Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B

All Saints – Friday is a Holy Day of Obligation

This Friday, 1st November, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. This is a holiday of obligation in Scotland, meaning that Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on this day. Cathedral Masses will be at 8:00am, 10:00am and 12:45pm. An evening Mass will be celebrated in Ravelston at 6:00pm.

Sunday Noon Mass: Rite of Entrance into the Catechumenate

At the 12 noon Mass today, we will receive 17 people into the order of Catechumens! Please pray for these friends. As they journey towards full communion with the Catholic Church, may the Lord bless them in faith, hope and love.

Young Adults Group ‘The Language of the Church’ Talks

The Young Adults Group will meet again Tuesday, 29th October for our talks on ‘The Language of the Church. Fr. Kevin Douglas will speak on ‘Sharing in the divinity of Christ.’ All those between the ages of 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!

November Lists

During the month of November, we pray especially for the faithful departed. Please take a November List from the back of church to fill out with the names of those friends and family members who have passed away and return it to the Cathedral or St Andrew’s, Ravelston by placing it in the marked box found at the back of either church. Please try and return them before the 1st of November, but you can take them throughout the month of November.

Masses for the Faithful Departed

Please mark your diary and prepare to join us to remember the Faithful Departed of our parish, especially those who have died this year. We will celebrate this Mass at the Cathedral on Wednesday 13th November at 7:00pm and at St Andrew’s, Ravelston on Monday 18th November at 6:00pm. More details will follow in the coming weeks.

Friendship Group: Coffee Afternoon

The Friendship Group Coffee Afternoon is on Tuesday 29th October at 2:00pm-3:30pm in Coffee Saints. Open to all over 60; enjoy a 20% discount during the session time. Please come along and join us!

Register with Society of St. Vincent de Paul

Thank you to all who signed up to our events programme for parishioners 65 years and over. Please pick up a registration form, available at the back of church. Once completed please give your form to an SSVP member or hand it into Cathedral House. The events are great fun! You or a friend will thoroughly enjoy them. Our next event is the ever-popular Christmas lunch on Saturday, 7 December and the deadline for registration will be the first week of November.

Marriage Preparation Courses

The next parish Marriage Preparation Courses are Saturday 23rd November and then Saturday 1st March, both at St Andrew’s, Ravelston, with presentations by married couples. To register, please email cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk

Save the Date: Adult Quiz Night Friday, 15th November

Save the date for our next Adults Quiz Night in Coffee Saints on Friday 15th November at 7pm. Our quizmaster has compiled cunning questions on categories including literature, film, science, history, music and more! Come as a team (up to a max of 6 persons) or play it solo and win undying glory. We will have a cash bar and homemade curry and rice by Fr John Peter for the intermission. Cash prize for the winner, with wine for the runners up. Tickets will be on sale from the weekend of 2nd & 3rd November at £10 per person with all proceeds to Cathedral funds. There will only be 70 tickets so it is first come first served! Email reservations of tickets accepted at cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk

Christmas Gift Collection for Prisoners’ Children

It’s that time of year again when parishioners of the Cathedral & St Andrew’s, Ravelston, donate gifts to be distributed to the children of the adults who are prisoners in Edinburgh (Saughton) Prison at Christmas.

We ask that the gifts are new, wrapped in Christmas gift wrap, and with a label attached stating whether the gift is suitable for a boy or a girl and the age of the child. Gifts for older children from 11 years upwards would be most appreciated. There will be a collection box at the back of both churches before all Masses for the depositing of gifts. The box will be available at the Vigil Masses and the Sunday Masses over the weekends of Saturday 9th/Sunday 10th and Saturday 16th/Sunday 17th November. Please be as generous as you have been in past years. Many thanks in advance!

Youth Group Next Sunday

The Youth Group is back next Sunday, 3 November! Children from Primary 3 upwards are welcome to join us at St Andrew’s, Ravelston from 2.30pm – 4:00pm for fun activities, time to learn more of our faith and to make new friends, too. Fee is £1.00. Don’t forget spending money for the tuckshop! Register at https://bit.ly/ParishYouthGroup-Registration or use the QR code. Questions? Contact Fr. Robert at frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk

Ravelston Community Meeting: Thursday, 7th November

You are invited to a meeting in the rooms at St Andrew’s, Ravelston to hear about the work that is ongoing in the church from pastoral to fabric. It is also a chance to come and meet Fr Jeremy and hear about his vision for the wider parish of which St Andrew’s is an important part. The meeting follows on from 6:00pm Mass on Thursday, 7th November and will start at 6.30pm. Refreshments will be available.

