Sixteenth Sunday of the Year - Year B

Welcome…

To Sister Mary Simone who has arrived from the USA to take over from Sister Mary Cora as Parish Secretary. Sister Mary Simone is a native of Sweeden. She studied philosophy and theology in Rome and has just completed her Novitiate Year. She will start working in the Parish Office at the beginning of August. Welcome also to Lucas LaRoche, a seminarian from the North American College in Rome, who is spending part of his summer here in Edinburgh. I know that you will make them both welcome.

Many thanks…

To Fr. Jamie and the other helpers from the parish who accompanied our young people to Ampleforth Abbey last week. The week went extremely well, the weather was fantastic, and the young people had a marvelous time. Thanks also to a number of very generous parishioner who helped to sponsor the event and to the SVDP who subsidized a number of youngsters.

God bless you all, Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie and Deacon Peter.

Read the newsletter for Sunday 22nd July 2018 (doc)

Read the newsletter for Sunday 22nd July 2018 (pdf)

Fifteenth Sunday of the Year - Year B

The Feast of the Assumption – Wednesday 15th August

The Assumption is our Patronal Feast here at the Cathedral. We will celebrate the feast as usual with a Pontifical Mass (i.e. with the Archbishop) at 12.45pm, but this year we will also celebrate with a short organ Recital by our new Organist Simon Leach after the 7pm evening Mass. The Recital will be entitled “In Praise of Mary” and will feature music dedicated to Our Lady over the centuries. It will be followed by a Champagne Reception (sic!) in the Café and the opportunity to meet Simon personally. Put the date in your diary and do come along.

Seeking Experts

Thanks to all those who responded to this appeal last week, but we are still looking for parishioners who might have specific expertise and who might be willing to help the parish by donating their time and talents! Specifically, we are looking for people who might have expertise in Event Management, grant applications and heritage and museums. If you have experience or expertise in these fields and if you might be willing to lend a hand could you please speak to one of the priests after Mass, or alternatively to Nicola McDonagh (St Mary’s) or Rosemary Milligan (St Andrew’s).

L'Arche: Edinburgh

“We human beings are all fundamentally the same. We all belong to a common, broken humanity. We all have wounded, vulnerable hearts. Each one of us needs to feel appreciated and understood.” ― Jean Vanier.

L'Arche Edinburgh is a community for people with and without disabilities. They are currently looking for people who are interested in community life to get in touch. They have many ways to be involved, from living in the community, working full-time or part-time, casual relief work, as well as a variety of volunteering opportunities. If you think you might be interested and would like to find out more, please look at the L'Arche Edinburgh website or get in touch edinburgh@larche.org.uk

God bless you all, Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie and Deacon Peter

Read the newsletter for Sunday, 15th July 2018 (doc)

Read the newsletter for Sunday 15th July 2018 (pdf)

Fourteenth Sunday of the Year - Year B

Cathedral Welcomers During the Festival, 1 -31 August

We need new “welcomers” after the great success of our Welcoming Initiative during the Festival last year. If you think you could possibly help please give your name at the end of Mass, speak to one of the priests, or contact the parish office. In addition, there will be a short meeting for all those involved on Saturday 28th July at 12 noon. This was a great undertaking last year – please do help again this year if you can.

Simon Leach - Our New Organist

As most of you will now know, our search for a new organist for the Cathedral concluded with the appointment of Mr Simon Leach. He is a prize-winning graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music and a Fellow of the Incorporated Society of Musicians. He is a wonderful talent and we are very excited about what he will bring to our liturgies with his music. He also offers tuition in piano, organ and harpsichord for students of all levels and abilities. If you would like to enquire about lessons, please contact him here.

Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie, and Deacon Peter

Read the newsletter for 8 July 2018 (doc)

Read the newsletter for 8 July 2018 (pdf)

Thirteenth Sunday of the Year – Year B

Cathedral Hall

I was recently approached by representatives of Laing O’Rourke - the construction firm working on the new St. James’ Centre – asking if we would consider renting the Parish Hall to them for the remainder of the construction period because they are desperately short of space. Their proposal was forwarded to the Parish Council, the Finance and Hall Committees and the Archdiocesan Trustees, and after some intense negotiations, it was decided to accept. The Hall will, therefore, be rented to Laing O’Rourke for the next 30 months. The café-space and the toilets will remain exclusively for the use of the Cathedral, and the Cathedral will have use of kitchen on Sundays for teas and coffees. In addition to this the Cathedral will have use of the Hall for all our major events: SVDP events, Parish Socials, School events, and events like ordinations, the Red Mass and the Festival Mass. The deal will allow the Cathedral to invest in much needed fabric work on Cathedral properties, we still get to use the Hall, and importantly it buys us a period of time while we consider how best to use this extremely valuable space once the new St. James’ Centre is open. In addition, they will not use the hall on Saturday afternoon or Sundays, so that to all intents and purposes most parishioners will hardly notice the change. Laing O’Rourke will move in next week. To the extent that you are aware of them, I hope you will make them very welcome.

