Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Parish Ceilidh – Saturday 17th November

After the success of last year’s Parish Ceilidh, the social committee have organized another Ceilidh on 17th November. Tickets, priced £10 single or £20 families, including two drinks and finger food, will go on sale next week after all Masses. It’s a great evening and very popular. Do come along!

Church Cleaning Volunteers

As we hope you’ve noticed, our four cleaning groups have been meeting every week for the past year. Although they have made a big difference, we are seeking to recruit more volunteers. The groups meet on: Monday: 9am–11am; Wednesday: 2pm–4pm; Friday: 10am–12noon; Saturday: 10.30am – 2.30pm. Can you help at any of these sessions? Even if you cannot attend every week or stay the full two hours, helping once or twice per month would be greatly appreciated. If you would like to join one of the groups, or find out more, please contact cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk

Justice and Peace Group – Josh Littlejohn Talk

On Monday 19th November at 7.30pm in the Cathedral Café, Josh Littlejohn MBE will talk on the subject of Homelessness. Josh, who is the co-founder of Social Bite, organized the world’s biggest sleep-out event in 2017, Sleep In The Park, which raised £4m to reduce homelessness. We are going to have a St Mary's Cathedral Team in this year's Sleep In The Park so come and learn what it's all about.

God bless you all,

Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie, Deacon Peter and Sister Mary Simone. 

Read the newsletter for Sunday 21st of October (.doc)

Read the newsletter for Sunday 21st of October (.pdf)

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

New Cathedral Choir for the 9:00am Sunday Mass

Michael Ferguson, our Musical Director, with the backing of the Parish Council has decided to launch a  new mixed-ability Cathedral Choir and he needs your help! Starting on Sunday 4th November, our new choir will sing weekly at the 9am Sunday Mass. Rehearsals will take place weekly on Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm. Come along and sing a wide range of liturgical music. Prior choir experience and music reading abilities are helpful, but not necessary! First meeting: Wednesday 31st October, 7-9pm in the Cathedral. Contact Michael, our Director of Music, for more information: DirectorOfMusic@stmaryscathedral.co.uk.

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion – 22nd November

There will be an important meeting for all Communion Ministers on Thursday 22nd of November at 7.30pm in the Cathedral Café. This evening will offer spiritual formation and practical training for all those taking part in this important work. If you’re unable to attend, please speak to Fr Patrick or Fr Jamie. Likewise, if you know anyone who is unable to get to Mass and would like to receive Communion at home, please fill in a referral sheet available at the back of the church.

Preparing for the Year of Saint Luke

With the start of a new liturgical year upon the first Sunday of Advent we will embark upon Lectionary Cycle C and the Gospel of Saint Luke. To prepare ourselves, there will be a seminar day on the Gospel of Saint Luke on Saturday 17 November at the Gillis Centre from 11am to 3.30pm. The day will consist of a presentation on Saint Luke by Father Andrew Garden as well as directed prayer and a presentation on public reading. The event is open to both clergy and the lay faithful, especially those who are lectors or catechists. Those attending should bring a packed lunch. Please contact Father Daniel Doherty VE at VECatechetics@staned.org.uk to book a place or for more information.

God bless you all,

Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie, Deacon Peter and Sister Mary Simone. 

Read the newsletter for Sunday 14th of October (.doc)

Read the newsletter for Sunday 14th of October (.pdf)

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

October Devotions – This Evening at 5pm

This afternoon is the first in a series of Rosary Holy Hours for the month of October, from 5pm until 6pm at St Andrew’s, Ravelston. There will a time of quiet prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, followed by a guided meditation on the Joyful mysteries of the Rosary and concluding with Benediction at 6pm. If you find the Rosary difficult or haven’t prayed it in a long time, this could be a great opportunity to give it another try!

 Young Adults’ Group – This Tuesday at 7pm

The next talk in our series on the Creed will be this Tuesday 9th of October in the Cathedral Café at 7pm. Fr David Howell, a recently ordained priest from the Archdiocese of Southwark, will give a talk on the Incarnation titled ‘I Believe in Jesus Christ, Born of the Virgin Mary,’ followed by Night Prayer and the pub. All young adults, 18-35, very welcome.

Aged & Infirm Clergy Fund – Special Collection Today

The Aged and Infirm Clergy Fund (‘AICF’) of the Archdiocese provides support for all of our retired priests with one of the main sources of income for the fund being the amounts received from the Special Collections.  Please remember to pray for those priests who have served us well and be as generous as you can. Gift Aid envelopes are already available at the back of the church. If you are a UK taxpayer, please consider gift aiding your donation by filling in the form on the back of one of these envelopes and using it when putting your donation into the collection basket.  Please note that gift aid relief can only be claimed if the back of the envelope has been completed.  As you know, using the gift aid envelopes in this way will uplift the amount that you give by a further 25% at no additional cost to you. For those of you using weekly envelopes, you may alternatively use the envelope in your set marked for the Aged and Infirm Clergy Fund to ensure that gift aid can be claimed on your donation. Thank you for your support.

