Cluster News

17/18 July

Dedicated Cluster contact number:

07877 121 402

Our Weekend Masses

For details of days, times and how to book please go to our dedicated page.

Live streamed Masses here

Brother and sisters,

We can all draw a lesson from the open-hearted behaviour of Christ in addressing the needs of others before his own.

By virtue of our baptismal calling, all of us have responsibilities and a certain amount of shepherding to do.

Fr. Alex

Lockdown Liturgy:

16th Sunday B

Children's Liturgy:

16th Sunday B

Communion Services will resume at St Gregory's every Wednesday at 9.30 am. No need to book but your details will be taken for Test & Protect purposes.

You may have listened to, or read about, the latest Covid-19 update from the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, earlier this week (Tuesday 13 July).

As part of this update the First Minister confirmed that all Council Areas in Scotland will move to level 0 on Monday 19 July 2021.  Moving to this level involves an easing of some Covid-19 restrictions, one of which is the reduction from 2m to 1m social distancing for indoor public places (which includes churches). As a result of this, we will be able to increase the numbers we can accommodate at Mass in each of our three churches with effect from Saturday 24 / Sunday 25 July. 

The Covid-19 Coordinators in each of the parishes are now working to establish how many people we can safely and comfortably accommodate in line with the new Scottish Government social distancing guidance.  We will share these numbers with you in the coming days. Please check here for updates nearer the time.

We would invite all those who wish to come to Mass to continue to book in the normal way.

You may also have heard that, at level 0, up to 200 people can attend weddings and funerals.  It is important to note that this is a maximum number and the actual number we can accommodate in our three churches will be broadly similar to the maximum number we can accommodate at Mass.

As always, please email soutedclust@btinternet.com if you have any questions.

City of Edinburgh Council

Parent Club: Get into Summer

Find tips and ideas to get your kids out and about, connecting with their friends and making new ones. We've lots of free events happening in Edinburgh to boost your kids' well-being and mental health. These include sport and outdoor learning activities, youth work activities, arts, culture, heritage and much more. So take a look and find out what’s happening near you. Help with transport costs available.

‘Calling all children in Primary 1-7 

Join our eco-awareness themed fun activities 'Echo Tribe'. Free to attend. There will be loads to do, including crafts made from reusable materials, planting, painting, building bug hotels, constructing echo huts, bee mansions, themed games and messy play. Every Tue in July, 11-12.30pm at Liberton Northfield Church Hall. Find out more

Pax Christi Scotland: Peace Vigil for Korea 

Pax Christi Scotland has been working ecumenically to promote the Korea Peace Appeal On Sunday, July 25 at 12pm there will be a Zoom vigil to reflect on the Korean situation and to pray for peace. Speakers include Anselmo Lee, founder of Pax Christi  Korea, and William Nolan, Bishop of  Galloway and an outspoken anti-nuclear campaigner. To find out more go to https://www.paxchristiscotland.org/. Register here

New Paragraph

Justice matters: Back to basics – Catholic Social Teaching

There have been all too many cases in the news where selfishness, or even some sort of superiority complex of race or class has been evident.   Catholicism gives us the vision for something better.

See 

It’s proclaimed to be “freedom day” in England when rules, especially about face coverings that have helped others to stay alive, are to be dropped.   Those whose vulnerability will most increase if face coverings aren’t used are those with jobs that directly serve the public. Scores of London bus drivers died from the virus; hundreds of care and NHS workers.  In the UK we invest in nuclear weapons while cutting aid to the poorest countries, claiming we can’t afford to do more.  We dehumanise refugees and those seeking asylum. We pay lip-service to the need to protect the planet and its climate but our actions are too weak. We treat the economy as a god to be served, not a human construct.

Reflect

So much of what we see and hear in the news feels wrong – and is. Anger, and the desire to be part of bringing about change, can be God-inspired reactions to what we see. We are guided in how to respond by Catholic Social Teaching (CST).

CST is not an optional extra that we can give attention to if we want to. It’s what we do as we grow closer to Christ, and because we live on this Earth with other people – we are social creatures and part of the Earth. CST is about how we are all called to continuing growth in how we live in justice and peace as part of the Body of Christ. 

