This Thursday is the Solemnity of the Ascension
This Thursday is the Solemnity of the Ascension and is a holy day of obligation. Masses will be celebrated at the Cathedral at 8:00am, 10:00am, 12:45pm and 7:30pm. Polish Masses will be at 11:15am and 6:00pm.
Schola Cantorum Fundraising Concert This Friday, 19 May, 7:30pm in Support of Cathedral Music
This Friday at 7:30pm join the Schola Cantorum choir for a concert of beautiful music in St Mary's Cathedral in support of the Cathedral music. Come along to hear uplifting choral music, featuring pieces by Palestrina, Lotti, Handel, Mozart, Fauré, Gjeilo, Mealor, and more!
Interval reception with prosecco, and fundraising auction with exclusive choir-themed items including:
An introductory organ lesson with Tom Wilkinson
Autographed Sir James MacMillan concert poster
Dinner party at the Cathedral House, cooked and served by the Schola Cantorum!
Tickets are £10 / £8 (concessions), available from Eventbrite or at the door: https://bit.ly/ScholaCantorum19May2023
Window Appeal 2023 – Huge Thank You!
Dear Friends,
Now that all the donations have been accounted for, I am delighted to let you know that the Lent Appeal for the windows in the Cathedral raised a stunning £18,148.38. As you will remember we were aiming at £14,000 – so this appeal has excelled our most optimistic forecasts. In addition, our very generous benefactor has already doubled that amount – for which we are very grateful indeed.
This leaves us in an excellent position to address not just the problem windows but a number of other urgent fabric issues. The work on the windows will begin on 5th June and the repairs will take around 6-8 weeks. With the rest of the money we will (a) replace the skylight in the octagon which we are told is in dangerous disrepair (which will cost around £5k) and (b) we will commission an in depth survey to try to get to the bottom of the damp problem in sacristy two, which is a long term problem, but which is now damaging the panelling around the St. Andrew’s altar (a survey which will cost around £6k!). The rest of the money will used in trying to repair ongoing problems with the roof of Cathedral House and (if there is any left) we will try to clean the front of the Cathedral (a project dear to my heart – but which is much more problematic than it seems!)
All I can do is thank you all very sincerely for your incredible generosity. The response to this appeal speaks volumes about the vitality of our parish community and is a very good sign for the future of our Cathedral! Thank you again to all of you. Fr. Patrick
Rosary & Reflection on Our Lady - Wednesday 7:00pm Holy Hour
In this month of Our Lady, we will have two more weeks of our Wednesday Holy Hours with the Rosary in the Cathedral 7:00pm-8:00pm. Come and spend some time in prayer before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. This Wednesday, 17th May we will pray the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary and have a reflection on Our Lady by Deacon Peter Traynor. Next week, for our concluding Holy Hour on Wednesday 24th May, we will pray the Mysteries of Light and hear a reflection by Deacon Tom McEvoy from Sacred Heart, Midlothian. All are invited to join us!
Confirmations at 9:00am Mass Next Sunday
His Grace, Archbishop Cushley, will celebrate the 9:00am Mass next Sunday at which children from our parish will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Please keep them in your prayers!
Summer Volunteers Needed! Cathedral Cleaning and Flower Arranging
Summer holidays will mean fewer volunteers are available, and so we really need your help -- please consider donating your time to help keep our Cathedral clean and beautiful in the summer months. Even if you cannot attend every week, helping once or twice per month would be greatly appreciated! Please contact Elizabeth Andrews, Elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com, 0131 553 1510 to let her know how you can help. Thank you!
‘Figures of My Faith’ Young Adults Talk on Tuesday: JRR Tolkein
Our ‘Figures of My Faith’ talks continues this Tuesday 16 May with a talk by Jack Heitman on Catholic author, JRR Tolkein. Teas & coffees from 7:00pm in 63 York Place, followed by the talk at 7:30pm. We will have an opportunity for Confession, prayer and Night Prayer in the Cathedral afterwards, then a chance to discuss in a local pub. We look forward to seeing you there!
Youth Group Meets Tonight! Day Trip to Carfin & Strathclyde in June
The Youth Group returns this evening at 6pm in the parish rooms at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston. Please pick up a registration form today at the back of church for any first-time registrations. During May we will be learning about Mary and then, the final event before the summer will be on 10th June, when the Youth Group will travel to Carfin Grotto and Strathclyde Park! You can register your children for that day trip today – see the posters to register and for more information.
Catenians Meeting This Wednesday at 7.45 p.m.
The Catenian Association invites all Catholic men, married or single, to a meeting thisWednesday, 17th May, at 7.45 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
Over Sixties Coffee Afternoon & Book Club
Our over Sixties Club Coffee Afternoon will be Tuesday 16 May, 2.30pm - 4pm. Join us at Coffee Saints café to meet up with old friends and new. We welcome newcomers to join and enjoy our coffee afternoon! Welcome Book Club on Thursday 18th May, 2.30 - 4pm at McDonald Road library. Current book is Love is Blind by William Boyd.
