Winter Conference for Young Adults, 2nd-4th January 2024
This new year Fr. Robert will be taking a group of young adults to the Faith Winter Conference from Tuesday 2nd January to Thursday, 4th January. The conference will be held at the Emmaus Youth Village, Consett, and the theme is “The God Who Speaks: ‘This is my beloved Son. Listen to Him.’” Fr. Patrick will also be going, as will Sr. Miriam Fidelis, RSM. The conference is open to anyone between the ages of 16 and 25 and attracts scores of young Catholics from all over Britain with a unique blend of catechetical, spiritual and social activities in a relaxed holiday atmosphere. The cost of the conference for students is £110. If you are interested – please speak to Fr. Robert or Fr. Patrick.
Recordings of Scripture Event – Now Online
If you were not able to come along for all of the Scripture Event “Searching for Jesus in the Gospel of Mark” by Professor James Edwards and would like to listen or if you couldn’t come to the whole thing and would like to catch up with the evenings you missed… you can view it all at https://bit.ly/edwardsplaylist and https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/gospelofmark Share the link with your family and friends!
Parish Youth Group (P3-P7) sunday night
The Youth Group return tonight at St Andrew’s, Ravelston. Children from P3 to P7 are welcome to join between 6 and 7.30pm for an evening of games, an opportunity to learn something about our faith, prayer and the tuck shop to finish things off. If you haven’t registered, please pick up an invitation card with the QR code or you can fill out a form on the night. There is a £1 registration for the whole year. Come along!
Young Adults Group Talk on Tuesday by Fr. Mark O’Donnell
This week, Fr. Mark O’Donnell will speak about “Salvation for All and the Second Vatican Council” at our Young Adults Group. All those between the ages of 18-35 are welcome to the weekly meetings. We meet at 63 York Place at 7:00pm for tea and coffee followed by the talk and discussion at 7.30pm. Each session concludes with Night Prayer and the chance to socialise at a local pub. See the poster in the Octagon for more details!
Parish Pilgrimage to Salamanca & Santiago 2024 Only a Few Spaces Left!!
We’ve had a tremendous response so far for our Parish Pilgrimage! Very few spaces remain, so if you are interested, please contact Alba Tours today to book your place. Just e-mail annemariecairns@yahoo.co.uk or write to Anne Marie Cairns at Alba Tours, 40 Chestnut Grove, Motherwell, ML1 3JF. You will then receive a booking form which you should return with the first deposit of £500. As this is the quieter season Alba Tours closes between the 11th and 28th November inclusive, but they will get back to you as soon as they can.
Advent Candlelit Concert - Friday 8th December
The Cathedral's Schola Cantorum will perform a special candlelit concert on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. On Friday 8 December at 8pm the group will sing a one-hour programme of Advent and Christmas music in the warmth and intimacy of St Andrew's Church in Ravelston. Tickets are £6 standard or £12 family and are available from Eventbrite or on the door. Space is limited in St Andrew's Church, and tickets have been selling well, so advanced booking is advised to avoid disappointment! Book here: https://bit.ly/ScholaAdvent2023
Kathedral Knits Christmas Gifts to Support the Cathedral
At the end of November, knitted goods for Christmas will be available for sale after Mass by our own wonderful parishioner Joanna Kopystynska. The items are also available at www.kathedralknits.etsy.com
All the profits from these sales are generously donated by Joanna to the Cathedral. Sales will be after the Noon Sunday Masses at the Cathedral on 26th November, 3rd December, 10th December and 17th December.
Friendship Group Coffee Afternoon, Trip to Living Memory Association
Join us for our Coffee Afternoon, old and new friends welcome, Tuesdays 2.00pm till 3.30pm at Coffee Saints, with 20% discount on food and drink bought during the meeting time. A visit to The Living Memory Association has been arranged for Friday 17th November at 11.00am. Meet at Ocean Terminal 10.50am. Details to follow on reserving a place. Spaces need to be pre-notified and can be reserved by calling or texting 07541 552070, emailing ssvp.ae01.023@gmail.com or seeing Trish at the Friendship Group coffee event. To learn more, visit https://www.livingmemory.org.uk
Christmas Gift Collection for Prisoners’ Children This Weekend and Next
It’s that time of year when parishioners of the Cathedral & St Andrew’s, Ravelston, donate gifts to be distributed to the children of adults who are prisoners in Edinburgh (Saughton) Prison at Christmas. We ask that the gifts are new, wrapped in Christmas Gift wrap, and with a label attached stating whether the gift is suitable for a boy or a girl and the age of the child. Gifts for older children from 11 years upwards would be most appreciated. There will be a collection box at the back of both churches before all Masses for the depositing of gifts. The box will be available at the Vigil Masses and the Sunday Masses over this weekend and Saturday 18th/Sunday 19th November. Please be as generous as you have been in past years.
Marriage Preparation Courses
Our next Marriage Preparation courses are on Saturday 18th November 2023 and Saturday 2nd March 2024 at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston, 10am-5pm, with presentations by married couples from the parish. Please email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk to register.
