Rorate Mass at theCathedral on Monday
Our beautiful Rorate Masses are candlelit Masses and are the perfect way to prepare spiritually for Christmas. Join us for the 7:00pm Rorate Mass tomorrow. The Cathedral bookshop will also stay open until 8:00pm tomorrow.
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
May the Lord grant you every blessing during the Christmas season!
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!
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 and Tuesday next week beginning at 1:15pm. Please note, the regular times of Confession will be suspended during the Octave (25th December – 1st January).
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. The items are also available at www.kathedralknits.etsy.com.
Next Sunday: Mass for the Opening of the Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope”
Archbishop Cushley will solemnly open the Jubilee Year 2025 for the Archdiocese with Holy Mass next Sunday, 29 December at Noon and the blessing of the Jubilee Cross here at the Cathedral. 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 www.iubilaeum2025.va for more details about this special year.
Parish Pastoral Council Welcomes Your Suggestions
The overall aim of the Parish Pastoral Council is to support the Parish Priest in fostering pastoral activity, identifying pastoral needs and evaluating pastoral programmes. Your input is welcomed by the Council and a separate e-mail address has been established 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. 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. Please email your ideas and suggestions as we begin to plan ahead together for the coming year: parishcouncil@stmarycathedral.co.uk
Bookshop – Christmas Crib Sets, Cards and More!
St Pauls Bookshop has a beautiful selection of Christmas crib sets, gifts, Christmas cards, calendars —including the beautiful new Cathedral calendar. The new Sunday missal is in stock. Please note the bookshop holiday hours: 10am-3pm on 24th December, CLOSED 25th-26th December, normal hours 27th-30th December (10am-5:30pm), 10am-4pm on 31st December and CLOSED 1st-6th January inclusive for annual stock taking. The shop will reopen on the 7th at the usual times (provided stocktaking goes well enough!) Contact the bookshop at edinburgh@stpauls.org.uk 0131 510 4260.
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 Today for Children Affected by War in Ukraine
Today 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.
Coffee Saints Café
Our very popular Coffee Saints café is a social enterprise partnership between the Cathedral and the Grassmarket Community Project. Every time you make a purchase at Coffee Saints you support some of Edinburgh’s most vulnerable people. The café is open 7 days a week 8:30am-4:00pm! Please note: The café will be closed on 24th-26th December and 1st-2nd January.
Young Adults Group Meets on 14th January
The Young Adults Group will meet again on Tuesday, 14th January for our new series of talks ‘A Year of Hope.’ Join us as our own Fr. Jeremy speaks about ‘The Holy Year of Hope.’ 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!
After Christmas No 6:00pm Masses at Ravelston Until 6th January
Please note that there will be no weekday 6:00pm Masses at Ravelston after Christmas until Monday, 6th January. Adoration and Confessions will resume on Wednesday, 8th January.
Coming Back in the New Year
The Youth Group has now concluded for this year and will return on the first Sunday of February (2nd February) and thereafter on the 2nd March, 6th April and 4th May, between 2.30pm and 4pm. Please keep the dates in your diary! All P3-P7’s are welcome. The St Andrew’s Talks will resume on Monday 24th February with Peter Diamond talking about the work of Aid to the Church in Need as it supports the Catholic faithful and other Christians facing oppression, persecution or pastoral need. Learn more at https://acnuk.org/ All St Andrew’s Talks begin after the 6pm Mass in the Ravelston rooms.
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
OK Rehab: Drug & Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Edinburgh
OK Rehab specialises in local drug and alcohol rehab and addiction treatment and works with clinics that are able to facilitate treatment in your own home for professional intervention and home detoxification. Find out more about our service in Edinburgh at https://www.okrehab.org/local-areas/drug-alcohol-rehab-edinburgh/ Contact Number: 0800 326 5559, Email: info@okrehab.org
EXPLORE: Discussion and Prayer on Women's Religious Life
The Archdiocese is running EXPLORE for young women interested in finding out more about the religious life and exploring God's will. Includes talks, discussion, prayer and socialising. It takes place on the last Sunday of the month at St Columba's, 9 Upper Gray Street, Edinburgh, EH9 1SN: 26 Jan, 23 Feb, 30 Mar, 25 May. To register, email Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO at religiousvocations@staned.org.uk Includes a retreat Friday, 4 April – Monday, 7 April.
Teens Group for P7-S4
All young people P7-S4 are invited to join the Teens Group at St. Columba's, 9 Upper Gray Street, EH9 1SN which meets on the last Wednesday of every month, 7:00pm-8:30pm, in St. Columba's halls. Join us for fun, games, activities, prayer and pilgrimages. Don't miss this opportunity to grow in your faith and meet new friends! Next meeting is Wednesday 29th January. Cost £25 (per year). Questions? Email Clare at teens.stcolumbaedinburgh@staned.org.uk
Evangelisation & Culture: Bishop Barron Conference on the Bible
Join Bishop Barron, N.T. Wright, Tracey Rowland, and other renowned speakers at the Evangelisation & Culture Conference on the Bible at Excel London, in the heart of London’s historic Royal Docks, Friday, 20 February-Saturday, 21 February 2025. Gain a deeper appreciation of the Sacred Scriptures and grow in your evangelisation efforts. Full event details at https://events.wordonfire.org/the-bible-event
Shalom World Free Catholic Movies, News, Shows and More
Shalom World is a Catholic, commercial-free, 24/7, HD family entertainment channel. “Change what you watch and watch the world change!” https://www.shalomworld.org/