Spring Issue of Cathedral's Crux Magazine on Sale Today
Pick up your copy of the Spring issue of Crux magazine today. At only £5, with all proceeds benefitting the Cathedral, enjoy exciting articles and features written by Fr. Patrick, Fr. Nick Welsh, our seminarians Paul Henderson and Peter Shankland, as well as an exclusive interview with our organist Tom Wilkinson and a special article on our new St Pauls Bookshop! Crux is a must-read over the Easter season for you and your family and the perfect keepsake for Cathedral visitors. Crux is the new magazine for all Friends of St Mary’s Cathedral, who receive this magazine straight their door. Join Friends here
Feast of Divine Mercy
Join us for our Holy Hour here in the Cathedral on Sunday at 3:00pm for the Feast of Divine Mercy, in English and Polish, with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and opportunity for Confession.
“Divine Mercy reaches human beings through the heart of Christ crucified.” – St. John Paul II
Parish Retreat 22-24 September 2023 at St Mary’s Monastery, Kinnoull
For the first time in a very long time(!) we have decided to have a Parish retreat! The Friends of St Mary’s Cathedral have organised the retreat for the whole parish on 22-24 September this year in the idyllic St Mary’s Monastery in Kinnoull (near Perth). The theme of the retreat is Allowing Jesus to Love You, and it will be led by Fr Charlie Corrigan CSsR. Whether you have never been to a retreat or are an old hand – this will be a wonderful opportunity to spend time away to deepen your relationship with God - a perfect opportunity to nourish your spiritual faith in beautiful surroundings. Places are limited so please book now. The all-inclusive price is £200 (this includes a £50 non-returnable deposit): book for it here: ppccathedral@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Organ Recital: Bach, Mendelssohn and More! Next Sunday 1:30pm
Tom Wilkinson, Cathedral Organist, will host an organ recital on Sunday 23 April, 1:30pm to feature magnificent pieces including Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor BWV 582 – Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Sonata in A Op. 65 No. 3 – Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847), Four Chorale preludes – Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), Prelude and Fugue in D minor – Clara Schumann (1819-1896) and Prelude and Fugue on B-A-C-H – Franz Liszt (1811-1886). Admission free, retiring collection in aid of Cathedral music.
‘Bach in the 19th Century,’ Featuring Musical Examples, Monday 24 April
Today, Johann Sebastian Bach is commonly regarded as one of the greatest composers of in the history of Western music. It was in the nineteenth century – the age of Brahms, Liszt and Mendelssohn – that he came to be regarded as such. Join us for a talk on ‘Bach in the 19th Century’ at 7.30pm, Monday 24 April, hosted by Friends of the Cathedral. Tom Wilkinson, Cathedral Organist, will explore the huge impact Bach’s music had on 19th-century German composers. Musical examples will illustrate the talk, offering an opportunity to hear a powerful repertoire played on our magnificent Cathedral organ. Please email ppccathedral@stmaryscathedral.co.uk if you would like to come. Thank you!
Fire Marshal Training Certificates
Fire Marshal training certificates are now available. If you completed one of the Fire Marshal Training sessions, please pick up your certificates from Father Puton or from the folder on the table in the back of the Cathedral. Thank you!
Over Sixties Coffee Afternoon, Book Club, Theatre Outing and More!
Over Sixties Club Coffee Afternoon, Tuesday 18 April, 2.30pm - 4pm: Join us at Coffee Saints café to meet up with old friends and new. We welcome newcomers to come along!
Book Club, Thursday 20th April, 2.30pm - 4pm: Meet at McDonald Road Library, EH7 4LU. Current book is The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. If you’ve not read the current choice, you are welcome to come along and hear what others thought of the book. As of 20th April, a new book will be chosen and can be collected.
Theatre Outing, Wednesday 26th April, 2.30pm: We have a planned outing to the Playhouse Theatre to see Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap.” This iconic play has now been running for over 70 consecutive years. If you’d like to come along, we are arranging a group booking which will include a discount on normal pricing, making the ticket cost £20 per head. Call Trish on 07716963215 if you would like to attend.
Kaffe Fassett exhibition at Dovecot Studio, date to be confirmed: An opportunity to view this talented designer’s work with a unique insight from an experienced guide. The tour will be on a Friday, date to be announced, with a hefty discount on the admission price! Stay tuned for more information soon!
Young Adult Talk on Tuesday 7:30pm & Other Upcoming Events
The Young Adults Group will return on Tuesday 18th April with a talk from Sr Angela Marie, OP who is based in Elgin. She’ll talk about one of the psalms of praise and thanksgiving starting at 7.30pm. Join us in 63 York Place for tea and coffee at 7pm, followed by the talk. Upcoming events for the Young Adults group include an Afternoon of Recollection at St Albert’s Chaplaincy on Saturday 27th May. During the summer the Young Adults will also be visiting places with significance for the faith in Scotland, day trips will include Melrose Abbey and Abbotsford House on the 24th of June and St Andrews on Saturday 19th August. These trips will be by train and will include lots of walking. All young adults aged 18-35 are welcome to join the group! Please contact Fr Robert for more information, frrobert.taylor@staned.org.uk
Young Adults Sponsored Mountain Walk, Saturday 29th April
Members of the Cathedral Young Adults Group will be doing a sponsored climb of Schiehallion, the mountain that helped to weigh the world, the result of an interesting 18th century experiment. The group won’t be conducting any experiments on the climb but will bring with them any intentions you’d like to be prayed as they ascend around 700 metres of the Perthshire Munro on the 29th April to raise funds for the Cathedral Lenten appeal. You can donate now via this link https://bit.ly/YAG-SchiehallionClimb or by completing the sponsor forms available at the back of the church. There is also a box on the passkeepers table in the Cathedral for any prayer intentions.
