Dear All,
The parish is intending to launch a ‘telephone apostolate’ to help those who need sone support and we are looking for volunteers. We intend giving help by setting up a buddy system where volunteer befrienders would be paired with one or two befriendees.
Your commitment: Regular telephone calls would take place whereby befrienders would call and “check-in” on their befriendee’s wellbeing. Other than enjoying a positive “natter”, conversations could also include asking if they are eating well and staying hydrated, have enough food etc and we will work in partnership with SSVP.
If you are interested in helping the please reply to Peter Traynor and you will get more details.
Ideally we want to keep a database of helpers. To make sure we conform with GPPR rule can you please just confirm that you are willing to go on a database to help out.
Best wishes,
Chris McCabe
Category Archives: Charity
Last Chance to Vote for the New Parish Project
Thank you to all who have contributed towards a final donation to Fr Nicklas Maria. After collating all amounts given via Jessie’s box, bank transfer and the proceeds from the BBQ, I am pleased to tell you that we have now made a donation to Fr Nicklas Maria of £3,100. Thank you all for your generosity, such an amount will make a significant difference in his parish in Russia. Please remember to vote for our new parish project to take effect from January. Voting forms can be found at the back of the Church and completed forms can be posted in the box marked in the Parish Rooms. The forms will be reviewed and the votes counted after today.
As you will recall, Fr Nicklas Maria was nominated as our ‘Parish Project’ at the beginning of 2016 for a period of 3 years. Now that the 3 years is almost at an end, we would like you, the parish, to vote again so that we can determine our parish project for the next 3 years beginning in January 2020. Forms are now available at the back of the Church which include some suggestions as well as a space if you would like to nominate another beneficiary not already put forward. Completed forms can be posted into the box marked ‘Parish Project Nominations’ on the sideboard in the Parish Rooms. It is planned that forms will then be reviewed and votes counted after 15th December and the new parish project announced at the end of the year. In the meantime, if you would like to make a final contribution towards a last donation to Fr Nicklas at the beginning of December, please do so before the end of this month. You can give either by putting a cash donation into ‘Jessie’s Box’ at the back of the church, or by making a bank transfer to the parish bank account including the word ‘project’ in the payment reference. If you need any further details on how to do this, please email Caroline Reid on finance@stmaryscathedral.co.uk.
Origin Scotland’s Christmas Concert
Origin Scotland’s Christmas Concert will be held in Usher Hall on the 7th December at 7.30pm. Free tickets available at www.originscotland.org or 0131 541 0117.
St Catharine’s Homeless Project Christmas Concert
St Catharine’s Homeless Project Christmas Concert with The Dovecot Singers will be held on Friday the 6th December at 7.30pm at St Catharine’s Convent, Lauriston Gardens. All are welcome!
#RedWednesday
In solidarity with persecuted Christians will take place on the 27th November. Please join in prayer & wear something red in order to highlight the sufferings of so many Catholics today across the world.
Scots College Magazine
The annual ‘Scots College Magazine’ is for sale in the porch. A bargain at only £5, which supports the College!
Join or Sponsor the Justice & Peace Group’s ‘Sleep in the Park’-Team

Two parishioners, Maggie Paterson and James Walker, are going to be at ‘Sleep in the Park’ in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh on Saturday 7th December. If you would like to join, contact James on 07704537717 or sponsor them on uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/MaggiesTeamforSleepinthePark2019
Collection of Christmas Gifts for Prisoners’ Children
If you would like to donate gifts for children of prisoners in Edinburgh Prison, please wrap a new gift in Christmas Gift wrap and put on a label stating if the gift is suitable for a boy or a girl and for what age of the child.
Parish Project Update
As you will recall, Fr Nicklas Maria was nominated as our ‘Parish Project’ at the beginning of 2016 for a period of 3 years. Now that the 3 years is almost at an end, we would like you, the parish, to vote again so that we can determine our parish project for the next 3 years beginning in January 2020. Forms are now available at the back of the Church which include some suggestions as well as a space if you would like to nominate another beneficiary not already put forward. Completed forms can be posted into the box marked ‘Parish Project Nominations’ on the sideboard in the Parish Rooms. It is planned that forms will then be reviewed and votes counted after 15th December and the new parish project announced at the end of the year. In the meantime, if you would like to make a final contribution towards a last donation to Fr Nicklas at the beginning of December, please do so before the end of this month. You can give either by putting a cash donation into ‘Jessie’s Box’ at the back of the church, or by making a bank transfer to the parish bank account including the word ‘project’ in the payment reference. If you need any further details on how to do this, please email Caroline Reid on finance@stmaryscathedral.co.uk.
