Vocations Awareness Week  begins this Sunday and it is a chance for us to pray for those considering the priesthood or religious life, that they may hear God’s call and respond with joyful hearts. We pray especially for Gerard Holden and Matthew McCafferty, seminarians of the Archdiocese, as well as for priests across the Archdiocese who are giving their life in service of the Church. If you want to explore the priesthood or religious life, have a chat with the Archdiocesan Vocations Director Monsignor Patrick Burke on 01334 472 856 (vocations@staned.org.uk) or Sister Mirjam Hugens, Director for Religious Vocations, on 0131 623 8902, (religiousvocations@staned.org.uk). More at:https://archedinburgh.org/vocations/

Season of Creation: A Season of Creation online event will take place on Thursday 19 September with Fr Joshtrom Kureethadam at 7:00pm. Register at https://bit.ly/hopeactcreation. Event hosted by The Bishops' Conference of Scotland’s Care of Creation Office.

Venerable Margaret Sinclair: The annual Venerable Margaret Sinclair Pilgrimage takes place at St Patrick’s Church in The Cowgate, Edinburgh, on Sunday 22 September. Schedule: 1:30pm – Holy Hour; 2:45pm – individual blessings at Shrine; 3:30pm – Reflection, Novena Prayers, presentation from Sinclair Academy; 4:30pm Holy Mass with Archbishop Cushley. Find out more about Margaret Sinclair at https://stpatricksedinburgh.com/margaret-sinclair/

St. Joseph’s Trip to Trossachs and Loch Katrine:  Thursday 26^th September.  There are still a few places left on the bus. Please add your name to the list in the porch, where you will also find further details.

Celebrating the Gift: A Scripture Reflection Day titled ‘Celebrating the Gift’ takes place at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, on Saturday 5 October 2024 from 10:00am to 4:00pm. The event will explain more about the new lectionary which is being introduced in Advent and it is also a chance to reflect on the Word of God. Register at bit.ly/scriptureevent

Pilgrimage of Hope: Pope Francis declared that 2025 will be a Year of Jubilee. To help us prepare for the year, the Archdiocese is hosting ‘Pilgrimage of Hope’ which will feature spiritual talks, pilgrim testimonies more. It takes place at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, on Saturday 9 November from 11:00am to 3:15pm. Register at bit.ly/holyyearevent

Anecdote:  “You have turned to medicine and drinking, and you are killing yourself.” W. Moore, in his book, When All Else Fails, Read the Instructions, tells about a “made-for-TV” movie years ago titled The Betty Ford Story. The movie was produced with the help, the support and the encouragement of former First Lady Betty Ford, to reveal, out of her own personal experience, the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Mrs. Ford was overwhelmed by the demands and stresses of being this nation’s first lady and by the debilitating pain of arthritis. Consequently, over time, she became addicted to pain medication and alcohol. In the most powerful scene in that movie, her family confronts Mrs. Ford, and one by one, her children express their love and their concern for her. And then straightforwardly, they tell her what they are seeing–that she has become a prescription-medicine addict and an alcoholic. At first, she denies that she has a problem, but eventually she realizes what is happening and gets help. In that poignant intervention scene, one of the children says this to her, “Mother, always before, when you had a problem, you turned to God and to your family, but lately you have shut us out. You have turned to medicine and drinking, and you are killing yourself.” — Sometimes the most loving thing you can do for someone is to tell him or her — in love — the brutal truth. — Betty Ford’s family loved her enough to help her see herself as she really was. As long as there is someone who cares for us, there is hope. That is the first thing we need to see. And here is the second thing: No one is hopeless who is open to Jesus. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/). 

Best wishes and God bless you and yours.  Fr James