All Married and Engaged Couples Invited to 31 May Mass with Archbishop
This Wednesday 31 May at 7:15pm the Archbishop will celebrate a special Mass for all Married and Engaged Couples at the Cathedral. No registration required. After the Mass there will be a celebratory reception in Coffee Saints to which everyone attending the Mass is invited. (If you are celebrating a significant anniversary this year, or know couples who are, do let us know so that we can send a personal invitation. Please submit names, address and number of years being celebrated to Fr Jeremy Milne, vemarriage@staned.org.uk 0131 334 1693).
Ordination of Paul Henderson and Peter Shankland
As you all know, Paul and Peter (both faithful members of this parish) will be ordained to the Diaconate on June 14th. A group of 50 parishioners is coming with me and Fr Robert to the ordination in Rome. At the reception afterwards, I would like to be able to present the two with a gift from the parish. The norm is, of course, a cheque. To this end, we will have a retiring collection at the end of all Masses next week for a presentation to the two new Deacons. Thank you so much, in advance, for your kindness.
First Holy Communions on Saturday 3 June at 12 noon
No 10:00am Mass, No Adoration
Please remember in your prayers the children from the Cathedral parish who will receive their First Holy Communion at Mass next Saturday 3rd June at 11:00am. Thank you, especially, to Fr. Robert, their teachers and parents who have helped them to prepare for their First Holy Communion. Please note there will be no 10:00am Mass and no Eucharistic Adoration next Saturday, 3rd June. Confessions will be as normal. The usual schedule for Mass and Adoration will resume the following weekend.
Thank You from the Schola Cantorum!
On behalf of Michael, Tom, and the Schola Cantorum singers, thank you to everyone who made the fundraising concert on Friday 19 May such a success. The generosity of those who came along enabled us to raise over £1800 in support of our music. It's a brilliant result, and it's testament to the support, encouragement, and goodwill of the whole community in the musical life of the Cathedral. Our musicians are incredibly grateful to you!
Final Youth Group Meeting, Day Trip to Carfin Grotto and Bowling
All children Primary 3 – S1 are invited to our final Youth Group meeting tonight 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. This month we are learning about Mary, the mother of God, and getting ready for our Day Trip on Saturday 10th June to Carfin Grotto, followed by bowling at Hollywood Bowl in Coatbridge! See the posters to scan the QR code to register, or e-mail Fr. Robert with any questions, frrobert.taylor@staned.org.uk Please note places are limited, so first come first served!
Parent & Baby Group: Wednesday 12.45pm Mass, Then Coffee Saints
Are you a new parent looking to meet fellow Catholic parents to socialize and share our faith? Join us for 12.45pm Mass on Wednesday, followed by coffee and a chat at Coffee Saints next door. All parents and babies welcome, particularly those on maternity or paternity leave. If you would like to be involved, email Angus Hawkins angus.f.hawkins@gmail.com or Antonia Shack afmshack@gmail.com
Over Sixties Coffee Afternoon & Dovecot Studios Trip
Our over Sixties Club Coffee Afternoon will be Tuesday 30 May, 2.30pm - 4pm at Coffee Saints. Visit to Kaffe Fassett exhibition “The Power of Pattern” 11am Wednesday 7th June at Dovecot Studios. This exhibition has been curated by Kaffe himself. He came to Edinburgh to ensure background colours and the specially commissioned flooring exhibited the works perfectly. Spaces are limited and must be pre-booked. Call Trish on 07716 96321.
Friends of the Cathedral Garden Party, 10th June, 1-4pm
Friends of St Mary’s Cathedral have a limited number of tickets for their garden party at the Archbishop’s residence on 10th June, 1-4pm. Tickets for this popular event are available to non-members at the price of £20 and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to come and join in the fun, please contact ppccathedral@stmaryscathedral.co.uk as soon as possible. Friends of St Mary’s Cathedral who have already RSVP’d (thank you!) need not reply to this notice.
Saturday 10 June: Vincent Wallace Memorial Concert
On Saturday 10 June at 7:45pm St Andrew Camerata will perform a special concert in the Cathedral to celebrate the life of former St Mary's choir director Vincent Wallace. The evening will feature a performance of Gabriel Fauré's Requiem and Cantique de Jean Racine, plus other assorted Camerata favourites conducted by Roderick Bryce. Entry by donation.
