Study of the St. John Passion
As I was telling you a couple of weeks ago – I have been doing some work on St. John’s version of the Passion of Christ and – because I have been so taken aback by what I found when looking at it a bit more deeply – felt moved to share this with you!!
So, I am inviting you to join me at 6pm on Palm Sunday on Zoom for a deeper look at St. John’s Passion (the one we read on Good Friday). I hope it will be a good way to enter into Holy Week and it would be lovely to see you there. Watch at home by registering at bit.ly/passionevent2024.
Or if you would like to come along and watch the presentation live in the Parish Rooms at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston, please email cathedralhouse@stmarycathedral.co.uk by Friday, 22 March. Fr. Pat
Buy a Bouquets of Roses to Support Cathedral!!
(Wonderful) Anne McAuley is selling beautiful rose bouquets after all Masses this weekend to support the Cathedral Roof Appeal. Why not surprise someone who you love with a gift of roses today?!
Holy Week Volunteers Needed! Please Sign Up at the Back of Church
If you are a Passkeeper, Reader or Money Collector and attending any of the Masses during Holy Week, including the Easter Vigil, please sign up on the sheets at the back of the Cathedral if you are willing to help in any of these ministries. Alternatively, e-mail: Elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com
Holy Week and Easter at the Cathedral
Sunday 24 March: Palm Sunday
6.00pm (Vigil Mass on Saturday)
9.00am, 12 Noon and 7.30pm
Polish: 10.30am and 6.00pm
Tuesday 26 March: Chrism Mass
9.00am (Polish)
10.00am & 12.45pm
No 6 pm Mass
7.00pm: Chrism Mass
The Sacred Triduum
Thursday 28 March: Maundy Thursday
No 6 pm Mass
7.00pm: Mass of the Lord’s Supper
followed by watching at the Altar of Repose and Night Prayer at 11.00pm
Friday 29 March: Good Friday
3.00pm: Passion Liturgy
5.00pm: Passion Liturgy (Polish)
7.00pm: Stations of the Cross
Saturday 30 March: Holy Saturday
Polish Food Blessing: 12Noon, 3.00pm and 5.00pm
Easter Vigil
7.00pm: Easter Vigil Mass (Saturday)
Easter Sunday
9.00am, 12 Noon and 7.30pm
Polish: 10.30am and 6:00pm
Confessions during Holy Week at the cathedral:
Monday to Wednesday from 1.15pm onwards
Between 5.00pm and 6.00 pm (Polish)
Holy Thursday from 1.15pm onwards
Following the Passion Liturgy on Good Friday to 7.00pm
Holy Saturday morning from 10.00am-12 Noon
Please note: There will be no afternoon or evening Confessions on Holy Saturday 30 March.
Friday Eucharistic Adoration and Stations of the Cross
Every Friday morning 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.
Sacrament of Confession in Lent
Please take the time in Lent to go to Confession to help you prepare for Easter. Remember that it is a Precept of the Church that all Catholics should go to Confession at least once a year, at Easter or thereabouts. Priests are available to hear confessions Monday-Friday after the 12:45pm Mass and Saturdays 10:30am-12Noon and 5:00-5:45pm.
Easter Postcards: Invite Others to Good Friday and Easter
At this most important time of the church year, we can all do more to reach out to people who have perhaps, for one reason or another, stopped coming to Mass and to invite them to return. Take some Easter postcards at the back of church to share with family, neighbours, coworkers!
Last Parish Youth Group (P3-P7) on sunday Until After Easter
The Youth Group will meet tonight Sunday 17th March, at St Andrew’s, Ravelston –our last meeting before the Easter break and then will resume on Sunday, 21st April. All P3-7's are welcome to join the group which meets 6:00pm-7:30pm in the parish rooms. Come along to learn about the faith, play games and meet new friends! There is a one off £1 registration fee for the year.
Friendship Group: Coffee Afternoon
The Friendship Group Coffee Afternoon is on Tuesday 19th March at 2:00pm-3:30pm in Coffee Saints. Open to all over 60. Please come along and join us!
Catholic Men’s Group Meeting on Wednesday
The Catenian Association invites all Catholic men, married or single, to join them at its next regular meeting this Wednesday, 20th March, at 7.00 p.m. in 63 York Place. Why not come along for a friendly chat over a coffee and meet us. For more information contact John Russell at 01555 728032 or membership@thecatenians.com
2024/25 Gift Aid Envelopes Available Next Weekend
With the new tax year 2024/25 just around the corner, we will shortly be allocating weekly gift aid envelope sets to all current users. These will be available for collection at the back of the church from next weekend (23rd March 2024). As you know, one-off gift aid envelopes are available for visitors to the Cathedral, but if you use these on a more regular basis (ie: more than a couple of times a year), please contact our Finance Officer, Caroline Reid, at finance@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
She will be able to help you register for gift aid and allocate you your own personal set of gift aid envelopes to use whenever you visit. This will not only ensure we are able to include your donations in our gift aid rebate claim, but will also save you from having to complete the back of the envelope each time you give!
Marriage Preparation Courses
Our next Marriage Preparation courses will be on the following Saturdays: 1st June, 24th August and 23rd November. The courses are at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston, 10am-5pm, with presentations by married couples from the parish. Please email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk to register.
Easter Knitted Goods to Support the Parish on Sale
Easter-themed knitted gift items are on sale today at St. Andrew’s. All the profits from sales are generously donated to the parish by Joanna Kopystynska. Knitted items are also available online at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/KathedralKnits Support the parish and give a lovely Easter gift!
