Parish Information and Liturgical Reflection

Our School Prayer

O, St. Andrew, hear us pray.

Sail over the sea to give us faith.

Let us have hope

Let us help one another

O, St. Andrew, hear us pray.

Let us share our kindness

Let us share your miracles

O, let us respect our classmates and teachers

O, St. Andrew hear our prayer,

O, St. Andrew, hear us today.

Amen

By Chloe, P6, 2022

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Parish Information

Our Parish is St Matthew’s Parish (Rosewell, Bonnyrigg and Gorebridge)

Father Olufemi Michael Akintolu is our Parish Administrator (St. Matthew’s RC Church, 36 Carnethie Street, Rosewell, EH24 9AT, 0131 440 2150). 

Weekend Mass Times are as follows:

Saturday Vigil Mass: 6pm, St. Matthew’s Church, Rosewell

Sunday: 9:30am, St. Margaret’s Church, Gorebridge (this Mass has weekly Children’s Liturgy, as well as a weekly coffee bar after Mass, in the church hall).

Sunday 11:30am: Our Lady of Consolation, Bonnyrigg 

Sunday 2:30pm: Nazareth House, Bonnyrigg

For more info re weekday Masses/Confession please click the link below to find this information on the Parish Website. You can also see info on Parish News and Events on their Facebook page.

https://m.facebook.com/stmatthewsparishrosewell/

Home | Mysite (wixsite.com)

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HOLY WEEK 2024

Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, 24th March 2024. Holy Week Mass Times are as follows:

– PALM SUNDAY – St. Margaret’s RC Church, Gorebridge, 9:30am & Our Lady of Consolation RC Church, Bonnyrigg, 11:30am.

– MONDAY – ECUMENICAL STATIONS OF THE CROSS – Our Lady of Consolation RC Church, Bonnyrigg, 7pm (all welcome for tea in the hall afterwards).

– TUESDAY 26TH MARCH – CHRISM MASS – BLESSING OF THE OILS – 7pm, St. Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh.

– HOLY THURSDAY – THURSDAY 28TH MARCH – St. Margaret’s RC Church, Gorebridge, 7pm, followed by Adoration at the Altar of repose until 10pm.

– GOOD FRIDAY – FRIDAY 29TH MARCH – Our Lady of Consolation RC Church, Bonnyrigg, 3pm, Stations of the Cross, St. Matthew’s RC Church, Rosewell, 7pm.

– EASTER VIGIAL, SATURDAY 30TH MARCH – St. Matthew’s RC Church, Rosewell, 7pm.

– EASTER SUNDAY – 31ST MARCH- St. Margaret’s RC Church, Gorebridge, 9:30am & Our Lady of Consolation RC Church, Bonnyrigg, 11:30am.

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Sacramental Information 2023/24

We have started our Sacramental Preparation in school. Mrs Green, Miss Watson and Mrs Briggs prepare the children for their Sacraments. Please keep an eye on our website, Twitter feed and newsletters for all information regarding Sacramental Preparation and key dates for parents/carers.

Reconciliation – Congratulations to seven of our P3 pupils who made their Sacrament of Reconciliation on Sunday 17th December 2023 at St. Matthew’s RC Church, Rosewell. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue through their faith journey.

First Holy Communion – Primary 4 pupils will make their Sacrament of First Holy Communion on: Saturday 27th April 2024 – St. Matthew’s RC Church, Rosewell, 6pm; OR Sunday 28th April 2024 – St. Margaret’s RC Church, Gorebridge, 9:30am; OR Sunday 28th April 2024 – Our Lady of Consolation RC Church, Bonnyrigg, 11:30am. Miss Watson has begun preparing the children for their Sacrament.

Confirmation – Primary 7 pupils will make their Sacrament of Confirmation. This is led by Archbishop Leo Cushley and will take place on Friday 14th June 2024, at St. Matthew’s RC Church, Rosewell. Mrs Briggs has begun preparing the children for this Sacrament. There will be a Confirmation Information meeting for parents on Tuesday 7th May 2024, 7pm in Our Lady of Consolation Church Hall in Bonnyrigg. If you cannot attend this meeting please speak to Father Michael to discuss your child’s readiness to make their Sacrament.

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LAUDATO SI’ SCHOOL 

We will be continuing our promise of being stewards of God’s creation and working towards becoming a Laudato Si’ School. Our goals for this year are: Simple Lifestyle & Fair Economy. Please keep an eye on our website and Twitter feed to see what we get up to.

