next edition 19/20 June
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,
God the Father invites us into a relationship of love through his Son and by the power of the Holy Spirit. We are God’s children. In his name we rejoice and are glad. Blessed be God the Father, and the only begotten Son of God, and also the Holy Spirit. May the blessing of the Family that is God, come down on you this day and always, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Fr. Alex
Lockdown Liturgy:
Holy Trinity Sunday B
Children's Liturgy:
Holy Trinity Sunday B
The one phone number for the Cluster: 07877 121 402
With one parish priest serving the South Edinburgh RC Cluster, of St Catherine’s, St Gregory’s and St John Vianney’s, we now have a single new phone number which will act as the first point of call for all three parishes. It is now live.
The old numbers for the parishes will be decommissioned, with the exception of the Mass Booking numbers which will continue meantime.
Cluster News back on 19/20 June
For the weekends of 5/6 and 12/13 June there will be no Cluster News while Stuart is sailing up the West Coast. You will still be emailed the links to the lockdown liturgy and children's materials.
Fr Alex's Silver Jubilee
As you may know, Fr Alex will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of his ordination, his Silver Jubilee, on 21 June this year. In those 25 years Fr Alex has come “full circle” – he spent the year leading up to his ordination in St John Vianney’s, working alongside Fr (now Bishop) Stephen Robson. So there is something appropriate about this Anniversary occurring whilst he is ministering to the three parishes in our Cluster.
We have discussed this with Fr Alex and feel it is better if we postpone the celebrations until later in the year when, hopefully, we can gather in larger numbers to celebrate his Silver Jubilee.
Sacraments
Next week is the start of our pupils receiving their Sacraments. On Wednesday, our P3 pupils will receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. On Saturday, our first group of P4 children will receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Both our P3 and P4 pupils and their families have been working extremely hard preparing for this.
Our P7 pupils continue to prepare for their Confirmation which is only a couple of weeks away now. We hope to be able to share some photos with you all next week.
If any parent or carer has not received an update from the school in the last two weeks with regard to the Sacraments then please get in touch with us via the school office.
0131 6641742 or admin@st-johnvianney.edin.sch.uk
Aisling Christie, depute head
Hello there from Baby Hana!
Thank you for your prayers baby Hana is home and is doing well. There is a lot to be said about the power of prayer. Jacqui Phillips
So very proud of our first group of P7 children who celebrated their Sacrament of Confirmation this week. We have still two groups to go, so look out for their pictures in the coming weeks, along with our First Communion children too. A huge thanks also to Fr. Alex for his work in preparing the children. I am always grateful when people comment on how amazing our pupils are in social situations. I know, we can take our pupils anywhere and they are a credit to us. This whole group of pupils have shown that and then some.
God Bless, Paul
I would walk 500 miles……
George McDermid, who founded and organises the Cluster Walking Group, writes:
"The idea of a Cluster Walking Group was first suggested to me at a Burns Evening in St John Vianney’s in January 2011. To Maggie Flanagan and Nicola Heatlie must be given the credit for encouraging me to organise something. Not that I needed much encouragement, since walking was a great hobby of mine!
There must have been a need for this activity because by the end of the year we had completed 12 walks and had a total of 17 walkers in our group. Since then, the Group has flourished, and we have now completed 96 walks involving about 50 of our parishioners.
Popular walks have included the Braid Burn, Burdiehouse Burn, Water of Leith. Rivers Esk and Almond. Also, coastal walks on both the Fife side of the Forth and this side. Distances vary but average about 6 or 7 miles and for those not wishing to complete the full distance there are usually drop off points.
Since we are approaching our 100th walk possibly a celebration is in order - watch this space!"
If anyone is interested in future walks, please contact George on 0131 666 2236.
Did not our hearts burn within us….
A group of parishioners from across the Cluster is meeting (online) once a month on Saturday mornings to study the Scriptures. Pat Price, who facilitates the sessions with Stuart Holden, tells us a little about their journey:
"The Bible is at the heart of our faith and our relationship with God. Much more than just another book. In the Second Vatican Council document Dei Verbum , the Bible is described as a “place” where our heavenly Father comes down to meet us and speaks to us with love.
Starting in February a group of 25 of us from the three Cluster parishes has been meeting once a month on Zoom following a Bible study programme called Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible. It entails eight videos by Jeff Cavins who presents the story of salvation history from Creation and the Fall through the coming of Christ and the establishment of the Church. In conjunction with Jeff's teaching there is home Bible reading and thought-provoking discussions in small groups to enable an understanding of God's Word and his plan for our lives.
So far, we have meandered through Genesis, wandered in the desert of Exodus and are halfway through the course. We take a break now and our studies will resume with the entry into the Promised Land in August.
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@outlook.com for more details.
Ugandan Project Creedou
Creedou is a project in Uganda set up by Fr Didier Dingida who, along with 53 orphan children fleeing hatred, violence and war in the Congo, are now refugees in Uganda. This provides a safe haven and support for the kids with some living in the centre and others placed with Ugandan or Congolese families. Creedou provides the kids with health care and education and aims to provide a place of unity, reconciliation and peace.