Youth Group Upcoming Events
The Youth Group has concluded for the Easter holidays. It will return on the 7th May at 6pm in St Andrew’s, Ravelston. Don’t miss information about the Youth Group Day out in June, details coming soon!
No 10am Mass This Week
While some of the Cathedral priests are away, the 10am Mass is cancelled and will resume on Monday 24th April.
Save the Date: Coronation Lunch Party at Ravelston
On Sunday, 7th May, a coronation lunch party with children's activities is planned. Tickets and details of the program will follow later and as we are hoping for sunshine. This is a preliminary call for help so that bunting can go up during the week of the coronation, followed by the gazebo and tables on Sunday morning. If you are able to help please text or phone me on 07841 419240. Thank you, Judy Sutherland.
Called & Gifted Workshop: Discover Your Unique Purpose in Life
You have received gifts in Baptism and Confirmation through which God intends His love to reach others. Identify your charisms (spiritual gifts) and discern God’s call through the Called and Gifted Workshop. We will learn about the ancient teachings of the Church on how the charisms of the Holy Spirit work in your life and in the life of your parish community, and we will delve into the signs and characteristics of the most common charisms of the Holy Spirit. The workshop is hosted by the Archdiocese at the Gillis Centre (100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh) in collaboration with the St Catherine of Siena Institute and takes place on Saturday 20 May from 9:00am to 3:30pm. Cost is £25 and includes materials, online access, and lunch. Details & registration at bit.ly/calledgifted2023. Queries? Email sranna.marie@staned.org.uk
Catenians Meeting on Wednesday, 19th April at 7.00 p.m.
The Catenian Association invites all Catholic men, married or single, to a meeting on Wednesday, 19th April, at 7.00 p.m. in 63 York Place. Informal chat to follow in a local pub. Join us! 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 information 01555 728032 or membership@thecatenians.com
Rosary and Pro-Life Chain, Saturday, 22nd April
Join Archbishop Cushley on Saturday, 22nd April at 10am to pray the Rosary at Sacred Heart Church, Edinburgh, EH3 9DJ, followed by SPUC’s Pro-Life Chain at 11am on Lothian Road. Refreshments afterwards, approximately 1:15pm. Register for the Rosary: https://bit.ly/LifeFest23
Safeguarding Training Induction Part 1
If you are in need of Safeguarding training (Part I) here are the available dates:
Face-to-face Training: 90 mins, Gillis Centre, Edinburgh, Friday 28th April at 1pm. To register, please email elaine.anderson@staned.org.uk providing details of your name, parish and role.
Online Training: 90 mins, Thursday 11th May at 7pm. To register, please email margaret.andow@staned.org.uk providing details of your name, parish and role.
Thinking About Becoming a Religious Sister? Come Along for our Chat!
Is God calling you to serve the Church as a religious Sister? Join other young Catholic women on Sunday, 30 April, 4-7pm at St Columba’s, 9 Upper Gray Street, EH9 1SN to explore God's will as we chat in monthly get-togethers in Edinburgh. The meetings are led by Sr Mirjam Hugens, FSO, director for religious vocations in the Archdiocese. Share and discuss in a relaxed environment and enjoy refreshments. The series continues on the last Sunday of each month. Contact Sr. Mirjam for more information at religiousvocations@staned.org.uk. Watch Sr. Mirjam discuss seeking God’s will in discerning your vocation in a short video, “What is God’s Plan for You?” at https://bit.ly/GodsCallforYou
Multilingual Welfare Workshops for EU Migrants
Citizens Rights Project, a charity that provides information, advice, and support to EU migrants and their family members in Scotland about their rights after Brexit, is organizing multilingual workshops on rights for EU migrants. They have partnered with organisations such as Shelter, Social Security Scotland or Unite to cover topics like housing, benefits, social security Scotland, and working rights, among others. If you would like to attend, please send your details to info@citizensrightsproject.org with the subject line “Welfare Workshops”. Please include your full name, email address and phone number. These workshops aim to provide EU migrants with information and tools to exercise their rights and ultimately make informed decisions.
Standing Strong 2023: Meet Persecuted Christians & Hear Their Stories
In Edinburgh, at St Paul’s and St George’s Church, Hea Woo from North Korea will be speaking and sharing her story of persecution for her faith. Hea Woo became a Christian in China in the 1990s after she fled North Korea – but she was arrested and sent back. She was imprisoned for many years, but did not give up her faith, leading other women in the prison to Jesus. She was eventually released and escaped to South Korea. Join us on Saturday 13th May, 2023, St Paul’s and St George’s Church, 46 York Place, 10am-2.30pm. Book tickets online at https://www.opendoorsuk.org/news/standing-strong/
Standing Strong is free to attend and refreshments will be provided. Open Doors to serves millions of persecuted Christians in over 60 countries, working with churches and local partners to provide Bibles, Christian materials, training, livelihood skills and advocacy.
The Scottish Catholic Free E-Newsletter
The Scottish Catholic offers a free e-newsletter with news on the Catholic Church in Scotland. To receive it, just enter your email at the ‘sign-up’ section on www.scottishcatholic.com (scroll to bottom of the page).