Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time – Year A

Children’s Sacramental Preparation: Registration Open

We are registering children now for catechism classes in preparation for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation (P3), First Holy Communion (P4) and Confirmation (P7). Catechetical preparation will be provided both at St Mary’s Primary School and at 9:30am Sundays at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston beginning Sunday, 8th October. Please visit the following links for registration:]

Those who have registered will be contacted from mid-September with details about the next step.

Young Adults Group Returns on 19th September: Sacred Tradition

The Young Adults Group will meet again from Tuesday, 19th September. All those between the ages of 18-35 are welcome to the weekly meetings, where we will be learning about Sacred Tradition. As usual, we meet at 63 York Place at 7:00pm for the talk at 7.30pm, followed by a short group discussion. Each session concludes with Night Prayer and the chance to meet up at a local pub. See the poster for more details!

Parish Youth Group Returns

The Youth Group will return from Sunday 24th September in the Parish Rooms at St Andrew’s, Ravelston. All those in Primary 3-S1 are welcome! The Youth Group meets from 6pm until 7.30 and includes a mixture of some games and activities, learning more about the faith, a time of prayer and the tuckshop! Register for the new session for just £1 per child and don’t forget spending money for the tuckshop. Please pick up one of the cards with a QR code to register after Mass today or see the poster for more details.

No 10:00am Mass Monday-Friday until mid-September

Some of our priests are on annual leave at this time, so the Monday-Friday 10am Mass has been cancelled until Monday, 18 September. The 10am Mass on Saturday morning, followed by Adoration and Confessions, will continue as usual each week. Thank you for your understanding.

Parish Retreat at St Mary's Monastery, Kinnoull

Thank you to the parishioners who are attending the parish retreat to St Mary's Monastery, Kinnoull on Friday 22 - Sunday 24 September, that Friends of St Mary's Cathedral has organised. Please get in touch with ppccathedral@stmaryscathedral.co.uk or the Cathedral Office if you have not had confirmation of your place yet.

Saturday Morning Eucharistic Adoration

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament offers us with a time for peaceful prayer and quiet before Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. You are welcome to join us every Saturday from 10:30am-12:00pm for this beautiful time of adoration. Come for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour…. or more to adore the Lord in His Body shared for us. Saturday Confessions are from 10:30am-12:00pm.

Sea Sunday Appeal Thank You

Euan McArthur of Stella Maris (the Apostleship of the Sea) sent a message of thanks for the Cathedral parish’s second collection donation for its July appeal: “We are most grateful for your parish’s total donation of £1529.21. The generosity shown by your parishioners will help ensure that seafarers and fishers in this country and around the world will continue to receive the care and support that they so vitally need.”

‘Searching for Jesus in the Gospel of Mark’

With Professor James Edwards, 23-27th October

Get to know Jesus better in our mini course on the Gospel of Mark! The event will be 7pm-9pm in the Cathedral from 23rd October to 27th October. If you haven’t signed up yet – why not think about it? Register on Eventbrite at https://bit.ly/Jesus-in-GospelofMark. Learn more about it in a 30-minute preview with Fr. Patrick and Sr. Anna Marie on the Archdiocese’s YouTube channel at https://bit.ly/PreviewGospelofMark.

Red Mass at Noon on Sunday, 24 September

His Grace, the Archbishop, will celebrate the annual Red Mass at Noon on Sunday 24 September at St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh. The Mass will see members of Scotland’s legal fraternity come together for the Mass, marking the start of the new Legal Year.

Your Starter for Ten: Adults Quiz Night on Friday 29th September

Come along to our Adults Quiz Night in Coffee Saints on Friday 29th September! There will be a cash bar and nibbles will be provided. The night will run from 7 - 10pm. Tickets only £10 per person, (all proceeds to Cathedral funds). Questions categories will be literature, film, science, history, music, general knowledge - who knows what might come up! Come as a team (up to a max of 6 persons) or play it solo and win undying glory. There will be a CASH PRIZE for the winner/team plus some Quick-Fire Quirky prize opportunities throughout the evening! Tickets will be on sale after Mass next weekend and throughout September. We are limited by numbers in the hall, so once they’re gone, they’re gone! Snap them up while you can!

Marriage Preparation Courses

Our next Marriage Preparation course are 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.

2024 Diaries & Missals and Children’s Books and Bibles

Are you ready for 2024? Pick up your God’s Word Daily Reflections 2024 diary today in our St Pauls Bookshop, along with the new St Paul's Sunday Missal 2024. Copies of Magnificat for September and October are in, too. Also, find a wide selection of beautiful Bibles and books for children including Illustrated Lives of the Saints for Catholic Children, Catholic Chronicles from Adam to the Apostles, Jonah and the Whale, Noah’s Ark and fun activity books including Wipe-Clean Bible Activity Books on the New Testament and Old Testament. Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm (closed Mondays), 0131 510 4260, edinburgh@stpauls.org.uk

Want to Become Catholic? RCIA Begins 12th September

If you or someone you know would like to become Catholic, you can sign up to learn about the teachings of the Catholic Church in preparation for receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist at Easter 2024. Invite a friend to join you! The Cathedral’s Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) group meets weekly beginning Tuesday, 12th September at 7:00pm in 61 York Place. For more information and to register, call the parish office at 0131 556 1798 or email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk.

