33rd Sunday of the Year - Year C

Sunday Parking Restrictions

The City of Edinburgh Council is proposing to introduce parking restrictions on Sundays from 12.30pm to 6.30pm in 2020. This is going to have a very disruptive effect on all city centre churches. The churches would prefer a later start time - perhaps 1.30pm or 2pm and possibly finishing at 6pm. It is important that the Council receives as many individual letters and emails as possible if it is to re-consider the timings of these restrictions. Objections to the proposal must be made by letter or email by 26 November 2019 quoting notice reference number TRO/19/29. Please take time to write to: City of Edinburgh Council, Traffic Orders, 3.3 Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG or email at trafficorders@edinburgh.gov.uk, find out more here.

No Car Access to the Cathedral for a couple of weeks

Due to the road work that are being undertaken in the area, there will be no car access to the Cathedral until the 1st December. You can still access the Cathedral by foot and LOR will do their best to accommodate blue badge holders during Sunday Masses. Please talk to their representatives on Elder Street for more details.

“Once in a Lifetime…” Parish Pilgrimage to the Holy Land – June 2021

The response for this Pilgrimage has been very positive but numbers are limited. So, if you are interested in coming, it is imperative that you register interest as soon as possible. The Pilgrimage will be 16-27 June 2021. The indicative cost for 11 days is £2,155. We will have a preliminary meeting with the tour operator once we have an idea of numbers interested. There is no commitment until the time to pay a deposit.

Rite of Acceptance – 12 noon Mass this Sunday

Today we welcome the participants in our RCIA program for the Rite of Acceptance. I know you will make them feel very welcome. Please also keep them in your prayers as they continue to learn about our Catholic faith.

Representatives from ‘Aid to the Church in Need’ Visiting us Today

Representatives from the charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will be speaking at all Masses this weekend about “Red Wednesday” on 27th November when buildings across the UK will be lit up in red in solidarity with persecuted Christians throughout the world. ACN Christmas Cards will be on sale after Mass.

God bless you all,

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

Download the newsletter for the 17th November (doc)

Download the newsletter for the 17th November (pdf)

30th Sunday of the Year - Year C

Solemnity of All Saints – This Friday

Please remember that we on Friday will celebrate the Solemnity of All Saints, which is a Holy Day of Obligation – which means that all Catholics are obliged to come to Mass on Friday. There will be Mass in the Cathedral at 8am, 10am (School Mass), 11am (Polish), 12.45pm, 6pm (Polish) and 7.30pm and in Ravelston at 9.30am and 6.15pm (Extraordinary Form)

Welcome to Father Martins!

We are very happy to welcome Fr Martins Enegumba from Nigeria who will be staying with us in the parish for a few months. I know you will make him feel welcome.

Aid to the Church in Need are Coming to the Cathedral in November

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) will be coming to the Cathedral on the weekend of 16/17th November to talk briefly about Red Wednesday when buildings across the UK will be lit up red in solidarity with persecuted Christians throughout the world. ACN Christmas cards will be on sale.

Prayers for the Dead during November

It is a beautiful Catholic tradition to pray for our deceased family members and friends during the month of November. If you would like to have a Mass offered for the repose of their souls, Mass Intention envelopes are available at the back of the church. We will also have a special ‘Book of Remembrance’ which will be placed before the altar. If you’d like your loved ones to be remembered in this way, write down their names on the purple sheets available at the back and hand them in to the sacristy or the parish office.

God bless you all,

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

Download the newsletter for the 27th October (doc)

Download the newsletter for the 27th October (pdf)

29th Sunday of the Year - Year C

Young Adults Group – Tuesday 7pm

This Tuesday, there is no talk but there will instead be an Italian social night. Tickets cost £5 for three courses and a free glass of wine. Please purchase these after Mass this weekend! Talks will resume next week. 

