Noticeboard

NOTICES
for SUNDAY 29 MARCH 2026‍ ‍

The Great Week
Holy Week is the highlight of the Church’s year – the days over which we recall the momentous events in which God the Father worked the salvation of the human race in his Son. Holy Week begins with the remembrance of Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem today on Palm Sunday and the reading of the Passion according to Matthew (whose gospel we read on the Sundays of 2026). On Holy Thursday, we celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper – commemorating the paschal meal Jesus shared with his disciples before going out onto the Mount of Olives, betrayed by Judas and arrested by the religious authorities. After the Mass, with its emphasis on the gift Jesus leaves us which is the eucharist, we take the Blessed Sacrament to the altar of repose and watch, as his disciples were asked to do in the Garden of Gethsemane, until midnight. The Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday is celebrated at the traditional hour of Jesus’s death. We hear again the Passion (this time in John’s account), venerate the cross, pray for the church and the world, and receive holy communion. All remains silent, sombre and deserted through the day of Holy Saturday as Christ lies in the tomb. You are encouraged to make a visit to the church on this day and spend some time in prayer and meditation. In the evening of Holy Saturday, the Easter people gather around the new fire and light the Paschal Candle – the great liturgical symbol of Christ’s resurrection. We listen to the unfolding of God’s plan of salvation in the readings from Scripture, welcome new Christians into the Church through baptism, and celebrate the first Mass of Easter. The Holy Week liturgies are full of rich and ancient symbolism, and both sum up and proclaim our belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the salvation of the world.

Organ Music at 10.30am Mass Today
Before Mass: Jeanne Demessieux (1921-68) Hosanna filio David
Communion: Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643) Hinno della Domenica

Easter Eggs & Easter Cards
“Real Easter Eggs” are again available in our bookshop. Each Fairtrade egg comes with an illustrated booklet for children telling the Easter story. Cost £5. The bookshop also has Easter cards for sale.

Stations of the Cross
There will be an additional Stations of the Cross on Monday this week, 30 March, at 7pm. This may be a good way to begin Holy Week. It will last about 40-minutes.

Confessions this week are on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday only; at the usual time of 12-noon to 12.25pm.

Seven Sacred Sanctuaries Pilgrimage
For the second year, the young adult group is leading Seven Sacred Sanctuaries on Good Friday – an ecumenical walking pilgrimage around seven city churches beginning here at 9.30 with prayer and coffee and returning here for the Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion at 3pm. We will stop for prayer at several city-centre churches, including St Mary’s Cathedral, Old St Pauls and St Patrick’s. All welcome.

Jesuits & Friends
The spring issue of the Jesuit magazine, Jesuits & Friends, is available in the narthex. Please take your free copy.

Chrism Mass
Clergy from across the diocese will gather for the Chrism Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral this Tuesday, 31 March, at 7pm, during which they will renew their priestly promises. This is a wonderful opportunity to support our priests. The sacred oils, blessed during the Mass, will also be distributed to parishes for use in the coming year.

Holy Week at St Mary's Cathedral
Archbishop Cushley will be at St Mary's Cathedral for the Sacred Triduum liturgies: 7pm on Holy Thursday; 3pm on Good Friday; and 8pm for the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. See stmaryscathedral.co.uk/easter2026

Please remember in your prayers all those of our parish who are sick or housebound including Mary Cherry, Patrick Conboy, Sandra Fleming, Benedicte Gasparde, Ion Luncanu, John McManus, Phyllis Reid and Betty Saria.

Edinburgh Jesuit Centre Mailing List
Each Friday afternoon, we send out a short email reminder of concerts, talks, retreats and other events at Sacred Heart Church.  Join the mailing list by emailing ejcpastoral@jesuit.org.uk  You can unsubscribe at any time.

Events in the Archdiocese
Click here for a full list of forthcoming events in the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh.