Our Weekend Masses
For details see the section in this week's news and go to
our dedicated page.
Sisters and brothers,
In today's gospel Jesus entrusts us with his New Commandment: "Love one another as I have loved you." The message is simple, yet when it comes to the nitty-gritty it can be challenging to live out. Don't we often take the loved ones around us for granted and forget that love needs to be nurtured by interest, affection and time? In the busy-ness of our lives, do we have eyes to see the ones who need attention and care? How can we be more understanding towards those whom we find difficult to live and work with? How far are we willing to make changes to our lifestyles so there will be more justice for the poor and the Earth?
We don't have to go it alone because we are always loved first. So can I love more the way Jesus loves me?
Fr Alex
Prayer Resources:
5th Sunday of Easter C
Children's Resources:
5th Sunday of Easter C
Communion Services will resume at St Gregory's every Wednesday at 9.30 am. Details will be taken for Test & Protect.
Get well soon, Fr Alex!
Prayers and best wishes for Fr Alex who has fractured his tibia. Rest up, take it easy and let us look after you!
A warm welcome and grateful thanks to our very own Fr Mike and Fr Kevin Douglas, who will be covering this weekend's Masses.
Mary's Novena in the Cluster
During the month of May there will be two opportunities to pray the Novena: Mondays @ 2pm in St Catherine's and Tuesdays @ 7pm at St Gregory's. All warmly welcome.
St Gregory's meets every Tuesday 7pm but for the month of May it's at 7 30 after the Novena at 7pm.
St John Vianney's meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7 pm in St Catherine’s Hall.
Next meeting is 1st June.
Altar Servers at St John Vianney
Now things are becoming more normal we invite any children in Primary 4 and above to become Altar Servers. They will be asked to attend training after Sunday Mass for no more than an hour per session. There is no commitment to attend every Sunday, we welcome servers as and when they can attend to accomodate family arrangements.
Any of the pre-Covid servers are very welcome to return. Please speak to Sr Ninian or Michael McKeen at any Sunday Mass.
Michael McKeen
Homeless Jesus sculpture by Timothy Schmalz
Bethany Homeless Project Update
Sincere thanks to all the fabulous volunteers who have been part of the catering team for the homeless guests at the Haymarket Hub hotel from September to May. Bethany staff always comment on the warm welcome shown to each guest and the meals are always appreciated. Of course, this work is only possible due to the generous donations from our wonderful parishioners.
Please see below the email from Naomi Miller from the Bethany Trust to everyone in our cluster. Thank you, Jane Watson
Thank you for all your teams’ help this season. It has been a massive support and blessing to have you serve the guests and our team in this way. You have all been so faithful, thank you!
Kind regards,
Naomi Miller Senior Team Leader for Care Van and Welcome Centre, Bethany Christian Trust
Scottish Laity Network
A Wellbeing recovery from COVID
Thu 19 May @ 7pm. Philippa Whitford MP, consultant breast cancer surgeon and former Shadow Health Spokesperson for the SNP at Westminster, sits on the UK Trade and Business Commission and is a member of the newly established EU/UK Parliamentary Assembly. Fourth talk in the series Towards Pentecost 2022.
Go here for the full programme. Links to recordings can be found on the SLN website.
Could you be our Treasurer?
TES is looking for a treasurer to help achieve our vision of a greener, healthier, more sustainable community. We are seeking someone with finance practice relevant to voluntary and community organisations. Closing date for applications is 6 June. See here for details.
The Big Plastic Count 16-22 May
Do you want to be part of the UK's biggest plastic investigation? Simply count your plastic for one week. Across the country, households, schools, community groups and businesses will gather new evidence. How much plastic are we really having to throw away, and what happens to it? Help push the government, brands and supermarkets to take bold action to tackle the plastic crisis. Watch this light-hearted video and find out more here.
Recruiting for Faith in Action Volunteer Programme 2022/23
We are looking to recruit young adult volunteers (aged 18-30) who are interested in putting their faith into action through projects connected to refugees & asylum seekers, inter-religious dialogue, as well as justice & peace education (Sept 2022 to Aug 2023). Application deadline is Mon 13 June. Go here for details.
SEECAT MEETING
The Justice and Peace group warmly invite you to come and hear John Beatson Youth Service Manager at Goodtrees Community Centre in Moredun tell us about his work with young people. The meeting will be held at The Hub, Gilmerton New Church, 6 Ravenscroft St, EH17 8QJ 7pm Wed 18 May. Donations to support John's work with young people.. Please stay on for refreshments & discussion.
Justice Matters: “Love one another”
Over the last fortnight we have spoken about Catholic social teaching – a body of work which brings together the church’s beliefs on diverse matters from the unionisation of labour to the ecological crisis. The church starts from the point that each of us is beloved by God. Today Jesus sums it up – love one another. The commandment is so simple. Simplicity provides no grey areas in which to take cover. It simply makes its request and leaves us with a choice.
