Live streamed Masses
Click on this link to find out about the celebration of Mass in various churches across the whole of Scotland.
Cluster News 18/19 July
Our buildings are closed.
Our church is open.
Our church is open.
You are welcome.
Dear Parishioner,
We hope that this finds you and your families well. Welcome to this week's Cluster News. If you would like to share any news or comments, let us know. southedclust@btinternet.com
Let's continue to pray for one another and especially those who are experiencing any difficulties during this challenging time. With our prayers, best wishes and blessings,
Fr Mike and Fr Alex.
Prayer resources for adults
Children's resources
Preparing to reopen our church buildings
Your views count. Your help is needed.As our preparations continue for opening our buildings safely for Mass, your views and your help are important. If you haven't filled in our questionnaire, please click here (by Mon evening). It is short and straightforward. Thank you!
If you missed last week's update click here.
Hymn of the Week:
This week’s hymn choice comes from Ellen Salvona who has selected "I watch the sunrise". Ellen says this hymn helped her through the sad death of her husband Harry.
One for the Kitchen; one for the bar
For parishioners without internet access
Phone service 0131 357 6463
The latest version becomes available on Sunday. After a short introductory welcome and a pause, you will hear everything that is on the Prayer Resources video.
A Diamond Wedding Anniversary!
Kathleen Smith writes:
George and Margo Pringle
from St Catherine's celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on 9th July and I am sure everyone would like to join with me to wish them a happy anniversary. They have both been shielding so please remember them in your prayers.
Happy Anniversary from the whole Cluster, Margo and George!
Prayer Foundation: Prayer in Lockdown
Our Prayer Foundation invite us all to be united in prayer on Tuesdays at 2.45pm and Wednesdays at 7pm. Please join us in prayer
clare.roller@icloud.com
Our Prayer Foundation invite us all to be united in prayer on Tuesdays at 2.45pm and Wednesdays at 7pm. Please join us in prayer
clare.roller@icloud.com
The Prayer Foundation are inviting everyone to a prayer service on Zoom on Sunday 26th July
from 2.00 - 3.15pm.
Six people have agreed to speak ( for a max of 5 minutes) about their experience of Lockdown, followed by 5 minutes silent reflection.
In order to join us you would need to let us know. Simply send an email to southedclust@btinternet.com
with the word "Prayer" in the subject line. We will send you a Zoom link on Sunday morning.
Going back to school
Pre-loved school uniforms needed.Donations of school uniform items in good condition would be greatly appreciated. Help other families and help fight climate change by reusing resources. Contact us for details of where to bring them: southedclust@btinternet.com
Bethany Trust volunteers
Since March, Bethany have been providing accommodation for homeless people in the Waverley Hotel in Princes Street. However on the 15th July, the hotel was returned to commercial use as we moved into Phase 3 of lockdown.
Fortunately, many guests have secured semi-permanent housing through the efforts of the Bethany Trust and as always, some guests prefer to live outdoors over the summer.
As it may not be possible for guests to return to Diadem in September due to current restrictions, Bethany staff are actively seeking alternative accommodation as a winter shelter.
Sincere thanks to everyone in the cluster for the magnificent support given to the homeless through the Prayer Foundation, generous financial donations, regular updates on the website and our volunteer helpers. It has been a joy to be part of the catering team at the Waverley, with Eileen Lewis, Tricia Kaminski and Nicola Heatlie. We all look forward to continuing this work with Bethany later this year. As well as providing evening meals and breakfast for the guests, the cluster has also donated much need supplies of new underwear and socks.
If you would be interested in becoming a volunteer or want to know more about Bethany please contact Joe Murray on 07725 582599.
Fortunately, many guests have secured semi-permanent housing through the efforts of the Bethany Trust and as always, some guests prefer to live outdoors over the summer.
As it may not be possible for guests to return to Diadem in September due to current restrictions, Bethany staff are actively seeking alternative accommodation as a winter shelter.
Sincere thanks to everyone in the cluster for the magnificent support given to the homeless through the Prayer Foundation, generous financial donations, regular updates on the website and our volunteer helpers. It has been a joy to be part of the catering team at the Waverley, with Eileen Lewis, Tricia Kaminski and Nicola Heatlie. We all look forward to continuing this work with Bethany later this year. As well as providing evening meals and breakfast for the guests, the cluster has also donated much need supplies of new underwear and socks.
If you would be interested in becoming a volunteer or want to know more about Bethany please contact Joe Murray on 07725 582599.
St Vincent de Paul: the work goes on
The members of our SSVP Conferences have been extremely busy offering time, friendship, advice and support in sustaining people(s) in vulnerable situations across our Cluster and beyond.
The poverties of loneliness, helplessness, hopelessness and loss of self esteem have been compounded by the restrictions caused by the pandemic (Covid 19).
The members have been reaching out, throughout these difficult and challenging times, with open hearts and a generous spirit, the priceless Vincentian gifts, we offer to people in need.
Prayers and Blessings.
Frank Quinn.
Views from the Pews
As usual our team has put together yet another beautifully presented cluster service & sharing information to keep us all connected. I look forward to this weekly email which truly uplifts my spirits. It was lovely to hear & see Grace, she did the reading beautifully. The hymn Anne Moore chose & the reasons were very emotive & thought provoking. Thank you for sharing your personal reasons with us all. It was great to see Sister Christine reading the bidding prayers & singing the psalm. The gospel was well read by Raol. He was very articulate & didn’t rush it. It’s fantastic seeing all these people as I haven't seen them since lockdown & some I don’t know. It’s like making new friends.
