Full programme in Edinburgh

The Lauriston Jesuit Centre in Edinburgh is offering a full programme of events for Lent, with a broad choice of topics and times of day.  The Centre's Director, Fr Chris Boles SJ, writes:

For those people who are free at lunchtimes we have two very special series on offer, one a series of Lenten meditation with art, entitled 'Art And Soul', and the other a series on the 'Parables of Jesus'.

Every Friday afternoon in Lent, from March 11 to April 15, 1.30 p.m. - 2.30 p.m., Fr Nicolas Rousselot SJ (pictured left) will host a series entitled 'Art And Soul - Six Meditations on the Paschal Mystery for the Season of Lent'.  It is an invitation to spend time in Lent meditating on the paschal mystery in the company of some of the world's greatest artists, such as Arcabas, Carravagio, Grünewald, Chmakoff, Giotto, Fra Angelico and Corinth.

These sessions are designed to allow for plenty of time: time for silent contemplation; time for sharing what we see; time to deepen understanding of the art; time for prayer, silent and spoken.

Join us for a simple lunch of bread and soup beforehand, from 1.00 p.m., immediately following the 12.30 p.m. mass.  Lunch will be in the main hall, and our sessions will be in the small hall.  All are welcome, and admission is by donation.  Full details are on the Lauriston website (link below).

Meanwhile, for the first four Tuesdays in Lent we also have the opportunity to deepen our understanding of the Parables of Jesus, with Fr Jim Crampsey SJ, parish priest at Sacred Heart.  His sessions run from March 15 to April 5, from 1.15 p.m. - 2.30 p.m., also in the Small Hall.  Participants in the Parables Series are welcome to bring a packed lunch, and tea and coffee will be provided.  Over the four weeks he will consider some of the parables found in the Gospels of Mark, Matthew and Luke, as well as the non-canonical Gospel of Thomas.

So two fine ways to take up the Lenten journey, for those who have time in the day.

For those who prefer evening events, we have plenty of them too!

We kick off with the closest thing I can imagine to a Jesuit tele-evangelsist, but without the hard sell for cash! One of the most gifted and charismatic speakers I have ever encountered, Fr J-Glenn Murray SJ is visiting the UK in March and will be with us in Edinburgh on Monday March 14, and then the following night in St Aloysius College, Glasgow, to give the first of this year's 'Gonzaga Lectures'.

His lecture in Edinburgh is entitled 'Meal and Ministry: Young People and Their Search For The Sacred'.  It begins at 7.30 p.m. and all are welcome.  The topic is ecumenical in nature and do please encourage as many as possible to come along.

On Wednesday March 23 we have our annual 'Archbishop Romero Lecture', a firm favourite on the Lauriston calendar, and one of our most popular events.  This year we are very thrilled and privileged to have Fr Juan Hernandez Pico SJ as our speaker for the evening.  Fr Juan is a Jesuit theologian based at the Romero Pastoral Centre, part of the Central American University (UCA).  Drawing on his personal memories of Romero, Fr Juan will share his reflections about Monseñor's social gospel and the challenges it poses for us in today's world.  The evening begins at 7.30 p.m. and as ever, all are welcome and admission is by donation.

The following night, Thursday March 24, we have another fantastic speaker to help us in our understanding of social justice, in the person of Fr Laurence Freeman OSB.  Fr Laurence is known to millions of people the world over as the director of the Christian Meditation Movement, continuing the pioneering work of Fr John Main.  Fr Laurence Freeman's title for the 24th - chosen because of what he knows about our special focus here at Lauriston - will be 'Care of the Soul—Why Meditation Serves Peace and Justice', and he begins at 7.30 p.m.  No advance booking is required but this will be another popular event, so don't arrive too late! Again, admission is simply by donation.

For more details and any updates, check the Lauriston Jesuit Centre web site - link below.


 Lauriston Centre, Edinburgh