7th Sunday of the Year (b)

7th Sunday of the Year.  (b)

Times of Mass and Confession:

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

Weekday:            n.b.          9.00 a.m.  (Tuesday  – Friday)

                            n.b.          7.00 p.m. ( Monday – & Wednesday)

10.00 a.m. (Saturday)

Confessions:                      After 10.00 a.m. Mass on Saturday

Other times by arrangement.

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

Sick: Sally McDermott, Catherine Wilson, Patricia Mechan, John McPartland, Henry Livingstone, Mary McPheely, Annie O’Donnell, Molly Weir, Eileen Kennedy

Anniv: Lexie Chisholm, John Garrahan, Peggy & Bernard Gillian, Alexander Fraser, Amanda Somerville.

Died:  Lex Keith.

Today marks the end of Catholic Education week in Scotland. Pope Benedict when speaking to educators in America in 2008 said ‘Education is integral to the mission of the Church to proclaim the Good news.  A Catholic School should be a place to encounter the living God in Jesus Christ.’ The purpose of this week is to encourage Catholic communities to celebrate the success and importance of education for children, young people and for society as a whole. The theme for 2012 is ‘This is Our Faith’. This is an appropriate theme following on the recent launch of the new religious education syllabus with the same name.  This provides a national framework for Catholic schools in Scotland and has been fully approved by the Church authorities in the Vatican.   ‘Catholic schools hold up Christian Values to children, inviting them to build their own lives on them.’  (Pope John Paul ll)

There will be a retiral collection after Mass for the work of the Scottish Catholic Education Commission which has amongst other things pioneered this document.

Sunday: The Coffee Morning takes place in the Hall after Mass today with the Vocations Group in charge.  All welcome to go round for bacon rolls etc.

The monthly draw for the 200 Club will also take place.

Sunday: Annual Mass in honour of Our Lady of Lourdes at 3.00 p.m. in the Church with refreshments afterwards in the Hall.  All are welcome.

Sunday: ‘A Remembering Service’ at 5.00 p.m. in St. John’s Corstorphine.  Fuller details are on a poster in the porch.

Wednesday:                           Ash Wednesday.

                                       A day of Fasting and Abstinence

Fasting means reducing the amount of food which we would normally eat.   Abstinence means not eating meat.  The law of Fasting binds all those who are between eighteen years of age and sixty years of age. The law of Abstinence binds everyone (except for the frail and the sick) once they have reached their fourteenth birthday.

Masses will be at 9.00 a.m. and 7.00 p.m.

Ashes will be distributed at both Masses.

Thursday: The Keep Fit Class takes place in the Hall at 7.00 p.m.  All welcome.

Diary Dates:

10th March: Lenten Retreat, lasting from 10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. and organised by the Diocesan Justice and Peace Commission, on the theme ‘Take of your shoes, for you stand on Holy ground.’  Fuller details and booking contact on the poster in the porch.

6th July: The Archdiocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes leaves Edinburgh Airport.   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 especially in the Saint Frai centre.

200 Club subscriptions for 2012 are now due.  If you are an existing member, please put your name and number along with your subscription in an envelope and hand it in.  If you wish to join, the cost is £12 per year, preferably payable in one go, although it can be paid in monthly instalments if you wish. Please do not hand in loose cash but always put it in an envelope with your name and number (or new member, if you are joining) clearly marked. There are about 80 places not taken.  This may mean the prizes have to be reduced.

Passkeepers required: If you think you could help in this role in the Parish please contact Ben Malone after Mass or myself.  You would be welcome to offer your services for either Mass but in particular the 10.00 a.m. Mass needs some more to spread the load.

With every best wish and blessing

to you, your families

and those who are dear to you

Monsignor Tony.