Cluster News

23/24 January

Dear parishioner,

Christ promised Peter and the Apostles that he would make them into ‘fishers of men’ when he called them to preach his gospel. That promise remains true to all who do so today. Let us pray for ourselves at this time, that we who share in that ministry by lives of faith may be aided and helped by God’s grace to touch hearts and bring the God of love to our brothers and sisters. Lets also pray at this time for the grace to persevere.

Fr. Alex

Weekend Liturgy:

Third Sunday of the Year B

Children's Liturgy:

Third Sunday of the Year B

St Gregory's

Phone: 07401 071 732

St John Vianney's

Phone: 07898 170 282

St Catherine's

Phone: 07869 473 068

All phones lines are closed for booking inquiries but we will continue to monitor them.

Opportunities for Missionary Discipleship

Here are some things for you to consider…

Each week, people are meeting in connect groups to discuss the gospel reading; an eco-circle meets weekly as well as an Israel-Palestine “See and Pray” group. Our Prayer Foundation organises twice weekly meetings for silent prayer. Click on any of the links to find out more.

As this pandemic continues we need to give some cluster thought to those among us who simply need us for both spiritual and material support. More about this soon.

Our Alpha team are busy planning further opportunities for you. There will be a Bible Study course starting on Saturday 13th February - and run on a monthly basis. Click on the link for more details.

Or what about joining a Lenten activity of some kind? There will be details about this shortly as Ash Wednesday is 17^th Feb.

There will be yet another opportunity to take part in an Alpha course. This is often the best way to do a bit of “spring cleaning” on your faith life but it’s also a great way to meet new cluster friends online. This is scheduled to start just after Easter.

Let us know what you would like the cluster to organise that would help you through these challenging times to stay safe; pray safe and to stay connected.

Is looking for new members

The Club is open to all parishioners and their friends and family (50 % of monies raised benefits the St Gregory's Development Fund) - there were 86 numbers operating in 2020. Wouldn't it be fantastic if we could reach the 200 mark ?

For those who already have numbers, please sign up again this year. New members welcome. The Club runs from January - November and a number costs £1 per month. Multiple numbers welcomed. Draw at end of each month. Wherever possible, unless of course you have multiple numbers, full annual payment upfront would be helpful. I am happy to collect the money - just contact me on 07792447436 (helpfully in a sealed envelope with your name, telephone number and amount paid). (1 number = £11 per year). Envelopes can also be put through the letterboxes of The Parish House, Jacinta's 59 Walter Scott Avenue EH16 5RN or mine, 130 Alnwickhill Road EH16 6NQ. You have to be in it to win it....

Ann Callaghan

Hymn of the week by Mary Thomson

(Got a favourite? alisa.winter@gmail.com)

Thank you from PCCS (Pregnancy Counselling and Care, Scotland)

Could I, on behalf of the Board of Trustees of Pregnancy Counselling and Care ( Scotland), thank you all at Alpha for giving us the opportunity of speaking about our charity during your Advent sessions. We are a small charity and getting the word out is difficult and since the pandemic we have been struggling to survive and your interest has been a lift for us at a very low time.

I would also like to thank the very generous people who have given us donations which will help us considerably. We are so grateful for the support and interest.

With thanks again,

Anthea (Chair of the Board)

St Catherine's PS remains open

Like all my Head Teacher colleagues across the city and Scotland, it has been a real challenge getting things set up for the re-start of remote learning.

In the last couple of weeks, we have had a number of calls and emails from parents who, themselves are struggling with this situation as well as their own, home based children.

Please do not suffer in silence! There are a number of organisations that you can reach out to for help.

We will place details of these on our school website - also available on our Entitlements Page.

Our school Place 2 Be Service can offer calls and video chats for pupils and advise parents during these times.

God Bless you all.

Paul (Hunter) Headteacher

St John Vianney's Primary School

Happy New Year to Everyone!

We started back at school last week however for most of our pupils this is learning from home. Everyone is making a great effort both at school and at home so well done!

Our staff are continuing to learn themselves as we navigate around new systems to use and work in different ways so well done to them too.

We miss working in the usual way but are hoping it won’t be too long until school is back to normal again.

We hope everyone is well in the community and hope to see everyone soon.

Aisling (Christie) Depute Headteacher

Justice Matters

There are so many days internationally dedicated to special events and causes, that it is almost impossible to acknowledge them all. Some are simply responses to current situations, and some are annual acts of solidarity and remembrance. It’s important to note that on Wednesday this week we recall the terrible evils of the Holocaust.

