Crux Magazine & Cathedral Calendars on Sale This Weekend
The new issue of the Cathedral’s Crux magazine will be on sale today – a bargain at just £5 per copy! The perfect gift for Christmas! Articles include an interview with Fr. Jeremy, a look back at events of 2024, a feature on the Cathedral archives and more!
Another great gift idea is the 2025 Cathedral calendar – also on sale today! Another bargain at just £10!
Rorate Masses at the Cathedral and St. Andrew’s, Ravelston
Our beautiful Rorate Masses are candlelit Masses and are the perfect way to prepare spiritually for Christmas.
Rorate Mass (Cathedral)
7:00pm, Thursday 19th December
7:00pm, Monday 23rd December
The Cathedral bookshop will also stay open until 8:00pm on the evenings of the Cathedral Rorate Masses.
Rorate Mass (Ravelston)
6:00pm, Monday 16th December
Christmas Mass times
The Mass Schedule over the Christmas period is now available through the website, Facebook page or by picking up a copy from the back of the churches. For Christmas, please note the following:
Christmas Eve
5.30pm for Carol Service followed by Vigil Mass – St Andrew’s Ravelston
6:00pm Vigil – St Mary’s Cathedral
9:00pm – Polish Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral
11.15pm for Carol Service and readings, followed by Midnight Mass
Christmas Day
10:00am Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral and St Andrew’s, Ravelston
12 Noon – Polish Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral
6:00pm – Polish Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral
Mass times will be as normal over the weekend of 28/29 December, including the Inauguration of the
Holy Year at the 12 Noon Mass on the 29 December by Archbishop Cushley.
New Year’s Day, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
9.30am Polish Mass – St Mary’s Cathedral
11:00am Mass – St Mary’s Cathedral and St Andrew’s, Ravelston
6:00pm Polish Mass – St Mary’s Cathedral
Volunteers Required for Christmas and New Year Masses
If you are a current registered volunteer and would like to assist with the Christmas Masses on 24th and 25th December and the Mass for the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God on Wednesday, 1st January, please let us know about your availability. If you can help with any of the following Ministries – Reading, EMHC, Passkeeping, Welcoming, or Money collecting, please sign up on the sheets at the passkeepers’ table or contact Elizabeth Andrews at Elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com
Please consider giving of your time to lend a hand! Many additional helpers are needed to assist as we welcome numerous visitors to our Cathedral for the Christmas and New Year’s season.
Confessions During Advent
Going to Confession is a wonderful way to prepare for Christmas. Make time to receive the Lord’s healing and forgiveness this Advent. Priests will be available for Confession during Advent at the regular Confession times: Saturday, 10:30am-12:00pm and 5pm-6pm, as well as Monday-Friday beginning at 1:15pm.
Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council has been re-established and the first two meetings have taken place. The overall aim of the Council is to support the Parish Priest in fostering pastoral activity, identifying pastoral needs and evaluating pastoral programmes. In due course, Minutes of each meeting will be posted on the Cathedral website, as well as on the Parish Noticeboard in the Octagon, together with a photoboard which will enable Parishioners to identify Council members. The next meeting of the Parish Council will take place on Thursday, 9th January and a separate e-mail address has been established parishcouncil@stmarycathedral.co.uk for parishioners to make suggestions for activities that they think the Council should undertake or to raise other matters that they wish the Council to consider. This is an opportunity for all parishioners to participate in the development of the Cathedral’s pastoral programme and all suggestions will be welcomed and reviewed.
Thank You!: Society of St Vincent de Paul Christmas Mass and Lunch
A huge thank you to the volunteers who helped make this year’s event the success it was. The event was a joy to host but only made possible by a lot of help. Thank you to the Conference members for their planning, Rosa and Monica from the Legion of Mary, without whom we’d still be washing up, the Young Adults for their wonderful carol singing and Santa for his visit. A special thank you to Fr Robert for celebrating a wonderful Mass which preceded lunch and all the Cathedral clergy for spending time with the guests. The Conference would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for the support we receive throughout the year from the congregation in helping us achieve our goals in the community.
Bookshop – Christmas Crib Sets, Cards and More!
As we prepare our hearts and homes for the celebration of Christ’s birth, the St Pauls Bookshop is preparing, as well, with a beautiful selection of Christmas crib sets, gifts, Christmas cards, calendars —including the beautiful new Cathedral calendar — and much more! A great selection of Bibles for adults and children are in stock, as well as rosaries, icons, holy images, statues and classic spiritual reading and prayer books. Hours: 10:00am to 5:30pm, 7 days a week, edinburgh@stpauls.org.uk, 0131 510 4260.
