Noon Mass with Archbishop for World Day for Consecrated Life
His Grace, Archbishop Cushley, will celebrate the Noon Mass today Sunday, 2 February for the World Day for Consecrated Life. Members of religious communities throughout the Archdiocese will attend the Mass on this day of prayer to thank God for the gift of religious life and pray for all discerning a religious vocation.
Young Adults Group Meets on 4th February
The Young Adults Group will meet again on Tuesday, 4th February for our series of talks ‘A Year of Hope.’ Join us as Fr. Malcolm Hutchison speaks about ‘Hope in the Sacraments.’ All those aged 18+ 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!
Prayers for Priests This Wednesday
The first Wednesday of each month, after the 12:45pm Mass, please join in prayers near the Lady Altar, including a Rosary and Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to ask Our Lady’s intercession for our priests. All are welcome to participate in the prayers this Wednesday 5 February following 12:45pm Mass.
Friends of the Cathedral Event, Gordon MacDonald of Care Not Killing, Tuesday, 11th February
Friends of the Cathedral start their 2025 programme with a talk from Gordon Macdonald, CEO of Care Not Killing, on the campaign against the assisted suicide private members’ bills that are proposed in the UK and Scottish parliaments. Gordon will talk about the work to oppose the bills and how we can help. We are encouraging all parishioners to attend this event on Tuesday, 11 February at 7:30pm in Coffee Saints. Please contact cathedralnews@stmaryscathedral.co.uk if you would like to come along and find out more.
Hope Eternal: A Concert of Beautiful Choral Music by the Schola Cantorum in Musselburgh
On Monday 17 February at 7:30pm the Cathedral's Schola Cantorum will perform a hope-filled concert of choral music at Our Lady of Loretto and St Michael Church, Musselburgh (17 Newbigging, EH21 7AJ). Proceeds will go towards helping the choir to sing at Scots College Ordinations in Rome in May 2025. Why not come along to lend your support to the Schola Cantorum as it goes out on the road! Tickets are £10 / £8 concession, available from Eventbrite or on the door: https://tinyurl.com/hopeschola
Susan Lonie to Receive Archdiocesan Medal
Next Sunday, 9 February at the Noon Mass we are delighted to welcome His Grace, Archbishop Cushley toaward parishioner Susan Lonie with the Archdiocesan Medal. Susan recently celebrated 100 years of living and much of that time has been spent giving dedicated service to the Cathedral parish in various ways. On behalf of all of us, a very happy birthday Susan and thank you for your generous service to our parish!
Friendship Group: Coffee Afternoon
The Friendship Group Coffee Afternoon is on Tuesday 4 February at 2:00pm-3:30pm in Coffee Saints. Open to all over 60; enjoy a 20% discount during the Friendship Group meet up. Please note that the discount is valid during the session time only, and other discounts are not applied during the session. Please come along and join us, we’d love to see you.
Jubilee Year of Hope - Book Club
In the Jubilee Year of Hope why not join our special February Book Club as we read and discuss "Unshakeable Hope in the Midst of the Storm" by Fr John Riccardo. From the book publicity - Do you feel as though you’re in the midst of a storm? Your life, your children’s lives, and your country―they may cause you to feel like a storm is raging. In this powerful new book, Fr. John Riccardo breaks open the Scriptures to give us tangible hope for our lives. Discover how you can live with unshakeable hope today! To participate, please register by Friday 14th February, by e-mailing archivist@stmaryscathedral.co.uk. The book club will meet on Thursday 20th February with various times available during the day (10.30am, 3.00pm, 7.00pm), both in person and online. The book is available on Amazon.
Adult Confirmation Classes Begin in March
This Lent, the Cathedral will run a six-week course for adults to prepare to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at the Easter Vigil on Saturday 19th April. Classes start with an in-person meeting on Wednesday 12th March at 7pm at Cathedral House, 61 York Place. We will then have four on-line meetings before concluding with an in-person meeting again at Cathedral House on Wednesday 16th April at 7pm. If you are interested and would like to register, contact cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Catenians Meeting for Catholic Men
The Catenian Association invites all Catholic men to their regular meeting on Wednesday, 19 February, at 7.00 p.m. in 63 York Place. The Catenians are an international body of Catholic laymen who meet once a month and offer friendship and support to Catholic men and their families at all stages of their lives. For information 01555 728032 or membership@thecatenians.com.
Registration Open: Children’s First Holy Communion & Confirmation
Registration is open for First Holy Communion classes and Confirmation classes. Please register online at
First Communion registration (P4): www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/first-communion Confirmation registration (P7): www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/confirmation
If you have already registered, you do not need to re-register. All classes held at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston (EH4 3DS). First Holy Communion Classes will begin on Sunday, 9 March, 9:30am and Confirmation classes on Sunday, Sunday, 16 March, 4:30pm-5:30pm. For more details, please contact Fr. Robert at frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk.
