Our Lady of Loretto & St Michael Catholic Church

05/06/2026

❤️ THANK YOU ❤️

A huge thank you to everyone who came along to our Family Fun Day on Saturday and helped make it such a wonderful success. An extra big thank you to the group of parents from Loretto Primary school that organised such a successful event.

We are delighted to share that together we raised just over £1,000 towards repairing the roof of our church.

This achievement would not have been possible without the incredible support of so many people:

🙏 Thank you to all the families and members of our community who attended, took part in the activities, bought raffle tickets, enjoyed the BBQ, and helped create such a fantastic atmosphere.

🎁 Thank you to all of our generous raffle prize donors. Your kindness and support helped make our raffle a huge success.

🤝 Thank you to the wider Musselburgh community for supporting, sharing and promoting the event.

🍔 A special thank you to Father Basil, who kept everyone well fed by cooking burgers on the BBQ throughout the afternoon and to all the baking donations who were amazing and gone very quickly!

🎶 Thank you also to everyone who gave their time, talents and energy to help organise, set up, run activities and tidy up afterwards. Community events like this are only possible because of volunteers willing to lend a hand.

We are truly grateful for the generosity, encouragement and community spirit shown by everyone involved. Every penny raised will help preserve our church for future generations.

Thank you all for your support. ❤️

Reishel Music - thank you again for the wonderful Ceilidh!
Kaffeine Deli Musselburgh, Musselburgh Racecourse, Fruit-Bakes, Ravelston House Musselburgh, Cammafi, Tesco, S.Luca Dairy Ice Cream, Lidl GB, Elena Di Rollo’s, Edinburgh Zoo, Scottish Seabird Centre, DalPatino and others!

03/06/2026

Protect The Right of Catholic Education.

It is of great importance that the people of the parish compete the survey below.

The deadline is tomorrow (4th of June). We are looking to protect the longstanding arrangement of 80 years to admit the pupils of Loretto RC primary school to St David’s RC High School. For context St David’s is roughly 150 below capacity with Loretto sending 120 pupils to the school (from S1-S6). We must stand up for the rights of Catholic education of our young people and now allow them to be shut out of attending St David’s as many of the parish have for 80 years. These pupils must not be punished due to an oversight at the time of regionalisation. Please do all that you can to protect the right of Catholic Education.

https://midlothiancouncil.citizenspace.com/education/denominational-admissions-policy-consulta/consultation/intro/

The answers below are how we, as a Parish would suggest you respond to the consultation:

1. I wish my response to be considered as confidential with access restricted to Elected Members and Council Officers of Midlothian Council.
• You must accept this in order to proceed

2. Are you responding to this questionnaire as an individual or on behalf of an organisation?
• Answer to this would be individual.

3. In which Local Authority do you reside?
• Answer this accordingly to your home address.

4. Which category best describes you? (Select the appropriate box for yourself)

5. If you are a parent, please indicate which stage of education your child / children currently attend (please tick all that apply)

6. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the proposal to clarify the school catchment area for St. David's Roman Catholic High School?
Answer: Strongly Disagree

7. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the proposal to vary the ‘Education Policy Admission to Primary and Secondary Schools’, in relation to entry to denominational secondary school? Answer: Strongly Agree

8. To what extent do you agree or disagree that Midlothian resident catchment children, who are not baptised in the Roman Catholic faith and will have siblings attending St David's RC secondary school at the same time should not have any priority over RC baptised children from Loretto RC Primary School? Answer: Strongly Agree

9. To what extent do you agree or disagree that children who attend a Midlothian denominational primary school but are not baptised RC and will not have a sibling attending St David's RC secondary school at the same time should not get any priority over children from Loretto RC Primary School who are baptised RC, or who are not baptised RC but have a sibling attending the school? Answer: Strongly Agree

10. To what extent do you agree or disagree that all remaining Midlothian resident catchment children who wish to attend their catchment denominational secondary school, which is St David's RC High School should not get any priority over children from Loretto RC Primary School (apart from those Loretto children who are not baptised RC and do not have a sibling attending the school)? Answer: Strongly Agree

11. Below are suggestions of what to include. The main point within all of this is the faith formation of the young people at Loretto RC Primary school is under direct threat from this consultation:

• Impact on Midlothian provision of Catholic Education as the pupils of Our Lady of Loretto support this.
• St David’s is the only Catholic High school in the area. With this being withdrawn the access to Catholic Secondary Education will be removed.
• Catholic community is wider than council boundaries, linking both school and Parish.
• Loretto pupils’ attainment levels at St David’s have had a very positive impact on raising the success of the school. Removal of this could have an impact on St David’s standing regarding exam pass rates and therefore wider Midlothian Council standings.
• Values of the Catholic Faith are explicitly at the core of Catholic Education in both Primary and secondary schools. These are appreciated of parents/carers of all faiths and none.
• Historical connections from Our Lady of Loretto to St David’s many of you may have been pupils of Loretto and St David’s yourself.
• The fundraising efforts of St David’s pupils and families that have taken place in the parish.
• Loretto Pupils have always been heavily involved within the pupil leadership of the school as well as the parents of pupils from Our Lady of Loretto in the Parent Council.
• No Catholic Provision in East Lothian.
• Cause of anxiety to parents and carers to have their children be placed on a waiting list to attend that could take years to be admitted if ever.

Thank you, please share this with your friends and family.

31/05/2026

Today we celebrate Trinity Sunday – a beautiful reminder of the mystery at the heart of our faith: one God in three Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The Trinity is not something to be solved, but something to be experienced. It is a relationship of perfect love, and we are invited into that love each day, in our prayer, in our families, and in the way we care for one another.