On Monday 25th there is a day to focus on a war that is rarely reported – a global day of action to say ‘No to War on Yemen.’ Below we take a look at Yemen.

Both the Holocaust and Yemen are among far too many reminders of the need for our empathy to extend to all - to express the communion with all humanity and all the earth, a communion to which Pope Francis repeatedly calls us. Please God last week saw empathy grow in and from the USA…

See: “The shockingly under-reported war in Yemen has led to the death of 250,000 people… [The UN] estimate that more than 24 million people in the country, which was already one of the poorest on the planet prior to the war, will need humanitarian assistance in 2021.” Quote taken from here. Cholera, COVID and hunger are rife.

Human Rights Watch reports: “Since March 2015, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have led a military coalition against Houthi-led forces that took over Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, in September 2014. In 2020, fighting in northern Yemen increased sharply when the Houthis seized new areas held by the internationally recognized Yemeni government and advanced toward Marib governorate, where thousands of Yemenis were internally displaced and faced dire humanitarian conditions and increased risk of Covid-19”.

A BBC report gives more background.

Reflect: We feel remote from Yemen….. but…. we are yet again complicit… as in too many other places of conflict and oppression. A UNA-UK report says since 2015, “the UK has licensed over £5bn-worth of lethal weaponry including warplanes, bombs and missiles to Saudi forces which are being dropped from the sky by UK-trained pilots. Saudi ground forces are trained by the British Army.”

Act: Of course we are called to pray for a just peace in all the areas of conflict and oppression. Other actions related to Yemen can include responding to the Campaign Against the Arms Trade report that Saudi Arabia is the UK’s biggest arms customer.

You might learn more including from the links given above, tell other people about this, and/or write to your MP and MSP to urge an end to export of arms to Saudi Arabia.

You are held in prayer

Please remember in your prayers those who are sick:

Margaret Martin,

Fr Eugen,

Evelyn Levine,

James Duffy,

Ronan Boyle,

John Boyle,

Binne Vries,

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 and Algorta, Spain

I am the Resurrection and the Life

We remember in love:

Mary Malone

Conan Murie,

Marie Ireland,

Hugh Gibbons.

Anniversaries

St Gregory’s:

Robert Renwick, Patrick McDevitt (SNR)

St Catherine’s:

William Watt, Eileen Rodgers,

Catherine Cunningham, Edward Carr,

Julia Brattesani, Ellen Malone,

Harold MacMillan, Ann Nolan,

St John Vianney's:

Margaret Phillips, John Netherby,

Margaret Neacy, Mary Welsh,

Ella Burns, Charles Donaldson Ferguson,

Bridget Cullen, Alexander Illand,

Annie McGuinnes, Daniel Diver,

Isabella Elder, Paul Etheridge,

Terence Keaney, Sabina McLoughlin,

Isabella Harkins, Isobel Scott,

Pasqualina Lawson, Margaret Smith,

Jane Gormley, Dick Tansey,

Robert Morrison, Robert Griffin,

James Docherty, Alec McGuinness,

Margaret O’Brien, Annie Ritchie.

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 needed this week

Sponge puddings
Super noodles
Mayonnaise
Tinned ravioli
Ladies and Gents Shampoo
Baby wipes
Packets of Smash

Cold Weather Payments

Universal Credit and Pension Credit claimants may be among a number of other benefits recipients receiving a £25 payment, after the Cold Weather Payment was triggered in certain areas of the UK recently.

Use this link to check if your postcode qualifies.

Useful help resources

NHS 24 has a dedicated COVID mental health support service (Dial 111)
Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87
Samaritans 116 123
SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) 0344 800 0550

For more entitlements to support

click on the picture above

If anyone would like to give a gift then there are three ways this can be done:

Use Online Banking:

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.

Children's Winter Coats

If any parent or guardian is in need of a good winter coat for their child, could they get in touch with us through our email address: southedclust@btinternet.com. This request will be managed in the strictest confidence.

Light in the Darkness: John Bell
Tue 2 Feb @ 7:30pm. On the Feast of Candlemas, the Iona Community’s John Bell will stop by to explore ways of coping with the Covid crisis. Zoom details here.

Voices of Faith online event
Critique as a sign of love -

Young catholic female voices

Sat 30 Jan @ 10am. Young catholic women will share their criticisms and their hopes for the future of the Church. For details and to register go here.