The Parishes of St Peter & St Columba… www.stpetersrcchurchedinburgh.org.uk www.stcolumbasrcedinburgh.org.uk Parish Priest: Fr Kevin Douglas St Peter’s, 77 Falcon Avenue EH10 4AN (0131 447 2502): email: [email protected] St Columba’s 9 Upper Gray Street EH9 1SN Deacon - Rev John E Smith [email protected] Parish Secretaries: Today’s Readings St Peter’s: Mary Wastle [email protected] (0131 447 3442): Proverbs 31: 10-13,19-20, St Columba’s: Sr Karin: [email protected] 30-31 Psalm 127:1-5 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6 33rd Sunday of the Year (A) Matthew 25:14-30 15th November 2020
‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’ This Sunday marks both the last week of Ordinary Time and the penultimate Sunday of the liturgical year, as we prepare for the Feast of Christ, King of the Universe, next Sunday. Today’s readings, like those of last week, continue to remind us that we need to be prepared for the end of time, an event which the authors of the New Testament thought was imminent.
The First Reading from Proverbs suggests that we should embody all the qualities of ‘the per- fect wife’ as seen through the eyes of the author. She is industrious and diligent, not just for her family but also for the poor and the needy. The Psalm also extols the virtues of family life and blesses those who fear – or are in awe of – the Lord.
In the Second Reading, St Paul tells us that the Day of the Lord will come when we least expect it, ‘like a thief in the night’. We should remain wide awake in anticipation of the Lord’s coming.
In the Gospel, the parable of the talents reminds us to use the gifts and talents we have for the benefit of others. Everyone has been given at least one talent, and it is our duty to use it in the service of society. This week, I might spend some time reflecting on how best I can use the talents I have been entrusted with, so that when the time comes, I can also be called a ‘good and faithful servant’. (St Beuno’s Outreach)
Celebration of Mass in St Peter’s & St Columba’s Sunday Mass To attend the Vigil Mass or Saturday 5.30pm St Peter’s D/M of Hannon Family Sunday Masses you must book at Vigil Eventbrite https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/ Sunday 9.30am St Columba’s Intentions of Birnie Family o/30753214066 11.30am St Peter’s D/M of Wagg Family Booking begins at 12 noon on 6.30pm St Columba’s People of the Parishes Wednesdays. If you don’t have access to the Monday 6.30pm St Columba’s Intentions of Blysmamaph Family website please contact the parish St Margaret of Scotland secretaries who will book for Tuesday 10am St Peter’s Margaret Taylor RIP If you have not booked St Elizabeth of Hungary please do not come as you Wednesday 6.30pm St Peter’s David Ellison RIP may be refused access. Dedication of Basilicas of SS Peter & Paul If you have booked and come late your place may Thursday 10am St Columba’s Anne Devine for speedy recovery have been given to someone else. Friday 10am St Peter’s Repose of the souls of Jamieson & Book and come on time! Tom Families * Please remember masks must Saturday 10am St Columba’s Jacinta and Catherine cover both nose and mouth * Presentation of Blessed Virgin Mary You may wish to add the names of deceased relatives, friends and parishioners to the Book of Remembrance at the back of the church. Please continue to pray for all who are sick, elderly or housebound whether at home or in hospital/nursing homes. We remember especially Christine, Mike, Christopher, Charlie, Michael, John, Anthony, Joe Houghton, Patricia Knowles, Andy, and Mairi Bowie. Hello everyone, welcome to our joint Newsletter for St Columba’s & St Peter’s Parishes. Please send news of events etc to St Peter’s Parish Secretary, [email protected]. It is helpful to receive items for publishing by Thursday evening.
