Hope and healing in Dunblane

Transcription

HUMANISTS want
religious reps
off education
committees.
Page 3
No 5662
DUCHESS OF
CAMBRIDGE
visits St
Catherine’s.
Page 4
STONEWALL’S
Ruth Hunt on
better links
with Church.
Page 8
Friday March 11 2016 | £1
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Hope and healing in Dunblane
Holy Family Parish to mark 20th anniversary of tragic shooting in the town
By Ian Dunn
ON SUNDAY, parishioners of the Holy
Family parish in Dunblane will mark the
20th anniversary of the shooting that
killed 16 young children and their teacher.
Mgr Basil O’Sullivan was parish priest
there when Thomas Hamilton took a gun and
committed mass murder at Dunblane Primary
School, and 20 years later he is still there.
“As we have every year without fail, we’re
having an anniversary Mass,” he said. “We
pray for the injured, we pray for the bereaved
and those who still suffer every day.”
Many of those involved in the aftermath
of the shooting will attend. Mike Robbins,
the Provost of Stirling, who helps represent
the Dunblane/ Bridge of Allan ward on Stirling
Council, and who was chairman of the
Dunblane Primary School Board at the time
of the incident, will give a reading, as will
Sally Kennedy, the current headteacher.
Pope Francis prepares to
Canonise Blessed Teresa
POPE Francis is preparing
to Canonise Blessed
Mother Teresa, and said
she would be joined in
Heaven by the four
sisters of her order who
were murdered in Yemen
last weekend.
Memories
“Everyone has their own memories,
their own ‘might-have-beens,’”
Mgr O’Sullivan (right) said. “All
the sadness that’s still there.”
Despite the passage of time, he
can still recall moments of light
amid the horror.
“Waiting in the school [after the
shooting] we had no idea of what
was happening outside and how the
school was being inundated with
love and sympathy from people
everywhere,” he told the SCO.
“All Dunblane was being loved
and prayed for by good people all
over the world. People from the media would
ask where God was that morning. The
strange thing was that no one on the ground,
the people I was dealing with, no one asked
me that question.”
After the world moved on, the people of
Dunblane had to find a way to heal.
“Like the rest of the
community I was shattered
but I had a job to do,” he
said. “To preach the Love
of God despite the fact
that the community was
devastated.”
He said he can only
hope he provided some
consolation.
“I hope so,” he said. “I
hope they found consolation in the Church
and God. That they found hope in the
message of the Gospel and the Resurrection.”
He expects he will preach an ordinary
Lenten homily this time. “Of course I’ll
welcome those special visitors,” he said.
“But after 20 years we’ve said it all already.”
SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT
Tribute
He finds hope in the special stained glass
windows (above), which feature doves
representing those lost rising towards Heaven.
“I hope it will be part of the healing
process, and that we will have left behind us
for the future generations a monument that
is appropriate to the tragedy,” he said.
Mgr O’Sullivan also believes that Dunblane’s
most famous son has done a lot to help
people move on. “It was a wonderful thing
Andy Murray came along,” he said. “He has
been a wonderful ambassador for the town.
We are not just a place children got killed,
but the home of an international star. It’s a
better thing to be defined by.”
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The Vatican announced
that Pope Francis will
preside over a consistory to
approve the Canonisation
of the Blessed Teresa of
Calcutta (above) on March
15, the final step in approving
a new saint. It is widely
believed he will then
announce that Blessed
Teresa’s Canonisation will
take place on September 4.
The good news came as
members of the Blessed
Teresa’s order—the
Missionaries of Charity—
were mourning loss.
The Pope told the Faithful
gathered in St Peter’s Square
on Sunday that the four sisters
killed by extremists in
Yemen were victims of the
‘globalisation of indifference’
who had ‘[given] their
blood for the Church.’
The Holy Father, who made
the remarks after the Angelus
prayer, also expressed his
closeness to the congregation
founded by Mother Teresa.
