Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord - Year A
Chrism Mass
On Tuesday at 7:00pm His Grace, the Archbishop, will celebrate the Chrism Mass with priests from throughout the Archdiocese. This is a beautiful Mass at which the oils that are used for the sacraments will be blessed and consecrated, and the clergy will renew their priestly promises. This is a wonderful opportunity to support our priests. At the conclusion of Mass, the sacred oils will be distributed to parishes for use throughout the coming year.
Holy Week Liturgies at the Cathedral
Please be aware that we are expecting very large numbers of people for our Holy Week liturgies, especially Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. If the church is filled, we will need to use the Octagon as standing-room only space, but you will be able to hear the liturgy through the speakers and Holy Communion will be brought to you in the Octagon. Good Friday and Easter Vigil services at other local Catholic churches are:
Church of the Sacred Heart EH3 9DJ:Good Friday, 3 April 3:00pm; Easter Vigil, Saturday, 4 April 9:00pm
St. Patrick’s, Cowgate EH1 1TQ Good Friday: 3:00pm; Easter Vigil: 8:30pm
St. Mary, Star of the Sea EH6 6AW Good Friday 3:00pm Easter Vigil 7:30pm
Sts. Ninian and Triduana EH7 6BE Good Friday 3:00pm Easter Vigil 8:00pm
Holy Week and Easter
This is the most sacred week of the year. The Sacred Triduum begins on Thursday. While Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday are not holy days of obligation, all are encouraged to attend these special liturgies in preparation for Easter.
On Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord’s Supper is at 7:00pm and is followed by a procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose, with watching until Night Prayer at 11:30pm.
Good Friday Good Friday is a day of fasting and abstinence which means that all Catholics from age 14 onwards are obliged to abstain from meat, and all adults from age 14 until age 59 are obliged to fast. Others are encouraged to do so if they are able. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. It is commendable to continue the practice of fasting and abstinence through Holy Saturday until the celebration of the Easter Vigil. The Passion Liturgy will be held at 3:00pm and for those who cannot attend, there will be Stations of the Cross at 7:00pm.
On Holy Saturday His Grace will celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass at 8:00pm and 14 catechumens and 17 candidates will be received into Full Communion with the Catholic Church at this Mass.
Easter Sunday Masses will be at the usual Sunday Mass times. We wish you all a Blessed Holy Week!
Confessions
Remember that it is a Precept of the Church that all Catholics should go to confession at least once a year, at Easter or thereabouts. There will be additional priests available this week for Confessions Monday-Wednesday after the 12:45pm Mass and on Good Friday after the 3:00pm Passion Liturgy.
PLEASE NOTE: NO SATURDAY EVENING CONFESSIONS ON HOLY SATURDAY.
Filming During Holy Week
The Cathedral’s Schola Cantorum is making a documentary film in partnership with Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts. The film will explore the work of the choir and will chart its preparation for a special concert on Monday 17 August called “Whatsoever You Do: Music for the Homeless Jesus”. The performance is directly inspired by Timothy Schmalz’s Homeless Jesus sculpture, which was recently installed outside the Cathedral. The film will draw together the Homeless Jesus sculpture, the Schola Cantorum and its August concert, and some of those impacted by homelessness and the charities who work with them. A videographer will be present at the services on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil to gather some footage of our liturgies for the film.
2026 Holy Week and Easter at the Cathedral
The Holy Week and Easter Mass times are here
St. Andrew’s Talk: ‘Jesus Christ, the Mystery of Redemption’
On Monday, 30th March after the 6:00pm Mass at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston, join us for our next St. Andrew’s Talk on the Nicene Creed. The talk will be in the parish rooms and our speaker will be
Sr. Mary Benedicta Maier, RSM, who will speak on ‘For us and our salvation: Jesus Christ, The Mystery of Redemption.’ Discussion and refreshments to follow.
2026/27 Gift Aid Envelope Sets Now Available for Collection
For those of you who currently use weekly gift aid envelopes to donate to the offertory collection, I am pleased to tell you that your new envelope sets for the 2026/27 tax year are now available for collection from the back of the Church.
Registering for Gift Aid
Gift Aid is a simple and effective way to maximise your donations to the Church at no additional cost to you. With a new tax year fast approaching, this is an ideal time to register for Gift Aid with the Parish, if you have not already done so. For more information, to request a registration form or to ask any questions you may have about donating to our Cathedral or St. Andrew’s Church, Ravelston, please contact our Finance Officer, Caroline Reid, by email: finance@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
SCIAF Lenten Wee Boxes for Ethiopia: Share Water. Share Hope.
Please remember to send the contents of your Wee Box directly to the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (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.
Scottish Parliament Election Briefing Pack
Please take a copy of the Election Briefing Pack, available at the back of church, which includes a copy of the Pastoral Letter from the Catholic Bishops of Scotland on the Scottish Parliament Election, Catechism teaching on key topics regarding Catholic Social Teaching, suggested questions for candidates and a prayer for the election. Ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election on 7th May, all are encouraged to read the briefing pack and prayerfully prepare for voting, or visit https://rcpolitics.org/scottish-parliament-election-2026/ to review the material.
Hour of Mercy on Divine Mercy Sunday – 12th April 2026
On Divine Mercy Sunday on 12th April there will be a Holy Hour in the Cathedral at 3:00pm. Jesus said to Saint Faustina: ‘Mankind will not have peace until it turns with trust to My mercy’. The institution of the feast was inspired by a desire of Jesus which was conveyed by Sister Faustina. The Lord Jesus told her: ‘I want the first Sunday after Easter to be the Feast of Mercy… to be a refuge and sanctuary for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the depths of My mercy are open; I pour out a whole sea of graces on souls that approach the fount of My mercy.’ During the Holy Hour, in English and Polish, there will be exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and an opportunity for confession. You are invited to join on this special day to experience the Divine Mercy of God. Jesus asked St Faustina that the Feast of the Divine Mercy be preceded by a Novena to the Divine Mercy which begins on Good Friday. Some copies are available at the back of the church and it is available at https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/novena.
Cathedral Building Fund Appeal
Just £72,000 to go to reach our Phase 1 target of £500,000! The £428,000 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 websit 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 can, 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!
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
Tenebrae at the Chapel of St. Albert the Great
Tenebrae, with hymns and readings for Lauds and Matins for the days of the Triduum, is at 9.30am on Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday at the Chapel of St. Albert the Great, 24 George Square, EH8 9LD. The Tenebrae service is sung, with the church lit by 15 candles, and will be live streamed at https://scotland.op.org/live/. Level access to St. Albert’s Chapel is from George Square Lane which is behind 23 and 24 George Square and beside Middle Meadow Walk.
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.
Young Adults Pilgrimage to Rome
The Edinburgh Jesuit Church of the Sacred Heart invites Young Adults to join them on pilgrimage in Rome from 1 - 4 May 2026. Contact Fr David Stewart SJ at ejcyoungadults@jesuit.org.uk
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/.
Archdiocesan Lourdes Summer Pilgrimage
There are some spaces available on the Archdiocesan Summer Pilgrimage to Lourdes for supported pilgrims and their carers, as well as nurses. Supported pilgrims are those who are ill, disabled or infirm, and they will fly out with the Archdiocese from Edinburgh and stay in the Saint Frai supported accommodation. Please email enquiries@edinburgh-lourdes.com. Spaces on the plane for hotel pilgrims are limited. Contact Tangney Tours to be placed on a waiting list or to ask about alternative travel arrangements: 01732 886666, sales@tangney-tours.com, or visit https://www.tangney-tours.com/tours-and-pilgrimages/diocese-edinburgh/