Third Sunday of Advent - Year A
Cathedral Building Fund Appeal
We’ve now raised over £375,000 for our Building Fund Appeal! With the Fund’s current project of the Cathedral’s essential roof works now well underway, we are incredibly grateful to you all for your support! So many of you have also elected to Gift Aid your donations, which allows us to claim a further amount for the Fund. Thank you all.
Donations are gratefully received at any time and can be made:by cash/cheque sent to the Parish Office (61 York Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3JD). Cheques should be made payable to ‘St Mary’s Cathedral’
Do Gift Aid it if you are a UK taxpayer. Blue Building Fund envelopes are available at the back of the church if you wish to Gift Aid your cash or cheque donation. Thank you!
Leave a Legacy That Speaks of Your Faith
Have you ever thought about leaving a legacy for the Cathedral Parish? Perhaps a lasting legacy by contributing to a particular project, such as the Cathedral roof repairs, for example, or simply to be put towards wherever the need is greatest. Legacies can benefit the parish in so many ways, helping our churches to continue being a home of prayer and worship for future generations. Leaving a legacy can be arranged quickly and easily, it does not have to involve a lot of paperwork. The leaflet available at the back of the churches provides more details and if you would like to explore this further, please contact our Finance officer, Caroline Reid, in the first instance at: finance@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Motherwell Cathedral Junior Choir at the 12 Noon Mass
Today, Sunday 14 December, we welcome the junior choir from Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral in the Diocese of Motherwell. The children will join the Schola Cantorum to sing at the 12 noon Mass, with music including Mass of St Joseph by Daniel Justin, and Anima Christi by Marco Frisina.
Rorate Masses at the Cathedral and St. Andrew’s, Ravelston
Our beautiful Rorate Masses are celebrated during Advent, with the Mass is only lit by candles, representing Mary's role in bringing the Light of the World into the darkness of the world. Please join us!
Cathedral: 7:00pm Thursday 18th December and 7:00pm, Monday 22nd December; St. Andrew’s, Ravelston: 6:00pm, Monday 15th December.
Confessions During Advent
Going to Confession is a wonderful way to prepare for Christmas. Make time to receive the Lord’s healing and forgiveness this Advent. Priests will be available for Confession at the Cathedral at regular Confession times: Saturday, 10:30am-12:00pm and 5pm-6pm. During the weekdays Monday 22 December, Tuesday 23 December and Wednesday, 24 December Confession will be available at approximately 1:15pm, following the 12:45pm Mass. At St. Andrew’s, Ravelston, a priest will be available for Confession on Wednesday, 17 December from 5:00pm-5:45pm during Eucharistic Adoration.
Christmas Mass Times
The Mass Schedule over the Christmas period is now available on the website, Facebook page, the poster in the Octagon and below.
Christmas Eve, 24th December
5.30pm for Carol Service followed by Vigil Mass – St Andrew’s Ravelston
6:00pm Vigil – St Mary’s Cathedral
9:00pm – Polish Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral
11.15pm for Carol Service and readings, followed by Midnight Mass
Christmas Day, 25th December
10:00am Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral and St Andrew’s, Ravelston
12 Noon – Polish Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral
6:00pm – Polish Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral
Mass times will be as normal over the weekend of 27/28 December
New Year’s Day, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, 1st January
9.30am Polish Mass – St Mary’s Cathedral
11:00am Mass – St Mary’s Cathedral and St Andrew’s, Ravelston
6:00pm Polish Mass – St Mary’s Cathedral
No 6:00pm Mass at Ravelston 29 December-2 January
Please note there will be no 6:00pm Mass at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston during the week of Monday, 29 December to Friday, 2 January. The 6:00pm Mass will resume on Monday, 5 January, and Sunday Mass on 4 January will be as normal at 10:30am.