Considering Adoption?
The St Margaret’s Children and Family Care Society is hosting an adoption week on the 16-23 November for interested couples. Please see www.stmargaretsadoption.org.uk for more details.
Join or Support our ‘Sleep In the Park’-Team

SocialBite, the Edinburgh-based charity that supports the homeless, has once again organised a fund-raising ‘Sleep in the Park’ in Princes Street Gardens, Edinburgh on Saturday 7th December. Two parishioner, Maggie Paterson and James Walker, are going to be there. If you would like to join them please contact James on 07704537717 or jameswalker5330@gmail.com. If you would like to sponsor them, please speak to one of them or use: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/MaggiesTeamforSleepinthePark2019. Thank you!
Parish Project
The Parish Council have voted to send the net proceeds from our recent annual BBQ to Fr Nicklas Maria in Russia, our current ‘parish project’. Now that the proceeds have now been quantified, you will be pleased to know that around £1,400 (net of expenses) was raised! You may recall, when the parish nominated Fr Nicklas as our ‘parish project’, the nomination was to be effective for a period of 3 years. Incredibly, the 3 years will be up at the end of this year and therefore we will shortly be seeking suggestions from you for our next parish project. In the meantime, if you would like to make a final contribution towards a last donation to Fr Nicklas at the beginning of December, please do so before the end of this month. You can give either by putting a cash donation into ‘Jessie’s Box’ at the back of the church, or by making a bank transfer to the parish bank account including the word ‘project’ in the payment reference. If you need any further details on how to do this, please email Caroline Reid in the parish office on finance@stmaryscathedral.co.uk.
Considering Adoption?
Considering Adoption? The St Margaret’s Children and Family Care Society is hosting an adoption week on the 16-23 November for interested couples. Please see www.stmargaretsadoption.org.uk for more details.
Thank you from the “Together with Cambodia Project”
A massive thank you to all who ventured out on such a cold, wet night to support the Cathedral fundraiser and Together with Cambodia Project for the poorest communities of Cambodia. You raised a phenomenal £2263 on the night. Such fantastic generosity. 100% of this money will go directly to those who need it most. Look out for future updates on this project. Special thanks to Vito at Jolly Ritorantein Elm Row for delicious Pizza.
Parish Project
The Parish Council have voted to send the net proceeds from our recent annual BBQ to Fr Nicklas Maria in Russia, our current ‘parish project’. Now that the proceeds have now been quantified, you will be pleased to know that around £1,400 (net of expenses) was raised! You may recall, when the parish nominated Fr Nicklas as our ‘parish project’, the nomination was to be effective for a period of 3 years. Incredibly, the 3 years will be up at the end of this year and therefore we will shortly be seeking suggestions from you for our next parish project. In the meantime, if you would like to make a final contribution towards a last donation to Fr Nicklas at the beginning of December, please do so before the end of this month. You can give either by putting a cash donation into ‘Jessie’s Box’ at the back of the church, or by making a bank transfer to the parish bank account including the word ‘project’ in the payment reference. If you need any further details on how to do this, please email Caroline Reid in the parish office on finance@stmaryscathedral.co.uk.
Considering Adoption?
Considering Adoption? The St Margaret’s Children and Family Care Society is hosting an adoption week on the 16-23 November for interested couples. Please see www.stmargaretsadoption.org.uk for more details.
Quiz Night – This Friday in the Cathedral Hall, 7pm-11pm
Together with the Cambodia Project, the Cathedral is raising funds to help support the poorest people of Cambodia by organizing a Quiz Night. So please brush up your general knowledge, message all your family and friends, put a team together (or join up with others) and come along for a fun evening for a worthy cause.
Tickets are £10 per adult, including pizza, email Kate on togetherwithcambodia.twc@gmail.com 07590378426.
St Andrew Camerata
St Andrew Camerata will return to the Cathedral on Saturday 9th November at 8:00pm with a program of choral music. Tickets (£12 & £8) available from the Usher Hall Box Office and at the door.
The Lauriston Jesuit Centre
The Lauriston Jesuit Centre will host a series of lectures on the relationship between art and faith. The first will be on Thursday the 7th November at 7.30pm on the art of Daniel Seghers (1590 – 1661).