Farewell to Fr. Jamie!
Finally, after a number of months working both parishes, Fr. Jamie will be leaving us at the end of the month to take up his new position as Parish Priest of Davidson’s Mains. Fr. Jamie has been here for four years and has achieved an enormous amount in both parishes. He has worked incredibly hard and has, I know, won the hearts of all. It is only appropriate that we express our thanks to him and so next week after all the Masses there will be a retiral collection for his farewell presentation. I know you will want to express your gratitude for all that he has done for us in his time here.
Parish Pilgrimage Returns from the Holy Land
Our group of 43 hearty and joyful pilgrims returned last week from our parish’s Holy Land pilgrimage, which was very beautiful and prayerful. We prayed for all of you in the holy places as we journeyed around the Sea of Galilee and Jerusalem in the footsteps of the Lord. Thank you for your prayers for us!
Eucharistic Adoration on Saturday Mornings
“I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst.” (John 6:35). We are hungry for God and for His peace. God Incarnate, Jesus Christ, provides us with His own Body and Blood to feed us. What better place to pray than before Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament? Come for some time of Eucharistic Adoration. On Saturday mornings, Adoration is celebrated following 10:00am Mass, from 10:30am-12:00pm. Come for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour…. or more. Saturday Confessions are from 10:30am-12:00pm.
Over Sixties Club: Coffee, Cinema & New Thursday Book Club
Join the Cathedral’s Over Sixties Club for our weekly coffee afternoon on Tuesday from 2.30-4pm. Anyone over 60 years of age is very welcome! The next cinema outing for the over 60’s will be Wednesday 20th July with the programme to be confirmed. In a new venture, a Thursday Book Club will be starting with the first discussion and set up to be Thursday 14th July at Coffee Saints 2.30 till 4pm. The proposal is to meet fortnightly from Thursday, 21st July. The first meeting is to gauge the format and structure the book club should take. If you are interested either come along or contact Graham 07568 202 547 or graham@grassmarket.org Also, save the date for a proposed group outing to Dalkeith Country Park on 28th July. More information to come.
Over Sixties Information Technology Clinic Last Thursday of the Month
The Over Sixties Club offers an Information Technology (IT) Clinic that can help you with your questions about how to use your mobile phones and laptops. Stop in for IT help at Coffee Saints 11.30am - 1pm. Join us on the last Thursday of each month!
Today is Sea Sunday – Special Collection for Seafarers and Fishers in Need
Today the Church prays for all those who earn their living from the Sea and their families. There will be a retiring collection for Stella Maris, the Church’s maritime welfare agency, which supports seafarers both spiritually and practically through its network of chaplains and volunteers. Without your help it cannot do its work. Anne Marie Stephen, a volunteer for Stella Maris, will give a short report at Masses on the work of this organisation. More information is available at https://www.stellamaris.org.uk/
If you are a UK taxpayer and would like to gift aid your donation, please use the Sea Sunday envelopes that are available at the back of the church. Please enter your details on the envelope where indicated so that gift aid can be claimed by the charity. Thank you for your generosity.
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
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
Christian Meditation
Re-discover an ancient tradition that is a part of our Faith. Experience how silent contemplation in a group leads you to the joy of God´s healing. We meditate in person at 63 York Place on Fridays at 7.30 p.m. Afterwards you are welcome for refreshments and to socialize. On Wednesdays at 7 p.m. we meditate online on Zoom. The up-to-date schedule is here: https://www.meetup.com/Christian-Meditation-Group/events/ please contact Maciej Zurawski at maciej.m.zurawski@gmail.com
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. All are welcome to join. Our presidium name is Our Lady Cause of our Joy. We meet every Monday at 7:00 pm at 63 York Place, Edinburgh EH1 3JD. We are a group of mixed male and female members, students and professionals and from different countries, cultures. For more information contact phone number: Monika - 07751213612, Atama – 07832903514
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 are interested in providing this ministry. Can you help? If you would like to join team of flower arrangers, or find out more, 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
Safeguarding in the Parish
Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of any member/visitor to our Parish is important to us. If you have any safeguarding concerns or need support as you were a victim of abuse, you can get help by visiting https://archedinburgh.org/administration/#safeguarding. To discuss in confidence any concerns, contact: Emma Boothroyd, Safeguarding Advisor, Emma.Boothroyd@staned.org.uk, 0131 623 8949 / 07903 619 342 or write to: The Safeguarding Advisor, Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB.
