First Holy Communions Next Saturday at 12 noon
No 10:00am Mass, No Adoration
Please remember in your prayers the children from the Cathedral parish who will receive their First Holy Communion at Mass next Saturday at 12:00pm. Thank you, especially, to Fr. Jamie, their teachers and parents who have helped them to prepare for their First Holy Communion. Please note there will be no 10:00am Mass and no Eucharistic Adoration next Saturday, 4th June. Confessions will be as normal. Normal service will resume the following weekend – thank you for your understanding!
Queen’s Jubilee Celebration – Next Sunday!
On Sunday 5th June, His Grace, the Archbishop, will celebrate a special Mass of Thanksgiving at Noon on the occasion of the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. This will be a delightful and joyful celebration and will finish with a champagne reception after the Mass. If you can make it – do come along to toast the queen on this historic occasion.
Friends of the Cathedral – Join Today!
We’re delighted to launch Friends of the Cathedral, a new initiative for people who care about the Cathedral and who are committed to building up our community and helping to raise funds for the Cathedral’s care and maintenance. Friends will receive a brilliant new magazine that is posted straight to their door and gain access to a fantastic series of Cathedral events. With more and more people coming back to Mass in the Cathedral, it’s the perfect time to bring people together to rebuild our community, while also ensuring St Mary’s stays beautiful. So why not join today? Fill in a form at the back of the Cathedral or join online at https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/friends
Thank You for Supporting the Request Organ Recital!
Tom Wilkinson, Cathedral Organist, would like to thank everyone who supported his Request Organ Recital on 15 May 2022. The event raised the amount required to enable him to attend the international Bach Network conference, this summer! Thank you!
Save the Dates! Schola Recital and Festival Mass
Monday, 15th August — Schola Recital
Mark your diary for ‘Schola Cantorum sings MacMillan,’ a recital 7:30pm on Monday, 15 August, the Cathedral's Patronal Feast of the Assumption. Sir James MacMillan is Scotland’s most distinguished composer, and Patron of Music at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral. In the course of this recital at the Cathedral, Sir James will discuss the relation between faith and music with Michael Ferguson, Director of the Schola Cantorum. For details, visit http://www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/festival-2022.html
Sunday, 21st August — Festival Mass
At Noon the Cathedral will celebrate the Festival Mass followed by a reception in Coffee Saints café. Plan to join us for this special event!
Cathedral’s Over Sixties Club: Tuesday Coffee, Wednesday Cinema
The next cinema outing for the over 60’s will Wednesday 8th June; programme and time announced in next week’s newsletter. Coffee afternoon on Tuesday from 2.30-4pm for coffee, and anyone over 60 years of age is welcome! Please note Coffee Saints now closes at 4pm sharp.
Information Technology (IT) Clinic: Thursday, 30th June
The Over Sixties Club offers an Information Technology (IT) Clinic that can help you with your mobile phones and laptops. Stop in for IT help at Coffee Saints 11.30am - 1pm, Thursday 30th June.
Join the Cathedral Flower Arranging Team!
As we hope you have noticed, we always have a beautiful display of flowers in the cathedral… These displays are prepared by teams of volunteers who take it in turn to meet mid-morning/early afternoon on a Friday to arrange the flowers in preparation for the weekend Masses. To ease the burden of the current volunteers and to cover holidays/other absences, we are looking to recruit more volunteers to join our teams. There are currently four teams led by experienced volunteers, so lack of experience is not a barrier if you are interested. To join the flower arrangers, or find out more, contact Elizabeth Andrews, Elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com You will love being a part of this beautiful work!
Green Foliage Needed for Cathedral Flower Arrangements
… speaking of flowers….Do you have a garden with lovely green foliage you would be willing to donate for the Cathedral flower arrangements? Fresh, hardy green foliage to last a couple of weeks is needed, such as copper beech, weeping beech, ruscus, bergania, ivy or ferns. Can you help? Please contact the Cathedral office at cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk or 0131 556 1798. Thank you!
First Saturday Devotions
On Saturday, 4th June, 9:30am all are welcome for Our Lady of Fatima devotions before 10:00am Mass.
Cathedral Cleaning Volunteers Needed
The Cathedral cleaning team meet every Wednesday afternoon between 2pm – 4pm to clean the church. 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. If you would like to join the group, or find out more, please contact Elizabeth Andrews at Elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com
2022 Marriage Preparation Course 27th August
The next Marriage Preparation course will take place on Saturday, 27th of August. The course includes presentations by married couples from the parish. To register, email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa Appeal Today
We welcome Sr. Ann McAllister, FMSA to Ravelston as she makes an appeal to support the work of her religious community, the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa. Please consider making a generous response to this appeal!
First Holy Communion Mass Next Saturday 12:00pm
Please remember in your prayers the children from the St. Andrew’s Church who will receive their First Holy Communion at Mass next Saturday at 12:00pm. Special As they receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament for the first time, may they come to love Him and grow in their relationship with Our Lord, who is truly present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Most Holy Eucharist. Thank you to Fr. Jamie, their teachers and parents who have helped them to prepare for this important day!
