Cathedral Parishioner Takes a Step Closer to Priesthood!
Congratulations to Alessio Marchetti, a fourth-year seminarian for our Archdiocese at the Pontifical Scots College in Rome, who is one of six Scottish seminarians who were instituted as Acolytes by Bishop Paul Tighe in Rome on Sunday, 13th March. Before entering seminary in 2018, Alessio was a server here at the Cathedral! See photos from the day at https://archedinburgh.org/seminarians-instituted-as-acolytes-in-rome/
Please continue to pray for Alessio, as well as our other seminarians Paul Henderson and Peter Shankland as they continue their studies for the priesthood. Do you think God may be calling you to be a priest? Take courage and respond with a generous heart! If you want to find out more, contact Fr Andrew Garden on 0131 663 4286 for a chat or email him at, vocations@staned.org.uk
Sacrament of Confession
In this grace-filled season of Lent, the Sacrament of Confession is available Monday-Friday after the 12:45pm Mass. On Saturdays, priests hear confessions 10:30am-12Noon and 5:00-5:45pm.
Friday Stations of the Cross
A Lenten tradition is to follow the footsteps of the Lord on the way to Calvary, meditating on his suffering and death for our salvation. On Fridays at the Cathedral during Lent, we will pray the Stations of the Cross after the 12:45pm Mass. Please consider joining us in this Lenten spiritual exercise.
Friday 25 March: Anniversary Mass for Cardinal Winning Pro-Life Initiative
Archbishop Cushley will celebrate Mass at 7:00pm on Friday, 25 March here at St. Mary’s Cathedral for the 25th Anniversary of the Cardinal Winning Pro-Life Initiative. In 1997, the late Cardinal Thomas Joseph Winning launched a major initiative to help women facing a crisis pregnancy. The initiative has assisted countless women and their families practically, financially, emotionally and spiritually. To learn more, visit https://cardinalwinningprolifeinitiative.wordpress.com/about-us/ or follow on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/cwpliscotland.
Easter Knitted Goods to Support the Cathedral
Please support the Cathedral by buying some Easter-themed knitted gifts! Easter items are sold online from £10 at https://www.kathedralknits.etsy.com and will be for sale in the Octagon as of Sunday 3rd April. All the profits from all sales are very generously donated by our own wonderful parishioner Joanna Kopystynska to the Cathedral.
Cathedral’s Over Sixties Club
Come along and join the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the Coffee Saints Café for the Over Sixties Club for the Cathedral. We meet every Tuesday from 2.30-4pm for coffee and cake (all free!) and anyone over 60 years of age is welcome! Next cinema visit is on Wednesday, 30 March for ‘Belfast’ or ‘Uncharted,’ film and time to be confirmed. For more information contact Graham 07568 202 547 or graham@grassmarket.org
2022 Marriage Preparation Courses: 21st May and 27th August
The next Marriage Preparation course will take place on Saturday, 21st of May from 10am-5pm and the last one of the year will be held Saturday, 27th of August. The course includes presentations by married couples from the parish. To register, email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Support Families Facing Hunger in Malawi: SCIAF Wee Boxes 2022
Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) Wee Boxes for Lent 2022 are now available! This year’s Wee Box appeal is helping families in Malawi who are facing extreme hunger. You can collect your Wee Box together with an information pack on the table in the Octagon. Alternatively, you can donate online at https://www.sciaf.org.uk/get-involved/appeals
Sunday Eucharistic Adoration from 3:00pm
Spend a little extra time with the Lord during Lent in Eucharistic Adoration at St Andrew's Church. The Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma invite you to join them Sunday afternoons beginning 6th March, from 3:00-5:15pm. Come for a few minutes or a couple hours for silent Adoration from 3:00pm followed by Holy Hour with the Sisters at 4:00pm, including devotional prayers, the Rosary and chanted Evening Prayer. All are welcome!
9:30am Friday Stations of the Cross at Ravelston
On Fridays in Lent, join us at 9:30am in the church for Stations of the Cross. We will gather afterwards for our Friday Café (10am-Noon) in the Parish Rooms. Please join us for a cuppa and a chat with new friends and old!
Ecumenical Prayer for Ukraine
Christian communities around Edinburgh are hosting an ecumenical prayer vigil for peace in Ukraine on Saturdays 12pm-12:30pm, Old Saint Paul's Scottish Episcopal Church, 63 Jeffrey St, Edinburgh EH1 1DH.
