Rite of the Signing of the Cross
Today we celebrate the Rite of the Signing with the Cross for those children preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation in February. Please keep them in your prayers throughout these coming months!
Prof. Edwards Talks on YouTube!
Our October series of talks “Searching for Jesus in the Gospel of Mark” by Professor James Edwards will be available shortly on YouTube! All you need to do is tune in to the YouTube channel of the Archdiocese at https://bit.ly/ArchYouTube
Schola Cantorum Advent Concert at Ravelston, Friday, 8th December
Last Advent our Schola Cantorum toured parishes in the Archdiocese with a popular series of candlelit concerts. This year the choir will perform one special concert, this time for home audiences, 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, 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 the concert is likely to be popular, so early booking is advised to avoid disappointment! Book here: https://bit.ly/ScholaAdvent2023
Parish Youth Group (P3-P7) Returns 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. Piotr Wygnanski
This week, Fr. Piotr Wygnanski will speak about ‘The Role of the Individual for Authentic Development of Dogma in the Thought of John Henry Newman’ 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
Following numerous demands for another Parish Pilgrimage, Fr. Robert has agreed to lead one to Salamanca and Santiago de Compostela (in Spain) from the 21st – 28th October 2024. The group will stay for 6 nights at the Royal Scots College in the beautiful city of Salamanca and visit surrounding towns such as Segovia, Avila and Valladolid as well as enjoy an overnight in Santiago de Compostela, an ancient site of pilgrimage for hundreds of years and the end point of the famous Camino. The price will be in the region of £1000 (cheap! -Ed) which includes transfers from the Cathedral to Edinburgh Airport and back, direct flights to and from Madrid and all transfers in Spain. The accommodation is on a half board basis, with bed, breakfast and evening meals provided. This will be a very popular pilgrimage - so to avoid disappointment – register your interest asap by e-mail to cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
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.
“The Church and the world have a great need for Eucharistic worship. Jesus awaits us in this sacrament of love. Let us not refuse the time to go to meet him in adoration, in contemplation full of faith….” St. John Paul II
Please RSVP for Mass for the Sick – Saturday, 11th November, 1:00pm
Mass will be celebrated for the sick of the parish on Saturday 11th November at 1pm. We ask that you RSVP to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to attend the Mass and reception following. Please email ssvp.ae01.023@gmail.com or phone 07541 552070, or speak to one of the SSVP members who will be available this weekend after the 6pm Vigil Mass and Sunday 9am and 12:45pm Masses. Transport can be arranged for infirm parishioners wishing to attend, but we must be pre-notified at least 3 days prior to the Mass. Tea, coffee, sandwiches and cakes will be served after the Mass, but you must prebook for the refreshments.
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 Starting Next Weekend
It’s that time of year again when parishioners of the Cathedral & St Andrew’s, Ravelston, donate gifts to be distributed to the children of the 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 the weekends of Saturday 11th/Sunday 12th 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.
November Lists
During the month of November, we pray especially for the faithful departed. Please take a November List from the back of church to fill out with the names of those friends and family members who have passed away and return it to the Cathedral or St Andrew’s, Ravelston in the marked box found at the back of both churches. You can return them throughout the month of November. You may email your list to cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Primary Schools Registration
A reminder for parents of children who start school in August 2024: You will be required to register your child for school shortly (please check with your local school). If you intend for them to go to a Catholic school, they should be baptised before registration takes place. This will ensure they are given a place in cases where spaces are limited, as children who are baptised Catholics will take priority. This is also the case for Catholic secondary schools.
Annual Mass Attendance Census This Weekend
The Archdiocese’s Annual Mass Attendance Census will be taken this weekend Saturday, 4th November and Sunday, 5th November.
Ravelston Pastoral Outreach
We are looking for some help in supporting those parishioners who are sick and housebound through a telephone apostolate. All that would be involved is a few minutes of your week to make a regular call to one or more parishioner who can no longer make it to Sunday Mass. If you’d like to support those parishioners who are prevented by illness or infirmity from coming to the celebration of Mass, please contact Fr Robert by calling the Cathedral Office or e-mailing frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
St. Andrew’s Convent: Open House & Holy Hour on 11 November
Come and pray with the Religious Sisters of Mercy on Saturday, 11 November at St. Andrew’s Convent, Ravelston. The Sisters will host an Open House from 4:15pm, including a Holy Hour 5:15pm-6:15pm with Vespers as part of their 50th Jubilee Year events, and also to mark the death day of their Foundress, Venerable Mother Catherine McAuley in 1841. The Holy Father has granted the opportunity for a Plenary Indulgence for anyone who prays in one of the Sisters’ chapels during their Jubilee Year and fulfils the usual requirements. Come along for a cup of tea with the Sisters, see the convent and join for Holy Hour. To help with planning for this event, please RSVP: edinburgh@almamercy.org, 01313433380.
St Andrew’s Social Calendar
St Andrew’s Supper on 30th November. To celebrate the National and Parish patron you’re invited to a celebratory supper in the parish rooms following 6pm Mass. More details soon!
Christmas Eve Social on 24th December: Following Carols & Vigil Mass, all are welcome to the parish rooms for our Christmas Eve social.
National Bard with Burns Supper on Friday 26th January, 2024: We are delighted to team up with St Margaret’s in Davidson’s Mains to celebrate this event.
We look forward to seeing you at these various events. The social team are always looking for new volunteers to help support the social life of the parish! Please speak to Fr Robert if you’d like to help out. Keep an eye on the newsletter for additional social events during the course of the year.
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
Job Opening: Administrator for Chancery and Catechetics Departments
The Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh is seeking to appoint an Administrator to provide support to the Chancery and Catechetics departments at the Gillis Centre, Edinburgh EH9 1BB. The role holder should have administrative experience, strong communication skills, good attention to detail, efficient IT skills and an ability to prioritise work, while supporting other team members as required. Salary £23,000 per annum, 35 hours per week. To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter detailing how your skills and experience make you suitable for this role to recruitment@staned.org.uk by 8 November 2023. Interviews scheduled for Friday 17 November 2023. For details visit, https://archedinburgh.org/vacancy-administrator/
Be a Mentor with LINKnet
We all have expertise in one field or another and may be able to help someone. Be a Mentor! LINKnet in Edinburgh can connect you with someone in need of mentoring to find a job or educational opportunities, grow in personal development or gain English language skills. As a mentor, you will meet or talk online with your mentee once a week for 1 to 2 hours for about three to four months. To help, please e-mail Afaf at Linknet2@linknetmentoring.com by email with your phone number. For details visit https://www.linknetmentoring.com/