Cathedral Advent Appeal
Dear Friends – please read about the state of the Cathedral roof. I am really sorry to have to share this with you – but I am afraid that we have reached the point at which we can no longer ignore this issue. As you will read – we will have an Advent Appeal next month (consisting primarily of second collections) to try to raise the money necessary for Phase One of the roof restoration. But if you have any other ideas about fundraising, please come forward and share them urgently!
Cathedral Schola Candlelit Advent Concert at Ravelston 8th December
In the warmth and intimacy of St Andrew's Church in Ravelston, reminiscent of the crib in Bethlehem, 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. 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! Book here: https://bit.ly/ScholaAdvent2023
Parish Youth Group (P3-P7) Tonight
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. Brian O’Mahony
This week, Fr. Brian O’Mahony will speak about “Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ and the Church” 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!
29th-30th November: St Andrew’s Vigil and Feast Day at the Cathedral
Make time in your diary this year to celebrate the feast day of our National Patron here at the Cathedral where we have the National Shrine of St. Andrew and his relics. We will have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on the Vigil of St. Andrew on Wednesday 29th November from 7.30pm which will conclude with sung Evening Prayer of the Vigil at 8.15pm and then Benediction. All are welcome. On Thursday 30th November, Archbishop Leo Cushley will celebrate Mass for the Feast at 12.45. It was Andrew who, famously, brought Peter to Jesus – this feast day is your opportunity in a special way – to go to Jesus, through Andrew.
Concluding Weekend for Gift Collection for Prisoners’ Children
This is the 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. Thank you to so many who have contributed gifts for Prisoners’ Children so far! This is our concluding weekend for collection of gifts. We ask that 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. A collection box is placed at the back of both churches for the depositing of gifts. The box will be available at the Vigil Masses and the Sunday Masses over this weekend. Please be as generous as you have been in past years.
Next Sunday Kathedral Knits Christmas Gifts to Support the Cathedral
Next Sunday after the Noon Mass, knitted goods for Christmas will be available for sale by our own wonderful parishioner Joanna Kopystynska. The items are also available at www.kathedralknits.etsy.com
All the profits go to the parish! Sales will also be on 3rd December, 10th December and 17th December.
Friendship Group Coffee Afternoon
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.
Save the Date: Blessing of Cathedral’s Outdoor Crib on 7th December
Archbishop Leo will celebrate the Cathedral Rorate Mass at 7:00pm on Monday, 7th December, at the end of which he will bless the outdoor crib. Do come along!
Winter Conference for Young Adults, 2nd-4th January 2024
Fr. Robert will be taking a group of young adults to the Faith Winter Conference from Tuesday 2nd January to Thursday, 4th January 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 age 16 and 25 and attracts scores of young Catholics from all over Britain with a 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.
Volunteers Needed for Cathedral Rorate Masses
The beautiful candlelit Rorate Masses will take place at the Cathedral on Thursdays 7th, 14th and 21st December. The Masses start at 7pm and we are looking for volunteers to assist in preparing the Cathedral (laying out candles, welcoming people, etc) prior to the Masses and tidying up afterwards. You would need to be available from 6pm; if you can assist, then please e-mail Elizabeth Andrews at Elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com with a note of your availability.
St Pauls Bookshop: Advent Wreaths, Crib Sets and Christmas Cards
Prepare your home for the coming Advent season with Advent wreaths and candles, and a crib set to prayerfully prepare for the birth of Jesus at Christmas. Stop in St Pauls Bookshop where you will find these items, along with a beautiful selection of Christmas cards to send to family and friends. Advent calendars and 2024 diaries are in stock, too! The shop is open daily 10am-5pm.
Saturday Morning Eucharistic Adoration
Saturday morning Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a time for peaceful prayer and quiet before Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, from 10:30am-12:00pm. Come for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, an hour…or more! Saturday Confessions are from 10:30am-12:00pm. “Christ…is the way by which we journey, the eternity at the journey’s end; He is the spotless way, the blessed dwelling-place.” Blessed Guerric of Igny
World Day for the Poor Collection This Weekend
This Sunday is World Day for the Poor and a second collection will be taken for the Fife Furniture Project, run by volunteers the Society of St Vincent de Paul. Thank you!
New Keys for the Sacristy
In an effort to improve our security and gain more control on who has access to the rear of the Cathedral, new locks will be installed on all the Sanctuary doors on Wednesday, 22 November. If you are a volunteer requiring access, you should have already been contacted with details of how to get your new key.
Kathedral Knits on Sale at Ravelston Today
Knitted goods for Christmas will be sold after 10:30am Mass at St. Andrew’s today, knitted by Cathedral parishioner Joanna Kopystynska. All proceeds support the parish!
Fabric Works This Week at ravelston — Help Needed!
Holy Hour and Mass Cancelled Wednesday 22 November
Due to works in the church to fit new carpet on Wednesday 22 November, the evening Holy Hour and Mass will be cancelled. In preparation for the carpet fitting, strong helpers are needed at the church between 1:00pm-5:00pm tomorrow, Monday, 20 November to clear the furniture and statues currently located on top of all carpeted areas in the church. In addition, assistance would be very welcome for statue-cleaning and woodwork (sanding and staining) on Wednesday 22 November 1pm-5pm in the parish rooms. Finally, physical help is required anytime on Saturday 25 November 10am-3pm to reinstate furniture and statues onto the new carpet. If you are able help, please come along! Also, please note that all week there will be no heating in the church because of the works.
Next Sunday: Children Invited to Help with Ravelston Christmas Crib
After Mass next Sunday, 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.
Last Few Tickets Remaining for Supper for Feast of St Andrew
We’ve only a few tickets left for our St Andrew’s supper on the feast day of our patron, Wednesday 30th November in the church rooms at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston. Get your ticket today! 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.
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.
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
Ravelston Bacon Roll Morning Sunday 3rd December
Come along to our bacon roll morning after Sunday Mass on 3rd December in aid of the homeless at Christmas. Donations for a charity that feeds them will be collected. Please support this effort for a vulnerable group of people.
Ravelston Rorate Masses: Helpers Needed for Setup and Cleanup
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 Next 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 https://bit.ly/archdiploma2024
Questions? Email srmiriam.ruth@staned.org.uk