Cluster News
12/13 September

Live streamed Masses here

Congratulations Fr Alex!


Please join us in welcoming Fr. Alex as parish priest of all three parishes in the cluster. 

With Fr. Mike retiring, Fr. Alex will "flit' into St. Catherine's parish house this week and co-ordinate cluster activities from there.

Mike Knox Memorial Mass

Mike Knox's Requiem Mass took place in Tanzania last Tuesday and he was buried in the grounds of the centre he helped to build at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro.  The link for that Mass is here.

On Monday 14th September at 7pm there will be a Memoriai Mass in St John's Portobello. It will be  live-streamed and if you would like to watch it, the link is here. The organisers have suggested that people have a candle ready to light in his memory and for people to wear bright colours- reminiscent of Mike's flamboyant dress sense.
Prayer resources for adults:
24th Sunday of the Year A
Children's resources:
24th Sunday of the Year A

Phase 3: Mass available in our three parishes

To be able to attend your respective Mass, we would encourage you to make use of the phone option only if you are unable to book online. This will make things easier for our volunteers who are managing the booking system.

St Gregory's

Booking form

Phone: 07401 071 732

St John Vianney's

Booking form

Phone: 07898 170 282

St Catherine's

Booking form

Phone: 07869 473 068

On-line and telephone bookings can be made from Monday mornings through to Wednesday at 5pm. This will give booking staff time to finalise the list and to send a notice of confirmation to those on the list. You must receive a notice of confirmation in order to attend that weekend.

It is important that you read and understand what is required of you before, during and after attending Mass. We have prepared some guidelines about this and they can be found here.

We are conscious that we are not reaching every parishioner since lockdown and we would encourage you to share this information with anyone you know or suspect may not have internet access. Let's stay connected!

Hymn of the Week:
I will make this day my prayer

Sister Jeannette's choice this week. More here

Still available this week

As Fr Alex moves into the Church house at St Catherine’s we would like to take the chance to do some minor repairs and to decorate some of the rooms.

We also need to do some de-cluttering and furniture moving.

As well as fit DIY decorators and labourers it would be great to have a group of volunteer tradespeople/ professionals to call on from time to time. (eg ICT, building maintenance, electrical, plastering, plumbing, joinery, etc).

If you are willing to help please reply to southedcluster@btinternet.com indicating what kind of help you can offer and the Building Fabric Team will get back to you.

Keeping in contact

Hi there. Lockdown has really brought it home how important it is to stay connected but we need your permission to hold your details. Even if we held details for you in the past, we need you to confirm that you are still happy for us to hold them.

If we sent you a paper form or a link to the website form, please complete and return it if you have not already done so. If you, or somebody you know, haven’t received a form from us, the following link will take you to the form. Thank you. 

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

  • Use Online Banking with these bank details
  • 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 ensure that whichever way you choose that it is clearly marked, Father Fallon.

Views from the Pews

Kathy Duffy from St John Vianney's writes: 
A huge thank you to all the parishioners who posted their offertory envelopes either through the letterbox and all who brought them along to the first mass after a long lockdown. Greatly appreciated.

Maureen Martin (SJV) writes:
A great big thank you to all involved in getting all three Sunday masses up & running. It can’t have been an easy task. It was good to be part of one of the steward groups last week. The guidelines and information which we received beforehand were very clear which made our jobs easy. I feel the four of us worked well together despite never having done this before. We just fell into the roles naturally. 
I enjoyed speaking to parishioners as they came in - a totally new experience for me, so I learnt a lot of new names although I knew everyone by face. It was so good to see the two children and the baby take part. It was a lovely Mass and as ever a brilliant homily. Thank you. 

Beginning the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel (WWPPI)

Pope Francis writes, “access to safe drinkable water is a basic and universal human right, since it is essential to human survival and, as such, is a condition for the exercise of other human rights. Our world has a grave social debt towards the poor who lack access to drinking water, because they are denied the right to a life consistent with their inalienable dignity”. 

Laudato Si' #30

SEE:  Many reports explain how and why Palestinians lack adequate water… not a problem in the settlers’ towns in the West Bank: 

Amnesty International: “One of [Israeli policies] most devastating consequences is.. on Palestinians’ access to adequate supplies of clean and safe water”

Oxfam: “Palestinians in Gaza remember a time when almost everyone could drink clean water from the tap. Now less than four percent of fresh water is drinkable.”

