Cathedral Roof Appeal
We’ve now raised £260,000 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
Blue Building Fund envelopes are available at the back of the church if you wish to Gift Aid your donation.
We have set up a dedicated point for donations to the Building Fund. In front of the passkeepers’ table, we have a new contactless device set up as well as a cash donation box. All donations made here during the month of August will be put towards the Building Fund to help towards the cost of the ongoing roof repair project. UK Sterling and foreign currency notes and coins are all welcome! Donations are gratefully received at any time, thank you for your support!
You can donate on the website or:
by cash/cheque sent to the Parish Office (61 York Place, Edinburgh, EH1 3JD). Cheques should be made payable to ‘St Mary’s Cathedral’
by bank transfer
Please remember to add Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer.
Gift Aid envelopes for the Building Fund are available at the back of the Church. Thank you!
MATCH FUNDING IN AUGUST –
We are so grateful to an extremely generous benefactor who has offered to match all money raised for the Cathedral roof in August up to £50,000. So do please give as generously as you can to the Summer Appeal and double your money!
St. Andrew’s Talks: ‘Faith in a Changing World’
Join us onMonday, 25 August, for our first talk in our new series of St. Andrew’s Talks. Sr. Mary Benedicta Maier, RSM, will speak on “Faith and Culture: Being Catholic in a Secular Age.” This series will have 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 6:00pm Mass. Following the talk, refreshments will be available. Open to all.
Relics of Soon-to-Be-Saint, Carlo Acutis, at the Cathedral
The relics of soon-to-be-saint Blessed Carlo Acutis will visit the Archdiocese from 13-15 September 2025. Blessed Carlo will be the first millennial saint, who is also renowned for his use of the internet to log Eucharistic miracles around the world www.miracolieucaristici.org. His canonisation is set for 7th September, meaning Edinburgh will be one of the first places to welcome the new saint’s relics. Schedule: Saturday, 13 September, 6:00pm Vigil Mass (Cathedral open until 8:00pm for veneration of the relics); Sunday, 14 September, Noon Mass; Monday, 15 September, 12:45pm Mass for Schools. “Since he was a child … he had his gaze turned to Jesus. Love for the Eucharist was the foundation that kept alive his relationship with God. He often said, ‘The Eucharist is my highway to Heaven.’” (Agostino Cardinal Vallini, homily at beatification of Carlo Acutis, 2020)
Registration Open for Children’s Sacramental Preparation
Registration is now open for catechism classes for children to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation (P3), First Holy Communion (P4) and Confirmation (P7). Catechetical preparation will be provided both at St Mary’s Primary School and on Sundays at 9:30am at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston beginning in October. To register your child, please visit the following links.
First Reconciliation: Registration closes on 19th October 2025. First Reconciliation takes places the week beginning 2nd February, https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/sacrament-of-first-reconciliation
First Holy Communion: Registration closes on 5th April 2026. First Holy Communion takes place on 6/7th June 2026: https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/first-communion
Confirmation: Registration closes on 22nd March 2026. Confirmation takes place on 31st May 2026: https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/confirmation
If you have questions or need any other information, contact Fr. Robert: frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Training Session This Saturday for Mass Setup at Ravelston
St Josemaria Escriva once said “Have you ever thought how you would prepare to receive Our Lord if you could go to Communion only once in your life? We must be thankful to God that He makes it so easy for us to come to Him: but we should show our gratitude by preparing ourselves very well to receive Him.” As much as we must prepare ourselves, the church must also be prepared and we need help at St Andrew’s, Ravelston, to prepare Mass. We are urgently looking for people who can commit to attending the celebration of Mass (Sunday to Friday), to join the great team of existing sacristans, setting up the altar and taking care of the altar linens. Ravelston Masses are Sundays at 10:30am Mass and Monday to Friday at 6:00pm. If we have enough people, this can mean the undertaking will only be a few times per month and takes about 15 minutes. A training session will be held this Saturday 30th August at St Andrew’s Church from 10.30am until 11.30am which will provide all the information you need. If you might be interested in the training or have any questions, please just drop an email to cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk or call 0131 556 1798.
