CATHEDRAL BUILDING FUND APPEAL
We’ve now raised £285,000 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?
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! Thank you for your support!
Donations are gratefully received at any time and can also 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’
By bank transfer
Please remember to 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!
MATCH FUNDING IN AUGUST – LAST CHANCE!
We are so grateful to an extremely generous benefactor who has offered to match all money raised for the Cathedral roof in July/August up to £50,000. Today is the last chance to donate to the Summer Appeal and double your money!
Deadline Today: Pilgrims of Pentecost: Young Adults 2026 Rome Pilgrimage
Register by today, Sunday, 31 August, to 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. Deposit £500, total price approx £1,250. Accommodation is bed & breakfast. Register directly, e-mail tamara.tahhan@travelcounsellors.com
Parish Council Meeting this Week – Email Your Input
The next meeting of the Parish Pastoral Council is this Thursday, 4 September. Please e-mail the Parish Council at parishcouncil@stmaryscathedral.co.uk with your comments and suggestions for our parish. The Minutes of the Parish Council Meeting of 11 June are available on the noticeboard in the Octagon and on the parish website: https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/parish-council-minutes Thank you!
Visit of Relics of Carlo Acutis at the Cathedral — Bookshop Items Available
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. BOOKSHOP: Our St. Pauls Bookshop has a variety of books about Blessed Carlo Acutis currently in stock, as well as prayer cards, medals, icons and keychains with his image. Stop in the shop today!
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
Fire Safety Awareness Training This Week
The Fire Safety training session is at Gillis on Thursday 4 September 2025 (available times are 10:00am, 2:00pm or 6:30pm) for all parish volunteers (including cleaners, pass keepers, etc). The sessions are for 2 hours. Visit https://bit.ly/FireSafety2025 for details and registration.
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
New Edinburgh Branch for Society for the Protection of Unborn Children
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 To learn about SPUC visit
Volunteer Appeal – Cathedral Flower Arranging Teams
As we are sure you have noticed, we always have a beautiful display of flowers in the cathedral. These displays are prepared by teams of volunteers who take it in turn to meet on a Friday or Saturday, once a month for each team, to arrange the flowers for the weekend Masses. Due to volunteers moving on, we are in urgent need of new volunteers to join our Saturday morning teams, although we would welcome volunteers for our Friday morning sessions as well. So, if you have an interest in displaying flowers for our cathedral then please consider volunteering for this ministry. Previous experience or skills in this area are welcomed but not required, because you can get guidance from an experienced team leader. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Andrews at Elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com
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.
“Communion with the crucified and Risen Lord is the never-ending source from which the Church draws unceasingly in order to live in freedom, to give of herself and to serve.” (St. John Paul II, Encyclical Letter, Veritatis Splendor)
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.
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
Donations for all these stalls can be left at the back of the church before Mass today or given to the BBQ reps who will be available to collect in donations after Mass until 12.30. Additionally, you can drop off donations with Marie or Pat at the church next Friday, 5th September between 10am and 12noon. 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
Legion of Mary — Students and Professionals
The Legion of Mary is an Association of Catholics that gives service to the Church on a voluntary basis around the world. Under the powerful leadership and with the intercession of Mary, Mother of God, the members continue to form themselves with prayer and holiness, for service in the Church's work. The Legion of Mary operates in groups called a Praesidium. In Edinburgh, the Cathedral Praesidium bears the name "Our Lady Cause of Our Joy" and meets every Monday at 7:00pm, in 63 York Place, EH1 3JD. The group is a mix of male and female, students, professionals and others of diverse cultures from different countries. For more information, please contact Emmy—07879074240 or Rosa—07868842099
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, Glasgow G66 7AT (www.schoenstatt.co.uk) 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
Save the Date: Red Mass
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 Mass, marking the start of the new legal year.
Fife Pilgrim Way – 2nd Stage: St Margaret's Memorial Church, Dunfermline, to St Joseph's, Kelty
Join in the Fife Pilgrim Way walking in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims. The 2nd stage of the pilgrimage will be on Saturday, 6 September, from 11:00am walking from St. Margaret's Memorial Church, Dunfermline, to St Joseph's, Kelty. 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. Full details about the next Saturdays of the walk are available at https://bit.ly/FifeWay-Saturdays
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.
Silent No More: A North Korean Christian Testimony
Hear the testimony of a Christian who escaped the brutal regime in North Korea. Aid to the Church in Need is sponsoring an event featuring Timothy Cho, a human rights activist who will share his testimony of a land where Christianity is outlawed and the faithful are driven underground. Join us Wednesday 10 September, St Joseph’s Church Hall, Clarkston, East Renfrewshire G76 7BT, 7pm – 9pm. Book at https://bit.ly/SilentNoMore-NorthKorea-10Sep25
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
Venerable Margaret Sinclair Centenary Pilgrimage
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/
Universalis App and Website - Pray with the Church
The Universalis App gives the readings at Mass for every day, past, present and future, and the entire Liturgy of the Hours: Morning, Mid-Morning, Midday, Afternoon, Evening and Night Prayer plus the Office of Readings. Get it for £9.99 from Google Play or the App Store. Optional add-on subscriptions let you sit back and listen, as well as read. For a preview, visit the Universalis website. See readings for today & a few days ahead https://universalis.com/mass.htm