St Peter’s PPC Meeting Monday 16 November 8pm Bless me Father …. This Zoom meeting is open to all parishioners. If you Confessions would like to attend please email St Peter’s Saturdays 4.30-5.15pm [email protected] St Columba’s Sundays 5.30-6.15pm First Holy Communions These will take place on Thursday 26 November, Saturday 28 November and “She holds out her hand to the poor, Saturday 5 December. These will be she opens her arms to the needy! (from today’s 1st Reading) special Masses only for the children and their parents/guardians. Sadly we cannot join Ways in which we can hold out our hand - together to celebrate this important event but we can pray for all the children and their families. SVDP If you would like to donate to the SVDP to help the needy here is how to do it - St Peter’s 200 Club St Columba’s: place donation in an envelope marked “SVDP” and post through letterbox at 9 Upper Gray St. The monthly draws for the last 9 months, along with St Peter’s: likewise an envelope through the presbytery the Christmas draw, will take place on Sunday 6 letterbox or a donation to the SVDP box in the courtyard. December, in the courtyard - socially distanced! Thank you for your generosity. That will be a lot of winners! Fresh Start are accepting donations on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please ring before you bring on 0131 476 Thank you to all who are continuing to support our 7714 to make an appointment between 9 and 3.30 on one two parishes either by Standing Order (which can of these days. 22-24 Ferry Road Drive, EH4 4BR be arranged online or in your branch), cheque (St [email protected] Peter’s Parish/St Columba’s Parish) or cash (either Basics Bank - Food & toiletries - Bruntsfield Evangelical in an envelope through the presbytery door or placed Church, 70 Leamington Terrace EH10 4JU in the Offertory basket which is available after Fridays 10am-1pm weekend Masses). Please consider setting up a Standing Order - Fairtrade : St Peter's is a Fairtrade Parish so as you pre- Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh St pare to shop for Christmas food and presents try to buy Peter’s Parish Sort Code 83-06-08 A/C No those displaying the Fairtrade mark. If you do you will be 10402428 or helping to ensure small groups of producers receive a fair Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh St price for their products. These include, wine, chocolates, fresh and dried fruit and a range of lovely gifts. Columba’s Parish Sort Code 83-06-08 A/C No 10402355 St Columba’s Virtual Coffee Mornings taking place after Mass on Sundays from 11.00 until 11.40. Please A special thank you to St Peter’s parishioners who use the following link to join and email Steph Mitch- have donated generously to the printing and postage ell separately for the passcode. https:// of the newsletter which is sent out to those without us04web.zoom.us/j/922094618? the internet. pwd=TDl5T3RINXo3V0swTFZoYVh0dEx1QT09. Meeting ID: 922 094 618
2 CLICKS - ASK YOUR MP TO LISTEN TO SCIENCE: Alan Laidlaw RIP Please email your MP asking them to attend a meeting with Please pray for the repose of the soul of scientific experts on fetal. The evidence that babies can Alan who died very suddenly. feel pain in the womb, and during many abortions, high- We offer our sincere sympathy to his wife lights the humanity of the unborn child. Easy 2 clicks and children. form: https://righttolife.org.uk/unbornMPmeeting/ Please remember them in your prayers.
Items for inclusion in next week’s Newsletter to Mary Wastle 447 3442 or [email protected] by Thursday evening please. St Peter’s website contact Juliet MacKellaig 447 4210 or [email protected]. St Columba’s website contact [email protected] * You can find our Privacy Notices on the websites * St Peter’s and St Columba’s are parishes of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, a Charity registered in Scotland - number SC008540
Walk with Sister Helen - a project for both our parishes during Advent
Many will remember Sister Helen McLaughlin, a Sacred Heart nun who lived and worked for many years in Nile Grove. She is now 88 years old and living in a Care Home in Rosehill, but by no means inactive, and at this time of COVID she is particularly concerned about the plight of disadvantaged children.
She decided to help by walking back and forth along her corridor, praying for these children, and raising money through sponsorship. The particular project she has chosen is called 16+ Edinburgh, run by Barnardo’s. At the best of times children who have been in care need considerable support to be able to live independently. Now, with Covid, employment prospects for those young people will be particularly difficult, making what is normally a stressful time even more difficult. 16+ ensures that they will have access to the help they need to become independent happy adults integrated into society.
The distance Sister Helen walks is linked to the height of the Scottish Munro mountains which are all over 3000 ft. Starting with Schiehallion which is 1083m high Sister Helen walked 1083m along the corridor – one Munro completed. There are 288 Munro mountains and Sister Helen needs to complete them all. During Advent our two parishes will try to help her finish them by Christmas.
