This Thursday is the Solemnity of the Ascension
This Thursday is the Solemnity of the Ascension and is a holy day of obligation. Masses will be celebrated at the Cathedral at 8:00am, 10:00am (School Mass), 12:45pm and 7:30pm, and at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston at 6:00pm. Polish Masses at the Cathedral will be at 11:15am and 6:00pm.
First Holy Communion: Presentation of Our Father at Mass this Sunday
Today at Mass we welcome in a particular way the children who are preparing to receive their First Holy Communion in early June. They will participate in a brief Rite after the homily at the 9am Mass in the Cathedral and at 10.30am Mass in Ravelston to receive the words of the Our Father, the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples. Please keep them in your prayers!
Organ Performance of L’Ascension
On the Solemnity of the Ascension, Thursday, 9 May, at 8:15pm Cathedral Organist Tom Wilkinson will perform L’Ascension (1934) a meditation on Christ’s Ascension, by arguably the greatest twentieth-century composer of organ music, Olivier Messiaen. Duration: 30 minutes. Retiring collection for Cathedral music.
Rosary & Reflection on Our Lady – Tuesdays 6:30pm Holy Hour
In this month of Our Lady, we will have Tuesday Holy Hours in the Cathedral 6:30pm-7:30pm with Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, praying of the Rosary and a reflection on Our Lady. Come and spend some time in prayer before Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. This Tuesday, 7th May we will have a reflection by Fr. John Peter. All are invited to join us!
Society of St Vincent De Paul - Thank You!
Thank you to all for listening to our message last weekend. We have been overwhelmed by the positivity we experienced at all Masses. If you missed us, there are leaflets at the back of church with the various ways you can contact us. Please consider being of service to this important and worthwhile cause. SSVP look forward to visiting St Andrew’s in Ravelston on a future date.
Friendship Group: Coffee Afternoon & Cinema Visit
The Friendship Group Coffee Afternoon is on Tuesday 7 May 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! The Friendship Group Cinema Visit will be Wednesday 8th May, ‘There’s Still Tomorrow’ (C’è Ancora Domani) 2:00pm. Meet upstairs at Omni Greenside. The film is a 2023 Italian black-and-white comedy drama film in neorealist style, directed by Paola Cortellesi in her directorial debut. Set in postwar 1940s Italy, in Italian with subtitles. A batch of tickets have been reserved, message Trish via Friendship WhatsApp group or via 07541552070 to reserve a ticket at £7.99.
Young Adults Talk on the Prophet Hosea by Fr Joshua Moir
Fr Joshua Moir will speak about the prophet Hosea in our next Young Adults Talk this Tuesday, 7 May. Join us from 7:00pm for teas/coffees in 63 York Place followed by the talk at 7.30pm. We will conclude with Night Prayer and time to discuss in the pub. All young adults age 17-35 are welcome!
Marathon
Next weekend, members of the Young Adults Group will be at all the Masses to gather your pledges ahead of their running in the Edinburgh Marathon festival at the end of the month. This is a great chance to meet some of those who have been going through their paces training for the event on the 25th and 26th May. They are looking forward to receiving your pledge of support in this effort to raise funds for the roof project, which will also serve as a gentle encouragement when the legs start wearying!
Meeting for Parents of Children Preparing for Confirmation
Archbishop Cushley will confirm children of the parish in St Mary’s Cathedral on Pentecost Sunday, 19th May at 9am. As part of the final preparations for this important moment in the children’s faith, Fr Robert will be meeting with parents’ online on Monday evening (6th May). Please check your e-mail inbox for more information on the time. Please keep the children, their parents and teachers in your prayers.
Catenians Meeting
The Catenian Association invites all Catholic men, married or single, to a meeting on Wednesday, 15th May, at 7.00 p.m. in 63 York Place. The Association is an international body of Catholic laymen who meet once a month and offer friendship and support to Catholic men at all stages of their lives. For more information contact John Russell at 01555 728032 or membership@thecatenians.com
Our Lady’s Month: Beautiful Rosaries, Marian Statues and More!
Look in St Pauls Bookshop for a lovely rosary, or a statue or icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to help you and your family enter prayerfully into this month May in honour of Our Lady. Get to know more about the Church’s long tradition of devotion to Mary, the Mother of Our Lord, with books on Mary and the Rosary. The shop is open daily 10am-5pm. Contact 0131 510 4260, edinburgh@stpauls.org.uk
Farewell to Alice!
Water, electricity and health and safety in its many guises have been the themes of the last few months. The first has dripped through the ceilings of the Cathedral and York Place in an increasing number of places and seeped through walls and from radiators and heating pipes. Behind the scenes the preliminaries of the roof project are being worked through and a stonemason is working on the pointing of the Sacristy 2 wall in Cathedral Lane. The water risk assessment carried out across the complex in March identified remedial works to bring the system up to scratch from a hygiene perspective and these have now taken place and a more robust testing and maintenance regime implemented. The majority of the electrical distribution boards requiring testing have now been certified as compliant following further work and in York Place, a significant number of replacement boards for those dating from the fifties have now been installed. The employment of a firm of H and S consultants by the Archdiocese has been helpful in highlighting areas for improvement, but inevitably caused a degree of extra work in trying to bring about that improvement and adopt their tracking system. As some of you know, after nearly two years employed at the Cathedral, I am departing my role. I wish my successor, when appointed, and all at the Cathedral well in dealing with the varied challenges brought by the weather and aging buildings. Thank you for all your assistance to me. Alice
Rosary After Weekday Masses in May
All are invited to join praying the Rosary during May after 6:00pm weekday Masses at St. Andrew’s.
