Holy Week and Easter
This is the most sacred week of the year. While Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday are not holy days of obligation, all are encouraged to attend these special liturgies in preparation for Easter. His Grace, the Archbishop, will celebrate the Chrism Mass on Tuesday at 7:00pm with priests from throughout the Archdiocese. On Holy Thursday, His Grace will celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at 7:00pm followed by procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose, with watching until 11:00pm. Night Prayer will be celebrated at 11.00 p.m. Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence which means that all Catholics are obliged to abstain from meat, and all adults between 16 and 65 are obliged to fast. The Passion Liturgy will be held at 3:00pm and for those who cannot attend, Stations of the Cross will be prayed at 7:00pm.
Remember that it is a Precept of the Church that all Catholics should go to confession at least once a year, at Easter or thereabouts. There will be additional priests available this week for Confessions Monday-Wednesday after the 12:45pm Mass and on Good Friday after the 3:00pm Passion Liturgy. His Grace will celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass at 8:00pm on Holy Saturday and 18 catechumens and candidates will be received into Full Communion with the Catholic Church at this Mass. Easter Sunday Masses will be celebrated at the usual Sunday Mass times. Blessed Holy Week!
Sacrament of Confession
Times for Confession during Holy Week are printed on the front of this Newsletter and additional priests will be available at those times. The Archdiocese has put together a helpful guide about returning to Confession. Watch it at bit.ly/archconfessionvideo
Another resource is the `How to Go to Confession` sheets by the Confessionals.
CATHEDRAL HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SCHEDULE
Sunday 10th April: Palm Sunday
6.00pm (Vigil Mass on Saturday)
9.00am, 12 Noon and 7.30pm
Polish: 10.30am and 6.00pm
Monday, 11th April
9.00am, 6.00pm (Polish)
10.00am, 12.45pm
Tuesday 12th April: Chrism Mass
9.00am (Polish)
10.00am
12.45pm
6.00pm (Polish): Cancelled
7.00pm: Chrism Mass
Wednesday, 13th April
9.00am, 6.00pm (Polish)
10.00am, 12.45pm
Thursday 14th April: Maundy Thursday
6.00pm (Polish): Cancelled
7.00pm: Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Friday 15th April: Good Friday
3.00pm: Passion Liturgy
5.00pm: Passion Liturgy (Polish)
7.00pm: Stations of the Cross
Saturday 16th April: Holy Saturday
Polish Food Blessing:
12noon, 3.00pm and 5.00pm
8.00pm: Easter Vigil Mass
Sunday 17th April: Easter Sunday
9.00am, 12noon and 7.30pm
Polish: 10.30am and 6:00pm
Easter Knitted Goods on Sale in Octagon
Please support the parish by buying some Easter-themed knitted gifts! Easter items are on sale today after Mass in the Octagon and are knitted by parishioner Joanna Kopystynska. All the profits from all sales are very generously donated by Joanna to the parish. The knitted good are also sold online from £10 at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KathedralKnits
Feast of Divine Mercy: Sunday, 24 April
The celebration of the Feast of Divine Mercy here in the Cathedral will start at 3:00pm on Sunday, 24th April, Divine Mercy Sunday. There will be a Holy Hour with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and an opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
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 ‘The Nan Movie,’ Wednesday 13th April. Meeting time at 11:50 am at the Omni, coffee afterwards at Coffee Saints. For more information contact Graham 07568 202 547 or graham@grassmarket.org
Job Opening: Bookshop Manager for St. Pauls Bookshop
An experienced and resourceful Bookshop Manager is sought to setup and manage the St. Pauls Bookshop adjacent to St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh. The role holder will have experience of retail and customer service and a knowledge of Christian literature. Strong communication skills, enthusiasm and initiative will also be key to developing this new venture. The role includes 35hrs per week (10am-6pm with 1hr unpaid for lunch) with flexibility of days available but to include Sunday working. Salary is £20,384. For a full job description, please visit https://bit.ly/STPB-Manager
To apply, please submit your CV and a covering letter outlining your relevant experience and suitability for the role to morag@forthhr.co.uk by 5pm, Monday 18th April 2022.
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 start of the new tax year, 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!
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
RAVELSTON HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SCHEDULE
Palm Sunday, 10th April
10:30am
Monday, 11th April
6pm Mass
Tuesday, 12th April
6pm Mass cancelled
Wednesday, 13th April
6pm Mass
Holy Thursday, 14th April
6pm Mass cancelled
Good Friday, 15th April
3pm Passion Liturgy
Easter Sunday, 17th April
10:30am
Eucharistic Adoration 3:00pm on Palm Sunday at Ravelston
The Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma invite you to join them at St. Andrew’s Church, Ravelston today 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!
Easter Knitted Goods on Sale to Support Parish
Please support the parish by buying some Easter-themed knitted gifts! Easter items are on sale today after Mass. All the profits from sales are very generously donated by Joanna Kopystynska to the parish. The knitted good are also sold online from £10 at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KathedralKnits
No Parish Café on Friday 15th April or 22nd April
Please note there will be no Friday Parish Café for the next two weeks. Thank you.
Tuesday Pro-Life Stations of the Cross with Mgr Gerard Hand
Register to join Mgr Gerard Hand (Holy Cross, Edinburgh)on Zoom to pray the Stations of Cross all pro-life intentions on Tuesday 11 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 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 see https://www.caritas.org/
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.
Online Event via Zoom for Catholics in Health and Social Care on 14 May
If you work in health and social care and are interested in learning about the ethical challenges, register for Catholics in Health and Social Care. This Zoom event is ideal for those who missed the same event held recently at the Gillis Centre in Edinburgh. It takes place 11:30am-4:45pm on Saturday 14 May. Register: https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/events/2022/05/catholics-in-health-and-social-care
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 a www.edinburgh-lourdes.com/lourdes22
Brecbannoch Pilgrimage from Oban to Iona: 11-13 June 2022
The inaugural Brecbannoch Pilgrimage will take place 11-13 June 2022. The Brecbannoch is a 50-mile pilgrimage undertaken on foot from Oban to Iona, with the special purpose of praying for the renewal of the faith in Scotland. Along the way, the relics of St Columba, St Andrew and St Margaret will be carried, invoking their protection over the Church in these isles. Sign up at: www.brecbannoch.org/sign-up
The Way of St. Andrews Pilgrimage
Support the revival of the ancient Scottish Pilgrimage to the town of St Andrews! Choose one of eight great pilgrim ways wending their way through Scotland’s scenic landscape to St Andrews. For maps and details, visit http://www.thewayofstandrews.com/