Cathedral Lenten Appeal
Dear Friends, Thank you again for your generous response to the second week of our Lenten Appeal to repair the windows in the Cathedral. The collection last week raised an amazing…£2,182.95…which, as you know will be doubled by a very generous benefactor. So, for the first two weeks of our Lenten Appeal our total is £3,858.74. The cost of the repairs will be £14,000. We are off to a great start, but we still have a way to go. Thank you so much!
Remember if you are a UK taxpayer, you should be eligible to Gift Aid any amounts that you give to this appeal. A supply of Gift Aid envelopes are available at the back of the church.
Sacrament of Confession in Lent
Please take the time in Lent to go to Confession to help you prepare for Easter. Our merciful and loving God forgives our sins through the Sacrament of Confession, instituted by Jesus when he told his Apostles, “If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven” (John 20:23). Remember that it is a Precept of the Church that all Catholics should go to Confession at least once a year, at Easter or thereabouts. Priests are available to hear confessions Monday-Friday after the 12:45pm Mass and Saturdays 10:30am-12Noon and 5:00-5:45pm. The Archdiocese put together a helpful guide about returning to Confession last year and it is posted on YouTube: bit.ly/archconfessionvideo. ‘How to Go to Confession’ cards are available by the Confessionals or at https://bit.ly/HowtogotoConfession
For further information on the Sacrament of Confession, visit https://goodconfession.com/
Friday Eucharistic Adoration, Confession and Stations of the Cross
Every Friday during Lent, Eucharistic Adoration will be held in the Cathedral from 10:30am-12:30pm, followed by the 12:45pm daily Mass and afterwards we will pray the Stations of the Cross. The sacrament of Confession is also available after the 12:45 pm Mass.
Holy Week Mass Times
Holy Week Mass Times can be found here.
Young Adults Group Talk on ‘Christ’s Prayerbook’ Tuesday at 7pm
As we continue our Young Adults talks on ‘Christ’s Prayerbook,’ Fr. Christopher Doig will speak on Psalm 51, one of the penitential psalms, with its familiar beginning “Have mercy on me, O God, in your faithful love, in your great tenderness wipe away my offence.” All young adults aged 18-35 are welcome to join us in 63 York Place. We start at 7pm with teas and coffees, the talk will begin at 7.30pm and will be followed by Night Prayer and Confessions in the Cathedral, before a time to discuss in the pub.
Youth Group on Sunday night!
The Youth Group meets this evening from 6pm to 7.30pm in the Parish Rooms at St Andrew’s, Ravelston. All young people from P3 are welcome! We will have games, and activities to learn more about the faith! The registration fee is just £1 on the first night for new registrations. Please pick up a registration form that can be found in the Cathedral or St Andrew’s or contact Fr Robert for more information.
Volunteers Needed for Cathedral Fire Warden Training
For Health and Safety Compliance, we are required to have 60 people who regularly attend Mass here to be trained as Fire Wardens. In our recent Fire Inspection, one of the things that was highlighted was that there must be sufficient numbers of people who are trained in fire safety procedures and so we need to enlist some of you! Please sign up to attend one of the sessions: Tuesday, 21st March, 9.30am until 12pm or Wednesday, 22nd March, 7pm-9pm, in 63 York Place. These will cover evacuation principles, active fire safety, and human behaviour in emergency situations. To register, please contact Alice at complexmanager@stmaryscathedral.co.uk or sign up on the list at the back of church.
Mother’s Day at Coffee Saints
Mother’s Day is next Sunday! Book a lovely Morning Tea at Coffee Saints for the perfect treat for your mum, including mini filled breakfast rolls, pastries, granola & yoghurt pots, fresh fruit & cake slices, tea, coffee & fruit juice. £15 per person, served 9am-11:30am. Book at https://coffee-saints.resos.com/booking
Coffee Saints is social enterprise partnership between the Cathedral and the Grassmarket Community Project. Every time you make a purchase at Coffee Saints all profits go to support the vulnerable
St. Pauls Bookshop: Stations of the Cross, Cards for Mother’s Day & Easter
Deepen your devotion to our Lord’s saving Passion and death on the cross by meditating on the Stations of the Cross. A variety of books on the Stations are available in St Pauls Bookshop including The Way of the Cross with the Book of Isaiah, In His Master’s Footsteps, The Way of the Cross with the Cure of Ars, The Way of the Cross with St. Paul, and My Wounded Hands: A Way of the Cross. Plan ahead for your spiritual reading after Easter with You Will be My Witnesses: Meditations for the Easter Season. Send a Mother’s Day card or an Easter greeting with one of the many lovely cards available in the bookshop!