To start with we need walkers, either those with limited mobility like Sister Helen, who will walk on the flat, or active members of our congregations able to climb a hill.
We have our own mini-mountain in Arthur’s Seat, not a Munro but we will give it honorary status as a Munro for the purpose of the project, so that every ascent of Arthur’s Seat is one more Munro completed. A family of five climb- ing Arthur’s Seat will have contributed five Munros. If you have never climbed Arthur’s Seat the easiest way to reach the summit is to go into Holyrood Park, take the upper road round to Dunsapie Loch, where there is a large car park, and from there take the well-worn track to the top.
For those with limited mobility like Sister Helen the easiest way to measure your distance along the flat is to choose a particular circuit, calculate its length, and then count your circuits. As a rough guide 100 normal paces is equivalent to about 150 ft, so the smallest Munro needs 2000 paces and the highest about 2700 paces. We aim to ‘climb’ about 72 Munros each week. Walkers can either choose their own Munro(s) from a list, or we will allocate them.
If you think you may be able to help, or know someone else who could, please contact Anne Havard [email protected] for more information or to register as a walker. Next week we will explain how you can sponsor the walkers, including Sister Helen. We must help her finish the Munros by Christmas.
- around the Diocese
Newington Churches Together Life of Faith: Where does Prayer fit in? Advent Studies 2020 Sr Anna Marie McGuan RSM invites you to take 'Come and Worship', the study is based on the part in a Zoom session - a 45 minute talk which words of the carol 'Angels from the Realms of will give you tips on improving your prayer life to Glory', with the 4 weeks focussing in turn on help you draw closer to God, and will be followed angels, shepherds, sages, and saints. The booklet by a Q&A. To make it as accessible as possible, costs £2.99,. The study will be on Zoom and the she will host a session for parishioners in each following days and dates and times are suggested:- deanery. Monday evenings (30 Nov, 7 Dec, 14 Dec, 21 Dec) Edinburgh Deanery - Monday 23 November at or Tuesday evenings (1 Dec, 8 Dec, 15 Dec, 22 2pm and 7pm. Register by emailing Dec) [email protected] (stating what date and If you are interested contact one of us stating your time you want to attend). All talks led by Sr Anna preference of day and time by 15th November. Marie McGuan RSM. Ann Thanisch
Do you want to deepen your relationship with God but We invite YOU to deepen your Catholic Faith and don't know how to? help spread the Good News of Jesus Christ with "God’s invitation to relationship" our Diploma in Catechetics. It's easy to take is a four week prayer course online to sup- part. Lectures will be delivered each Thursday port people into a deeper prayer life through evening in a 45 min Zoom session - so you can tutors’ input, guided prayer experience and learn in the comfort of your own home! sharing. Run by the Epiphany Group of Spir- When does it start? itual Directors in Scotland. The 12 month Diploma in Catechetics begins on 12 Next Course on Zoom at 7-8.30pm January 2021. Wednesday 13, 20, 27 January and Wednesday What does it involve? - 3 February A 45-minute lecture each week on Zoom in the comfort of your home. Plus two follow up evenings10 &17 February Six modules of six classes, beginning in January 2021 2021 until December 2021. Please contact Juliet MacKellaig or Rachel Inglis for further Assessed by an oral interview on Zoom at the end of information and to register [email protected] each module. Who's running the course? The Catechetics Commission of the Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh. Sr Anna Marie McGuan, the Archdiocese's Join us on the 30th November Catechetics Advisor, is leading the course. Lectures delivered by religious and diocesan priests, (Feast of St Andrew) lay people and religious sisters. at 7.30pm Does it cost money? on Zoom as we launch The course cost is £100. the Edinburgh Jesuit Centre This can be paid by the parish for parish catechists. with Professor Sir Tom Devine Financial assistance is available for anyone in financial Login using the link below: difficulty. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2365092814 or Sign me up! Meeting ID: 236 509 2814 You can register now by emailing [email protected]
We will also be livestreaming to our All Catholics are invited to take part. The Archdiocese Facebook page! especially asks those who are involved in the catechetical work of the Church - children’s liturgists, RCIA team mem- For more information please contact bers, teachers, youth group leaders etc - to register. [email protected]