Fair Trade

Eco-Congregation Scotland

Parish Directory and Parish Council Constitution

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Parish Groups

The parish has a number of groups and regular activites and these include:-
(Click on a group name to learn more)






Altar Servers

Servers

At Sunday morning Masses the servers facilitate liturgy celebration. Applicants must have completed Sacramental programmes for Confirmation and Holy Communion.
Training is provided through practical experience.







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Bereavement Support Group

Bereavement Group

Aims:
To pray for and support those in our Parish who have suffered bereavement and pray for all the deceased.
At present there are four members in our group. New members are welcome.

Activities:
We meet a few times a year at the Sister’s House to pray for the deceased and their families, and for those suffering loss in whatever way. We keep in touch with the bereaved for a long as they need support and help in their grieving process. We organise the themes for the Sundays in November, when the dead are remembered. We prepare the annual Parish Mass for parishioners and friends who have died during the current year. We keep the anniversaries of deaths updated, as they are listed for prayer in our weekly Parish newsletter. We attend the Archdiocesan study days at Gillis, when we have the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas whit groups from other Parishes.

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Bingo

Bingo Balls

Bingo takes place in the Church hall every Tuesday evening from 8pm till 9:30pm.

As well as raising funds for the Parish, bingo also provides a social evening out for the community as a whole. It acts as a form of Ecumenical work introducing the local community to the Parish and inviting them to take an active role in other activities within the Parish.

Please be aware that the Bingo takes a holiday over the Christmas period.

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Child Protection

Child

The Catholic Church in Scotland is concerned with the lives, safety, wholeness and well being of each individual person within God’s purpose for everyone. It seeks to safeguard the welfare of children and young people who are involved in whatever capacity with the Church and its organisations.
As a Church community, we accept that it is the responsibility of all of us, ordained, professed, paid and voluntary members to protect children and young people from physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect.

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Church Cleaning

Bucket

The cleaning of the Church takes place on a Friday or Saturday morning. We have four teams consisting of two people who work on a rotational basis. Sr Cecilia and Sr Margaret attend to the Sacristy and Altar linen. More volunteers are always welcome.




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Eucharistic Ministers

Holy Communion

Aims:
To give Holy Communion to the faithful, either within the liturgical setting or at the homes of the sick and housebound.
Eucharistic Ministers will perform one or more of the following services:
- Take Holy Communion to the sick and housebound.
- Administer Holy Communion under both kinds during m Mass.
- Lead services of the Word and Holy Communion in the absence of the Priest.


Training for new Eucharistic Ministers takes place over five sessions.

Eucharistic Ministers meet once a year for a time of prayer, reflection and discussion. Archdiocesan retreat and study days at the Gillis Centre are available.

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Fabric Group

Workman

The Fabric Group oversees the maintenance of the Church building and grounds.





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Finance Group

money

The Finance Group is responsible for the counting and banking of collections, Parish covenants, Planned Giving and the Parish accounts.





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Fundraising

Money

The money raised by the Bonus Ball helps to pay for the medical needs of a parish in Brazil. The Bonus Ball is linked to the National Lottery. Participants pay £1 per week for a number. Is the number is the same as the Bonus Ball from the Saturday Lottery. The Participant wins £40.

Other fundraising events often include our St Andrews night ceilidh, bake sales and various activities by the youth of the parish.





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House Group

Dove

Would you be interested in sharing and developing your faith with other Christians in a small group setting? If so, there will be an opportunity to pray together and to share what it means for you to be in relationship with God through faith.

The House Group meets on the third Thursday of each month. Christians from other denominations are welcome to participate.

Please contact the Priest for more details.





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Justice and Peace

Hands

Aims:
* To achieve peace through justice, guided by scripture, strengthened by prayer.
* To pray for justice and peace e.g. for refugees, immigrants, the homeless and prisoners of conscience.
* To provide information for parishioners about justice and peace issues.
* To enable the Parish to become actively involved in justice and peace activates.
* To raise awareness and to campaign for justice by supporting larger bodies e.g. Justice and Peace Scotland, Trade Justice Movement, SCIAF and Jubilee Scotland
* To help ease suffering in small and practical ways e.g. by fundraising, Fresh Start collections, Fair Trade Stall and Greeting Card Campaigns.
* To remain aware of J&P issues by having representation at relevant events e.g. Diocesan J&P days and SCIAF workshops.





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Children's Liturgy of the Word

Children

Children's Liturgy takes place during the 11am Mass. We aim to help the children of the Parish become active members of our community and assist them in participating more fully in the Mass.
Children of primary school age onwards are invited each Sunday to attend their own Liturgy of the Word. In addition the Children's Liturgy Group also organise the following activities:
* Children's Masses
* Yearly sleep over and fun day
* Training of young people as readers
* Advent/Lent themes
* Family Passover meal
* Participation in the offertory and collections

Child Protection guidelines are followed for those involved in Children's Liturgy.
Meetings take place when required for organisational purposes.





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Senior Liturgy Group

Bible

The Senior Liturgy Group's aim is to ensure the prayerfulness and smooth running of the Liturgical Year.

The Group meets before the different seasons and feasts of the Church Year.





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Christian Meditation Group

Meditation

Aims:
* To learn about and follow the teaching of John Main OSB on meditation.
* To spend time in prayer together.
* To spend twenty minutes, twice daily, in private meditation.

Activities:
* A talk on tape by John Main.
* Twenty minutes silent meditation
* Refreshments.

The Group is ecumenical with members drawn from local church congregations. The Group meets on Monday Evenings at 7:30pm in the Sisters' House





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Music Group

Music

The Music Group works closely with the Liturgy Group.

At the three Sunday Masses there is a variety of music.

Norman Gore supplies a guitar accompaniment to the hymns sung by the congregation at the vigil Mass.

