Rite of Enrolment for First Holy Communion
Today at 9am Mass at the Cathedral and 10:30am Mass at Ravelston, we welcome the children who are preparing to receive their First Holy Communion, along with their families, as they are formally enrolled for the sacrament. Please keep them in your prayers.
Rite of Election at Noon Mass Today
His Grace, the Archbishop, will celebrate the Noon today, with the Rite of Election in which he will accept those preparing to be received into the Church at Easter. Please keep them in your prayers!
Main Sacristy Works: 10:00am Weekday Mass Cancelled 10th-19th March
In anticipation of the roof repairs to the Sacristy this summer, we need to remove the asbestos found in several places within the Cathedral complex. Work in the Sacristy will commence tomorrow Monday, 10 March and is scheduled to be completed on Wednesday, 19 March. From Monday, 10 March to Wednesday, 19 March, the 10:00am weekday Mass will be cancelled. The Saturday 10:00am Mass will be as normal. The Main Sacristy and the Sacristy behind the St. Andrew’s Altar will be off-limits to parishioners and volunteers due to the health and safety protocols of the works being done. Mass will still be offered weekdays at 12.45pm with Confessions to follow. Once the St. Andrew's Shrine work begins on the Monday, 17 March through Wednesday, 19 March, Confessions will be held in the Main Sacristy, just as they were during Covid. Thank you for your cooperation and patience.
Lenten Book Club: Faith, Hope & Charity
Thanks to so many who have signed up for our Lenten Book Club! Groups begin meeting this week. Spaces are still available for the group meeting 7pm Thursday Online. Join us for a unique opportunity to grow in our knowledge together as we go deeper in reading about the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity that we receive in our Baptism. We will meet weekly as we read Faith, Hope, & Charity by Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher to the Papal Household. The book is on sale now in St. Pauls Bookshop! To register for the book club, visit: https://bit.ly/LentBook2025 If you would like more information, please email archivist@stmaryscathedral.co.uk.
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, 11th March for a new series of talks on The Teachings of St. Paul, beginning with Sr. Miriam Ruth Ryan, RSM who will speak about “Who was Paul?” 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.
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
Join the Parish Group for the ‘Courage to Be Catholic Conference’
Thank you to all who have signed up to fill our first parish group of 10 to attend the ‘Courage to Be Catholic Conference’ in Glasgow! We are forming a 2nd parish group now – so please do come along with Fr. Jeremy and our parish to this first-of-its-kind event here in Scotland on Saturday, 29th March, with 25 Catholic charities, plus international speakers, laity, clergy and bishops from across Scotland eager to build the Faith. Discounted group rate: £22.50 per person. Tea, coffee and lunch included. For parish group registration contact 0131 556 1798, cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
The event will be held at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 9:30am - 4:00pm and is sponsored by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
Speakers include:
Bishop William Shomali from the Holy Land and Bishop Wilfred Anagbe from Makurdi, Nigeria who will speak about how our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters bravely live out their faith.
Dr Hannah Vaughan-Spruce, Executive Director of Global Mission for Divine Renovation UK and co-author of Why Catholics Leave, What They Miss and How They Might Return, will discuss evangelisation in the modern Church and how we in Scotland can spread the Gospel.
Reverend Father Remigius Ihyula, Head of the Foundation for Justice, Development, and Peace in the Diocese of Makurdi, Nigeria
Caroline Hull, National Director of ACN UK
William More, Aid to the Church in Need Manager of Operations in Scotland
John Pontifex, Head of Press and Public Affairs for ACN UK
Visit exhibitor stalls from all over Scotland, trading stalls, time for socialising and sharing. Mass at 5:00pm at St Aloysius to follow. If you do not want to join the parish group but want individual tickets please register at https://www.trybooking.com/uk/EHSR
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
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
From the Holy Father’s Message for the Jubilee Year of Hope
“Pilgrimage is of course a fundamental element of every Jubilee event. Setting out on a journey is traditionally associated with our human quest for meaning in life. A pilgrimage on foot is a great aid for rediscovering the value of silence, effort and simplicity of life..” (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/
Monthly ‘Catholic Conversations’ for Women
Women ages 18-45 are invited to join Sr. Miriam Ruth, RSM and Sr. Miriam Fidelis, RSM for our ‘Catholic Conversations,’ on Saturday, 22 March, 3:45pm-4:45pm, in the parish rooms at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston EH4 3DS. Join us for teas and coffees, with a short video on a Catholic topic, followed by conversation along with a look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We plan to meet once a month, with a break during the summer months. Our first video will be an introduction by Bishop Robert Barron to the great mysteries we encounter in the Mass. All are invited to join the Sisters for Holy Hour with Adoration and Vespers at 5:10pm. To register, please email edinburgh@almamercy.org.
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!
Today, Sunday, 9th March, we begin our Fundraising Run/Walk for the Parish Project, Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund. Join us after the 10:30 am Mass. The walk/run is 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.
Online Pro-Life Stations of the Cross Begin Tomorrow
Join Catholics from across Scotland online each Monday evening in Lent for the national Stations of the Cross. Begins at 7:45pm tomorrow, Monday 10 March. Register at bit.ly/Stations25
Next Saturday: ‘Rise in Faith, Live in Hope’ Event for High School Pupils
Rise in Faith, Live in Hope' is an event for high school pupils to encourage and inspire our growth in faith. Come along to St Francis Xavier's Church, Falkirk, (a short walk from the Grahamstown train station), 11am-3pm next Saturday 15 March. Includes Mass with Archbishop Cushley. Register at bit.ly/archyouth
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.
Pilgrim Journeys with Ecumenical Organisation
Journeying, an ecumenical Christian organisation, has a 2025 programme of inspiring pilgrim-journeys now available in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Visit https://www.journeying.co.uk for full details
St Moluag’s Coracle Online Scottish Catholic Magazine
St Moluag's Coracle is an online Scottish Catholic magazine that publishes articles on living our faith, philosophy and Scottish Catholic history. We are focused solely on Scotland and what's happening here as well as promoting our local Saints. Free to subscribe, £4.99 a month if you wish to contribute to the running of the magazine. Sign up today for our fortnightly email at https://stmoluagscoracle.substack.com/
Edinburgh Macular Society Group
A support group for those with macular conditions will meet Friday, 28 March, 11:30am-1:30pm at St. Ninian’s Church, 40 Comely Bank, EH4 1AG. Guest speaker Lydia Watson, Patient Support Worker from Visibility Scotland, will share about local support services. We aim to create a space with a balance between sight loss-focused topics and social occasions. Questions? Email iona.mclean@macularsociety.org Addtional support information is available https://www.macularsociety.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