted to announce that the Parish Youth Group will return to St Andrew’s, Ravelston on Sunday evenings from the 30th October! If you are in P4-P7 you are invited to join us between 6 & 7.30pm for an opportunity to get together, play, and learn about your faith! To join, please arrive from 5.30pm on 30th October for registration, or collect a form today from the back of the Church.
Extra Dates for Ministry Meetings
Thank you to everyone who has attended the meetings for Eucharistic Ministers and Readers so far. For those who haven’t been able to make any dates yet we would like to invite you along to a meeting for Eucharistic Ministers on Saturday, 29th October at 1:00pm and for Readers on Saturday, 5th November at 1:00pm. Whether you are a new member of these groups or have been a Reader or a Eucharistic Minister for years in the Cathedral or Ravelston, please do come along. The meetings will be in 63 York Place. Any questions, please contact FrRobert.Taylor@staned.org.uk
Parish Pilgrimage to Rome in June 2023
On June 14th next year Paul Henderson, one of our parishioners here at the Cathedral, will be ordained as a deacon at the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome. In order to celebrate this wonderful parish event and to support Paul we are organising a Parish Pilgrimage to Rome from 12th -16th June 2023. We have secured lovely accommodation in the very centre of Rome and the ordination will be the centrepiece of a packed programme of sightseeing including, of course, an audience with the Holy Father. The cost of the pilgrimage will be around £750 per person, (depending on the cost of flights when we book), which includes all transfers, flights from Glasgow and B&B accommodation – not to mention the sparkling company of Fr. Robert and myself…We need to know definite numbers by 31st October in order to secure the flights, so if you would like to come e-mail cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk to find out more and receive a booking form. If you have any questions or need any other information please speak directly to Fr Robert.
Young Adults Talk 25th October: ‘I Believe in the Holy Spirit’
Our Young Adults Group is on a midterm break this week, but do plan to join us again next week on Tuesday, 25 October as we continue our series on the Creed. All those age 18-35 are welcome. Our speaker will be Fr. Martin Delaney, on “I Believe in the Holy Spirit.” Join us at 63 York Place at 7:00pm for teas/coffees followed by the talk at 7:30pm and a short group discussion. We will conclude with Night Prayer in the Cathedral before we head over to a local pub.
Tom Wilkinson Organ Recital: Sunday, 6 November, 1:30pm
To celebrate the launch of his new CD of Bach Trio Sonatas, our Cathedral Organist Tom Wilkinson will perform a short recital after the 12 noon Mass on Sunday 6 November, beginning at 1:30pm. Copies of the new CD will be available to buy. Tom's new disc is already gaining critical acclaim: ‘Organist Tom Wilkinson… does an excellent job distinguishing and delineating the three distinct contrapuntal voices at all times. The recorded sound is crisp and clean, practically sitting you at the keyboard… This recording definitely belongs in each and every organ music enthusiast’s collection.’ Classical Music Sentinel
Friends of St Mary’s Cathedral
Aid to the Church in Need event on Wednesday, 9th November
The next Friends event is The Crisis for the Church in East Asia by Dr John Newton from Aid to the Church in Need on 9th November. Friends who wish to attend this event must RSVP by 7th November to ppccathedral@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
The talk is free for Friends of St Mary’s Cathedral. Join today at https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/friends to attend this and other events. By joining, you will be helping to ensure the future of our Cathedral and of our community.
Many thanks to Melanie McDonagh who came all the way from London to give a wonderful talk on Catholic Converts: from Oscar Wilde to Muriel Spark last Friday to an audience of Friends of the Cathedral.
Want to be Catholic?
Our Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) group is meeting weekly on Tuesdays for all those interested in learning about how to become Catholic. Join us in Cathedral House, 61 York Place each Tuesday 7:00pm-8:30pm. To register, please contact cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
2022-2023 Marriage Preparation Courses
The next Marriage Preparation courses will take place 10am-5pm on Saturday, 19th November 2022; Saturday, 28th January 2023; and Saturday, 20th May, 2023. The course includes presentations by married couples from the parish. To register, email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Join Us for the Rosary after 6pm Mass
Join us at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston in praying the Rosary after the 6pm weekday Masses during October. The Church traditionally dedicates the month of October to the holy Rosary since the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is October 7th.
