Forthcoming events

Here's a round-up of forthcoming events in the Archdiocese and beyond. Full listings of all our events can be found on our news-events page.

 

Sat 17 March: EXPLORE
Join other young Catholic women to chat and explore God's will in monthly get-togethers in Edinburgh. To register email religiousvocations@staned.org.uk

 

Throughout Lent: The Challenge of the Gospels
Spend time with Canon Hugh White in Lent as he reflects on the coming Sunday Gospel. The Challenge of the Gospel videos will be posted on our YouTube channel each Monday morning in Lent, beginning on 12 February.

Monday 19 February (and throughout Lent): Stations of the Cross
Pray the Stations of the Cross each Monday in Lent at 7:45pm. The first takes place on Monday 19 February. Praying for the unborn, their mothers and all pro-life intentions. Register at bit.ly/lentstations

Sun 3 March: Remembering Service
A service for those who have suffered the loss of a child, from the beginning of pregnancy onwards, together with those who wish to come in love and support, to have time in quiet surroundings to fully recognise their loss and help with healing. It takes place on Sunday 3 March 2024 at 5.00pm in St John the Baptist RC Church, Corstorphine, 37, St Ninian’s Road, Edinburgh, EH12 8AL. This service may be helpful to anyone who feels that they have not had the opportunity to acknowledge and grieve for their loss.

Sat 3 March: Day for Catechists
In this Year of Prayer, we invite parish catechists to join us for a day of workshops, witness and inspiration. Register here (registration closes Thursday 7 March at 2:00pm).

Sat 16 March: Pathways of Hope
Join us at The Gillis Centre in Edinburgh for Pathways of Hope: Catholic Social Teaching and Poverty. Register at bit.ly/pathwaysofhopeevent

Sat 23 March - Called to be Saints
A day of inspiration, friendship and prayer for S1-S4 pupils that asks the question 'what does it to be a saint in the modern world?' Includes talks from TV presenter Judith Ralston and Sr Catherine Farrelly, from the Sisters of the Gospel of Life. Called to be Saints takes place on Saturday 23 of March from 12noon, finishing by 4:00pm at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB. Free parking onsite. Register your child for this FREE event here.

Students from Archdiocese celebrate pro-life message

Students from across Archdiocese (main pic) recently attended 'Call to Courage', SPUC's annual Youth Conference in Stone, Staffordshire.

Several of them were sponsored by the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office to attend the event.

Tobias Bailey, below, a member of the Catholic Society at the University of Stirling spoke at the conference.

In 2023 his Society was banned by the university's student union for posting their support for a peaceful prayer initiative organised by 40 Days for Life.

Tobias was part of a campaign to stop the censorship and was supported by the Archdiocesan Pro-Life Office and SPUC Scotland.

It's a fantastic event ... you learn how to put into practice the Church's teaching that all life begins at conception and that we are loved and valued by God from that first moment."

The student union realised their ban was unjustified and reversed their decision.

"This year's event was a sell out with over 200 young people attending from all over the UK," said Margaret Akers, below, a parishioner at St Patrick's, Edinburgh, and SPUC Scotland's Services Co-ordinator.

"It was great to see record numbers of young people engaged and collaborating together.

"As a graduate of the University of Edinburgh I know how important the event is to nurture young pro-life leaders for the future."

Margaret spoke to the Conference about the dangers of 'pills by post' or DIY abortion at home.

She warned that this dangerous method is now being used to remove any legal basis for abortion.

"People are actually proposing DIY abortion up to birth" she said:  "This could be the biggest change to abortion since it was legalised in 1967."

Also attending were members of Edinburgh University's Life Society (main image).

President Sophia Tait, from West Lothian (main pic centre), said: “This is my third time attending the SPUC youth conference.

"I always leave this event feeling both challenged and inspired to defend the Church’s teaching that life begins at conception, and to help build a culture of life in our world that reflects the inherent value of every human person.”

WATCH: Archbishop Cushley on Fasting in Lent

Archbishop Leo Cushley reflected on the tradition of fasting in Lent on Good Morning Scotland on BBC Radio Scotland this morning (29 February). Watch below or on YouTube. Transcript below video.

Transcript

Recently, I learned that Queen Victoria proposed to Prince Albert, and not the other way round – not a big deal in the 21st century, but it was not exactly common in the nineteenth century.

She did so on the 19 of October 1839, but should she have waited until the 29 of February, six months later? I say this because, traditionally, the 29th of February – today - is a day when women get to propose to men.  Who knew?