Young Adults Day Trip to Melrose and Abbotsford on Saturday 24th June
Young adults ages 18-35 are invited to come along on a day trip to places of significance for the Catholic faith in Scotland. Both trips will be by train from Edinburgh Waverley. Join us for our trip to Melrose and Abbotsford on Saturday 24th June. On the day, meet at the top of platforms 5 and 6 for 9.30am. Then we will walk from Tweedbank station to Melrose Abbey, Abbotsford, where we will celebrate Mass in the chapel used by St John Henry Newman, and then onto Galashiels. Please bring sensible footwear and a rain jacket- it is Scotland after all! Train departs Waverley at 9.43am, returns to Waverley for 5.15pm. Another date for your diary is our visit to beautiful St Andrews on Saturday 19th August: Train departs Waverley at 10am, returns to Waverley at 6.30pm. To register, contact FrRobert.Taylor@stan.ed.org.uk
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 to let her know how you can help. Thank you!
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
2023 Marriage Preparation Courses
Our next Marriage Preparation course will be Saturday 2nd September at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston, 10am-5pm, with presentations by married couples from the parish. The last course for this year will be on Saturday 18th November. Please email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk to register for either date.
First Holy Communion Gifts, New Books at St. Pauls Bookshop
Beautiful gifts and cards for First Holy Communion are available in our St Pauls Bookshop. In this season of Pentecost, pick up a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and read all about what we believe when we say in our Creed “I Believe in the Holy Spirit.” Also, the shop has copies of children’s books on the Holy Spirit and children’s stories by Sr. Clare Crockett, When I Was Little. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm (closed Mondays), 0131 510 4260, edinburgh@stpauls.org.uk
Rosary After Weekday Masses, Adoration & Confession Wednesdays
All are invited to join the Rosary immediately after 6pm weekday Masses at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston this month. Also, on Wednesday evenings Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions will continue to be available at St Andrew’s. Adoration will begin at 5:00pm, concluding at 5:45pm, with Mass at 6:00pm.
Ravelston Afternoon Tea on Friday, 9 June from 2pm-4pm
Come along and enjoy an afternoon tea in the parish rooms at Ravelston! Bring your friends and make new ones at our Afternoon Tea, 2pm-4pm on Friday 9th June. Tickets: Adults £5.00, Children £2.50.
Tickets available from Pat Hernandez at the end of Mass or phone on 0131 332 1249. All funds raised will go towards the renovation of the parish rooms.
Preparing for Pentecost: Tuesday 7:30pm Online Talk on the Holy Trinity
If you missed the last 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
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, those who have recently received First Holy Communion wear their dresses/suits.
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.
Run Alpha: Help Others Learn About Jesus and the Basics of Christianity
The Archdiocese will host a ‘Run Alpha’ training day for parishes interested in trying Alpha, an evangelisation opportunity in which anyone can come to learn about Jesus and the basics of Christianity. Alpha is used by many churches and denominations throughout the world and can be utilised in a Catholic context. The hospitality and welcome offered by the facilitators is a key component to making your Alpha run well! Join us to learn more about Alpha and learn how to run the most effective Alpha you can. Event is on Saturday 10 June, from 9:30am to 3:30pm at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB. Please bring a packed lunch. Register on Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/archedventbrite
Discerning a Call to be a Religious Sister?
Join other young Catholic women today, Sunday 28 May, 4-7pm at St Columba’s, 9 Upper Gray Street, EH9 1SN to explore God's will as we chat about discerning a call to be a religious Sister. The meetings will be led by Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO, director for religious vocations in the Archdiocese. Share and discuss in a relaxed environment, and enjoy refreshments. Contact Sr. Mirjam for more information at religiousvocations@staned.org.uk See vocations information at https://archedinburgh.org/vocations/
Vocations Discernment Retreat for Young Adults Ages 18-35
A Vocations Discernment Retreat, “Discerning and Responding to the ‘Voice’ of Christ,’’ takes place at Pluscarden Abbey, Elgin, from 9-11 June 2023 for Catholics aged 18 to 35, both men and women. The retreat will include a talk by Aberdeen Bishop Hugh Gilbert, OSB, ‘What is the ‘voice’ of Christ: how do I know that He is speaking to me?’ and talks by other speakers, and will conclude with a panel discussion on how to discern and respond to Christ. To book, contact rina@youngcatholicadultnetwork.uk
Compassion to Hope
An event to celebrate the lives of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers in Scotland, with ‘music, poetry, silence and celebration’. This event takes place in the hall of Sacred Heart Church, 28 Lauriston Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9DJ on Tuesday 20 June at 4:30pm.
St. Dominic and His Preachers of Grace: Friday 23 June – Saturday 24 June
Come and explore what lies at the heart of being a Dominican! The Dominicans will host a two-day conference in Edinburgh in June to share what they have done, are doing and could do in the future. Speakers include Fr Timothy Radcliffe, OP as well as other Friars, Sisters and Lay Dominicans. The event includes a Noon Mass on Saturday 24 June at the Cathedral, celebrated by His Grace, Archbishop Cushley. Book at https://scotland.op.org/preachersofgrace/