The four nuns—Sr
Anselm, Sr Reginette, Sr
Judith and Sr Marguerite—
were shot and killed by
extremists at the care home
they ran in Aden, Yemen’s
capital, along with 12 residents
of the home. Two of the nuns
murdered were Rwandan,
one was Indian, and the
other was from Kenya.
The Pope said he prayed
for those killed in the attack
and for their family members.
“These are the martyrs of
today!” he said. “[They are]
not [on] the covers of
newspapers, [they] are not the
news, they that give their
blood for the Church. These
people are victims of the
attack, of those who killed
them and of indifference,
of this globalisation of
indifference, which doesn’t
care. May Mother Teresa
accompany her martyr daughters of charity in Heaven, and
intercede for peace and sacred
respect for human life.”
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2
WHAT’S ON
SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER
FRIDAY MARCH 11 2016
What’s On
A weekly guide to upcoming Church-related
events, more online at www.sconews.co.uk
FRIDAY MARCH 11
The Beginning Experience:
residential weekend for those
who are alone through
divorce, separation or widowhood. From 11th-13th March
at the Conforti Centre,
Coatbridge. Contact Ros on
0131 669 0003 or email
rcm2524@yahoo.co.uk
All night Vigil. St Gerard’s
and Sacred Heart in Bellshill.
The Vigil will take place on
Friday, March 11 from 8pm
with an opening Mass.
SATURDAY MARCH 12
Mass of St Patrick, on Saturday March 12, at 11.30am
in St Andrew’s Cathedral,
Glasgow, celebrated by Mgr
Paul Conroy, vicar general of
the archdiocese. The congregation will be welcomed by
an Irish Piper followed by
music and song from St
James the Great Musicians
and the choir of the Gaelic
League. Cantor: Claire
O’Neil. Please come early.
The Crucifixion by John
Stainer (above). Motherwell
Diocese in association with
the Lanarkshire Society of
Organists will host a Comeand-Sing performance of
Stainer's Crucifixion in Our
Lady of Good Aid Cathedral,
Motherwell, on Saturday
March 12. The conductor will
be Des McLean and the
organist John Pitcathley. Any
singers / parish choir members who would like to participate should report to the
cathedral at 12.30pm on the
day for the rehearsal (12.30 2.30pm). There will then be a
break for lunch and the
performance will start at
3:30pm. Anyone who would
like to attend as a member
of the audience should be
seated by 3.30pm.
SUNDAY MARCH 13
Concert by Paisley Philharmonic Choir An Evening of
Concert Classics at St
Mirin’s Cathedral, Paisley on
Sunday 13th March at 7pm.
Tickets £10. You are advised
to bring a cushion for comfort.
TUESDAY MARCH 15
Lauriston Jesuit Centre. In
association with SCIAF & the
Romero Trust, The Violence
of Peacemaking, Archbishop
Romero and the Search for
Peace. Fr Francisco de Roux
SJ. Tuesday 15th March.
6.15pm Mass in the Church;
7.00pm Tea and Coffee;
7.30pm Talk. Admission by
donation. Contact: 0131 477
5788
WEDNESDAY MARCH 16
Year of Mercy Talks at
Immaculate Conception.
Touching Mercy; an experience of prayer. The Parish
Meditation Group will offer a
led-prayer experience around
God's mercy. At The Immaculate Conception Hall, Maryhill Road, Glasgow, G20
0AA. All talks are free, open
to all and begin at 7.00 pm.
For further information please
contact: 0141 946 2071 or
email: frjimlawlor@hotmail.com
The 40th anniversary of a Glasgow primary school was celebrated in The Immaculate Conception in Maryhill on February 26. Pupils and staff from St Blane’s
Primary in Summerston were joined by Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow, parish priest Fr Jim Lawlor and former parish priest Fr Pat Currie for the celebration
of Mass. St Blane’s was born in 1975 out of a unique open-plan structure and in its early years shared space with non-demonational schooling. An inaugural
function took place in March 1976 and the school took the name St Blane’s in February of 1997. The current headteacher, Michele Stewart, is only the third in the
schools history. To mark the anniversary, the school have been holding a number of events including concerts, a pantomime, and a fun day.
