Returning to Mass - what you need to know

Catholics across Scotland are looking forward to the return of public Mass, which can resume from tomorrow (Wednesday 15th July).

The Bishops' Conference of Scotland has today issued these guidelines to show what you can expect when attending Mass. Click on the following format to view and download - jpeg, pdf, Word.

General Instructions

Liturgical Instructions

Holy Communion

Please note,

Here's a helpful video from Fr Patrick Burke and the team at St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, on what to expect on returning to Mass.

https://www.facebook.com/edinburghcathedral/videos/276786250056191/

The Scottish Government has issued detailed guidelines for the safe use of places of worship (Phase 3) on its website. Please click here to view.

 

 

Sr Maria's advice for people considering the religious life

Farewell to Sister Maria Guadalupe RSM (Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma), who returns to the US today after spending the past year in our Archdiocese at St Andrew's Church in Ravelston

In this video she tells us about her time in Scotland, advice for people considering a vocation (at 1 min 50secs) and what's next in store for her.

Interested in the priesthood or religious life? Have a chat with one of our vocations directors:

WATCH: Holy Mass with Archbishop Cushley

Holy Mass for the 15th Sunday of the year, celebrated by Archbishop Leo Cushley. Recorded at St Bennet's, Edinburgh.

Mount Vernon Cemetery returns to normal opening hours

Mount Vernon Cemetery in Edinburgh has now fully reopened. Hours are 9am- 8pm on weekdays and 8am-8pm at weekends.  The team at the cemetery would like to thank everybody for their understanding and patience whilst hours were restricted due to Covid-19.

 

 

Pilgrim's delight after indulgence idea is granted by Vatican

A Lourdes pilgrim was delighted when her idea to request a plenary indulgence for those attending a virtual pilgrimage was granted by the Vatican.

Monica Bald (main image, second from right, with some of her fellow organisers), who has been going to Lourdes for 25 years, contacted the Archdiocese last week with the request ahead of the online event which takes place from Friday 10th to Friday 17th July.

She is pictured main image, second from right, with some of the committee who have together organised the pilgrimage.

She said: "My mum was on the internet and found that a diocese in North America had been granted a similar plenary indulgence.

"I thought that if we were able to ask for that it would be something wonderful. It would also give people a bit of hope, especially for those who have been shielding or unable to get out during the Covid-19 pandemic."

Archbishop Cushley heard about Monica's idea and immediately petitioned the Holy Father's office. On Tuesday, he received a decree granting a plenary indulgence for those attending the pilgrimage (below).

Monica, a consultant physician and the pilgrimage's lead doctor since 2008, added: "We didn't really think there would be enough time to get this organised as we'd only spoken about it last Tuesday. So we're delighted and excited to share it with people in our diocese who want to come on our virtual Lourdes pilgrimage.

"I'm unaware of any other diocese in Scotland who are providing a virtual pilgrimage so hopefully this is something not only for our own Archdiocese to participate in but also all of the people in Scotland."

Plenary Indulgence

To be granted the plenary indulgence the decree states that pilgrims must

An indulgence is described in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

"An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints."(CCC 1471) 

In his petition, Archbishop Cushley said: "Since many of the faithful and the sick are disappointed not to travel to Lourdes this year, I know that such a spiritual gift from the Church would be a great consolation to them."

The Virtual Lourdes Pilgrimage 2020 takes place online from Friday 10th to Friday 17th July. Visit the group's Facebook page or website www.edinburgh-lourdes.com

 

Joy as Bishops announce resumption of public Mass

Scotland’s Bishops have welcomed the First Minister’s comments today (Thursday 9 July) on places of worship and have announced the resumption of communal worship in Catholic parishes from 15 July.

Hugh Gilbert, President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, said: “Over the past month, our parishes have been preparing for the safe resumption of communal prayer and the celebration of Mass, which is at the centre of the life of the church.

"To have been unable to attend Mass for many months has been a source of real sadness for Scotland’s Catholics and I am sure there will be great joy at the prospect of returning.”

“Thanks to the widespread implementation of the church’s Infection Control protocols, Catholic parishes will begin the resumption of public Masses and other communal activities from 15 July.”

Bishop Gilbert added: “The bishops are extremely grateful to all those who have worked tirelessly to prepare our parishes for public worship and to those who made their views known to their parliamentary representatives and the government on the subject of communal worship.

"While thanking the Scottish Government for listening to these calls, we would remind parishioners that the obligation to attend Sunday Mass remains suspended and ask those who return to do so in accordance with the infection control measures in force in each parish, mindful always of the need to protect themselves and others.”

