Parish Pastoral Council(PCC) MEMBERS 2026
FR FRANCIS UTUTO – PARISH PRIEST
VAL LAWRIE – CHAIRPERSON AND SAFEGUARDING LEAD
AUDREY PARFINOWSKA – FINANCE LEAD
KEVIN HIGGINS – FABRIC & MAINTENANCE, HEALTH & SAFETY, WEBSITE DEVELOPMENT, LEAD
NORMA MITCHELL* – REFRESHMENTS & CATERING LEAD
ANGELA ALLAN – YOUTH SPONSORSHIP (LOURDES) LEAD – MANAGES READER & PASSKEEPER ROTAS
BLANCA NIETO* – CATECHIST AND PASSKEEPER
ANDREW COOPER – SACRISTAN, PASSKEEPER & PPC MEMBER
GERALDINE (GERRY) HIGGINS – PPC SECRETARY & EVENTS ORGANISER, FLOWERS ORGANISER, PASSKEEPER
GEORGE KERR – PARISH ADMINISTRATOR (FOR OUR LADY’S AND ST CUTHBERT’S PARISHES), PASSKEEPER
*Leading preparations for the 60th Anniversary celebration in March 2026
SACRISTAN GROUP
Following the retirement of Eddie McShane after 25 years of service and the moving of his successor, Jim Vasey, away from Currie in 2025, it was agreed that we should try to replace our valued Sacristan service at Our Lady’s by forming a group of interested parishioners willing to provide this essential service.
Catholic Sacristan guidelines involve preparing the sanctuary before Mass -setting up vessels, linens, Lectionary, ensuring ministers are ready-, and handling Eucharistic elements such as hosts and wine, all the while maintaining reverence, arriving early (around 30 mins), and following parish-specific procedures for setup, cleanup, and supply management.
The Sacristan group is led by Peter Treschman, along with Victoria Zimmerman, Andy Cooper, Pat Brack, and Tony Allen. Members of the group would normally provide Sacristan service for all Sunday Masses plus special Masses during the Easter and Christmas seasons. Weekday Sacristan service is kindly provided by Deanna and Gerry McQue.
The group agrees on an informal rota, many weeks in advance, to cover any Sunday when a member cannot be present, and this appears to work! If anyone would be willing to offer their service by joining the group, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Passkeepers
Our team of Passkeepers has a range of duties that help us all to enjoy the Mass. These include:
- Welcoming people into the church, handing out hymn books, the newsletter, etc.
- Ensuring the Reader is present and has the Bidding Prayers. If for some reason the designated Reader does not show, the Passkeepers are responsible for finding a replacement.
- Taking any messages for the priest, and advising him of any special circumstances – i.e., coffee morning, someone wishing to address the congregation after Mass, etc.
- Keeping an eye on the congregation for any signs of disturbance or distress – supporting individuals falling ill, calling for the Emergency Services if necessary.
- Handing round the plate for the collection(s).
- Delivering the Communion Gifts and inviting people to come forward to take Communion.
- Collecting hymn books and generally tidying the church up after Mass.
- Collecting any lost property.
- Assisting with Fire Evacuation procedures.
The Passkeepers work in teams of 2, on a rota basis. Passkeepers are normally only present at the Sunday Mass. However, when there is a requirement for a special weekday Mass – baptism, wedding, funeral – we endeavour to put a team together to support that occasion. If you would like to join the team, please contact Angela Allan at a.roys.allan@gmail.com.
Readers
Our team of Readers delivers the Sunday readings and the bidding prayers. There is a rota, and Readers generally read once every 6-8 weeks. The rota allows Readers to become acquainted with the readings before delivery (also time to check out how to pronounce some of those tricky Old Testament names and places!). At Easter and Christmas, we often work in groups of 2 or 3, as the readings would be too onerous for one person. If you would like to join the team, please contact Angela Allan at a.roys.allan@gmail.com.
Society of St Vincent de Paul
Scotland’s 2000 SSVP volunteer members provide support and assistance to people across the country daily. This includes visiting those who are lonely or ill, at home, in hospital, or in prison. They also work in areas such as Youth Development and Disaster Fund Support.
Our Lady’s has a standing collection for SSVP, and we have supported their work for many years.
Further information on SSVP can be found at: ssvpscotland.com
Children’s Liturgy
The Children’s Liturgy takes place every Sunday during the school calendar as part of the Mass. All children of school age are warmly invited to attend.
This liturgy is designed to help children grow in their faith by explaining the Gospel in a simple, engaging, and age-appropriate way. Through storytelling, prayer, discussion, and activities, children are encouraged to deepen their understanding of God’s love and His Word.
Children’s Liturgy also offers a valuable opportunity for children to build friendships and develop a sense of belonging within the church community.
No registration is required for children — just come and join.
Parents are advised to stay with children who have additional needs to ensure a supportive and comfortable experience for all.
Volunteers Needed!
We are always delighted to welcome new volunteers to our Children’s Liturgy team. If you enjoy being around children and would like to help share the Gospel gently and joyfully, we would love to hear from you.
Each session is supported by two adult volunteers. One person leads the session, while the second person offers support and helps meet child protection requirements. We warmly encourage volunteers to join as the supporting second person—this role involves very little preparation and is a great way to help.
Volunteering is usually around six times a year, depending on the number of volunteers. No previous experience is needed, as guidance and resources are provided, and the church will arrange a PVG for you.
This is a wonderful opportunity to get to know the children and other parents, while contributing to parish life. If you are interested or would like more information, please speak to a member of the Children’s Liturgy team or write to office.stcuthbertsedinburgh@staned.org.uk, to leave your contact details. We will be in touch shortly.
Prepared on 26 Jan 2026.
Our Sister Church
© Copyright kim traynor and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence .
Our Sister Church is the Church of St. Cuthbert’s. You can find full details of Masses, News & Events on their website at: www.stcuthbertschurch.com
Mass Times
- Wednesday and Friday at 10:00 a.m.
- Sunday Mass at 11:30 a.m.
Reconciliation Times:
- Fridays, after 10 a.m. Mass, or on request.
