Live streamed Masses here
Brothers and Sisters,
In giving his disciples a vision of the immediate future, Jesus is giving them a picture, too, of the road they will travel. We could say that, with these words, he is leaving them a “memory box” for their own journey. He is leaving them something that will explain his giving up his life for the world, as well as hope for the future, that one day they will be reunited with him in joy. We can well apply this to our own lives too, for Jesus is teaching his disciples, and so teaching us, how to suffer and how to love. Such a “memory box” containing both love and sacrifice is well worth sharing with those around us. Such has been the life of ‘LOCK-DOWN’ has it not – LOVE and SACRIFICE ???
Fr. Alex
Weekend Liturgy:
Fifth Sunday of Lent B
Children's Liturgy:
Fifth Sunday of Lent B
Mass bookings for Palm Sunday 27/28 March
On-line and telephone bookings can be made from Monday mornings through to Wednesday at 5pm. 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.
Holy Week and Easter Weekend liturgies
| Thurs 1st Apr | Fri 2nd Apr | Sat 3rd Apr | Sun 4th Apr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mass of the Lord's Supper | Liturgy of the Lord's Passion | Vigil Mass | Easter Sunday Mass | |
| St John Vianney's | 7pm | 9.30am | ||
| St Gregory's | 8pm | |||
| St Catherine's | 7 pm | 11am |
We want to do everything we can to ensure that as many people as possible, given government restrictions, can come to the liturgies over Holy Week and the Easter Weekend. A dedicated online booking system for these liturgies will open on Saturday 27 March and close on Monday 29 March 5pm. Parishioners will be invited to opt for one Easter Mass (Sat or Sun).
In addition, you can also book for either Holy Thursday or Good Friday.
The single booking form for all these liturgies is available here.
Those who normally book for Mass by telephone will be contacted by one of the Team, you do not need to phone to book a place for Holy Week and Easter. We regret that, due to current government restrictions, only parishioners residing within the Edinburgh Council area are able to attend Mass at our Cluster churches.
Online lockdown liturgies will be available on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday/Easter Sunday.
Ecumenical Way of the Cross:
Wednesday 31 March 2021 – 7.30pm
You are warmly invited to join us. The service will be led by young people from the various SEECAT churches.
In previous years we have been able to come together in various churches in our area to pray and reflect on Jesus’ journey to the Cross. This year, we are moving online and will bring this service using Zoom. If you would like to participate, please send an email – ideally with “Way of the Cross” in the subject field – to southedclust@btinternet.com. We will reply with the details you will need to join the Zoom Service.
We look forward to gathering to pray and reflect with you, albeit virtually, on Wednesday 31st.
Good Friday Service on Zoom at 3pm
You can to log in from 2:30pm onwards.
Our speaker will be
Fr Mike Fallon.
We are suggesting that you have at hand a small cross (maybe hand made) and a stone for use during the Veneration of the Cross.
After the service you are invited to stay on for about ten minutes to chat with members of other congregations (in small break out rooms). You may like to provide yourself with a hot cross bun to eat, as a reminder of our fellowship together on previous gatherings at Gracemount School.
Those who wish to attend should contact Pat Thomas by email
pat.jax10@icloud.com and use as your subject "Good Friday".
Thank you,
Pat
Hymn of the Week:
"The Servant King"
Sung and played by Pat Thomas
An opportunity perhaps to breathe new life
into your relationship with God:
500 years of Christianity
in the Philippines
The Catholic Church in the Philippines has chosen Easter Sunday, 4 April, to formally inaugurate the year-long celebration. Pope Francis marked the auspicious occasion with a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on 14 March. Read more here.
Warmest congratulations to all our Filipino sisters and brothers in the Cluster! Every reason for a party when we're allowed!
Addressing local need through SSVP
For the Fifth Week in Lent, Mary Thomson reviews the work of the St Catherine's conference. But the work goes on... Help to support their vital work.
Remembering the loved ones we have lost during the pandemic
This past year with Covid-19 restrictions has been both unusual and difficult for all of us, but especially so for those who have lost a loved one during this time. Attendance at funerals has been strictly limited and in our parish communities we have not been able to support a bereaved person in the natural way we usually would, through visits or simply a friendly chat after Mass over a cup of coffee.
