Rite of the Signing of the Cross
Today we celebrate the Rite of the Signing with the Cross of those children preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation in February. Please keep them in your prayers throughout these coming months!
Farewell Celebration for Fr. Jamie and Fr. John Peter
This Friday, 11th November, Tickets On Sale After Masses Today
We will say farewell to Fr. Jamie and Fr. John Peter this Friday, 11th November at 7:00pm in Coffee Saints. Come along and join us for a festive evening with wine and delicious nibbles. Tickets are available for sale after Masses this weekend for only £5 (or £10 for a family ticket). Please put the evening aside for what will be a lovely event to express our thanks and to wish Frs. Jamie and John Peter well!
Tom Wilkinson Organ Recital & CD Sales: Today, 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
Parish Youth Group Meets Tonight!
The Parish Youth Group meets tonight at St Andrew’s, Ravelston. All those in P4-P7 are invited to join us between 6 & 7.30pm for an opportunity to get together, play, and learn about our faith! Don’t forget some spending money for the tuck shop! To join, please arrive from 5.30pm for registration (cost £1.00), or collect a form from the back of the Cathedral or at St. Andrew’s. Any questions, please speak to Fr. Robert or email him at frrobert.taylor@staned.org.uk
Young Adults Talk 8th November:
‘I Believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church’
For the Solemnity of All Saints our Young Adults Group will be on break this week, but we will resume meeting to continue our series on the Creed on Tuesday, 8th November. All those age 18-35 are very welcome. Our speaker will be Fr. Joseph McGill, on ‘I Believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.’ Join us at 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
Catholic Men: Catenians’ Meeting on Wednesday, 9 November
The Catenian Association invites all Catholic men, married or single, to a membership meeting Wednesday 9th November, from 7.00 p.m.-9.00 p.m. in 63 York Place. 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. Visit https://www.thecatenians.com/ for more information or contact membership@thecatenians.com, 024 7622 4533.
The Crisis for the Church in East Asia
Wednesday, 9th November at 7.30pm Friends Event Open to Parish
Dr John Newton from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will come from London to give a talk at St Mary's Catholic Cathedral on 9th November on The Crisis in the Church in East Asia at 7:30pm in Coffee Saints. The event is hosted by Friends of St Mary's Cathedral and is a not-to-be-missed pre-Red Wednesday event. The talk is open to the whole parish. Please RSVP by 7th November to ppccathedral@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
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
Christmas Gifts for Prisoners’ Children – 12th-13th and 19th-20th November
As always, we will be collecting Christmas gifts for children of prisoners in Edinburgh (Saughton) Prison over the next few weeks. We ask that the 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. There will be a collection box at the back of both churches before all Masses for the depositing of gifts over the weekends of Saturday 12th/Sunday 13th November and Saturday 19th /Sunday 20th November. Please be as generous as you have been in past years. Many thanks in advance!
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.
No Adoration on Saturday 12 November
Please note that there will be no Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Saturday 12 November. Confessions times will be as normal, 10:30am-12Noon.
Over Sixties Club Events
All who are 60 and over are welcome to attend our Over Sixties Club events: Tuesday 8th November, Coffee Afternoon, at Coffee Saints, 2.30 -4pm; Wednesday 9th November, cinema outing, ‘The Lost King,’ meet upstairs at Omni 1.40pm; and Thursday 10th November, book club, 2.30 -4pm at Coffee Saints.
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.
Annual Mass Attendance Census
The Archdiocese’s Annual Mass Attendance Census will be taken this weekend Saturday, 5th November and Sunday, 6th November.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd for Children Ages 3 to 6+
Children grow in love for Jesus, the Good Shepherd, through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. By developing their relationship with God through works that include guided, hands-on activities, children learn about the Bible, the Mass and the Holy Eucharist. The program is offered free of charge at St. Columba’s Parish, 9 Upper Gray St, Edinburgh EH9 1SN. Children from any parish are welcome to take part! Tuesdays: 10:30am - 12:30pm, 3-4 year olds, Fridays: 1:00pm - 2:30pm, 5-6 year olds, Fridays: 3:00pm - 4:30pm, 6+ year olds. To register, please contact Sister Anna Marie McGuan, RSM at SrAnna.Marie@staned.org.uk
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). The playgroup has a lovely bright colourful playroom where we provide a number of activities. 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
Weekly Cathedral and Monthly Archdiocesan Updates By E-Mail
Cathedral News: Receive the Cathedral newsletter straight into your inbox! Stay in touch with the Cathedral through the weekly e-newsletter. Sign up at the ‘Stay in Touch’ section on the bottom of any page of this website or bookmark the Newsletter in your browser at https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/news
Archdiocesan News: For a monthly e-mail update from the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh, subscribe at https://archedinburgh.org/news-events (scroll to bottom of page).
St Andrew’s Talks with Sr. Roseanne Reddy Tomorrow Evening!
The next talk in the St. Andrew's Talk series will be on Monday 7th November after 6pm Mass in the rooms at St Andrew’s, Ravelston. Sr Roseann Reddy of the Sisters of the Gospel of Life will join us to talk about their work creating a civilisation of love, supporting the fundamental belief that every person is a unique individual, with infinite dignity and created in the image and likeness of God. It is sure to be an interesting talk and you are all welcome. Please RSVP to cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Big Clean - Saturday 12th November
Don’t miss our busiest all-parish event! The Big Clean is happening this Saturday, 12th November, 10:00am-4:00pm and your help is needed. Please sign-up to help 'deep clean' the church and rooms before Advent and Christmas. Sign-up sheet is at the entrance to church.
Upcoming Events for Your Diary
Thanks to the social committee at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston for their efforts to develop a social calendar of events to be hosted at St Andrew’s. On Wednesday 30th November, following Mass for the Feast of St Andrew, we’ll have a social evening in the Parish Rooms. Following the Rorate Mass on 15th December, we will bless the crib, sing some carols and heat up with some festive refreshments in the Parish Rooms. That will be closely followed by a festive toast following Mass on Christmas Eve. Then, on the Feast of St. Patrick (17th March 2023), all will be welcome to a gathering in the Parish Rooms. Please mark your diary!
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.
Prisoners’ Week
Prisoner’s Week begins on Sunday 20 November. A launch service takes place at Bishopbriggs Community Church that day at 5pm. For full details and resources please see https://www.prisonersweek.org.uk