Our Weekend Masses
For details see the section in this week's news and go to
our dedicated page.
Many live streamed Masses are being "wound down" and the link we provided is no longer up to date.
Brothers and sisters,
In today's gospel Jesus doesn't mince his words about one of our most cherished weaknesses: readily finding fault with others but not so much with ourselves.
As we begin Lent this Ash Wednesday, let us try to be more generous and compassionate towards others and bear good fruit that tells of the good tree.
Fr Alex
Prayer Resources:
8th Sunday C
Children's Resources:
8th Sunday C
Communion Services will resume at St Gregory's every Wednesday at 9.30 am. Details will be taken for Test & Protect.
Ash Wednesday Services and Sacramental Preparation
Cluster Stations of the Cross x 2
There are two opportunities each week in the cluster to make the Stations of the Cross:
All are welcome.
Cluster Lenten Sessions 2022
Lent is almost here. Why not join us in turning to God once more? Our cluster Connect groups warmly invite you to a time of fellowship every Monday evening starting on 28th February until 4th April at 7pm when we can listen to God’s Word, reflect, share and praise together. These sessions are produced by our own parishioners. If you would like to join us or would like to know more please contact us on cluster.alpha@outlook.com
SEECAT LENT GROUPS
There will be two SEECAT Lent groups (in person). The Tron at 3pm starting on Tuesday 8 March and at St Barnabas at 1:30pm starting on Wednesday 9 March, for 5 consecutive weeks.
There will also be a Zoom Lent Group at 2pm starting on Thursday 10 March, for 5 consecutive weeks. We will be using the material from this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
If you would like to go to any of these groups, please contact Clare Roller
SCIAF Wee Box
A regular feature of each Lent is the wee box from SCIAF. We are using money less and less so maybe need to be more creative about how to use them. Any ideas? Let us know!
Sciaf's focus this Lent is on the crop failure in Malawi. You can read more about it here. We hope to have these boxes available at each of our parishes shortly.
FAIR TRADE FORTNIGHT STALL – this weekend
We are having our first stall of the year to mark FTF and hope you will drop by to have a look and see what is on offer.
It's after Mass at St Catherine's. You are very welcome
Tricia Kaminski
Next weekend: Teas & coffees after Mass
Catch up with old pals and make new ones over a cuppa.
On Sun 6 March, there will be a Coffee To Go at St Catherine's so you can take part in the synod conversation in the church which follows the Mass.
All welcome.
Operation Orange - Update
Thanks to everyone who expressed interest in the “ETIKA” brand of oranges distributed last week. We hope you enjoyed them. “ETIKA” is the brand name of ethical oranges and the aim is to break the cycle of exploitation in which many migrant workers are trapped.
As yet we do not know the future for the business and we will keep you updated with news as soon as we have more to share. If you are interested please email Tricia Kaminski or Clare Roller. Find out more about ETIKA here.
And now, not one, but two recipes to choose from...
Fr Alex's Spiced Orange Cake with Plum Sauce
Orange Loaf
Inspired by our ethical ETIKA oranges from last week,
Mary Thomson has shared this easy recipe for
Orange Loaf. Competition for you, Fr Alex!
Synod 2021-2023: Communion*Participation*Mission
Cluster Synod Sessions
As part of the worldwide synodal process, we are all asked for our views on ten themes. In our cluster there will be five sessions @ 75 minutes each. Everyone is invited to participate in as many sessions as they can manage. Just turn up for the face to face sessions and register here for the Zoom ones, using the heading "Synod Zoom Meeting".
Come, speak freely and listen to others and the Holy Spirit on these themes. Invite others too - everyone is welcome.
* Please note the changed and earlier start time.
Fifth Synod Session Sun 6th March @ 11.45am* in St Catherine's
7. With other Christian denominations
What fruits have we drawn from working together?
What are the difficulties?
8.
Authority and Participation
What are the practices of teamwork and co-responsibility?
How is authority exercised with our particular Church?
All the feedback will be read carefully and summarised to reflect what parishioners have said. It will be published through our news channels and then be sent both to the archdiocese and to Rome.
