Cluster News

4/5 September

Dedicated Cluster contact number:

07877 121 402

Our Weekend Masses

For details see the section in this week's news and go to our dedicated page.

Live streamed Masses here

Brothers and sisters,

In today’s celebration, we are reminded that God offers us courage, invites us to love without exception and brings us healing and wholeness.

“Look your God is coming”,” says the prophet Isaiah. Let us prepare for the Lord’s coming into our lives this week. How?

By bringing Justice to those who are oppressed. Giving new vision to those blinded by apathy. Being kind to those around us. By being Missionary Disciples.

Fr Alex

Online Liturgy:

23rd Sunday B

Children's Liturgy:

23rd Sunday B

Communion Services will resume at St Gregory's every Wednesday at 9.30 am. Details will be taken for Test & Protect.

Season of Creation 1 Sept - 4 Oct

Christians worldwide are coming together to focus on this year's theme, A Home for all? Renewing the Oikos of God.

Throughout September we shall be focusing on the meaning of this theme and there is much about it in today's news.
Read more about this year's season on the Laudato Si' and archdiocesan websites.

Archdicoesan Justice and Peace Mass

Mon 6 Sept @ 7.30pm. As the Season of Creation begins and we prepare for COP26, we gather to pray for its success at our Justice & Peace Mass @ St Columba's, Upper Gray Street, followed by refreshments. For Test & Protect purposes please sign up here.

The Human Face of the Climate Emergency

Sun 12 Sept, 3-5pm. A mini-colloquium led by Commission members Agatha Kai Kai and Mike Mineter. For details and to register go here. The event will focus on:

  • the disruptions in the climate that are driving people to become refugees
  • hearing from people for whom this is the present reality
  • the current refugee situation in Scotland
  • how we can respond

Nations' Climate Sunday Service

Sun 5 Sept @ 3.30pm. Join with Christians across Britain and Ireland to pray for the Glasgow climate talks and to present our climate pledges to the Government. The service will be broadcast live from Glasgow Cathedral. Register here.

Returning to Mass and the lockdown liturgy

As restrictions are easing, we would like to hear your thoughts on returning to Mass and the online “lockdown” liturgy which a small and very dedicated team have produced throughout the pandemic. 

We would ask you to please complete a short questionnaire by Friday 17th Sept. This will help us plan ahead. 

It would be helpful if all parishioners could fill it in, regardless of whether you have used the lockdown liturgy or not. We also invite all who are using the lockdown liturgy, without identifying as Cluster parishioners, to share their views. Thank you!

Bereavement Service

Sat 11th September @ 9.30am in St Gregory’s

You need not book in advance but your details will be taken for Test & Protect purposes on arrival. 

Candles are lit for family and friends of the cluster who have died in the last month or if there’s an anniversary of a loved one please say when you arrive.

Teas and coffees will be available from now on after the service in the church hall.

If you would like more information, email Jacinta or phone her on 664 5581.

Alpha Is Back!

Alpha will be running in the cluster this autumn. It starts on the week beginning Monday 13th September and will run online. It would be great to have you join us. If you have already attended an Alpha perhaps you know of someone you could invite to come along? Every week we watch a film about what it means to believe in Jesus then we get together and chat about it. There’s no pressure or expectation and anything goes! Watch Anne Christie's experience of it here.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining please contact us on cluster.alpha@outlook.com

Bridgend Farmhouse - the community centre on Old Dalkeith Road - is looking for volunteers to join the board of trustees. So if you have recently retired or are looking for somewhere local to volunteer, then please visit our website to find out more about us www.bridgendfarmhouse.org.uk.

We are particularly in need of a treasurer. We have a full time finance officer who keeps the books, so we just need someone to help with budgeting and reporting back to the board (which meets once a month). You don't have to be qualified. Just give me a call if you are interested. John Knox, 126/5 Dinmont Drive 0131 664 2876. 

Synodal consultation in our Archdiocese

The consultation begins on 17 Oct. In September, the Secretariat of the Synod will issue a preparatory document, a questionnaire and a vademecum (a guide) with proposals for carrying out a consultation in each diocese. This will help us prepare to make sure the voice of all the faithful is heard. For more details go here. Updates on the archdiocesan website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For further Synod-related events, go here.

