Thank You from Archbishop Cushley
Dear friends, I was very touched by your presence and prayers last Sunday as I celebrated my 40 years of priesthood with you. A particular word of thanks to Michael and Tom and our wonderful choir. You were all superb as always. The flowers beautified the cathedral, and my family and friends were warmly welcomed by you all. Finally, let me thank all of you who left many cards and gifts for me. It was very thoughtful, and I am very grateful for your graciousness and generosity. Thank you and God bless you! +Leo
Cathedral Building Fund Appeal
We’ve now raised £240,000 which is amazing! Thank you! Can you help us to reach our target of £500,000 for this round of works to the sacristy and chancel roofs and adjacent stonework?
Summer Second Collections – On weekends during the summer we will be taking a second collection for the building fund. The dates are 2/3 August and 16/17 August. There will be some Building Fund envelopes for you to use if can Gift Aid your donation; pick these up at the back of the church.
• by cash/cheque sent to the Parish Office (61 York Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3JD).
Do please remember to Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer.
Gift Aid envelopes for the Building Fund are available at the back of the Church.
Match funding in July and August
We are so grateful to an extremely generous benefactor who has offered to match all money raised for the Cathedral roof in July and August up to £50,000. So do please give as generously as you can to the Summer Appeal and double your money, thank you!
Young Adults: Lectio Divina on the Gospel for Solemnity of the Assumption
Young Adults aged 18+ are welcome to join us for a Lectio Divina on Luke 1:39:56, the Gospel for the Mass of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which we will celebrate on Friday, 15th August. Join us Monday, 11th August as we prepare for this great feast of Our Lady with a prayerful reading of the Gospel passage and take some time to reflect together on the Scripture reading. Doors open at 63 York Place at 7:00pm, with a trip to pub thereafter.
St. Andrew’s Talks: ‘Faith in a Changing World’
A new series of St. Andrew’s Talks is set to begin in August, with the theme ‘Faith in a Changing World’, looking at how we as Catholics can live out our faith amidst the rapid changes in culture, technology and even Church environment. Join us in the Ravelston parish rooms (EH4 3DS) following 6pm Mass on Monday, 25 August for our first talk by Sr. Mary Benedicta Maier, RSM, who will speak on “Faith and Culture: Being Catholic in a Secular Age.” Refreshments will be available. Open to all.
Saturday Morning Mass, Confession and Eucharistic Adoration
Weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held at the Cathedral on Saturday mornings, after the celebration of 10:00am Mass. Adoration is from 10:30am-12:00pm concluding with Benediction, with Confession available during that time. Come for 30 minutes, 1 hour…. or more to adore the Lord Jesus, truly present for us in the Eucharist.
“…for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge...” (Psalm 73:28)
St. Andrew’s, Ravelston: Wednesday Adoration, Confession and Mass
Especially in this Jubilee Year of Hope, all are encouraged to come for Eucharistic Adoration and begin a regular practice of coming to Confession. Every Wednesday at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston we have Eucharistic Adoration with Confessions 5:00pm-5:45pm, followed by 6:00pm Mass.
Cathedral Featured in Edinburgh City Centre Historic Churches Walking Trail Guide’
The Cathedral is among 10 churches included in the new ‘Ecumenical Edinburgh City Centre Historic Churches Walking Trail Guide’. Visit https://edinburgh.anglican.org/churches-walking-trail/ for a map and https://archedinburgh.org/historic-churches-walking-trail-unveiled/ for details and list of the churches. Some copies of the trail leaflet are available at the back of church.
Marriage Preparation Courses
The next parish Marriage Preparation Courses are Saturday, 16th August and Saturday, 22nd November, both at St Andrew’s, Ravelston (EH4 3DS), with presentations by married couples. To register, please email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
First Wednesdays — Prayers for Priests
The first Wednesday of each month, after the 12:45pm Mass, please join in prayers near the Lady Altar, including a Rosary and Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to ask Our Lady’s intercession for our priests. All are welcome to participate in the prayers on Wednesday, 6 August February following 12:45pm Mass.
