Please join us in celebrating the birth of our Saviour!

Prepare your hearts for the Birth of the Baby Jesus this Christmas and join some of our devotions.

This past Sunday, the last before Advent begins, we celebrated the Solemnity of Christ the King with a sung Mass followed by a Eucharistic Procession around the local streets and finishing with Solemn Benediction.

Viva Cristo Rey!

To commemorate 99 years since the passing from this life of the Venerable Margaret Sinclair, several pilgrims braved the Scottish snow to walk from her previous resting place in Mount Vernon Cemetery to her current tomb in our church. As they walked, they prayed 20 decades of the rosary, several litanies and sang hymns, stopping off at two churches en route to spend some time with Blessed Sacrament.

In the church, there was an extended period of Adoration before the 12:30 Mass to pray for the Canonisation of the Venerable Margaret.

“A cloud of incense was rising on high; the people suddenly all bowed low; what could it mean? The truth flashed on him, fearfully yet sweetly; it was the Blessed Sacrament – it was the Lord Incarnate who was on the altar, who had come to visit and bless his people. It was the Great Presence, which makes a Catholic Church different from every other place in the world; which makes it, as no other place can be holy.” St John Henry Newman

A great evening to celebrate a great Oratorian Saint and 250 years of St Patrick’s in the Cowgate.

Today, the first Saturday of October, the month dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary, has begun with a beautiful evening of devotions, all in honour of Our Lady of Fatima, Queen of the Holy Rosary.

Fr Gerard led the congregation in a prayerful recitation of the rosary in union with OurLady’s intentions. October 5th also happens to be the feast of Blessed Bartolo Longo, who is sometimes known as the ‘Apostle of the Rosary’ due to his great devotion to this prayer and its role in his wonderful conversion after a life drenched in the demonic. Hence, Fr Ninian preached on this holy man and the power of the rosary in converting hardened hearts and overcoming powers of darkness.

A candlelit procession in the vicinity of the church followed, with Marian hymns filling our end of the Cowgate. The evening concluded with a brief period of Adoration and then Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

Our Lady of Fatima, ora pro nobis.

September 2024 Monthly Mass Intentions Schedule

There are a number of days later in the month that do not have a fixed intention yet, if you would like to have Holy Mass offered, please use the forms at the church entrance or speak to one of the Priests.

N.B. the £5.00 minimum for a Mass stipend was set in 1990. In real terms in 2024 this is closer to £15.00. We thank you for your generosity towards the upkeep of the clergy.

Please also consider donating to the Holy Souls boxes, when you cannot provide for a specific stipend. These Masses are offered monthly.

The annual, Archdiocesan Venerable Margaret Sinclair Pilgrimage takes place on Sunday 22nd September, here in St Patrick’s.  The schedule for the day is as follows:

• 12:30: Goods and candles for sale with tea and coffee.
• 13:30: Holy Hour (Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary and Benediction with Confession available).
• 14:45: Individual blessings at the shrine.
• 15:30: Reflection on the Venerable Margaret Sinclair, Novena prayers and a presentation from pupils of the Sinclair Academy.
• 16:30: Holy Mass (sung) celebrated by Archbishop Leo Cushley.

Join us for this day of prayer, devotion and reflection to celebrate the life of the Venerable Margaret Sinclair and pray for a miracle that will lead to her canonisation.

Archibshop Leo Cushley praying at the shrine of the Venerable Margaret Sinclair at the pilgrimage in 2023.
Photo by and copyright of Paul McSherry, 07770 393960, @Paulmcsherry2

Each Friday at 7pm during the Festival month there is a tour of the Church interior (approx 30 minutes) followed by a tour of the surrounding streets pointing out the Catholic history of our near locality (also approx 30 minutes); all welcome, and while completely gratis, donations for the Building Fund won’t be refused!

Every Saturday 7pm-9pm there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, concluding with Benediction. This is an act of Adoration, that Jesus may be loved, and blessings may be brought down upon our city and its visitors during this busy time. It is also an act of reparation for the many things which pull down, rather than build up, with the images of blasphemy on our streets, and activities which contradict Divine Wisdom in His love for all souls. It’s a quiet time of prayer, and we encourage all to seek respite in the Church’s peace and quiet, with the Lord’s Real Presence.

You might find this article helpful if you are not sure what Adoration and Benediction are.

During the month of August, every Friday at 7pm a tour of the church interior, ending with some of the Catholic sites in the adjacent streets will take place (Cardinal Beaton’s Residence, James Connolly’s memorial, Venerable Margaret Sinclair’s home, St John Ogilvie’s gaol, etc.) All welcome to this free event, and donations appreciated for the building fund.