Two priests will throw open the doors to a new Catholic bookshop in Edinburgh city centre this month.

Fathers Baji Joseph Puthiyaparambil and Shinto Joseph Karimattathil will launch St Pauls Bookshop at St Mary's Cathedral on Saturday 26 November.

Fr Baji (52) said: “I am really excited about this because it is something truly connected to the charism of the Society of St Paul."

Fathers Baji Joseph (left) and Shinto Joseph Karimattathil with Archbishop Leo Cushley.

The men, both members of the Society of St Paul and from Kerala, India, are based at St Joseph's Parish in Broomhouse.

Their religious order was founded in Italy in 1914 to follow in the footsteps of St Paul the Apostle in bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world.

Excited

Fr Baji, a priest for 22 years, said: “Archbishop Leo Cushley invited the Society of St Paul to Edinburgh to collaborate with the Archdiocese in its pastoral ministry.

"The first step was setting up the bookshop. We've overcome initial setbacks due to the pandemic thanks to the help and encouragement of Monsignor Patrick Burke at the Cathedral.

"The bookshop is a dream come true for the Society of St Paul and the Archdiocese. We are finally ready to open the doors and all are welcome."

Society of St Paul

The Society of St Paul has bookshops at Westminster Cathedral, St Chad's Cathedral (Birmingham) and Hinsley Hall (Leeds).

The store will stock a wide range, from self-help to world literature, biography, family, theology, philosophy, psychology and more.

Fr Baji is set to open St Pauls Bookshop later this month.

Fr Baji, an author of four books on self-help, added: "We will also stock religious items and gifts, audio-visual, books for children and catechetical books, along with liturgical books, such as missals, lectionaries and church documents."

Archbishop Cushley said: "It's a chance for Catholics and the wider public to access a range of books to inspire, edify and inform. The Cathedral is a real hub, with Coffee Saints cafe and now St Pauls Bookshop.

"We are pleased to collaborate with the Society of St Paul on this project and Frs Baji and Shinto have worked hard to make it happen."

St Pauls Bookshop at St Mary’s Cathedral, Broughton Street (next to John Lewis), open from Saturday 26 November. Opening hours: every day (except Monday) 10:00am to 5:30pm.