Music Day on Saturday, 22nd October at Gillis Centre
Join fellow musicians and singers from across the Archdiocese for a Music Day at 10:30am on Saturday 22 October at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh. The event is for anyone interested or involved in music in the liturgy. Light lunch provided. Free parking onsite. Register now at https://bit.ly/musicday2022
“To Promise and To Forgive” Lecture by Prof. Kampowski – 11am Saturday 5th November
Professor Stephan Kampowski, a world-renowned expert on marriage and the family in a Catholic context, is visiting the Archdiocese from Rome next month to give a series of talks. All of you are invited to attend his lecture entitled ‘To Promise & To Forgive: Establishing and Healing the Bond Between Persons’ at the Gillis Centre. on Saturday 5 November at 11:00am. If you would like to attend, please register at https://bit.ly/ourfamilytalks
Annual Divine Mercy Conference: Saturday, 29 October in Coatbridge
The annual Divine Mercy Conference takes place at St Augustine’s, Dundyvan Road, Coatbridge, ML5 1DQ, on Saturday 29 October from 9am-6pm. Workshops available on the Eucharist, Divine Mercy and Our Lady. To view the full schedule and to register, visit www.divinemercy.scot/conference2022
Pray, Sing, Learn: Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for Children 3 to 6+
Children ages 3 to 6+ are invited to pray, sing, learn and work in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program in a child-friendly space called an atrium at St. Columba’s Parish, 9 Upper Gray St, Edinburgh EH9 1SN. By developing their relationship with God through works that include guided, hands-on activities, children learn about how much God loves them. All sessions are free of charge: 3-4 year olds on Tuesday, 10:30am - 12:30pm, and for 5-6 year olds on Fridays, 1:00pm - 2:30pm, 6+year olds at 3:00pm - 4:30pm. To register and for a schedule of dates, please contact Sister Anna Marie McGuan, RSM at SrAnna.Marie@staned.org.uk Children from any parish can attend and families are very welcome to wait in St. Columba’s parish hall while their children work in the atrium.
2nd November All Souls’ Day Mass at Mount Vernon Cemetery
Archbishop Cushley will offer Holy Mass for the repose of all the faithful departed who have died in the Archdiocese in the last year, especially those buried at Mount Vernon Cemetery. This will take place at 10am on Wednesday 2 November (All Souls' Day) in the Mount Vernon Cemetery Chapel.
Cost of Living
The Scottish Government has launched a new website that brings together in one place information on support, grants, benefits and advice, in order to help people find what support they may be entitled to. Please visit https://costofliving.campaign.gov.scot/
Job Vacancy with SPUC
The Scottish Society for the Protection of Children (SPUC) seeks an Executive Assistant (Public Affairs and Legal Services). It is an opportunity to use and develop your administrative, project management and communications skills in a dynamic, friendly, positive and fast-moving team committed to making abortion unthinkable. The role will be full-time (part-time considered) and have a salary of c.£25,000. For further information and to apply, please email jobs@spuc.org.uk
November Retreats: Craig Lodge House of Prayer
Craig Lodge is delighted to announce some wonderful weekend retreats to refresh and encourage you, including ‘Be Transformed’, Friday 11th November-Sunday 13th November to focus on the freedom and abundance the Lord wants for us as we put on the mind of Christ, and ‘By His Wounds We Are Healed’, Friday 25th November-Sunday 27th November, to encounter the healing love of Jesus as we bring our wounds to Him who was wounded for our sake. Suggested donation for each event is £145 (£160 for a single room). To book your place, email: mail@craiglodge.org. For more information, visit https://www.craiglodge.org/ Craig Lodge, Dalmally, Argyll, Scotland, UK, PA33 1AR, 01838 200216.
The Way of St. Andrews Scottish Pilgrimage
Enjoy being a pilgrim in Scotland! Try one of the eight great pilgrim ways wending their way quietly through Scotland’s diverse and scenic landscape to St Andrews. Great trails, great scenery and a great opportunity for reflection. To plan your pilgrimage route and get more information please visit http://www.thewayofstandrews.com/