Reflection –
Jesus again challenges the chief priests and elders. His parable of the wedding feast is about those invited but who ignore the invitation, or even maltreat and kill those who brought the invitation. The king who gave the feast next sent messengers to gather people from everywhere. There is however someone at the banquet who is not properly dressed and is thrown out. Invitations are freely given, but a proper response is required, effort needs to be made!
Mass readings.
28th Sunday of the Year -Year A, 10th & 11th October 2026
1st Reading: Isaiah 25:6-10a
Responsorial Psalm. In the Lord’s own house shall I dwell for length of days unending
Second Reading: Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia, alleluia..May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , enlighten the eyes of our hearts, so that we may know the hope to which he has called us….. Alleluia
Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14
Important Note: Please scroll within the below window to have access to daily readings for the Holy Catholic Mass. To keep scrolling down Our Lady’s newsletter, just scroll outside the window.
PARISH UPDATES:
Catechesis – There is a meeting for parents receiving sacraments in 2027 on the 11th November at 6pm at St Cuthbert’s. There will be an opportunity to enrol for those that haven’t already done so.
Parish Council meeting – The next meeting will be Tuesday 13 October. Please contact PPC Secretary (Gerry Higgins) or other Council member with any issues to raise. Minutes will be posted on the church notice board and website.
Fr Tom Molloy – Fr Tom’s requiem mass took place on the 30th September at Bishop Eton at Liverpool. If you want to see the video, follow the link – www.churchservices.tv/bishopeton/archive/recordings/dfGRk1pbrACEaF5
ARCHDIOCESAN UPDATES
Additional Support Needs Mass – Those with additional support needs of all ages and their families/carers are invited to a special Sunday Mass this Sunday (11 October) at 2pm in the quiet, beautiful Chapel of St Albert the Great at 23/24 George Square Lane, Edinburgh, EH8 9LD. Mass will be celebrated by Father Jamie McMorrin.
World Mission Sunday – Next Sunday (18th) we have the annual special collection for the 100th World Mission Sunday. This year’s theme, chosen by Pope Leo XIV, is One in Christ, United in Mission. Our prayers and donations will support missionaries and communities in need, including Missio Scotland’s projects in Albania and Ukraine. Please pray for missionaries throughout the world and give what you can. Donations can also be made online at missioscotland.com/donate
Mass for the Faithful Departed – Archbishop Cushley will offer Holy Mass for the repose of all the faithful departed who have died in the Archdiocese in the last year, especially those buried at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Edinburgh. This will take place on All Souls’ Day, Monday 2 November, at 10:00am in the Cemetery Chapel at Mount Vernon Cemetery, 49 Mount Vernon Rd, Edinburgh, EH16 6JG.
Catholic Conversations for Women on the Rosary – Saturday 17 October, 3:45pm-4:45pm in St Andrew’s Parish rooms at 77 Belford Road, Edinburgh, EH4 3DS to look at how the mysteries of the Rosary are rooted in Scripture. Optional Holy Hour at the adjacent convent with Adoration, Rosary and Vespers from 5:10pm. To register email edinburgh@almamercy.org or call 0131 343 3380.
White Mass for Healthcare Workers – Catholic healthcare professionals are invited to a special White Mass for the Feast of St Luke at 11:00am on Sunday 18 October at St Patrick’s Church, The Cowgate, Edinburgh. Come together in prayer, give thanks for the vocation of caring for others, and meet fellow Catholics working in healthcare. Refreshments will follow Mass. All healthcare workers are warmly welcome. Register at bit.ly/whitemassedinburgh
Celebrate with the Sisters of Mercy – The Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan, are celebrating 10 years in our Archdiocese. Join them on Tuesday 20 October, 6:30pm–8:00pm at The Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, EH9 1BB for a short documentary about the Sisters and their community life, Q&A, pizza and conversation Register at bit.ly/dinnerdoc.
Edinburgh Day for Life – SPUC Edinburgh West is holding its first Day for Life on Saturday 31 October, 9.30am–3.30pm, at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh EH9 1BB. Include talks from Dr Calum MacKellar, Margaret Akers and Chris McEleny. Register for this free event at bit.ly/dayforlife
St Moluag’s Coracle – St Moluag’s Coracle is a Scottish Catholic online magazine featuring articles on faith, history, philosophy and current affairs. The magazine is free to read and welcomes contributions from Catholics across Scotland. Find out more and subscribe at stmoluagscoracle.com.
Archdiocesan events – More events are listed at archedinburgh.org/events
Our Lady’s Offertory Collections.
Last Sunday’s collection: £173
Month total collections (Cash) £173
Special Collections: £363
Bank Total (month) £820
Mass Bookings.
We are reminded that the booking of mass for our special intentions, wedding anniversaries, Birthday thanksgiving, Death anniversaries of our loved ones and general prayers is highly recommended. The mass stipends (Donations) are part of our contribution towards the good of the church and support of our priest.
Blessings to you, your families and those who are dear to you in Jesus’ name, Amen.
MASS TIMINGS
MASS INTENTIONS
MASS DONOR
Wednesday, October 14th, 10.00am
- Walter Carter
- E Dudgeon
Friday October 16th, 10.00am
- Kaiden
- Margaret
Sunday, October 18th, 11.30am
- Edwin D.Cunha
- Maria Aruojo
- Rita D'Cunha
- Nevesa Golsalves
Tell those who are invited, ‘See, I have prepared a dinner’
Matthew 22:1-10
At that time: Jesus again spoke to the chief priests and the elders of the people, in parables, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, “Tell those who are invited, ‘See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ ” But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.” And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.’
Reflection on the Invitation Card
There is an important difference between an invitation and a command. A command tells us what we must do; an invitation leaves us free to respond. Throughout our lives we receive countless invitations. Some we accept with enthusiasm, others we politely decline, and quite a few we simply ignore. And perhaps that is a helpful way of thinking about how God approaches us. God gives us both. God certainly gives us commandments, but so much of our relationship with him begins with an invitation: Come. Follow me. Remain in me. Come to the feast.
That is at the heart of the parable Jesus tells us today. A king prepares a wedding banquet for his son and sends out his invitations. Yet astonishingly, those who have been invited refuse to come. But the king does not cancel the banquet. The tables remain prepared. The feast is still waiting. Instead, he sends his servants out again, this time into the streets, inviting others to come. There is something beautiful here about the persistence of God. When we ignore Him, God does not simply give up on us. He calls again. He reaches out again. He invites again. His desire is that his house should be full and that as many as possible should share in the feast of his life and love.
Today’s artwork shows an invitation to a rather extraordinary banquet! This is the oldest surviving coronation invitation in the history of the British monarchy, produced for the coronation of King George III and Queen Charlotte at Westminster Abbey on 22 September 1761. It is a wonderfully elaborate object. At its centre we see the young royal couple seated side by side, surrounded by the splendour of the Abbey, while angels hover above them and the assembled guests look on. George and Charlotte appear remarkably comfortable together, even holding the orb and cross between them. You might imagine a couple who had known one another for years.
The reality was rather different. George III was only twenty-two and had become king the previous year. His bride, Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, was a seventeen-year-old German princess whom he had never met. A marriage had been arranged, Charlotte travelled to England, and remarkably the couple were married only hours after meeting for the first time, just two weeks before their coronation. Yet what particularly interests us today is the object itself: an invitation. To receive such an invitation in 1761 must have been an extraordinary honour. But the Gospel places before us an infinitely greater invitation! We are not being invited to witness the coronation of an earthly king; we are being invited by the King of Heaven himself to His banquet.