Young Adults Group ‘The Language of the Church’ Talks
The Young Adults Group will meet again Tuesday, 19th November for our talks on ‘The Language of the Church.’ Fr Michael John Galbraith will speak on ‘Jesus Christ: True Lamb.’ All those between the ages of 18-35 are welcome to the weekly meetings. As usual, we meet at 63 York Place at 7:00pm for teas/coffees and 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. Come along!
Archdiocesan Catholic Education Mass
His Grace, Archbishop Cushley, will celebrate the Archdiocesan Catholic Education Mass here at the Cathedral at 7:00pm on Tuesday, 19 November during Catholic Education Week. Clergy, teachers and Catholic school students from across the Archdiocese will attend.
No 10:00am Mass on Thursday, 21 November
Some of the parish clergy will be attending an Archdiocesan Clergy Gathering this week so it is necessary to cancel the 10:00am Mass this Thursday, 21 November. Please keep our priests in your prayers during the Clergy Gathering.
Ukrainian Prayer Service in Commemoration of the Holodomor
All are invited to join the Ukrainian Community in Scotland to honour and pay tribute to the millions of innocent people of Ukraine who suffered and perished during the Holodomor in 1932 and 1933. A prayer service will be held here in St. Mary’s Catholic Cathedral on Saturday 23rd November at 2:00pm with Fr. Vasyl Kren of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Edinburgh.
Mass for the Solemnity of St. Andrew
On Saturday, 30 November we will celebrate the feast day of St. Andrew, our National Patron, whose relics are preserved here in the National Shrine of St. Andrew. Mass will be celebrated at 12:00pm by Archbishop Cushley with public veneration of the relics following Mass. It was Andrew who, famously, brought St. Peter to Jesus – this feast day is your opportunity in a special way – to go to Jesus, through Andrew.
Visit of Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will be at St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh on Sunday 1st December. His Eminence will preach at the evening Mass that will be presided at by Archbishop Cushley. Mass begins at 7.30pm. All are welcome. This is an opportunity to hear something of the experience of the Church and wider community in the midst of the terrible war in the Holy Land and to express solidarity with all those who are suffering there.
Friendship Group: Coffee Afternoon
The Friendship Group (previously the Over 60s Club) Coffee Afternoon is on Tuesday 19 November at 2:00pm-3:30pm in Coffee Saints. Open to all over 60; enjoy a 20% discount during the session time. Please come along and join us!
Last Weekend for Christmas Gift Collection for Prisoners’ Children
This is our final weekend for the annual collection of donated gifts for the children of the adults who are prisoners in Edinburgh (Saughton) Prison at Christmas. Please donate gifts that are new and wrapped in Christmas gift wrap, including a label stating the age of the child and if the gift is suitable for a boy or a girl. Gifts for children from 11 years upwards are most appreciated. A collection box will be at the back of both churches before all Masses. Please be as generous as you have been in past years. Many thanks in advance!
World Day for the Poor Collection This Weekend
Today is World Day for the Poor and Archbishop Cushley has asked that a special collection take place at Mass this day for elderly Christians in need in Palestine. Your donation will be given directly to the Beit Afram Home for the Elderly (a project of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem), so that elderly people living amidst the violence of war and in need of care are not abandoned and that their costs to live with dignity are covered. Please continue to pray for peace in the Middle East. You can also use the QR Code to donate. Find out more at www.lpj.org/en
Rorate Masses – Volunteers Needed
The beautiful candlelit Rorate Masses will take place at the Cathedral on Thursdays 5th, 12th, and 19th December and Monday, 23 December. The Masses start at 7pm and we are looking for volunteers to assist in preparing the Cathedral (laying out candles, welcoming people, etc) prior to the Masses and tidying up afterwards. You would need to be available from 6pm; if you can assist, then please contact Elizabeth Andrews at Elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com
Special Collection for Catholic Education Next Weekend
The annual special collection for work of the Scottish Catholic Education Service will take place after Masses next weekend, 23rd and 24th November.
Save the Date: Big Clean
Please save the date of Saturday, 18 January, 12:00pm-4:00pm for our annual Big Clean of the Cathedral. If you would like to volunteer, please email Darlene at complexmanager@stmaryscathedral.co.uk Thank you!
Ravelston Community Meeting Thank You
Thank you to all who attended our recent community meeting in Ravelston. Notes from the meeting will be published on the parish noticeboard in the rooms next week. At the meeting, nominations were asked for Ravelston representatives to sit on the Parish Pastoral Council. If you are interested in putting your name forward for this please e-mail Fr Jeremy, administrator@stmaryscathedral.co.uk Nominations for this will close on Sunday 1st December.
