Conversations in the Spirit

Fr Matthew Nunes from the Archdiocese of Liverpool will speak on the theme Conversations in the Spirit: How to Lead & Participate.

Fr Nunes runs a School of Synodality in the Liverpool Archdiocese and has a wealth of experience and insights to share.

We will discuss the practical steps of being synodal in your parish with speaker input and workshops and a chance to have your say.

We invite you to join us for Holy Mass at 10:00am (optional), followed by tea and coffee in the Islay Hall where the event begins officially at 11:00am

Who is this event for?

"We welcome all parishioners in the Archdiocese, along with clergy to this event. We especially invite members of parish councils to attend." - Fr John Deighan, Archdiocesan Synod Team.

Register

Click here to register

Schedule

10:00am: Holy Mass in St Margaret's Chapel (optional).

10:30am: Tea/Coffee.

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11:00am: Session 1: How to do Conversations in the Spirit.

11:30am: First Conversation and Feedback.

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12:30pm: Lunch (please bring a packed lunch. Local cafes/shops available).

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1:15pm: Session 2: conversation in the spirit and the theology of synodality.

1:45pm: Second conversation and Feedback.

2:45pm: Evaluation, future plans, close.

Transport

Free parking onsite. Come early to secure your place and follow the directions of the stewards. Postcode for Sat-Nav EH9 1BB.

Bus: Edinburgh's Number 5 bus stops directly outside the The Gillis Centre.

Train: The closest station is Haymarket, which is a 15-20 minute walk to The Gillis Centre.

Conversations in the Spirit takes place at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB. It is organised by the Synod team of the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh, led by Fr John Deighan of Ss John Cantius & Nicholas in Broxburn. Register here.

Centenary celebrations at Holy Cross!

Congratulations to Holy Cross Parish in Edinburgh which is celebrating its centenary!

Archbishop Cushley recently joined parishioners for a Centenary Mass at the church, based in the Trinity area of the city, and passed on his congratulations.

*From left: Canon James Tracey, Fr Peter Kelly, Archbishop Cushley, Mgr Gerry Hand and Fr Eddie McGhee (pic: Maciek Samulski).*

He was joined by parish priest Mgr Gerry Hand, Fr Jamie McMorrin, Canon James Tracey, Fr Peter Kelly and Fr Eddie McGhee of Galloway Diocese.

*Parishioners take a trip down memory lane with a gallery of pics from the past (pic: Maciek Samulski).*

Mgr Hand said: "We celebrated the Centenary Mass with great joy. It was also a chance to encourage people to return to Mass and deepen that sense of community of faith.

"We go forward now ready to be more committed to the Centenary year and ready to go into the second hundred years hopeful and believing in the future of the parish."

Clergy moves announced

Archbishop Cushley has announced the following moves among clergy in the Archdiocese. These moves will take canonical effect on 3 September 2022.

Very Rev Robert Afayori VE finishes as Vicar Episcopal for Education and as parish priest in Stirling on 31 July, having been recalled home.

Rev Jamie Boyle to to Stirling (St Mary’s) as parish priest, and as lead chaplain to Stirling University and to St Modan’s High School.

Very Rev Daniel Doherty VE to Falkirk (St Francis Xavier), as parish priest.

Very Rev Scott Deeley VE to St Patrick’s, Kilsyth, as parish priest.

Rev Emmanuel C. Francis to St Margaret’s, South Queensferry, as administrator.

Rev Gerard Hatton (Arundel & Brighton Diocese) to St Theresa’s, Craigmillar, as administrator, to be assisted by Rev Ninian Doohan (Dunkeld Diocese).

Very Rev Jeremy Bath VE to Lennoxtown (St Machan's) as parish priest.

Rev John Deighan to Broxburn (St Nicholas' and St Philomena’s, Winchburgh), as parish priest; also as lead chaplain in Sinclair Academy and lead chaplain at St John’s Hospital, Livingston.

Very Rev Kenneth Owens to Morningside (St Peter’s and St Columba’s) as parish priest.

Rev Kevin Douglas to Livingston & East Calder (St Theresa’s, St Philip’s, St Andrew’s) as parish priest, and as lead chaplain in St Margaret’s Academy.

Rev John Peter Siluvappan to Musselburgh (OL Loretto & St Michael's and St Martin of Tours, Tranent) as administrator.

Also

Rev Robert Taylor to St Mary's Cathedral, as assistant priest; also assisting the Chancellor.

Rev Ajeesh George to St Mary's Cathedral, as assistant priest.

Rev Sam Burke OP to leave St Albert's (Edinburgh University) the diocese for other duties.

Rev Matthew Jarvis OP and Rev Albert Elias Robertson OP to St Albert’s (Edinburgh University) as assistants.

Rev Josh Moir to return to Rome to complete his studies.

Rev Martins Enegbuma to leave the diocese.

Also

Very Rev John Deighan as Vicar Episcopal for Education (from 1 August).

Very Rev Brian Gowans as Vicar Episcopal ad interim for Caritas, Justice & Peace (effective immediately).

Rosary inspires recipes as parishioners launch cookbook

Sunday Rosary sessions have helped inspire parishioners in Queensferry, Dalmeny and Kirkliston to create a tastebud tingling cookbook!

Over thirty budding chefs got creative to contribute their cuisine - with recipes from across the world - to raise funds for St Margaret's Parish.

Parishioner Elizabeth Miller said: "We were doing Rosary on Zoom every Sunday when Mass would normally have been on and realised that quite a few of the people taking part are very proficient cooks - they were talking about all the great things they would make for Sunday lunch! So we thought that during lockdown this would be a good idea to raise funds."

Find out how the Rosary helped inspire recipes at St Margaret's Church in South Queensferry where parishioners have compiled a cookbook to raise parish funds. https://t.co/iJt6Bqj1B4 pic.twitter.com/JtMGWUETKa

— Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh (@archedinburgh) August 18, 2020

She and fellow organiser Katie Wotherspoon worked to compile recipes from parishioners, family and friends, while Elizabeth's husband Graeme designed the pages. Now they are ready to launch the book in both hardback and digital editions.

Katie said: "We've got an eclectic mix of recipes because we've got quite a diverse community in South Queensferry. We have recipes from Nigeria, Zambia and France as well as an authentic Scottish butcher haggis recipe.

Even children got involved, helping illustrate pages with drawings of the patron saints of baking and cooking.

Fr Scott Deeley, parish priest at St Margaret's, said: "It’s surely a must for every Catholic kitchen! Many thanks to everyone who helped make this happen."

St Margaret's Parish Cookbook is available to pre-order in hardback (suggested donation £20, includes digital edition) and digital (suggested donation £10). Place your order by 30 August by emailing stmargaretswomensgroup@gmail.com.

Sample recipe

Have a go at Cod with a Leek & Gruyére Crust, from Katie in Kirkliston.

Parishes at the service of evangelization

The Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy has released a new document to help guide the reform of parish communities.

It is entitled 'The pastoral conversion of the Parish community in the service of the evangelizing mission of the Church' (read it here).

Isabella Piro, on vaticannews.va, writes: "The document does not promulgate any new legislation, but proposes methods to better apply existing rules and canonical norms.

"The aim is to encourage the co-responsibility of the baptized and to promote pastoral care based on closeness and cooperation between parishes."

She adds: "What emerges most forcefully from the Instruction is the urgency of missionary renewal, a pastoral conversion of the parish, so that the faithful may rediscover the dynamism and creativity which allows the parish to be always "going forth", aided by the contribution of all the baptized faithful."