New Parish Youth Group – Starting Next Sunday

We’re putting the finishing touches on plans for our new parish youth group and will be ready to start after the October holidays, on Sunday 27th October at 6pm at Ravelston! Speak to Fr Jamie for more information.  

Quiz Night – 1st November in St Mary’s Cathedral Hall, 7pm-11pm

Together with the Cambodia Project, the Cathedral is raising funds to help support the poorest people of Cambodia by organizing a Quiz Night. So please brush up your general knowledge, message all your family and friends, put a team together (or join up with others) and come along for a fun evening for a worthy cause. Tickets are £10 per adult, including pizza, email Kate on togetherwithcambodia.twc@gmail.com.

Fabric Works in the Cathedral

We are now taking quotes for installing a Fire Detection system in the Cathedral – which we have never had! The kneelers in the St Andrew’s aisle are being repaired and a roof inspection has recently been carried out. Thank you for your generous support in caring for our Cathedral!

God bless you all,

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

Download the newsletter for the 20th October (doc)

Download the newsletter for the 20th October (pdf)

28th Sunday of the Year - Year C

Young Adults Group – Tuesday 7pm

This Tuesday, Fr Patrick will lead the Young Adults’ Group in ‘A Meditation on John 6’, exploring what this key passage of St John’s Gospel can teach us about the Church’s Eucharistic faith. It should be a great night! Don’t forget also that this will be one of the last chances to buy tickets for the Italian Night on 22nd October.

New Parish Youth Group – Sunday 27th October 6pm

We’re putting the finishing touches on plans for our new parish youth group and will be ready to start after the October holidays, on Sunday 27th October at 6pm at Ravelston! Speak to Fr Jamie for more information.

Register Your Child for St Mary’s RC Primary School

If your child will be five years of age before 28th February 2021, he or she is due to start school in August 2020. Parents who wish to enroll their child in St Mary’s RC Primary are asked to attend (if possible) the drop-in enrolment sessions at 9.45am-10.30am on Wednesday the 6th November and Thursday the 7th November. You will need to bring your child’s birth certificate, baptismal certificate, council tax letter/book, a utility bill (gas, electricity, passport) and your passport/work permit/visa if you are not from the EEC. For questions or concerns, please contact the Head Teacher Mrs Nicola Kehoe on 0131 556 7128.

Cathedral Team for Sleep in the Park

To raise more funds to reduce homelessness in Scotland, Social Bite, the Edinburgh-based charity, have organised a Sleep Out in Princes Street Gardens (Sleep in the Park) during the night of Saturday 7th December. The Cathedral is planning to have its own team – please speak to James Walker if you would like to join in or email him at cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk

God bless you all,

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

Download the newsletter for the 13th October (doc)

Download the newsletter for the 13th October (pdf)

27th Sunday of the Year - Year C

New Parish Youth Group – Sunday 27th October 6pm

Calling all P4s-P7s! The long-awaited parish youth group will begin on Sunday 27th October at 6pm at St Andrew’s, Ravelston, and will meet weekly until Christmas. Each evening will involve prayers, a short talk, games, activities, a tuck shop and loads of fun, finishing at 7.30pm. More information and parental consent forms available from Fr Patrick or Fr Jamie. Please encourage your children to take part in this very worthwhile new initiative! 

“Your Marriage is Your Vocation” – Day at Gillis on the Sacrament of Marriage

On Saturday the 26th October there will be an afternoon for married couples at the Gillis Centre from 2-5pm, focusing on the beauty and challenge of marriage and family life in the 21st century. The speakers are Bishop John Wilson of Southwark and Mary Kileen from the Maryvale Institute, who together will lead a day reflecting on Pope Francis’ encyclical Amoris Laetitia. Book your place on Eventbrite or by calling 0131 623 8900.

