Update to Main Sacristy Works: 10:00am Weekday Mass Cancelled 10th-19th March
Due to an unknown amount of asbestos found during initial works, the timeline for work in Sacristy 1 has had to be extended. We apologise for the added inconvenience which includes the cancellation of the 10am Mass until Thursday, 20 March, the noise from works during Confession times as well as our inability to do our normal cleaning duties. This project will be completed this week, but please bear with us as we hope to return to normality as soon as possible. Thank you. - Darlene
Schola Cantorum – New Recordings
The Schola Cantorum of St Mary's Catholic Cathedral has recorded new audio tracks — the first professional recordings of the choir since 2020. Visit www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/scholainrome to listen online for free and make an optional donation towards helping the choir sing at the Scots College Ordinations in Rome in May, when the singers will represent St Mary's Cathedral and the Archdiocese.
SCIAF Wee Boxes
Please remember to send the contents of your Wee Box directly to SCIAF! You can send your monies to SCIAF, 196 Clyde Street, Glasgow G1 4JY, or by logging on to their website www.sciaf.org.uk/weebox. If you send your monies by post, please do remember to complete the Gift Aid declaration on the base of the box, if applicable, and enclose this part of the box with your monies!
Friday Eucharistic Adoration and Stations of the Cross
Every Friday during Lent, Eucharistic Adoration will be held in the Cathedral from 10:30am-12:30pm, followed by the 12:45pm daily Mass and afterwards we will pray the Stations of the Cross.
Daily Rosary for Holy Father
During this time of illness of our Holy Father, Pope Francis, we will have a daily Rosary for the Pope after the 12:45pm Mass. Please join us in prayer at the Lady Altar.
Young Adults Group: The Teachings of St. Paul
The Young Adults Group meet up again on Tuesday, 18th March for our talks on The Teachings of St. Paul, this week with Fr. Paul Denney, who will speak about “Corinthians.” 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. Email Fr. Robert, frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk for more details.
Parish Programme to Introduce Charities for Homeless
The motto of the Jubilee Year is ‘Pilgrims of Hope.’ Let us try and make a small contribution by helping those who are in particular need of hope because they have nowhere to live. But how do we best do that?
Have you ever dealt with a charity, which specifically supports homeless people? Or are you looking for a ‘homeless’ charity to support? The Parish would like to organise an evening event during which parishioners have the opportunity to introduce others to a charity for the homeless, which they have dealt with in the past. If you would be happy to talk about such a charity, and tell others what your experience has been, could you please let Louise Gardiner know at louise_e_gardiner@hotmail.com so that we can put an interesting and varied programme together! We look forward to hearing from you!
Marriage Preparation Courses
The next parish Marriage Preparation Courses are Saturday 31st May and Saturday, 23rd August, both at St Andrew’s, Ravelston (EH4 3DS), with presentations by married couples. Please email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk to register.
Edinburgh Seven Hills Pilgrimage
Join us for the Edinburgh Seven Hills Pilgrimage on Saturday 5th April. Taking in the summits of Arthur's Seat, Blackford Hill, the Braids, Easter Craiglockhart Hill, Corstorphine Hill, Castle Rock and Carlton Hill, the whole route is around 27km starting and finishing at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral. Whether you want to join us for the whole event or meet the group along the way, this is a perfect opportunity to offer Lenten penance, pray for the city of Edinburgh and conclude with worship together at the 6pm Vigil Mass and prayers at the Jubilee Cross at the Cathedral. More details to be confirmed soon, but register your interest now at bit.ly/sevenhillsapril
Catenians Meeting This Week
The Catenian Association invites all Catholic men to their regular meeting on Wednesday, 19 March, 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 from today, Sunday, 9 March, 9:30am; Confirmation classes from Sunday, Sunday, 16 March, 4:30pm-5:30pm. Questions? Fr. Robert at frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
From the Holy Father’s Message for the Jubilee Year of Hope
“In addition to finding hope in God’s grace, we are also called to discover hope in the signs of the times that the Lord gives us. As the Second Vatican Council observed: ‘In every age, the Church has the responsibility of reading the signs of the times and interpreting them in the light of the Gospel. In this way, in language adapted to every generation, she can respond to people’s persistent questions about the meaning of this present life and of the life to come, and how one is related to the other.’”(Bull of Indiction of the Ordinary Jubilee of the Year 2025, Spes Non Confundit, 3) The Jubilee Cross is at the National Shrine of St Andrew here at the Cathedral. The Holy See has granted permission for the Jubilee Cross to carry a plenary indulgence. All are encouraged to visit the cross in this Jubilee Year. Prayer cards are available at the cross, as well as a QR code for ‘Click to Pray’ for the Prayer Intentions of the Holy Father, also available at https://clicktopray.org/.
Edinburgh’s Housing Emergency – Awareness Event
In this Jubilee Year we are asking what more we can do to help others in need. The parish council has invited Cyrenians to come and raise our awareness about the issue of homelessness in Edinburgh and how we can help. They write "In a city like Edinburgh there should be a place for everyone to sleep safely. But right now people experiencing homelessness can expect to wait up to two years for a stable place to call home. There is a huge shortage of suitable housing for people in crisis, and even emergency accommodation struggles to keep up with demand. Cyrenians has been supporting people experiencing homelessness in Edinburgh since it was founded by Christian students in 1968. Join us at 63 York Place on Thursday, 3 April, 7:00pm to learn more about Edinburgh’s Housing Emergency and how you can get involved with Cyrenians work to tackle the causes and consequences of homelessness."