Cathedral Flower Arranging Team Seeking New Volunteers

To ease the burden of the current volunteers and to cover holidays/other absences, we are looking to recruit more volunteers to join our flower arranging teams. There are currently four teams, who meet mid-morning on a Friday and each team is led by an experienced volunteer, so lack of experience is not a barrier if you are interested in providing this ministry. If you would like to join team of flower arrangers, or find out more, please contact Elizabeth Andrews at Elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com

Parish Barbecue – Today!

The Parish Barbecue is today, starting at 1.30pm – whatever the weather! Tickets are available after Mass or on the gate - £5 per person or £10 for a family, a bargain! As well as that we have the usual range of stalls from books to plants, bric a brac to the bottle tombola. Please note, no donated goods on the day for these stalls. Any offerings of cakes to have with teas and coffee will be most welcome though, please hand them into the parish rooms before or after Mass.

St Andrew’s Talks

Thank you to everyone who turned out for the first in the new series of St Andrew’s Talks. The next one will be given by Fr Andrew Garden on the 25th September in the Parish Rooms. At that time in the liturgical year of the Church we celebrate angels – both arch and guardian. Fr Andrew will, therefore, be talking “Angels and Archangels”, what they are, what their significance is in the faith and how we recognise them today. Join us for Mass at 6pm on Monday 25th September and then the talk starting at 6.45pm, followed by some refreshments and a chance to discuss the subject.

Each Wednesday 5.00pm Adoration & Confession

Stop in at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston on Wednesdays and spend some time with Jesus Our Lord in Eucharistic Adoration. Beginning from 5pm, we have Eucharistic Adoration, and a priest is available to hear Confessions, too. This is an opportunity to allow yourself some quiet, peaceful time to pray. Our Lord is waiting for you, so come and meet Him!

Online Event: “Love Gives Life,” Pregnancy Support in our Archdiocese

Many mothers in our Archdiocese need support during, and after, pregnancy. In deprived areas there are additional challenges involving finances, resources, sometimes trauma and, often, lack of support. The Archdiocese works with SHE Pregnancy Support who provide practical compassionate care to women facing unexpected pregnancies, helping to build a culture of life in Scotland. For the Feast of St. Teresa of Calcutta, our online event explains how pregnancy support is provided in our Archdiocese and how you can help! It will be on Tuesday, 5th September at 7.45pm. Register at https://bit.ly/lifesupport09

National Pilgrimage for the Beatification of Venerable Margaret Sinclair

The Archdiocese’s annual National Pilgrimage to pray for the Beatification of Venerable Margaret Sinclair will be held on Sunday, 17 September from 12:30pm-6:00pm at St. Patrick’s Church, Cowgate, Edinburgh. The day includes 12:30pm-1:50pm refreshments and sale of candles and goods, 2:00pm Holy Hour with Rosary, Confessions, silence, hymns and Benediction, 3:00pm Reflection and Novena prayers, 3:30pm Break for refreshments and sale of candles and goods, 4:30pm Holy Mass. Learn more about this holy woman at https://www.margaretsinclair.scot/

Beginning Experience Weekend: Help with Loss of a Loved One

One of the life’s most traumatic experiences can be the loss of a loved one, such as through separation, divorce, or death. It can result in unbearable feelings of grief and loneliness. The Beginning Experience Scotland Team would like to help. Come for a weekend away for a lifetime of change at Conforti Centre, initiative of the Xaverian UK Province, at Coatbridge, Friday, 29th September to Sunday 1st October. This is a wonderful opportunity for a time to heal by experiencing God’s love through others and to begin again. For further details, phone Louise on 07926571004 or email louisep398@gmail.com Learn more at https://beginningexperiencegbandi.org/scotland

Bethany Christian Trust Job Openings

Bethany Christian Trust has several job openings for a variety of roles. Join a team of people all contributing their skills, experience, and dedication towards ending homelessness in Scotland. Openings include Trust and Grants Fundraising Team Lead, Reception Administrator, Bethany House Project Worker and more. Visit https://bethanychristiantrust.com/jobs for salary details and applications. Bethany Christian Trust, 65 Bonnington Road, Edinburgh, EH6 5JQ, 0131561 8930, info@bethanychristiantrust.com

Retreat: Spirit and Truth Weekend

Come to Craig Lodge House of Prayer in the beautiful Scottish Highlands for a weekend that will lead you deeper into worshipping the Father in spirit and truth. This weekend-long worship school will be comprised of teaching and extended times of worship, finding their source and summit in the Mass. The retreat is for everyone who wants to grow in greater intimacy with the Lord and is not limited to musicians. The weekend begins Friday, 29th September 5:00pm and ends Sunday, 1st October at 1:00pm. For more details contact mail@craiglodge.org or call 01838 200216. Craig Lodge, Dalmally, Argyll, Scotland, UK, PA33 1AR, http://www.craiglodge.org

Read the newsletter for 3rd September (pdf)