Next Sunday is World Mission Sunday. We are called to be part of the Church’s missionary efforts, supporting missionary priests, religious sisters and brothers, and lay catechists who provide loving service to those most in need. They play a crucial part in ‘going and inviting everyone to the banquet.’ As Catholics around the world – here at home and in the missions – gather at the Eucharist around the table of the Lord, let us pray for the Church’s missionary work and offer our financial support to Missio Scotland for our brothers and sisters throughout the world.

200 Club: Congratulations to the winners in the September draw - £200 Rachel Kay (48); £100 Judith Wood (30); £50 Beth Daly (93); £50 Victoria Mulholland (83); £20 Mrs K, McGuigan (138); £20 Ian Bald (131).

Knit & Knatter Coffee Morning & Christmas Fayre: Saturday 16^th November, 10.30am-12.30pm. Baking and raffle items will be gratefully received.

Psalms and the New Lectionary: From Advent 2024, a new translation of the psalms used in the liturgy at Mass will be introduced. Join Fr Adrian Porter SJ to explore the ancient literature of the psalms, their translation and use in Christian worship. This FREE workshop is for readers, cantors and anyone with an interest in the psalms. It takes place from 2:30-5:00pm on Saturday 26 October at Sacred Heart Church, 28 Lauriston Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9DJ. Register at bit.ly/psalmsevent

Holy Year event: The Archdiocese invites you to find out more about the Jubilee Year 2025 at a special event at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB, on Saturday 9 November. Includes inspiring talks on preparing spiritually for the year ahead and pilgrim testimonies. Register for this free event at bit.ly/holyyearevent

Zoom series on new Lectionary:  The Archdiocese is hosting a series of 45 min. talks on Zoom to take a closer look at the new Lectionary which is being introduced in Advent. Join Fr Jamie McMorrin at 7:00pm on Wednesday 4 December, Wed 11 Dec, and Wed 18 Dec. The sessions are free to attend. Register at bit.ly/lectionaryadvent 

Anecdote - Do all the good you can: Henry Thoreau said, “Be not merely good; be good for something.” That was Jesus’ challenge to the man who wanted to know what he could do to inherit eternal life. He had been good at making money, in being morally upright and keeping the commandments; but that is not the ultimate good: he must also give of himself and what he has in behalf of others. He needed to also realize that, “The gift without the giver is bare.” John Wesley proposed an excellent guide to goodness. He said, and he practiced what he preached:

“Do all the good you can,

 By all the means you can,

 In all the ways you can,

At all the times you can,

As long as ever you can.”

Someone else has expressed the ideal of goodness in a wonderful way, saying, “I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore, that I can do, or any goodness that I can show to my fellow creatures, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” (Clement E. Lewis, When It’s Twilight Time) Fr. Kayala. (https://frtonyshomilies.com/).

Prayer of Thomas Merton: “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following Your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please You does in fact please You. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this You will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, will I trust You always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death; I will not fear, for You are ever with me, and You will never leave me to face my perils alone.”

Have a good week. Take care.   Fr James