No Masks in Church from Monday, 4th April
The legal requirement to wear face coverings in churches in Scotland will be removed from Monday 4 April. There is no need to wear a face covering in church from this date (though you can continue to wear one if you wish). Please continue to respect the space of fellow parishioners and remember to sanitise your hands upon entering and leaving church.
Young Adults Tuesday, 5th April, 7:00pm
This Tuesday we're honoured to welcome Bishop Mark Davies, Bishop of Shrewsbury, who'll conclude our series on St John Paul II with a talk titled ‘The Church of the Third Millennium.’ Doors open at 7:00pm for coffees and teas at 63 York Place before the talk at 7:30pm, and the evening will conclude with a time of prayer before we head to the pub for some refreshments. All adults, aged 18-35, very welcome!
Sacrament of Confession
Please take the time in Lent to go to Confession to help you prepare for Easter. Our confession times are always printed on the front of this newsletter. The Archdiocese has put together a helpful guide about returning to Confession. Watch it on YouTube: bit.ly/archconfessionvideo. Another good resource is the `How to Go to Confession` laminated sheets by the Confessionals, also available here as a PDF: https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/confession
Confession is available in the Cathedral on Monday - Wednesday in Holy Week after 12.45pm Mass.
Cathedral and St Andrew’s Ravelston Holy Week and Easter Schedule
The Holy Week and Easter Schedule is available on the website here.
Cathedral’s Over Sixties Club: Tuesday Coffee, Wednesday Cinema
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 Wednesday film offering is ‘True Things,’ Wednesday 13th April. Meeting time to be confirmed. For more information contact Graham 07568 202 547 or graham@grassmarket.org
2022/23 Gift Aid Envelopes – Ready for Collection
The new 2022/23 Gift Aid envelope sets are now available for collection. If you haven’t already done so, please collect your named set from the back of the church. With the new tax year approaching, this is also an ideal time to consider registering for Gift Aid with the parish if you have not already done so. For more information on this or for any other Gift Aid enquiries, please contact our finance officer, Caroline Reid, at finance@stmaryscathedral.co.uk Thank you!
Information Technology Clinic on Thursdays 11:30am-1:30pm
The Over Sixties Club offers a weekly Information Technology (IT) Clinic that can help you with your electronic devices, mobile phones, tablets, iPads and laptops. So far we’ve given help on how to operate an iPad and find apps and information, and provided security advice for laptops. Stop in for IT help at Coffee Saints on Thursdays 11.30am to 1.30pm. 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
Synodal Process in our Archdiocese: What Happens Next?
What happens next in the synodal process in our Archdiocese? For an update, watch a short video from Sr. Anna Marie McGuan, RSM, Lead Delegate for the Synod, https://bit.ly/SynodUpdate
All Deanery Meetings for the Archdiocese have been completed and five people are working on the syntheses for those meetings, which will be published on the Archdiocesan website when they are ready. If you have any comments or questions on the synodal process, please contact Sister or Fr. John Deighan
Mass Intentions
If you would like to request a Mass intention, please complete an envelope in the back of church and leave it in the box by the pillar as you enter the church, or you may request one through our website at https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/intentions
Sunday Eucharistic Adoration from 3:00pm
The Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma invite you to join them at St. Andrew’s Church, Ravelston, on Sundays in Lent from 3:00-5:15pm. 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 Ravelston 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. You are also welcome to pray the outdoor Stations of the Cross at Ravelston anytime!
Final Monday Talk: 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 4 April. Fr Andrews Garden (St David’s, Dalkeith) explores insights and advice from St Paul the Apostle to help us prepare for Easter. No need to register. Watch live on the YouTube Channel of the Archdiocese or watch any of the excellent talks in this series by Fr. Andrew at bit.ly/ArchYouTube
Tuesday Pro-Life Stations of the Cross with Fr Sebastian Thuruthippillil
Register to join Fr Sebastian Thuruthippillil (St Barbara, Whitburn/Armadale)on Zoom to pray the Stations of Cross all pro-life intentions on Tuesday 5 April, 7:45pm. Sign up to join on Zoom at https://archedinburgh.org/lent-register-now-for-pro-life-stations-of-the-cross/
SCIAF Ukraine Appeal
Please consider supporting 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 see https://www.caritas.org/
Mass for Vocations 5 April in SS John Cantius and Nicholas, Broxburn
Pray that more young people respond to God’s call to the priesthood and religious life at the monthly Archdiocesan Mass for Vocations. It takes place on Tuesday 5 April at 6:30pm in SS John Cantius and Nicholas, 34 West Main Street, Broxburn, West Lothian, EH52 5RJ.
14-17 April: Young Adults Easter Triduum Retreat at Craig Lodge
Craig Lodge House of Prayer is taking bookings for the Easter Triduum Retreat during 14-17 April for young adults ages 18-30. If you would like to journey through the days of Jesus' Passion, Death & Resurrection on this retreat for young adults, Craig Lodge would be so happy to have you join in! To book tickets, please email mail@craiglodge.org and for more information visit https://www.craiglodge.org/events/easter-triduum-apr-2022
Pro-Life Rosary with Archbishop Cushley on Saturday 23 April
Join Archbishop Cushley to pray the Rosary for unborn children, their mothers and all pro-life intentions at 10am on Saturday 23 April at Sacred Heart Church, 26 Lauriston Street, Edinburgh. This event precedes Scotland's national Pro-Life Chain which takes place on nearby Lothian Road at 11:00am.
Pray for the Beatification of Venerable Margaret Sinclair
From 5 May, a Mass will be celebrated on the First Tuesday of every month at 12.30pm to pray for the Beatification/Canonisation of Venerable Margaret Sinclair at St Patrick’s Church in the Cowgate, Edinburgh. After Mass the Novena prayers will be recited and petitions placed before her shrine. Petitions may be sent to St Patrick's directly or online at https://www.margaretsinclair.scot/ using the 'contact' box.
Afternoon Retreat with Brian and Maureen Devine: Sunday 8th May 2022
A retreat for married and engaged couples with Brian and Maureen Devin takes place on Sunday 8th May 3:00pm-5.30pm at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh. Register at bit.ly/ArchEventbrite. For information, contact 0131 623 8900, VEmarriage@staned.org.uk