Scottish Laity Network

The Synodal Church - 

Synodality and Women

In the third talk of the series, on Thu 9 Sept @ 7pm Phyllis Zagano, an internationally acclaimed scholar, will speak about Synodality and Women.


Her groundbreaking work on women in the diaconate led to her appointment to the Pontifical Commission for the Study of the Diaconate of Women in 2016. Register here.

To see the entire series of talks go here. 

For more information email SLN.

A Positive Return to School

Pupils and staff are settling into our school routine for the new session and we are all happy to be back.

For the first few weeks of term, pupils are focusing on our school aims and rules as well as reconnecting with friends.  We have also been re visiting the Growth Mindset and reminding ourselves to keep trying even when something is difficult.  

We use the phrase ‘ I just can’t do it …yet!’


We are very much looking forward to the year ahead and have already seen some signs of hope that things are beginning to be a bit more normal in school.  Socialising by "bubbles" in the playground have been removed and our pupils have enjoyed mixing with friends from other classes.

We hope to be able to get back to visiting St Gregory’s regularly this year to celebrate Mass as well as enhancing our learning of the RE curriculum.

Aisling Christie

Our amazing Parent Council have been granted a licence to run a small lottery. The sheets for the next draw for October will be out shortly and I will arrange for these to be placed at the back of the church.  All monies raised will go directly to helping out our pupils and families - fundraising opportunities that have been missed due to being in lockdown. First lottery results here.

Are there any budding (pardon the pun!) gardeners out there to help us bring our school garden back to life? It is sorely in need of some TLC after being left alone during lockdown and the Summer. Can you help?

Finally,  our food bank collection point is now re-open and we are again accepting donations of non-perishable foodstuffs for the South Edinburgh foodbank. The collaboration between the church and the school has been amazing in the past and hope it will re-start and be as successful again.

If you are able to help with any of this, please contact the school office. Thank you in advance for any help you can give us.

God Bless, Mr Hunter

Justice Matters: Trashing our home.  Are we?  

The theme for the Season of Creation 2021 is “A Home for all, renewing the oikos of God”.   But what does that mean?

SEE:  Watch Oikos meaning home or household. Can we see that our wonderful planet is our home? It belongs to us all.  It is beautiful. It is living.  But do we actually see it?  Do we see the abundant green and blues, reds, yellows?  Do we feel the heat of the sun or the gentleness of the breeze on us?  Indigenous people have always lived in partnership with nature  “While our way of life is focused on consumption and dependent on exploitation, indigenous communities see the Earth as a source of bounty that requires care and gratitude; it provides them with food and health.” Read more. Nearer to home we see that Portugal “is now fossil fuel-free, as far as extraction goes, proving that grassroots resistance is an important catalyst of systemic change.” Read more.

REFLECT:  When thinking about these things I’m transported back to teenage years.  Trusted by parents to have that party – the rules agreed and promises given.  A few hours into the party someone suggests a good game is needed – how about hide and seek?  Now would be a good time to mention the rooms that are out of bounds.  But what the heck? The music gets louder and we’re drunk on the fact we are together, it’s a success and there are more people here than invited!  A few friends whisper that there’s a bit of a mess. Then louder; that it’s getting stupid – things are being spilt! Someone has burnt the table!   Suddenly the door opens and the music stops abruptly. The lights are on and those adults’ eyes are full of anger, shock and dismay.  We have trashed the house!! 

ACT:  Can we can we learn from the way indigenous people live and work with nature?  The World Bank writes that indigenous people “safeguard 80 percent of the world’s remaining biodiversity. They hold vital ancestral knowledge and expertise on how to adapt, mitigate, and reduce climate and disaster risks.” See more.

 As COP 26 gets ever closer find out more about how to get involved. Many of us know the famous World War 1 phrase. “Your country needs you”.  But now, more than ever “Your planet needs you!"

