Live streamed Masses here
Dear parishioner,
I hope that this finds you and your families well. Welcome to this week's Cluster News.
Since lockdown started we have not been able to gather together physically as a parish either prayerfully or socially. This has had a real and serious impact on our faith journeys. Suddenly, we have had to adapt to a very different kind of liturgy. This goes both for our lockdown liturgy, a streamed liturgy or now our restricted liturgies in each of the parishes. At least these provide three options for people – if they know about them.
This week, I am making a special appeal to those of you who receive our email or access our website each week. We need to find and contact those who have “gone missing” and we need you to help us do so.
1.
If you speak to someone whom you know attended one of our parishes, please ask them if they are receiving the Cluster email or visit our website. If so, fine; if not, please ask them if they would like to be kept in touch with what is going on in the cluster. If the answer is yes, then you would need to ask for their permission to forward us either
an email address or a phone number.
Someone in the Cluster will contact them to find out what their needs are.
2.
If you think about the various people whom you used to see each week at Mass and suspect they may not be receiving news about the cluster – let us know please. Tell us what you know about them to help us identify them: a name, physical appearance, where they normally sat in church - any details about them.
Being suddenly disconnected from your weekly faith community is bad enough as we all know – but for this disconnection to go on for months is something we must not allow to happen. So “be a good Samaritan” and get in touch with us: southedclust@btinternet.com
Please don't assume we know about them.
Over the past few months we have made every effort to find contact details for as many parishioners as possible and get in touch with them. However, we know that there are lots of parishioners we don’t have any contact details for. Through this work we now have details for 220 households (incorporating 469 parishioners) across our three faith communities – but this is only around 70% of cluster parishioners.
We need to stay connected more than ever both spiritually and socially. Let's continue to pray for one another and especially those who are experiencing any difficulties during this challenging time.
With my prayers, best wishes and blessings,
Fr Alex.
Prayer resources for adults:
27th Sunday of the Year A
Children's resources:
27th Sunday of the Year A
Phase 3: Mass available in our three parishes
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 those who are managing the booking system.
On-line and telephone bookings can be made from Monday mornings through to Wednesday at 5pm. You must receive a notice of confirmation in order to attend that weekend. We have prepared some guidelines about this and they can be found here.
We would encourage you to share this information with anyone you know or suspect may not have internet access. Let's stay connected!
Hymn of the Week:
Spirit of God
The hymn this week has been chosen by Jacqui Sanger who tells us a bit about her choice. It is played beautifully by Pat Thomas and the lyrics are underneath.
Click here
Fr Alex's recipes in for one other week only...
A delicious Spicy Lasagne for the kids and a cheeky mojito for the grown-ups.
Pat and Danny Friel were married 40 years ago on Saturday 3rd October. “We moved to Edinburgh in 1986, and St Catherine’s has been a huge part of our lives since then. From both of us and from our family of Beth, Brendan, Clare and her husband John, Martin and his wife Kara and their sons, Angus and Rowan, thank you for your love and friendship throughout our time here. We hope and pray that we can find some form of normality soon, and celebrate together”. Danny and Pat Friel
Looking for specific help - could it be you?
St Catherine’s is still looking for people to help with the booking system for Mass in dealing with online and telephone bookings.
Following surveys of the church buildings and church houses required by the archdiocese, we are also looking for people who can provide some technical advice in deciding how and when to take forward recommendations from the surveys.
If you think you could help with either of these areas, please contact Anne Moore for further details about what is involved through southedclust@btinternet.com
Views from the pews
The Prayer Foundation have been praying for Nancy for several months and Nancy has regularly expressed her appreciation of our prayers through Mary Thomson who has kept in touch with Nancy and her family during her illness.
Mary Thomson writes:
Nancy Murray, a parishioner and friend of many at St Catherine’s for more than 20 years has sadly died. Nancy was taken from the Western General to the Marie Curie just over 3 weeks ago to try to get her pain under control but, unfortunately, she deteriorated pretty rapidly and died on Wednesday evening the 30th September.
Nancy was always very grateful for all the prayers being said for her and was especially appreciative of the Prayer Foundation who have been keeping her in prayer for some months.
The prayer Foundation will continue to pray for Nancy and her family and friends.
Justice matters
In the last couple of weeks the leaves have begun to change colour and on bushes blackberries are enticing to look at and good to eat. The seasons remind us that the earth is so beautifully poised to support its life.The tilt of the earth's axis gives us seasons. There is rainfall in due season: we need water but it only freezes in winter. We need warmth but not too much because the earth spins giving day and night. The lifecycles of plants, insects and other creatures interweave to benefit of all. This is a dance of all creation. So it is no wonder that Pope Francis calls us to enjoy and delight in being part of the earth,
See: what signs of the changing season do you notice?
Reflect: around the world the seasonal patterns are less predictable. In many countries, many farmers find the timing of when to sow seeds is now unclear. Even in the UK the wheat harvest is predicted to be very poor due to this year's unusual weather. Human activity is changing the climate and depleting the earth of so many plants and animals.
