Christ and the Rich Young Ruler

Heinrich Hofmann (1889)

The Riverside Church, New York City

You are warmly invited to a series of three meetings this Autumn.

Passion for Mission:  Reading our Icon of John Ogilvie: 
What does it say to us?

Monday 14th. October after the 12.15 Mass

“The Church Exists to Evangelise"

The Message of the Modern Popes
What on earth are they talking about?

Monday 21 October after 12.15 Mass

Thursday 17th October at 7 p.m.

Saturday 19th after 12.15 Mass

Moving Forward - 
the Future of St Aloysius?
What’s the point?

Saturday 26th October after 12.15 Mass

Monday 28th October after 12.15 Mass

Thursday 7th November at 7 pm

2024 Romero Lecture

Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy in the UK, will give the Romero Lecture on Friday 18 October at 7.00 pm in the Sacred Heart Church, Lauriston
Street, Edinburgh. 

Join us for a thought-provoking evening at Edinburgh’s Jesuit Church of the Sacred Heart, where a relic of Saint Oscar Romero is safely held. Together, by celebrating his work, beliefs, and courage, we can keep his legacy alive.

Archbishop St. Oscar Romero, the outspoken advocate for justice and non-violence in his native El Salvador, has long inspired Christians around the whole world. On March 24th 1980, he was murdered - shot by an assassin while celebrating Mass, the day after he had appealed to the state’s military to stop their brutal repression of the poor.

This Romero Lecture is hosted by Edinburgh Jesuit Church, SCIAF, Justice and Peace Scotland, Pax Christi, The Romero Trust, and Independent Catholic News. 

Bishop Kenneth Nowakowski, of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, will invite us to consider 'Romero and Ukraine: Reslience in the Face of Injustice'.

Refreshments will be served afterwards. All welcome!

Please note, there is no cost for tickets but all attendees must book in advance.

Jesuits in Lebanon

The Jesuit Provincial of the Near East Province, Fr Michael Zammit Magnion SJ, has recently written to say how the war is affecting the Jesuits in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East. Click here to read his letter.

Jesuit Missions have begun a Lebanon Crisis Fund and we will have a collection for this in the parish on the weekend of 26th and 27th October. You can donate immediately by clicking here.

Online Retreat:    November 24 - 28

If getting away from home to go on retreat is not easy for whatever reason, why not take part in an individually guided retreat at home or in a place of your choice? This retreat will offer you an opportunity to spend more time with God. It may help you to take stock of your life, help you make a significant decision perhaps or to simply align your life more closely with God’s purposes.

‍This retreat invites you to clear space in your day for prayer. To make this a real retreat at home, we would suggest you dedicate 4-5 hours each day. Even if the retreat is online this might mean taking some time off work. Why? Because we know it can take some time for you to listen more closely to how God is speaking into your life. If this sounds a bit alarming, don’t worry! Our retreat guides are there to listen to you and guide you in the process.

Click here to learn more and to book your place...

Climate Action Petition

More than 600 people have signed a petition urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to demand serious climate action at COP29. It asked the Prime Minister to promote three key environmental initiatives at COP29 in Azerbaijan later this year: an effective United Nations Loss and Damage Fund, the cancellation of climate debts, and a fossil fuel non-proliferation treaty.
A box containing the postcards and the names from the online campaign was delivered to Number 10 Downing Street on Friday (October 4) by British Provincial Fr Peter Gallagher SJ.
He was joined by students from four London schools – St Catherine’s Catholic School, Bexleyheath, St Ignatius College, Enfield, Ursuline High School, Wimbledon, and Wimbledon College.

Read more here...

19 October

On Saturday 19th we celebrate the Feast of Saints John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, Priests, and their Companions, Martyrs.

Click here to learn more about these martyrs of Canada, and visit the website of the Canadian Jesuits to see some of their archive material for the saints.

