1st Sunday of Lent (c)

1st Sunday of Lent. (c)

Times of Mass and Confession:

Sundays: Vigil Mass (Saturday) 6.00 p.m. & 10.00 a.m.

Weekday: 9.00 a.m. (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday)

9.30 a.m. (Tuesday – Funeral Mass)

10.00 a.m. (Saturday)

Confessions: Saturdays – after 10.00 a.m. Mass

By arrangement at other times.

Please remember the following parishioners, relatives and friends in your prayers:

Sick: Catherine Wilson, John McPartland, Mary McPheely, Annie O’Donnell, Veronica Allan, Margaret Christie, Mary Pike.

Died: Mary Smith, Pat Croke. Frank Dailey, William Connolly

Annniversaries: Maria Crolla, John Garrahan

Today:

Lenten materials from SCIAF are available as you leave Mass. In particular there is the ‘Wee Box’, the proceeds of which are being used this year for projects in Burundi, where conflict has forced almost a million people from their homes.

Sunday: The Tea/Coffee morning with bacon rolls etc takes place in the Hall after 10.00 a.m. Mass. This week the Vocations Group is in charge. All welcome

Sunday: Annual Mass in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes will take place at 3.00 p.m. in the Church. Refreshments will be served in the Hall afterwards. All welcome.

Sunday: A ‘Remembering Service’ will be held in St. John’s Corstorphine at 5.00 p.m. It provides an opportunity for all 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 a quiet time to reflect and pray and find help with healing and may help those who feel they have not had the opportunity to acknowledge and grieve for their loss.

Monday: Part two of the series of talks by Father Jack Mahoney S.J. in the Jesuit Centre at Lauriston at 7.30 p.m. The next four sessions will focus on looking at the Bible, the Church and the Sacraments as providing the grounds for Christian and Catholic identity. Tonight’s session focuses on ‘The Church, Sacraments and Incarnational Religion.’

Wednesday: The rescheduled meeting of the Parish Finance & Fabric Committee will take place in the house at 7.00 p.m.

Thursday: Vatican II – Fifty Golden Years Part 3 – a series of four lectures exploring the identity of the Church in the Lauriston Jesuit Centre. The third session is on ‘Presbyterorum Ordinis’ – the ministry and life of priests and begins at 7.30 p.m. It will be given by Father Kenneth Owens. A full outline of the series along with the various speakers is on the notice board in the porch.

Thursday: The tea/coffee morning in the house takes place after 9.00 a.m. Mass. All welcome.

Thursday: Meeting of parents of P4 children in the Hall at 7.00 p.m. to prepare for the next ‘Do This in Memory of Me’ celebration. The children do not need to be present.

Diary Dates:

25th February: Meeting in the house at 7.00 p.m. for those who expressed an interest in looking after things in the sacristy before and after the weekend Masses and during the week. Even if you didn’t sign on the sheet you are still welcome to come along.

17th March is the 40th Anniversary of the Ordination to the Priesthood of Monsignor Tony. The Parish Pastoral Council is organising a Ceilidh in the Hall on Friday 15th March with a buffet supper. More details about tickets etc will appear in due course but in the meantime if you wish to come please put your name, telephone number and the number of tickets requested on the sheet at the back of the Church. Tickets will be £3 each and £1 for children. Regretfully tickets may have to be rationed depending on the response and children must be at least of P4 age and accompanied by a responsible adult. From this weekend there will be a box at the back of the Church for donations towards a gift for Monsignor Tony.

5th – 12th July: The Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes takes place. This year it will be led for the first time by Bishop Robson. Booking is now open and forms for hotels can be obtained from the agents – Access Travel, The Hillock, Astley, Manchester M29 7GW – Telephone 01942.888844. I have a limited supply in the sacristy. Booking for the Saint Frai Centre must be done through the Hospital Booking Secretary, 61 Hailes Gardens, Edinburgh EH13 0JN – Tel 0131.441.1939. Fuller information is on the notices in the church porch and on the Hospitalité website at www.edinburgh-lourdes.com which is worth a visit if you have access to the web. Early booking is advised since there are limited places available.

The annual parish accounts for the year ending 31st December 2012 are on display on the notice board at the back of the Church. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask. They have been discussed and accepted at the recent Parish Pastoral Council meeting.

This Lent will be a lent like no other most of us have experienced or will experience. The Church was stunned with the news at the beginning of the week with the news that Pope Benedict XV1 will step dodwn from his role as Pope at the end of this month. From what we know he has thought about and prayed about this decision over the past months and it is not a decision he has taken lightly. We pray especially for him in these last days of his ministry as Pope and that the Lord bless with peace and contentment in his retirement.

Now we must pray for those entrusted with electing a new Pope to lead the Church, to lead you and me in our journey of faith. All the cardinals will be heading to Rome to pray together and reflect together before the conclave begins but only those aged under 80 will be able to vote. May they be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit so that they choose the best person for this unique and vital role.

With every best wish and blessing
to you, your families and those
who are dear to you.
Monsignor Tony.