Holy Week and Easter at Ravelston
Palm Sunday, 24 March
10:30am
Tuesday, 26 March
No 6pm Mass
Holy Thursday, 28 March
No 6pm Mass
Good Friday, 29 March
3pm Passion Liturgy
Easter Sunday, 31 March
10:30am
Confessions During Holy Week:
Monday-Wednesday from 5.00pm
Wednesday Adoration, Confession and Stations of the Cross
Every Wednesday we have Eucharistic Adoration and Confessions 5:00pm-6:00pm, followed by 6:00pm Mass. Immediately after Mass, we will pray the Stations of the Cross 6:30pm-7:00pm. Come and join us!
Fundraising Run (or walk!) Sundays in Lent
At 11:30am today we will have our 4th fundraising run/walk from St. Andrew’s, Ravelston to St. Mary’s Cathedral and return (approx. 5 km). To sponsor us, please take a form at back of Church to enable us to claim Gift Aid, then give your form and money to Fergus or Caroline. Or you can pay direct to St Andrews Church – account number 10402444 – sort 83-06-08 (ref SUNDAY RUN).
St. John’s Passion – 6pm on Palm Sunday
The Alma Mercy Sisters invite anyone who finds technology difficult (!) or who would just like to watch with other parishioners – to join them in the parish rooms at 6pm on Palm Sunday evening to watch the presentation on St. John’s Passion. If you would like to come along, please email cathedralhouse@stmarycathedral.co.uk by Friday, 22 March. Or you can watch at home by registering at bit.ly/passionevent2024
Ravelston Fabric Update
The necessary fire exit signage improvements are underway. There will be CCTV installed on the Ravelston site over the next week or so to provide additional protection for our priests, parishioners and property (and bring us into line with Cathedral security!). Work on the parish rooms refurbishment is in early stages - outline quotes are being gathered to inform the fundraising target and approval process. Effort will be made to declutter the parish garage and rooms in the near future - required in advance of refurbishing the main rooms. That said, refurbishment of the toilets is likely to be the first phase. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding!
Save the Dates: St. Andrew's Talks in April and May
The St Andrew’s Talks will return at the end of April. Darlene Newman will speak on 29th April about how liturgical reforms over the years have led to changes in church architecture -- for good or bad! The final talk in this year’s series will be on the 6th May when Anne-Marie Clements will join us for the delayed talk on the work of the Justice and Peace commission in Scotland. All talks start at 6.45pm with refreshments available afterwards.
Job Vacancy: Chief Operating Officer
The Catholic Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh is seeking to appoint a Chief Operating Officer (COO). Reporting to a Board of Trustees, the COO is responsible for the overall leadership and line management of support services teams. An empathy for the work of the Catholic Church in Scotland is crucial. The role is based at the Archdiocesan Offices, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh. Applicants should submit a CV with a covering letter outlining their interest in and suitability for the role to recruitment@staned.org.uk. Enquiries can also be emailed to recruitment@staned.org.uk. Closing date: 5:00pm, Friday 22 March 2024. Details at https://archedinburgh.org/vacancy-chief-operating-officer/
Meeting on sunday for Women Discerning a Call to Religious Life
What is God’s will for you? Could it be the religious life? This evening, 17th March, women are invited to meet other women who are discerning God’s call to religious life. Led by Sr Mirjam Hugens FSO, Director for Religious Vocations, the meeting takes place 4-7pm at St Columba’s, 9 Upper Gray Street. Refreshments served. To register, email religiousvocations@staned.org.uk
An Evening with Martha Hennessy, Granddaughter of Dorothy Day
Martha Hennessy, the granddaughter of Dorothy Day, the iconic 20th century Christian Activist in the fields of social justice, workers' rights and non-violence, will speak at an event on Friday, 22 March, 6:00pm-7:30pm at Christ Church (Scottish Episcopal Church), 6a Morningside Road, Edinburgh EH10 4DD. Martha will speak on ‘Speaking Truth to Power: Dorothy Day - Christian Activist’. Martha’s sister and published author Kate Hennessy will also be present. Admission is free. Please register online at https://bit.ly/48NIIww
Tickets Available for 20th April Order of Malta Charity Ball
All parishioners are invited to support the Order of Malta, one of the church's oldest, global charities, as it raises funds for projects in Ukraine and across Scotland. Details about a fund raising Ball in April are at: https://www.orderofmaltascotlandball.co.uk/
Funding Support to Study Theology
Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) funding is available from April for all Scottish students taking the MA in Applied Catholic Theology course 2024/25 offered by St Mary’s University, Twickenham in partnership with the Archdiocese at the Gillis Centre in Edinburgh. To register/enquire visit https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/applied-catholic-theology A webinar will be hosted by the Archdiocese on Wednesday 29 May (6-7pm) for prospective students. Details to follow shortly.
Be a Mentor: Help People Search for Employment and Education
Would you like to help people in their search for employment, education, and personal development? Are you able to use online communication tools (e.g. WhatsApp, Skype, Zoom) and can commit 2 hours per week up to 6 months? Volunteer with LINKNet to be a mentor! LINKNET is a mentoring organisation serving minority ethnic individuals including refugees and asylum seekers. Contact LINKnet Mentoring at linknet2@linknetmentoring.com or 0131 261 4463.