Barbara Dickson Lunch & Cathedral Wine Tasting

Just a sincere word of thanks to Valerie Ball for organising and to Barbara Dickson for speaking so fascinatingly at the lunch on Monday which was a tremendous success; and to Darlene and the Social Committee for the excellent wine tasting on Friday evening which was not only great fun but also very informative. The next Social event in the Cathedral Calendar will be the Ceilidh – watch this space of details.

God bless you all,

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

Download the newsletter for the 6th October (doc)

Download the newsletter for the 6th October (pdf)

26th Sunday of the Year - Year C

Enrolment Mass for P3 & P4 Children - 9am Mass

This week at the 9am Mass we welcome all the children preparing to receive the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and First Confession, together with their teachers and their families. Please keep them in your prayers as they prepare to take these important next steps in their journey of faith.

Visiting Choir at the 12 noon Mass

Then at the 12noon Mass we welcome the Jugend Kathedral Chor from the Cathedral of Fulda in Germany. The 75-strong (!) youth choir will sing at Mass and then will perform a short concert of choral music immediately after. This concert is free and will last about 20 mins – you are all warmly invited to stay and enjoy the music.

Young Adults Group – Tuesday 7pm

Following on from a very successful opening talk last week, the Young Adults’ Group series of talks on the Eucharist continues this Tuesday with a talk from Canon Luiz Ruscillo. Fr Luiz is a priest of the Diocese of Lancaster. Before he begins a sabbatical in the Holy Land, he will speak to us about how the Eucharist was foreshadowed in the Old Testament. Tea and coffee available from 7pm, with the talk beginning promptly (!) at 7.30pm. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Barbara Dickson Lunch

For those who have purchased tickets for the lunch with Barbara Dickson on Monday the 30th September, please arrive at the New Club (86 Princes Street) at 12.30pm for lunch at 1pm. Men should wear a jacket and tie (and remember - jeans are not permitted!)

God bless you all,

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

Download the newsletter for the 29th September (doc)

Download the newsletter for the 29th September (pdf)

23rd Sunday of the Year - Year C

The Relics of St Therese of Lisieux

We are delighted to welcome the Relics of St Therese of Lisieux to the Cathedral this weekend. The Archbishop will celebrate Pontifical Mass at 12noon today in honor of St. Therese and then he will again preside at Mass on Monday with school children from all over the city before the Relics depart. If you have a special prayer intention why not bring it to St Therese this afternoon when there will be quiet veneration of the relics from 2pm-5.30pm! Souvenirs and books are available to buy in the Octagon after all Masses, and free prayer cards.

P3 Parents’ Meeting - Thursday 12th September at 6.30pm

This Thursday there will be a short but very important Parents’ Meeting for the children preparing to receive First Confession (P3) this year. The Parents’ Meeting for First Holy Communion (P4) will be on Thursday the 26th September. Both start at 6.30pm in the Cathedral Café.

Children’s Catechism Classes at St Andrew’s, Ravelston

The Sunday catechism classes for children in P1-P7 start today in Ravelston. If your child does not attend a Catholic school and you would like them to attend classes to prepare to receive their First Reconciliation or First Holy Communion, please come along to next week’s class at 9.30am, followed by Mass at 10.30am.

God bless you all,

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

Download the newsletter for 8th September 2019 (doc)

Download the newsletter for 8th September 2019 (pdf)

22nd Sunday of the Year - Year C

Relics of St Thérèse – Next Weekend

The Relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux are coming to the Cathedral next weekend. The Archbishop will lead a Holy Hour of prayer, hymns and reflections at 7.30pm on Saturday 7th and will celebrate the Noon Mass on Sunday 8th. Huge crowds gathered in Motherwell diocese over the past few days to welcome the relics to Scotland, it would be great if she got the same reception in Edinburgh!

Diaconate Ordination - Next Saturday

Also on Saturday, the Archbishop will ordain Eddie White and David Edwardson as deacons for the Archdiocese here in the Cathedral on Saturday the 7th September at 12noon. This is an important moment in the lives of these men and their families, and a great sign of hope for the Church. All are welcome to participate in this joyous occasion!