The parishes of St John Vianney’s and St Gregory’s are committed to supporting this project and since Jan 2017 have sponsored the education of the children. Our support will enable the children to go to school providing the foundation to their future without which their future would be extremely difficult particularly as refugees. Via Fr Anthony we have recently heard that three of the kids we support have gone missing when a volcano erupted near Goma. There are reports of dead children. Please pray our kids and for all those affected by this disaster. If you want like to give a donation, please email Frank Quinn. Thank you.
Still on the menu this week...
May's winning number is 84
Summer 2021 Newsletter
Justice Matters: Laudato Si' Action Platform
The readings today tell us we have been given the spirit of bravery and action. We are to be heirs, not slaves. That means we have choice and responsibility. Pope Francis is urging us to act to care for creation and, as Laudato Si week ends it leaves with us the Laudato Si Action Platform: a platform to support a 7 year plan for moving forward to care for our common home.
See: We are urged to see and understand that the cry of the earth is irreversibly joined to the cry of the poor. We see that our capitalist system puts profit at its centre not the needs of the poor and the planet. We see that our education system needs to ensure it promotes ecological insight. We see that changes in our lifestyle can affect climate disruption.
Reflect: In the gospel Jesus met with his disciples and we are told some hesitated, not immediately falling down before him, not knowing what to do. Today it feels that many of us are hesitating. We may see the problem, we may feel compassion for those suffering but are we yet at the point of falling down? Can we see ourselves as part of the problem and therefore also part of the solution? How do we tap into the spirit of kinship that we have been given?
Action: The Laudato Si' Action Platform is literally a call to action. The platform contains goals that if we attain would help all of us in our world. In coming weeks we will talk more about such goals and how we can achieve them. Please watch the video above, which explains Laudato Si' and its relevance. If you are interested in learning more about Laudato Si' why not join a book club? Contact Eileen at laudatosibookclub@gmail.com. The video also talks about hope and Lorna Gold describes how in starting to defeat Covid 19 we have had to work collectively. It is this spirit of collectivity that we need to tackle climate disruption. Perhaps spend a little time thinking about how we can increase our understanding of community and the common good. The eco-circle is a group of people who meet weekly and try to look at such issues and how we become part of the solution. It would be great to see you there.
Please remember in your prayers
those who are sick:
Bailey Bruce McCann, Grettel Calvo Mendez,
Leah Gunn, Hana Rowan Curry,
Lynn Richmond, Betty Dickinson,
Annette, Peter Robinson,
Catherine Hart, Karen Devlin,
Vo Van Tu, Scott Fraser,
Thea Maung, Maureen McEvoy,
Anne Doig, Sr May Lewis,
Jessie and George Ritchie, John Skinner,
John McGinley, Fr Eugen,
Evelyn Levine, James Duffy,
Ronan Boyle, Hazel Martin,
Maureen Phillips, Mary Boyle,
Mary Dias, Catriona McAuley,
Elaine Hepburn, Marie,
Sophie, Roney Fernandes,
Christopher Browne, Xaverina Rodrigues,
Anne and Helen,
Sacred Heart sisters in Avigliana, Italy, in Algorta, Spain and in Dalkeith
We remember in love
Those who have died recently:
Monsignor Tony Duffy.
Anniversaries
St. Gregory
George Ritchie,
Mary Newton.
St John Vianney
Doreen Nettleship,
Susan Reynolds,
Joseph Glenwright,
Peter Murty,
Owen Naughton,
Nancy O’Donnell,
Mary Martin,
Stan Walker,
Thomas Finlay,
Mark Thompson,
May Muldoon,
Rosemary Barrie.
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 Email:
edinburghfoodbank@blythswood.org
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
Laudato Si' book club
Starting on Tue 1 June @ 7.30pm, seven fortnightly sessions by Zoom. A pdf copy of Laudato Si' can be sent to anyone requesting one. Participants are asked to read one chapter prior to each meeting. Presentation followed by breakout room discussions. To join email Eileen
SCIAF Emergency Appeal
Pray for the people of Gaza
The violence in Gaza has once again shocked the world. After two weeks of intense conflict, homes, schools and hospitals have been reduced to rubble and civilians have nowhere left to hide or flee for safety. Thousands of people have been injured and forced to leave their homes, and the number of casualties continues to rise.
SCIAF has responded to their plea and have set up an emergency appeal for Gaza. Please remember the people of Gaza in your prayers.
European Union Settlement Scheme
Children’s Leaflet
With the application deadline of 30 June 2021 now less than 50 days away, it is crucial that eligible parents apply to the EUSS themselves and check whether they need to do so on behalf of their children. Children are not covered by a parent’s application to the EUSS.
The Home Office has produced an EUSS children’s
leaflet, in partnership with the University of Liverpool. It has been designed with children in mind and is intended to support children and parents with information to help them apply to the EUSS. If English is not your native language, please click on the button below for other options.
Pandemic
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
Lynn Ungar