Depute headteacher Tracey Heaney said the Mass was beautiful and that the children’s singing on the day was fantastic
PIC: PAUL McSHERRY
SPOTLIGHT ON
Bishop Joseph Toal
presented the Bene
Merenti Medal to a
faithful servant of
the Church during a
Mass of Celebration
in Christ the King,
Holytown. Mary
Wilson, a cook at the
pastoral centre, now
joins a select group
of people in Scotland
who have received
the papal award
which honours
service to the
Church
FRIDAY MARCH 18
Grasping he Nettle Confernce, with Bishop Keenan of
Paisley. Woodhill Evangelical
Church, Wester Cleddens
Road, Bishopbriggs. Friday
18 March 7.00pm - 9.30pm,
Saturday 19 March 9.30am 4.30pm
PIC: TOM EADIE
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INSIDE YOUR SCO
NEWS pages 1-7
LOCAL NEWS pages 2,3,4 and 5
WHAT’S ON page 2
WORLD/VATICAN NEWS pages 6-7
LETTERS page 9
INDEX TO NEWS, OPINION AND FEATURES THIS WEEK
COMMENT pages 10-11
CENTRE SPREAD pages 12-13
FR ROLHEISER page 14
SPIRITUAL REFLECTION page 15
PUZZLES pages 16 and 21
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CHILDREN’S PAGE page 21
INTIMATIONS pages 17-20
BISHOPS’ ENGAGEMENTS page 20
SPECIAL OCCASIONS page 23
CATHOLICISM & ISLAM page 24
NEWS
3
Church defends role of religious
reps on education committees
By Daniel Harkins
THE Church has defended the role of
religious representatives on education
committees after an attack from a
secular group.
The Humanist Society Scotland has launched
a new campaign calling for a change in the
law to rid local authority education committees
of religious representatives.
The 1973 Local Government (Scotland)
Act ensures that three places for religious
representatives are reserved on council
education committees, including one for the
Catholic Church and one for the Church of
Scotland. The 1918 Education (Scotland) Act
gives the Catholic Church other statutory rights
to influence education in Catholic schools.
Gordon MacRae, Humanist Society
Scotland chief executive, said the presence
of ‘unelected’ religious representatives is
‘anti-democratic and out of step with
modern Scotland.’
“Parents should not be left guessing who
has a right to make decisions over their
children’s education,” he said. “Every full
voting member of local education committees
should be accountable through the ballot box.”
However, Michael McGrath, director of
the Scottish Catholic Education Service
(above), said that ultimately the people the
humanists have to convince are the parents
who choose to send their children to a
Catholic school.
“This is just another attempt by humanists
to strip religion out of society and attack the
place of Catholic schools,” he added.
A spokesman for the Catholic Church
added that: “It was agreed that the Church
would pass control of Catholic schools to the
state in return for a commitment that the
schools would continue to be managed in the
interests of the Church.
“The presence of a single Church
representative on the education committee of
a local council helps to uphold this principle and
is a sign of the historic origins of the schools.
Additionally, the Church representatives are
often experienced educationalists.”
The Church of Scotland has also defended
the statutory right for religious representation
on education committees, with principal
clerk the Very Rev John Chalmers saying the
‘Church of Scotland regards its place at the
table as appropriate and would not agree that
religious influence on education has grown
in recent years.’
“It is measured and appropriate given that
churches and faith groups of every kind are
invited to reflect the traditions and beliefs
which are a significant part of our common
culture through religious observance and
time for reflection. Repeated scrutiny of the
current arrangements through the Scottish
Parliament in recent years has not found any
compelling need for change.”
I daniel@sconews.co.uk
Mary’s Meals raises £10 million thanks to government scheme
MARY’S Meals has doubled
the £5 million it raised in a
campaign at the end of last
year.
The Scottish charity’s Feed
Our Future campaign was
selected for the Department for
International Development’s
(DFID) UK Aid Match scheme,
which matches public donations
pound for pound.