Wednesday Adoration, Confession and Stations of the Cross
Draw closer to Christ in Lent! At St. Andrew’s on Wednesdays during Lent, we will have Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions 5:00pm-6:00pm, followed by 6:00pm Mass. After Mass, we will pray the Stations of the Cross. Come and join us, or walk and pray the outdoor Stations of the Cross.
St Andrew’s Fundraising Run/Walk for Parish Project Today!
Join us after the 10:30 am Mass for our Fundraising Run/Walk for the Parish Project, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund. We will walk/run 5 kilometres to the Cathedral and back. Please support this event as we fundraise for SCIAF, or be a sponsor for our runners and walkers! See Fergus Christie for details or email ferguschristie7@gmail.com.
St. Andrew's Talks: Lenten Devotions
What are some good Lenten Devotions to do in this holy season? Come along and find out at our next St. Andrew's Talk on Monday, 31st March with our own Deacon Peter Traynor. Whilst we will already be well into Lent, it is a chance, as we approach Passiontide, to renew these devotions before Easter. The talk will begin after 6:00pm Mass, with a time for discussion and refreshments following the talk.
Lent Stations of the Cross
Join Catholics from across Scotland online each Monday evening in Lent for the national Stations of the Cross. Continues at 7:45pm on Monday 17 March and includes a reflection from Fr Paul Henderson, a priest of our Archdiocese. The event is to pray for the unborn, their mothers and all pro-life intentions. Register at bit.ly/Stations25
Lourdes 2025
The Archdiocesan pilgrimage flight for the summer Lourdes pilgrimage is fully booked but there is still the possibility to take part. Tangney Tours is reviewing options for pilgrims to join the pilgrimage. Please call 01732 886666 and let them know if you'd like to go.
Next Saturday: ‘Catholic Conversations’ for Women
Women 18-45 are invited to ‘Catholic Conversations’ on Saturday 22 March, 3:45pm-4:45pm, at St Andrew’s, Ravelston, Edinburgh, EH4 3DS hosted by the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma. There will refreshments, a video-input, conversation, and a look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The event will be held monthly and the conversation topic for this first event is 'The Mass'. Afterwards, all are also welcome to Holy Hour with Vespers 5:10pm-6:10pm. To register, email edinburgh@almamercy.org.
Spiritual Exercises
Silent retreats following the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola are offered by the Religious Family of the Incarnate Word at the Benedictine Monastery, 5 Mackerston Place, Largs, KA30 8BY. Retreat for Men: 20th-23rd March, Retreat for Women: 2nd-5th May. Suggested donation £120. To register, contact Mother Ostrabrama, SSVM at 07717 793486 or register online at https://bit.ly/SE-Largs2025
Explore the Vocation to the Religious Life
Young Catholic women considering a vocation to the religious life are invited to come along for an evening of prayer, discussion and sharing with others on Sunday, 30 March, from 4:00pm-7:00pm at St Columba's, 9 Upper Gray Street, Edinburgh, EH9 1SN. Retreat from Friday, 4 April – Monday, 7 April. Email Sr. Mirjam Huges, FSO at religiousvocations@staned.org.uk to register or for more details.
Caritas, Justice & Peace Annual Mass
The annual Caritas, Justice & Peace Mass takes place at 7:00pm on Wednesday 2 April at St Margaret’s, East Port, Dunfermline, KY12 7JB. Fr Tom Magill of Motherwell Diocese will preach. All welcome.
Palm Sunday Youth Day
Let your children know about this day of games and inspiring talks hosted by the Archdiocese at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB on Saturday 12 April from 11am-3pm. Includes sessions for primary school pupils (8+) and sessions for high school pupils. Register at bit.ly/youthpalm
Fuel Vouchers for Those on a Pre-Payment Meter
A limited number of fuel vouchers of £40 for those in fuel poverty on a pre-payment meter and struggling to top up are available until the end of March. This service is for anyone in need. Please send your name, address and contact number to support@hope4u.co.uk. Hope4U aims to eradicate poverty and improve financial sustainability, offering a wide range of services including food support. For details contact 0330 320 2140 or visit https://www.hope4u.co.uk/
Grief to Grace Retreat
Grief to Grace is a specialised five-day programme of spiritual and psychological healing for anyone who has suffered from sexual, physical, or emotional abuse or neglect in childhood, adolescence or adulthood, including those abused by a religious/member of the clergy. Please contact Margaret Clarke at margaret.clarke@grieftograceuk.org if you are interested in attending this confidential healing retreat from 29 April to 4 May in Perth. To learn more, visit https://www.grieftograceuk.org/
Coffee Saints: www.coffeesaints.co.uk, 0771 970 5809, hello@coffeesaints.co.uk 8.30am to 4.00pm, 7 days a week
St. Pauls Bookshop www.stpauls.org.uk 0131 510 4260 edinburgh@stpauls.org.uk 10:00am to 5:30pm, 7 days a week