Emergency Closing of the Octagon
As the roofing project continues, we have come across another issue that was not discovered in the initial survey. As the stonemasons were working on the copings at the top of the Octagon, it was discovered that the stonework was not properly attached to the building. The mortar has almost disintegrated behind the stones and they could easily have fallen onto the pavement outside the door. We are now in the process of evaluating all of the stonework above the Octagon, after which we will begin the process of reinforcing the stone slabs. As such, the Octagon door will remain closed until this has been completed and the main glass sliding doors will be used for entering and exiting the Cathedral. Over the weekend, there is access from Little King Street, but it is a narrow part of the ramp and, therefore, we ask that it be kept for buggies and those with limited mobility. For all others, please use the stairs at the front of the Cathedral. We apologise for the inconvenience but anticipate that the work will be completed in a relatively short amount of time.
CATHEDRAL BUILDING FUND APPEAL
We’ve now raised over £346,200, including match funding of £50,000 from a generous benefactor to whom we are extremely grateful. 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!
You can, of course, continue to support this project using our dedicated point for donations to the Building Fund which is in front of the passkeepers’ table. The contactless device is still set up for the Building Fund as is the cash donation box beside it. UK Sterling and foreign currency notes and coins are equally welcome. Other methods of giving to the Building Fund are set out below. Thank you for your support!
Donations are gratefully received at any time and can be made: through 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’)
Do 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!
Young Adults Group Talk: ‘Faith & Politics: What the Church Teaches”
The Young Adults Group will meet again on Tuesday, 30th September with a new series of talks on ‘Catholic Social Teaching from Leo XIII to Leo XIV.’ Join us for our talk by Councillor James Bundy, “Faith & Politics: What the Church Teaches.” All those ages 18-40 are welcome to the weekly meetings. As usual, we meet at 63 York Place at 7:00pm for teas/coffees and for the talk at 7.30pm, followed by a short group discussion. Each session concludes with Night Prayer and the chance to meet up at a local pub. Contact Fr. Robert Taylor for details frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
St. Andrew’s Talk: ‘Called to Holiness’
Tomorrow, Monday, 29th September, Fr. Jeremy will speak at our next St. Andrew’s Talk on “Called to Holiness: Saints & Sanctity in Daily Life”. This series has 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.
October: Month of the Holy Rosary
Why not try building a new prayer habit during the month of October — less phone time…in exchange for more praying of the Rosary! In his General Audience this past week on Wednesday, 24 September, Pope Leo XIV invited everyone to pray the Rosary daily for peace during the month of October.
Rosary at the Cathedral After Weekday Masses
Each day Monday-Friday at the Cathedral there are two opportunities to join in praying the Rosary. The first Rosary is at 12 noon and the second Rosary is from 1:30 pm onwards, both by Our Lady’s Altar. The first Wednesday of each month, please join in a Rosary and Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to ask Our Lady’s intercession for our priests.
Rosary at Ravelston in October
We will pray the Rosary in October at St Andrew's, Ravelston after the 6:00pm Mass, Monday-Friday. We are in need of leaders for each weekday for the praying of the Rosary. If you are able to lead the Rosary one day a week at St. Andrew’s, please sign up on the sheets in the back of church or e-mail cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk. Thank you!
Find a Rosary and booklets about praying the Rosary in our St Pauls Bookshop!
Learn more about the Rosary at https://www.theholyrosary.org/
St. Pauls Bookshop – New Weekday and Daily Missals
The new Weekday Missals and Daily Missals are in stock in St. Pauls Bookshop! Please make a note of this new schedule for the St Pauls Bookshop: From 6th October the shop will be open Tuesday – Sunday 10:00am-5:30pm, closed on Mondays.
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. Please note – Saturday 27th September, Adoration will end at 11.00am in order to allow for set up for the SSVP Mass for the Sick at 12noon.
“The devotion to the Eucharist is the most noble, because it has God as its object; it is the most profitable for salvation, because it gives us the Author of Grace; it is the sweetest, because the Lord is Sweetness Itself.” St. Pius X
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.
Registration for Children’s Sacramental Preparation
Registration is open for catechism classes for children to receive the Sacraments of First Reconciliation (P3), 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 October.
First Reconciliation: A parents’ evening will be held on Monday, 29th September. Please check your emails for details. Registration closes on 19th October 2025.
First Reconciliation is in 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
Masses of enrolment are on
Sunday 8 February for First Reconciliation,
Sunday, 1 March for First Holy Communion
Sunday, 8 March for Confirmation
Those attending St Mary’s Primary School will do their sacramental preparation through the school and information will come from St Mary’s separately.
Questions: frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Dates for Your Diary: Children's Sacramental Preparation Classes
ALL Classes take place at St Andrews, 77 Belford Road EH4 3DS
during school term times
First Reconciliation: 26 Oct 2025 – 1 Feb 2026: Sunday 9:30am – 10:15am
First Holy Communion: 1 March 2025 – 31 May 2026: Sunday 9:30am – 10:15am
Confirmation: 8 March 2026 – 24 May 2026: Sunday 4.30pm-5.30pm
Marriage Preparation Courses
The next parish Marriage Preparation Courses are Saturday 22 November and Saturday 21 March, at St Andrew’s, Ravelston, with presentations by married couples. Register by emailing the parish office: cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Save the Date: Race Night at St. Andrew’s
After 6:00pm Mass on Friday, 31 October, join us for Race Night at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston, a fun evening with the horses to raise funds for the parish project. Tickets £10 (to include light supper). Mark your diary!