SCIAF Ukraine Appeal
Support SCIAF’s emergency appeal for Ukraine. Donations can be made at https://www.sciaf.org.uk/.
To find out how the Catholic Church is helping those in Ukraine visit https://www.caritas.org/
Scottish Bishops Conference Statement on Ukraine
The Bishops of Scotland have issued a statement calling for an end to violence and support of Ukrainian refugees: ‘We encourage Scotland’s Catholics and all people of good will to open their arms to the refugees from Ukraine.’ Visit: https://archedinburgh.org/statement-bishops-conference-of-scotland-on-ukraine/ to read the statement.
Monday Talks: A Saint’s Guide to Making the Most of Lent
The Archdiocese is hosting Lent with St Paul – a Saint’s guide to making the most of Lent. It’s a 30-minute talk at 7:30pm on 21, 28 March and 4 April. Fr Andrews Garden (St David’s, Dalkeith) explores insights and advice from St Paul to help us prepare for Easter. No need to register. Watch live on the YouTube Channel of the Archdiocese at bit.ly/ArchYouTube
Pro-Life Stations of the Cross with Deacon McEvoy
Register to join Deacon Tom McEvoy (Sacred Heart & St Margaret Parish, Penicuik) on Zoom to pray the Stations of Cross for unborn children, their mothers and all pro-life intentions on Tuesday 22 March, 7:45pm. Sign up to join on Zoom at https://archedinburgh.org/lent-register-now-for-pro-life-stations-of-the-cross/
Apostleship of the Sea Webinar: Wednesday 23rd March
Bigger ships, smaller crews, and faster turnaround times in port have ensured that goods can be delivered more quickly and cheaply than ever before. But what does this mean for the seafarers onboard? Catholic charity Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) is hosting a webinar 23 March at 7.30pm about modernisation in the shipping industry, featuring a panel of experts. Join the webinar to hear how shipping has changed, the impact this is having on seafarers today and the important role Stella Maris has in supporting them. Register at www.stellamaris.org.uk/modernisation
The Margaret Sinclair Story: Tuesday 29th March
The online Premiere of The Margaret Sinclair Story will be broadcast live on Tuesday 29 March at 7.00pm The Story of Venerable Margaret Sinclair, from Edinburgh, is vividly brought to life in this docu-drama. Watch live at https://youtu.be/7LYFhRoRPz8
After the premiere, Rachel (who plays Margaret in the film) and director Stephen Callaghan will host a public Zoom chat from 8:00pm at https://zoom.us/j/96814393754
Anton and Angela Collela on Faith and Marriage: Sunday 3rd April
A Holy Hour for married and engaged couples takes place on Sunday 3 April at 4:00pm at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh. It features a testimony from Anton and Angela Collela on the pivotal role their Catholic faith has played in their 34 years of marriage. Anton is a well-known figure in the business world as the globetrotting chief executive of Moore Global, one of the world's leading accountancy firms. He is also chairman of the executive board of the Scottish Catholic Education Service. He is a respected public speaker and often gives talks on leadership in business. Register at
bit.ly/ArchEventbrite. For information visit, https://archedinburgh.org/event-anton-and-angela-share-insights-from-a-catholic-marriage/ or contact 0131 623 8900, VEmarriage@staned.org.uk
Archdiocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage 8 July – 15 July 2022
The Archdiocesan Lourdes Pilgrimage is back! Demand is expected to be high for this popular and life-enhancing trip, so booking now is recommended. It takes place from 8-15 July and will be led by Archbishop Cushley. All the details you need are at www.edinburgh-lourdes.com/lourdes22
‘VOCARE’: God Calls to the Priesthood and Religious Life
Shalom World’s original series ‘VOCARE’ takes an in-depth look at the lives of those who have answered God’s call to priesthood and religious life, examining the challenges and joys of their lives. Visit https://www.shalomworld.org/show/vocare-season-3
Shalom World is a Catholic, commercial-free, 24/7, HD family entertainment channel.
Young Adults Easter Triduum Retreat at Craig Lodge (Ages 18-30)
Craig Lodge House of Prayer is taking bookings for the Easter Triduum Retreat during 14-17 April for young adults ages 18-30. To book visit, https://www.craiglodge.org/events/easter-triduum-apr-2022
Children’s 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/
Special Collection Next Weekend for SCIAF
There will be a special collection next weekend for Episcopal Charities including SCIAF, the official aid and international development charity of the Catholic Church in Scotland.