This article is from the Scottish Catholic Media Office.

Vatican gives plenary indulgence for virtual pilgrimage!

Great news for the Archdiocesan Virtual Lourdes Pilgrimage - the office of Pope Francis has granted a plenary indulgence for those attending!

Archbishop Cushley last week petitioned the Vatican to ask that pilgrims who take part in the week-long online event from this Friday may receive the indulgence under the usual conditions.

Kris Thomas, one of the pilgrimage organisers, said: "We are delighted to announce that following a request from our pilgrimage doctor Monica Bald, and with support of an official request from Archbishop Cushley, the office of Pope Francis has given the gift of indulgences to the faithful who participate fully in the virtual pilgrimage."

https://www.facebook.com/edinburghlourdes/videos/273573457410106/

Archbishop Cushley said: "The Covid-19 crisis meant we could not travel this year. But, inspired by the request of a member of the Archdiocesan Lourdes group, we decided to approach the Holy Father’s office.

"The result is that the initial disappointment of being unable to go on pilgrimage has been transformed in a very positive way.

"Pilgrimages are important to us as an expression of that journey of faith throughout our lives, so thanks to all the members of the Lourdes group who have been working hard behind the scenes to make the virtual pilgrimage happen.”

Virtual Pilgrimage

It's the first time since 1975 that the pilgrimage to the French holy site from our Archdiocese has not taken place. Instead organisers have put together a packed programme of interactive events.You can join in each day in spirit and in prayer for all of the major liturgies as well as the social events that add so much to the pilgrimage.

Each year around 250 pilgrims from the Archdiocese join together for the annual pilgrimage.

In his petition, Archbishop Cushley said: "Since many of the faithful and the sick are disappointed not to travel to Lourdes this year, I know that such a spiritual gift from the Church would be a great consolation to them."

An indulgence is described in the Catechism of the Catholic Church:

"An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints."(CCC 1471) 

Children's Liturgy at Home - get ready for Sunday

Here's the Children's Liturgy at home guide for this Sunday.

Discussing the Gospel

In this week's gospel Jesus tells the parable of the sower. If possible, get a pot, soil and some quick growing seeds like beans or sunflowers ready to plant.

Plant the seed and encourage the children to think about their hearts being open to God’s word as they nurture the seed to grow. If you don’t plant a seed, remind the children as they watch flowers blooming and trees growing and getting greener, they can think about their hearts being open and following God’s word.

Another idea is to have the children pretend to be a seed and grow. Ask them to kneel down as small as the possible on the ground and then stand up and stretch up as high as they can thinking about their hearts being open to God’s word as they grow tall in his love.

Mark Laudato Si' anniversary year with an online reflection group

Parishes across the Archdiocese can mark the fifth anniversary of Laudato Si' by setting up an online reflection group to learn more about the encyclical.

Published by Pope Francis in 2015, it highlights how environmental damage impacts most greatly on the poor and that there must be social, economic and environmental justice to help care for "Our Common Home".

The Archdiocesan Caritas, Justice & Peace commission has set up a working group on Laudato Si' which is preparing ways to help raise awareness and celebrate the Pope's message.

One parish already involved in promoting the encyclical is Ss Ninian and Triduana in Edinburgh, which has set up a weekly online meeting over six weeks.

A post on the parish Facebook page (above) states: "Each week you will receive a Reflection Guide that will link to a specific section of Laudato Si’. We will then meet to pray, share our insights and look at what action individually and as a community, we might be able to take in response to our reflection."

This programme of study is based on material from the Earthbeat section of the National Catholic Reporter, titled 'Digging into Laudato Si'.

Rab Burnett, a parishioner at SS Ninian & Triduana, helped put a version of the programme together and is encouraging people to become Laudato Si Animators. The role, highlighted by the Global Catholic Climate Movement, involves helping bring Laudato Si' to life in parish communities.

"I decided to become Laudato Si' Animator since I felt strongly that as a follower of Jesus, responding to 'the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor' is the fundamental challenge for the Church and indeed for all humankind. The programme helped me to gain new insights into the climate challenge and how it is impacting on the poor and then, based on prayer and discernment, seek ways to take action."

Fr Basil Clark, Vicar Episcopal for Caritas, Justice & Peace, has been highlighting the encyclical's anniversary year (24 May 2020- 24 May 2021) to priests in our diocese and has shared the anniversary year programme with them.

WATCH: Holy Mass with Archbishop Cushley

Holy Mass for the 14th Sunday of the year, celebrated by Archbishop Leo Cushley. Recorded at St Bennet's, Edinburgh.