Kathedral Knits on Sale During Advent
Joanna Kopystynska’s beautiful, knitted goods will be on sale in the Octagon after the 9:00am and Noon Masses today, as well as Sunday 22 December. The items are also available at www.kathedralknits.etsy.com
Assisted Suicide Debate in Holyrood
Next year the Scottish Parliament will debate and vote on the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill which was introduced as a Members bill earlier this year. Now is the time to contact your MSP, you can find their details through the Parliament website, www.parliament.scot/msps. The result does not have to be the same in Holyrood as it was in Westminster.
Crib Collection Next Weekend for Children Affected by War in Ukraine
Next weekend we will have our parish Crib Collection, which will be donated to the Christmas Miracles project at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Kyiv, Ukraine, which is bringing the spirit of Christmas through events, workshops and concerts, especially for children affected by the ongoing war. Please be generous! Thank you.
Bacon Roll Fundraiser Thank You!
Last Sunday’s Bacon Roll Fundraiser at Ravelston raised a fantastic £628.05 for the Sisters of Mercy homeless project at St. Catherine's Convent, Lauriston Gardens. Thank you so much for supporting this effort for a vulnerable group of people!
Adoration & Confession Before Christmas at Ravelston
Our final time of Adoration and Confession in 2024 will be this Wednesday, 18th December at 5:00pm. Stop in and spend some time with Jesus Our Lord during Eucharistic Adoration, and come to the Sacrament of Confession until 5:45pm in preparation for Christmas. Adoration and Confession at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston will return to its normal time on Wednesday, 8 January 2025.
Lourdes Carol Servicet Davidson’s Mains
The annual Carol service organised by the Lourdes Hospitalité Committee takes place on Sunday 15 December 2024 at 3pm in St Margaret's Church, Davidson’s Mains, Edinburgh. All welcome.
Online Pro-Life Advent Rosary
The annual Advent Rosary continues on Zoom this Monday (16 Dec) at 7:45pm. Join us to pray for unborn children, their mothers and all pro-life intentions. Register at bit.ly/adventrosary
Explore the New Lectionary
Join Fr Jamie McMorrin at 7:00pm this Wednesday (18 Dec) on Zoom as he continues his series exploring the new Lectionary. Register at bit.ly/lectionaryadvent. Series videos are on the Archdiocese’s YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@standrewsedinburgh2024
Feast of the Holy Innocents
Join Archbishop Cushley, priests and people of the Archdiocese to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Innocents at St Margaret’s Chapel at The Gillis Centre on Saturday 28 December at midday. Complimentary refreshments and social afterwards. Register at bit.ly/prolifeevents or just come along on the day.
Diploma 2025: The Catholic Faith – Examined, Enriched, Alive
Join the 500+ people who have taken the Diploma in Catechetics course since it began in 2021. As 2025 is a Holy Year, the cost is reduced from £200 to £125. Register today for this systematic and rich walk through the Catholic faith. Details and registration available at bit.ly/diploma2025 or use the QR code. People of all denominations and faiths welcome. Questions? Contact Sr. Miram Ruth Ryan, RSM at srmiriam.ruth@staned.org.uk
Mass for the Opening of the Jubilee Year
Archbishop Cushley will solemnly open the Jubilee Year 2025 for the Archdiocese with Holy Mass and the blessing of the Jubilee Cross at St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, at midday on Sunday 29 December. Do come along and lend your prayers for the blessing of a fruitful Jubilee for the Archdiocese and the Parish. Jubilee Year activities will be the main focus of the activities of the new Cathedral Parish Council during the next twelve months and, in conjunction with the Archdiocese, work is under way to consider what the Parish will be able to do to support the objectives of the Jubilee Year. Follow 'Holy Year Scotland 2025' on Facebook and visit http://www.iubilaeum2025.va
Mary’s Meals Donations to be Doubled
At this time of year, donations made to Mary’s Meals will be doubled. This means your kindness will go even further and we can reach even more hungry children with a life-changing school meal. Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals to children in some of the world’s poorest countries, including the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and Latin America. It costs just £19.15 to feed a child with Mary's Meals every day for a school year. And, with Double the Love, a donation of £19.15 will feed two children. To donate, please visit https://donate.marysmeals.org/gb