There are traditions wherever we look, some of them we love and some of them we resist.

I bet you have traditions around Christmas, or things that you do every year, or that may change but only very slowly and gradually.

It’s important to notice our traditions, as they tell us who we are, what we like, where we come from.

And once a tradition is established, it can be very tenacious, for better and for worse.

And there are traditions at different times of the year.

Dry January has become a recent tradition, but it’s mostly because we’ve overdone it during the Christmas holidays.

And Christians have the tradition of Lent around now: there are all sorts of things connected to it, from Carnevale in Venice to pancakes in Britain.  All good fun, but for a good reason, because they mark the start of forty days when we fast and pray and prepare for Easter.

But the tradition of fasting during Lent isn’t about slimming.

It’s more about taking back control, control of yourself and of your appetites, and therefore taking back control of your own future.

Lent – fasting, prayer, abstaining - is a tradition that is about freedom, being free from yourself.

The people of Israel spent forty years in the desert, and we spend just 40 days in the spiritual desert of Lent.

The Israelites were trying to free themselves from Pharaoh, but we are trying to free us from our own selves – our weaknesses, our limitations to focus on something much greater than ourselves, as we anticipate the joy and celebration of Easter.

And that’s a tradition worth handing on.

WATCH: Pro-Life Reflection from Sr Roseann Reddy

Sr Roseann Reddy, of the Sisters of the Gospel of Life (Glasgow) reflects on walking the Way of the Cross with the Lord and reaching out and helping those who are suffering from the effects of abortion.

This reflection was part of our weekly Lent Stations of the Cross. Join us online each week at 7:45pm. Register at bit.ly/lentstations

Archdiocesan Medal for 'dedicated servant of God'

Congratulations to Claire Lynch who recently  received the Archdiocesan Medal from Archbishop Cushley at Ss John Cantius & Nicholas in Broxburn

Parish priest Fr John Deighan said: "Claire has worked very productively over the years in so many parts of the parish, including being the chief RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) catechist.

Claire prepares to cut the celebration cake, with Fr John Deighan and Archbishop Leo Cushley.

"She has recently stepped back from this role and we wanted to recognise the work she did."

She quietly but thoughtfully looks out for others and seeks no gratitude for what she does

Canon Jeremy Bath, his predecessor at the parish, said: "Claire is a loyal and dedicated servant of God. For many years she ran the parish RCIA programme and the baptism programme for infants. She did this with great energy and commitment.

"She has been a parish reader for many years and has taken Holy Communion to the sick and kept a pastoral eye on the residents at Hanover Court sheltered housing.

"She quietly but thoughtfully looks out for others and seeks no gratitude for what she does - even opening the Church and setting up for a baptism on a Sunday afternoon. Claire is a worthy recipient of an Archdiocesan Medal."

The Archdiocesan Medal for Outstanding Service to the Church was established in 1975 by Cardinal Gordon Joseph Gray. It is awarded for outstanding voluntary service to the Church at a local level.

WATCH: Lent reflection from Canon Hugh White

Here is this week's Lent reflection from Canon Hugh White, who discusses the forthcoming Sunday Gospel.

Questions for reflection:
1. When have you found yourself called to respond to a situation that was harmful to the wellbeing or dignity of someone? How did you respond?
2. How might you join with others to safeguard some particular right or show solidarity?
3. What does it mean to give God His place in your life and home?
Canon Hugh's reflections are uploaded each Monday in Lent on our YouTube channel.
Canon Hugh White is a retired priest of the Archdiocese based in Bathgate.

World Day of Prayer

World Day of Prayer (Friday 1 March) is a global ecumenical movement led by Christian women who welcome you to join in prayer and action for peace and justice.

An ecumenical prayer service takes place at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, at 11:30am. The service will be livestreamed here.

This year the prayer service has been written by the Christian women of Palestine on the theme ‘I beg you to bear with one another in love’.

They ask everyone to bear with them in love and to pray for an end to all human suffering and to stand with them to achieve security and peace for all people around the world.

There are World Day of Prayer services taking place in churches of all denominations across the Archdiocese. Find out more here. For resources and more visit worlddayofprayer.net

Register for our Day for Catechists (Sat 9 March)

In this Year of Prayer, we invite parish catechists to join us for a day of workshops, witness and inspiration.

Our Day for Catechists is on Saturday 9 March, 10:30am-3:30pm at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB. Register here.

The role you play in your parish is crucial - from running programmes like RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) and Children's Liturgy, supporting your priest, and answering questions on faith issues from parishioners.