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POPE FRANCIS FAITH AWARD

This year ten of our Primary 7 pupils will continue to work towards earning their Pope Francis Faith Award. The Pope Francis Faith Award is designed to help children to show ‘signs of love’ in their daily lives and to be active members of their local church. The Faith Award invites young people to use the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and to see how they can bear fruit in their homes, schools and parishes.

Keep keep them in your prayers and keep an eye on our website and Twitter feed to watch their PFFA journey.

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LENTEN-ALMS DONATIONS 

There will be a bucket at the entrance of each of the three churches within the parish throughout the period of Lent. Kindly drop any donations for Lenten-alms into the bucket.

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LENT VIDEO REFLECTIONS

Join Canon Hugh White each week in Lent as he reflects on the ‘Challenge of the Gospel’ in weekly videos posted each Monday morning on the Archdiocesan YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@standrewsedinburgh2023

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FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION & BENEDICTION 

As part of the parish’s efforts to help us achieve more spirituality, the parish will be having Adoration & Benediction in honour of the Sacred Heart of Jesus every first Friday of the month at 7pm. This will be in rotation in all of their three churches (Gorebridge in April, Rosewell in May, Bonnyrigg in June and so on).

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PASTORAL CARE AT NAZARETH HOUSE, BONNYRIGG

Arrangements have been made to continue with Pastoral care to Nazareth House, as before. Therefore, there will be afternoon Mass every Sunday at 2:30pm, a vigil Mass the day before every Holy Day of Obligation at 6:15pm, and Mass at 11am on every First Friday of the month. These and other spiritual programs at the House will be published in the parish bulletin. All welcome.

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ARCHDIOCESAN PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES

The annual Pilgrimage takes place this year from 5th-12th July 2024. More details can be found at: http://www.edinburghlourde4s.com/lourdes24

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PODCASTS ON SCRIPTURE AND THE SPIRITUAL LIFE

You can find an excellent range of podcasts by Sr. Anna Marie McGuan, Religious Sister of Mercy, including podcasts on how to create a personal relationship with God. They are easy listening, informative and inspirational. Follow this link to listen: https://dokchristianformation.libsyn.com/

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PARISH SOCIAL GROUP

The next Social Group meeting takes place on Tuesday 9th April 2024 at Our Lady of Consolation Church Hall in Bonnyrigg at 7pm. All welcome!

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GARDEN FETE 2024 – PLANNING MEETINGS

Planning for our annual Garden Fete is about to start. Our first meeting will be on Tuesday 30th April 2024 at 7pm, in Our Lady of Consolation Church Hall, Bonnyrigg. This is the biggest event that the parish has and requires many volunteers to ensure its success. ALL WELCOME!

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FOOD AND TOILETRIES FOR THOSE IN NEED

The parish’s annual winter collection for non-perishable foodstuffs, cleaning materials and toiletries has now begun. Donations can be left in the porch each weekend Mass and will be taken by volunteers to the foodbank and to other organisations collecting for people who need our help and support.

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Sunday Gospel and Reflection

Sunday 24th March 2024 – Palm Sunday – Year B

This is the Gospel according to Mark.

When Jesus and his disciples drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately on entering it, you will find a colt tethered on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone should say to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ reply, ‘The Master has need of it and will send it back here at once.’” So they went off and found a colt tethered at a gate outside on the street, and they untied it. Some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” They answered them just as Jesus had told them to, and they permitted them to do it. So they brought the colt to Jesus and put their cloaks over it. And he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out: “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come! Hosanna in the highest!”

Reflection

Mark tells us two unidentified disciples “brought the colt to Jesus…”. This colt was a young donkey. Jesus uses this little donkey to help us see what kind of King Jesus really is and what we can expect from Him. Jesus used this donkey to reveal Himself as a king, as a peaceful King. Because of the Roman Empire the people were very familiar with the Roman Generals and Kings riding into a city in the triumphant processional Jesus used this donkey to reveal Himself as the prophetic King. When rulers wanted to present themselves as servants of the people, they rode donkeys. The donkey was also used to reveal Himself as a saving King, as a redeemer, by untying and rescuing the donkey and later returning it as a different, better and submissive animal.

Gospel taken from: https://catholicreadings.org/palm-sunday-lords-passion/

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Our Parish Mission Prayer

Holy Spirit be our guide as we journey towards our Father’s house.

Help us to work together so that our time of mission may enrich our parish of Our Lady’s, St. Matthew’s and St. Margaret’s.

With our friends and neighbours in other churches, help us to bear witness in our community to the love of Jesus Christ so that all people will be drawn to him.

Amen