The campaign originally
hoped to raise £1.5m during the
last three months of 2015, but
supporters across the UK
boosted its coffers to £5
million, which the UK
Government scheme doubled
by adding £5 million.
Mary’s Meals, named after
Our Lady, currently provides
more than 1.1 million of the
world’s poorest children in 13
countries with a daily meal in
school. The additional funding
will go towards a three-year
project to expand and develop
the charity’s existing school
feeding programmes in Malawi
and Zambia. This week the
charity also announced its first
project in the Middle East,
reaching Lebanese children and
Syria refugees in that country
with the help of Postcode
Lottery funding.
“Wherever we begin serving
Mary’s Meals, more children
start attending school every day
and children who were previously
in school but too hungry to learn
become able to concentrate in
class,” Magnus MacFarlaneBarrow, Mary’s Meals founder
and chief executive, said.
“Thanks to the overwhelming
response to our campaign, we
will now receive £5 million in
UK Government funding, so
we are extending our project
plans to ensure thousands more
children will benefit. We are so
thankful to our quite amazing
supporters and to the UK
Government for matching those
generous donations.
UK international development
secretary Justine Greening said:
“The UK Government Aid Match
funding means that donations
from the generous supporters of
Mary’s Meals will make even
more of a difference.
“Mary’s Meals is an
inspirational charity, helping to
transform the lives of some of
the world’s poorest children. Its
work shows the importance of
Scotland’s role in the UK’s
international development
effort. Working together we are
helping to build a safer, healthier,
more prosperous world.”
I For more on the charity visit:
http://www.marysmeals.org.uk
SPOTLIGHT ON
Bishop Keenan of Paisley said that 24 hours for the Lord in St Mirren’s Cathedral Paisley last Friday was a ‘spectacular success.’ It was just one of
thousands of Churches around the world to take part in the Lenten initiative, organised by the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation. It is
intended also to be a time of reflection and prayer, an opportunity to speak with a priest, and a chance to rediscover—or perhaps discover for the
first time—the great mercy at the heart of the Catholic Faith. “Thanks to all the priests who heard confessions and all Deacons and Sisters who led
devotions,” Bishop Keenan said. “God has had much mercy on all His people”
PIC: PAUL McSHERRY
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4
SCHOOLS/LOCAL NEWS
Mental health programme at St Catherine’s
Primary School gets royal seal of approval
By Daniel Harkins
CHILDREN at St Catherine’s
Primary School received a
royal visitor recently as the
school’s mental health
programme became the
focus of national attention.
The Duchess of Cambridge
—know as the Countess of
Strathearn in Scotland—visited
the school in her role as patron
of mental health charity
Place2Be (above). She spoke
with pupils and took part in a
sing-a-long before meeting
parents and teachers.
Place2Be began its work in
Scotland in 2001 and operates
in 28 schools in the Edinburgh
and Glasgow areas. It offers
counselling and mental health
support for pupils via one-onone services and talk and play
therapy. Children can refer
themselves to the service and
can discuss anything that is
bothering them, from disputes
with friends and small emotional
problems to serious issues
arising from social deprivation
or a problematic home life.
Amongst the schools Place2Be
operates in are St Benedict’s
Primary School in Easterhouse,
St Bride’s Primary School in
Govanhill, St Brigid’s Primary
School in Rutherglen, and St
Margaret Mary’s Secondary
School in Castlemilk.
Paul Hunter, headteacher at
St Catherine’s, said having
Place2Be as part of the school
is ‘absolutely amazing.’
“The fact it works with the
kids on a constant basis in the
school in a private and trusting
environment is amazing,” he
said. “You can put in a referral
to the NHS and the kids might
not be seen for 4 or 5 months,
whereas if we put it in here the
kids will be seen that day or
that week.
“We had a case where if it
wasn’t for Place2Be, the child
would have been excluded
from school, 100 per cent. The
child was able to engage with
Place2Be and work in the
therapy to overcome what for
him at the time was quite a
profound family crisis. He was
under severe stress in school
and that was manifesting itself
in his behaviour. And Place2Be
was the difference between him
finishing P7 and not.”
