Comings and Goings…
As you may know, after two happy years here at the Cathedral, Fr. John Peter has been appointed as Administrator of Musselburgh and Tranent. He has already been covering these parishes for a number of months, but he will move out of the Cathedral permanently in the next couple of weeks. Fr. John Peter has been a great asset to the Cathedral Community, and I would like to thank him for all that he has done during his time here. He will be greatly missed! In the meantime, Fr. Bobby Taylor, who has recently completed his studies in Rome, will move into the Cathedral next week to take over from Fr. Jamie. I know that you will make him very welcome.
The ‘Schola Cantorum’ Sings MacMillan – 15th August at 7.30pm
Our own Cathedral Choir (the Schola Cantorum) will be giving a special recital of choral music composed by James MacMillan on Monday 15th August to mark the Cathedral's Patronal Feast of the Assumption. Sir James MacMillan is, as you know, Scotland’s most distinguished composer. Sir James will be present at the concert and 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. Tickets are £15 and are available at the door or from the Fringe Box Office: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/sacred-arts-festival-music-at-st-mary-s-catholic-cathedral
Join the Friends of St Mary’s Cathedral Today!
Thank you to our subscribers to Friends of St Mary’s Cathedral. We’re pleased to say that the joint membership offer of £30 per month has been so popular that we will offer it permanently. You can join here https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/friends to access a super programme of events and to receive Crux, the new Cathedral magazine, straight to your door. We are currently confirming subscription details with all members. If you haven’t heard from us, we will be in touch with you soon about your membership and the first Friends event that we’re so excited about – the Schola Cantorum sings the music of Sir James MacMillan on 15 August. Hurry to join and receive priority seating and entry to the drinks reception afterwards!
Over Sixties Club: Variety of Activities to Choose From & New Activities
We are continuing and expanding activities for the Over Sixties Club:-
Coffee Afternoon on Tuesdays 2.30pm - 4pm, at Coffee Saints
Cinema outing every second week, next cinema trip is on Wednesday 3rd August, programme and time to be confirmed
Book Club, every second week, 4th August 2.30pm - 4pm, at Coffee Saints
Information Technology Clinic - last Thursday of the month, next session 28th July 11.30am - 1pm, at Coffee Saints
New Activities
EDINBURGH CASTLE visit, Wednesday 27th July 2pm - 4pm, meeting at Castlehill, spaces are limited to 20 people, pre booking is essential for this event, contact Graham.
DALKEITH COUNTRY PARK visit, Thursday 28th July 10.45am - 1.30pm, meeting a Coffee Saints, spaces are limited to 12 people, pre booking is required for this event, contact Graham.
Pre-Booking for the new activities is essential and on a first come, first served basis. If the places are all taken a reserve list will be compiled. If you miss out on this event you will have priority placing for further upcoming events. Contact Graham 07568 202 547 or graham@grassmarket.org
2022 Marriage Preparation Course 27th August
A Marriage Preparation course will take place on Saturday, 27th of August, with presentations by married couples from the parish. To register, email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Legion of Mary – Students & Professionals Group
The Legion of Mary is a lay association of Catholics which seeks to help its members grow in holiness through devotion to Our Lady and by carrying out works of mercy. We meet every Monday at 7:00 pm at 63 York Place, Edinburgh EH1 3JD and are a group of mixed male and female members, students and professionals and from different countries, cultures. For more information contact Monika – 07751213612 or Atama – 07832903514.
Want to Become Catholic?
If you or someone you know would like to become Catholic, you can sign up to learn about the teachings of the Catholic Church in preparation for receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at Easter 2023. Invite a friend to join you! The Cathedral’s Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) group meets between September and April each year. For more information, call the parish office at 0131 556 1798 or email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
New Volunteers Needed for 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 wonderful teams of volunteers who take it in turn to meet 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, who meet either mid-morning/early afternoon on a Friday and each team is led by an experienced volunteer, so lack of experience is not a barrier. If you would like to join team of flower arrangers, please contact Elizabeth Andrews at Elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com
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. 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
Choir Holiday and Rehearsals
This Sunday the Schola Cantorum continues their well-earned summer break. Following this, the choir will rehearse for a special concert of the music of Sir James MacMillan in the Cathedral on Monday 15 August. The rehearsal sessions will happen on the mornings of Sunday 31 July and 7 August, and so there will be no choir at the 12pm Mass on those days.
Festival Mass – 21st August
His Grace, the Archbishop, will celebrate the Festival Mass at the Cathedral Plan to join us for this Mass!
Property Update
The major Parish House and Rooms electrical rewiring project at Ravelston is now complete, after a delay on the final few jobs. Thank you for your patience and thanks to all who donated towards this significant project. The boundary wall (& side gate) maintenance project has been delayed due, sadly, to health issues for the selected contractor. The fabric team are assessing options.
Today is World Day for Grandparents & the Elderly
World Day for Grandparents & the Elderly is this Sunday 24 July. This weekend especially, take some time to show gratitude for your grandparents and other elderly people in your lives. On this occasion, we would like to warmly thank all grandparents, the elderly, and their families for their gifts and contribution to our Parishes, the Church, and family life. Thank you!
