Cluster News

17/18 September

Next deadline 21st September

Cluster contact:   0131 563 8391

Daily Masses and

Communion Service

For up to date details

please go to our Home page.

Dear Brothers and sisters, 

We cannot worship money and follow Christ. In this season of creation it is quite apparent that big corporations are indifferent to humanity in the spiralling cost of living as well as to the global climate crisis. But more personally, today's gospel challenges us to decide, shrewdly, how we use money to make friends of the poorest among us and thus amass treasure in heaven.
Fr Alex

Prayer Resources:

25th Sunday C

Children's Resources:

25th Sunday C

Cost of living crisis: Lunch for the local community

There are many ways in which our three Cluster faith communities, individually and jointly, reach out to and serve those in need here in Southeast Edinburgh and in different parts of the world.

Conscious of the current cost of living crisis and the massive hikes in gas and electricity prices, we are now going to provide an additional service. This is intended to complement what is already offered.

Each Monday we will serve lunch to those in need in our local community. We will serve it in St Catherine’s Hall, with doors opening at 1130 and lunches served from 1200 to 1300.

While we are using the hall at St Catherine’s, it is very important to emphasise that this is a Cluster initiative, and we would like to invite parishioners from all three faith communities to consider becoming part of the team who prepare and serve the lunches and interact with our guests. 

If you are interested and would like to find out more, you are invited to a meeting on Saturday 24 September 2022 from 1630 to 1730 in the hall at St Gregory’s.

Gerry Mulvenna

Christians against Poverty - Urgent Action

The PM has recently made a statement about how the UK Government will respond to the cost of living crisis. CAP are asking for a doubling of the energy support for households on means-tested benefits, and a ban on energy companies forcibly switching customers to pre-payment meters.

Please share and write to the PM about CAP's proposals here. 

A huge thanks to the Eco Circle

and to all who contributed to the inspiring Season of Creation Mass at our three churches last weekend. The photo gives a flavour of St Catherine's church, wonderfully decorated with Creation's gifts to us.

Hover over the picture then zoom in/out.

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.

St Catherine's no teas/coffees on Sunday 18th.

TV Unit

Free to go to a good home. Dimensions are 119cm x 41cm x 21cm. For further details please phone Maureen Wallbanks on 07783 408210.

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.     

Edinburgh Jesuit Centre

An ever more united Christian voice in the land

Wed 21 Sept @ 7pm. Archbishop Cushley speaks on the recent landmark commitment of friendship and unity between the Catholic Church in Scotland and the Church of Scotland (the St Margaret Declaration). Details here. 

Praying Together Praying Alone

Here are Georgina's thoughts about the Prayer course

“When I need to learn how to do something , I know I need to practise the skill and not just listen to how it is done. Its even better when you learn and practice with a group, share your experiences with others and learn from other people’s lives.  We are all different and we thrive when we know we are loved, and loved for being ourselves. 

After lockdown a group met in St Catherine’s Hall on several Saturdays over the year.  Although I couldn’t attend many of the meetings each one was like a mini retreat. In a quiet calm atmosphere we learned different ways of praying and then got to try for ourselves and share how it went.  We were encouraged that our faith was growing deeper and that others had the same struggles with prayer .  

There was homework and notes which gave us tools to use when we were  not meeting so we could practise and grow in our faith wherever we were. One of the most valuable things for me was learning how to listen , to each other and others, and extending our experience to listening to God . Its something I find I need to practise.  I really appreciate being reminded that God really wants to  find and speak to me as I often get it back to front and then find prayer a strain.  At one meeting we were all given a little olive wood cross , a physical sign of connection , a little sacrament which I found a great reminder of God’s presence and love for us."

The course runs from Saturday 24th September-17th December, 10-12 and this year we are using both St Gregory's 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

Sustaining us on our journey

Thu 22 Sept @ 7pm by Zoom. Companion - Chris Johnstone. After working for many years as a doctor and addictions specialist in the UK health service, he now focuses on coaching, mentoring, writing and training, particularly through online courses at The College of Wellbeing.

The website gives a flavour of the approach of Active Hope (co-authored with Joanna Macy), and you can download a free pdf taster of the book.

Fourth 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.

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: Empathy not Oppression!

Last weekend at Mass we saw how the Season of Creation is a time to recommit to “ecological conversion” in response to the cries of the Earth and the poor. It is a time to ask the Spirit to renew our delight in the Earth of which we are a part, to seek to change in how we live personally, in community and socio-economically.  (The videos used last Sunday at our Masses are: before Mass, at homily time.)

 It is also important to acknowledge that we are now also in the World Week for Peace in Palestine and Israel.

See     Let us consider how Israeli policies oppress and hold Palestinians in poverty. 

  • 6,400 children attend schools which have been targeted for demolition by the Israeli authorities. Many were built with EU funding.
  • Homes and farm buildings are among the ever increasing number of structures demolished by Israel. Many of these had been built without permits.  Permits are hardly ever granted, yet people need somewhere to live! If demolished by the owners who built them, then there is no charge for the demolition. The picture above is an example of this in S Hebron Hills.
  •  Gaza is held in extreme poverty by a 15 YEAR blockade by Israel, most are dependent on aid. A Gaza resident  said, “My cousin, who was suffering from cancer, tried to seek specialist care in East Jerusalem, but died while waiting for a permit. She left behind five young children.”
  • The Palestinian economy and ability to travel are throttled by the Barrier (taking land and water resources from Palestinians), checkpoints and the permit system. 
  • And the list goes on and on and on.

