Cluster News

9/10 January

Live streamed Masses here

Dear parishioner,

We hope this finds you and your families well and welcome to our first Cluster News of 2021. During this challenging time of a second lockdown, let us remember the gifts and talents that we have been given for building the Kingdom of God, despite and in the midst of adversity. Let’s continue to pray for one another and especially those who are struggling at this time. With my prayers, best wishes and blessings,

Fr. Alex

Weekend Liturgy:

The Baptism of the Lord B

Children's Liturgy:

The Baptism of the Lord B

Level 4 Restrictions

Closure of Places of Worship

except for Funerals or Weddings

see cluster email of 6th January

St Gregory's

Phone: 07401 071 732

St John Vianney's

Phone: 07898 170 282

St Catherine's

Phone: 07869 473 068

All phones lines are closed for booking inquiries but we will continue to monitor them.

Views from the pews

(those lovely gift bags)

Just before Christmas, my front door bell rang. When I answered it, there stood Father Christmas, in the guise of Frank Meehan! He delivered a bag of wonderful gifts from you all. Thank you so much for your thoughtful generosity. May God bless you at this Holy Season and grant you Health and Peace in the year to come. With playful thanks, 

Jean Harvey x

(conveyed by Catherine Homan)

***

May I take this opportunity, to wish all the parishioners of the South Edinburgh Cluster, a very happy Christmas, and to thank everyone involved in bringing to us each week, the weekly services and news. It has obviously taken a lot of very hard work, but I am sure is greatly appreciated by all of us parishioners.
I would also like to say thank you for my Christmas bag of goodies I received, I was extremely touched.
I hope the coming New Year brings us all hope, love and peace.
Kathleen Thomson

***

(Not forgetting the Christmas Eve Zoom)

We both wish to thank Fr Alex and all involved in keeping us connected as a faith community, despite the difficulties of Covid 19.
Your thoughtfulness and efforts are greatly appreciated. The year ended with the beautiful Christmas Services and Zoom Session which we found inspirational and uplifting, highlighting the Christmas Message of Hope, Peace and Love.
We pray ,as we enter 2021, a year of new beginnings, that we will all carry the light of Hope with a servant heart and a caring, loving spirit across the Ministeries in our Cluster.
Blessings
Frank and Maureen (Quinn)

***

The whole service was fantastic children superb.
Maureen Wallbanks

***

Hi Father Alex

The service was fantastic, Where can you view the recording? Hope you have a peaceful Christmas. God Bless.

Patricia McGlashan (Patricia click here)



(Christmas Eve Zoom continues)

Dear folks what a wonderful celebration this evening and beautifully presented ; a real family experience; thank you and Happy Christmas.
Sr.Christine and Sr. Jeannette

***

Thank you all for the lovely service this afternoon. I appreciate all the hard work put into producing this by so many people.
Happy Christmas everyone.
Morag Jamieson

***

That was beautiful. Thank you to everyone who contributed. Merry Christmas.
Maureen (Martin) 🙏🙏🙏🎄🎄🎄

***

Many thanks to all who made our service this afternoon a wonderful experience and a great start to our Christmas. God bless you all and I hope you and your families have the best Christmas possible in the current circumstances.
Mary (Thomson)

***

Thank you all for a beautiful service. Merry Christmas. Love from Lesley Lynch

***
Many thanks to all the people who've worked so hard to put together this CHRISTMAS SERVICE so beautifully .I’m sure we’re all feeling uplifted and looking forward to our Christmas Day together with our families.

God Bless Each One of us
Margaret Ellison

***

Thank you thank you thank you to everyone involved in putting together today- a true reminder of love xx
Nicola Heatlie

***

Many thanks to all who contribute to the weekly cluster news & liturgy. It has been a very valuable resource for keeping the parishes connected. The Christmas Eve service was fantastic. The young people and adults who took part were great. I enjoyed listening to you all. The hope speeches were especially good. Thank you all so much for your time, commitment and hard work throughout this pandemic. God Bless
Maureen Martin (SJV)

Also an e-card link

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Services

(within SEECAT) will take place on Monday 18 January at 2pm on Zoom and Thursday 21 January at 7pm on Facebook Live.

