Our Weekend Masses
For details see the section in this week's news and go to
our dedicated page.
Live streamed Masses here
Brothers and sisters,
Traditionally kings and queens have been anointed because of their special role of leadership. The titles of Christ and Messiah both mean anointed and identify Jesus as the unique revelation of a God who chooses to reign through loving service.
Fr Alex
Prayer Resources:
Christ the King B
Children's Resources:
Christ the King B
Communion Services will resume at St Gregory's every Wednesday at 9.30 am. Details will be taken for Test & Protect.
Christmas Weekend Masses
We want to do everything we can to ensure that as many people as possible, given government restrictions, can come to Mass over the Christmas period. Therefore, those who wish to attend are invited to choose one of the Masses that will be celebrated over the three-day period, 24 to 26 December:
| Friday 24th Dec | Saturday 25th Dec | Sunday 26th Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|
| St John Vianney | 6 pm. | 9.30 am. | |
| St Catherine | 8 pm. | 11 am. | |
| St Gregory | 10 am. |
A dedicated online booking system for the Masses over these three days will open on Wednesday 8th December and close on Tuesday 14th December. Parishioners will be invited to indicate their first and second choice and, following the close of bookings, will be informed which Mass they have been allocated a place at. To book, use this link, which goes live on 8th December: booking form. 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 Christmas Mass.
Advent Sessions 2021
It isn’t always easy to find time in our busy lives for personal reflection and prayer in the preparations for Christmas. So, we would like to invite you to take part in our Advent sessions which will run from 7pm to 8pm every Monday evening from 22 November for 4 weeks, on zoom, as happened last year.
There are readings including the gospel, a commentary on a suitable work of art, an Advent hymn and time to discuss all of this. If you would like to join us, please register on cluster.alpha@outlook.com so that we can send you the Zoom link before the first meeting. If you cannot make the first meeting, you can join us later. Everyone is welcome.
The Cluster Alpha Team
Crafty Refreshments
St Gregory's are having tea/coffee after Mass on Sat. 4th December. There will also be a table sale of crochet & knitting crafts. Come and get some original Christmas presents. All profits from the sale will be given to Pregnancy Counselling & Care ( Scotland).
Advent prayer afternoon
Saturday 27 November at St Gregory’s from 2 till 4.45 pm. It will be the usual format. A short lead in followed by a period of silent reflection. Drop in for as short or as long a time as you wish.
There are currently 77 numbers and monies are split equally each month between St Gregory's and the person with the winning number. We are considering increasing the cost of a number to £2 from January 2022 (£22 a year) to help church funds.
However, we don't want to loose any of our loyal members so I would very much appreciate any feedback on the suggested increase. Speak to me, Jacinta or Maureen after Mass at St Gregory's or contact me on 07792447436. Your continued support is very much needed and appreciated.
Ann Callaghan
Christmas Raffle at St John Vianney's
St John Vianney’s are having a raffle with prizes of Christmas hampers. Tickets are £1 and will be on sale from this Sunday at the back of the church.
The draw will take place in the hall after Mass on Sunday 12 December at our Christmas coffee morning. In the meantime, donations of ladies and gents toiletries, small children’s toys and non-perishable food items would be much appreciated. All monies raised will go to the St John Vianney's Fabric fund.
Susanne Lackie
Christmas Raffle at St Gregory's
We have kindly been donated a hamper to raffle for Christmas to help us raise some funds for the parish. Any other donations of prizes would be most welcome.
We suggest you put a donation of what you can afford in an envelope marked St Gregory’s raffle, your name and contact number on it (you could be the winner). Envelopes can be dropped of either at Mass, through my letterbox at 59 Walter Scott Avenue just along the road from St Gregory’s or Fr Alex is happy to receive them also. The draw will take place Saturday 19th December after Mass. Thank you again for your support.
Jacinta Flockhart
Christmas Concert
(& rehearsal details)
The concert will be in St Catherine's Church on Tuesday 14 December at 7.30pm, with refreshments in the hall afterwards.
Rehearsals:
in St Catherine's Church.
We will keep it as close to an hour as possible
I will bring the words for everyone, but if you would prefer sheet music, please let me know.
Please wear something warm, as the church heating will be on, but it still could be quite cool.
Catherine Homan
Cluster Seniors' Christmas Party
We would love to provide our Seniors with a wee Christmas party and dinner on Sat 11 Dec, 12.30-4.30pm in St Catherine’s church hall. We can accommodate up to 60 parishioners. Won’t it be great to be together again. Laughing, catching up with friends, good food and fingers crossed, a little dancing and singing too. Please give your name and contact number to Janet Logan (StC), Carol Mulvenna or Susanne Lackie (SJV) and Jacinta Flockhart (StG). We will ask you nearer the time if you require transport or if you have any dietary requirements. We can’t wait to see you, Ho! Ho! Ho! 🎅🤶 Love from Santa’s Helpers xx
Cluster social team
Synod 2021-23: Planning underway
Since the period of consultation at diocesan level has been extended, we are not under the same time pressure as before. A planning team has been identified and it will now be looking at how our Cluster can be part of the synodal journey, "walking together on the same road".
This is a synodal consultation across the world, giving everyone a voice, especially those who find themselves on the margins. Keep up to date on the Archdiocesan website and social media. More about the Synod here.
Justice matters: After COP - where are we now?!
Where does COP leave us? Were expectations lived down to? Or hopes met? Some, especially from the global south, feel betrayed by words not actions. Some think important steps were made. Both seem true to me.
SEE A summary of the outcomes is provided by Carbon Brief.