Queen’s Jubilee Celebration Next Sunday
Join us in the Parish Rooms after 10:30am Mass next Sunday, 5th June for a wee celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee! We will have some cake and bubbly, and hope you will stop in to celebrate this special occasion!
Corpus Christi Procession in Falkirk – Sunday 19 June, 3:00pm
As part of the Eucharistic renewal in the Archdiocese this liturgical year you are invited to take part in a Corpus Christi procession, led by Archbishop Cushley, at St Francis Xavier’s, Hope Street, Falkirk FK1 5AT on Sunday 19 June at 3:00pm. Gather at the Bandstand in High Street before processing to St Francis Xavier’s Parish (around 20 min walk).
Family Afternoon, Saturday 25 June: ‘The Eucharist: Source of Family Love’
A Family Afternoon at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB, takes place on Saturday 25 June, 2.00pm-5.00pm. It will include separate sessions for adults, children and teens, focusing on ‘The Eucharist: Source of Family Love’, family prayer time in St Margaret’s Chapel and family games! Don’t miss this event for all families, which coincides with the 10th World Meeting of Families taking place in Rome. Register your family today at https://bit.ly/archfamilyday
PVG Volunteers Needed for Family Afternoon
Volunteers with PVG membership are needed for work with children during the Family Afternoon on Sat 25th June, at the Gillis Centre. The children's groups will run for an hour 2.15-3.15pm and will be led by the Servidora Sisters. Volunteers will help support the Sisters in the children’s groups on the day and occupy any under-fives. If you have PVG membership and would like to volunteer, please contact our parish Safeguarding Officer, Chris McCabe, Chris.McCabe@staned.org.uk
Register for Justice & Peace Event in Broxburn: Saturday 25 June
Caritas, Justice and Peace – a Synodal Way Forward takes place on Saturday 25 June, 10:00am-3:30pm at Ss John Cantius & Nicholas, Main Street, Broxburn. It’s a chance to participate in shaping the agenda of the Archdiocesan Commission for Caritas, Justice & Peace over the next two years. All welcome. There will be brief presentations from our four working groups which focus on Food, Poverty and Inequality Israel-Palestine; Laudato Si and Refugees and Migrants. Details and registration at https://bit.ly/justiceandpeaceevent
Joiner, Plumber, Painter or Electrician?
Could you volunteer some time to help a new pregnancy support service open its doors? Stanton Healthcare is getting ready to welcome mothers and babies in need of help in our Archdiocese. It is looking for volunteers to help make the new centre in Edinburgh an attractive and welcoming place where women can receive support. Find out more from Paul Atkin at the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office: prolife@staned.org.uk or 0131 623 8917.
Venerable Margaret Sinclair: Monthly Mass to Pray for Canonisation
The monthly Mass to pray for the canonisation of Venerable Margaret Sinclair is on the first Tuesday of each month at 1:30pm (7 June) at St Patrick’s Church in the Cowgate. The national Venerable Margaret Sinclair Pilgrimage is on Sunday 18 September. More details will follow soon. Find out more about this holy Edinburgh woman at http://www.margaretsinclair.scot
African & Caribbean Mass on Sunday 5 June at St. Patrick’s Church
This monthly Mass takes place at 1:00pm on Sunday 5 June at St Patrick’s Church in the Cowgate.
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Scottish Pilgrimage to St. Andrews
Great scenery from coastal to moorland, with opportunity for reflection or prayer. To get started try the mini-pilgrimage to Rosslyn Chapel 13 km south of Edinburgh. Or feeling more adventurous pick up the St Margaret’s Way Challenge, all the way in easy stages from here in Edinburgh to St Andrews and the great ruined cathedral, built in the honour of Scotland’s patron saint, overlooking the North Sea. All details, contact information and help from http://www.thewayofstandrews.com/
Book a Prayerful Summer Retreat at Pluscarden Abbey
This summer, why not plan a time of prayerful retreat at beautiful, historic Pluscarden Abbey? Reservations available for individuals or groups. The normal monastic day provides an excellent framework, with the 8 services of praying the Office and the daily Mass open to all. All of the services at Pluscarden Abbey are sung in Latin using Gregorian Chant. The monastery is surrounded by forest, hills, moors and fields, and enjoys a natural environment for prayer. Women retreatants are accommodated in St. Scholastica's Retreat. Men are accommodated in St Benedict’s guest house. No charge is made to retreatants; but if you wish to make a donation, this will be gratefully received. For details and online booking visit https://www.pluscardenabbey.org/retreats Pluscarden Abbey, Elgin IV30 8UA
Gifts for First Holy Communion
A wide selection of gifts is available online through The Catholic Truth Society for First Holy Communion https://www.ctsbooks.org/
More Catholic gifts are available online through Pauline Books and Media UK at https://www.paulineuk.org/ Other sources of Catholic gifts are St. Paul Publications at https://stpauls.org.uk/ and Piety Stall https://www.pietystall.co.uk/
Religious cards are also available at https://www.religiouscards.co.uk/