Reflect     Sunday’s first reading, Amos 8:4-7, is a warning to those who profit by pushing people deeper into poverty. In this light do we see the connections between “climate justice”, “economic justice”, and justice for all in Israel and Palestine?

Amos might well also bring to mind the profits of the oil companies, and Westminster’s choices promoting trickle-down economics. Pope Francis wrote that acceptance of these theories, “expresses a crude and naive trust in the goodness of those wielding economic power and in the sacralised workings of the prevailing economic system. Meanwhile, the excluded are still waiting. ….(54, Evangelii Gaudium)….. No to a financial system which rules rather than serves (57-58, Ev G.)"

Act     Our daily choices can help! What are we buying – can we reduce the food we buy that has flown around the world to get to the shops? Can we avoid produce from Israeli settlements?

Concerning Israel-Palestine it is good to support wonderful charities like Medical Aid for Palestinians, to keep people alive, but we also need to work for justice, from the grassroots as well as by challenging leaders. This entails time and effort, more than money.  We need to keep learning. Here are two opportunities:

- A time of learning and reflection, this Sunday evening, hosted by “Kairos Ireland” Sunday 18th September 2022, 7-8pm

- Several international and also Israeli human rights organisations have recognised that Israel commits crimes of apartheid.  See this important and helpful review.

Do pray for a just future in Israel-Palestine, so all may thrive as their abundant resources and skills could so easily allow.

You are held in prayer

Those who are unwell

and in need of our prayers:

Christopher McKinnon, Luis Alfonso Torres Llano,

Baby Fin, Bridie Addison, Megan O’Hara, Tracey, Rebecca, Valerie Anderson, Maria Lucaci (Fr Eugen’s mum), 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


Francis Bagan, Andres Arimbuyutan, John Kilbride, Jane McCauley,

Ramsay Sibbald, Rose Murray,

Helen Woods, Jimmy McMillan,

Hilda Bull, Stewart Ferguson,

Jack Haynes, Samuel Fielding,

Anne Calvey, Irene Keir,

James Donlevy, Marie Jones,

Canon James Nicholson,

James Hannan, Joan Wilson.

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:

  • Super Noodles,
  • Shampoo,
  • Sponge puddings,
  • Chocolate treats for children.


Please note: the foodbank will be closed on Monday 19th for the national holiday. We will re-open as usual on Tuesday.

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.

Hello from St John Vianney Primary School

Pupils and staff are now well settled back into the new school year and learning is well underway. It has already been a busy few weeks with our P5 pupils going swimming, our P6 pupils skiing at Hillend and our P7 pupils just back from a fantastic Residential Week at Lagganlia. Please check out our Twitter pages to see what else has been going on.

For Health and Wellbeing we have been learning about adopting a Growth Mindset and also what it means to ‘Be Resilient’. 

Our pupils are also been researching our own school Saint. Please see some photos of their work.

We were delighted to get a visit from Frank and Maureen last week, when our pupils handed over a cheque for an amazing £1088 for all their work on their Mini Vinnies project. 

We are very much looking forward to the year ahead and hope that we will be able to continue to work closely alongside both our Parishes. We look forward to welcoming you into school for Mass and a cup of tea in the near future and hope to be able to share dates of School Masses and Sacraments with you in the coming weeks.

Aisling Christie, depute headteacher

St Catherine's Primary School News

It was with great pleasure that I met with Fr. Alex to start to arrange a few more things that we can now restart to do in his role as our School Chaplain.

I was delighted to arrange future dates for Fr. Alex to come into school and visit classes, help out with RE lessons and just be around. Another sense of normality returning.

It was also brilliant to start to plan a class Mass in school. Over the next few weeks, P5 will be planning for and looking to celebrate a Mass in their class in school.

This we have not done for many years and I know will mean a lot to the pupils involved. Our next milestone is to, once again, join you all for a Mass in church and come together as a Faith Community in person. God Bless,

Mr Hunter, headteacher

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)

Your garden of plenty

Giver of life,

From tiny seeds and parched earth

your gentle hand grows richest fruit.

Reveal to us, Creator God, the seeds within us;

moisten the soil that our neglect has made dry.

For alone we lack the vision of your Kingdom.

Alone, we fail to recognise

the hungry in our midst.

Alone, we lack the strength to fulfil your purpose.

With your inspiring love, Redeemer of all,

may the shoots of our potential break free

and our hands, voices and spirits

toil in communion

so that your garden of plenty can be shared by all.

Amen.

Anna Cronin-Nowakowska/CAFOD

Prayer for a Queen
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
1926 – 2022

Lord, Jesus Christ, in sadness,

we mourn the death of your servant, Elizabeth,
and, in joy, we give thanks for her life.
For her service of your people,
we thank you, Mighty God.
For her example and wise counsel,
we thank you, Wonderful Counsellor.
For her faithfulness and devotion to duty,
we thank you, Everlasting Father.
For her work of peace-making and reconciliation,
we thank you, Prince of Peace.
For her upholding of justice with righteousness,
we thank you, God-with-us.
We pray for this nation
and for the progress of all the peoples, that,

in those who lead and govern and influence us,
we may be blessed with true goodness,
faithful devotion and selfless service,
from this time onward and for evermore. Amen.



Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon her.
May she rest in peace.  Amen.