Ecclesiastical Students Fund Special Collection Next Weekend
There will be a special collection next weekend in support of those studying for the priesthood. Please support this important fund for our seminarians and remember our seminarians in your prayers.
Youth Group for P3-P7 Begins Next Sunday!
The Youth Group will return next 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.
Pray with the Missionaries of Charity Sisters Celebrating 75 Years
The Missionaries of Charity are celebrating 75 years of recognition as a Religious Congregation on the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on Tuesday, 7th October. Mass will be at 8:00am at their convent, 18 Hopetoun Crescent, Leith, Edinburgh, EH7 4AY, followed by exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 9:00am to 6:00pm with Benediction. We cordially invite you to come and spend some time before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and pray the Rosary with us. You are free to come anytime, as the chapel will be open all day. The Missionaries of Charity were founded by St. Teresa of Calcutta, India, on 7 October, 1950.
St Pier Giorgio Frassati Book tour
A book tour to celebrate the recent canonisation and the publication of 15 Days of Prayer with St Pier Giorgio Frassati (New City Press, 2025), visits St Albert’s Chaplaincy, 24 George Square, Edinburgh. EH8 9LD, on Friday 17 October, 5:15pm. Free event, all welcome. Enter from George Square Lane, between George Square and Middle Meadow Walk, and look along the wall for a sign for the Chaplaincy next to the entrance gate. Details at https://scotland.op.org/contact/
Ask MSPs to Vote No on Assisted Suicide Bill
Parliament is in Stage 2 of consideration of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, involving consideration of amendments put to the Health and Social Care Committee by MSPs, then at the next stage a vote will decide whether the Bill becomes law. We need just eight MSPs to switch their votes to defeat the Bill. Contact your local MSP(s) to talk to them about the dangers of the Bill and to urge them to vote against it at Stage 3 at https://www.writetothem.com/. If you would like to assist with discrete, focused lobbying work, along with a group of parishioners from other parishes across Scotland, contact cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk. This lobbying project is being supported by CAAD (Campaign Against Assisted Dying) in collaboration with the Catholic Parliamentary Office.
40 Days for Life in Edinburgh: Sept 24 - Nov 2
40 Days for Life (https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/) is an inter-denominational, pro-life, faith-based effort made up of three key components: 1) prayer and fasting for 40 days for an end to abortion; 2) a 40-day peaceful prayer vigil just outside the buffer zone in Edinburgh, so it is completely legal and we have an excellent relationship with the police and 3) community outreach: taking a positive, upbeat pro-life message to others. To join us from now until November, email Mairi Lucas, edinburgh40days@gmail.com
National Family Conference Celebrates Marriage and Family Life
The National Commission for Marriage, Family and Life BCOS, led by Bishop John Keenan, invites parish families to an Inaugural National Family Conference on Saturday, 25th October 2025, from 10:00am to 5:00pm at St Bride's Centre, Coursington Road (opposite Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral), Motherwell ML1 1PP. The event features a keynote by internationally acclaimed speaker Chris Stefanick (live from the USA), and celebrates marriage and family life with talks, prayer, and community. Register at https://www.bcos.org.uk/NFC25
Edinburgh Retreat for Young Women for Discerning Your Vocation
Young women discerning a call to the religious life, or who simply want to find out more, are invited to a weekend retreat led by Sr. Mirjam Hugens, FSO, Archdiocesan Director for Religious Vocations, Friday, 31 October to Sunday, 2 November, at The Convent, 9 Upper Gray Street, Edinburgh, EH9 1SN. The weekend includes Holy Mass, a Holy Hour, praying the Divine Office, reflections, sharing and time for quiet discernment. To register for this free event please email Sr Mirjam at religiousvocations@staned.org.uk
‘Catholic Conversations’ for Women
Women who are recent converts, those considering Catholicism, and those desirous of faith-focused discussion all welcome to join us on Saturday, 25 October, 3:45pm-4:45pm in the St. Andrew’s Parish rooms (77 Belford Rd, EH4 3DS) for refreshments, video input on Church teaching about “the communion of saints”, with discussion to follow. Come along and meet new friends in the faith! All welcome to join for Holy Hour with Adoration and chanted Vespers from 5:10pm with the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma. Email: edinburgh@almamercy.org or call 0131 343 3380.
The Way of St. Andrews Scottish Pilgrimage
Enjoy being a pilgrim in Scotland! Try one of the eight great pilgrim ways wending their way quietly through Scotland’s diverse and scenic landscape to St Andrews. Great trails, great scenery and a great opportunity for reflection. To plan your pilgrimage route and get more information please visit http://www.thewayofstandrews.com/