Rite of the Signing of the Cross
Today we celebrate the Rite of the Signing with the Cross for those children preparing to receive the Sacrament of First Reconciliation in February. May they always know the Cross as a sign of God’s love and mercy. Do please keep these children and their families in your prayers.
Youth Group
The Youth Group is back on 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 Questions? Contact Fr. Robert at frrobert@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Young Adults Group ‘The Language of the Church’ Talks
The Young Adults Group will meet again Tuesday, 5th November for our talks on ‘The Language of the Church. Fr. Ninian Doohan will speak on ‘Be with Him in His Resurrection.’ 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!
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.
November Lists
This month, we pray especially for the faithful departed. Please take a November List from the back of church, write 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. A special prayer for the faithful departed will be said at the end of Masses during November.
Saturday Morning Mass, Eucharistic Adoration & Confession
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is a time for peaceful prayer and quiet before Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, every Saturday following the 10:00am Mass, from 10:30am-12:00pm concluding with Benediction. Saturday Confessions are from 10:30am-12:00pm. “From the Eucharist comes the strength to live the Christian life with zeal and to share that life with others.” St. John Paul II
Friendship Group: Coffee Afternoon
The Friendship Group Coffee Afternoon is on Tuesday 5 November 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!
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
Tickets on Sale for Adult Quiz Night Friday, 15th November
Tickets are on sale from this weekend after all Masses for our next Adults Quiz Night in Coffee Saints on Friday 15th November at 7:00pm. 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 are £10 per person with all proceeds to Cathedral funds. Due to the high level of demand, tickets will not be available on the door. There will only be 70 tickets, so it is first come, first served! Email reservations for tickets to cathedralhouse@stmaryscathedral.co.uk
Christmas Gift Collection for Prisoners’ Children
This month the parish will have the annual collection of donated gifts for the children of the adults who are prisoners in Edinburgh (Saughton) Prison at Christmas. Please donate gifts that are new and wrapped in Christmas gift wrap, including a label stating the age of the child and if the gift is suitable for a boy or a girl. Gifts for children from 11 years upwards are most appreciated. A collection box will be at the back of both churches before all Masses over the weekends of Saturday 9th/Sunday 10th November and Saturday 16th/Sunday 17th November. Please be as generous as you have been in past years. Many thanks in advance!
St. Paul’s Bookshop: New Lectionary Study Edition, Christmas Gifts
Starting on Sunday 1 December, an updated Lectionary with slightly different translation of the Sacred Scriptures (the ESV-CE) will be used in all parishes. A new Sunday Missal also will be available, as well. Visit the Cathedral’s St Pauls Bookshop for the new Lectionary Study Edition, Ambo Edition and Chapel Edition, all at a 10% discount. Stop in the shop for Christmas gifts, crib sets, Christmas cards, calendars and lots more. Hours: 10:00am to 5:30pm, 7 days a week, edinburgh@stpauls.org.uk 0131 510 4260.
Leaflets on the New Lectionary
To find out more about why a New Lectionary will be used starting the First Sunday of Advent, please take one of the leaflets available at the back of church “The New Lectionary Explained” (Catholic Truth Society).
Annual Mass Attendance Census This Weekend
The Archdiocese’s Annual Mass Attendance Census will be taken this weekend Saturday, 2nd November and Sunday, 3rd November.
Ravelston Community Meeting: Thursday, 7 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.
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 29th November for Feast of St Andrew
Come and 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 from 9/10 November, £8 individual and £12 family (2 adults and children). Funds will go to St Andrew's church funds.
Diploma in Catechetics 2025 Registration Open
Take the Diploma in Catechetics and make the Holy Year 2025 a time of newness and deepening in your life of faith! The course starts in January with weekly lectures on Zoom, guided reading from the Catechism and regular 1-to-1 support. For the Holy Year the course is being offered at £125 (normally £200). Register at bit.ly/diploma2025
Reflection Group for Young Women on Religious Life
What is the vocation of Religious Sister? Young women are invited to find out as we read, discuss and pray Wednesday, 6 November, 7:00pm-9:00pm at the Convent at 9 Upper Gray Street, Edinburgh, EH9 1SN. Our reading will be from Vita Consecrata, the apostolic exhortation from St John Paul II. To attend, please contact Sr. Mirjam Hugens at religiousvocations@staned.org.uk
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
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 bit.ly/lectionaryadvent
Evangelisation & Culture: Bishop Barron Conference on the Bible
Join Bishop Barron, N.T. Wright, Tracey Rowland, and other renowned speakers at the Evangelisation & Culture Conference on the Bible at Excel London, in the heart of London’s historic Royal Docks, Friday, 20 February-Saturday, 21 February 2025. Gain a deeper appreciation of the Sacred Scriptures and grow in your evangelisation efforts. Full event details at https://events.wordonfire.org/the-bible-event
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 will be voted on by MPs on 29 November and is the most serious threat to vulnerable lives since the Abortion Act in 1967. Visit https://www.spuc.org.uk/assistedsuicidescotland to contact your MP or use the QR code. The text of a letter is already prepared and you can add your own words – it takes a minute!
2025 Faith Winter Conference for Young Adults: ‘Why the Church?’
This new year Fr. Robert will be taking a group of young adults to the Faith Winter Conference from Thursday, 2nd January to Saturday, 4th January. The conference will be held at Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe, and the theme is “Why the Church?: ‘The Fullness of Him Who Fills All in All.’ (Ephesians 1:23). Young people ages 16 and 30 are invited to join with young Catholics from across the UK for these days of catechetical, spiritual and social activities. Cost for students: £180. Register at www.faith.org.uk/events