If you have been collecting for SCIAF in a Wee Box this year, you can either send the money directly to SCIAF (using the details on the box) or bring it to Mass for us to count and send in for you.
If you would like the parish to send in your monies for you, please leave your Wee Box at the back of the church on or before the 12th May 2019. Don’t forget to fill in the gift aid details on the base of the Wee Box to maximise your donation!
After Mass on Sunday the 19th May, Robbie Clarke, Mairi-Angela Foster and Kate Jones are organising a bacon rolls morning (vegetarian option available) to raise money for the AHC Foundation (Alternative Hemiplegia of Childhood). This is a charity run organization to support the development of effective treatments, research and support for the families and affected children. In our parish community we have a child, Anya Behl, who has this illness. We hope you will come along and support this. Further information can be obtained at the AHC Foundation website or by contacting one of the organisers.
The annual charity book sale is one in the largest in the world and is held in George Street Church in May. For information www.standrewsandstgeorgeswest.org.uk
During the remaining weeks of Lent there is an opportunity to donate an item of food and/or a small Easter treat for one of our food banks who look after and feed the homeless and disadvantaged in Edinburgh. The appropriate boxes are located at the back of our church
The annual charity book sale is one in the largest in the world and is held in George Street Church in May. For information www.standrewsandstgeorgeswest.org.uk
As in previous years, one of our faithful parishioners has been knitting all year and will be selling her hand knitted goods with a seasonal theme (all proceeds going towards the Cathedral) after all Masses on Palm Sunday.
Would those of you already registered for Gift Aid please pick up your new sets of weekly gift aid envelopes from the back of the Church after mass. And if you are a UK taxpayer and have notalready signed up for gift aid in the parish, now would be a very opportune moment to do so! Over the next two weeks, we will have registration forms, new envelope sets and standing order sign-up sheets available after mass. If you are expecting a set of gift aid envelopes for 2019/20 but are unable to find them in the box at the back of the church, please contact our finance officer, Caroline Reid, by email on finance@stmaryscathedral.co.uk so that she can make sure you receive them.
During the remaining weeks of Lent there is an opportunity to donate an item of food and/or a small Easter treat for one of our food banks who look after and feed the homeless and disadvantaged in Edinburgh. The appropriate boxes are located at the back of our church
There is a second collection next week for SCIAF
By giving, reflecting and acting with SCIAF during Lent, your parish is helping people like Lydia from Uganda to work their way out of poverty. By supporting SCIAF this Lent you can ensure this vital work continues.
SCIAF Wee Box
This year’s SCIAF Lent appeal focuses on Uganda and the thousands of vulnerable young people who, with your support, are being helped to create a brighter future for themselves. The SCIAF packs will be handed out on today. Please give to SCIAF this Lent, make big changes happen with your WEE BOX.
#RedWednesday in solidarity with persecuted Christians will take place on 28th November. Please join in prayer & wear something red in order to highlight the sufferings of so many Catholics today across the world.
The Fair Trade stall returns in time for Christmas! There will be stalls after Mass today and on the 9th Dec, with the usual fare, plus seasonal items. If you would like Advent Calendars, please come today!
Once again we have been invited to join with other churches in Edinburgh to provide a Christmas shoe box present for the young homeless, who will have to celebrate Christmas Day in one of our hostels. The boxes should be marked either male or female and contain a few useful gifts and treats. They must not contain money or vacuum sprays. A list of suggested gifts will be available at the back of the church. Last date for delivering your box to church is Sunday 9th December. Many of these young people cry when receiving their box as they are astonished that complete strangers can be so kind. Any queries please contact Maureen McGregor 0131 337 6346, e-mail mcgregor885@btinternet.com Mob: 07720783442.
All couples are invited to a meeting on Monday 26 November at 7.30pm in Ravelston, to find out more about Equipes Notre Dame, an organization that supports couples in their married and spiritual life. For more information, call Andrew and Rosemary Milligan (337 1385) and see www.teamsgb.org.uk.
This Monday Josh Littlejohn MBE will talk on the subject of Homelessness in the Cathedral Café. Josh, who is the co-founder of Social Bite, organized the world’s biggest sleep-out event in 2017, Sleep in The Park, which raised £4m to reduce homelessness. Please make the effort to come along.
We are not selling Aid to the Church in Need Christmas cards this year, but you can pick up a Christmas card brochure at the back of the church. An even greater choice of cards and gifts is available online at acnuk.org/shopACN has a good selection of religious cards and is a worthy cause.
Mount Vernon Cemetery Clear-Up: Saturdays in September from 10am-3pm. Contact Anna on 01316238906.
As you will know from last week’s newsletter and from all of the parishioners that attended, this year’s Parish BBQ was a great success. However, not only was it a very successful and enjoyable social occasion, we now know that it was also very successful from a financial perspective. An initial calculation of the net proceeds has calculated these being in the region of twice that of last year. This is due to a great extent to the generosity of our parishioners as well as the efficiency of those organising the event! The Parish Council would like to extend their thanks to those who gave so generously to the BBQ this year. After due consideration, the Parish Council voted to send the proceeds (approximately £1,300) to Fr Nicklas Maria in Russia, being our present nominated Parish Project. The Parish Council would also like to take this opportunity to remind parishioners that if they wish to make any further donations to Fr Nicklas either now or at a later date, there is a labelled box at the back of the church (formerly ‘Jessie’s Box’) for this purpose.
Mount Vernon Cemetery Clear-Up: Saturdays in September from 10am-3pm. Contact Anna on 01316238906.