A huge “Thank You” to those who organise Teas and Coffees

Teas and coffees after Mass are now suspended for the summer. I would like to say a huge thank you to the small group of volunteers who have nobly given up their time to provide this wonderful service and who have kept things going through thick and thin. We wish them a good rest and look forward to teas and coffees after Mass again after the summer.

Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie, and Deacon Peter

Download the newsletter for 1 July 2018 (doc)

Download the newsletter for 1 July 2018 (pdf)

Solemnity Of The Nativity Of St John The Baptist – Year B

Solemnity of Saints. Peter and Paul

Please note that Friday is the Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul. It is a Holy Day of Obligation which means that all Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Friday.

Teas and Coffees after Sunday Morning Masses

The opportunity to meet and mix with fellow parishioners after Sunday morning Mass is something valued by many people. However, we have a chronic shortage of volunteers to help with this! As always with these things, if enough people volunteer it is possible to make up a rota which means that each group are on once a month or once every three weeks. So, once again, we are appealing for volunteers. If you think you might be able to help on an occasional basis – can you please speak to one of the volunteers in the café ion Sunday. Please think about it and please be generous – remembering our time is our most valuable asset.

On Going Fabric Issues in the Cathedral

 We have put in an application to the Trustees of the Archdiocese for permission to move ahead with four major fabric projects. The first is the renewal of the third boiler in the Cathedral, the second is the re-alignment of the ventilation system for the boiler room, the third is to repair the lift in Cathedral House and the fourth is to renew the CCTV system throughout the complex. All of these items have been reported to us as needing to be done and so I think we will just have to bite the bullet and get on with them.

God bless you all, Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie and Deacon Peter

Newsletter for 24 June 2018 (doc)
Newsletter for 24 June 2018 (pdf)

Eleventh Sunday of the Year – Year B

Ordination of Patrick Harrigan

A group of nearly 30 parishioners travelled to Rome last week with Deacon Peter and myself for the Ordination of Patrick Harrigan. We had a great trip and I am happy to be able to inform you that Patrick was duly (and validly!) ordained to the Diaconate on Wednesday. We then had a very happy celebration on Wednesday evening and were able to present Patrick with a very generous gift on behalf of the parish. Patrick asked me to thank you all not only for your very kind gift but for all the prayers and spiritual support given to him over the years by the parish. We look forward to his ordination to the priesthood next year.

Farewell to Sr. Mary Cora

After only a year here in Scotland Sr. Mary Cora has, as you know, sadly been recalled to America. Sister has been a wonderful presence here over the last year and we will miss her very much – but we wish her well and promise her our prayers and good wishes in the next chapter of her service to the Church. Sister is flying back to the Sates on Monday morning and will be replaced by Sr. Mary Simone in mid-July. We will be making a presentation to Sister Mary Cora at Ravelston on Sunday morning.

Amalgamation of the Parishes of St. Mary’s Cathedral and St. Andrews, Ravelston

Last week I forwarded to the Archbishop the opinions of the parishioners who attended both parish meetings called to discuss his proposals for the future of the parishes. Having considered these opinions and having consulted now with both the Deanery and the Council of Priests, the Archbishop has decided to amalgamate the Cathedral Parish of St. Mary’s and the Parish of St. Andrew’s in Ravelston. He has issued a Decree to this effect, which has been posted on the noticeboard in the porch. Both Churches will remain open, both Churches will retain their dedication, and the assets and debts of both parishes will be maintained separately. This is a moderate and sensible decision made after years of patient consultation and consideration and I am happy to accept this decision of the Archbishop and to proceed accordingly.

St Vincent de Paul Society Summer Outing

Many thanks to all those who organised the SSVP summer outing yesterday. It was a great success and was enjoyed by all those who attended.

Rosary Beads Wanted

The Apostleship of the Sea, the Church's maritime welfare agency, is often asked for Rosary beads by the sailors they meet. Do you have a spare set of beads? Please will you consider donating them to the sailors. You can donate them after Masses on Sunday 17th June (including Vigil Mass). Why not look out those many sets of Rosary beads you have at home and donate them to a worthy cause?

Read the newsletter for Sunday, 17th June 2018 (doc)

Tenth Sunday of the Year- Year B

Ordination of Patrick Harrigan

As you know a group of 25 parishioners will be travelling to Rome this week to attend the ordination to the Diaconate of our Parishioner Patrick Harrigan on Wednesday. Please keep Patrick in your prayers as he prepares to make this important step in his life and say a prayer for us that we will travel then and back safely. We will remember the parish in our prayers at the Holy Places in Rome.