The theme this year is ‘Abiding in Christ’. The resources were prepared by the Monastic Community of Grandchamp in Switzerland. The readings, prayers and reflections for the week can be viewed on the WPCU website.

Those who wish to attend should contact Pat Thomas, email pat.jax10@icloud.com for the Zoom and Facebook Live links.

St Gregory’s Christmas Raffle

A huge thank you to all who took part in the Christmas raffle especially at this difficult time you raised the fantastic amount of £375. Also a huge thank you to those who also donated extra prizes - in all we ended up with 15 prizes.
Thank you for your support.
 Jacinta on behalf of St Gregory’s

200 Club 2021

Given our present challenges including financial ones, I have decided to continue with the 200 Club during 2021. (50 % of monies raised benefits the St Gregory's Development Fund). The Club is open to all parishioners and their friends and family and I am particularly keen to increase the number of people participating - there were 86 numbers operating in 2020. Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could reach the 200 mark ?

For those who already have numbers, please sign up again this year. If you need to reduce the amount of numbers you have, that's ok too. New members welcome. The Club runs from January - November and a number costs £1 per month. Multiple numbers welcomed. Draw at end of each month. Wherever possible, unless of course you have multiple numbers, full annual payment upfront would be helpful. I am happy to collect the money - just contact me on 07792447436. It would be helpful if the money could be put in a sealed envelope with your name, telephone number and amount paid. (1 number = £11 per year). Envelopes can also be put through the letterboxes of The Parish House, Jacinta's 59 Walter Scott Avenue EH16 5RN or mine, 130 Alnwickhill Road EH16 6NQ. 

You have to be in it to win it....

Ann Callaghan

Fire and Water

We invite you to explore the power of the sacraments in a new series of talks hosted by the Archdiocese.

The first talk is titled Fire & Water, and covers Confirmation and Baptism. Sr Anna Marie McGuan, our Catechetics Advisor, leads the 45 minute session and is encouraging Catholics across the Archdiocese to take part.

Email: sranna.marie@staned.org.uk

A prayer before Silence

Loving God,

we seek your presence

in the silence beyond words

looking to you for comfort,

strength, protection and reassurance

breathing with gratitude

holding on to hope

trusting with faith

that you are God

in the midst of the turmoil

and that your love reaches

to the ends of the earth.

Be present with us now.

(Silence)

Justice Matters 2021

Welcome.  It’s that time of year where we make new resolutions and review old ones.   It is no different in this strange year.  This fits so well with Pope Francis’ plea that we see, we reflect and we act and reminds us that we are permanently on the move – there is nothing about us, around us or within us that is the same as last year.   The gospel today is about the baptism of Jesus, a new beginning for him and for the world. 

See:   We are seeing a new beginning as the vaccine sends hope to many in our country and beyond.  For some of us the pandemic has been a time of quiet routine where the most challenging thing has been to stave off boredom.  We have seen more nature, used the car less and generally tried to appreciate what we have.  For others however things have been different – the difficulties of parenting; of being “locked in” in, houses that are cold and damp;  of working in situations that are unsafe but necessary – shops, factories, hospital and care homes. Abroad we have seen countries unable to provide health care because money is diverted to pay debts to private debtors. We see our government in Westminster reduce the aid budget.  

Reflect: A new saying has gained traction – “We are all in the same storm but not in the same boat.”  Do you recognise your own situation?  Do you recognise others’ situations?  What has the impact been on you – a new admiration of so called “low skilled” jobs? A guilt or relief that you have been so lucky?  A self- belief that in general we all have what we deserve?  A re-energising of one’s vision for a better world?   A reaching out to others whose boats aren’t so seaworthy?  

Act:  There are many signs of action by people who are reaching out.  Avaaz reviews what it did last year and gives a glimpse of what can be done by acting together. At this time of pandemic perhaps we could look at ensuring the vaccine is available to all at a pace that takes into accounts people’s needs and not company’s profits.

Pope Francis urges us to act and to pray and you are warmly welcomed to join with people locally to pray and talk  in our eco circle on Tuesday at 5.30pm and also our Palestine/Israel awareness raising/prayer groups on Tuesday and Friday at 6.30pm. 
You are held in prayer

Please remember in your prayers those who are sick:

Fr Eugen

Evelyn Levine

James Duffy 

Eileen Kelly

Ronan Boyle

John Boyle

Binne Vries.