Act: Pope Francis asks us to enjoy the earth. He then asks us to slow our pace of life and rate of consumption of fossil fuels and other resources. Yet we are also asked to act quickly - to realise that we are in an emergency of the climate, of poverty, of ecosystems and of pollution, and to act like it! Can we each make one change this week to live more lightly on the Earth? Maybe use a little less gas or electricity. It might be as simple as not overfilling the kettle - just heat what you will use immediately. Maybe when shopping we can choose local food that is in season for here, and not flown in from far away.
You are held in prayer
Please remember in your prayers those who are sick:
Dermot Homan
Mary Boyle
Chris Madden
Liz Martin
Mary Love
Mary Malone
Rachel Witte
Mary Dias
Catriona McAuley
Victor Julio Rodriguez
Iain Cusick
Elaine Hepburn
Cecilia Glancy
Annette Sibbald
Fiona Scott
Scott Fraser
Ferne
Lorraine
Javier Molina Vasquez
Roney Fernandes
Christopher Browne
Xaverina Rodrigues
Derek Morgan
Anne and Helen
Mary Boyle
Chris Madden
Liz Martin
Mary Love
Mary Malone
Rachel Witte
Mary Dias
Catriona McAuley
Victor Julio Rodriguez
Iain Cusick
Elaine Hepburn
Cecilia Glancy
Annette Sibbald
Fiona Scott
Scott Fraser
Ferne
Lorraine
Javier Molina Vasquez
Roney Fernandes
Christopher Browne
Xaverina Rodrigues
Derek Morgan
Anne and Helen
Colin Johnston
I am the Resurrection and the Life
We remember in love:
Nancy Murray
(died 30 September)
Olive Flett
Mike Knox
Sr. M. Immaculata Murray
Thomas Brock
Joyce Abrahams
Pat Tansey
Irene
Jackie Fraser
James Browne
Kathleen Boyle
Jackie Scott
Anniversaries
Jimmy Docherty
Georgina Hutton Wilson,
William Hannigan,
James Ainslie,
Patricia Lapping,
John Jarvie,
Billy Taylor,
Sam McKeen,
Charles Sweeney,
Eddie Mulroy,
James Narrie,
Mary Helen Narrie,
Betty Craven,
Patrick Devine,
Andrew Phillips,
David Mann.
Olive Flett
Mike Knox
Sr. M. Immaculata Murray
Thomas Brock
Joyce Abrahams
Pat Tansey
Irene
Jackie Fraser
James Browne
Kathleen Boyle
Jackie Scott
Anniversaries
Jimmy Docherty
Georgina Hutton Wilson,
William Hannigan,
James Ainslie,
Patricia Lapping,
John Jarvie,
Billy Taylor,
Sam McKeen,
Charles Sweeney,
Eddie Mulroy,
James Narrie,
Mary Helen Narrie,
Betty Craven,
Patrick Devine,
Andrew Phillips,
David Mann.
May they rest in peace.
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, all they have to do is dial 0131 357 6463 to hear our Lockdown Liturgy (available on Sunday) and also how to phone to make a booking to attend one of our cluster Masses.
2. Who is Jesus?
Mondays 7pm on Zoom. It's not too late to join! Please pray for them as they seek to take the next steps on their faith journey.
Email: Cluster.alpha@outlook.com
Mobile: 079 4766 0766
Twitter: @ClusterAlpha
The relevant food bank for the cluster is:
47 Southhouse Broadway EH17 8AS
Phone number 664 9353Email 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
Sort Code: 80-91-26
Account no: 10413664
Reference: S.E. Edinburgh Foodbank
Items needed this week
- Eggs, beans, rice, corned beef, fruit, jars of baby food.
- Tinned items: Potatoes, carrots, mince, fruit, custard.
- Chocolate, sweets, Mars/ Twix bars, crisps, snacks, biscuits, hot chocolate.
- Tin foil, cling film, shampoo, toothpaste, shower gel
If anyone would like to give a gift then there are three ways this can be done:
- Use Online Banking with these bank details
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.
The Caritas, Justice and Peace Commission: Looking to the future with hope, faith and vision
This joyful song is to remind you of the retreat this
Sun 4th Oct 2.30- 4.30 pm, A retreat in response to the Pope and our Bishops, who challenge us to act in hope to prepare the future: a revitalised post-COVID, ecologically sustainable world. Join us on Zoom as we learn more about St Francis and the teaching of Pope Francis and the Vatican.
Register here.
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
The Amazon Synod One Year On…
Progress & Procrastination
Mauricio Lopez is the Executive Secretary of Red Eclesial Pan Amazònica (REPAM). On Tue 6 Oct, 7.30pm, he will discuss the state of play one year on. Have things progressed? Or have they stagnated? Zoom details here
Women in the Church
An Open Conversation with Tina Beattie on Thu 8 Oct at 7pm. An evening of informal discussion and theological exploration about the roles, participation and representation of women in the Church today.
For Zoom details email:
Useful links: