Cluster News
22/23 August

Live streamed Masses here
Dear Parishioner,
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 by contacting others in the cluster and discussing all the news!
Let's continue to pray for one another during this challenging time.
With our prayers, best wishes and blessings,
Fr Mike and Fr Alex.

Memorial Fund

Over the past 23 years, Fr Mike has worked tirelessly to empower our parishioners to take responsibility for our cluster and to grow together in missionary discipleship.  In recognition of his tremendous contribution, Fr Alex and the Strategy Team plan to set up a Fund in Fr Mike's name to continue supporting the projects dear to him.  More details to follow soon so watch this space!
Prayer resources for adults:
21st Sunday of the Year A
Children's resources:
21st Sunday of the Year A

Preparing to implement Phase 3: reopening our church buildings.

We are happy to report that our first Reopening Mass went well last Saturday evening at St Gregory's. This weekend as well as Mass at St Gregory's (6pm) we shall be offering our first Reopening Mass at St John Vianney's on Sunday 23 August at 9.30am.

The following weekend, we hope to be able to offer Mass in all three parishes by adding a Mass in St Catherine's on Sunday 30th August at 11am.


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 our volunteers who are managing the booking system. 

St Gregory's:

a) complete an online booking form  (preferred option)  or b) phone  07401 071 732 [Voicemail]

St John Vianney's:

a) complete an online booking form  (preferred option) or b) phone 07898 170 282 [Voicemail]

St Catherine's:

a) complete an online booking form  (preferred option) or b) phone 07869 473 068 [Voicemail]

This means that your name has been put on a list. Those booking online will receive an automated acknowledgement that they are requesting to attend, but they must wait to receive a notice of confirmation that they have been allocated a place before considering coming to the Mass. 

You will be contacted either online or by phone and if you do not receive confirmation then you are not on the list for those coming that weekend. You do not need to rebook however, as your name will be moved up on the waiting list for the following week. 

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.

It is important that you read and understand what is required of you before, during and after attending Mass. We have prepared some guidelines about this and they can be found here.

We are conscious that we are not reaching every parishioner since lockdown and we would encourage you to share this information with anyone you know or suspect may not have internet access. Let's stay connected!

Fr Mike and Fr Alex.
Hymn of the Week:  

“I’m Hilary and I’m a member of the music group at St John Vianney's. I’d like to sing for you today a song which was written by a friend of mine from Cornwall, Ali Crooks. It’s called ‘Lord, oh Spirit’ and I’ve loved it ever since I first heard it when Ali wrote it.”

SEECAT

What's the latest Crosstalk ?

I think it’s important that we retain links with the other churches in SEECAT at this time. The best way to do this is the link to Crosstalk, the SEECAT quarterly newsletter, produced by Ruth Davies. The latest edition includes features on Fr Mike and Sr Mary! Many thanks,

Pat Thomas (Programme & Events Secretary)

Beth Nielsen Chapman:    How we love

One of our Alpha Connect groups asked for this song after sharing on this week’s Gospel: “The message Jesus was giving is summed up in this song. Although not a hymn, the message is the only Commandment Jesus taught us that the most important thing in life is to love. In the end, all that matters is how we loved and showed Jesus to everyone we met.”

The Alpha Course returns - online this time

Coming in the week beg. 21st September, Alpha returns. The team have prepared a short video to encourage you to do the course - from the comfort of your own home! Click on the picture.

Email:   Cluster.alpha@outlook.com

Mobile: 079 4766 0766

Twitter:   @ClusterAlpha

Views from the Pews

Sr Christine writes:

I find the weekly liturgy so inspiring uplifting and supportive. This week’s, the feast of the Assumption I found particularly so perhaps because I needed it more today. So grateful for this great service and for the sense of unity it gives me. All the parts together create a whole worthy celebration of what I experience as Eucharist. Many, many thanks.