Hazel Martin

Paul Brennan

Maureen Phillips

Mary Boyle 

Mary Dias

Catriona McAuley

Elaine Hepburn 

Michael

Lorraine 

Marie

Sophie

Roney Fernandes

Christopher Browne

Xaverina Rodrigues

Anne and Helen

Sacred Heart sisters in Avigliana, Italy and Algorta, Spain

I am the Resurrection and the Life

We remember in love:

Marie Ireland

Dermot Homan

Madge Halliday 

Sr Barbara Farquharson

Kuriakose Joseph


Anniversaries

St Gregory’s

Mary Ellen McCole, Nancy Wilson,

Mary Roarty, Peggy Cairney,

Marie Perry, Andrew Doig,

Anne Perry, John Daly, 

St John Vianney's

Agnes Waugh, Karen Quigley,

Margaret Dobbyn, James McGeown,

Peter Murray, Ina Hogg,

Hugh Higgins, John Clark,

Patrick Durick Doherty, Joseph McVey,

Mary Lawson, Janet Greenshields,

Nigel Quigley, Kate Smith,

Margaret Moore, Margaret Wood,

Frances Watson, Packie Coyle,

Mary May Gallagher, James Muldoon,

Francesca Wood, Mary Hogg,

Edward Rodie, Bernard Gardner,

Patrick Boyle, John O’Day,

May Beveridge Higgins.

For those without internet access

If you know a parishioner without internet access please tell them about our podcast. For the cost of a local call,  0131 357 6463  they can hear our Lockdown Liturgy (available on Sunday).

Thank you!

A big thank you to all those who are calling people in the cluster and keeping them feeling connected to us. The restrictions have underlined the importance of relationships and you are so important for helping our parishioners - especially those who may feel isolated through the lack of an internet connection. You are that vital connection and we thank you sincerely.

United in prayer: Tues 2.45 & Weds 7pm
Our Prayer Foundation invite us all to join in 30 min of silent prayer. For an example of an opening prayer see here.

For prayer requests email clare.roller@icloud.com

The relevant food bank for the cluster is: 47 Southhouse Broadway EH17 8AS

Phone number 664 9353
Email edinburghfoodbank@blythswood.org

Items needed this week
 

 Tinned Potatoes, Cooking oil, Chocolate spread, eggs, Tinned Macaroni cheese.

Also desperate for food carrier bags.

If anyone would like to give a gift then there are three ways this can be done:

  • Use Online Banking:

Account name - R.Arch of St A St Cath 2

Account Number - 00693806

Sort Code - 80 02 73

Reference - Father Fallon

  • Use a special collection offertory envelope and leave in collection box - marked, Father Fallon
  • Use any envelope and leave in collection box - marked, Father Fallon
  • If none of these are suitable for you then please contact Fred McConnell - fredmcconnell@btinternet.com or 07901 964 100 for alternatives.

Please make sure that it is clearly marked, Father Fallon.

Children's Winter Coats

If any parent or guardian is in need of a good winter coat for their child, could they get in touch with us through our email address: southedclust@btinternet.com. This request will be managed in the strictest confidence.

Double the love: the government will match your donations! 

From today until 31 Jan 2021 public donations made to our Double The Love appeal will be matched by the UK government, up to £2 million.

Job opportunity with the Salvation Army

Closing date 17th January

Click here for details.

Bethlehem here and now

Bethlehem did not celebrate

When Jesus first was born;

For who could know that he was there?

Or on a census form?

A couple far away from home,

And shepherds, it is said,

Welcomed a new-born joy to them. –

and stars the Magi read.

The centuries have told the tale –

he was born with little fuss;

festivities and lights they had,

but now he comes to us.


He quietly rings the heart-strings;

He’s waiting in the queue;

So put on hold those many things,

And let him come to you.

If you don’t see him in the shops.

Or in the Christmas fare,

Then open what the presents mean –

the love of God is there.

Quite right to celebrate this night,

For see he comes again,

And you are now his welcomers,

Your heart’s his Bethlehem.

Jeff Bagnall 2003

Follow Jeff's weekly reflections here

"What do you want to be

when you grow up?"


"Kind," said the boy.

from

"The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse" by Charlie Mackery

Published by Penguin