I’ll mention four of the things that struck me. First, the countries already feeling the drastic impacts of climate disruption need much more financial help now, to adapt to the changes we have inflicted on them. This is all about justice, not charity…. as is the need to share vaccines world-wide… an indicator that justice does not dominate our politics.
We need stronger urgent actions leading to faster reductions in emissions. Recall that the impact on climate effect lags the greenhouse gas emissions by years. We now have about 1.2 degrees global warming, with massive consequences already.
I asked an Ethiopian delegate about “gender justice” in relation to the climate. I was given an example. In parts of Ethiopia the women are responsible for getting water and the changes in water supply, due to drought and weather patterns disrupting water sources, mean they have to walk maybe 5km more… carrying some 20 litres of water. This talk from Vanessa Nakate on the opening day struck me: Humanity will not be saved by promises.
REFLECT COP was never going to solve the climate emergency, but maybe it did make a step forward. The next year will tell how big that step was. The grassroots – us – is where change must also come from. A lot of momentum has been built. There is no more time to lose….
ACT We are called to “ecological conversion” - to invite the Spirit to change how we live personally, in community, and socio-economically as part of the Earth. See this new message from the Pope, calling all of us to a seven year programme, in an initiative called the “Laudato Si Action Platform”. We will explore this further in future weeks.
mike.mineter@gmail.com
You are held in prayer
Those who are unwell
and in need of our prayers:
Bill and Marlene Bonnar, Stevie Donald,
Kathy Duffy, Mary,
Verdiana and Donati Kweka (Tanzania),
Mary Thomson, Macy Whitehead,
Eammon McKelvey, Nancy Barta,
Alex McGinnity, Belén Rodriguez,
Patricia Simmons, Elizabeth Napier,
George Pringle, Angela Mcintosh,
Jorge Rodriguez, Sr. Veronica,
Katharine, John, Jennifer,
Christopher Mackinnon, Gilmour Forrest, Maureen Lawson, Bailey Bruce McCann, Grettel Calvo Mendez, Betty Dickinson, Annette, Catherine Hart, Karen Devlin,
Vo Van Tu, Scott Fraser, Thea Maung,
Anne Doig, Sr May Lewis,
Jessie & George Ritchie, John Skinner,
Fr Eugen, 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:
John McIntosh,
John Allan,
Kathleen Clark,
Bridget Coyle,
Danny Coyle,
Mary McConville.
Anniversaries
St Gregory’s:
Maria Stewart, Dennis Charleston
Sheila Mullen, Sheila Herraghty.
St John Vianney's:
Margaret McDonald, Thomas Phillips,
James Devers, Mary Michaud,
Cathie McKeen, Betty Smith,
Ellen McNulty, Catherine Kelly,
Agnes Warren, George Stewart,
Anastasia Valente, John Finney,
Michael Ferry, James Hughes (Snr),
Leonard Twist, Michael Boylan.
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.
SEECAT Quiet Morning on Zoom
You are warmly invited to the SEECAT ‘Quiet Morning’ on
Saturday 4 December on Zoom.
The morning will be led by members of the Contemplation Group.
(This meets every Tuesday at 2:30 to 3:30 in Liberton Northfield Church hall and also on Zoom, and all are welcome.)
The format will be five short reflections or readings, followed by a time of silence after each one for personal reflection and prayer. Having a lighted candle next to you could be an aid to this.
We hope it will be a peaceful, prayerful space prior to what can be a very busy month. We would love to see you there!”
For Zoom details:
pat.jax10@icloud.com
The relevant food bank for the cluster
47 Southhouse Broadway EH17 8AS
Phone number 664 9353
Items requested this week:
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
Entitlements Page
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.
Our Playgroup is back again on Tuesdays at St Gregory's church hall at 10 - 11.30 am. Ages 0 - 5. It begins on Tues 21st Sept. For further details contact Lauren on 07789934818.
There is an information poster available here.
SJV Primary School does COP26
COP26
Please see the photos of our pupils fantastic COP26 work. I’m sure you will agree they have done a fantastic job. See P7's here.
Catholic Education Week
Next week we will be celebrating Catholic Education Week, the theme for this year is ‘Celebrating and Worshipping’. Our pupils will be discussing how we celebrate and worship our faith at school, at home and in the community. The last two years have made it a challenge to worship and celebrate all together as a school and with our wider parishes. We thank Fr Alex for supporting us and trying to find ways around this. Whole school Masses and Celebrations have taken place via Teams to allow everyone to take part. We really hope that someday soon we can all come together as a community. As part of our daily prayers we will be listening to the words of the Catholic Education Week Prayer and asking God to continue to support and guide us as we try to become Saints.
Book Week Scotland
This week has we have been celebrating Book Week Scotland in school. Pupils have been sharing with each other what reading means to them. Please have a look on our Twitter page to see what else has been happening.
Want to tell us about something that's of interest to the cluster? Send us the info at southedclust@btinternet.com. If you were able to include an image with your request for a notice, that would be greatly appreciated by our small team. Thank you!
After COP26: What now for people of faith?
Alastair McIntosh
‘One of the world’s leading environmental campaigners’ BBC TV
Mayfield Salisbury Church, Edinburgh
Sunday 28th November at 7pm. All welcome - to book your free place, register here
CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK PRAYER
Jesus our Teacher,
in your love for us,
help us to develop our own talents
so that we may become like you
and lead lives of goodness.
Bless all learners
and all teachers.
May our Catholic schools continue to serve our families, our communities and our country.
Help us, through our learning,
to believe in you
and to celebrate the life of your Church.
Help us to grow in holiness
as we grow in friendship with you
and try to become saints.
We make this prayer
in the name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen
