St. Pauls Bookshop
Grand Opening!
Saturday, 26 November, 10:00am
After many months of trials and tribulations I am delighted to announce the opening of our new bookshop here at St. Mary’s Cathedral. It is (more or less) the only religious bookshop in the East of Scotland and will offer a wide range of Christian literature, cards, religious objects, music, DVDs, visual resources, religious education materials and more. Shop for the perfect Christmas gift and find your perfect stocking filler! Hours are 10:00am to 5:30pm, including weekends (closed Mondays).
Advent Faith Sharing Group
We are holding a small Faith Sharing Group to help us prepare for Christmas at 63 York Place on the five Saturdays before Christmas. We will have our first meeting on Saturday, November 19th, 2022, 12:30pm-2:00pm. We will pray together and share our Faith journey in the light of scripture readings. Everyone is most welcome whatever your age or background. If interested, please contact Lis at ejherschan@aol.com.
Youth Group Tonight: Visit to St. Margaret’s, Davidson’s Mains
Tonight’s Youth Group meeting will be at St Margaret’s, Davidson’s Mains, Main Street, Davidson’s Mains, EH4 5AD. The change is venue is to do with the upcoming feast of St Margaret. This evening the young people will learn more about this great Queen and Saint of Scotland and have the opportunity to pray before her relic. The evening begins at 6pm and will finish with a pizza supper at 7.30. We look forward to seeing you there! Any questions, please speak to Fr. Robert or email frrobert.taylor@staned.org.uk.
Young Adults Talk 15th November: ‘I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins’
All those age 18-35 are very welcome to join our Young Adults Group for our next talk this Tuesday, 15th November as we continue our series on the Creed. Our speaker will be Fr. Edward Toner on ‘I Believe in the Forgiveness of Sins.’ We’ll meet 63 York Place at 7:00pm for teas/coffees followed by the talk at 7:30pm and a short group discussion. After Night Prayer in the Cathedral, we will gather at a local pub for some refreshment. The final talk in this series will be next week, 22nd November!
Young Adults Advent Talks: ‘Images of Advent’
….and we will have a series of Young Adults Advent Talks – ‘Images of Advent’ – beginning Tuesday, 6 December with Fr. Albert Robertson, OP, on The Immaculate Conception. Then the following week on 13 December, we will have a talk on ‘John the Baptist’ by Fr. Robert and a concluding talk on 20 December by His Grace, Archbishop Cushley, titled ‘The Annunciation’. Don’t miss this opportunity to contemplate these beautiful images of Advent! As always, after Night Prayer in the Cathedral we will gather at a local pub for some refreshment.
St Andrew’s Vigil and Feast Day at the Cathedral
Make time in your diary this year to celebrate the feast day of our National Patron. At the Cathedral there will be Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the Vigil of St. Andrew on Tuesday 29th November from 7pm which will conclude with Evening Prayer I of the feast at 8pm and Benediction. All are welcome. On Wednesday 30th November, Archbishop Leo Cushley will celebrate Mass for the Feast at 12.45. It was Andrew who, famously, brought Peter to Jesus – this feast day is your opportunity in a special way – to go to Jesus, through Andrew.
Online Talks for Advent
‘Entering Advent with Isaiah’ with Fr Jamie McMorrin
Mark the beginning of Advent with an online talk titled ‘Entering Advent with Isaiah’ with Fr Jamie McMorrin, of St Margaret’s in Davidson’s Mains, Edinburgh. It takes place on Zoom, Monday 28 November at 7:30pm-8:30pm. Register now at bit.ly/enteradvent
Advent Talks with Sr. Anna Marie McGuan, RSM
Join Sr Anna Marie McGuan RSM for a series of 30-minute Advent talks at 7:30pm on Monday 5, 12, and 19 December. No registration required, just use the following link on the night to join any of the talks: bit.ly/adventtalks22
Christmas Gifts for Prisoners’ Children – This Weekend and Next
We are collecting Christmas gifts for children of prisoners in Edinburgh (Saughton) Prison this weekend and next weekend. We ask that gifts are new, wrapped in Christmas gift wrap, and with a label attached stating whether the gift is suitable for a boy or a girl and the age of the child. Gifts for older children from 11 years upwards would be most appreciated. A collection box will be at the back of both churches for the depositing of gifts both this weekend and Saturday 19th /Sunday 20th November. Please be as generous as you have been in past years. Many thanks in advance!
Volunteers Needed!
Cathedral Flower Arranging Team
As we hope you have noticed, we always have a beautiful display of flowers in the Cathedral. These are prepared by wonderful teams of volunteers who take it in turn to meet on a Friday to arrange the flowers in preparation for the weekend Masses. We are looking to recruit more volunteers to join our teams. There are currently four teams, who meet either mid-morning/early afternoon on a Friday and each team is led by an experienced volunteer, so lack of experience is not a barrier!
Cathedral Cleaning Team
The Cathedral cleaning team meet every Wednesday afternoon between 2pm – 4pm to clean our lovely Cathedral. 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!
