The Fifth Sunday of Lent - Year A
Assisted Suicide Rejected in Scotland
From Archbishop Leo:
"I am deeply grateful to the MSPs who voted in favour of life on Tuesday at Holyrood. The outcome of the vote reflects a careful and compassionate approach to a deeply sensitive subject, one that touches the dignity and vulnerability of all of us. Well done to everyone who contacted their MSPs about this crucial issue. May we now go forward, committed to making Scotland’s palliative care the very best in the world. Let’s also accompany one another in life and death with humanity and humility.”
Cathedral Building Fund Appeal
Just £73,000 to go to reach our Phase 1 target of £500,000! The £427,000 we have raised over the last two and half years is a fantastic achievement and we are so grateful to you all for your support! Can you help us with a final push to reach our Phase 1 target? Donations are gratefully received at any time and can be made through our 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’.
Remember to Gift Aid your donation 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!
Diocesan Structures in Scotland
The Holy See has invited the Bishops of Scotland to reflect on how the present dioceses of the Church in Scotland can best serve her mission in the years ahead. In the coming weeks, therefore, along with the rest of the country, Archbishop Leo would like to hold some consultations on what we might propose to Rome, so that the Church in Scotland might improve cooperation among its dioceses, share resources within our present structures, or consider, as necessary, how we might merge some of our dioceses. Read the full statement on https://www.bcos.org.uk/
Rite of Enrolment for First Holy Communion and Confirmation
Today at 9:00am Mass at the Cathedral, we welcome the children who are preparing to receive the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation, along with their families, as the children are formally enrolled for the sacraments. Please keep them in your prayers.
Veiled Statues and Crucifixes
Today as we enter Passiontide contemplating the Lord’s Passion with particular reverence and attention in these last two weeks of Lent, we take up the ancient Catholic custom of veiling the church’s statues, images and crucifixes. It is a kind of “fasting of the eyes” during this time that helps us to focus on Jesus’ journey to the Cross for our salvation. At the Sacred Triduum we celebrate the Lord’s institution of the Holy Eucharist and priesthood on Holy Thursday, and His saving Passion and death on Good Friday. The statues, images and crucifixes will then be unveiled before the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday when the light of the Resurrection enters once more into the Church.
Registered Parish Volunteers Needed for Holy Week at Cathedral
If you are a current registered volunteer and would like to assist with Holy Week Masses, please sign up today as we prepare for next week’s observance of Holy Week. If you can help with Passkeeping, Welcoming, Eucharistic Ministry, Reading or Money Collecting and will be attending any of the Masses during Holy Week, including the Easter Vigil, please sign up on the sheets at the back of the Cathedral. Alternatively, please e-mail Elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com with a note of your availability.
Young Adults Group on Tuesday
Students (and all aged 18-40) are welcome to join the Young Adults Group on Tuesday, 24 March in 63 York Place at 7:00pm for teas/coffees. At 7:30pm, we will have Adoration with Confessions, concluding with Compline and Benediction — a prayerful way to prepare for Holy Week!
Easter Knitted Goods on Sale at the Cathedral
Easter-themed knitted gift items will be on sale today Sunday, 22 March at the Cathedral before and after the 9am and Noon Masses. All the profits from sales are generously donated to the parish by Joanna Kopystynska. Find a lovely hand-knitted Easter gift for family and friends!
Holy Week and Easter Mass Times
Find out the Mass times for Holy Week and easter at the Cathedral and St Andrew’s, Ravelston, here: https://www.stmaryscathedral.co.uk/easter2026
Jesus Prayer in the Cathedral
A small group of parishioners meet each Tuesday at 1:45pm in St Andrew's Aisle to pray the Jesus Prayer. This is a very ancient form of Christian Prayer that goes right back to the roots of early Christian monasticism and has been practised in the Eastern Orthodox Church, particularly by monks at Mount Athos in Northern Greece over thousands of years. It centres around the praying of the phrase "Lord Jesus Christ Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner," a prayer of contemplative intercession, healing, unity and reconciliation, for the healing of the Church, the world and all people. We welcome new members to our Jesus Prayer Group and you are invited to bring your Rosary beads with you to follow this prayer. -Jonathan Jamal OFS, Coordinator of the Jesus Prayer Group
Confession at St. Mary’s Cathedral
Weekdays
Monday - Friday 1.15-2.00pm
Monday – Friday 5.00-5.45pm (Polish)
Saturdays
Saturday 10:30-12:00pm & 5-5.45pm
Saturday 8.00-9.00am (Polish)
Confession at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston
Wednesdays 5.00-5.45pm
Eucharistic Adoration
Fridays (Lent only) 10:30am-12:30pm
Please sign up for Friday morning Adoration on the sheets at the passkeepers’ table. It is essential that we have people present in the Cathedral during this period of Adoration.