Place2Be have a project
manager in St Catherine’s who
runs the service, supported by
three volunteers from a clinical,
trained background.
Mr Hunter said the children
fully embrace the service, and
he stressed the importance of
helping children with their mental
health. During her visit, Kate
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Middleton met with headteachers
of schools who use the charity,
and Mr Hunter said the recurring
point made during the meeting
was the desire for a broadening
of Place2Be’s work. “One of
the things I said was that if we
cannot prepare our kids to be
emotionally literate then we
cannot expect them to be
educationally literate,” he said.
“It was really heart-warming to
hear someone so high profile
taking such a keen interesting
in what was going on. Within
five minutes she had everybody
at ease and was genuinely
interested and had lots of things
she wanted to ask.”
The Countess of Strathearn’s
visit to St Catherine’s coincided
with the school’s 50th anniversary
year. Before she left, she was
presented with flowers from the
pupils and a friendship quaich
—a shallow drinking bowl—
inscribed with the schools logo.
“It’s a fantastic day for
Place2Be in Scotland,” Place2Be
Chief Executive Catherine Roche
said. “It really helps to shine a
spotlight on our work here and
highlight the importance of
children’s mental health and the
role that it plays in underpinning
a child’s ability to achieve, to
develop and flourish in life.”
New bishop enjoys retreat with
By Daniel Harkins
BISHOP Brian McGee spent one of his first
weekends since his ordination as bishop with
young people from across Scotland who
gathered in Craig Lodge in Dalmally for a
faith and fun retreat.
The new Bishop of Argyll and the Isles, who was
ordained on February 18, joined with the young
teenagers last weekend for an exploration of faith.
Craig Lodge organises regular retreats for young
people of various ages, with a mixture of regulars
and those new to the experience taking part last
weekend. The youngsters gathered on the Friday
were they split up into small groups. More than 30
people in total were in attendance, with one of the
highlights on the first day being a night walk in the
woods to a candlelit ‘oasis of peace,’ a clearing
with a cross where the young people gathered for
some prayers.
The second day began with a morning offering
before Bishop McGee spoke to the retreatants on
the merciful love of God the Father and the
significance of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of
Mercy. The bishop used the paintings of the Prodigal
Son by Rembrandt and Caravaggio’s Calling of St
Matthew to illustrate his points, mentioning how
the paintings meant a lot to him personally.
The bishop later held a question and answer
session and the young people posed several tough
questions such as ‘how do you become a bishop,’
and, ‘why do they wear pointy hats!’
After discussions of the talk and lunch, the
teenagers went hill climbing, praying the Stations
of the Cross marked up the hillside (above right).
The group then split into two, boys and girls,
and took part in some discussion on issues they are
likely to face in the coming years.
The boys group were given a talk on pornography,
with Mathew Morgan from Craig Lodge explaining
Ethiopian visitors express their gratitude to
St Aidan’s knitting group for their hard craft
A KNITTING group in St
Aidan’s church in Wishaw
received a special visit last
week in recognition of their
work raising thousands of
pounds for a Catholic charity.
Two visitors from Ethiopia,
Tsegaye Challa and Huka Garse,
accompanied Rachel Lamb from
the Scottish Catholic International
Aid Fund to the church hall, where
they met with the CADALBA
parish group (right).
CADALBA is a group which
meets weekly in St Aidan’s to
knit, sew and crochet for good
causes. Since it began, the group
has made and donated hundreds
of blankets, clothes, hats, gloves
and scarves to many charities,
both local and international,
including Mary’s Meals, The
Wayside Club, The Innocents,
Women’s Aid and Wishaw
General Hospital. Items from the
group have been sent as far as
Malawi, Liberia, and Uganda.
As well as providing social
opportunities for its members—
of all faiths and none—and
joining forces with the nearby St
Aidan’s High School, the group
Future of St John Ogilvie’s remains uncertain
By Peter Diamond
THE future of St John
Ogilvie’s Church in Boutreehill
is subject to speculation after
a statement was read at a
recent Sunday Mass.