Word Day of Prayer March 4th at 2pm @ SJV
This is an Ecumenical Service which is celebrated each year by one of our local Christian Churches. The theme this year is "I Know The Plans I Have For You" It's a message of Hope.
I hope many of you can join us in celebration on the day.
If you cannot attend, here is a Zoom option:
Join at 2pm for prompt start at 02.15 p.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85941668097?pwd=OU5wU2ZLcDl0cTE3L0Nxb3BiME56UT09
Meeting ID: 859 4166 8097
Passcode: 432262
Maureen Quinn
Seniors Cluster Afternoon Tea Sat 5 March 1-4pm
St Catherine's Church Hall
We missed having our party at Christmas, so wanted you to come along to a get together as soon as we were allowed. We would love you to join us for an afternoon of dainty delights and good company.
Please give your name, with your dietary requirements and transport needs to:
Janet L: StCs, Carol M and Susanne L: StJV and Jacinta F: StGs
We're using the list of those who said they were coming to the Christmas meal but if you can't make it please let us know. See you there.
The Cluster Social Team
SLN Lenten Journey
The Body of Christ - Blessed, Broken, Excluded?
A series of talks and Q&A. The second talk is on Thurs 3 March @ 7pm.
Day of Prayer all those who have experienced abuse
Please pray for children, young people and vulnerable adults whose lives have been scarred by the abuse they have experienced at the hands of those whom they trusted, mostly priests.
Pray also for all are engaged in the pursuit of peace, healing and reconciliation for the abused.
Pray that the work of the new Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency will be guided by the Holy Spirit to help us all to meet our responsibility to respect and safeguard the dignity of all.
Justice Matters: Where do we find support for our work for justice?
In the latest Synodal meetings we were asked, “what support do we need so as to hear and respond to the Spirit?”
In “Justice Matters” this week we are looking at the way we currently get some of this support from the church for our work for justice. (Two weeks ago Justice Matters looked at how seeking a more just world is a core part of being Catholic.) There are also many charities encouraging us to act, like SCIAF, Refugee Survival Trust and Sabeel-Kairos – and countless inspired groups from outside the churches too – but this week our focus is on the church. Do we have the support that we need for us to journey together on the road of faith, to love, justice and peace?
See Our cluster churches are partners in the ecumenical South East Edinburgh Churches Acting Together (SEECAT). Many church groups respond to local need – the food banks, SSVP,… The SEECAT justice and peace group has the goal of helping us all to listen to, raise awareness of, and act against injustices of poverty, refugees, harm to the Earth,…. Do join us – bring your experience and energy!
At archdiocesan scale, there is a Caritas, Justice and Peace Commission primarily tasked with supporting and resourcing our parishes. The Commission itself has working groups in the areas of Refugees, Laudato Si, Food poverty and inequality, ethical investment, Israel-Palestine – these are all keen to have new members.
At national scale, Justice and Peace Scotland “advises the Scottish Bishops' Conference of the Catholic Church in matters of social justice, peacebuilding, promoting care for creation and human rights, supporting the Catholic community to live the values of the Gospel in service to the poor and marginalised.….”
Among Vatican initiatives is the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development – an intimidating title for truly prophetic initiatives that respond to the challenges of our times in the light of the writings of Pope Francis (e.g. Laudato Si', Fratelli Tutti). Go on, take a look!
Reflect It is so good that we have in the Archdiocese a commission for Caritas, Justice and Peace. Caritas is about responding in love to immediate needs that people have – such as providing food or shelter.
Working for justice has the goal of reducing future need. It asks “why” and “what” questions. “why are so many in need?” and “What can we do to reduce that future need?” It is here that we can be helped by us all sharing from our own experience, and from our learning about issues…. That’s why the working groups exist. Their first task is to develop and share their understanding.
Where does “Peace” fit in?…. Maybe in three ways. Firstly, peace is a consequence of justice…. a just future for Ukraine would be peaceful. Secondly, it is also about how we work for justice… we do not seek justice with aggression, but by acting peacefully (not being passive, but non-violently active). Thirdly, and most fundamentally for us is seeking justice with integrity: it is with peace growing in our own hearts.