SEE: We are asked by refugee agencies to love those fleeing violence, poverty, climate emergency. We see the different responses to Jesus’ commandment of love in government policy. One of the most infamous at this time is the plan to offshore refugees and send them to Rwanda where they will be processed.
Such a plan sees the problem and avoids seeing the individual within the problem. There is no room to see the suffering of the individual. We are encouraged to see a group of people – “economic migrants”, “single young men” or “lawbreakers” The plan rests on three planks. One, it is needed to solve a problem of migration, secondly, it is the only way to smash the smugglers’ gangs and thirdly, the dinghies are full of economic migrants not refugees. However Professor Ian Linden writing in the independent Catholic news argues “But each claim is based on false assumptions, misinformation or simply ignores what is known from research on migration.”
REFLECT: What is your reaction on hearing such a plan? Do you reflect on the practicality of such a plan? Out of sight out of mind? Or do you see the suffering of a fellow human? Catholic social teaching urges us all to start at this point – the people on those boats are as deserving of dignity and respect as we ourselves are. How importantly do we take this core belief of our faith – that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ? Of what practical application is it?
ACTION: Read how some people have reacted to the plan to outsource people seeking help. To complete the circle we started with a simple commandment “love one another” and its application must bring forth practical action. At an individual level there are many local examples of love and kindness, from visiting one's neighbours to contributing to food banks. At a local level the SSVP operates along with a myriad of other organisations. At a national and international level there are organisations which try to spread justice and love – Amnesty International, Christian Aid, Tear Fund, the Refugee Survival Trust. Love has also got to be present in our politics which is a public manifestation of our vision for society. What do we want our society to be like?
Tricia Kaminski
You are held in prayer
Those who are unwell
and in need of our prayers:
Joe MacDonald, Rose Ross, Camilo Rodriguez, Edison Villabona, Gloria Camargo,
Anne-Marie Davie, Joe McConnell,
Carolyn Larter, Christine Knox, Patrick Phelan, Sheila Ross, Ellen Salvona, Nilsa de Rodriguez, Belén Rodriguez, Rudy Deras, Dawn Adams, Helen Haddow, 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, Katharine, John, Jennifer, Christopher Mackinnon,
Maureen Lawson, Bailey Bruce McCann,
Betty Dickinson, Annette, Catherine Hart,
Karen Devlin, Scott Fraser, Anne Doig,
Sr May Lewis, Jessie & George Ritchie,
John Skinner, Fr Eugen, James Duffy,
Ronan Boyle, Hazel Martin, Mary Boyle,
Mary Dias, Catriona McAuley, Elaine Hepburn, 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:
Pat Hogg,
Frank Smith,
John Norman,
Fiona Scott,
Eileen Donaldson,
Margaret Linforth.
Anniversaries
St Gregory's:
Rita Gibbons
St John Vianney's:
Ann Hunter-Calder, Sarah Taylor,
Patrick Fogarty, Patrick Martin,
Jean Macarthur, May Ross, Mary Barr,
Mary Manderson, Eileen Weir,
Margaret Ramage, Sarah Thomson White, Frances Gallagher, David Wilson, Bill Craigens, Henry McGhee Andrew, Kathleen O’Hanlon, Margaret Skey, Catherine Thomson,
David Marshall, Steve Cooney, Brendan Boyle, Margaret Kane, Bob McBride.
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:
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:
Items requested for this week:
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
There are many benefits and grants to which people are entitled. Please check our entitlements page.
Let us also know of others.
Click on the down arrow for more information.
Volunteer Drivers Required
We currently have two people with special needs in the Moredun and Liberton area who attend SPRED in George Square Edinburgh. We need volunteer drivers to take each of them to George Square one evening every two weeks during school term times. If you feel you can help please call Maureen Quinn on 0775 272 2502 for more information
St John Vianney Primary School News
Last week we welcomed our P6 families back into school to see our P6 Show. It was great to have visitors back in school and we look forward to welcoming more of our families and parishioners in the coming weeks.
We also had a visit from Sister Ninian, it was lovely to see Sister Ninian and look forward to seeing her again soon.
Sacraments
This coming Tuesday, the 17th May, our P7 pupils will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation at 7pm at St John Vianney Church. We are looking forward to joining with St Catherine’s Primary for this celebration.
Month of May
Pupils are learning about Mary this month. We have been learning about Mary in Assembly and in class. Above is a picture of our P3A Class May Altar that the pupils created. Our P5 and P6 pupils are visiting St Gregory’s next week for some work on the Rosary.
Aisling Christie
Christ our life
(Kathy Galloway)
Christ our life,
You are alive - in the tenderness of touch
in the heartbeat of intimacy
in the insights of solitude
Alleluia
Christ our life,
You are alive - in the creative possibility
of the dullest conversation
of the dreariest task
the most threatening event
Alleluia
Christ our life,
You are alive - to offer re-creation
to every unhealed hurt
to every deadened place
to every damaged heart
Alleluia.
You set before us a great choice.
Therefore we choose life.
The dance of resurrection soars and
surges through the whole creation,
This is grace, dying we live.
So let us live.
With thanks to Clare Roller
