World Day of Prayer: 'I made you wonderful'

The World Day of Prayer 2025 for the Newington area in Edinburgh was held at St Columba's in, Upper Gray Street, on Friday 7 March.

Attending the service were Ministers and members of the churches of the ecumenical group Newington Churches Together.

The service this Year was a meditation on Psalm 138 "I Made You Wonderful", prepared by the women of the Cook Islands in the Pacific ocean.

A spokesperson said: "We are challenged to become aware of  other countries and cultures and encouraged to reflect the burdens of other people, to sympathise with the problems and to pray with and for them.

"The World Day of Prayer aims to demonstrate that prayer and action are inseparable and that both have immeasurable influence in the world.

"We recereated a small part of the Cook Islands' environment in respect for our sisters and brothers of there, displaying their national flag and displaying ab imaginary Pacific ocean and beach with shells and their fruits.

"And as we prayed we directed our minds and hearts to Cook islanders spirituality and emotions to be one with them and the world in prayer."

Pope's prayers as new photo released

The Vatican has released the first photo of Pope Francis since he was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital last month.

It shows the Holy Father in prayer in the private chapel on the 10th floor of Rome's Gemelli Hospital in a photo from the Holy See Press Office  after concelebrating the Eucharist on Sunday morning.

In a written address released for the Sunday Angelus, he said: "I am facing a period of trial, and I join with so many brothers and sisters who are sick: fragile, at this time, like me.

"Our bodies are weak but, even like this, nothing can prevent us from loving, praying, giving ourselves, being for each other, in faith, shining signs of hope.

"How much light shines, in this sense, in hospitals and places of care! How much loving care illuminates the rooms, the corridors, the clinics, the places where the humblest services are performed!

"That is why I would like to invite you, today, to join me in praising the Lord, who never abandons us and who, in times of sorrow, places people beside us who reflect a ray of His love.

"I thank you all for your prayers, and I thank those who assist me with such dedication. I know that many children are praying for me; some of them came here today as a sign of closeness. Thank you, dearest children! The Pope loves you and is always waiting to meet you."

Main image: The Holy See Press Office.

WATCH: Guidance on returning to Confession

Need help returning to Confession this Lent?

We have compiled recordings from our event 'RETURN' which took place at The Gillis Centre in Edinburgh on Saturday.

You can watch them below or on our YouTube playlist.

***

How Confession Shaped my Life

Sian Jones, a parishioner at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh, gives her testimony on how confession shaped her life.

.

What is Forgiveness? What is Confession?

Sr Miriam Ruth Ryan RSM delves into the concept of forgiveness, the key compnent of Confession. Sr Miriam Ruth is the Catechetics Advisor for the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh.

What is Sin? Why do we Sin?

Fr Kevin Douglas breaks down what we mean by sin and why we sin, despite our best efforts not to. Watch below or on YouTube.

What is your Conscience? Why Examine it?

Christine Clarke, a member of the Archdiocesan Catechetics Commission, looks at examining our conscience, using prayer and reflection to gain clarity in making good moral decisions. Watch below or on YouTube.

What is Free Choice?

Fr Joshua Moir, of St Patrick's in Kilsyth, look at our capacity to choose to follow God and love him. Watch below or on YouTube.

Parish bulletin update for 2nd Sunday of Lent

Here is our round-up of events taking place in the Archdiocese and beyond that we share each week with parishes in the Archdiocese.

Palm Sunday Youth Day
Let your children know about this day of games and inspiring talks hosted by the Archdiocese at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB on Saturday 12 April from 11am-3pm. Includes sessions for primary school pupils (8+) and sessions for high school pupils. Register at bit.ly/youthpalm

Lent Stations of the Cross
Join Catholics from across Scotland online each Monday evening in Lent for the national Stations of the Cross. Continues at 7:45pm on Monday 17 March and includes a reflection from Fr Paul Henderson, a priest of our Archdiocese. The event is to pray for the unborn, their mothers and all pro-life intentions. Register at bit.ly/Stations25

Lourdes 2025
The Archdiocesan pilgrimage flight for the summer Lourdes pilgrimage is fully booked but there is still the possibility to take part. Tangney Tours is reviewing options for pilgrims to join the pilgrimage. Please call 01732 886666 and let them know if you'd like to go.

