Cluster News

6/7 February

Live streamed Masses here

Dear parishioner,

Sickness and suffering, especially in the young and innocent is the mystery which most tries our faith. God is a caring God.

Today’s gospel invites us to bring our sick and suffering to him - and to trust.

Fr. Alex

Weekend Liturgy:

Fifth Sunday of the Year B

Children's Liturgy:

Fifth Sunday of the Year B

Level 4 Restrictions

Closure of Places of Worship

except for Funerals or Weddings

see Closure

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

Click on any of the links to find out more.

Hymn of the week:

Yahweh, I know you are near

For this week’s hymn choice Brian McNally has recorded a beautiful reflective piece.


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

There will be a Bible Study course starting on Saturday 13th February - and run on a monthly basis on Saturday mornings. Click on the link for more details.

There will also be a series of 6 Lenten Sessions running weekly on Monday evenings starting on 15th February.

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.

Salted Caramel Cheesecake & Gin Fizz

St Catherine's Primary School

You will know by now that The Scottish Government has indicated that children in Nursery – P3 stage classes will return to school on Monday 22nd February.

This will mean that P4 – P7 will continue to access Remote Learning. Our Hub school for those pupils who meet that criteria will also continue for those children not returning.

Please look out for information on all of these arrangements coming to school family inboxes in the near future.

I want to publicly thank all of our school staff for all the hard work and sacrifices they have made to maintain the learning and teaching of our children.

They will be switching off for the mid term February holiday and we wish them the best during this time. God Bless,

Paul

Views from the pews

Another beautiful liturgy this week. The readings, prayers & gospel were well read by the parishioners from the various churches. I loved the hymn. It’s one of my favourites which I find very up lifting. The background scenery was just gorgeous. Well done to all who put this week's liturgy together. God bless you all.

Maureen Martin (SJV).

The winning number for the January 200 Club Draw was No 12. There were 66 numbers in the Draw for January so prize was £33. Thanks to everyone for their continued support and not too late to.join up from February onwards.

Stay safe everyone. Ann Callaghan

Justice Matters: Enjoying and protecting our perfect Earth

I hope you have had the chance to watch “The Perfect Planet” presented by David Attenborough on BBC.  There is another excellent new resource that informs us about the way we are treating the planet, and how we might respond to it.  It is the Citizens’ Climate Assembly, bringing together randomly selected people to learn about and discuss responses to the climate crisis.  This is a wonderful process with a superb website 

See:  Since the start of the weekly “Justice Matters”, the themes that we have highlighted most often are from Pope Francis’ teaching in Laudato Si, looking to the heart of the crises.  The Holy Father is calling us to rethink what it is to be human, as part of the earth, in communion with all people, all creatures, all of the planet.  One foundation of Laudato Si, rooted in the tradition of the Church, is to cherish Creation and each other as a part of it.  Listening deeply to the cries of the Earth and the cry of the poor leads Pope Francis to call us to renewal of life individually, as communities, and to work for the renewal of socio-economic life.

Reflect: Lent is nearly upon us! The old blessing on Ash Wednesday, when giving the ashes, used the words “remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return.”  When seen in the history of the 14 billion years of evolution of the universe even dust is something wonderful….. though its not so wonderful that I shouldn’t house-clean a bit more often than I do… 

Act: Why are we writing about Ash Wednesday two weeks early?!  It's because we would like to invite you to share ideas for this part of the newsletter in Lent. What do you plan to do this Lent? Why? In particular, do you have ideas to share for Lent that will help us to connect with the earth, or live more lightly on the earth?  We often think about giving things up in Lent – but what are extra or different things we might choose to do?  A questionable example would be “Use the vacuum cleaner less often to save electricity” although it appeals to my laziness…. Our young people (and others too!) could send much better ideas by emailing jp.seecat@gmail.com. (If you are under 16, please ask a parent/guardian to send the email from their address.)
You are held in prayer

Please remember in your prayers those who are sick:

John McGinley,

Craig and Elizabeth Salvona,

Violet and Bowie Salvona,

James Salvona,

Paul Flockhart, David,

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:

Those who have died recently

Jane Muldoon (Pat Price's mother)

Catherine McHardy,

Christopher Cowe,

Jane Michelle Doyle,

Margaret Horyn,

Mary Malone,

Conan Murie,

Hugh Gibbons


Anniversaries

St Gregory's

Rose Hoban, Michael Corrigan

St John Vianney's

Agnes Manderson, Francis Cassidy,

Matthew Rodgers, Margaret Lewis,

Thomas McManus, Ann Brown,

Annie Ogilvie, Robert Thackery,

William Sibbald, Kim Hogg,

Daniel Gallagher, Brian Lightly,

James Keegan, David McAllister,

William Jamieson, Madge Mason,

Charles Smith, Gabriel Newton.

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

  • Single packets of smash
  • Fray Bentos pies
  • Tinned Mac Cheese
  • Tinned Custard
  • Sponge puddings
  • Packets of microwave 2 minute rice

Our thanks to a parishioner for their donation to the food bank.

Entitlements Page

There are many benefits and grants to which people are entitled  but often they are not aware of these. We are going to put all these in an entitlements page. Please let us know of others you have come across.

Click on the picture to go there.

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.

Bible study: More positive teaching (Mt 6) 

Fri 12 Feb, 10am-12pm. In preparation for WDP 2021, Revd David Coleman, Chaplain of Eco-Congregation Scotland, leads this bible study. Zoom details here

Meeting ID: 859 9764 0710
Passcode: 498083

Bible study material can be downloaded here.

To help us imagine the way in which we are being called to prepare a future that gives hope to future generations and our planet, you are invited on a Lenten Journey. The first talk is on Thu 18 Feb with Jim Skea, Co-chair of Working Group III of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, sharing his thoughts on What is the Hope of COP 26? For details and to register email Scottish Laity Network. the full Lenten programme is here.