Short video showiing one of countless actions against Palestinians in the South Hebron Hills.


REFLECT: Some of these reports are dated years ago yet these facts are still little known, in this year when the oppression of Palestinians by Israeli actions is increasing.  Why is that? Why is the international response so weak? Pope Francis urges us to listen to the cry of the poor  - are we doing so here?

ACT: As we enter WWPPI, pray especially for justice for all in the land. You could follow the links on the Pax Christi page.  join others to pray in a  zoom meeting for 20 minutes any Tuesday or Friday at 6:30pm. If you have questions, email jp.seecat@gmail.com
You are held in prayer
Please remember in your prayers those who are sick:
Dermot Homan
Chris Madden
Liz Martin
Mary Love
Mary Malone
Rachel Witte
Mary Dias
Catriona McAuley
Victor Julio Rodriguez
Iain Cusick
Elaine Hepburn
Cecilia Glancy
Annette Sibbald
Nancy Murray
Fiona Scott
Scott Fraser 
Ferne
Lorraine
Javier Molina Vasquez
Roney Fernandes
Christopher Browne
Xaverina Rodrigues
Derek Morgan
Anne and Helen
I am the Resurrection and the Life
We remember in love:
Mike Knox
Thomas Brock
Joyce Abrahams
Pat Tansey
Irene
Jackie Fraser
James Browne
Kathleen Boyle
Jane Hazelton
Jackie Scott
Sr Evelyn Gallagher
Billy Hill
Charlotte Farrell 
Robert Donaldson

May they rest in peace.

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, all they have to do is dial 0131 357 6463  to hear our Lockdown Liturgy (available on Sunday). The podcast also contains details of how to phone to make a booking to attend one of our cluster Masses.

The Alpha Course - still spaces left

The course begins in the week beg. 21st September and you can still be a part of it.

Want to meet up with people who are looking for a spiritual way through this pandemic? We'll share lots in confidence: faith, family, fears - and fun!

Each session lasts just 40 minutes and don't be put off because you are not sure about the "online" stuff - we'll support you through all that in advance with no fuss. Let's stay safe, pray safe and stay connected - through Alpha

Email:   Cluster.alpha@outlook.com

Mobile: 079 4766 0766

Twitter:   @ClusterAlpha

Faith in Action
Help for those struggling financially
If you are struggling on reduced wages or benefits at this time (or know someone who is), please contact us confidentially and we can forward that information to those who can help.
The relevant food bank for the cluster is: 47 Southhouse Broadway EH17 8AS
Phone number 664 9353
Email edinburghfoodbank@blythswood.org
You can donate by online bank:
Name: Blythswood Care
Sort Code: 80-91-26
Account no: 10413664
Reference: S.E. Edinburgh Foodbank
Items needed this week
  • Eggs, beans, rice, corned beef, fruit, jars of baby food.
  • Tinned items: Potatoes, carrots, mince, fruit, custard.
  • Chocolate, sweets, Mars/ Twix bars, crisps, snacks, biscuits, hot chocolate.
  • Tin foil, cling film, shampoo, toothpaste, shower gel
Rosie and the team
United in prayer: Tues 2.45 & Weds 7pm
Our Prayer Foundation invite us all to join in 30 min of silent prayer. For prayer requests email clare.roller@icloud.com
Finance
To find out how you can donate to the cluster at this time contact Fred, one of our cluster accountants, who will be happy help you with this. fredmcconnell@btinternet.com

The Avowal

As swimmers dare

to lie face to the sky

and water bears them,

as hawks rest upon air

and air sustains them,

so would I learn to attain

free fall, and float

into Creator Spirit’s deep embrace,

knowing no effort earns

that all-surrounding grace.

Denise Levertov (1923–1997)

Thought you might like to see this lovely pic of Ronin. 
He’s come through so much and is doing really well.

 Nearly 3 months old and weighs 9lbs 6oz. 
I haven’t seen him yet as we’re all being really careful, but can’t wait till I can cuddle him.

 
Isn’t it amazing what the power of prayer can do?   Susanne x