Archbishop Cushley celebrated Mass for Married & Engaged Couples at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh last night (Wednesday 29 May) .
The annual event sees couples come before the Lord to reflect on the beautiful Catholic vision for marriage and family life, thanksgiving for the gift of this calling, and prayer for the blessing of their love.
The longest married couple attending were Margaret and Bill Mawdsley, parishioners at St John the Baptist in Corstorphine, married for 69 years (pictured to the right of Archbishop Leo).
The most recently married couple attending were Francesco and Nardina, from Italy and now resident in Edinburgh, who married just seven months ago.
Archbishop Cushley was the principal celebrant at the Mass and was joined by Fr Robert Taylor, Fr Jeremy Milne (Ss John the Baptist & Kentigern, Corstorphine), Fr Benedict Iwatt (Our Lady & St Andrews, Galashiels) and Deacon Peter Traynor.
Thanks to Fr Jeremy and members of his Marriage & Families commission for a wonderful evening, along with the Cathedral choir, volunteers and staff of Coffee Saints.
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Mass for Married & Engaged Couples
The annual Mass for Married and Engaged Couples is on Wednesday 29 May 2024, 7.15pm, at Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh.
Come and celebrate the gift of marriage, renew your commitment and receive God's blessing upon your love.
Enquiries and requests for special invitations to be posted to couples celebrating significant anniversaries may be sent to vemarriage@staned.org.uk or by calling 0131 334 1693.
SATURDAY: Valentine's retreat for married couples
The Archdiocese invites married couples (and those preparing for marriage) to a free Valentine's retreat this Saturday (10 February).
The free event takes place at St Kentigern's Church, Parkgrove Avenue, Barnton, Edinburgh, EH4 7QR from 2pm to 5pm.
It is hosted by Stephen and Martha Milne, who have long experience in running retreats, catechesis and marriage/family events.
There will be a crèche available for children of primary school age and older. Registration closes Thursday 8 Feb at 2pm.
The event is hosted by Stephen and Martha Milne who live in Dalmally, and are part of the Craig Lodge Family House of Prayer Community.
Stephen said, "The Valentine's Retreat is an ideal way for couples to spend time together in quiet reflection and prayer, in thanksgiving to God for each other and all the positive things that spring from your relationship.
"We’ll provide some inspiring stories and practical advice from our own background and what we’ve learned over the years through delivering catechesis about and for the family and from working with families.
"We hope it will help you look afresh in appreciation of each other ahead of Valentine’s Day in the relaxed and friendly environment of St Kentigern’s Parish in Edinburgh. We look forward to welcoming you."
Stephen and Martha were married in 1989 in Baltimore, USA.
They have six grown up children, four grandchildren and another on the way.
They currently reside in Dalmally, Argyll and Bute, recently joining the Craig Lodge Family House of Prayer Community.
Stephen is a retired English teacher and taught in schools in Kent, London and Lincolnshire.
He taught at the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham for several years as an Associate Lecturer on the MA for Catholic Pastoral Studies programme, running a course on Marriage and Family in the teaching of the Church.
He has a BA (Hons) in Developmental Psychology University of Sussex, an MA in English Literature and Language from King’s College London, and a PhD from the University of Nottingham.
Martha spent nine years as a primary school teacher at The Lamb of God Community School in Baltimore, Maryland.
She is the Director of the Machine Quilter Company Ltd and currently runs social media for the Juki Sewing Machine Corporation Europe.
The couple have been involved in helping organise and run family retreats at Craig Lodge Family House of Prayer Community in the last year.
She has a B.S. in Speech and Language Pathology M.Ed Literacy (Dyslexia), Catechesis Certificate from Maryvale Institute
The Valentine's Retreat is a free event organised by the Marriage & Families Commission of the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh. The registration address is bit.ly/valretreat. The event includes talks, time for coples to talk, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Guided prayer with readings and prayers relevant to the vocation of marriage. There will be a crèche available for children of primary school age and older. Doors open from 1:30pm. Questions? Contact matthew.meade@staned.org.uk
GALLERY: Couples celebrate marriage at St Mary's Cathedral
Couples from across the Archdiocese got together at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh last night for a celebration of marriage.
Archbishop Cushley was the principal celebrant at Mass and gave a blessing to married couples and to engaged couples.
