Cluster News

13/14 February

Dear parishioner,

Touch is what makes us human. It's importance has been highlighted for us because of the pandemic. Jesus was not afraid to reach out and touch the leper, although, by doing so, he was breaking the Law. This week, could you make contact with someone you haven’t been "in touch" with recently?

Fr. Alex

Weekend Liturgy:

Sixth Sunday of the Year B

Children's Liturgy:

Sixth Sunday of the Year B

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.

Our weekend resources team have gone the extra mile and have prepared resources for you for Ash Wednesday. A lockdown liturgy and children's liturgy are now available. We are sincerely grateful to those who made this possible.

Bible Study sessions started yesterday morning with 17 participants. Remember them in your prayers as they explore the Word of God together.

Christ in the Desert by Ivan Kramskoi

The cluster is offering a series of Lenten Sessions organised by groups of parishioners. They will run on Monday evenings at 7.30 and the first of these is tomorrow. To join, email cluster.alpha@outlook.com. See you there!

Friday 19th February is the day designated by the Bishops of Scotland as the annual Day of Prayer for Those who have Suffered Abuse.

Click on the picture for a copy of the Stations.

Salted Caramel Cheesecake & Gin Fizz

Opportunities for Missionary Discipleship

connect groups discuss the gospel
an eco-circle meets weekly
Israel-Palestine “See and Pray” group
twice weekly meetings for silent prayer.

Click on any of the links to find out more.

Hymn of the week:

Morning has broken

Chosen by Eileen Lewis who says:

“Paul and I will celebrate our 45th wedding anniversary later this year. In 1976, Morning Has Broken was quite new to us all, although I've learned it was written long before then. Of course, it was our wedding hymn. But at this time, in this weather, for me it's a timely reminder of the life that is creeping back with the Spring.”

(Got a favourite? alisa.winter@gmail.com)

Fair Trade Festival: 22 Feb - 7 Mar

Join the free virtual festival to hear why winning a fairer deal for farmers and workers is critical in tackling the climate crisis. The festival will feature:

Workers explaining why they need to earn more to survive a climate crisis.
Farmers, experts and famous faces talking about how we choose a better future.
Music, art and entertainment, from all corners of our world and fun interactive workshops on sustainable living here in the UK. Find out more

Justice Matters: Reaching out to the Excluded

The readings today give us two perspectives on leprosy. In the first reading it inspires fear and warrants expulsion from society. In the gospel Jesus has compassion and cures the man of leprosy, reaching out and touching him. These are two very different reactions – inclusion and exclusion. One born of love and one born of fear.

See: There are many examples of people reaching out to others be it to seek justice through writing letters e.g. for Amnesty International. Others give time through volunteering. There are however signs which show behaviour born more of fear than love, for example the UK’s treatment of refugees and migrants whether their flight be due to war or the climate crisis.

Reflect: Central to Christianity is to treat others the way we would want to be treated. Pope Francis eloquently explores this in chapter 2 of Fratelli Tutti At this time of our own enforced separations, Jesus’ reaching out to the leper is particularly poignant. How very much we want to be back with loved ones. Can our experience of loss and restriction help us to walk in the footsteps of refugees? Do we trust Jesus enough to reach out to these people through our government or do we give up hope and say it can’t be done?

Act: Organisations do work with and for refugees and people can read about their personal stories.

Last week we asked parishioners to send their ideas as to what they intend to do for Lent and in particular ideas that will help us to connect with the earth and live more lightly on the earth. It would be great to hear from you. Please send your emails to jp.seecat@gmail.com and if you are under 16 please ask a parent/guardian to send the email from their address. Thanks very much.

You are held in prayer

Please remember in your prayers those who are sick:

Eileen Kelly,

Anne Doig, Sr May Lewis,

Jessie and George Ritchie,

John Skinner, John McGinley,

Paul Flockhart, David,

Margaret Martin, Fr Eugen,

Evelyn Levine, James Duffy,

Ronan Boyle, John Boyle,

Binne Vries, Hazel Martin,

Paul Brennan, Maureen Phillips, Mary Boyle, Mary Dias,

Catriona McAuley, Elaine Hepburn, 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:

Those who have died recently

Edith Fallon,

Catherine McHardy, Christopher Cowe,

Jane Michelle Doyle, Margaret Horyn,

Mary Malone, Hugh Gibbons

Anniversaries

Johannes Bechtloff, Cecilia Tan.

Danny McKelvey (JNR), Winnie Callaghan.

Margaret Keaney, Alice Monathan,

Agnes Jamieson, Andrew Anderson,

Andrew John Kelly, Ann Stevenson,

Tommy Lewis, Anne Pryde,

Joan Stuart, Thomas McArdle,

Mary Goonan, Kevin Crow,

Maisie Marron, Jane Stewart,

Alexander Ogilvie, Margaret McSevich,

Lilian Kyles, Andrew McLear,

Thomas McDonald, Catherine Glenwright,

Antonia James, Helen Watson,

Grace McPherson Mooney, Freddie Ward,

James Boyle, Craig McAleer.

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).

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

South Edinburgh Foodbank

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 Custard,

Sponge Puddings,

Small jars of Coffee,

Blue life long milk,

Fresh Fruit Juice,

size 6 Nappies.

Entitlements Page

There are many benefits and grants to which people are entitled but often they are not aware of these. We are going to put all these in an entitlements page. Please let us know of others you have come across.

Click on the picture to go there.

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.

Meet me alone, O Lord, meet me alone!

Let me feel for one moment the awful dignity of my own soul….

Bring me out from the hiding place of the fig leaves!

Let me hear Your voice in the Garden speaking to me – to me alone!

Is it not written, ‘When they were alone,

He expounded all things to His disciples’?

Meet me on my own threshold.

Meet me when the sun has gone down,

when the crowd has melted,

when the pulse of the city beats low.

Meet me in the stillness of my own heart,

in the quiet of my own room,

in the silence of my own reflective hour.

Reveal to me my greatness!

Flash your light upon the treasures

hid in my field!

Show me the diamond in my dust!

bring me the pearl from my sea!

When you have magnified my soul,

I shall learn my need of You!

George Matheson 1842 - 1906