At the 9am Mass a number of members of the congregation lead the others in their sung praise to the Lord.

At the 11am Mass, Alan Wilson, one of our choristers, is accompanied on the organ and leads the congregation.





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Passkeepers

passkeeper

The passkeepers welcome parishioners and visitors, distribute newsletters and hymn books and attend to the collections. Passkeepers may also act as fire wardens in the event of a fire in the church.







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Parish Pledge

Money

The Parish Pledge raises funds for the Parish Building Fund. It was introduced after the annual Autumn Fayre was discontinued.

Two donations are taken each year in April and October. Envelopes are available at these times for those who wish to participate.

Those parishioners who are already members of the Parish Covenant are reminded to use their Gift Aid number so that tax can be re-claimed on their donation.





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Parish Pastoral Council

Council

The purposes of the Parish Pastoral Council are to:

Listen and respond to the Spirit of God: - the Council, with the Parish Priest as president, prayerfully consider what the spirit of God is calling the parish to be and become.

Organise Participation and Co-operation: - the Council provides an opportunity for all members of the Parish to respond to their baptismal commitment and work closely together for the common good and mission of the Parish.

Provide a Forum for Sharing ideas: - In dialogue, members of the Council and The Parish Priest come to an understanding of the spiritual as well as physical concerns and needs of the people of the Parish and policies and strategies to address those concerns and needs.

Participate in Parish Planning: - The council, along with the entire parish community, plans for the future of the Parish. This includes reviewing from time to time the Council Constitution and a Parish Mission Statement of the Parish goals and priorities. On completion of such reviews, any revisions of the Constitution and/or Mission Statement are forwarded to the Cardinal.





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Prayer Group

Prayer

The focus of the Group is on the prayer life of the Parish. Some elements of existing Group's activities are:-
Weekly meditation
Pre-Christmas "Quiet Time"

The Group comes together to plan individual events as and when required.





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Readers

Bible

Readers convey the Holy Scripture through the First and Second Readings at Masses, and they lead the congregation in the Responsorial Psalm and the Gospel Acclamation. Readers also usually lead the Bidding Prayers.

There is a readers' rota for the three week-end Masses (see Ministry Schedule page). A separate rota applies at Christmas and Easter, and special arrangements are made at other services such as Requiem Mass.





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Sacramental Preparation

Bible

Aims:
To prepare the children in primary three and four to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation and Eucharist.
To provide some catechesis and support for the parents of the children at this important stage in their children's faith development.

Activities:
Parents' meetings prior to the start of the programme, and further meetings before the reception of each Sacrament to look at and discuss their own faith journey, the teaching which will be given to the children, to prepare the liturgy for the Celebration of the Sacraments.

Saturday morning classes monthly for the children beginning in October and continuing till May/June with a break over Christmas and Easter.

The programme lasts for two years. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is received in Primary three and the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist in Primary four. Throughout the programme there are celebrations at the Sunday Masses to mark the different stages of the preparation.



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Social Committee

Ceilidh

The purpose of the Committee is to help facilitate social gatherings within the Parish. The committee will not be responsible for the actual organisation of events but will offer advice and assistance to the organisers in their endeavours.

Any parishioner can approach a Committee member with ideas for social events which could include dances, concerts, exhibitions, outings or fundraising activities.

The Purpose of these events should be to enhance the sense of community within the Parish, as a form of outreach and inclusion, to raise the profile of the Parish and to help spread the word of God





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St Vincent de Paul Society

St Vincent de Paul

Mission Statement:
As committed members of the Society of St Vincent de Paul, we seek to identify and combat all forms of poverty by promoting social justice and activity, working with those in need, acknowledging that, by freely giving of ourselves, we become more aware of the power of love in all our relationships.

Activities:
Fortnightly Conference Meetings.
Work with those in need in our Parish.
Co-operate with local support services.
Contribute to the support of an SVDP Conference in Southern India.





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The Congregation of the Ursulines of Jesus

Ursulines

The Parish is served by two Sisters who are members of the Congregation of the Ursulines of Jesus - Sister Cecilia Conway and Sister Margaret Nagel.

Their Vision:
Today, as in the early days of the Congregation, the love of Christ spurs us on to look at the pressing needs of our time in order to be at the service of the life and growth of individuals and groups.

The Congregation have had a presence in Edinburgh since 1834


History of the Ursulines of Jesus

Louis-Marie Baudouin
In September 1789, the year that the French Revolution broke out, Louis-Marie Baudouin was ordained priest. Refusing to obey a law to bring priests under the control of the revolutionary government he was imprisoned twice. After this he went into exile in Spain where he lived for five years. While in exile he thought of all those suffering in his own country and he longed to be able to do something. He returned to France in 1797. However, he had to go into hiding again in Sables d’Olonne from where he set about, in secret, providing for the spiritual needs of the people who had been deprived of Mass and the sacraments for a long time.

It was there he met Charlotte-Gabrielle Ranfray.
Charlotte was a Hospitaliere Sister in La Rochelle. After 17 years of community life, doing the work she loved, her life was shattered as one of the effects of the French revolution was the closing of many convents. On meeting Louis-Marie he invited her to forget “the sweet solitude of her monastery and live in the midst of the world in order to go out to the poor; the helpless; the children who were in need of education; all the sick who needed nursing; and to help priests in their mission of evangelisation”.
Then began the Congregation of the Daughters of the Incarnate Word, now known as Ursulines of Jesus.



Baudouin-Ranfray





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Youth Group

Youth

We aim to offer a variety of opportunities to:
* Enable our young people to take an active part in our community.
* Encourage our youth to develop their leadership skills within the context of their community.
* Recognise the giftedness of our youth.
* Support our young people.





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