Ravelston Meetings for Readers and Eucharistic Ministers on Friday
Thank you to all who attended the meetings last week for Eucharistic Ministers and Readers. All current Readers and Eucharistic Ministers and those new members who recently signed up to these ministries are asked to come on Friday, 22 November: Readers at 4.00pm and Eucharistic Ministers at 4.45pm. These sessions will take place in the church. If you cannot attend either of these, please e-mail Fr Robert directly, frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk so that alternative arrangements can be made.
Next Sunday: Children Invited to Help with Outdoor Christmas Crib
After Mass next Sunday, 24th November, children of the parish (and parents, too!) are invited to join us to set up our outdoor crib at St. Andrew's, Ravelston in preparation for Christmas. Then before 10:30am Mass on the First Sunday of Advent, 1st December, the children are invited to help us place the statues of Mary, Joseph, the shepherd and the empty manger as we look forward to Jesus' birth at Christmas.
St Andrew’s Talk on the Gospel of Luke
The next St Andrew’s Talk will be Monday, 25th November when Fr Andrew Garden will be at Ravelston to talk about the Gospel of Luke as we prepare to enter into the new liturgical year in Advent which focuses on the Gospel account of St Luke. Join us for Mass at St Andrew’s from 6pm with the talk taking place in the rooms from 6.45pm. Refreshments will be available.
Each Wednesday 5:00pm Adoration & Confession
Stop in at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston on Wednesdays and spend some time with Jesus Our Lord during Eucharistic Adoration. Beginning from 5:00pm, we have Adoration, and a priest is available to hear Confessions until 5:45pm. Our Lord is waiting for you, so come and meet Him!
Parish Mass and Supper on 29th November for Feast of St Andrew
Come and join us for a St Andrew’s supper on Friday, 29 November after 6:00pm Mass to celebrate the feast day of our patron (Saturday 30th November) in the church rooms at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston. Celebrate this important day in the calendar of our community and country with Mass and then join for two-course supper at 7:00pm in the parish rooms. Tickets on sale this weekend, £8 individual and £12 family (2 adults and children). Funds will go to St Andrew's church funds.
Public Demonstration Against Assisted Suicide: Glasgow, Friday 22 November, 6.00-9.00pm
All are encouraged to attend a Public Demonstration Against Assisted Suicide in Glasgow at 6.00pm-9.00pm on Friday 22 November. The event, organised by an Alliance of Concern and supported by the Campaign Against Assisted Dying, will hear civic concerns around the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which will be voted on by MPs in the UK Parliament on Friday 29 November. All MPs and MSPs in the Central Belt have been invited to attend. This event is supported by our Scottish Bishops’ Parliamentary Office and Marriage, Family and Life Office. Meet at Blythswood Square, Glasgow at 6.00pm to make the short walk to Renfield St. Stephen’s Centre on Bath Street for the Public meeting from 7.00-9.00pm. For more information contact assisthelp04@gmail.com
Ask Your MP to Vote ‘No’ on Assisted Suicide Bill in November
Take a minute and ask your MP to stop assisted suicide being rushed into law. On 29 November, the UK Parliament will vote on an assisted suicide Bill. The result at Westminster will strongly influence MSPs at Holyrood, where the Scottish Parliament is also considering this issue. If passed, assisted suicide laws will damage NHS end of life care. Experience in other countries shows that abuses start to happen and vulnerable people are pressured to die. Many MPs have not made up their minds and want to hear from you. Use the QR Code or https://bit.ly/AssistedSuicideTalkingPoints. You can find your MP & MSPs at https://writetothem.com
Diploma in Catechetics 2025 Registration Open
Take the Diploma in Catechetics and make the Holy Year 2025 a time of newness and deepening in your life of faith! The course starts in January with weekly lectures on Zoom, guided reading from the Catechism and regular 1-to-1 support. For the Holy Year the course is being offered at £125 (normally £200). Register at bit.ly/diploma2025
Advent Zoom Series on the New Lectionary: What’s New and Why?
The translation of the Bible we hear at Mass is changing. Are you intrigued to find out more about what's new and why? Join Fr Jamie McMorrin in 45-minute sessions on Zoom over three weeks in December, exploring some practical examples of key words and phrases to listen out for in the Sunday Mass readings. The talks are at 7:00pm on Wednesdays: 4, 11 and 18 December. Register at bit.ly/lectionaryadvent
2025 Faith Winter Conference for Young Adults: ‘Why the Church?’
This new year Fr. Robert will be taking a group of young adults to the Faith Winter Conference from Thursday, 2nd January to Saturday, 4th January. The conference will be held at Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe, and the theme is “Why the Church?: ‘The Fullness of Him Who Fills All in All.’ (Ephesians 1:23). Young people ages 16 and 30 are invited to join with young Catholics from across the UK for these days of catechetical, spiritual and social activities. Cost for students: £180. Register at www.faith.org.uk/events