No 10am Mass on Friday 17 November
Many of our clergy will be attending an Archdiocesan Assembly of Clergy next week, so the 10am Mass will be cancelled on Friday, 17th November. Thank you for your understanding.
Saturday Morning Eucharistic Adoration
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a time for peaceful prayer and quiet before Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, every Saturday from 10:30am-12:00pm. Saturday Confessions are from 10:30am-12:00pm
World Day for the Poor Collection Next Weekend
Next Sunday is World Day for the Poor. A second collection will be taken at all Masses next weekend. Monies received will go to the Fife Furniture Project, run by volunteers in the Society of St Vincent de Paul.
Remembrance Day Display in Ravelston Parish Rooms
On this Remembrance Day, please stop into the parish rooms to see the display prepared to remember those of St Andrew’s who died at war. There will be a blank notebook in this year's display for those who have any memories of their Ravelston families from the 1940s.
Kathedral Knits on Sale at Ravelston Next Sunday After Mass
Knitted goods for Christmas will be sold after 10:30am Mass at St. Andrew’s next Sunday, 19 November by Cathedral parishioner Joanna Kopystynska. All proceeds support the parish! Also available at https://www.kathedralknits.etsy.com Find the perfect gift for someone special!
Children Invited to Help with Outdoor Christmas Crib at Ravelston
After Mass on Sunday 26th November, children of the parish (and parents, too!) are invited to join us to set up our outdoor crib in preparation for Christmas. Then before 10:30am Mass on the First Sunday of Advent, 3rd December, the children are invited to help us place the statues of Mary, Joseph, the shepherd and the empty manger as we look forward to Jesus' birth at Christmas.
St Andrew’s Talk on the Prophecies About the Coming of the Messiah
The final St Andrew’s talk of the year will be on Monday 27th November straight after Mass. In preparation for the start of Advent, Sister Miriam Ruth RSM and Sister Paul Miriam RSM will present the Messianic prophecies, Scriptural texts that point to the coming of Jesus Christ. The talk will provide a fascinating insight as we begin the season of preparation for Our Lord’s coming at Christmas. As usual, soup and sandwiches will be provided afterwards so you can sit and chew over the significance of these prophecies.
Parish Mass and Supper for Feast of St Andrew – Tickets Available
Come and join us for a St Andrew’s supper on the feast day of our patron, Wednesday 30th November in the church rooms at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston. Celebrate this important day in the calendar of our community and country with Mass at 6pm and then join for supper at 7pm. Supper will be a sit-down meal. Bring your own bottle! For catering purposes please pick up your tickets – one per person - after Mass this weekend. Cash or cheque donations welcome at the supper with all funds raised going to the Parish Rooms project.
Ravelston Pastoral Outreach
Thank you to all who have indicated they would like to help in supporting those parishioners who are sick and housebound through a telephone apostolate. We will be in touch soon with the next step of the process. If anyone else wants to join in, please contact Fr Robert by calling the Cathedral Office or e-mailing frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Become an Altar Server
We have a dedicated group of servers in St Andrew’s, but we are always looking for more to join our ranks. If you have made your First Holy Communion, please speak to Father Robert about serving at the altar during Mass. Adults as well as children are welcome!
Helpers Needed: Setup and Cleanup for Candlelit Rorate Masses
Please consider helping us to setup and cleanup for the beautiful candlelit Rorate Masses, scheduled for 7pm on Mondays, starting 4 December and concluding 18th December. We need helpers for each Mass to set up the candles around the church and to tidy them up after the Mass! If you can assist for any of these Masses, then please see Fr. Robert or contact cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Archdiocesan Youth Day on Saturday, 25th November
The Archdiocesan Youth Day will be a day of faith and fun for P4-P7s on Saturday 25 November, 10:30am to 3:30pm at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh. Join us as we come to know Jesus the King of the Universe and explore how we can prepare to meet our King this Christmas. We will have games, talks, sweets, Confessions, Mass and more! Speak to the parish priest to register.
Diploma in Catechetics 2024
Explore the richness and depth of our Catholic faith – all from home – with the Diploma in Catechetics from the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh, led by Sr Miriam Ruth Ryan RSM. Tune in each Thursday at 7:30pm for an expert-led Zoom Webinar (or watch the recording at your convenience), and further enjoy guided readings, regular one-to-one support, and an in-person retreat. The Diploma in Catechetics begins on Thursday 25 January 2024. Concessions available. Registration and info at bit.ly/archdiploma2024. Questions? Email srmiriam.ruth@staned.org.uk
Speak Out: Say ‘No’ to Assisted Suicide in Scotland
Later this year, Liam McArthur MSP is expected to publish proposals to legalise assisted suicide in Scotland. If assisted suicide becomes legal, vulnerable people will be put at risk and pressure inevitably will increase on the vulnerable, disabled or elderly to end their lives prematurely. To let your voice be heard, visit the website of Care Not Killing https://carenotkilling.scot/ or follow the Catholic Parliamentary Office link to write your MSPs https://rcpolitics.org/assistedsuicide