Justice matters: Communion with nature

In Laudato Si’, Pope Francis calls us to renew our relationship with God’s earth of which we are a part. He calls us to listen to the connected cry of the earth (due to the ways humans are harming the earth) and the cry of the poor (para49). He calls us to respond by praying to deepen our sense of communion with the rest of nature (para 91, 246), knowing that God's grace and love have given the earth for all of us to share. 

Here is one way to pray for this sense of communion.

See: You are invited to bring to mind the hand gestures used in prayer, by ourselves and by a priest presiding at Mass.

Reflect: Recall what the gestures express: giving, receiving, praise, blessing, healing, supplication,…. how hands are used to accept and to pass on God’s grace and love.

Act: When outside you might notice the breeze on your hands, and let the flow of air that you feel become a prayer – the flow to your hands bringing you grace, and the flow from them taking your blessing to the rest of the earth.

You might try linking this to your breathing – breathing in God’s grace in the air, and breathe out your blessing to the earth. 

You might then ask yourself: are there things you could do to help to care for the earth ?
You are held in prayer
Please remember in your prayers those who are sick:
Dermot Homan
Liz Martin
Mary Love
Pat Tansey
Adam Cusack,
Rachel Witte
Victor Julio Rodriguez
Iain Cusick
Elaine Hepburn
Cecilia Glancy
Annette Sibbald
Nancy Murray
Fiona Scott
Scott Fraser 
Ferne
Irene 
Javier Molina Vasquez
Roney Fernandes
Christopher Browne
Xaverina Rodrigues
Derek Morgan
Anne and Helen
Chris Madden
Mary Dias
I am the Resurrection and the Life
We remember in love:
Kathleen Boyle
Jane Hazelton,
Sr Evelyn Gallagher
Billy Hill
Charlotte Farrell 
Robert Donaldson
May Thomson 
Mary McDaid
George Smith
Maureen Henderson
Alan Cuthill
Winifred Murray
Vincent Brady
James Brown

Anniversaries  
Danny Boyle
William Moir
Phil Boyle
Dick Perry
Tom Hanlon
May they rest in peace.

For those without internet access

Dial 0131 357 6463  to 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 prayer requests email clare.roller@icloud.com
Faith in Action
Help for those struggling financially
If you are struggling on reduced wages or benefits at this time (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 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
  • 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
  • tin foil, cling film, eggs
  • tinned potatoes, hot chocolate
Rosie and the team

It's "Cordon bleu" this week (or, as they say in Glasgow, it's Blue Ribbaand..

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

Rehearsing Through a Glass, Darkly

A lecture & discussion series about spirituality and the arts. On Tue 25 August 7.30 pm, Glasgow-based producer and playwright Michael John O’Neill talks about his experience of collaborative work in lockdown, and the challenges facing theatre-makers in the months and years to come. Click here for login details.

Journeys of Faith in Israel and Palestine

There is a zoom event at 7:30pm on Wednesday 26th August, hosted by the Israel-Palestine Working Group of the Caritas, Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese. Details here.

How do we, as followers of Jesus,

care for our Common Home?

In response to the Climate Emergency, on Thursday 27 August, 7.00 pm, SLN are hosting a ‘Scottish Eco Conversation’ with various groups such as Eco-Congregation Scotland, J&P Scotland and the Global Catholic Climate Movement. For Zoom details email slaitynetwork@gmail.com.

Living the Word of God

This year's Conference is held online from 28 to 30 August. Holy Mass, adoration, speakers, praise & worship and healing, youth & children sessions. Click here for details

Claverhouse Conversations

Saturday 29 August at 9.30am

John Sturrock's guest is Jo Berry, international peacebuilder and founder of Building Bridges for Peace, whose father, Sir Antony Berry MP, was killed in the Brighton hotel bombing in 1984.  Jo has spent the past 20 years in public conversations with Patrick Magee, the IRA member who planted the bomb. Please feel free to invite a friend or other guest.  For Zoom access details, contact clare.roller@icloud.com or phone 07762299633.