Saturday Morning Mass, Confession and Eucharistic Adoration
Weekly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held at the Cathedral on Saturday mornings, after the 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 none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.” (Romans 14:7-9)
Tickets on Sale for Parish BBQ at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston
Tickets are on sale after 10:30am Mass at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston today for our annual Parish Barbecue on Sunday 7th September at 1:30pm, or to request tickets, email standrewsevents1901@gmail.com. Enjoy BBQ treats and salads to suit (both meat and vegetarian options), all included in ticket price. Various soft drinks, tea and coffee. And for a small charge, a cheeky glass of wine! Tickets on sale next weekend! As always there will fun and games for children (of all ages!), as well as a range of stalls including tombola, plants, books, bric-a-brac and a host of freshly baked goods. *Please note that all stalls will be cash only on the day.*
BBQ Stall Donations: Books, Bric a Brac & Bottles for the Tombola
From next weekend, donations for all these stalls can be left at the back of the church before Mass or given to the BBQ reps who will be available to collect in donations after Mass until 12.30. We are especially looking for a selection of bottles for the tombola, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Please make sure to label your donations with the appropriate stall name. Donations of plants and cakes would also be most welcome and can be brought on the day of the BBQ. Thank you! Queries? Contact standrewsevents1901@gmail.com
Altar Servers' Day: Prayer, Games and Activities
Our very popular Archdiocesan Day for Altar Servers is on Saturday 13 September 2025, 11:00am-3:00pm at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh. Don’t miss this day of prayer, games, activities, learning and fun with old friends and new! This year we will be in the presence of a new saint of the Church - the relics of Carlo Acutis will be there! The day concludes with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Leo. Register with Fr Robert at frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Can You Lend a Hand in the Jubilee Year?
The support of our parishioners in this Jubilee Year is needed more than ever: Eucharistic Ministers, Readers, Altar Servers, Passkeepers, Money counters, St. Andrew’s rooms team, Choir, Cleaners, Flower arrangers, Youth Group leaders and Events helpers. Please take one of the blue postcards, tick the boxes of areas where you can help, include your email address, fold the card and place it in the marked box at the back of church and we will be in touch! We ask that you prayerfully consider staying on as a parish volunteer even after the Jubilee Year concludes on 6 January 2026. Thank you!
‘Catholic Conversations’ for Women Resumes
Women who are recent converts, those considering Catholicism, and those desirous of faith-focused discussion all welcome to join us next Saturday, 30 August, 3:45pm-4:45pm in the St. Andrew’s Parish rooms (77 Belford Rd, EH4 3DS) for refreshments and a short video input from Bishop Robert Barron on the Mass, titled ‘Responding to God.’ We will have opportunity for discussion to follow. Participants are also welcome to join the Religious Sisters of Mercy at their convent for Holy Hour with Adoration and chanted Vespers from 5:10pm. To register, email the Sisters at edinburgh@almamercy.org or call 0131 343 3380.
The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children - New Edinburgh Branch
Join us in the St. Andrew’s, Ravelston rooms on Wednesday, 10th September at 7:00pm for a meeting to establish a new Edinburgh Branch of the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children. All are warmly invited to attend. Come along to find out how you can help SPUC to build a culture of life locally and nationally. For further details, please contact Terry Graham, SPUC Youth & Grassroots Manager, on 07549 068226 or by email at terrygraham@spuc.org.uk
Save the Date: Youth Group for P3-P7 Begins in October
The Youth Group will return on Sunday, 5th October from 2:30pm-4:00pm at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston. All P3-P7’s are welcome! Parents please register children at https://bit.ly/ParishYouthGroup-Registration Fee: £1.00.