6pm Ravelston Mass Resumes Monday, 11th July
Please note that the 6pm evening Mass at Ravelston will resume this week. We look forward to seeing you again on weekday evenings.
A Warm Welcome Awaits You at Our Cafés in the Parish Rooms
Teas & coffees have already returned on Sundays after 10:30am Mass - every Sunday! Additionally, the Friday cafe (10am-Noon) has reopened with delicious home-baking. Please join us for a cuppa and a chat at either or both cafes!
5-Day Icon Painting Workshop at Leith School of Art, Edinburgh
The icon-painter Andrew Paterson will be providing a rare opportunity to learn how to practise the basic traditional techniques of Christian iconography in egg tempera, together with daily slide-talks on the visual language and theological meanings of the icon. No previous experience required. Monday 25th to Friday 29th July 2022. 9.30am to 4.30pm each day. £ 385 (includes all materials). For further details see the website of Leith School of Art: https://www.leithschoolofart.co.uk/course-info/606/icon-painting
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.
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 one of the following dates: Monday 18 July 7:45pm – Register at https://bit.ly/freetoprayjuly Tuesday 2 August 7:45pm. Register at bit.ly/freetoprayaugust.
Festival Mass on Sunday 21 August
Archbishop Cushley will celebrate the Festival Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral at midday on Sunday 21 August, followed by a reception in Coffee Saints café.
Synod Report
The Archdiocesan synod report has been published and submitted to the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland. Read it at https://bit.ly/oursynodreport
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
Bethany Christian Trust — Volunteering Opportunities
Bridge to Freedom: Christian Community-based Addiction Recovery
We are looking for volunteers to support the running of Bridge to Freedom, which is a Christian community-based recovery group for people who are suffering from substance addiction and are looking to establish abstinence. We run weekly 2-hour groups across Edinburgh (Moredun, Gorebridge, Leith). Volunteers are required to help at the group by providing a listening ear and encouragement, as well as helping practically at the venue with setting up rooms and providing refreshments.
Passing the Baton: Help Former Homeless Reconnect to Community
We are looking for volunteers to join our befriending service ‘Passing the Baton’ for those who have been homeless previously, or are at risk of homelessness now. Volunteers develop a companionship level relationship with their befriendee (we match male-male and female-female) and help them reconnect back into the community by taking them out and introducing them to social groups and activities in their area. Volunteers are usually in touch with their befriendee around 1.5-2 hours every week or fortnight, over a period of 6-12 months.
To volunteer, please email volunteers@bethanychristiantrust.com, call 07884 537231 or visit www.bethanychristiantrust.com. Bethany Christian Trust is a national charity whose mission is to relieve the suffering and meet the long-term needs of homeless and vulnerable people in Scotland.
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/
Come and Sing
Would you like to sing Mozart’s Coronation Mass in beautiful St Cuthbert’s Parish Church, Edinburgh? The Soko Fund is organising an event to raise money for women’s education in Malawi. This event will take place on Saturday 24th September 2022. Singers of every level and experience are welcome. Book your place on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/come-sing-mozart-coronation-mass-music-for-malawi-tickets-209954929847
To find out more about the Soko Fund visit https://www.thesokofund.org/
Cathedral and Archdiocesan Updates by E-mail
Receive the Cathedral newsletter straight into your inbox by signing up at the ‘Stay in Touch’ section on the bottom of any page of this website. To be informed about Archdiocesan news, you may sign up for a monthly e-mail update at https://archedinburgh.org/news-events (scroll to bottom of page) or email matthew.meade@staned.org.uk and put ‘subscribe me’ in the subject bar.