Rosary in October

During the month of October, we pray the Rosary after the 6:00pm Mass, Monday-Friday, in St Andrew's, Ravelston. Come along to Mass and join in this beautiful devotion for the month. We are in need of another volunteer to help with this. If you are able to help once or twice, please e-mail cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk

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!

Ask Your MP to Vote ‘No’ on Assisted Suicide Bill in November

Take a minute and ask your MP to stop assisted suicide being rushed into law. The bill which will be voted on by MPs on 29 November is the most serious threat to vulnerable lives since the Abortion Act in 1967. Assisted suicide laws in other jurisdictions have had devastating consequences for the poor, disabled and marginalised. Please contact your MP by visiting https://www.spuc.org.uk/assistedsuicidescotland or use the QR code. The text of a letter is already prepared and you can add your own words – it takes just a minute!

All Souls’ Day Mass with Archbishop at Mount Vernon

Archbishop Cushley will offer Holy Mass for the repose of all the faithful departed who have died in the Archdiocese in the last year, especially those buried at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Edinburgh. This will take place on All Souls’ Day, Saturday 2 November, at 10:00am in the Cemetery Chapel at Mount Vernon Cemetery, 49 Mount Vernon Rd, Edinburgh, EH16 6JG.

Journey to Advent: A Retreat in Daily Life

The Edinburgh Jesuit Church of the Sacred Heart is offering Journey to Advent: A Retreat in Daily Life, from Sunday, 3 November to Sunday, 1 December, the first Sunday of Advent. The retreat is an opportunity to grow closer to God by committing to some daily prayer (perhaps 20 to 30 minutes), learning new ways of praying, and being accompanied by an experienced retreat guide. It begins with a meeting of prayer, reflection and an opportunity to meet your prayer guide. Join us at 5:30pm, Sunday, 3 November in the hall at Edinburgh Jesuit Church, 28 Lauriston Street, EH3 9DJ. To register, email ejcretreats@jesuit.org.uk

Pilgrimage of Hope Event Talks to Be Recorded

Talks will be recorded and posted on YouTube for the sold-out ‘Pilgrimage of Hope’ Archdiocesan event to be held Saturday, 9 November at the Gillis Centre in preparation for the 2025 Jubilee Year. Look for the recordings to be posted at https://www.youtube.com/@standrewsedinburgh2024

Young Adults’ Ceilidh Ball

The national Young Adults’ Ceilidh Ball is at Central Hall, 2 West Tollcross, Edinburgh, EH3 9BP on Saturday 16 November at 7:00pm. Includes live band and buffet. Details and tickets (£40) at bit.ly/edinburghceilidh Queries: Fr Robert Taylor frrobert.taylor@staned.org.uk

Youth Day P4-P7 – Wonder Woman St Margaret!

The Archdiocese is hosting a youth day for P4-P7 children at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB, on Saturday 16 November, 11:00am to 3:00pm, to coincide with the Feast of St Margaret. Includes games, talks and activities, concluding with Mass celebrated by Archbishop Leo. Register at bit.ly/youthdaymargaret

Prisoners Week 2024

The Prisoners Week 2024 official launch service will be Sunday, 17th November, from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm at Letham St Marks Church of Scotland, Rannoch Road, Perth (PH1 2HH) with reflections, music, and a talk centred on this year’s theme, ‘Hear My Voice’. Before and after the service, connect with charities and organisations working in similar fields (3 PM to 5 PM). Livestream at www.prisonersweek.org.uk

Edinburgh Circle Newman Association Talk: ‘Forgiveness: An Exploration’

Fr Jock Dalrymple from St John the Evangelist, Portobello and St Mary Magdalene’s, Bingham, will speak on ‘Forgiveness: An Exploration’ hosted by the Edinburgh Circle Newman Association at Mayfield Salisbury Church, 18 West Mayfield, EH9 1TQ, Monday, 25 November, 7.30pm - 9.30pm, with tea, coffee and biscuits at the break for discussion and questions. (The church is a 5-minute walk from St. Columba’s Catholic Church EH9 1SN.) Suggested donation £5 for non-members. Visit https://www.newman.org.uk/

Advent Zoom Series with Fr. Jamie on the New Lectionary

The Archdiocese is hosting a series of 45 min. talks on Zoom to take a closer look at the new Lectionary which is being introduced in Advent. Join Fr Jamie McMorrin at 7:00pm on Wednesdays: 4, 11 and 18 December. The sessions are free to attend. Register at bit.ly/lectionaryadvent

Annual Mass Attendance Census Next Weekend

The Archdiocese’s Annual Mass Attendance Census will be taken next weekend Saturday, 3rd November and Sunday, 4th November.

Read the newsletter for 27th October (pdf)