Wednesday Adoration and Confession
Every Wednesday we have Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions 5:00pm-6:00pm, followed by 6:00pm Mass. Come and spend some quiet time in prayer with our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and take the opportunity for Confession.
Next Saturday: Religious Sisters of Mercy Open House & Holy Hour
The Religious Sisters of Mercy invite all to an Open House on Saturday, 11th May at St. Andrew’s Convent, Ravelston at 4:15pm, concluding with Holy Hour and Vespers from 5:15pm-6:15pm. RSVP by email at edinburgh@almamercy.org or by phoning on 0131 343 3380. Visit https://www.almamercy.org/scotland to learn about the Plenary Indulgence available during their community’s 50th Jubilee Year.
Save the Date: St. Andrew's Talk on Justice and Peace
Thanks to all who turned out for the excellent presentation by Darlene Newman last week on how liturgical reforms led to changes in church architecture. Save the date for our final talk on Monday, 27th May when Anne-Marie Clements will join us to talk about the work of the Justice and Peace Commission in Scotland. Talk begins at 6.45pm with refreshments available afterwards.
Bacon Roll Morning Today
After Mass today, you are welcome to the parish rooms for a bacon roll with your tea or coffee. All funds raised are going towards the parish rooms renovations.
Lent Fundraising Run – Thank you!
Thank you to all who have supported this year’s Lent fundraising run. I am now very pleased to announce that a total of £665.00 has been raised! This money will be put towards the forthcoming Parish Rooms refurbishment. A huge thank you to Fergus Christie for organising this fundraising event and to Siun Whyte and John Duffy who joined Fergus on his weekly run from St. Andrew’s, Ravelston to St. Mary’s Cathedral and back again (approx. 5 km) each Sunday during Lent.
Assisted Suicide – Called to Care, Not to Kill
Please contact your MSP today to stop assisted suicide becoming legal in Scotland. Guidance on contacting your MSPs is available at www.rcpolitics.org/assistedsuicide or email office@rcpolitics.org for more information.
Youth Day for P4-P7: A Day with Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Next Saturday, 11 May is a day of faith and fun for children aged P4-P7: A Day with Mary at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB from 11:00am to 3:00pm. The event is a chance for children to learn more about the Blessed Virgin in her month of May, while enjoying games and activities with kids from across the Archdiocese! A great opportunity to meet new friends and learn about our faith! Please register at https://bit.ly/daywithmary2024
Marriage Counselling
If you are concerned about your relationship and feel as a couple that you are unable to reach a conclusion alone, it is likely that you will benefit from marriage counselling. The Archdiocese has an arrangement with a qualified Catholic marriage counsellor who may be able to help you. For information or advice or to arrange counselling sessions please email in confidence marriage.counsellor@staned.org.uk or phone 07511928621 (Please note that counselling fees apply).
Funding for Teachers
Are you a teacher considering studying for the Catholic Teacher's Certificate to teach Religious Education? The Archdiocese will pay half the cost of this course for 20 teachers working in our Archdiocese. For an application form please email kay.leslie@staned.org.uk
Save the Date: Mass at the Cathedral for Married & Engaged Couples
The annual Mass for Married and Engaged Couples is at 7:15pm on Wednesday 29 May 2024 at St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh. Come and celebrate the gift of marriage!
Five-Day Summer Session for Young Adults: ‘Reasons for Believing’
All Catholics ages 16-30·are invited to the Faith Summer Session, ‘Reasons for Believing’, at Ampleforth Abbey, York, Monday, 29 July-Friday, 2 August 2024. The focus of the week will be a series of talks, each building on one another to develop a coherent, dynamic vision of the faith. The event includes daily Mass, morning and night prayer, Adoration and Confession, plus social activities including a Ceilidh and a quiz night! Cost: £180 / Concessions: £160. Registration deadline is 2 July 2024. To book your place, use the QR code or visit https://www.faith.org.uk/events See Fr. Robert for more details.
Pentecost Novena Prayer
It is a very ancient tradition among Catholics to pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit during the nine days between the Ascension and Pentecost! Why not think about praying this Novena either by yourself or with your family this year? Goodness knows the world needs an outpouring of the Spirit!
Lord Jesus Christ
Who, before ascending into heaven promised to send the Holy Spirit to finish your work in the souls of your Apostles and disciples, deign to grant the same Holy Spirit to me that He may perfect in my soul the work of your grace and your love.
Grant me the Spirit of Wisdom that I may despise the perishable things of this world
and aspire only to the things that are eternal,
the Spirit of Understanding, to enlighten my mind with the light of your divine truth,
the Spirit of Counsel that I may choose the surest way of pleasing God and gaining heaven,
the Spirit of Fortitude that I may bear my cross with you and that I may overcome with courage
all the obstacles that I encounter in life,
the Spirit of Knowledge that I may know God and know myself and grow perfect,
the Spirit of Piety that I may find the service of God sweet and amiable,
the Spirit of Fear of the Lord that I may be filled with a loving reverence towards God,
and may dread in any way to displease Him.
Mark me, dear Lord, with the sign of your true disciples and animate me in all things with your Holy Spirit. Amen.