Therefore, we are planning to set up a Remembrance Page on our Cluster website. If you have lost a loved one during the pandemic and wish them to be included on this remembrance page, we invite you to email us with the following details:
- a photograph
- name
- year of birth and death (2020 or 2021)
- a short tribute of up to 60 words.
The
Cluster Bereavement Group offer help to anyone who has been bereaved. Until restrictions are lifted and home visits can resume, they are happy to phone anyone who needs support. If you would like one of the Group to get in touch, please email either:
Jacinta or phone 0131 664 5581 or
Mary or phone 07801 271 860
Recipes for this week:
Griddled Aubergine Stacks and
Apple Cake
Great to be back; 1st Communions
and Finger knitting fun
We were delighted to welcome our P4-P7 pupils back this week. It has been great to have the whole school back together again after nearly three months. The pupils who returned this week have been fantastic, they have adjusted really well back to school life and have reported that they are delighted to see all their friends again. In all classes we will continue to focus on Health and Wellbeing and remind pupils of the importance of talking things over with someone if they have a worry or a problem.
Our P4 pupils started preparing for their First Holy Communion this week, they have made a great start-well done! If any parents or carers have any questions then please get in touch.
Pupils have been spending a lot of time outside this week definitely helped by the sun. Many classes have been learning how to finger knit. We hope that you will see some of this fantastic knitting on our trees in the front garden in the near future.
Thank you to Maureen and Grace from St Gregory’s who dropped off our foodbank donations this week. We will continue to keep collecting items up until the Easter holidays as part of our school Lenten focus. Thank you to everyone who has donated so far.
Contact for the School Office: 0131 664 1742 or admin@st-johnvianney.edin.sch.uk
Aisling Christie (Depute Head)
Cluster Challenge for Week 5 in Lent
Food wastage contributes to climate change. Get into your store cupboard and fridge, bring right to the front all those foods lurking in the back corners that are close to their 'Use by' and 'Best by' dates, and use them up first. To find out the difference between date labels go here
Sacramental plans; sunshine and bacon rolls!
Who would believe that the sound of children in a full school would be such an unusual sound?
It has been a magical week, with the return of all of our children and the setting out of a Scottish route map for the return of some semblance of normality.
I might have been dreaming, but the weather is looking not too bad either. (At the time of writing that is!)
I met this week with Fr. Alex and we have a plan in place for the Sacrament of Confirmation for our senior pupils.
These details will be shared with families in due course.
First Communicants, don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten about you and new dates will be circulated soon.
While doing my morning gate duty on return Monday, one of our pupils came up to me and gave me a bacon roll she had bought for me and said ‘Welcome back’.
It’s these things that make it all worthwhile. (And it was delicious too!)
Thanks everyone and God Bless,
Paul (Headteacher)
Contact details:
0131 664 4257
Caritas Awards - well done Louise!
This started around 10 years ago in Scottish Catholic Secondary Schools. Participating pupils in 6th Year are asked to record and share their learning about, and living of, their faith. The award uses learning about faith (across the school) as a starting point for further reflection which leads to action (witness). They are supported in deciding how they can develop and use their gifts in a way that witnesses to God’s love in their communities.
Over this period several young people from our Cluster faith communities have participated. Louise Ford from St Gregory’s shares how it has impacted on her life.
“Through my Caritas award I have had many opportunities to volunteer at the parish. I have read for Mass, online and in person, as well as welcoming parishioners into the church and ensuring they feel safe there. I have also helped spread awareness about food banks by featuring in a short video. My Caritas journey has impacted me greatly and has helped my understanding of God’s love grow, as it gave me the chance to share the love of God to others and experience the love of God at first hand, helping me mature not only spiritually but mentally too. The Caritas award has changed my view of love in the world as I realise that a small act of kindness, like showing a simple smile, can go a long way and make someone’s day better. I know that the lessons I have been taught will stick with me forever.”
Making Choices that affect us all
Today we see Jesus at his most human, a person who is on a journey of dawning realisation of what his part is, in God’s plan. He is becoming aware of the awful cost he will pay if he accepts. He has a choice to make “Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say..?” We all make choices. Choosing the path that either suits us or putting others first. With Christ the choice he makes always serves all, not factions.
See: Climate disruption continues to grow and we see the need for people to choose to be involved at all levels. A UN report says food waste is fuelling climate disruption and reports that globally, approximately a third of all food is wasted. A shocking statistic when put beside the hunger we know is in this world.
