Training and Refresher for Readers and Eucharistic Ministers
Following our appeal for new Readers and Eucharistic Ministers, all new and old volunteers in these ministries are invited to a short training and refresher course:
Readers: Wednesday, 12th October, 7:00pm or Saturday, 15th October, 12:00pm
Eucharistic Ministers: Thursday, 6th October, 7:00pm or Saturday, 8th October, 3:00pm
You only need to come to one of these dates, but please do come along when free to 63 York Place. If you can't make either, please speak to Fr Robert or one of the coordinators for each ministry.
Children’s Sacramental Preparation
First Reconciliation classes start next Sunday 9th October 2022 at 9:30am in the parish rooms at St. Andrew’s, 77 Belford Road, EH4 3DS. Registration is now open for classes for First Reconciliation (P3), First Holy Communion (P4) and Confirmation (P7). Catechetical preparation will be provided both at St Mary’s Primary School and at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston. To register online, visit the following links:
First Reconciliation (P3 & above): https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/sacrament-of-first-reconciliation
First Holy Communion (P4 and above): https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/first-communion
Confirmation (P7 and above): https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/sacrament-of-confirmation
First Holy Communion class starts on Sunday 26 February 2023 and Confirmation class starts on 29 January 2023. Any questions, please contact Fr. Robert at FrRobert.Taylor@staned.org.uk
Young Adults: I Believe in Jesus Christ, Crucified, Died and Risen
We welcome back Fr. Martin Eckersley to our Young Adults Group talks this Tuesday, October 4. He will continue our series on The Creed with his talk on “I believe Jesus Christ, Crucified, Died & Risen from the Dead.” Fr. Eckersley was ordained in 2021 and is assigned to St. Francis Xavier in Falkirk. We will meet at 63 York Place at 7:00pm for teas/coffees followed by the talk at 7:30pm and a short group discussion. The evening concludes with Night Prayer and the chance to meet up for a drink.
Friends of the Cathedral - Melanie McDonagh to speak on “Famous Catholic Converts” on Friday, 14th October
We are delighted that Melanie McDonagh, the art critic of The Evening Standard and Spectator columnist, is coming to speak to the Friends of St Mary's Cathedral on Friday, 14th October in Coffee Saints at 7.30pm. Friends who wish to attend this event need to RSVP to ppccathedral@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
This event is free for Friends of St Mary’s Cathedral. Join today at https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/friends to attend this and other events in our super autumn/winter 2022 programme. By joining, you will be helping to ensure the future of our Cathedral and of our community. You will also receive Crux, the new Cathedral magazine, straight to your door.
2022-2023 Marriage Preparation Courses
The next Marriage Preparation courses will take place 10am-5pm on Saturday, 19th November 2022; Saturday, 28th January, 2023; and Saturday, 20th May, 2023. The course includes presentations by married couples from the parish. To register, email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Want to be Catholic?
This year’s RCIA has started again – but it’s not too late to join. If you are not a Catholic and would like to become one, or even just know more about the Church, sign up now for the Cathedral’s RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) group for adults. The group meets Tuesdays 7:00pm-8:30pm in Cathedral House, 61 York Place. To register or for more information, email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Saturday Morning Mass & Eucharistic Adoration: Christ our God Present
“I have loved you just as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.” (John 15:9) Join us for 10:00am Mass on Saturdays here at the Cathedral and then take some time for quiet, peaceful prayer before Jesus Christ in the Eucharist following Mass. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is celebrated every Saturday 10:30am, concluding at 12:00pm with Benediction. Saturday morning Confessions are from 10:30am-12:00pm.
Over Sixties Club – Visits to Mary King’s Close and The Kelpies
Tuesday 4th October - Coffee Afternoon at Coffee Saints 2.30pm – 4:00pm
Wednesday 5th October - Visit to Mary King’s Close at The Close 2:00pm. Make you own way there.
Thursday 6th October - Visit to The Kelpies, meet at Coffee Saints at 9:00am, bus leaves 9.15am sharp.
Both Mary King’s Close and The Kelpies will need to be prebooked. Call Graham on 07568 202547
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. 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
Volunteers Needed! Cathedral Flower Arranging Team
Our beautiful Cathedral flower arrangements are prepared by four wonderful teams of volunteers who take it in turn to meet on a Friday to arrange the flowers for the weekend Masses. We are looking to recruit more volunteers to join our teams, which meet either mid-morning/early afternoon on a Friday and are led by experienced volunteers, so lack of experience is not a barrier! Can you help? To join a team or find out more, please contact cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk or 0131 556 1798.
Join the Cathedral Cleaning Team!
Are you able to help clean our lovely Cathedral? The Cathedral cleaning team meet every Wednesday afternoon between 2pm – 4pm to clean the church. Either once a week or once or twice per month would be greatly appreciated. To join the group, or find out more, please contact cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk or 0131 556 1798.