Lovely to see Ronin progressing. Just wish I could give him a great big hug. Here’s a virtual one.
It is truly amazing all the voluntary work that is still going on in the parishes in these difficult times., Bethany care trust, the refugees & asylum seekers Maureen Quinn informed us about, the food bank & off course our Ssvp is still going strong although in a different way. It’s wonderful that we are still able to reach out to the vulnerable & marginalised of our society in this pandemic. Well done to everyone. May God bless you all, keep you safe & shower you with many gifts & blessings.For Fr Mike
Lovely to hear & see Fr. Mike. I wish him a well deserved rest & happy retirement. Although I doubt he’ll get that if he’s still going to be around south east Edinburgh & the cluster parishes!! We’ll be knocking on his door looking for advice & support.
Thank you Fr Mike for all the years of dedication & commitment you have given to the 3 parishes. I have enjoyed your homilies over the years. They really made me sit up, listen & reflect on life & how God wants us to live & follow his son Jesus Christ. I found them very thought provoking. They made me realise that attending weekly mass is not enough, we have to go out to spread the gospel & good news to everyone we meet, through not only our prayers but action as well. That’s where becoming true missionary disciples comes in. Glad we’ll still see you around.
On a personal note I’d like to thank you for your help & support you gave to my mum Mary Martin & my family when my dad died suddenly in 2003 & we were between priests at St John Vianneys. Although you are a lot younger than my dad, we as family recognised the same humour you have & he had. It was such a comfort to have you do his funeral mass. Then when my mum was dying in 2017, you come to give her a blessing although mum was not a catholic. She was very fond of you & held you in high regard. You never forgot her after dad died & any masses & services she attended you greeted her by name & a great big hug. So Fr Mike thank you so much for all your personal touches. May God bless you, keep you safe & grant you good health.
Maureen Martin xxx
Margaret Ellison (on utube) writes:
Thank you Fr Mike for all you have done for us over the years .I sincerely hope you,ll still be around for a long time..Your Homilies are amazing and always seemed to be speaking to me personally when I needed help at that time .God Bless & Love Margaret Ellison x
You are held in prayer
Please remember in your prayers those who are sick:
Victor Julio Rodriguez
Natalie Brooks
Kathleen Boyle
Maureen Christie and family
Josie and Baby Ronin
Iain Cusick
Elaine Hepburn
Cecelia Glancy
Annette Sibbald
Nancy Murray
Fiona Scott
Scott Fraser
Ferne
Javier Molina Vasquez
Ranier Carpo
Roney Fernandes
Christopher Browne
Xaverina Rodrigues
Derek Morgan
June Jamieson and her son Alex
Anne and Helen
Victor Julio Rodriguez
Natalie Brooks
Kathleen Boyle
Maureen Christie and family
Josie and Baby Ronin
Iain Cusick
Elaine Hepburn
Cecelia Glancy
Annette Sibbald
Nancy Murray
Fiona Scott
Scott Fraser
Ferne
Javier Molina Vasquez
Ranier Carpo
Roney Fernandes
Christopher Browne
Xaverina Rodrigues
Derek Morgan
June Jamieson and her son Alex
Anne and Helen
I am the Resurrection and the Life
We remember in love:
Robert Donaldson
May ThomsonAllan Cuthill
Mary McDaid
George Smith
Maureen Henderson
Winnie Murray
Vincent Brady
Charlotte Farrell (Aged 13)
Anniversaries
Michael Calvey
Helen Bagan
Norma Meehan
Jane Fallon
Harry Salvona
Paddy Roarty
Pat Mulgrew
Duncan Balloch
Tracy Marie Davidson
George Monkhouse
May they rest in peace.
Faith in Action
Help for those struggling financiallyWe know that there must be people who are struggling on reduced wages or benefits at this time. Help is available if you are in this situation (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 9353Email edinburghfoodbank@blythswood.org
Opening times:
Mon & Thu 11am-2.30pm
You can donate online by visiting their website: https://edinburghse.foodbank.org.uk/
The cluster contact name is Rosie.
Items needed this week
- Tinned fruit, mince
- Corned beef, beans
- Tinned carrots
- Shampoo, toothpaste, shower gel
- Tinned custard
- Rice
- Fruit
- Jars of baby food
- Chocolate, Sweets, Mars/Twix bars
- Crisps, Snacks, Biscuits
Covid-19 Bereavement Support
PETAL (People Experiencing Trauma and Loss) is offering time-limited bereavement support to anyone bereaved by Covid-19, as well as their usual services for those bereaved through murder and suicide.
Click here
for details
Finance
How you can donate to the clusterSome of you have been asking about donations to the cluster since lockdown.
For more information contact Fred, one of our cluster accountants, who will be happy help you with this. fredmcconnell@btinternet.com
Archdiocesan information
The latest information from the Archdiocese can be found here:https://archedinburgh.org/update-coronavirus/
Make the Call Campaign 0800 0731 999
Scotland’s firefighters are calling on communities to help stop preventable deaths in house fires. The SFRS offer everyone in Scotland a free home fire safety visit. All it takes is a free phone call. For details click here.
How to prevent doorstep scams