The Sacred Heart Fathers, who
still have a base in Smithstone
House, Kilwinning, have ran the
parish since it opened in 1978,
where is was a vibrant and
active parish for many years
under the much loved leadership
of Fr Jim Feeney. However, due
to a severe shortage of priests and
an ageing population of priests it
seems that the running of the
church will be handed back to
Galloway diocese in June 2015.
A statement read out by the
Sacred Heart Provincial at Mass in
St John Ogilvie’s at the weekend
said that they had given service
and support to the parish for
many years but could no longer
continue to sustain that due do a
shortage in numbers of readily
available priests.
Fr Con Botter, who is in his
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80s, has ran the parish for many
years but due to ill health has
sadly not been able to continue
with his services. As of June, St
John Ogilvie’s (above) will be run
by Galloway Diocese and will be
subject to further speculation as
a number of churches in the area
have closed over the last 10 years.
has been able to fund the purchase
of a number of wells for deprived
villages abroad.
Mr Challa and Mr Garse work
with SCIAF in Ethiopia and
were presented with hats knitted
in Ethiopian colours and some
Scottish homemade tablet by the
St Aidan’s team.
The group—which meets on
Wednesday’s from 11.15am—
in St Aidan’s Church, is now
hoping the recent visit will
encourage more people to attend
and join in with the much
needed fundraising.
The artwork of a primary
school pupil will soon go on
view across Paisley Diocese as
the official logo of the diocesan
synod. Josephine Young of St
Mary’s Primary in Greenock
won a competition to design
the logo to be used in banners
and artwork throughout the
synod. The synod will be the
biggest event in the history of
the diocese and has been
described by its organisers as
a ‘gathering of people, called
together… for the purpose of
discussing particular themes
chosen by the Bishop.’
Josephine was joined by runner
up Ross Crighton from St Ninian’s
Primary School in Gourock for
a presentation of certificates
from Bishop John Keenan
PIC: PAUL McSHERRY
SCHOOLS/LOCAL NEWS
5
Sharing ideas about Catholic education
TEACHERS, parents,
bishops and pupils came
together in Dundee last
Saturday to share ideas
about Catholic education.
young Catholics at Craig Lodge
how pornography can be addictive and destructive
to relationships. The teenagers were given a ‘battle
plan’ to combat pornography, based around
‘means, motive an opportunities,’ with the S1-S3
pupils encouraged to be aware of the pitfalls of
technology, and to seek out positive relationships
and creative outlets.
The girls were given a talk on social media and
self esteem, explaining how the ‘lie’ of some social
media profiles can lead to people trying to measure
up to impossible standards.
A reconciliation service, and testimony from the
Craig Lodge community followed, before everyone
enjoyed an evening ceilidh.
A final Mass (above left) was held on the Sunday,
before the youths said their goodbyes and departed.
The Craig Lodge community celebrated its 25th
anniversary last year and was created out of its
founders’ visit to Medjugorje in Bosnia,
Ruth Black from Craig Lodge said the youth retreat
was an opportunity for some serious Catechesis
but also to have a lot of fun.
“We hope they’ve had a really joyful and
positive experience and gained an understanding
of their faith,” she said of the young retreatants.
“What we hope is that they experience the love of
God. They come along for a number of reasons—
maybe because they hear it was good Craic—but
you see miracles every weekend when you see the
difference between how they are on the Friday
night and how they are on the Sunday. They have
definitely received grace and encountered Jesus in
one way or another.”
Denise Roberts, Argyll Youth Officer and a
member of Craig Lodge Community, said it was a
‘great privilege and a great blessing’ to have
Bishop McGee along and that it ‘meant a lot to all
of us and especially to the young people.”
The open forum—titled
Schools Developing in Faith—
(right) was organised by the
Scottish Catholic Education
Commission (SCES) and has
been developed as part of the
body’s new structure.
Around 60 people participated
in the event, which will be a
regular occurrence, taking
place around the country a
few times a year and giving
interested parties the
opportunity to give their input
into Catholic education.