God bless you all,

Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie, Deacon Peter and Sister Mary Simone. 

Read the newsletter for Sunday 7th of October (.doc)

Read the newsletter for Sunday 7th of October (.pdf)

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

“The Role of the Laity in the Church Today”: Conference

The Archdiocese has organised a special day conference on this important theme on Saturday 6th October at St. Thomas of Aquin’s School. It will begin at 11am and finish at 4pm and the guest speaker is Prof. Helen Alvare who is coming from the USA specially for this event. There has been a huge response to this event but there are still a few places available. If you would like to attend, please contact 0131 623 8902 or email archsecretary@staned.org.uk.

The Role of Women in the Church: Lunchtime Conversation with Helen Alvaré

Helen Alvaré will also lead a lunchtime conversation in the Cathedral Café on Friday 5th October, following the 12:45pm Mass, on the role of women in the Church. A light lunch will be provided, for which donations are gratefully received. Please register interest by calling 0131 623 8900 or emailing Curia.Admin@staned.org.uk.

October: Rosary Holy Hours

The month of October is traditionally dedicated to the prayer of the Rosary, an ancient and beautiful way of meditating on the life of Jesus in the company of Mary, his Mother. Every Sunday evening in October at St Andrew’s, Ravelston, from 5pm until 6pm there will be adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, accompanied by a short meditation and the prayer of the Rosary, concluding with Benediction. Let’s take advantage of this great opportunity to come closer to Jesus, with the help of his Mother! 

God bless you all,

Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie, Deacon Peter and Sister Mary Simone. 

Read the newsletter for Sunday 23rd of September (.doc)

Read the newsletter for Sunday 23rd of September (.pdf)

Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Welcome to Fr. Emmanuel Ojeifo

This week Fr. Emmanuel, a priest of the Archdiocese of Abuja in Nigeria, arrived to begin studies at New College, Edinburgh. Fr. Emmanuel will not have any pastoral duties in the parish but he will be helping us out with weekday masses and confessions. I know that you will make him very welcome.

Today is Doughnut Sunday!

Today, after all the morning Masses (9, 10.30am and 12noon), there will be teas, coffees and delicious doughnuts available in the Café. We have invested in a new coffee making machine and so the coffee will be good, and we have entered a deal with a local baker, so the doughnuts will be good too! The cost will be £2 for coffee or tea or soft drinks and a doughnut, or £1 for just tea or coffee.

The Red Mass – Next Sunday at 12 noon.

Just a reminder that next Sunday, 23rd September, at the 12noon Mass we will welcome members of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession to a special Mass celebrated by the Archbishop.

God bless you all,

Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie, Deacon Peter and Sister Mary Simone. 

Read the newsletter for Sunday 16th of September (.doc)

Read the newsletter for Sunday 16th of September (.pdf)

Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Fr. Nick's Farewell – 21st September

Fr. Nick’s Farewell “Do” will be on Friday, September 21 at 7pm in the Cathedral Hall. Tickets are on sale after all Masses. As a way of expressing our gratitude for his time here there will be a collection at the end of Mass today and next Sunday for a presentation to be made to Fr. Nick at that event.

Next Sunday is Doughnut Sunday!

Next Sunday, after all the morning Masses (9, 10.30am and 12noon), there will be teas, coffees and delicious doughnuts available in the Café. We have invested in a new coffee making machine and so the coffee will be good, and we have entered a deal with a local baker, so the doughnuts will be good too! The cost will be £2 for coffee or tea or soft drinks and a doughnut, or £1 for just tea or coffee.

October: Rosary Holy Hours

The month of October is traditionally dedicated to the prayer of the Rosary, an ancient and beautiful way of meditating on the life of Jesus in the company of Mary, his Mother. Every Sunday evening in October at St Andrew’s, Ravelston, from 5pm until 6pm there will be adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, accompanied by a short meditation and the prayer of the Rosary, concluding with Benediction. There will also be an opportunity to go to confession to a visiting priest. Let’s take advantage of this great opportunity to come closer to Jesus, with the help of his Mother! 

God bless you all,

Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie, Deacon Peter and Sister Mary Simone. 

Read the newsletter for Sunday 9th of September (.doc)

Read the newsletter for Sunday 9th of September (.pdf)

Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Bishop Barron’s talk at Usher Hall

We’re getting very excited to welcome the world-famous author, preacher, and theologian, Bishop Robert Barron to the Archdiocese this Thursday 6 September. Bishop Barron will give a talk entitled ‘Proclaiming Christ in Our Culture’ at the Usher Hall at 7:30pm. These tickets are now completely sold out but still in high demand: if you have tickets but are now unable to attend, please hand them into the Cathedral Office so that they can be redistributed.