Volunteers Required for Christmas and New Year Masses
If you are a current registered volunteer and would like to assist with the Christmas or New Year Masses, please let us know about your availability. If you can help with any of the following Ministries – Reading, EMHC, Passkeeping, Welcoming, or Money collecting, please sign up on the sheets at the passkeepers’ table or contact Elizabeth Andrews at Elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com – telephone 0131 553 1510.
2026 Parish Diaries on Sale
Our 2026 Parish Diaries have arrived – and every month starts with a photo of the Cathedral or St. Andrew’s Church. Sales of the diaries will be after all Masses for this weekend and next weekend for only £10. A great gift for Christmas for all those who you hold dear. Each two-page spread holds entries for the week. Get them while they last!
Ravelston: Bacon Roll Morning and Youth Group Christmas Ornament Sales
Today after Mass at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston, bacon rolls will be on sale with donations going to The Grassmarket Project to feed the homeless and vulnerable at Christmas. Please come to support this worthy and needy cause. Also, Youth Group Christmas ornaments will be on sale with proceeds going towards the Youth Group. Thank you in advance for your generosity!
St Andrew’s Talks 2026 — Ask Your Questions About the Faith!
The new series of St Andrew’s Talks will begin on Monday 26th January and for this series, we’d like to give you the opportunity to ask some questions in the Faith. If you have any burning questions that you’d like to explore in more detail then please complete anonymously a slip that you’ll find at the back of St Andrew’s, Ravelston and the Cathedral and pop it in the box. You have until the end of Advent to enter those questions. The new series of talks will be announced at the start of January.
Thank you: Charity Advent Tea
A big thank-you to all who attended the Charity Advent Tea on 6th December and made it such a friendly and enjoyable occasion - and a particular thank you to those, who kindly offered to bake all those delicious cakes and mince pies etc., and who helped with the setting up and the tidying up. It was a lovely event, and the money that was paid for the tickets, will now be passed onto the three charities that were introduced during the afternoon: the Bethany Trust, the Rock Trust and Shelter. If you missed the event and would like to learn about these charities, please email Louise at louise_e_gardiner@hotmail.com.
First Holy Communion and Confirmation Registration
Registration is open for catechism classes for children to receive the Sacraments of First Holy Communion (P4) and Confirmation (P7). Catechetical preparation is at St Mary’s Primary School and on Sundays at 9:30am at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston beginning in March for First Holy Communion and Confirmation. First Holy Communion: https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/first-communion; Confirmation: https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/confirmation. Questions: frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk. Those attending St Mary’s Primary School will do their sacramental preparation through the school and information will come from St Mary’s separately.
Kathedral Knits on Sale: All Proceeds Support Cathedral
Joanna Kopystynska’s beautiful, knitted goods for Christmas will be on sale at the Cathedral today and next Sunday, 21st December. The items are also available at www.kathedralknits.etsy.com. All proceeds go to support the parish!
Coffee Saints Parishioner Discount Card
Did you know that our very popular Coffee Saints café offers a Cathedral/St. Andrew's parishioner discount of 10%? If you already have a Parishioner Discount Card, please note that starting on 1st January 2026, a new card will be required to continue to receive these benefits. You may start receiving your discount by letting the staff know at the time of checkout that you need to replace your current card or that you would like to have a Parishioner Discount Card. Please note that if you use their Coffee Loyalty scheme you cannot do so while using the Parishioner Discount Card. Thank you for supporting Coffee Saints!
St Pauls Bookshop – Christmas Crib Sets, Cards and More!
St Pauls Bookshop has a beautiful selection of Christmas crib sets, gifts, Christmas cards, Bibles, spiritual books for children and adults, and crucifixes, statues of Jesus, Mary and the saints, icons, rosaries, medals and holy cards that would make lovely Christmas gifts for your family and friends! The shop is open 10:00am to 5:30pm, Tuesday-Sunday, closed Mondays. Contact edinburgh@stpauls.org.uk, 0131 510 4260.