Festival Mass
Sunday, 10 August: His Grace, Archbishop Cushley, will celebrate the annual Festival Mass at Noon at the Cathedral. Join us at the start of the week of our Cathedral’s patronal feast - the Assumption, which falls on 15th August – during Edinburgh’s International Festival.
Tuesday 12 August: “Faith in the Footlights” as part ofthe Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts
Musical theatre is often dismissed as trivial, shallow and essentially secular. Professor Ian Bradley challenges this, arguing in his book You’ve Got to Have a Dream that “musicals provide millions of people across the world not just with entertainment and escapism but with spiritual and theological values, a philosophy of life and an encounter with God”. On 12 August at 7:30pm, join Professor Bradley and the Cathedral’s Schola Cantorum for a special concert exploring the spiritual implications of some of our best-loved musicals. The concert is the fourth in our series of yearly partnerships with the Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts, and follows the very successful sacred jazz event last summer. Tickets are £18 (£12 concession) and are available from the Fringe Box Office, Eventbrite, or on the door. Book here: https://bit.ly/FaithFootlights
Hope Dawns: A Retreat to Prepare for Advent
Thanks to so many who have expressed interest in our two-night Advent Retreat to be held 14th -16th November at the Schoenstatt Shrine near Milton of Campsie. The retreat, considering the Jubilee Year theme of Hope in Advent, will begin at 3pm on Friday, 14th November and conclude at 3pm on Sunday, 16th November. There will be various talks during the day, private time for prayer and discussion with others or with a priest and all meals will be provided for the duration. There will be the celebration of Mass every day, too. The retreat centre at Schoenstatt is a well-appointed house run by a welcoming community of religious sisters and staff (https://www.schoenstatt.co.uk). If you would like to attend, there is still time to let us know of your interest and if would require coach transport to and from Schoenstatt. To register, visit https://bit.ly/Schoenstatt-Advent2025 or email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk call the office 0131 556 1798.
Friendship Group: Coffee Afternoon
The Friendship Group Coffee Afternoon is on Tuesdays 2:00pm-3:30pm in Coffee Saints. Open to all over 60; enjoy a 20% discount during the session time. Please come along and join us!
Mass at Carfin for World Day for Grandparents & the Elderly
To celebrate World Day for Grandparents & the Elderly today, join Bishop John Keenan at 3:00pm for Mass at St Francis Xavier’s Church, Taylor Avenue, Carfin, ML1 5AJ. The Holy Father’s message for this day calls us to treasure the gift of grandparents and the elderly:
“How often our grandparents have been for us examples of faith and devotion, civic virtue and social commitment, memory and perseverance amid trials! The precious legacy that they have handed down to us with hope and love will always be a source of gratitude and a summons to perseverance.” (Pope Leo XIV)
Practical Advice on Parenting and Family Life
Mike and Alicia Hernon, Catholic parents of 10 and grandparents to 8, empower parents to embrace their sacred calling as the primary educators of their children. Their podcast – now one of the top podcasts in the world for Catholic parents – is available at https://messyfamilyproject.org/podcasts/ or on Apple Podcasts. Visit https://messyfamilyproject.org/ for a wide selection of free resources and courses with practical advice and insights for parents, plus courses for couples and families. Videos on parenting and family life available at https://www.youtube.com/c/MessyFamilyProject
Postcards: Join the Fight Back – Every Life Matters
Pick up a postcard at the back of church from the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children to get your Action Pack with details about what you can do to help defend life at this critical time: in the space of one week in June 2025, MPs voted to allow women to abort their baby up to birth for any reason. Life is under attack at every stage. But we must work to build culture of life, because every life matters.
Book on Life Story of 'Hibs priest' Set for Launch
Our St Pauls Bookshop will soon have copies of the life story of the Edinburgh priest who helped found Hibernian FC and served the poor and destitute in the city. The new book titled Edinburgh’s First Hibernian, written by Mike Hennessy, a native of Edinburgh, will be released Wednesday, 6 August and is the first biography of Fr. Edward Hannan, who rose from poverty in rural Ireland to become one of the most influential figures in 19th-century Edinburgh. While parish priest at St Patrick's, Cowgate, he worked tirelessly in Old Town to provide Catholic boys with an education and a sense of fulfilment that could save them from falling into a life of crime. The book can be bought online at Thirsty Books, https://www.thirstybooks.com/bookshop/edinburghs-first-hibernian Signed copies will be available from St Patrick's Church, which will receive proceeds from sales.