He said: "It is always a lovely, happy occasion when we thank God for the many blessings received through the great gift of marriage.
"It warms my heart to see so many people here to celebrate that and to pray for God's blessing upon their lives."
After the Mass a reception was held in Coffee Saints cafe.
The longest married couple at the event were Margaret & Bill Mawdsley (below).
They are parishioners at St John the Baptist Church in Corstorphine and have been married for 68 years.
They were wed at St Mary's, Star of the Sea, Leith, in 1955, and have three daughters and five grandchildren.
They cut the celebration cake alongside the most recent married couple, Eilish & Callum Lloyd (below left), who have been married for just a few months.
The annual event was organised by Fr Jeremy Milne and the Archdiocesan commission for Marriage & Family Life.
Some members of the Archdiocesan Commission for Marriage & Family Life. From left: Louise & Deacon John, Andrew Milligan, Paul Atkin, Anna & Janusz Nieciecki.
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Mass for Married & Engaged Couples
Archbishop Cushley will celebrate a special Mass for Married and Engaged Couples at St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, on Wednesday 31 May at 7.15pm.
All married and engaged couples are very welcome to come on the night and celebrate the gift of marriage.
After the Mass there will be a celebratory reception in Coffee Saints to which everyone attending the Mass is invited.
If you are celebrating a significant anniversary this year, or know couples who are, do let us know so that we can send a personal invitation. Please submit names, address and number of years being celebrated to Fr Jeremy Milne, vemarriage@staned.org.uk, 0131 334 1693.
Celebrate Marriage at the Cathedral in May!
Archbishop Cushley will celebrate a special Mass for Married and Engaged Couples at St Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh, on Wednesday 31 May at 7.15pm.
All married and engaged couples are very welcome to come on the night and celebrate the gift of marriage.
After the Mass there will be a celebratory reception in Coffee Saints to which everyone attending the Mass is invited.
If you are celebrating a significant anniversary this year, or know couples who are, do let us know so that we can send a personal invitation. Please submit names, address and number of years being celebrated to Fr Jeremy Milne, vemarriage@staned.org.uk, 0131 334 1693.
Valentine's Retreat
Valentine’s Day is a special opportunity to celebrate our married life, to open our hearts to each other, to respond with affection and joy.
Mid-February is a cold time of year, when we need to spread warmth. Our half-day retreat offers us a perfect opportunity to rekindle the embers of our romance and affection for each other and will look at how couples may respond warmly to each other, to God and to their community, with joy each day.
During the afternoon we will pray, we will listen, we will talk as couples, and try some couple discussion exercises in private.
We will have the opportunity to take home a particular question to consider at home in the evening, along with a recommended format. So, keep the evening free!
The retreat will be led by Annette and Paul O’Beirne, who will share some of the stories and tools that they have gathered over their 42 years together. They met in Aberdeen and now live on the south coast of England.
They have international responsibility in an organisation - Equipes Notre-Dame or Teams of Our Lady– which supports married couples and priests in their vocations. Register at bit.ly/valentineretreat
GALLERY: Mass for Married & Engaged Couples!
Two couples clebrating an impressive 60 years of marriage were among those who gathered at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh last night.
Helen & Vincent Robinson and Maureen & Robert Mochrie helped cut the cake following the Mass, which included a blessing of engaged and married couples.
Helen & Vincent Robinson, left, and Maureen & Robert Mochrie with Archbishop Leo in the Coffee Saints Cafe after Mass.
Archbishop Leo said in his homily: "Let me congratulate all of you on the happy occasion of your various anniversaries, great and small, and ask you to pray with me for those contemplating marriage, and for those who misrepresent it and misunderstand it.
From left, Deacon Tom McEvoy, Archbishop Leo and Fr Jeremy Milne (Vicar Episcopal for Marriage & Families).
"May we learn again as a society to value marriage, and to promote it to the greater good of everyone."
Lovely to meet those who attended the Mass for Married & Engaged couples last night at St Mary’s Cathedral. Special mention to Vincent & Helen Robinson and Robert & Maureen Mochrie, who are celebrating 60 years of marriage. pic.twitter.com/V9KaF6lBdD
— Archbishop Leo Cushley (@leocushley) May 19, 2022
