Noon Mass for Missio Scotland 100th Anniversary
His Grace, Archbishop Cushley, will preside today at the Noon Mass 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 today will be for the work of Missio Scotland.
Young Adults Talk 25th October: ‘I Believe in the Holy Spirit’
On Tuesday, 25 October, our Young Adults Group will meet to continue our series on the Creed. All those age 18-35 are very 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 and then head over to a local pub.
Extra Dates for Ministry Meetings: 29th October and 5th November
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 1:30pm and for Readers on Saturday, 5th November at 1:30pm. 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
November Lists
During the month of November we pray especially for the faithful departed. Please take a November List from the back of church to fill out with the names of those friends and family members who have passed away and return it to the Cathedral or St Andrew’s, Ravelston by placing them to the marked box found at the back of both churches. Please try and return them before the 1st November, but you can take them throughout the month of November.
Parish Pilgrimage to Rome in June 2023 – Registration By 31st October
We’ve had a great response for our Parish Pilgrimage to Rome! Thanks to so many who have already contacted us for a booking form. If you want to go, you need to get your form in very soon. To secure flights we need a final count of pilgrims by 31st October, so if you would like to come e-mail cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
As you know, on June 14th 2023, 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. Our Parish Pilgrimage to Rome from 12th -16th June 2023 will celebrate this wonderful event. 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. 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…! If you have any questions or need any other information, please speak directly to Fr Robert or contact him at frrobert.taylor@staned.org.uk
Parish Youth Group Meets Next Sunday
We are delighted to announce that beginning next Sunday, 30th October, the Parish Youth Group will return to St Andrew’s, Ravelston. 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 Cathedral or at St. Andrew’s.
Legion of Mary – Students & Professionals Group
The Legion of Mary is a lay association of Catholics which seeks to help its members grow in holiness through devotion to Our Lady and by carrying out works of mercy. Our presidium name is Our Lady Cause of our Joy. We meet every Monday at 7:00 pm at 63 York Place. We are a group of mixed male and female members, students and professionals and from different countries, cultures. For more information contact phone number: Monika - 07751213612, Atama – 07832903514
Eucharistic Adoration on Saturdays 10:30am-12Noon
As we profess in our Creed, we believe “in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, born of the Father before all ages. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God,…” Come and adore the Lord Jesus during some time of Eucharistic Adoration after the 10:00am Mass on Saturdays here at the Cathedral. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is celebrated every Saturday 10:30am-12:00pm in the Cathedral. Come for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour…. or more. Saturday morning Confessions are from 10:30am-12:00pm.
Over Sixties Club – Coffee Afternoon, Cinema Trip, IT Clinic and more!]
The Cathedral’s Over Sixties Club welcomes all who are 60 and over to join them for this week’s events:
Tuesday 25th October - Coffee Afternoon at Coffee Saints 2.30 - 4pm
Wednesday 26th October - Cinema Trip “Emily.” Meet upstairs at Omni centre 2.35pm.
Thursday 27th October - IT clinic at Coffee Saints.11.30 - 1pm, any IT issues will be looked at, please come along if you have any problems with laptops, tablets, iPads or mobile phones.
Thursday 27th October - Book Club at Coffee Saints 2.30 - 4pm
Tom Wilkinson Organ Recital: Sunday, 6 November, 1:30pm
To celebrate the launch of his new CD, Bach Trio Sonatas BWV 525–530, 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). For a magnificent preview, listen at https://bit.ly/OrganBach-TWilkinson
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!
Memorial Mass for Joseph Gilhooley at Noon on Saturday 12th November
His Grace, the Archbishop, will celebrate a Memorial Mass for Joseph Gilhooley here at the Cathedral at Noon on Saturday 12th November. During the Mass, the Archbishop will bless an altar crucifix that has been donated in his memory and will dedicate a plaque in his memory for the sacristy. This will be a lovely occasion and I know that many of you will want to be present to pay tribute to a man who played a huge part in the life of this Cathedral over so many decades. As many of you know, Joe dedicated almost his entire adult life to St Mary's Cathedral, serving for nearly 50 years as MC and sacristan.
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
Message from Alice – Our Complex Manager
“Just to keep you up to date on what is going on fabric-wise in the Cathedral:
Over the last month we have managed to complete a number of small jobs - such as the removal of the remains of the screen outside the bookshop and the installation of a new drain to prevent water ingress under that door. We have also replaced the old-style bulbs in the hanging lanterns along the two side aisles with LEDs, and we have had all the fire extinguishers in the complex serviced. And those of you who have visited the Café recently may also have noticed that work has been undertaken to make the taps in the toilets all work in a similar manner!
All in all – we are continuing the battle to keep things wind and watertight – and making some progress!
Thank you to all of you who have reported fabric issues to me. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you see anything that needs attention or if you have any brilliant suggestions!”
Alice Harrison, Complex Manager
Friends of the 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 9thNovember. 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.
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
A Big Thank You…
...to the four wonderful young men who did an excellent job cleaning the church rafters last Saturday in preparation for our new lighting work. Special thanks, as well, to the generous donor of our new interim sanctuary curtains!
Daily Rosary After 6pm Mass in October
All are welcome to pray the Rosary with us at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston after the 6pm weekday Masses during October. As we honour our Lady in this special month of the Rosary, we join together in this prayer of meditations on the mysteries in the life of Christ.
Tell MSPs to Oppose Gender Recognition Reform Bill for Teens
A debate is set for 27th October in the Scottish Government over the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill which aims to lower the minimum age from 18 to 16 for when someone can apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate. The Bill raises serious concerns about religious freedom, the safety, health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable people, and safe spaces for women and girls. A briefing providing the Catholic perspective is available online from the Catholic Parliamentary Office at https://rcpolitics.org/gender-self-id-vote-please-contact-your-msps-today/ and further information is available from the Christian Institute at https://www.christian.org.uk/resource/sex-swaps-for-16-year-olds/ Please contact your MSPs today and tell them to oppose the Gender Recognition Reform Bill.
Two Talks for Catholics on Family Life: 11am-2pm 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 to give a series of talks on Saturday, 5th November, 11:00am-2:00pm. Talk 1: To Promise & To Forgive: Establishing and Healing the Bond between Persons and Talk 2: Family Relationships and Personal Identity. All of you are invited to attend his talks at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh EH9 1BB . Please register at https://bit.ly/ourfamilytalks
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.