Devotions at St. Mary’s Cathedral
Saturdays (following 10:00am Mass)
10:30am-12:00pm, concluding with Benediction
Stations of the Cross
Fridays during Lent 1:15-1:45pm
Fridays during Lent 6:00pm (Polish)
Devotions at St. Andrew's, Ravelston
Eucharistic Adoration
Wednesdays 5:00pm-5:45pm
Stations of the Cross
Fridays during Lent 6:30-7:00pm
Volunteers Needed: Big Spring Clean at St Andrew’s, Saturday 28 March
More volunteers are needed to help for a half an hour or more 2:00pm-4:00pm for our Big Spring Clean at
St Andrew’s Church on Saturday, 28 March!. Please sign up at the back of church or email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk to register your availability. Thank you for your help.
Teams of Our Lady for Married Couples
Teams of Our Lady is a Christian movement focused on married spirituality, helping couples deepen their sacramental marriage and grow in faith together. A group based in the Cathedral parish is open for new members to join. For more information see https://teamsgb.org.uk/ or speak with Father Jeremy.
SCIAF Lenten Wee Boxes for Ethiopia: Share Water. Share Hope.
Please remember to send the contents of your Wee Box directly to SCIAF! You can send your monies directly to SCIAF, 196 Clyde Street, Glasgow G1 4JY, or via their website www.sciaf.org.uk/weebox. If you send your monies by post, please do remember to complete the Gift Aid declaration on the base of the box, if applicable, and enclose this part of the box with your monies! SCIAF recently sent along a message of thanks for the funds raised in 2025 from our parish in the amount of £3,790.83.
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
Legion of Mary of the Edinburgh Curia Annual Acies Feast
The Legion of Mary of the Edinburgh Curia annual Acies Feast, will be today Sunday, 22 March, 2026 at 3:00pm at St. Andrew's Church, Ravelston, Edinburgh EH4 3DS. The Legionaries will renew their fidelity to Our Lady. Msgr. Jeremy Milne, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of St. Andrews & Edinburgh, will address the Legionaries. All the Legionaries and Auxiliaries are most welcome to join the occasion. All welcome to teas and coffees in parish rooms following. Kindly use public parking, as on-site parking is limited.
An Evening of Formation for Catholic Men
An evening of formation for Catholic adult lay men will be held in the Ravelston rooms Wednesday,
25 March, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The group is inspired by the spirit of Opus Dei and focuses on Church teaching on the universal call to holiness and virtues applicable to ordinary activities of the lay faithful. To register, email Juan Pablo at juanpablo.andrader@gmail.com.
Catholic Conversations for Women
All women are welcome to this event with the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma on Saturday 28 March, 3:45pm-4:45pm in St Andrew’s Parish rooms at 77 Belford Rd, Edinburgh, EH4 3DS, for a faith-focused discussion on Holy Week. Join us for a Holy Hour following with Adoration & Vespers from 5:10pm. Register at edinburgh@almamercy.org or call 0131 343 3380.
Christian Women's Craft Group
Christian women are invited to join a wonderful new craft group Saturday, 18th April, 1pm-3pm with crocheting, knitting, hand sewing and some nice chats. Tea/coffee, biscuits & buns available. If you are a beginner, intermediate, advanced or want to learn, please bring your crafts and come along to St Andrew’s Parish rooms 77 Belford Rd, EH4 3DS. To register, please email christiancraftgroup@hotmail.com.
Order of Malta Ball in April to Support Charities in Scotland and Holy Land
Support the charitable work of the Order of Malta, one of the Catholic church's oldest and largest charities, by attending their ball on Saturday 25 April 2026 at Prestonfield House, Edinburgh. The event raises funds for the Scottish Companions serving homeless and disabled across Scotland; Malteser International for displaced people in Lebanon; and Holy Family maternity hospital in Bethlehem.. To donate an item or an experience for the Auctions, please email John at john@miers.net. Book online at https://www.orderofmaltaball.com/