From Pope Francis’ Message for the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025
“Hope is born of love and based on the love springing from the pierced heart of Jesus upon the cross: ‘For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life’ (Rom 5:19). That life becomes manifest in our own life of faith, which begins with Baptism, develops in openness to God’s grace and is enlivened by a hope constantly renewed and confirmed by the working of the Holy Spirit.” (Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025, Spes Non Confundit, 3)
Jubilee Cross and Plenary Indulgence
The Jubilee Cross at the National Shrine of St Andrew here at the Cathedral is a destination and a focus for pilgrims in the Archdiocese and beyond during this Jubilee Year of Hope. The Holy See has granted permission for the Jubilee Cross to carry a plenary indulgence, which is a remission of the temporal punishment for sins already forgiven and can be gained by visiting the Jubilee Cross through this Holy Year with the following conditions: a detachment from sin, going to Confession, receiving Holy Communion and praying for the intentions of the Holy Father. All are encouraged to visit the cross in this Jubilee Year. Prayer cards are available at the cross.
Marriage Preparation Courses
The next parish Marriage Preparation Courses are Saturday 1st March and Saturday 31st May, both at St Andrew’s, Ravelston (EH4 3DS), with presentations by married couples. Please email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk to register.
Youth Group returns!
The Youth Group returns today Sunday, 2nd February from 2:30pm-4:00pm here St. Andrew’s, Ravelston, and thereafter on the 2nd March, 6th April and 4th May. All P3-P7’s are welcome! Parents please register children at https://bit.ly/ParishYouthGroup-Registration Fee: £1.00.
Burns Supper Thank You
Thank you to everyone who turned out to support our joint Burns Supper on Friday, 24th January with St Margaret’s, Davidson’s Mains. It was a great night enjoyed by all, with some brilliant entertainment and delicious food. A very big thank you to everyone who helped organise it, especially Marie at St. Andrew’s and Patricia at Davidson’s Mains. Next year is already being planned for Friday 23rd January!
Wednesday Adoration, Confession and Mass
Especially in this Jubilee Year of Hope, all are encouraged to come for Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration as we seek to grow in faith, hope and love of Christ, and to begin a regular practice of coming to Confession, as we ask God’s forgiveness, receive His pardon and healing grace. Every Wednesday at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston we have Eucharistic Adoration with Confessions 5:00pm-5:45pm, followed by 6:00pm Mass.
St. Andrew’s Talks: Aid to the Church in Need
The St Andrew’s Talks will resume on Monday 24th February with Peter Diamond on the work of Aid to the Church in Need as it supports the Catholic faithful and other Christians facing oppression, persecution or pastoral need. All St Andrew’s Talks begin after the 6pm Mass in the Ravelston rooms.
Mass in Honour of Our Lady of Lourdes
The February Mass in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes will take place at 4:00pm today, Sunday, 2 February,in St Cuthbert’s Church, 104 Slateford Road, Edinburgh, EH14 1PT. Archbishop Cushley will be the principal celebrant.
Valentine’s Retreat for Couples
The Archdiocese has organised a Valentine’s mini-retreat for married and engaged couples from 2-5pm on Saturday 15 February at St Kentigern’s Church, 26 Parkgrove Avenue, Edinburgh, EH4 7QR. The speaker is Fr Andrew Garden (St David’s, Dalkeith) and the event is free. Register at bit.ly/valretreat25
Workshop for Children's Liturgy Leaders
If you are involved with Children's Liturgy in your parish, the Archdiocesan Catechetics Commission invites you to The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB, for a workshop on Children's Liturgy of the Word. The day takes place on Saturday 22 February from 9:30am-12:00pm and will include Mass, discussion groups, a presentation on resources, and a presentation on the Liturgy of the Word within Mass. Registration and full event schedule at https://forms.office.com/e/yRxbbsJ5kL
High School Pupils: Rise in Faith, Live in Hope
The Archdiocese invites high school pupils to 'Rise in Faith, Live in Hope' at St Francis Xavier's Church, Falkirk, (a short walk from the Grahamston train station), 11am-3pm on Saturday 15 March. The event will provide encouragement and inspiration to help our young people grow in their faith amidst the challenges they face. Includes Mass with Archbishop Cushley. Register at bit.ly/archyouth
Young Adults Holy Year Pilgrimage to Rome
Archbishop Cushley leads our Holy Year Pilgrimage to Rome for young adults (18+) which takes place 28 July to 4 August 2025. Cost £1,175 includes return flights from Edinburgh to Rome, coach transfers, bed and breakfast at Casa Santa Lucia and an opportunity to take part in the Jubilee for Young People programme, including attending Mass with the Holy Father. Limited single rooms available. Email frrobert.taylor@staned.org.uk by today Sunday 2 February.
Next Sunday: World Day for Marriage
World Day for Marriage is on Sunday, 9 February and we pray particularly for all married couples, that God may daily give them the strength and energy to support one another and their families. We especially pray that those who are experiencing difficulties in their relationship may seek help, either from the diocesan marriage counsellor (marriage.counsellor@staned.org.uk) or from organisations such as Retrouvaille www.retrouvaille.org.uk
Assisted Pilgrims for Lourdes
Do you know someone who is ill or infirm and would enjoy the opportunity to experience a life-changing trip to Lourdes? The Archdiocese is seeking Assisted Pilgrims to join them on the pilgrimage 11-18 July. They will receive 24hr support from the brilliant doctors, nurses and volunteers in the Medical/Helper Team. Please contact Bernadette on 0131 441 1939 or visit www.edinburgh-lourdes.com/lourdes24