Cluster News

3/4 September

Next deadline 7th September

Cluster contact:   0131 563 8391

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Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

The gospel today is very clear, perhaps too clear for our liking. We need to take up our cross, hate our families, give up our possessions. No wonder Jesus tells us to consider the challenge of what we are undertaking before we start - it is unlikely that he had in mind a weekly visit to church as being sufficient. I don't believe Jesus is literally telling us to hate. I think he means that we should hate that which keeps us complacent and comfortable. His word must be our priority. For some that word may mean sharing more fully what we have with others; for others it may mean having to disagree with family members' views of what we should do.  Christ does not require us to be successful in worldly terms, his measure is how much have we loved. 
Fr Alex

Prayer Resources:

23rd Sunday C

Children's Resources:

23rd Sunday C

Sr Mary's Thanksgiving Mass last week

Catherine Homan speaks for us all when she writes:

The whole celebration yesterday for Sr Mary was fantastic. From everything that happened behind the scenes, including the invite to our guests, to the flowers, music, the words on the screens, our singers, Offertory children, welcome and hospitality team, special speakers, cleaners, our celebrants Fr Alex and Fr Mike, and those who provided an array of photos for display. If I missed anyone, apologies. Thank you for giving your time and your talents. Everyone spoke so highly of the welcome they received. 

Sr Mary deserved all that we did and I hope she was looking down and enjoying her tribute she most certainly deserved.

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

Welcome to our Newly Baptised


On 20/21 August we celebrated the baptism of nine new members of our faith communities.

We welcome you with great joy and hope you will find in us a community that cares and where you will feel supported and appreciated for who you are. Many thanks to the families who provided us with photos.

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.

Mike Knox RIP

Friday 2 September was the second anniversary of Mike’s passing on to the fullness of life.

Just a couple of months before he had been interviewed by Tom Ryan from Loyola University who was in Tanzania recording a video on the work of the Ursuline Sisters. Go here.

It’s a very good summary by Mike himself of what his life and work was all about.

Father Mike 

The Twende Pamoja Trust

The Trust was established in 2005 by Mike Knox. It works to further educational and cultural links between communities in Scotland and Tanzania. Mike's legacy continues in the ongoing work of the Trust. Read their latest newsletter here 

Bereavement Service 

Sat 10 Sept @ 9.30am at St Gregory's. Candles are lit for family and friends of the Cluster who have died in the last month, or if there’s an anniversary of a loved one, please say when you arrive.  Teas and coffees will be available after the service. For more information, email Jacinta or phone her on 664 5581. 

SJV Ladies Guild:  Wed 7 Sept

We meet every first Wednesday of the month @ 7pm in St Catherine’s Hall. Old and new members welcome.

St Gregory's Ladies Guild

We meet every Tuesday @ 7pm in St Gregory's church hall. All welcome.

Praying Together Praying Alone

What does prayer mean to you? All of us pray in different ways. Some prefer silence, others might do all the talking. Some pray every day, others only occasionally. Prayer is basically how we communicate with God and there are endless ways to do this.

Here is what Maureen thought about the Prayer course

“I was apprehensive about joining a prayer group but found the atmosphere was so relaxed and friendly with no expectations on anyone.The three leaders guided the sessions in a simple easy to follow format.So much was gained.So much wisdom and knowledge imparted. Sharing insights and ideas and new ways of praying.Gaining new perspectives on many things and challenging my values and perceptions.Praying together with this amazing group led me to the realisation that prayer is our greatest power and helps us connect with God and each other and with our environment.I am so thankful I was part of this group.”

Thirteen people attended the last course and from this a new monthly prayer group has begun which is currently meeting in people’s homes.

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 

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

Next week's 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!  A group of us plan to do this on Saturday 10th September at 2pm.  It would be wonderful if you could join us and contribute your ideas, your labour or any greenery you have and spend some time with us, helping us to bedeck the church.  Just turn up and come in - it would be great to see you and hopefully we can also have some fun.

Tricia Kaminski

Annual Caritas, Justice & Peace Mass

Mon 5 Sept @ 7pm at St Columba’s, Upper Gray Street, Edinburgh. the focus this year is Poverty. The lead celebrant is Fr Tony Lappin, and there will be a homily from Fr David Stewart SJ, as well as wonderful music. Reception in the hall afterwards. Register here or email CaritasJP 

Scottish Laity Network

Fossil fuel divestment and investment in clean energy: Tackling the climate, conflict and cost of living crises

Thu 8 Sept @ 7pm by Zoom. James Buchanan, leads the Bright Now campaign, which calls on Churches to divest from fossil fuels and invest in climate solutions like renewable energy. It also encourages Churches to manage their land more sustainably, from increasing tree coverage to protecting and restoring peatlands.

Second 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 Register here. For the full programme go here.

Justice Matters: Welcome to The Season of Creation.... and….