To find out more about volunteering as a flower arranger or cleaning team member, please contact Elizabeth Andrews at elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com or sign up on the clipboards at the back of church this weekend.
Kathedral Knits Christmas Gifts to Support the Cathedral
Over the next few weeks, Knitted goods for Christmas will be available for sale after Mass in the Cathedral and in Ravelston by our own wonderful parishioner Joanna Kopystynska. The items are also available at www.kathedralknits.etsy.com
All the profits from these sales are generously donated by Joanna to the Cathedral. Sales will be after the Noon Mass at the Cathedral, on Sunday, 27 November, 4 December, 11 December and 18 December.
Over Sixties Club: Coffee Afternoon and Dynamic Earth Outing
Anyone 60 and over is welcome to join our Over Sixties Club for coffee and cakes at Coffee Saints on Tuesday, November 15th at 2.30pm. Come along for an outing to Dynamic Earth on Friday November 18th. Please meet outside the Scottish Parliament (where the flag poles are!) at 1.30pm. No pre-booking.
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 are 10am-5pm on Saturday, 19th November 2022; Saturday, 28th January 2023; and Saturday, 20th May 2023. To register, email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk.
Noon Rosary at the Cathedral
Join us for a Noon Rosary at Our Lady’s Altar from Monday to Friday each week. All are welcome!
St Mary's Playgroup for Children Ages 2 to 7, Monday-Friday Mornings
St Mary's Playgroup at St Mary's RC Primary School, East London Street, Edinburgh; welcomes children from two and a half years old, up to entry to Primary school (during school holidays we can take children up to 7 years of age). Term Time & School Holidays: Monday to Friday 9:00am to 12 Noon (Playgroup closes for 2 weeks at Christmas). Price: £11 per child per day. For information contact stmarysplaygroup@aol.com, 0131 556 1634 or visit https://stmarysplaygroup.weebly.com.
‘Mercy Behind Bars’: Scottish Catholic Magazine’s 11th November Issue
The Scottish Catholic magazine’s 11th November issue has arrived, with the cover story ‘Mercy Behind Bars’ featuring our own parishioner Barbara Dickson on “the faith that inspires her fight for prisoners.” Copies are available for just £2 on the table in the Octagon. Get yours while supplies last! Please put monies in the box at the pillar after you enter the Cathedral.
Mark Your Diary! Mass and Supper for Feast of St Andrew
You are welcome to join us for a St Andrew’s supper on the feast day of the parish patron, Wednesday 30th November in the parish rooms at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston. Come along and celebrate this important day in the calendar of our community and country with Mass at 6pm and then join for supper at 7pm. Supper will be a sit-down meal. Please bring your own bottle for drinks! So we can cater correctly, please pick up your tickets after Mass this weekend.
St Andrew’s Talks
Thanks to everyone who turned out on Monday evening for our latest talk in the St Andrew’s Talks series from Sister Roseann Reddy of the Sisters of the Gospel of Life. Our next talk will be on Monday 5th December. Please do come along and hear from Sister Miriam Fidelis, RSM about and learn of the beautiful ‘O Antiphons’ that are a prominent feature of the liturgy of the Church in the run up to Christmas. After the talk there will be soup and sandwiches and a chance to discuss these beautiful antiphons which all relate to the identity of Christ.
World Day for the Poor
Today World Day for the Poor. This year’s theme is “For your sakes Christ became poor” (2 Cor 8:9). Pope Francis asks us to pray for those facing poverty in our communities and across the world. You can also show practical support by supporting a charity that serves the poor, such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul (www.ssvpscotland.com) or SCIAF (www.sciaf.org.uk), the official aid and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland.
Sunday Holy Hours with Archbishop Cushley
Join Archbishop Cushley for Eucharistic Adoration at St Margaret’s Chapel at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, to pray for “insight, courage and joy in our mission,” as part of the Synod 2023. It takes place at 6pm on the following Sundays: 18 Dec, 8 Jan, 12 Feb, 12 Mar. No registration required, just turn up and pray.
Cost of Living Help & Advice Drop-In Events, Friday 18 November
Deidre Brock MP and Ben Macpherson MSP are hosting a joint ‘Cost of Living Help & Advice Event’ in their capacity as representatives of Edinburgh North and Leith. There will be two drop-in sessions on Friday 18th November: 10.00am-12.00noon at Leith Community Centre, 12A Newkirkgate, EH6 6AD and 2.30pm-4.30pm at Royston Wardieburn Community Centre, 11 Pilton Drive North, EH5 1NF
Light from Light: Choral Music for Advent by Candlelight
This December be uplifted with a candlelit Advent music concert from our own Schola Cantorum of St. Mary’s Cathedral at one of three upcoming concerts in the Archdiocese:
St Francis Xavier's in Falkirk on Wednesday 7 December
St Patrick's in Kilsyth on Saturday 10 December
St Margaret's in Dunfermline on Friday 16 December
All concerts 8pm. Pay at the door on the night or get your £5 ticket (family ticket £10) at bit.ly/3T7wRRY