Cluster News

10/11 September

Next deadline 14th September

Cluster contact:   0131 563 8391

Daily Masses and

Communion Service

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Dear Sisters and brothers, 

Welcome to the 2nd Sunday in the Season of Creation. Today's parables are all about the love and joy of God at someone who repents. 

In trying to mend our ways, we tend to think primarily of our personal sins. However, Catholic Social Teaching tells us that we can also have a part in "structural sin" when we are complicit in unjust political, economic, social, ecological structures. 

This is a special season of reflecting on our role and responsibility in creation. What changes can we make in our lives and as a Cluster for a more sustainable future for all so there will be rejoicing in heaven? 
Fr Alex

Prayer Resources:

24th Sunday C

Children's Resources:

24th Sunday C

Season of Creation Mass - Sunday 11th September at St Catherine's.

This mass will celebrate creation and our relationship with it as Christians. We hope to decorate the church with gifts from creation - greenery, fruit, flowers, and anything we can think of! 

We are at crisis point in our relationship with creation - it is showing us it cannot cope with our way of life. We will be praying for our Earth and for the wisdom to show us how we need to look after this fragile world. All very welcome.

Tricia Kaminski

St John Vianney's - Update

During Mass last weekend, Sun 28 August, Fr Alex provided St John Vianney’s parishioners with an update about their church, hall and house buildings. We wanted to now share this with the parishioners of St Catherine’s and St Gregory’s. Please click on this link to read the statement Fr Alex made.

The St John Vianney’s Parish Pastoral Council are now working with Fr Alex to determine what the next steps will be, and we will keep parishioners across the Cluster updated. Let’s all pray for one another as we journey forward together.

Further tributes to Sr Mary

As promised last week, we have now received permission to publish the tributes by four women at Sr Mary's Thanksgiving Mass.

For these and other tributes (add your own) go here; for photos of Sr Mary go here.

Next teas and coffees

Catch up with old pals and make new ones over a cuppa.

Sun 18 Sept @ St John Vianney's after Mass.

Sat 1 Oct @ St Gregory's after Mass.

At St Catherine's most Sundays after Mass.

SEECAT A.G.M.

Sun 18 Sept at 2:30pm in the Liberton Kirk Halls. 

We are delighted that we now have new post holders and new committee members, but we could do with some more. If you are interested in ecumenism in the local area, WE NEED YOU. Please seriously consider coming along to give it a try.     

Crossing the Red Sea

For those of you who did not get a chance at last weekend's Masses to see Maureen Philips' marvellous cross-stitch work, here is a picture. A gift from her son, Maureen created it with great love and incredible patience over ten years. What a lady!     (Artist: Ella Kovich)

Hover over the picture for more detail.

Praying Together Praying Alone

Here is what Peter thought about the Prayer course

“When I first heard about 'Praying and Alone and Together' I didn't know what to expect apart from having a sight of the course material. But what a lovely surprise! I met a group of people who had come togehter with open minds and hearts in a trusting, loving setting to share their thoughts and feelings about how we speak with God. It was inspiring and uptlifting but most of all, for me, it was comforting and I felt as though I was with friends. I am planning to do it again and will look forward to Saturday mornings. So give it a go! You will be so glad that you did."

In September we are offering another “Praying Together Praying Alone” course. We explore how scripture can aid prayer and how practices such as imaginative contemplation and centering prayer can deepen our relationship with God. There are no expectations and our aim is to be supportive and affirming as we reflect, share and practise. 

The course runs from Saturday 24th September-17th December, 10-12 and this year we are using both St Gregory and St John Vianney‘s halls. It is weekly for the first month then fortnightly. People gather to chat over tea or coffee around 9.45am and there is also a refreshment break during the session.

If you would like to take this journey with us, please contact cluster.alpha@outlook.com

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Mary Morrison

Scottish Laity Network

The Reality of Climate Change in Malawi

Thu 15 Sept @ 7pm by Zoom. Chimwemwe Nyambose Ndhlovu is the National Coordinator for the Catholic Development Commission (CADECOM) also known as Caritas Malawi. She is currently coordinating the Hope for Youth Project funded by SCIAF.

Third talk in a series during the Season of Creation 2022 titled Listening and Responding to the Voice of the Earth and the Voice of the Poor. Register here. For the full programme go here.

Bethany Christian Trust 

Welcome Centre recruitment appeal

Our Welcome Centre is due to open its doors at the beginning of October and we are struggling to recruit for our nightshift team. Previous experience in this field is not essential as full training will be provided, both full time and part-time roles available. If you would like to chat further about these roles please call 454 3120. 

New closing date is 13 Sept, you can apply here. More information on Bethany here.