Act Maybe look at the Dicastery or the Justice and Peace Scotland website, and see what catches your eye and touches your heart and mind. Join the SEECAT justice and peace group, or a working group of the Archdiocese? (Ask me via mike.mineter@gmail.com). Above all, remember that prayer is the most vital of the actions that seek justice.
Mike Mineter
You are held in prayer
Those who are unwell
and in need of our prayers:
Christine Knox, Ellen Salvona, Adele Hyndman, Patrick Phelan, Jean Harvey, Fiona Scott,
Sheila Ross, Roberto Rivero, Nilsa de Rodriguez, Rudy Deras, Dawn Adams, Aileen Paulin,
Helen Haddow, Bill and Marlene Bonnar,
Stevie Donald, Kathy Duffy, Mary,
Verdiana and Donati Kweka (Tanzania),
Mary Thomson, Eammon McKelvey, Nancy Barta, Alex McGinnity, Belén Rodriguez, Patricia Simmons, Elizabeth Napier, George Pringle, Angela Mcintosh, Jorge Rodriguez, Sr. Veronica, Katharine, John, Jennifer, Christopher Mackinnon Maureen Lawson, Bailey Bruce McCann, 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, 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:
Sarah Duffy,
Rose Neilson,
Constance Kelly,
Loreto Spiridigliozzi,
Sheila Moir.
Anniversaries
St John Vianney's:
Mary Bird, James Wilson, Walker Kilkenny,
Ellen Dickson, William Taylor, Betty Cant,
Josephine Flanagan, Ada Bull, Kathleen Doherty, Robert Robson, Sean Quigley, Agnes Walker.
St Gregory’s:
Helen Daly.
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 St Catherine's Primary School for our foodbank - or take them directly 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 07757 845673,
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.
'Distance Aware' badges and lanyards
You might come across fellow parishioners wearing such a badge or lanyard. As we have said throughout the pandemic, many people are still concerned about Covid. We would therefore ask everybody, where space allows, to maintain a respectful distance from one another.
Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults
The bill proposed by Liam McArthur MSP Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill generated "unprecedented number of responses for a Scottish Parliament consultation on a Members Bill."
Now is the time to lobby MSPs on this issue. We know that many are undecided, so it is crucial that they hear from constituents who oppose the bill. We need a massive response to defeat this deadly threat to the vulnerable.
To help you contact your MSPs, SPUC has created an easy to use web tool. Please go to www.spuc.org.uk/assistedsuicidescotland, and enter your postcode to send an email to all eight of your MSPs.
Church Visits
This week three of our classes have had the opportunity to visit St Gregory’s Church. They all really enjoyed the opportunity to visit the Church. Thank you to Maureen and Jacinta for facilitating these visits. Next week P1 and P4a will be visiting. See photo above.
Lent
Next week we will celebrate Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent with an Ash Wednesday Service led by Fr Alex and P6 at 10am in St Gregory's.
Sacraments
This coming Thursday 3rd March is the next Parents meeting for those children receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This meeting will take place in St Gregory’s Church at 5:15pm.
For those pupils who are making their Communion this year, please look out for an email that will be coming your way with an update about preparation and which day your child wishes to receive the Sacrament.
Into University
This week our P6 pupils have been working with Into University. Pupils have spent three days at the Into University Campus in Craigmillar and two days in school working with university staff. It has been a fantastic week which pupils and staff have really enjoyed. Our pupils have been really engaged and trying their best throughout the week- well done!
Ms Aisling Christie
Firstly, I hope all our pupils, parents and carers had a nice mid term holiday and a chance to relax. Despite storm A, B, C, D and E paying us a visit all in that week!
Back in school, this first week saw us starting a series of lessons with P4, P5, P6 and P7 looking and Equality and Fairness.
Our first lessons with P5 were enlightening. The vocabulary and awareness of the children was just fantastic and I know that the conversations stimulated continued long after the lessons had finished.
Our next steps now are to form a School Equality Group which will meet monthly to look at and deal with issues or suggestions the pupils are making on this important matter.
Inclusion, fairness and awareness are important to us at St. Catherine’s and this is a great way to provide the children a formal voice in how to maintain that and make it better and better.God Bless,
Mr Paul Hunter
Ash Wednesday Prayer
