Our Weekend Masses
For details of days, times and how to book please go to
our dedicated page.
Live streamed Masses here
Sisters and brothers,
Today, let’s be inspired by God’s power and mercy to value God’s gifts and share our wealth and blessings for the sake of the common good. With confidence in God’s unfailing faith in us we can ask pardon for the times we have not valued the most important blessings in life.
Fr. Alex
Lockdown Liturgy:
17th Sunday B
by Dave Hill
Children's Liturgy:
17th Sunday B
Communion Services will resume at St Gregory's every Wednesday at 9.30 am. No need to book but your details will be taken for Test & Protect purposes.
Numbers at Mass in Level 0
In level 0, social distancing has been reduced from 2m to 1m for indoor public places. From 24/25 July, the numbers we can now accommodate safely at Mass are: St Gregory's 60, St Catherine's 92 and St John Vianney's 100. Please continue to book as usual.
For weddings and funerals, the number we can safely accommodate in our three churches will be broadly similar. Please email us if you have any questions. soutedclust@btinternet.com
First World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly
Pope Francis has established a World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, which will take place for the first time on 25 July on the theme 'I am with you always' (Mt 28:20), close to the feast of Sts Joachim and Anne, the grandparents of Jesus. Watch Pope Francis' video message and put your thinking cap on how you will make Nana and Papa or an elderly person feel extra special and appreciated today!
Pax Christi Scotland: Peace Vigil for Korea
Pax Christi Scotland has been working ecumenically to promote the Korea Peace Appeal On Sunday, July 25 at 12pm there will be a Zoom vigil to reflect on the Korean situation and to pray for peace. Speakers include Anselmo Lee, founder of Pax Christi Korea, and William Nolan, Bishop of Galloway and an outspoken anti-nuclear campaigner. To find out more go to https://www.paxchristiscotland.org/. Register here
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Views from the Pews
May I take this opportunity to thank each and everyone of you, who are involved in bringing to all of us, the parishioners of the Cluster, the very welcome weekly Liturgy. I am sure it is greatly appreciated by all.
In particular this week, I would like to say, that I very much enjoyed Catherine's singing of the Psalm 'The Lord's my shepherd', it was beautiful, thank you. Lots of Love,
Kathleen Thomson xx
Justice matters: Food a plenty, living selflessly and preventing waste all feature in our readings today as does having faith to take action despite doubt. The feeding of the 5000 is perhaps the best known of the stories. Years ago I heard a sermon which described this miracle as being about division as much as multiplication, there was a sharing of resources. We are also told that there is more than enough; but that image of plenty is only half the picture, there is an emphasis on preventing waste.
See: Every day we see the evidence of litter and waste in our streets. Worse we send our waste to poorer countries, scarring their landscapes. In the video above, there is a very short, sharp illustration of how much plastic rubbish we send abroad. America also sends much of its plastic waste overseas. In the feeding of the 5000 it is food that Jesus warns should not be wasted despite its abundance. We can see the food waste in this country. Who knew that if food waste was a country it would be the third largest producer of carbon dioxide?
Reflect: Is it possible to imagine what our world would look like, if we behaved as if we believed in the miracle of the 5000? Is a society based so heavily on consumerism compatible with a society without waste? In the gospel today the miracle happened because people cooperated with what Jesus wanted to do for them despite their doubts – they collected the food, they distributed the food and they collected the excess. The apostles expressed uncertainty – it didn’t seem possible but they still acted.
Act: On an individual level more people are waking up to food waste. We are aware that it is closely connected to climate disruption. Read this short article from WWF about ways to combat food waste. We are also aware that the feeding of the 5000 happened because people shared out the food according to need, but we live in a society where that doesn’t happen and many are forced to go to food banks. The Trussell Trust needs your support to remove the need for it to exist. We are moving towards COP 26 and people are mobilising to express their desire for a better future.
They need us all. https://cop26coalition.org/
City of Edinburgh Council
Parent Club: Get into Summer
Find tips and ideas to get your kids out and about, connecting with their friends and making new ones. We've lots of free events happening in Edinburgh to boost your kids' well-being and mental health. These include sport and outdoor learning activities, youth work activities, arts, culture, heritage and much more. So
take a look and find out what’s happening near you. Help with transport costs available.
‘Calling all children in Primary 1-7
Join our eco-awareness themed fun activities 'Echo Tribe'. Free to attend. There will be loads to do, including crafts made from reusable materials, planting, painting, building bug hotels, constructing echo huts, bee mansions, themed games and messy play. Every Tue in July, 11-12.30pm at Liberton Northfield Church Hall. Find out more
Please remember in your prayers
those who are sick:
Mary Thomson, Katharine,
Ashley Hammond, John,
Jennifer, Annette Sibbald,
Christopher Mackinnon, Gilmour Forrest,
Maureen Lawson, Bailey Bruce McCann,
Grettel Calvo Mendez, Leah Gunn,
Betty Dickinson, Annette,
Peter Robinson, Catherine Hart,
Karen Devlin, Vo Van Tu,
Scott Fraser, Thea Maung,
Maureen McEvoy, Anne Doig,
Sr May Lewis, Jessie & George Ritchie,
John Skinner, John McGinley,
Fr Eugen, Evelyn Levine,
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
We remember in love
Those who have died recently:
Ina Connelly
Anniversaries
St John Vianney
Isabella Brown, James McNally,
Mary M Hardie, Charles McCann,
Norman Davidson, Tracey Marie Davidson,
Anthony McKelvey, Jane Cairns,
Thomas Thomson, Reginald Ewart,
Maria Nicol, Bridget McKeen,
Hugh White, Grace Stevenson.
St Gregory
George Monkhouse, Bridget Stanton,
Peter Clark jnr, Annie Loy,
Theresa McDevitt.
St Catherine
Colin Philips, Jimmy Tolmie.
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.
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
The relevant food bank for the cluster is:
47 Southhouse Broadway EH17 8AS
Phone number 664 9353
Needed this week:
Thank you to a parishioner for the cash donation.
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
The grant has increased to £120 for an eligible primary pupil and £150 for an eligible secondary pupil. More details 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.
The Fund has been set up to help Fr Eugen in Romania. If anyone would like to give a gift, click on the
down arrow above for details
Our Bible Study course resumes after the summer on Saturday morning 21st August. Pre-reading details will be sent in a email this coming week.
We hope to see you all sun-tanned and back ready to enter the Promised Land (that would be Canaan rather than a Covid-free church building!)
If anyone would like to join us for the last four sessions, you are welcome, and we will endeavour to catch you up on what you have missed so far. Contact Cluster Alpha for details.