Gracemount Community Gardens: Awesome Autumn

You are warmly invited to the gardens on Friday 23 Sept from midday onwards, to enjoy food and company. There will be a St Catherine's primary school bake stall and other events including story telling and children's activities. Please come and join us - we will be there rain or shine. More details here.

Scottish Country Dancing

We are delighted that our Scottish Country Dancing class will resume on Tue 4 Oct, 8-9.45 pm, in the Anderson Hall at Liberton Kirk. We would be delighted to welcome new members to join our group. Don’t worry if you are not very experienced – the class is very informal and we all help one another. The most important thing is that we enjoy ourselves, while giving our bodies (and our brains!) a bit of a workout. If you wish any further information please email Mary Davidson or contact her on 664 6789.

SCIAF Pakistan Floods Appeal

SCIAF have launched an emergency appeal in response to the devastating flooding in Pakistan, affecting more than 33 million people, killing over 1,000, injuring over 1,500 people and destroying over one million homes.

As well as providing immediate assistance, we will stay for the long term and work with those affected by the floods to help them rebuild their homes and livelihoods.

Medjugorje Irish Centre

Free draw: Win a trip to Medjugorje

Win one week’s all included package trip to Medjugorje for one person. Draw date is 31 Oct.

For details and to enter the draw go here or phone 00353 1443 4510.

Justice Matters: Everything is inter-connected

(Video: how wolves saved Yellowstone National Park)

The readings today show we are forgiven and loved by God.  However, it feels that people in the western world are behaving like the prodigal son, trashing the world.  How different would the prodigal son’s future have been, had he not summoned the humility and common sense to return to his father?  Today it feels our world needs to summon those two virtues and return to partnership with creation and God.  

SEE:     The current ecological crisis is made up of an assortment of interconnected problems “ranging from climate change to biodiversity loss…..from soil degradation to plastic pollution.” As well as these crises we have a human crisis, also “made up of a wide range of issues affecting the human family; from extreme poverty to social inequality…from poor working conditions to mass migration...”

Many argue that we need a new way of seeing, thinking and acting.  The Catholic Church calls this integral ecology. Integral ecology urges us to stop seeing the problems in isolation. To see that we are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one which is both human and environmental. To put it another way, the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are the same cry. 

Everything is interconnected as this rather long but telling quote describes “.. desire for economic growth drives the production and market for ever-cheaper consumer goods, which drives the depletion of earth’s natural resources, and is also a driver for cheap labour, which drives poor working conditions, which drives weak environmental standards, which drives pollution, which drives greenhouse emissions, which drives climate change, which destroys livelihoods, which drives mass migration, which drives growth in urbanisation, which drives an increase in slum dwellings, which drives social inequality, which drives poor social and health services, which drives an increase in poverty, which drives despair and violence…”

REFLECT:     If we are at this time behaving like the prodigal son how can we move to that point where we repent and accept that our way of living is destroying ourselves and our world?  In the Gospel parable, the younger son experiences genuine remorse.  He comes to terms with what he has done wrong.  He learns humility.  And he dares to return to his father, asking not for a privileged status but to be a servant.   The story describes a pattern and a path for our own ecological conversion.

ACT:     The Ecological Examen is a mode of prayer which asks us to reflect on our personal relationship with creation and to stand with those most impacted by environmental harm.  Watch the video which demonstrates how nature is connected.  As a cluster we could consider joining the eco – congregation. Local organisations work with nature, why not check out the Gracemount community gardens, open Monday, Thursday and Friday or attend the event on 23rd September “Awesome Autumn”.  Details elsewhere in the newsletter. There are organisations including SCIAF, Oxfam, and Greenpeace seeking to safeguard our world. The Laudato si website is also a valuable website for ideas and inspiration. Finally, there is the eco circle. A drop in group which meets on line, on a weekly basis to pray and discuss our response to the climate and human crisis as Christians. If interested please contact us on jp.seecat@gmail.org 

You are held in prayer

Those who are unwell

and in need of our prayers:

Christopher McKinnon, Luis Alfonso Torres Llano,

Baby Fin, (Born on 29 July) Bridie Addison,

Megan O’Hara, Tracey, Rebecca, Valerie Anderson, Maria Lucaci, (Fr Eugen’s mum), Maureen Tolmie,

 Zoila Melgarejo, Kate, Susie Hay, Anne McKain,

Joe MacDonald, Rose Ross, Camilo Rodriguez,

Edison Villabona, Gloria Camargo, Anne-Marie Davie, Joe McConnell, Carolyn Larter, Christine Knox,

Patrick Phelan, Ellen Salvona, Nilsa de Rodriguez, Belén Rodriguez, Rudy Deras, Dawn Adams,

Bill and Marlene Bonnar, Stevie Donald, Kathy Duffy, Mary, Verdiana and Donati Kweka (Tanzania),

Mary Thomson, Eammon McKelvey, Nancy Barta,

Alex McGinnity, Patricia Simmons, Elizabeth Napier, George Pringle, Sr. Veronica, John, Jennifer,

Maureen Lawson, Bailey Bruce McCann,

Betty Dickinson, Annette, Catherine Hart, Karen Devlin, Scott Fraser, Anne Doig, John Skinner, Fr Eugen,

James Duffy, Ronan Boyle, Hazel Martin, Mary Boyle, Mary Dias, Catriona McAuley, Marie, 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:


Sheila Ross,

Raymond Jacobs,

Jim Healy.