Renewal

This day will renew your vocation as a catechist, and provide inspiration and tips while letting you meet and chat with fellow catechists from across the Archdiocese. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions in a friendly environment.

In workshops and talks, we will highlight baptismal and sacramental preparation, children's liturgy, lesson plans and resources...and lots more!

There will be a bookstand featuring titles for children & adults.

You don't need to have a catechetical role in your parish to come to this event - if you have an interest in Catechetics and want to find you are warmly welcome!

The Gillis Centre is located at 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB. There is free parking onsite (including an overspill car park at the back of St Margaret's Chapel).

The day is run by the Catechetics Commission of the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh and we look forward to welcoming you.

Please note: registration for this event closes at 2:00pm on Thursday 7 March.

Schedule*

10:00am Signing in/coffees & teas

10:30am Welcome & Introduction

11.10am Inspirational talk from guest speaker

11.45am Workshops

12.15pm Safeguarding

12.30pm Lunch (provided - sandwiches and fruit)*

1.15pm Workshops

2:00pm Witness

2.15pm Holy Mass

3:00pm Finish

*Times subject to change.

**Please bring a packed lunch if you have food intolerances and or allergies.

Day for Catechists, Saturday 9 March, 10:30am-3:30pm at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB. Free event. Register here.

MONDAY: Join our online Stations of the Cross

Join people from across the Archdiocese to pray the Stations of the Cross each Monday in Lent.

The first one is tonight (Monday 19 February) at 7:45pm and concludes with a reflection from our guest Fr Francis Ututo SMMM, preiest at St Cuthbert's & Our Lady's in Edinburgh. Click here to register.

We will be praying for the unborn, their mothers and all pro-life intentions.

This online event lasts around 30 minutes and concludes with a brief reflection Includes brief reflection from a member of the clergy each week.

Next week we welcome Sr Roseann Reddy from the Sisters of the Gospel of Life (Glasgow).

Contributors for the remaining weeks are Fr Jonathan Whitworth, of St Thomas the Apostle Parish, Neilston (Paisley Diocese), Fr James Cadman (St Mary & St David, Hawick) Fr Michael Carrie, St Mungo's, Alloa, and St Serf's Valleyfield (Dunkeld Diocese) and Archbishop Leo Cushley.

Moira McCrae awarded Archdiocesan Medal

Congratulations to Moira McCrae who received the Archdiocesan Medal from Archbishop Cushley yesterday (Tuesday 13 February).

She was presented with the award for her outstanding service to the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SSVP) and its Fife Furniture Project.

Archbishop Cushley visited Dunfermline and was joined by Fr Syriac Palakudiyil of St Margaret's Parish and Haydn Carr, Archdiocesan President of the SSVP, along with husband Ian, family and friends to celebrate!

Moira, of Kingseat, leads the Fife Furniture Project with David Hunter, who also received the Archdiocesan Medal recently. She said she was "surprised and delighted" to receive recognition.
Left, Moira and fellow medal recipient David Hunter get ready to cut the cake and, right, holding her certificate with Archbishop Cushley.

Archbishop Cushley said: "So many of us in the Archdiocese are aware of the work of Moira and David in leading the brilliant work of the SSVP's Fife Furniture Project.

"They have helped a staggering number of people in need over the years, providing furniture and white goods, items which for years she crammed into her garage in Kingseat ahead of distribution by David and fellow volunteers. Contgratulations to them both."

There's a great cameraderie in working together to help others...it can really move mountains.

Canon Brian Gowans, who nominated them, said: "David and Moira have helped so many families and I have called upon them often to help families in need.

"I nominated them in my capacity as Archdiocesan Vicar Episcopal for Caritas, Justice and Peace but also in my role as the Archdiocesan Spiritual Director for the SSVP. I know how humbled they are in receiving this award and I'm delighted that my nominations were accepted as they both richly deserve the Archdiocesan Medal."

"Moira added: "We need more young people to rally and come forward to help with the Fife Furniture Project. There's a great cameraderie in working together to help others...it can really move mountains."

The Fife Furniture Project supports people who have been homeless or are in need. Volunteers collect and deliver furniture and white goods to homes across Fife at no cost.

The Archdiocesan Medal for Outstanding Service to the Church was established in 1975 by Cardinal Gordon Joseph Gray, Archbishop of St Andrews & Edinburgh. Only 100 or so medals have been awarded for “outstanding voluntary service” to the Church at a local level.