This week we began the Season of Creation, in which we are called to play our part in healing how humanity is harming our home, the Earth.  Most prominent is the climate emergency.  In recent days in Pakistan millions of people have been made homeless by the unprecedented floods that cover a third of the country, with consequences of disease, loss of food, drinking water and livelihoods…. It is hard to grasp, unless we had listened to the warnings, such as of 16 years ago in the Stern report which had forecast the economic implications of climate change.  The vain hope was that report would lead to serious action.  We saw at COP in Glasgow that has yet to happen, still.

Please click on the picture above to watch a short video:  A prayer for the Earth.

See

This month the Church asks us to be alert to: 

• 1 September – 4 October, Season of Creation 

• 25 September.  World Day of Migrants & Refugees 

• 15 – 22 September, Week of Prayer for Peace in Palestine & Israel, 

• 21 September - 2 October: the Catholic Nonviolence Days of Action (CNDA), linking the  International Day of Peace (21 Sep) to the  International Day of Nonviolence and Gandhi’s birthday (2 October)

Reflect

At first glance it is overwhelming!  At second glance it still is….

This series of days responds to signs of our times and they are interrelated.  

So working up that list…. non-violence… In so many places we see inequality is growing: money and influence flow from those in greatest need to those with most wealth and power. This is violence. We are called to “build a nonviolent world for all of God’s creation”, and “to grow in understanding of nonviolence as an essential aspect of our faith” and to be nonviolent in our own lives.

Palestinians beg the churches to act for justice for all in that land, through nonviolent action such as morally responsible investment (not profiting from the oppression) and prayer. The dispossession and destruction of their homes continues, week by week increasing the number of Palestinian refugees, now around 5 million (UNRWA).

Palestine, Ukraine and Pakistan are examples of how military, economic, ecological and  political forces all cause vast numbers of people to be displaced. The World Day of Migrants and Refugees asks, “How do we build a future together?”

We are starting our special series of days with the Season of Creation -  a time to hear all these cries, of the oppressed, the refugees, the poor. First of all it is a time to reconnect with the Earth, reconnect with Creation as gift, a gift we are called to share in communion with all people and all creatures.  Without this reconnection to the gift and its Giver, we will be overwhelmed.

Act

You might like to explore the websites in the links above, especially this weekend that of the Season of Creation. SCIAF offer a range of ways we can act... perhaps read this and see if you can take one suggestion.

Mike Mineter

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, Sheila Ross, 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:


Raymond Jacobs,

Jim Healy.



Anniversaries


Joseph Forrest, Anne McCaffrey, Thomas Donoghue, Pat Dolan,

David White, Erwin Ridder, Alan Nolan, Bridget Duff, Helen Burke,

Bridget Callaghan, Mary Reynolds, Charles O’Donnell, Mike Knox,

Florence Edith Beitlich, John McMillan, William Kean MacMillan,

John Patrick Boyle.

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:

  • Sponge Puddings,
  • Crisps,
  • Savoury biscuits,
  • Diluting juice,
  • Long life milk,
  • Tinned tomatoes.


Thanks for the cash donations.

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

Worthy reps

As our journey in the new school year is now well and truly underway, it has been amazing to see how quickly the kids have settled into the school routine again.

It’s just been so good to get things back up and running that have been ‘mothballed’ for so long. I overheard one of younger children asking one of the P7 children what an ‘assembly’ was!

Many of our classes were lucky enough to get to visit the Edinburgh International Book Festival this week and had a great time hearing books being read by the actual person who wrote it and then be given a copy of that book too!

We were delighted to have three of our children represent the school at Sr. Mary’s Mass last week to take part in The Offertory. We were so proud of them and they did amazing! Why those three children? They are three of our actual winners of the Annual Sr. Mary Award for demonstrating the attributes of what it means to be kind, caring, honest and hard-working. All of these things were exuded in abundance by the person who’s name appears on the award itself.

Mr Hunter, headteacher

St Catherine's School Lottery Draw

We have a winner!

Well done to Brian O’Callaghan, who bagged himself a tidy £550.00!

Higher Maths tuition

Vincent McCann, one of our parishioners from St John Vianney's, is willing to give free tuition to a pupil studying for their Higher Maths Exam. Please contact Vincent on tel. 258 6011 for more information.

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 ecumenicism in the local area, WE NEED YOU. Please seriously consider coming along to give it a try.     

Journeying together in a safe space

Hope in difficult times

This Bereavement & Loss Support Group meet on Thursdays 7.30-9pm from 8 Sept for six weeks in the Kirk Centre, Kirkgate EH16 6RY (opposite Liberton Kirk). For details or to book a place email Fiona Devoy or call 666 1004. Free and open to all.

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.

Season of Creation (1 Sept - 4 Oct)

Praised Be:

A prayer inspired

by the papal encyclical ‘Laudato Si’

Living God,
have mercy on us,
for the times we forget
that we belong to each other.
You call us to be still,
to hear the whisper of our Sister Wind,
to feel the radiance of our Brother Sun,
and to be nourished by our Mother Earth.
Renew us in your healing love.
Inspire us to water the earth,
and nurture one another,
so all may flourish.
Together, as one family,
may we always sing your praise.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rachel McCarthy/CAFOD