“Meeting Jesus in the Scriptures” – Monday 10th of September

On Monday 10th September Fr Andrew Garden will give a talk at St Andrew’s, Ravelston on the title: “Meeting Jesus in the Scriptures”. This will be the first of four talks on how to get more from the readings at Sunday Mass. Fr Andrew is an excellent speaker and an expert in Biblical Theology. Talk begins at 7pm, 77 Belford Road, EH4 3DS. Delicious soup, cakes, teas and coffee provided too: nourishment for mind, body and soul!

SVDP Mass for the Sick

On Saturday 8 September at 12:00 noon, the St Vincent de Paul Society have organized a Mass for the sick and housebound of our parish. During the Mass, there will be a special celebration of the Sacrament of the Sick, followed by lunch in the Cathedral Café. Thanks to the SVDP for all the wonderful work they do. To volunteer, please contact cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk.      

God bless you all,

Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie, Deacon Peter and Sister Mary Simone. 

Read the newsletter for Sunday 2nd of September (.doc)

Read the newsletter for Sunday 2nd of September (.pdf)

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Would you like to become Catholic?

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) will begin at the Cathedral on 18th September. The group meets every Tuesday from 7.00pm to 8:30pm to learn about the teachings of the Church and to deepen our faith through Biblical studies and prayer. If you would like to sign up or just to receive more information about RCIA, please contact Christine Burns via the Parish Office on cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk. 

 

2018 Annual Pilgrimage for the Beatification of Venerable Margaret Sinclair

The 2018 Annual Pilgrimage for the Beatification of the Venerable Margaret Sinclair will take place on Sunday 9 September from 2.00 to 6.00pm at St Patrick’s Church, Cowgate, Edinburgh. 2pm – Opening; 3 pm – Film: The Story of Margaret Sinclair, Servant of God; 4.30 pm – Holy Mass.

 

Message from Fr. Binu

My dear friends thank you very much for your support and prayers for me last one year. It was a great year for me to come to Edinburgh to study and I feel privileged to have minister here at the Cathedral and Ravelston. I thank you all, and in very special way Msgr. Patrick Burke, for your fraternal love and care. Many of you asked me to give you may contact details: binupal@gmail.com. Once again thank you all and please keep me in your valuable prayers. Fr. Binu Palakapally IC.

God bless you all,

Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie, Deacon Peter and Sister Mary Simone. 

Read the newsletter for Sunday 19th of August (.doc)

Read the newsletter for Sunday 19th of August (.pdf)

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B

Solemnity of the Assumption

This Wednesday is the feast of the Assumption. It is a holyday of obligation – which means that all Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Wednesday. To celebrate this Solemnity and also our Patronal Feast there will be a special Organ Recital “In Praise of Mary” with our new organist Simon Leach immediately after the evening Mass at 7.45pm. The Recital will last 30 minutes and will be followed by a Champagne (!) reception in the Cathedral Hall. Please come along to celebrate with your fellow parishioners and also to meet Simon.

Day for Children’s Liturgy Leaders – 15th September

In order to improve and enrich our Children’s Liturgy across the Archdiocese and in order to share good practice, the Catechetics Commission has organized a Day for Children’s Liturgy Leaders on the 15th of September 2018, at the Gillis Centre (110 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB) from 11am – 3pm. If you would like to attend, please email childrensliturgyday@gmail.com and reserve a place.

Farewell to Fr Binu

Finally, today we have to – very sadly – say good bye to Fr. Binu. It is difficult to believe that he has been with us for a whole year and we will very much miss him. I would like to thank him for all he has done here in the parish over the last 12 months and also for being such a good companion. We wish him well as he moves to his new appointment in India. We hope he takes happy memories of Edinburgh with him and we assure him of our prayers and of a warm welcome here in the parish whenever he should return.

God bless you all,

Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie, Sister Mary Simone and Deacon Peter.

Read the newsletter for Sunday 12th of August (.doc)

Read the newsletter for Sunday 12th of August (.pdf)

Eighteenth Sunday of the Year - Year B

Dates for your Diaries

Just to note that, in addition to our Patronal Feast day (the Assumption of Our Lady) on 15th August, on Friday 17th August there will be a Chapter Mass in the Cathedral at 12.45pm and on Sunday 19th August we have our Festival Mass at 12noon with the Lord Provost, City Counsellors and members of the Diplomatic Corps.

Cathedral Football Team

Following on from our most successful season finishing 3rd in the league with a record points total and a cup semi-final, we are once again looking for new players. We usually train on Wednesday evenings and our games are played on Saturday morning usually with a 10am kick off. Please contact cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk if you'd like to join the team or if you would be interested in sponsoring the team, for which we would be very grateful.

God bless you all,

Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie and Deacon Peter.

Read the newsletter for Sunday 5th of August (.doc)

Read the newsletter for Sunday 5th of August (.pdf)