New Edition of Crux Magazine
An “eminent” (!) visitor to the parish recently commented to me in passing that he thought our Cathedral Magazine was “really excellent” – as in, of a way higher quality than these things usually are - and I must say that I agree! This latest edition of Crux Magazine includes a fascinating interview with Fr. Vasyl Kren about his work as the Prison Chaplain at HMP Edinburgh and an absorbing article by Fr. Kevin Dow about his spiritual journey to becoming an army chaplain. Copies will be on sale (for £5 – cheap! – Ed) will be available to purchase after all masses this weekend.
Five-Day Summer Session for Young Adults: ‘Reasons for Believing’
Time is running out to signup for the Faith Summer Session and spaces are limited! All Catholics ages 16-30·are invited to, ‘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 9 July 2024. To book your place, visit https://www.faith.org.uk/events See Fr. Robert for more details.
Welcome…
…to Fr Peter Shankland who will be here on Sunday to celebrate Mass in the Cathedral. Father Peter was a parishioner here until he left for seminary in 2020. After each Mass on Sunday, he will offer his first blessing to which a plenary indulgence is attached. The conditions for that indulgence are a detachment from sin and going to confession, receiving Holy Communion and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father.
We also welcome Gerard Holden, a seminarian for the archdiocese who is based at the Cathedral this summer. During the month of July he will be here during the weekends as he attends a pastoral course organised by the Scots College during the week. Then during August, Gerard will be hard at work in the parish as part of his summer parish placement.
Legion of Mary
Every year some members of the Legion of Mary volunteer to take part in a Peregrinatio Pro Christi project (PPC) to another country. Scotland was given the responsibility of helping with evangelisation in Finland. For over 40 years teams of legionaries from Scotland have been spending part of their summer holidays at their own expense going out to share the Gospel in various parts of Finland. On 1 July, a team left for Oulu in Finland sharing their faith with all those they meet. It can often be very difficult work and is supported by the many prayers being said by those at home. We would like to invite you to pray for this project which concludes on Thursday, 11 July.
Friendship Group: Coffee Afternoon
The Friendship Group Coffee Afternoon is on Tuesday 9 July 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!
Save the Dates:
Festival Mass
Please note that His Grace, Archbishop Cushley, will celebrate the annual Festival Mass on Sunday, 11 August at Noon at the Cathedral.
Altar Server Day
There will be a day for altar servers at the Gillis Centre on the 31 August. If you would like to attend the event or you are interested in becoming an altar server, please speak with Fr. Robert or email him at FrRobert.Taylor@staned.org.uk. Anyone interested in becoming an altar server must have made their First Communion.
Barbara Dickson fundraising concert
On Thursday 3rd October, Cathedral parishioner Barbara Dickson will be singing live in the Cathedral – with special guest Nick Holland – to raise funds for the Cathedral roof appeal. Tickets will be available from 1st August.
Young Adults Ceilidh
It is never too early to put this event in your diary. On 16 November, the Young Adults Group will be hosting a Ceilidh for young adults from across Scotland. Doors open at 7pm at Central Hall at the top of Lothian Road. Tickets will be available through Eventbrite soon.
Swing with the Spirit: Sacred Jazz with the Schola Cantorum on Monday 12 August at 7:30pm
As part of this year's Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts, the Schola Cantorum choir will perform an innovative concert of sacred jazz music in the Cathedral. The performance will feature Scottish jazz legend Richard Michael, and young jazz pianist Ben Shankland, winner of the BBC Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the Year 2023. Music will include Bob Chilcot’s 'A Little Jazz Mass' and Richard Michael’s swinging 'Jubilate Deo' and 'Te Deum'. Save the date for what is sure to be an unforgettable evening! Tickets are available now from Eventbrite or at the door: https://bit.ly/SacredJazz2024
Altar Servers
We are always looking to welcome new servers to the serving team in the Cathedral and at St Andrew’s, Ravelston. If you are interested, then please pick up a flyer available in both churches or speak to Fr Robert directly. Serving is open to all Catholics who have received their First Holy Communion. You can also e-mail to register your interest, frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Edinburgh: City of Faith. A walking tour
This year marks the start of celebrations to mark the 900th birthday of Edinburgh. King St David – son of St Margaret – issued the charter to create the royal burgh in 1124. The foundation of the city was closely linked to David’s establishment of monasteries, one of which was in this city at Holyrood. This walking tour will journey around some of the key sites in the centre of Scotland’s capital, that have been centres of the worship of God. On 13 July the tour will leave from St Mary’s Cathedral at 9.30am and include Mass with the Archbishop at St Patrick’s, Cowgate at 12.30pm before concluding at St Cuthbert’s on Lothian Road.