Mary’s Meals Textile Collection – 29th September

Volunteers from Mary’s Meals will be visiting the Cathedral on the weekend of the 28th & 29th September to collect any of your unwanted textiles. Mary’s Meals works to provide a daily meal in school for some of the world’s poorest children, reaching more than 1.5 million children every school day in 18 countries. You can assist them by donating any unwanted clothing (including belts/bags/shoes) or household textiles (including curtains/bedding/soft toys) – but no duvets or pillows! A few bin bags filled with textiles could generate enough funds to feed a child for an entire school year. Please note: The van will collect textiles after the Sunday morning Masses only!

They will also be selling raffle tickets for their Annual Draw after all the Masses that weekend. Tickets cost £1 each. Thanks in advance for your generous support of this excellent charity!

Social Events

Tickets for lunch with Barbara Dickson on 30th September are selling fast. Tickets for the Cathedral’s first wine-tasting night on 4th October will be on sale next weekend. Find out more on the events page.

God bless you all,

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

Download the newsletter for 1st September 2019 (doc)

Download the newsletter for 1st September 2019 (pdf)

21st Sunday of the Year - Year C

Sacramental Preparation for Children

We’re getting ready to begin our preparations for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation (P3) and First Holy Communion (P4). If you’d like your children to receive these Sacraments, please pick up a registration form after Mass. There will be an initial Parents Meeting on Thursday 12th September for P3 parents, and Thursday 26th September for P4 parents. These are short but essential meetings. Both start at 6.30pm in the Cathedral Café. Please put the dates in your diaries and let other parents of the class know if they are not here.

Are you interested in becoming Catholic? Or do you know someone who is?

The Cathedral’s RCIA group meets on a Tuesday evening from September to May. It is for adults who are interested in understanding more about the Catholic faith, with a view to becoming members of the Church. Those who attend have an opportunity to explore the Catholic faith with others and to meet and talk to Catholics about their beliefs. The group helps give an understanding of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity and the teaching of the Church. It’s a very supportive place for people to come together on a faith journey. Starting on 24th September, the group meets every Tuesday evening from 7.00-8.30pm.  Call the Cathedral Office for more details or to register interest.

Save the Date!

Our ever-innovative Social Committee have organized a Cathedral Wine Tasting!! The evening, on Friday 4th October, will be hosted by Lewis Renton of L’Art du Vin. The theme will be “A Tour of France: All you have ever wanted to know about French wine but were afraid to ask!” Tickets will be £20, limited to 40 people and go on sale the weekend of the 13th September.

God bless you all,

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

Download the newsletter for 25th August 2019 (doc)

Download the newsletter for 25th August 2019 (pdf)

20th Sunday of the Year - Year C

Festival Mass Today

Today at the 12 noon Mass we welcome Cardinal Nichols, the Lord Provost and members of the City Council and Diplomatic Corps, as well as James MacMillan – the renowned composer. We are also delighted that The Sixteen will be singing at this Mass. I know you will make them very welcome.

Disabled Parking

We are currently in discussion with the Council about the provision of Disabled Parking for Mass goers. If you have a disabled badge and you use your car to come to Mass, it is imperative that you fill out one of the forms at the back of the Church and return it to the Cathedral Office as soon as possible.

Catholic Voting Rights on the Education Committee

This Thursday the City of Edinburgh Council will vote on the Green Party motion to remove the right to vote from the Church Representative on the Education Committee. The Church will be making a special deputation before the Council asking them to vote against this motion. There will also be a small peaceful demonstration outside the Council Chamber. If you would like to join this demonstration, please contact Prof. Tom Gallagher at T.G.Gallagher@bradford.ac.uk

God bless you all,

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

Download the newsletter for 18th August 2019 (doc)

Download the newsletter for 18th August 2019 (pdf)