2023 Marriage Preparation Course on Saturday
Our next Marriage Preparation course is on Saturday, 20th May at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston, 10am-5pm presentations by married couples from the parish. The course also will be held Saturday 2nd September and Saturday 18th November. Please email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk to register.
Parish Retreat 22-24 September 2023 at St Mary’s Monastery, Kinnoull
For the first time in a very long time, we will 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. 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
First Holy Communion & Confirmation Gifts
Visit our St Pauls Bookshop for beautiful gifts for First Holy Communion and Confirmation -- rosaries, children’s Bibles, prayerbooks, saint medals & books on the saints. Cathedral notecards are available for £2.99 for 6 cards and envelopes. Learn more about Our Lady in May with the excellent books in the Mariology section. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm (closed Mondays), 0131 510 4260.
Holy Day of Obligation on Thursday, 6pm Mass
Mass will be celebrated at 6pm at Ravelston on Thursday, 26 May for the Solemnity of the Ascension, a holy day of obligation.
Big Thank You for Coronation Garden Party
Thank you to all who worked to make the Coronation Garden Party such a success last Sunday, from setting up gazebos to taking them down again! It was a really lovely event. Special thanks go to Judy Sutherland for masterminding the whole occasion and to Father Robert for his prayers for good weather, and for his hat judging skills, as well as the formal toast of our new King.
Rosary After Weekday Masses, Adoration & Confession Wednesdays
All are invited to join in praying the Rosary immediately after 6pm weekday Masses at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston this month. Also, on Wednesday evenings we will have Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions, beginning at 5:00pm and concluding at 5:45pm, with Mass at 6:00pm.
Ravelston Lenten Sponsored Run
I am very pleased to tell you that we have now collated all the sponsor monies raised by Fergus Christie for his weekly Sunday run in Lent. A total of £1,291.80 was raised, of which £645.90 is being sent to SCIAF, with an equal amount being given to the Lenten Windows appeal at the Cathedral. This has been a most successful venture – thank you, Fergus!
Called & Gifted Workshop on Saturday at Gillis Centre– Spaces Available!
Spaces are still available for the Called & Gifted Workshop on Saturday, 20th May, 9:00am to 3:30pm. Identify your charisms and discern God’s call through the Called and Gifted Workshop. The workshop is hosted by the Archdiocese at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road EH9 1BB, in collaboration with the St Catherine of Siena Institute. Cost is £25 and includes materials, online access, and lunch. Details & registration at https://bit.ly/calledgifted2023 or e-mail sranna.marie@staned.org.uk
Preparing for Pentecost: Tuesday 7:30pm Online Talk on the Holy Trinity
If you missed the first session of the ‘Prepare for Pentecost’ six-week series, you can watch it on the YouTube Channel of the Archdiocese at bit.ly/ArchYouTube. Join the talks on Tuesdays at 7:30pm
(1 hour) with Sister Anna Marie McGuan RSM and Fr Kevin Douglas as they look at the Holy Trinity through the writings of St Thomas Aquinas. Register at https://bit.ly/prepareforpentecost
St Margaret’s Pilgrimage to Dunfermline – 18th June
St Margaret’s Pilgrimage returns to Dunfermline on Sunday 18 June. Mass is at 2:30pm in St Margaret’s Memorial Church in East Port, with Archbishop Cushley as principal celebrant. Ecumenical service at 12:30pm in Dunfermline Abbey, followed by prayers at the tomb of St Margaret.
Corpus Christi Procession in Falkirk - 11th June
Celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi with Archbishop Cushley who will lead a Corpus Christi procession through Falkirk town centre at 2:30pm on Sunday 11 June. The procession will head to St Francis Xavier’s Church for Benediction followed by refreshments in the church hall. Altar Servers can wear their altar robes and those who have recently had their First Holy Communion can wear their dresses/suits.
Pentecost Novena Prayer
It is a very ancient tradition among Catholics to pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit during the nine days between the Ascension and Pentecost! Why not think about praying this Novena either by yourself or with your family this year? Goodness knows the world needs an outpouring of the Spirit!
Lord Jesus Christ
Who, before ascending into heaven promised to send the Holy Spirit to finish your work in the souls of your Apostles and Disciples deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul the work of your grace and your love.
Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world
and aspire only to the things that are eternal,
the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of your divine truth,
the Spirit of Counsel that I may choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven,
the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with you and that I may overcome with courage
all the obstacles that encounter in life,
the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect,
the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable,
the Spirit of Fear of the Lord that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God,
and may dread in any way to displease Him.
Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of your true disciples and animate me in all things with your Holy Spirit. Amen.