Over Sixties Coffee Afternoon, Book Club
The Over Sixties Club Coffee Afternoon will be on Tuesday 14 March at Coffee Saints, 2.30pm - 4pm.
Thursday 16 March, Book Club meet up at McDonald Road library, 2.30 till 4pm. We are reading Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart.
SCIAF Lenten Wee Box Appeal for Hungry in Zambia
SCIAF’s Wee Box appeal this Lent is for communities in Zambia where families are suffering from devastating hunger. Your donations help provide families training and tools to grow food. Pick up a Wee Box today at the back of church, or donate at https://www.sciaf.org.uk/.
Sacrament of Confession on Wednesdays in Lent 5pm-5:45pm
The Sacrament of Confession is available every Wednesday in Lent from 5:00pm-5:45pm at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston. The priest will hear Confessions in the sacristy. ‘How to Go to Confession’ cards are available in the church or at https://bit.ly/HowtogotoConfession to help make a good examination of conscience. Come and receive the mercy of God who, in His great love for us, forgives our sins in this sacrament. We will have Eucharistic Adoration during that hour, as well, followed by 6:00pm Mass. Immediately after Mass, we will pray the Stations of the Cross 6:30pm-7:00pm.
Next Sunday: Easter Knitted Goods on Sale to Support Parish
Easter-themed knitted gift items will be on sale next Sunday, 19 March after Mass. All the profits from sales are generously donated to the parish by Joanna Kopystynska. Knitted items are also available online at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KathedralKnits Support the parish and give a lovely Easter gift!
Bacon Roll Fundraiser for SCIAF on Sunday, 26 March
Come and enjoy a late brunch, stay or take away, in the Parish Rooms at Ravelston after 10:30am Mass on Sunday, 26 March at our Bacon Roll Fundraiser for SCIAF, the official relief and development agency of the Catholic Church in Scotland. SCIAF helps people in the world's poorest places end poverty and recover from disasters. Any donation on the day will be appreciated! Vegetarian option available.
Fundraising Run (or walk!) Sundays in Lent
Join Fergus Christie for a charity run/walk at 11:30am today from St. Andrew’s, Ravelston to St. Mary’s Cathedral and return (approx. 5 km) and continuing every Sunday during Lent. Funds raised will be donated to the Cathedral stained-glass window repair appeal & SCIAF. If you don’t want to take part, please consider donating/sponsoring. Any queries please contact Fergus Christie at Fergus.Christie@bckm.co.uk
Holy Hour Tonight with Archbishop at Gillis Centre, 6:00pm
"I invite all the faithful to come and pray with me before Our Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament." + Leo
Join Archbishop Cushley for Eucharistic Adoration tonight, Sunday, 12 March at 6pm in St Margaret’s Chapel at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, to pray for “insight, courage and joy in our mission,” as part of the Synod 2023. No registration needed, just come and pray!
Mass for Vocations at St. Albert’s Chaplaincy Tomorrow
The next Archdiocesan Mass for Vocations takes place at 5:15pm tomorrow, Monday 6 March, at the St Albert’s Chaplaincy, 24 George Square, EH8 9LD, near the University of Edinburgh’s Main Library. Refreshments served after Mass. Join us! For directions, visit https://scotland.op.org/
Catenians Meeting on Wednesday at 7.00 p.m.
The Catenian Association invites all Catholic men, married or single, to a meeting on Wednesday, 15th March, at 7.00 p.m. in 63 York Place. The Association is an international body of Catholic laymen who meet once a month and offer friendship and support to Catholic men at all stages of their lives. For more information contact John Russell at 01555 728032 or membership@thecatenians.com
Wednesday Lenten Online Talks: Jesus in the Servant Songs of Isaiah
Discover Jesus Christ in the Servant Songs of Isaiah with a series of online talks this Lent. Videos posted after the talks at bit.ly/ArchYouTube. Fr Jamie McMorrin of St Margaret’s, Davidson’s Mains, and Sr Anna Marie McGuan, RSM host the talks at 7:30pm, Wednesday 15 March and 22 March. Register at bit.ly/lenttalks2023. Booklets with Isaiah readings are available near the church entrance.
Encountering Jesus Retreat at St. Kentigern’s – Come One Day or More!
An Encountering Jesus Retreat led by Fr Bart Parys, a Divine Word Missionary based in Ireland, will be at St Kentigern’s Church, Parkgrove Avenue, Barnton, Edinburgh during 24-26 March. It is designed as a three-day retreat, but no requirement to come to all three days if you can't make it! Come for private prayer, fellowship, an opportunity to listen to testimonies and participate in the Eucharist: Friday 24 March 7:30pm - 8:30pm; Saturday 25 March 10:00am - 3:00pm (Bring packed lunch - teas/coffees and bisc