Reflect: The choices we are faced with at this time in history will dictate how future generations live and die. An awesome responsibility and opportunity. How would you like the future to look? How do we stand with Christ at his time of decision making and learn from his example? Do we walk away – too painful? Do we respond to the challenge? How can Christ help us to do this?
Act: We could actively monitor what we buy and consume. Have a look at this useful website one of many, with good ideas. If you are a local small business why not check out the brilliance of Rwandan fair trade coffee or Edible Edinburgh are asking small businesses to a business breakfast at 8.00am on 23rd March. Professor Jim Skea also signposted us in a recent SLN Lent talk. In Scotland we are approaching elections and he advised us to ask our candidate’s just one question. "What is your stance on the Just Commission?" If you don’t know what the Just Commission is find out here or if you prefer attend. Pope Francis has asked us to fast this Lent in a way that addresses climate disruption. It offers a fresh look at what we can do and how we are able to affect how the world looks for future generations. As always people are very welcome to join us in the Eco Circle or the Palestine/Israel prayer and awareness group. Both are drop ins so please pop in when you can. Tricia Kaminski
You are held in prayer
Please remember in your prayers
those who are sick:
Helen McCann, Annie Calvey,
Anne Doig, Sr May Lewis,
Jessie and George Ritchie, John Skinner,
John McGinley, Fr Eugen,
Evelyn Levine, James Duffy,
Ronan Boyle, 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,
in Algorta, Spain and in Dalkeith.
I am the Resurrection and the Life
We remember in love:
Those who have died recently
Eileen Kelly,
Bridie Hand,
Sr Betty Walker.
Sister Moira Donnelly
Anniversaries
Ken Finland, Tom & Eleanor Gorman,
Alice Slaven, Josie Milne,
Marie Di Placido, Frances Healy,
Robert Quigley, Anthony Moran,
Patrick O'Neill, Tom Todd,
Henry McGuinness, Patrick Murphy,
John Gibbons, Jessie O'Connor,
James O'Neill, Mark Munro,
Harry Thomson, Kevin Allen,
Mary Mulhern, Mary Bird,
James Wilson, Walter Kilkenny.
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 this week please:
- Sponge puddings
- Tinned Custard
- Tinned Fruit
- Plastic carrier bags as they are really short of them too.
Entitlements Page
There are many benefits and grants to which people are entitled but often they are not aware of these. Please let us know of others you have come across.
Click on the picture to go there.
Scottish Child Payment: £10 a week paid monthly for each child under 6.
From 1st March, the cafe is open on Mondays & Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm for takeaways & ‘drive-thru’ food. (Order & pay at the front door & pick up your order in the car park.) We are a Fairtrade cafe and there are a selection of Fairtrade items available to buy from the cafe.
Check out our Facebook page or email kirkgatecafe@libertonkirk.net
Francis on Ecology
Tue, 23 Mar @ 7.30pm. Lorna Gold speaks at the fifth session of the series 'What would Pope Francis do?' Zoom details here
How do we celebrate the Eucharist as an authentic sign and manifestation of Hope?
Thu 25 Mar @ 7pm. Tom O’Loughlin is Professor of Historical Theology at the University of Nottingham in England. For details and to register email Scottish Laity Network.
This is part of a series of talks and Q&A inviting you to imagine the way in which we are being called to prepare a future that gives hope to future generations and our planet.
The full Lenten programme is here.
* * * * *
Part of this programme is an SLN Retreat
Holy Week –
A Journey to Death and Resurrection
Sat 27 March, 10am - 3pm. A retreat led by Diarmuid O'Murchu, a member of the Sacred Heart Missionary Order, writer and social psychologist most of whose working life has been in social ministry.
For details and to register email
Scottish Laity Network. The full Lenten programme is
here.
Update on the World Day of Prayer
The WDP was held on
5 March. St John Vianney's were due to host this year's event but it was held virtually.
1,000 people joined in the celebration from Scotland.
The WDP is an international gathering of women from all over the world who pray for peace, justice and reconciliation. This year the service was written by the women of the South Pacific Islands of Vanuatu.
Thanks to
Maureen Quinn for this update.
Franciscan Blessing
May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.
May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.
May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish,
so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really can make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God’s grace,
to do what others claim cannot be done.
Amen.