Anniversaries


Tully Coll, Kate Coll, John Coll,

Owenie Coll,Robert Millar,

Bridget Rennie,

Sr M. Immaculata Murray,

Richard Lennon, Alexander Black, Frank Martin, Anne Anderson,

Auriol Murphy, Annie McGregor, Catherine Harrison, Eddie Conway.

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.

Please join us in Contemplative prayer 

on Tuesday afternoons 2.40 to 3.45 at Liberton Northfield 280 Gilmerton Road EH16 5TT

Entrance through Red side door. Buses 3, 8, 29 stop right outside. The format is: 

  • short introduction followed by 
  • 30 minutes silent prayer
  • then 10 minutes of intercessory prayer.

If you prefer you can join us on Zoom or just pray with us while you are at home. Contact Clare Roller

Boxes for our local foodbank

Please bring items listed below to any of our church buildings or either of our Catholic Primary Schools for the foodbank - or take them to:

47 Southhouse Broadway EH17 8AS   

Phone number 664 9353     

Email: edinburghfoodbank@blythswood.org

Items requested for this week:

  • Tinned meat Mince/stew/curry
  • Tinned tomatoes
  • Bars of soap
  • Super noodles
  • Drinking Chocolate
  • Children's Treats
  • Mayonnaise 
  • Tinned Rice/Custard

Thanks for the cash donation.

New opening hours for the Food Bank are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10am until 1.30pm

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 07455 306607

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.

St Catherine's Primary School News

What we owe to the local SSVPs

In the week where we saw a new PM and continued talk about the cost of living crisis we face, I also had a lovely meeting with a rep from our local SVDP Conference.
The issues we are all reading about are put into a National context but it was humbling to hear how our SVDP help people in our local community regardless of ethnicity, colour or religion.

Our own school too benefits greatly from what the local SVDP do and they seek or want no public thanks. Much of the work that the SVDP and then, in turn, the school do is done quietly in the background but its effects are immeasurable.

How do they manage it? Only through a dedicated team of volunteers and through local donations. Next time you see the SVDP collection box, don’t walk by. Think of the story of ‘The Widow’s Offering’ in Mark’s Gospel knowing every penny can change a life! God bless,

Paul Hunter, headteacher

Beginning Experience

The loss of a loved one through separation, divorce or death, is one of life’s most traumatic experience. It can result in unbearable feelings of grief and loneliness. The Beginning Experience Scotland Team would like to help. A weekend away for a lifetime of change to be held at Conforti Centre, Coatbridge 30 Sept – 2 Oct. A time to heal by experiencing God’s live through others. An opportunity to begin again.

For details phone Catherine on 0131 665 3383 or email Beginning Experience. Apply here by 16 Sept.

Symphonic Praise 2022

Sat 24 Sept, 7.30pm in St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh. An evening of worship led by the Origin Scotland Orchestra and Singers, seeking to restore the great hymns to the worship of the Church. Congregational worship, performance of some hymns by the musicians, and Scripture readings. Free admission (donations) but tickets required. Go here.

Season of Creation (1 Sept - 4 Oct)

Called to your table


You said: “Let there be”,
And so there was.
Creation awakened.
Reaching towards you,
life sang your praises.
Each seed, each atom
replied to your calling;
each plant, each creature
- knowing, unasking.


You said: “Let them live”,
and so we did.
Creation: abundant,
reaping the harvest,
called to your table.
Each man, each woman
joined in the feasting,
each son, each daughter
- praising, rejoicing.


You said: “Let them share”,
and how we fail.
Creation: unbalanced.
wasting, destroying,
we take from others.
Keeping, withholding,
we fail to notice
each man, each woman
- hungering, weeping.


We say: “Let us learn”,
and so we must.
Creation: restored.
Giving and taking:
to each life sufficient.
Each to another,
filled with your bounty
each prayer, each answer
- Building, remaking.


Claud Mba/CAFOD

"To many of us our beliefs are of fundamental importance. For me the teachings of Christ and my own personal accountability before God provide a framework in which I try to lead my life. I, like so many of you, have drawn great comfort in difficult times from Christ’s words and example."

From the Millennium Christmas message of 

Queen Elizabeth II RIP