Monthly ‘Catholic Conversations’ for Women
Women 18-45 are invited to ‘Catholic Conversations’ on Saturday 22 March, 3:45pm-4:45pm, at St Andrew’s, Ravelston, Edinburgh, EH4 3DS hosted by the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma. There will refreshments, a video-input, conversation, and a look at the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The conversation topic will be 'The Mass'. Afterwards, all are also welcome to Holy Hour with Vespers 5:10pm-6:10pm. To register, email edinburgh@almamercy.org.

Schola Cantorum
The Schola Cantorum of St Mary's Catholic Cathedral has recorded new audio tracks — the first professional recordings of the choir since 2020. Listen online for free at http://tinyurl.com/scholalisten and you can make an optional donation towards helping the choir sing at the Scots College Ordinations in Rome in May, when the singers will represent St Mary's Cathedral and the Archdiocese.

Columba Trust
The Columba Trust provides funding to organisations and individuals for projects which support the practice of the Roman Catholic faith, its ministry and values. The deadline for applications this year is 30 June 2025. Further details about the Trust and how to apply for a grant can be found at https://columbatrust.org.uk/

Annual Mass
The annual Caritas, Justice & Peace Mass takes place at 7:00pm on Wednesday 2 Aprilat St Margaret’s, East Port, Dunfermline, KY12 7JB. Fr Tom Magill of Motherwell Diocese will preach. All welcome.

'Courage to be Catholic' national conference
This conference, hosted by Aid to the Church in Need, takes place on Saturday 29 March at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 9:30am - 4:00pm. Register at https://www.trybooking.com/uk/EHSR

Helping you to holiness in Lent

The holy season of Lent begins tomorrow on Ash Wednesday (5 March). It is a time we use the spiritual weapons of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Here are some suggestions for helping you towards holiness as we prepare for Easter...

Go to Mass on Ash Wednesday
Ashes will be distributed at all Masses at St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh. Archbishop Cushley will be the principal celebrant at the 10:00am Mass at St Mary's Catholic Cathedral in Edinburgh. There are also Masses at 8:00am, 10:00am (School Mass), 6:00pm (Polish) and 7.30pm.

Go to Confession
Prepare for Holy Week and Easter by going to confession. As Pope Francis said in 2015: "There are people who are afraid to go to confession, forgetting that they will not encounter a severe judge there, but the immensely merciful Father." Use the Archdiocesan Directory to find parish Confession times.

Help getting back to Confession
Not been to Confession for a while? Find out more about the Sacrament of Confession (and have the chance to go to Confession) at our event this Saturday 8 March, 10am-4pm, at The Gillis Centre in Edinburgh. Register here.

Support the WEE BOX campaign
Thousands of people in Columbia need your help right now. By ordering a WEE BOX and collecting your loose change, you have the power to make a huge difference. Find out more here.

Pray the Stations of the Cross
Join Catholics from across Scotland online each Monday in Lent for Stations of the Cross. Begins at 7:45pm on Monday 10 March and includes a reflection from Bishop Hugh Gilbert of Aberdeen Diocese. Register at bit.ly/Stations25

Take the Temperance Pledge
The Pioneer Association has a Short-Term Pledge for adults over the age of eighteen years to give up alcohol during Lent. This abstinence is spiritually motivated, being undertaken out of love of God as exemplified in the Heart of Christ. Find out more here.

Join a World Day of Prayer service
The World Day of Prayer is celebrated on Friday 7 March and is this year led by women in The Cook Islands with the theme 'I made you wonderful'. Ecumenical prayer services are taking place across the Archdiocese. To find out where services are taking place please visit www.wdpscotland.org.uk or click here.

Pray for survivors of abuse
The Bishops Conference of Scotland has designated the first Friday of Lent as a Day of Prayer for Those who have Suffered Abuse.

Support your child in Lent
If you have children in High School encourage them to attend 'Rise in Faith, Live in Hope'. The event will provide inspiration and encouragement for young Catholics across the Archdiocese. The day will take place on Saturday 15th March 2025 at St Francis Xavier's Catholic Church, Hope Street, Falkirk. Register here.