As we begin this week, may we be mindful of God’s presence within us, beside us, and surrounding us always.
“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit…”

22/05/2026

On 17 August the Cathedral's Schola Cantorum choir will present a special concert inspired by Timothy Schmlaz’s powerful 'Homeless Jesus' sculpture, which has recently been installed outside St Mary’s Catholic Cathedral.

Part of Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts, the evening will contemplate homelessness and marginalisation through a programme of breathtaking choral music that speaks of mercy, compassion, and hope.

The evening will include a live performance of Gavin Bryars’ iconic composition “Jesus’ Blood Never Failed Me Yet”, which is built around a haunting loop of an unknown homeless man singing an improvised refrain.

The concert will also form part of a documentary film, which the Schola Cantorum is currently producing in partnership with Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts, and in collaboration with the Grassmarket Community Project, the Bethany Christian Trust, and St Catherine’s Convent of Mercy at Lauriston.
Tickets are £15 (£10 child) — booking link in comments.

St Mary's Catholic Cathedral, Edinburgh
Edinburgh Festival of the Sacred Arts
Sculpture BY Timothy Schmalz
Grassmarket Community Project
Bethany Christian Trust
Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh

20/05/2026

🎭 Union Theatre presents Shall Roger Casement Hang? by Peter Arnott

Union Theatre Company are delighted to unveil their season opener, coming this June to the stage at Hill Street Theatre!

Originally commissioned and performed by the Tron Theatre, this powerful production dives deep into questions of history, colonialism, and national identity, a gripping and thought-provoking piece that still resonates today.

📆 15 – 19 June 2026
📍 Hill Street Theatre
🎫 £17 (incl. fees)

Don’t miss your chance to experience this compelling drama live.

👉 Book your tickets now:

Tickets are now available for Shall Roger Casement Hang? by Peter Arnott at Hill Street Theatre, Edinburgh between Monday 15th June 2026 and Friday 19th June 2026. Click the link for further information and to secure your tickets now!

19/05/2026

🎉 Family Fun Day – Raffle Prizes Update! 🎉

Our Family Fun Day is shaping up to be something really special, and our raffle is packed with some fantastic prizes thanks to the generosity of our amazing local community 💛

Here’s just a taste of what you could win…

✨ Two adult tickets to the races on 22nd June – kindly donated by Musselburgh Racecourse
🍦 A bag of goodies and ice-cream vouchers from S.Luca Dairy Ice Cream
🍪 Two tins of delicious biscuits from Elena Di Rollo’s
🍝 £20 gift voucher for DalPatino
🍽️ £20 meal voucher for Ravelston House Musselburgh
💅 £20 voucher for Musselburgh Nails & Spa
☕ Coffee & muffins from Kaffeine
🌴 £40 voucher for Eivissa
💇‍♀️ Hair goodies from Blo hair salon
🍰 Homemade treats and tea from Cammafi
🍓 A fresh fruit basket from Fruit-Tee
🐦 A complimentary family day ticket to the Scottish Seabird Centre

…and we’re still adding more!

A huge thank you to all the businesses who have supported us so far – your kindness is helping make this a truly joyful day for our community 🙏

🎟️ Make sure you come along, enjoy the day, and grab your raffle tickets – you’ve got to be in it to win it!

17/05/2026

Today is a truly special and joyful day for the children of Primary 4 from Loretto RC Primary School as they make their First Holy Communion.

With hearts full of excitement and reverence, they take this beautiful step in their faith journey, receiving the Eucharist for the very first time. Surrounded by their families, friends, and parish community, it is a moment filled with grace, love, and deep meaning.

We keep each of these wonderful children in our prayers today, that they may continue to grow in faith, hope, and love, always feeling close to Jesus in their hearts.
Congratulations to all our First Communicants, may this be the beginning of a lifelong journey of faith

15/05/2026

Our Lady of Loretto is looking absolutely breathtaking and ready to welcome everyone for tonight’s Fleetwood Mac Candlelight Concert.

With hundreds of candles illuminating the church and beautiful live music filling the space, it promises to be a truly unforgettable evening in a stunning setting.

There is still time to join us if you haven’t booked yet!

🎟️ Tickets available here:
https://facebook.com/events/s/a-fleetwood-mac-candlelight-ex/1234771521528942/

Please share with friends and family — we can’t wait to welcome everyone tonight! 💛

14/05/2026

✨🎶 A Night of Fleetwood Mac by Candlelight 🎶✨

Join us for a truly magical evening as the timeless music of Fleetwood Mac is brought to life in a stunning candlelit setting.

From Dreams and The Chain to Landslide and Go Your Own Way, this beautiful live performance promises an unforgettable atmosphere filled with music, light, and nostalgia. 🕯️🎻

Whether you are a lifelong Fleetwood Mac fan or simply looking for a unique night out, this is an experience not to be missed.

📍 Hosted at Our Lady of Loretto
🎟️ For Tickets & event details click below:

A Fleetwood Mac Candlelight Experience In Musselburgh - Friday 15th May at Our Lady Of Loretto, Musselburgh on 15th May 2026. Buy tickets in just 2-clicks with our super-fast checkout

14/05/2026

Today we celebrate The Feast of the Ascension of the Lord:

Celebrated 40 days after Easter Sunday, it marks the moment we believe Jesus ascended into Heaven in the presence of His disciples.

The Ascension is deeply important because it marks several key beliefs:
Jesus’ earthly ministry reaches its fulfilment.
Christ is glorified and returns to the Father.
It prepares the way for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

It reminds us of the hope of eternal life and the promise that humanity is called to share in God’s life.