Cluster News
19/20 September

Live streamed Masses here

Dear parishioner,

I 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. We are conscious that we are not reaching every parishioner since lockdown and many may not even see this news. We would encourage you to share/discuss this information with anyone you know or suspect may not have internet access. Let's stay connected! Let's continue to pray for one another and especially those who are experiencing any difficulties during this challenging time.

With my prayers, best wishes and blessings,
Fr Alex.

Prayer resources for adults:
25th Sunday of the Year A
Children's resources:
25th 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 those 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.

We have prepared some guidelines about this and they can be found here.

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:
The Song of Ruth

This is Vincent McCann's favourite hymn.

Mike Knox's Memorial Service

Many of you will have watched the Mass live-streamed from St John's last Monday night and may want to know about the materials used during the Mass.

Des Brogan has kindly supplied various resources for people to look at. Please click on the following links to see more:

STOP PRESS! Seecat AGM

Today at 2.30pm

By Zoom here.

Clare and Wolf Roller:

 Happy 55th Wedding Anniversary!

Golden Congratulations to

 Theresa and George Muldoon!

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 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.

Volunteers still needed - for church and house

We are looking for volunteers to create a pool of people to help out with decorating and maintenance needs. Currently, the work required includes:

  • Plastering repairs where there have been water leaks. Basic repairs have been done but an expert finish is needed
  • Redecorating in three rooms – mostly cleaning, preparation (scraping flaking paintwork, sanding and filling) and painting (gloss and emulsion)

We are conscious of the need for keeping anyone working in the house safe and because of the size of the rooms can plan activity to ensure that social distancing is maintained. e.g. two people from different families would be able to work in one of the larger rooms while two people from the same family could work in a smaller room.

It is likely that each room may need the equivalent 2 or 3 day’s work which can be done in a block of time or over a longer period as your availability allows.

All materials, including tea/coffee, will be provided.

Looking further ahead, Diocesan Property Surveys have recently been completed in the three parishes and it would be good to get some additional support for the Fabric Teams to provide some technical advice in deciding how and when to take forward recommendations from the surveys.

The types of issues being identified as needing attention urgently, or soon, include:

electrical works; brickwork and harling repairs; repairs to cills and cladding; external paintwork

If you were also able to offer some time to assist in planning these works and perhaps undertaking some of them yourself your help would be invaluable. We would try to ensure that we didn’t overdo our requests for help.

                                  *   *   *   *   *   *

Additional Church cleaners are needed for St Catherine’s who are currently working in reduced teams.  The ideal would be to allow a return to a 1 week in 6 clean.

More people are also needed to come onto the Mass Booking Team rota to assist in dealing with online or telephone bookings.

Volunteers to keep in contact with parishioners without internet access would also be welcome.

If you think you may be able to help in any way please email us (preferable) or telephone 07845 231 733 and someone will get back to you to chat about what is needed in more depth.

Justice matters: Third Week of the Season of Creation

The readings today show God’s way of doing things.  God’s way looks at what a person needs; be it forgiveness (in Isaiah) or a living wage (Matthew 20).  Jubilee is the theme of this Season of creation, chosen because “Jubilee is a time to renounce overconsumption and economic systems based on constant economic growth at the cost of the Earth and those who are poor…” 

SEE:  Can we hear the cry of the poor in our country?  A UN report (2019) described the “normalisation of food banks, rising levels of homelessness and child poverty...” in this country.    Do we hear the cry of the poor in our world? Last week we talked about the situation in Palestine.

Can we hear the cry of the earth? Due to human activity many species are losing their habitat and becoming extinct, and the climate is disrupted to the point of being declared an emergency by many countries. Locally, we see floods and landslips, and unusual patterns of weather.

REFLECT:  Do you see yourself in the parable of the Good Samaritan? Or in the parable of the workers in the vineyard?   Can you imagine a world where peoples’ needs are put before their colour, position, or nationality? One where the whole earth is cherished?   What would have to change in me?  In the system? In my trust in God?

ACT:  We can act together to embrace God’s ways of Jubilee.  

Our SEECAT Eco-Group meets every Tuesday at 5.30pm  to learn,  pray and look at where we can engage. 

There are national groups – Greenpeace, Global Justice, Nourish Scotland and many more that provide webinars, organise virtually.  The politics of the situation are important – do we know what different parties believe to be the way forward?  The Season of Creation “ends” with a short J+P retreat – join us as we look at the way forward for the poor, the world, ourselves – details in this newsletter.
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
Neil Wallace
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


    Anniversaries this week
Ramsay Sibbald
Susan Emery
Marie Jones

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) and also how to phone to make a booking to attend one of our cluster Masses.

The Alpha Course - tomorrow night

Approximately 12 people will start their Alpha tomorrow on Zoom. Please pray for them as they seek to take the next steps on their faith journey.

Email:   Cluster.alpha@outlook.com

Mobile: 079 4766 0766

Twitter:   @ClusterAlpha

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

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. 

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

Fr Alex has been flittin' this week so it's Deliveroo (other couriers are available) and the cairry oot!

The Caritas, Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese invites you to a short retreat on St Francis’ feastday, Sunday 4th October 2020 2:30- 4.30pm, using Zoom.

The retreat is a response to the Pope and our Bishops, who challenge us to act in hope to prepare the future: a revitalised post-COVID, ecologically sustainable world.

Join us on October 4th as we learn more about St Francis and the teaching of Pope Francis and the Vatican. Register here 

This song will get you in the mood!

Under the stars

(A poem by Mike Knox)


Under the stars,

on the doorstep.

Reclining 

feeling safe,

so safe

on this 

so warm 

evening.


Safe.

Pauli

sitting nearby

with bow and arrow

poised,

watching.

Torch off,

but night eyes ready.

At home, 

his home

also under the stars.


There is no moon

only deep black 

black 

blackness

with stars bright,

diamond bright,

white Christmas tree bright.


A shooting star

shot by 

before

and

then

another.


The reclining chair 

lowers me

lets me

be

almost horizontal,

in dental care position.

 

But no seeking

anaesthetic peace

tonight.

No clinging to the arms.

No need for bracing self-control.


Simply,

lying back

staring up,

losing focus

and perspective

and sense of distance.


No separation

from

what is beyond words

and beyond here,

through the doorway

past 60

in the hallway of eternity.


Tonight

I am

(cliché free),

a child of the Universe.


And if this is the end

the final moment,

my final moment.

That will do me nicely.


Good night ....