Invitation to Catholic Women's Group: Blessed is She
If you are a Catholic woman looking for sisterhood and community, you are warmly invited to join Blessed is She (BIS), a group where women of all ages can come together to grow in prayer and fellowship, keeping one another company on the road to Heaven. We have study sessions and community groups, and though BIS started in America we now have a UK chapter, hosted online, with over 100 members. You can find out more at https://blessedisshe.net/about/ or email eloise@olimcomms.com for further details.
Children’s Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Ages 3-7)
Nourish your child in the Catholic faith! The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a program rooted in Scripture and the liturgy of the Church, 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
Pray Daily with the Monks of Pluscarden Abbey
The monks of Pluscarden Abbey welcome you to join with them in prayer as they livestream Vespers (evening prayer) at 5:30pm weekdays and Compline (night prayer) at 7:50pm weekdays. Tune in daily to pray at https://www.pluscardenabbey.org/live. A timetable of the monks’ scheduled prayers each day is at https://www.pluscardenabbey.org/services Prayer texts are available online: https://universalis.com/. Pluscarden Abbey is a Catholic Benedictine monastery near Elgin, Scotland.
Study Theology at Edinburgh Campus of St. Mary’s University!
St. Mary’s University’s Edinburgh campus offers a Master’s programme in Applied Catholic Theology that provides a grounding in key aspects of Catholic theology while enabling students to apply that theology to the challenges and opportunities of the contemporary world. Classes start in September! Studies include Scripture, Doctrine, Christian Spirituality, Catholic Social Teaching, and Ethics. In case you missed it, a 1-hour video is available at bit.ly/OpenEveningReplay of the 17 May Open Evening for the programme. Enjoy the flexibility of part-time courses on the evening and at weekends! For more information, visit www.stmarys.ac.uk/Edinburgh. Questions? Contact Susan Longhurst, Course Lead, susan.longhurst@stmarys.ac.uk, 07773 689535.
Free2Pray Online Session: Responding to Bill to Ban Public Prayers
The Scottish Parliament is considering a Bill which would ban peaceful prayers and offers of help near abortion clinics. Catholics concerned for freedom of speech and right of assembly are asked to respond to this proposed Bill. The Archdiocese is hosting an online session to help you do this. Free2Pray takes place on Zoom and lasts 30 mins. Register for Tuesday 2 August 7:45pm. Register at https://bit.ly/freetoprayaugust
The Way of St. Andrews Scottish Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage in Scotland? Try the “Little Camino”, as Scotland enjoys its long summer. Great trails, great scenery and a great opportunity for reflection. For details please visit http://www.thewayofstandrews.com/
National Pilgrimage for Young People Saturday 24 September
The National Pilgrimage for young people 16-30 takes place on Saturday 24 September in Dunkeld, Perthshire. Join young Catholics from across Scotland, along with priests and bishops, for this one-day pilgrimage. It includes walks to holy sites, talks and Holy Mass. A bus will leave from the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh at 9:30am (£10). To book your place email yi@staned.org.uk
‘A Viking Summer’ Play Celebrating Life at Edinburgh Fringe
As an Edinburgh Festival Fringe show this year, a pro-life play, ‘A Viking Summer’ will be performed from 8th August to 13th August, 7:00pm-8:30pm. The play follows the lives of several university women volunteering on the island of Iona for the summer, who have a summer romance with young men who are staying on the island. But when romance yields two unplanned pregnancies hard decisions must be made between ideals of youthful freedom and realities of adult responsibility. Tickets are priced £7, and £5 for concessions, available from the Edinburgh Fringe Office at https://bit.ly/VikingSummer
The play will be at Mannafields Christian School, Edinburgh EH7 6AE, with access via the car park and the entrance on Restalrig Road South, about 100 yards north of its junction with the A1. Walk through car park to school.
The Scottish Catholic Magazine’s 22nd July Issue Now Available!
The Scottish Catholic magazine’s 22nd July issue has arrived with news, opinions and features on Catholic life in Scotland. The Scottish Catholic is the only publication dedicated to Scotland’s 600,000 Catholics. For £2 pick up your copy on the table in the Octagon while supplies last! Please put monies in the box at the pillar after you enter the Cathedral. Thank you! To subscribe visit https://www.scottishcatholic.com/
Cathedral’s Coffee Saints Café: Support Edinburgh’s Most Vulnerable
Café Open 7 Days a Week 9:00am-4:00pm
Come and enjoy an iced tea or coffee, or a fruit cooler or smoothie, and a delicious breakfast or lunch at our Coffee Saints café, in which all profits go to charity! The café is a partnership between the Cathedral and the Grassmarket Community Project, which supports Edinburgh’s most vulnerable citizens, including those dealing with homelessness, mental health problems, poverty and more. Purchases at this totally unique café in the St. James’ Quarter directly support those in need! To see the full menu, visit https://www.coffeesaints.co.uk/
And finally…
As Catholics, we believe Jesus is fully present in the Eucharist and His sacrifice on the cross is made present at each Mass. Come to Saturday morning Mass and Adoration of the Eucharist to contemplate and receive this sacred mystery. Mass is celebrated at 10:00am, followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and concluding with Benediction at 12:00pm. Take some time for Adoration and come for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour…. or more. Saturday Confessions are from 10:30am-12:00pm. Through the Eucharist, “we already unite ourselves with the heavenly liturgy and anticipate eternal life, when God will be all in all.” (Catechism, paragraph 1326)