‘What Happens at Mass’: 3rd October Talk, Soup & Sandwiches
Our St. Andrew’s Talks series begins Monday, 3 October. Fr. Robert will speak on ‘What Happens at Mass’ at 6.45pm, followed by soup and sandwiches and a discussion in the Parish Rooms. Please RSVP by Sunday, 2 October to the Parish Office so we can count you in for the talk and food afterwards, cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk 0131 556 1798.
Parish Youth Group Returns in October
Our Youth Group will return at the end of this month for young people in P4 – P7. Keep an eye on the Newsletter for details!
First Reconciliation Preparation Classes Begin Next Sunday
We welcome the children of our parish beginning their First Reconciliation preparation classes at 9:30am next Sunday, 9th October in the parish rooms. Please keep them in your prayers! Thank you to our catechists and parents who are helping to prepare the children for their first Confessions in Spring 2023.
Parish Barbecue
Thank you again to everyone who helped to make the Parish BBQ such a success. Just to let you know that after all the expenses were deducted, we raised £607.81, which will be donated to the St Andrew’s Parish Project.
Parish Community and Social Committee Volunteers Needed
Do have some suggestions to share for Ravelston community activities and are willing to volunteer to help get them going? If so, please do get in touch with Fr Robert frrobert.taylor@staned.org.uk Cathedral Office or any member of the St Andrew’s Parish Council. We look forward to hearing from you!
Month of the Rosary: Join Us for a Decade of the Rosary after 6pm Mass
The Church traditionally dedicates the month of October to the holy Rosary since the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary falls on October 7th. Join us at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston in praying a decade of the Rosary after the 6pm weekday Masses during October, beginning Monday, 3rd October.
Fr. David Cullen, MAfr, RIP
We recently learned of the death of Fr David Cullen, MAfr, who died on 10 March shortly after his 90th birthday and whose work in Zambia was supported for many years by the parishioners of St Andrew’s. If anyone would like to make a donation to the White Fathers in his memory, contributions may be sent to Missionaries of Africa, 15 Corfton Road, London W5 2HP. May Fr. Cullen rest in peace!
Thank You from Mina’s Family
We received this letter form Mina’s daughter this week. I thought I’d share it with you:
“Dear Monsignor Burke and Parishioners of St Andrew’s Ravelston, I am writing on behalf of Mum and all the family to thank you for the wonderful honour in awarding Mum the Archdiocesan Medal for Outstanding Service to the Church through her musicianship and teaching; for the beautiful and thoughtful Mass you arranged celebrated by Archbishop Cushley, in particular the wonderful organist and the delightful soloist. We thank you all most sincerely.” Maria Ahmed
Recruitment for Marriage Counselling Services
The Bishops’ Conference of Scotland (BCOS) is looking to increase the provision of marriage counselling available to Dioceses in Scotland. If you are an experienced counsellor, it offers you an opportunity to broaden your professional practice (CPD training provided). BCOS hopes to expand upon a service already used in some areas of the country that supports couples married in the Catholic Church and is underpinned by the Christian tradition.
Essential criteria:
Current registration with a professional counselling body including BACP, COSCA, UKCP or registered equivalent.
Hold a minimum of a Diploma in Counselling or equivalent.
Have a minimum of 450 client hours (post qualifying) experience.
Interested? Please contact us on 07706 063936 to have an initial chat.
The Ten Million: Lives Lost to Abortion Since 1967
On 23 September 2022, at 11:41am, thousands of people across the UK stopped for a minute of silence to commemorate the 10 million lives that have been lost to abortion across Great Britain since the Abortion Act was introduced in 1967. Right To Life UK have released a compelling short 2-minute video called The Ten Million. Visit https://www.righttolife.org.uk/thetenmillion for more information and watch the video.
Day for Readers and Those Wishing to Reflect on the Gospel of St. John
Do you read the Word of God at Mass? A Day for Readers takes place at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, 11am – 3pm on Saturday 8 October. It is also for anyone who wants to come and reflect on the Gospel of St John. Fr Andrew Garden of St David’s in Dalkeith will be the main speaker and there will be practical sessions. The day concludes with Mass at 2:15pm. A light lunch and refreshments will be available. Register at https://bit.ly/readersevent
Mass and Romero Lecture 2022: The Life, Loss and Legacy of Romero
The inaugural Romero Lecture will take place at Sacred Heart Church. Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop William Nolan at 6pm, followed by the Romero Lecture by Fr Martin Maier SJ at 7pm, introduced by Archbishop Leo Cushley. To register on Eventbrite, visit https://bi.ly/RomeroLecture-14Oct
Rosary Book: Mysteries Made Visible: Praying the Rosary with Sacred Art
As we enter October, the Month of the Rosary, take time to pray the Rosary for the needs of our parish, your family or other special intentions. Mysteries Made Visible: Praying the Rosary with Sacred Art, a beautiful book by Dominican Father Lawrence Lew, OP, is available with sacred art images to accompany you in praying the mysteries of the Rosary. Available for just £12.95 at Catholic Truth Society by phone 020 7640 0042 or online at https://www.ctsbooks.org/product/mysteries-made-visible/