Young Adults Group Talk by Bishop Hugh Gilbert on the Eucharist
Our Young Adults Group will host Bishop Hugh Gilbert, OSB, of Aberdeen on Tuesday, 26 November for his talk on ‘Eucharist: The Source and Summit of the Christian Life’ for the conclusion of our series of talks ‘The Language of the Church.’ Young adults (ages 18-35) 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. Come along!
Mass for the Solemnity of St. Andrew
This Saturday, 30 November, we will celebrate the feast day of St. Andrew, our National Patron, whose relics are preserved here in the National Shrine of St. Andrew. Mass will be celebrated at 12:00pm by Archbishop Cushley, with public veneration of the relics following Mass. It was Andrew who, famously, brought St. Peter to Jesus – this feast day is your opportunity in a special way – to go to Jesus, through Andrew. The Sacrament of Confession will be available 1:00pm-2:00pm. Please note there will be no 10:00am Mass, and no Eucharistic Adoration or Confessions on that morning.
Visit of Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem
Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, will be at St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh on Sunday 1st December. His Eminence will preach at the 7:30pm Mass that will be presided at by Archbishop Cushley. All are welcome. This is an opportunity to hear something of the experience of the Church and wider community in the midst of the terrible war in the Holy Land and to express solidarity with all those who are suffering there.
Youth Group – Sunday, 1st December
The next Youth Group event will be Sunday, 1 December. Children from Primary 3 upwards are welcome to join us at St Andrew’s, Ravelston from 2.30pm – 4:00pm. New members are very welcome! Register at https://bit.ly/ParishYouthGroup-Registration or use the QR code. The new registration fee is £1.00. The afternoon has lots of fun activities, time to learn more of our faith and to make new friends, too. Don’t forget the spending money for the tuckshop! Questions? Contact Fr. Robert at frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Rorate Masses at the Cathedral and St. Andrew’s, Ravelston
Our beautiful Rorate Masses begin the first week of Advent. These are candlelit Masses and are the perfect way to prepare spiritually for Christmas.
Rorate Mass (Cathedral)
7:00pm, Thursdays 5th, 12th, 19th December
7:00pm, Monday 23rd December
Rorate Mass (Ravelston)
6:00pm, Mondays 2nd, 9th, 16th December
The Cathedral bookshop will also stay open until 8:00pm on the evenings of the Cathedral Rorate Masses.
Rorate Masses – Volunteers Needed
We are looking for volunteers to assist in preparing the Cathedral (laying out candles, welcoming people, etc) prior to the Rorate Masses and tidying up afterwards. You would need to be available from 6:00pm; if you can assist, then please contact Elizabeth Andrews at Elizabeth@rhandrews.plus.com or telephone 0131 553 1510 with a note of your availability.
Save the Dates: Outdoor Nativity Blessings by Archbishop
Archbishop Cushley will bless the Nativity Scene at Mound Place, Edinburgh, EH1 2LU, at 3:00pm on Sunday, 1 December. Then on Thursday, 5 December, at the end of the 7:00pm Rorate Mass at the Cathedral, the Archbishop will bless our outdoor crib at the top of the Cathedral steps. Do come along!
Use of New Lectionary Beginning Next Sunday
A New Lectionary will be in use for the readings at Masses in the UK starting next Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent, 1st December. To learn more about the new translation, please take one of the leaflets available at the back of church “The New Lectionary Explained” (Catholic Truth Society).
First Wednesdays — Prayers for Priests
The first Wednesday of each month, after the 12:45pm Mass, please join in prayers near the Lady Altar, including a Rosary and Litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to ask Our Lady’s intercession for our priests. All are welcome to participate in the prayers on Wednesday 4 December following 12:45pm Mass.
Bookshop – Christmas Crib Sets, Cards and More!
Advent begins next Sunday. As we prepare our hearts and homes for the celebration of Christ’s birth, the St Pauls Bookshop is preparing, as well, with a beautiful selection of Christmas crib sets, gifts, Christmas cards, calendars and much more. A great selection of Bibles for adults and children are in stock, as well as rosaries, icons, holy images, statues and classic spiritual reading and prayer books. Hours: 10:00am to 5:30pm, 7 days a week, edinburgh@stpauls.org.uk, 0131 510 4260.
Special Collection for Catholic Education This Weekend
The annual special collection for work of the Scottish Catholic Education Service will take place after all Masses this weekend.
Children Invited to Help with Outdoor Christmas Crib Today
After Mass today, Sunday, 24th November, children of the parish (and parents, too!) are invited to join us to set up our outdoor crib at St. Andrew's, Ravelston in preparation for Christmas. Then before 10:30am Mass on the First Sunday of Advent, 1st December, the children are invited to help us place the statues of Mary, Joseph, the shepherd and the empty manger as we look forward to Jesus' birth at Christmas.