Polish Memorials Conservation Programme, Summer 2025
Please note that a team of Polish conservationists together with Polish scouts training in conservation will work within Mount Vernon Cemetery 7th-16th August on Polish memorials throughout the cemetery. This may include cleaning, re-erecting and re-gilding. If you do not wish your family memorial to be included in the programme please contact cemetery manager, Anna Kulwicka, on 0131 623 8906 by 6th August, 2025.
National Pilgrimage to Carfin
The National Pilgrimage takes place at Carfin Grotto, Scotland’s National Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes, on Sunday 7 September at 3:00pm. Archbishop Leo will be the principal celebrant and preacher. On this day Blessed Carlo Acutis and Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, will be canonised so it is an ideal day for the Scottish Catholics to come together to celebrate. Learn more about Carfin Grotto at https://www.carfingrotto.org/ The grotto is in the Parish of St Francis Xavier in the village of Carfin, near Motherwell, ML1 5AJ.
Save the Dates
• The Archdiocesan Day for Altar Servers is on Saturday 13 September at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh. Details to follow.
• The National Youth Pilgrimage to Perth is on Saturday 20 September. Details to follow.
• His Grace, the Archbishop, will celebrate the annual Red Mass at Noon on Sunday 21 September here at the Cathedral. The Mass will see members of Scotland’s legal fraternity come together for the for the Mass, marking the start of the new legal year.
• A relic of ‘God’s influencer’, Blessed Carlo Acutis who will be canonised by Pope Leo XIV on 7 September, will visit St Mary’s Cathedral from Saturday 13 to Monday 15 September. Save the dates!
Venerable Margaret Sinclair
The Centenary Pilgrimage to pray for the Beatification of the Venerable Margaret Sinclair will take place on Sunday 21 September from 12:30-6:00pm at St Patrick's Church, Cowgate, Edinburgh, EH1 1NA. 12.30-1.30 Refreshments & sale of candles/goods; 1:30-2:30pm Holy Hour; 3:00-4:00pm Reflection; 4:30pm: Holy Mass concelebrated with Archbishop Leo. Confessions available all day. Details on Venerable Margaret Sinclair are available at https://www.margaretsinclair.scot/
Are You a Catechist?
Learn about events and resources and collaborate with the Archdiocesan Catechetics Commission by registering for the Catechist Contact List. Go to bit.ly/archcatechists. This is for anyone involved in teaching the faith - such as RCIA, Children's Liturgy, First Holy Communion, Marriage prep, SPRED etc.
Pregnancy Support
There are a number of free and confidential resources available to women with unplanned pregnancies, or women who have had an abortion. Consider connecting with St. Margaret’s Children and Family Care Society (https://stmargaretsadoption.org.uk/), or Abortion Recovery Care and Helpline https://www.archtrust.org.uk/ The Alma Mater Fund provides financial grants to pregnant students facing difficulties at universities https://spuc.org.uk/support-hub/alma-mater/
Hope and Healing After Abortion: Rachel's Vineyard
Rachel's Vineyard is healing ministry that offers a safe place to renew and rebuild your life after experiencing the trauma of abortion. Retreat weekends offer you a supportive, confidential and non-judgemental environment where women and men can deal with painful post-abortive emotions. A Glasgow area retreat will be held 27-29 October 2025. Contact rachel@rachelsvineyard.org.uk to get more information on Rachel's Vineyard and any upcoming retreats or visit https://www.rachelsvineyard.org.uk
Catholic Parliamentary Office Updates
The Catholic Parliamentary Office is an agency of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland and promotes Catholic Social Teaching in the public square, engaging with the work of Parliament and Government to ensure that the Church’s voice is heard on relevant issues. To receive updates on this important work, sign up at https://rcpolitics.org/ or follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rcpolitics