Pilgrims of Pentecost: Young Adults 2026 Rome Pilgrimage
Join the Young Adult Pilgrimage 19-25th May 2026 to Rome for the great feast of Pentecost! The pilgrimage will include an audience with Pope Leo XIV, visit to the papal basilicas and Castel Gandolfo, a vigil at the Scots College and Mass in the Pantheon followed by the iconic petal drop. Register by next Sunday, 31 August 2025. Deposit £500, total price approx £1,250. Accommodation is bed & breakfast. Register directly, e-mail tamara.tahhan@travelcounsellors.com
Seek the Plenary Indulgence in the Jubilee Year of Hope
All are encouraged to seek the Plenary Indulgence available during this Jubilee Year of Hope, a special year of grace occurring once every 25 years. A plenary indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment for sins already forgiven and can be gained by visiting the Jubilee Cross here St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, or Schoenstatt Retreat Centre throughout this Holy Year with the following conditions: a detachment from sin; going to confession; receiving Holy Communion; praying for the intentions of the Holy Father. The decree for the indulgence also states that you can also receive an indulgence for the deceased: “the faithful who have carried out an act of charity on behalf of the souls in Purgatory, if they receive Holy Communion a second time that day, can obtain the plenary indulgence twice on the same day, applicable only to the deceased (this must take place within a Eucharistic celebration).” The Jubilee Year will conclude on January 6, 2026, the Feast of the Epiphany, with the closing of the Holy Door in Rome. Read more about plenary indulgences https://bit.ly/Jubilee-Indulgence-How
Want to Become Catholic? RCIA Begins in September
If you would like to become Catholic, the way to do it is through our Cathedral RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) course. The group meets every Tuesday evening at 7:00pm-8:30pm at 61 York Place from Tuesday, 16th September. Register by phone at 0131 556 1798 or email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Walk the Fife Pilgrim Way in Six Saturdays!
Walk in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims on the Fife Pilgrim Way over six Saturdays, beginning 30 August. Meet at 11:00am at the Fife Pilgrim Way information board, Battery Rd, North Queensferry, walking to St Margaret's, Dunfermline. Bring a packed lunch. A great way to mark the Jubilee Year. No registration required. Distance: 8.5/9 miles and estimated time is 3-4 hours, plus breaks. Queries to Deacon Pat Carrigan at obl.columba@gmail.com. View the route at https://bit.ly/FifeWay-2025. Full details about the six Saturdays are available at https://bit.ly/FifeWay-Saturdays
Pilgrimage to Whithorn in Honour of St. Ninian
The National Pilgrimage to Whithorn in honour of St Ninian will take place on Sunday 31 August. Mass at St Ninian’s Cave will be celebrated at 4:00pm outdoors on the beach of Port Castle Bay at 4 pm and for those unable to walk to the shore, Mass will be at 4.45 pm in the Church of St Martin and St. Ninian (DG8 8PZ). Full details are available in the news section at https://rcdg.org.uk/
Peace with Creation Zoom Sessions
The national Care of Creation Office has organised a series of Zoom sessions with the theme Peace with Creation, 7:00pm-9:00pm each Thursday, beginning on 4 September. Each week features a guest speaker. Register at https://bit.ly/Peace-Creation-2025
Season of Creation Conference
The Bishops’ Office for Care of Creation invites you to its National Season of Creation Conference on Saturday 6 September 2025 in St. Margaret’s, Raploch, Stirling, FK9 4UA, 10:00am – 3:00pm. Special guest is Lorna Gold, the Executive Director of the global Laudato Si Movement. Registration and details at www.bcos.org.uk/scc25
National Pilgrimage to Carfin
The National Pilgrimage takes place at Carfin Grotto, Scotland’s National Shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes, Sunday 7 September at 3:00pm. Archbishop Leo will be the principal celebrant and preacher. Holy Mass will be celebrated at the Shrine at 3:00pm. The grotto is in the Parish of St Francis Xavier in the village of Carfin, near Motherwell, ML1 5AJ.
National Youth Pilgrimage to Perth for Ages 18+
This takes place on Saturday 20 September, meeting at St Mary's Monastery, Kinnoull, at 12:30pm. A full day of activities includes historic site visits, talks, and Holy Mass with Archbishop Cushley. If you wish to join fellow pilgrims (18+) from the Archdiocese travelling by train to Perth from Stirling, Falkirk and Edinburgh please contact Sr Isabelle Dufaux FSO at youth.office@staned.org.uk
Looking to Deepen Your Faith? Study Catholic Theology in Edinburgh
Apply now to study an MA in Applied Catholic Theology in Scotland. Evening classes, in person and online, with support funding available. To speak to the Course Lead, Stephen Dolan, in person email: stephen.dolan@stmarys.ac.uk Details at bit.ly/catholictheology