Saturday Morning Eucharistic Adoration
Take some time for quiet, peaceful prayer before Jesus Christ in the Eucharist here at the Cathedral. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is celebrated every Saturday 10:30am-12:00pm in the Cathedral. Come for 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour…. or more. You may want to pray the Rosary or read the Scriptures, mediating on the readings for Sunday Mass. Saturday Confessions are from 10:30am.
Second Collection Next Weekend for Sea Sunday
Next Sunday is Sea Sunday, when the Church prays for all those who earn their living from the sea and for their families. There will be a second collection after Mass for Stella Maris, the Church’s Maritime welfare agency, which supports seafarers both spiritually and practically through its network of chaplains and volunteers. Anne Marie Stephen, a volunteer for Stella Maris, will give a short report at Masses on the work of this organisation. Learn more about Stella Maris at https://www.stellamaris.org.uk/.
Marriage Preparation Courses
Remember, if you are planning to get married – congratulations! Dates in the cathedral fill up quickly, so to register the date, please contact the office 6 months before your proposed wedding date. As part of the preparation for your wedding day couples are required to attend a marriage preparation course. The next day long course in the parish will be at St Andrew’s, Ravelston on Saturday 24th August – or on the 23rd November.
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. This opportunity to pray before Our Lord continues throughout the summer, so don’t miss the chance to spend time with Jesus.
Come and Pray with the Sisters at Saturday and Sunday Holy Hours
All are welcome to come to join the Religious Sisters of Mercy at St. Andrew’s Convent for their Holy Hours at 5:10pm on Saturdays and at 3:55pm on Sundays. Please do contact the Sisters beforehand at edinburgh@almamercy.org or call 01313433380 to allow for sufficient seating. Holy Hour includes, silent Adoration, recitation of the rosary, and chanted Vespers. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to pray the Divine Office, which is the prayer of the Church! The Sisters are happy to answer any questions you may have about praying the Divine Office. Do come along and bring your family and friends.
St Andrew’s Groups
Here is something to think about over the summer holidays. In the past couple of years, as part of the series of St Andrew’s Talks, we have heard of various ways in which the community at St Andrew’s can get more involved with the work of the Catholic Church. One example could be, following the recent talk from Justice and Peace Scotland that you would be interested in forming a Justice and Peace Group. Maybe you’d like to form a group that supports other parts of the social teaching of the Church – if so, please e-mail or speak to Fr Robert (frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk).
Archdiocesan Lourdes pilgrimage
Pilgrims from across the Archdiocese are in Lourdes this week for the annual pilgrimage, led by Archbishop Leo Cushley. We wish all pilgrims a happy and holy time. Find out more about the pilgrimage at https://www.edinburgh-lourdes.com/
African & Caribbean Community
The next Mass with the African & Caribbean community in the Archdiocese is at St Cuthbert’s Church, 104 Slateford Road, Edinburgh, EH14 1PT at 2pm on Sunday 7 July.
Columba Trust
The Columba Trust provides funding to organisations and individuals to support projects which promote the Roman Catholic faith, its ministry and values. The deadline for applications this year is 31 July 2024.
Further details about the Trust and how to apply for a grant can be found at: https://columbatrust.org.uk/
Save the Date – 5 October
A Scripture Reflection Day titled ‘Celebrating the Gift’ will take place at The Gillis Centre in Edinburgh on Saturday 5 October 2024. The event will help explain more about the new lectionary that is being introduced in Advent and is also a chance to reflect on the Word of God. Details to follow.
World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
To mark this day, Holy Mass will be celebrated at the National Marian Shrine, Carfin, on Sunday 28 July at 3:00pm. The Principal Celebrant will be Bishop John Keenan (Paisley Diocese), who is President of the Bishops’ Conference Marriage, Family and Life Commission. The Café will be open for refreshments.
August: Monastic Experience Weekend for Men at Pluscarden Abbey
The community of Benedictine monks at Pluscarden offer a special opportunity for men to experience what monastic life is all about Friday 16th-Monday 19th August. This opportunity is suitable for single men who are Catholic, practise their faith, are aged 18-40, and at least open to the possibility of considering a monastic vocation. Participants will join the monks in their daily prayer and work. The event may be of assistance in the process of discerning one's vocation in life. There will be no charge for the weekend. Register at https://www.pluscardenabbey.org/monastic-experience-weekend
Mass for the Chinese Catholic Community
Mass is celebrated on the second Sunday of each month in Cantonese and English at 2:00pm at Sacred Heart Church, 28 Lauriston Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9DJ. The next Mass in Cantonese and English will be on Sunday 14 July at 2pm. On Sunday 21 July, Fr Li Chi Yuen will celebrate Mass in Cantonese at 2pm.