Rosary Beads Wanted

The Apostleship of the Sea, the Church's maritime welfare agency, is often asked for Rosary beads by the sailors they meet. Do you have a spare set of beads? So why not look them out and donate them to a worthy cause?

God bless you all, Fr Patrick, Fr Jamie and Deacon Peter. 

Newsletter for 10 June 2018 (doc)

Newsletter for 10 June 2018 (pdf)

Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ - Year B

Comings and Goings…
Fr Nick did the First Holy Communions here at the Cathedral yesterday (which were really lovely) and has now definitively relocated to Galashiels. Today, therefore, we welcome our new assistant priest, Fr Jamie McMorrin. Fr Jamie will introduce himself at most of the Masses this weekend and I know that you will make him feel very welcome.

Sadly, this week I also learned that Sr Mary Cora has been recalled by her Superiors to a new assignment in America. She will leave Edinburgh to become the Registrar at St Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia and will be replaced here by Sr Mary Simone. We will miss Sr Mary Cora very much. We will have a chance to say goodbye to her on the weekend of 16th/17th June.

Click here to download the newsletter for 3 June 2018 (doc)

Click here to download the newsletter for 3 June 2018 (pdf)

 

Solemnity of Pentecost - Year B

And so, farewell…

Sadly, for us, I have to let you know that the Archbishop this week appointed Fr. Nick to be the next Parish Priest of Galashiels in the Borders. This appointment will take effect during the week beginning 28th May and so next weekend will be Fr. Nick’s last weekend with us. He has had a good innings here at the Cathedral – having been here for nearly four years – and he has been a wonderful presence in this community building up many aspects of the life of the Cathedral and carrying the burden of the parish for much of his time here. I know that you will want to express you thanks to Fr. Nick and so I propose that we organise a Parish Social after a few weeks when we will invite him back and make a presentation. Fr. Nick is not here this weekend because he is supplying in Stirling (following the death of Fr. Began) but will be here next week to bid farewell. In his place the Archbishop has appointed Fr. Jaimie McMorrin – who is an excellent young priest only two years ordained and who has been working in Falkirk since his ordination. Fr. Jaimie’s first weekend will be the 2nd/3rd June.

Parish Restructuring

There is an important letter from the Archbishop to be read out at the end of all Masses today. In this letter the Archbishop proposes that the Cathedral Parish of St. Mary’s should be merged with St. Andrew’s Parish in Ravelston. As we already cover St. Andrews (and have done for some years) this is more or less a formalization of what is actually the present situation. Copies of the letter are available at the back of the Church, and there are also copies of a note concerning the financial organisation of the amalgamated parish – according to which the finances of both parishes will be merged in the future while each parish will maintain its own bank balances and debts from the past. This is a technical reorganisation which is sensible, and which will slightly simplify things for us. It will also encourage and enable us to work more closely together but, apart from that, (in my opinion)will have little discernible effect.

May Procession – Next Saturday – 2.30pm

The lovely Annual May Procession, organised by the Missionaries of Charity, will take place next Saturday, 26th May. It will begin at the Convent at 18 Hopetoun Crescent at 2:30pm and will process to the Cathedral. This is a beautiful and traditional devotion. Why not join in next Saturday?

God bless you and your families this week, Fr Patrick, Fr Nick and Deacon Peter

Click here to download this week's newsletter [doc]

Click here to download this week's newsletter [pdf]

Seventh Sunday of Easter - Year B

Society of St. Vincent de Paul

The SVDP at the Cathedral is one of the oldest and most active groups in our Parish. It runs a series of events throughout the year for the elderly and it also reaches out to those who are in any kind of need. A number of new members have recently joined but we still need more new members to expand the scope of the Society. Please prayerfully consider if you might be able to help. Would you join the SVDP? There will be members in the Octagon after each Mass this Sunday. Please – speak to them if you might be able to help at all.

New Organist

I am delighted to inform you that we have appointed a new Organist. We had a very strong short-list of candidates but in the end the panel appointed Simon Leach – currently Organist at the Holy Name in Manchester. Simon is an outstanding organist with an international reputation and we are delighted that he has accepted the post. Simon will take up his duties on the weekend of 8/9 September. In the meantime, our excellent stand in organist John Reilly will continue to play for us – for which we are extremely grateful.

Faith Summertime Youth Camp

Forms are now available for the annual Summer Camp at Ampleforth Abbey from 16-19 July for our 9 to 15 year olds. It promises to be a great few days of fun as well as learning more about the faith. The price of £160 includes transport to Ampleforth, full board, all activities and entrance to Flamingo Land Theme Park. See Fr Patrick or Fr Nick for more details.

God bless you and your families this week, Fr Patrick, Fr Nick and Deacon Peter.

Click here to download this week's newsletter [doc]

Click here to download this week's newsletter [pdf]