Act

There is a wonderful short summary of CST in the CAFOD website. There are terms that might be new to some, but we will all recognise in its principles how we already live each day, making choices that help our neighbours, reduce our impact on the Earth, and seek justice for others. CST principles might give us added ideas for living as missionary disciples.

(It would be helpful to the writers of Justice Matters to receive your reactions to it, however brief. Thank you.  mike.mineter@gmail.com)
You are held in prayer

Please remember in your prayers

those who are sick:

John, Jennifer,

Annette Sibbald, Christopher Mackinnon,

Gilmour Forrest, Ashley Hammond,

Baby Ffion Ellen Hammond, Maureen Lawson, Bailey Bruce McCann, Grettel Calvo Mendez,

Leah Gunn, Betty Dickinson,

Annette, Peter Robinson,

Catherine Hart, Karen Devlin,

Vo Van Tu, Scott Fraser,

Thea Maung, Maureen McEvoy,

Anne Doig, Sr May Lewis,

Jessie & George Ritchie,

John Skinner, John McGinley,

Fr Eugen, Evelyn Levine,

James Duffy, Ronan Boyle,

Hazel Martin, Mary Boyle,

Mary Dias, Catriona McAuley,

Elaine Hepburn, Marie,

Sophie, Roney Fernandes,

Christopher Browne, Xaverina Rodrigues,

Anne and Helen,

Sacred Heart sisters in Uganda

I am the Resurrection and the Life

We remember in love

Those who have died recently:

Ina Connolly

Johnny Greeney,

Ann Nolan,

Sr. Monicah Nthanze Muthini,


Anniversaries

St Catherine’s

Helen Bagan, Norma Meehan.

St. Gregory's 

Charlotte Farrell, Paddy Roarty,

Pat Mulgrew, Duncan Balloch,

Tracy Marie Davidson,

St John Vianney's

Loreta Visco Di Marco, Patrick Hackett,

Joeler Bayoges, James Ritchie,

Robert Burns, Patrick Skilling,

Kevin Conway, Kathleen (Bunty) Martin,

Margaret Thomson, George More,

Jay Anderson, Alice Davey,

Mary Cafferkey, Mr Mielnicki,

Eileen Iwanow, Mary Naughton McKenzie.

Our Remembrance Gallery  is in memory of the loved ones we have lost during the pandemic. If you wish a loved one to be included, go here to find out how. You will also find information on what help our Cluster Bereavement Group offer for anyone who has been bereaved.

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

The relevant food bank for the cluster is:

47 Southhouse Broadway EH17 8AS     

Phone number 664 9353     

Email: edinburghfoodbank@blythswood.org

Needed this week:

  • Sponge puddings,
  • Litre bottles diluting juice,
  • Toddler snacks,
  • Jars of baby food,
  • Tomato ketchup,
  • Jars of mayo,
  • Fray Bentos pies,
  • Ladies' deodorant,
  • Size 4 nappies.

Are you struggling? We are here to help


If you, or anyone you know, is in need of financial support or a friendly telephone chat, call our SSVP in the Cluster:

St John Vianney's 07922 675196, 

St Gregory's 07757 845673, 

St Catherine's 07539 266411. 

If you would like to make a donation go here

The grant has increased to £120 for an eligible primary pupil and £150 for an eligible secondary pupil. More details here

Entitlements Page

What help are you entitled to?

There are many benefits and grants to which people are entitled. Please check our entitlements page. Let us also know of others. Scottish Child Payment: £10 a week paid monthly for each child under 6.

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

    1. Use Online Banking:

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

    Account Number - 00693806

    Sort Code - 80 02 73

    Reference - Father Fallon

    2. 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

    3. 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.

The Fund has been set up to help Fr Eugen in Romania. If anyone would like to give a gift, click on the down arrow above for details

First World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly

Pope Francis has established a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which will take place for the first time on 25 July on the theme 'I am with you always' (Mt 28:20), close to the feast of Sts Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. Watch Pope Francis' video message and put your thinking cap on how you will make Nana and Papa or an elderly person feel extra special and appreciated!