St Andrew’s Talk on the Gospel of Luke
The next St Andrew’s Talk will be tomorrow Monday, 25th November when Fr Andrew Garden will be at Ravelston to talk about the Gospel of Luke as we prepare to enter into the new liturgical year in Advent which focuses on the Gospel account of St Luke. Join us for Mass at St Andrew’s from 6pm with the talk taking place in the rooms from 6.45pm. Refreshments will be available.
Each Wednesday 5:00pm Adoration & Confession
Stop in at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston on Wednesdays and spend some time with Jesus Our Lord during Eucharistic Adoration. Beginning from 5:00pm, we have Adoration, and a priest is available to hear Confessions until 5:45pm. Our Lord is waiting for you, so come and meet Him!
Parish Mass and Supper on Friday for Feast of St Andrew
Join us for a St Andrew’s supper on Friday, 29 November after 6:00pm Mass to celebrate the feast day of our patron (Saturday 30th November) in the church rooms at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston. Celebrate this important day in the calendar of our community and country with Mass and then join for two-course supper at 7:00pm in the parish rooms. Tickets on sale after Mass: £8 individual and £12 family (2 adults and children). Funds will go to St Andrew's church funds. Raffle on the night, prizes can be donated at the supper.
Kathedral Knits on Sale Next Sunday
Joanna Kopystynska’s beautiful, knitted goods for Christmas will be on sale at Ravelston after Mass next Sunday. The items are also available at www.kathedralknits.etsy.com. All proceeds go to support the parish.
Helpers Needed: Setup and Cleanup for Ravelston Rorate Masses
Please consider helping us to setup and cleanup for the beautiful candlelit Rorate Masses at St. Andrew’s, Ravelston, scheduled for 6:00pm on Mondays, starting 2nd December and concluding 16th December. We need helpers for each Mass to set up the candles around the church and to tidy them up after the Mass! If you can assist for any of these Masses, please contact cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Save the Date: Bacon Roll Fundraiser
Come along to our bacon roll morning on Sunday, 8 December after 10:30am Mass in aid of the Sisters of Mercy homeless project at St. Catherine's Convent, Lauriston Gardens. Please support this effort for a vulnerable group of people.
Ravelston Community Meeting Thank You & Notes
Thank you to all who attended our recent community meeting in Ravelston. Notes from the meeting are published on the parish noticeboard in the rooms and copies are available at the back of church. If you are interested in putting your name forward to serve as a Ravelston representatives to sit on the Parish Pastoral Council, please e-mail Fr Jeremy, administrator@stmaryscathedral.co.uk Nominations for this will close on Sunday 1st December.
Ask Your MP to Vote ‘No’ on Assisted Suicide Bill
Take a minute and ask your MP to stop assisted suicide being rushed into law. On 29 November, the UK Parliament will vote on an assisted suicide Bill. The result at Westminster will strongly influence MSPs at Holyrood, where the Scottish Parliament is also considering this issue. If passed, assisted suicide laws will damage NHS end of life care. Experience in other countries shows that abuses start to happen and vulnerable people are pressured to die. Many MPs have not made up their minds and want to hear from you: https://bit.ly/AssistedSuicideTalkingPoints
New Documentary: 'Do No Harm: The Slippery Slope of Assisted Dying'
“Do No Harm” is a short documentary, under 20 minutes, which highlights some of the grave concerns around proposals to legalise assisted dying in the UK and Scottish Parliaments. The video features Cardinal Vincent Nichols and Bishop John Keenan, along with experts from the medical and palliative care professions. The video challenges the robustness of tabled safeguards in the UK legislation by citing the experience of other jurisdictions which quickly eased access and expanded eligibility. View the documentary at https://bit.ly/DoNoHarm-video.
The Abortion Debate with Dr Calum Miller and Ann Furedi
Edinburgh Life Society is hosting a debate on Monday, 25 November, 7:00pm between Dr Calum Miller, a well-known pro-life medic, and Ann Furedi, former Chief Executive of the abortion provider, BPAS. The ticketed event will be held at the University of Edinburgh, 40 George Square, Lecture Theatre C, EH8 9JX. Whether you're pro-life, pro-choice, or somewhere in between, this event promises to challenge your thinking and spark meaningful conversations. Don't miss this opportunity to engage with two experts in the field. Purchase tickets (£5.00) at https://bit.ly/Callum-and-Furedi-Debate
Advent Zoom Series on the New Lectionary: What’s New and Why?
The translation of the Bible we hear at Mass is changing. Are you intrigued to find out more about what's new and why? Join Fr Jamie McMorrin in 45-minute sessions on Zoom over three weeks in December, exploring some practical examples of key words and phrases to listen out for in the Sunday Mass readings. The talks are at 7:00pm on Wednesdays: 4, 11 and 18 December. Register at https://bit.ly/lectionaryadvent