Pope Francis & his meetings with Jesuits

Pope Francis, the first Jesuit Pope, has made it a tradition to meet with Jesuits during his Apostolic Journeys. These private, informal gatherings reflect his deep connection to his Jesuit roots and emphasise his pastoral vision for the Church as the successor of Saint Peter. In these encounters, the Pope not only encourages the Jesuits but also reinforces their mission within the Church.

A key feature of these meetings is the candid dialogue Pope Francis fosters during question-and-answer sessions. He attentively listens to the experiences shared by Jesuits and integrates their insights into his broader reflections on the Church’s role in the world. In general, the content of these discussions is usually made public through the Jesuit journal La Civiltà Cattolica, which publishes summaries or transcripts.

Now the text of these meetings have been collected into a book, edited by Fr Antonio Spadaro SJ, Undersecretary of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education.

Read more about the book and its launch in Rome here...

Pope Francis' most recent meeting with Jesuits was at the end of September in Brussels, where he met the Jesuits of Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. The full exchange between the Jesuits and Pope (translated into English) can be found here...

An afternoon at the Edinburgh Jesuit Centre

Saturday, October 26, 2.00 - 5.00 pm  - for readers, cantors and anyone with an interest in the psalms
led by Fr Adrian Porter SJ

From Advent 2024, a new translation of the psalms used in the liturgy at Mass will be introduced.

At this event:

• Learn the history of the psalms in Christian worship.
• Explore best methods to recite and sing them.

Join Fr Adrian Porter SJ to explore the ancient literature of the psalms, their translation and use in Christian worship.

There will also be a practical look at the ways in which the psalms can best be spoken or sung at Mass.

This workshop is for readers, cantors and anyone with an interest in the psalms.

This event is sponsored by the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh, the Society of St Gregory, and the Edinburgh Jesuit Centre.

Please book in advance - admission is free

Christian Prayer and the Adventure of the Spiritual Life
Sycamore Course for the Deaf

Ogilvie Centre, St Aloysius, Garnethill

Wednesday 16 & 30 Oct & 6 Nov from 6.30 p.m. – 8.30 p.m.

Here at St Aloysius’ Church in Garnethill, we’d like to welcome you to join us on the Deaf Sycamore Prayer Course as a way of marking the Holy Year. It is for Deaf people and friends and all who are interested. Each evening begins with a meal followed by a presentation, reflection and prayer.

To learn more about the Sycamore course for the deaf click the video below for a short introduction from Fr Gerard Mitchell SJ and Liz Ann O'Hare.

Pause for Hope

An Ecumenical Service for all people affected by Cancer Thursday 24th Oct. 2024 7pm St Aloysius Church 25 Rose St G3 6RE

All are welcome. 

Amanda Reid, Chaplain to Robin House Balloch, will give a reflection on the work of Robin House 

A collection will be taken up for the vital work of the Hospice You will have the opportunity to light a candle and leave a prayer intention for yourself or people you know who have been affected by cancer Please join us for refreshments , information and chat afterwards.

Click below for a short video to see the wonderful work of Robin House.

The New Lectionary for Readers

The new Lectionary, with a new translation of Scripture (English Standard Version – Catholic Edition ESV-CE), comes into use on the First Sunday of Advent, 1 December 2024. In preparation for this, there will sessions in the Ogilvie Centre for readers, and to which all parishioners are welcome

Thursday 28 November after 12.15 Mass.

Thursday 28 November at 6.15 pm
(Mass beforehand at 5.30 p.m.)

Saturday 30 November after 12.15 Mass

Light refreshments will be served.

Readers are invited to attend one of these sessions –
please make a note of the date. Thank you.

Phase 2 - The Discernment of the Pastors

The second session of the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which revolves around synodality in the Catholic Church has now begun, taking place in Vatican City from Wednesday, October 2nd to Sunday, October 27th, 2024: For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, and Mission. 

We are asked to pray for the progress of the Synod so here at St Aloysius' each Friday at 5.30 pm on 4th, 11th, 18th and 25th October Mass will be offered for this intention. 

Mass will be followed by a period of prayer using the meditations of Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP. This will be followed by Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament until 7 pm.

Click here for the Synod website.