Go on Pilgrimage
The Edinburgh Seven Hills Pilgrimage is on Saturday 5th April. Taking in the summits of Arthur's Seat, Blackford Hill, the Braids, Easter Craiglockhart Hill, Corstorphine Hill, Castle Rock and Carlton Hill, the whole route is around 27km starting and finishing at St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral. Whether you want to join us for the whole event or meet the group along the way, this is a perfect opportunity to offer Lenten penance, pray for the city of Edinburgh and conclude with worship together at the 6:00pm Vigil Mass and prayers at the Jubilee Cross at the Cathedral. More details to be confirmed soon, but register your interest now at bit.ly/sevenhillsapril

 

'We pray for a fuller cherishing of life'

Bishop Hugh Gilbert highlighted how the battle to "cherish life" continues in society.

He gave this pro-life reflection at the Stations of the Cross, which is held each Monday in Lent at 7:45pm (register here).

He said: "Despite huge challenges surgeons and doctors, health professionals of all kinds, carers and so forth are cherishing life. Thank God for this.

"But here's the strange contradiction: the erosion of this culture of care at the two ends of life.

"Hence abortion, hence the imminent threat of assisted suicide, and these are dire and dark things.

"So my thanks to all of you for carrying the torch for life."

Bishop Hugh Gilbert is a Benedictine monk and the Bishop of the Diocese of Aberdeen.

Archbishop: Go to Confession in Lent

If you have not been to confession for a while and want to learn more and go to confession, come along to RETURN, a special Lent event.

Archbishop Leo Cushley said: "Lent is a special time when we're reflecting upon our sins and doing penances and getting ready for Easter, purifying ourselves.

"If it's been a while since you've been to confession this event will help you reflect upon the importance of confession and you can take up the opportunity to get back to this very important, very beautiful sacrament which reconciles us with God and with his mercy and love.

"I hope that as many of you as possible will take this great opportunity."

The day includes talks, a how-to session, Q&A, prayer, and a chance to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Sian Jones, a parishioner at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh, will give a testimony on her remarkable experience of Confession.

Register here.

RETURN is on from 10:00am-4:00pm on Saturday 8 March at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB. (You can join us from 9:30am for tea/coffee). Event organised by the Catechetics Commission of The Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh.  Free parking, free light lunch. Questions? Email srmiriam.ruth@staned.org.uk

 

Parish launches Lent book club

A Lent book club has been launched at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Edinburgh.

Everyone is invited to take part in the sessions held each Monday, either in person (at 1:00pm) or online (at 7:00pm) led by parish priest Fr Adrian Porter SJ.

The featured book is Pondering and Praying Vatican II by Archbishop John Wilson (main picture), of the Archdiocese of Southwark.

Fr Adrian said: "Pope Francis has asked all Catholics to revisit the four key documents of the Second Vatican Council during this Jubilee Year of 2025.

"These constitutions reshaped the Catholic Church in the mid-twentieth century and their implications are still being worked out in the life of the Church today.

"Everyone is invited to join us for one or more of the sessions."

To get the Zoom link for the 7:00pm session please email ejcpastoral@jesuit.org.uk. The book is available for purchase online or in the parish bookshop.

About Pondering and Praying Vatican II

 

Ash Wednesday service at Parliament

Archbishop Cushley led an Ash Wednesday service for MSPs and staff at the Scottish Parliament yesterday.

The annual event sees MSPs and Holyrood staff receive their ashes and pray together.

He said: "It is a moment of reflection and prayer for MSPs and Parliament staff as they begin the season of Lent.

"It's also a chance to pause and consider our shared commitment to justice, compassion, and service to others.

"I wish them the peace and grace to grow in faith during this sacred season."

He added: "Thanks to Claire Adamson MSP who sponsored the event and to Anthony Horan at the Catholic Parliamentary Office for organising it."

Earlier in the day Archbishop Cushley celebrated Mass at St Mary's Cathedral, which was attended by pupils from St Mary's Primary school.

Praying for those who have suffered abuse

The annual Day of Prayer for those who have suffered abuse is observed in Scotland today (Friday 7 March).

The day offers Catholic communities and parishes the chance to pray for the healing of all those who have suffered abuse in the Church and elsewhere.

Resources are available here so that parishes can support the provision of specific prayers and liturgies in churches and faith communities across Scotland.

The Scottish Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency said: "We are grateful for the valuable contributions of some survivors of abuse towards the development of this resource."