Tricia Kaminski
You are held in prayer

Please remember in your prayers

those who are sick:

Belén Rodriguez, Patricia Simmons,

George Lewis, Elizabeth Napier,

Laurence Friel, George Pringle,

Donna Buchan, John and Angela Mcintosh,

Jorge Rodriguez, Sr Veronica,

Katharine, Ashley Hammond,

John, Jennifer,

Christopher Mackinnon, Gilmour Forrest,

Maureen Lawson, Bailey Bruce McCann,

Grettel Calvo Mendez, Betty Dickinson,

Annette, Catherine Hart,

Karen Devlin, Vo Van Tu,

Scott Fraser, Thea Maung,

Anne Doig, Sr May Lewis,

Jessie & George Ritchie,

John Skinner, 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.

I am the Resurrection and the Life

We remember in love

Those who have died recently:

Charlie McAuley

Olive Meehan,

William Doig,

Mary Malone,

Mary Campbell,

Patrick


Anniversaries

St J V:

David White, Erwin Ridder,

Alan Nolan, Bridget Duff,

Helen Burke, Bridget Callaghan,

Mary Reynolds, Charles O’Donnell,

Florence Edith Beitlich, John McMillan,

William Kean MacMillan, John Patrick Boyle, Robert Millar, Bridget Rennie.

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

clare.roller@icloud.com

Ask your MP to stop the £20 cut to Universal Credit

The relevant food bank for the cluster is:

47 Southhouse Broadway EH17 8AS     

Phone number 664 9353     

Email: edinburghfoodbank@blythswood.org

Needed this week:

  • Sponge Puddings,
  • Diluting Juice,
  • Tinned Carrots,
  • Tinned Rice/Custard
  • Tinned Tuna,
  • Size 4 Nappies,
  • Toilet rolls,
  • Multi packets crisps,
  • Packets of 6 Eggs

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

Entitlements Page

What help are you entitled to?

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.

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

    1. Use Online Banking:

    Account name - R.Arch of St A St Cath 2

    Account Number - 00693806

    Sort Code - 80 02 73

    Reference - Father Fallon

    2. 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

    3. 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 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

Safeguarding Training in the Archdiocese

Induction Part 2 Training (Duration approx. 90 Mins)

Please note that Induction Part 2 Training should be done approx. 18 months after Level 1 or Induction Part 1 Training has been completed - thank you.


Trainer: Joanne Aitken - Joanne.Aitken@staned.org.uk

Tuesday 31 August 2021 at 7.15pm

Wednesday 8 September 2021 at 7.15pm


Trainer: Julie Brechin - julie.brechin@staned.org.uk

Saturday 25 September 2021 at 10am


Please book direct with either Joanne or Julie via the email address above. 30 places available for this session and must be pre booked to obtain the joining details. Please also provide your parish and role within the parish when booking - thanks.  

Coffee Saints: new cafe at the Cathedral

Coffee Saints is set to open on Thu 2 Sept and will be the only ethical cafe in the revamped St James' Quarter area. The exciting new social enterprise will be run by the Grassmarket Community Project (GCP) in partnership with St Mary's. Homeless people and those who are destitute will be served a free meal every week with "dignity, acceptance, love and respect". Services and support, such as counselling, educational programmes and training for work, will also be offered free to the community. 

Read more.

Trustee (voluntary) 

We are seeking new trustees including a new treasurer to join the small charity, Transition Edinburgh South (TES), that runs Gracemount Community Garden.  We are looking for trustees of any age or any background as long as they are passionate about building local community and environmental sustainability, particularly in and around Gracemount and its neighbouring areas. Please get in touch through the contact form on our website https://www.transitionedinburghsouth.org.uk/

St Joseph’s Services in Rosewell has a vacancy for a  Pastoral Coordinator. You will realise how important such a post is in a project like ours where we wish to stay true to the values and pastoral ethos of St Vincent de Paul. Information on the above post together with contact details can be downloaded here.

Scottish Parliament: Reflection Time led by

Rev Alexander Horsburgh

The story that I want to tell is a difficult one. It concerns a middle eastern mother. She is utterly desperate. She has no power and no one to help her. Her daughter is in grave danger. She will do anything to rescue her child from the torment that she is suffering. She hears of someone, recently arrived, who is said to have helped others in similar circumstances. She finds the house in which he is staying, forces her way in and demands the help that she and her daughter so desperately need. The man turns on her, calls her a dog and says that what he does is not for the likes of her.

Read on...