SCES resources for parents
and teachers were discussed, with
attendees given copies of a leaflet
written by a parent for parents
which discusses This Is Our Faith,
the curriculum for religious
education in Catholic schools.
“There are two reasons for
parents to be familiar with This
Is Our Faith,” the leaflet reads.
“The main reason is that it is an
important part of what their
children and young people will
learn and experience at a Catholic
school. However, another reason
is that it can help you to grow
in your own faith and your own
understanding of what you
believe. Your experience as a
parent within the school
community will be all the richer
if you are able to participate fully
in the faith-life of the school.”
Also discussed was a
resource for schools aimed at
helping staff ensure their
school is ‘being faithful to the
mission of Catholic Education.’
Michael McGrath, director
of SCES, said the event was
very affirming.
“It is the kind of thing we’ve
been focussing on for a few years
now,” he said. “Helping schools
to proclaim their identity as
PIC: EDDIE MAHONEY
Catholic schools and helping
them to address their mission.
It’s about giving parents more
information and helping parents
to learn themselves so they can
help children.
“The idea is that what comes
out of these forums will help to
shape the kind of support that
the Church can give through
SCES to schools but also parents
and parishes,” he added. “There
was a strong sense of affirmation
but also a recognition that there
is a lot more that can be done
and should be done.”
The next open forum will take
place on June 18 in Glasgow.
Diocesan clergy changes announced in Motherwell
FR VINCENT Lockhart of St
Monica’s in Coatbridge has
been appointed as Diocesan
Director of the Pontifical
Mission Aid Societies in
Motherwell Diocese.
The announcement was made
in clergy appointments released
by the diocese last Saturday. Fr
Bill Bergin will assist Fr Joseph
Lamb in St Joseph’s, Blantyre
and Fr Justin Isaac—who arrived
in the diocese from India in January
—is the new assistant priest at Our
Lady of Lourdes, East Kilbride.
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6
WORLD/VATICAN NEWS
“
”
How many invasions has Europe
experienced in the course of its
history? But it’s always been able
to overcome them and move
forward, finding itself complemented
and improved by cultural exchange
they brought about
Church in England and Wales is inviting
non-Catholics to experience confession
THE Church in England
and Wales has invited nonCatholics to sample the
experience of going to
confession.
Churches in England and
Wales are also encouraging
non-Catholics to go to
confessionals to speak in strict
confidence to a priest about
problems or issues in their own
lives. Unlike confession itself
they will not have to go through
formal steps of expressing
penitence for their sins. Nor will
they be given formal absolution
at the end but will be offered a
blessing. Senior clergy, however,
hope it will offer non-Catholics
a similar experience of
unburdening themselves to a
listener duty-bound not divulge
what they have said.
The idea—which has been
trialled in Scotland by the
Redemptorists in Edinburgh
during the Edinburgh Fringe
Festival—was put forward by
the Bishop Mark O’Toole of
Plymouth, who is also overseeing
plans in England and Wales, for
the special confession drive,
known as ‘24 hours for the
Lord,’ which ran last weekend.
Millions of Catholics around
the world took part in the initiative
—part of the special Year of
Mercy recently launched by
Pope Francis—attending their
local church to receive prayer and
the Sacrament of Reconciliation,
better known as confession.
Launching the plans for
England and Wales, the bishop
said: “Confession continues to
be a priceless treasure in my
own life, and I hope every
Catholic can avail of its gift
more deeply.”
“Even if you are not
Catholic, come and see. You
are welcome in our churches,
there will be time and space for
prayer, and you can approach
the priest and chat with him,
and receive a blessing. This
weekend, do come and join us
and allow God to use the priest
as an instrument of grace and
blessing in your life, too.”
Fr Christopher Thomas,
general secretary of the Bishops’
Conference of England and
Wales, said: “It will be a safe
space for them where they know
that what they say will not be
Pope Francis urged Catholics to ‘cast
aside all that prevents us from racing’
towards God, standing before Him
and being ‘forgiven and recreated’
by Him, at a penitential liturgy in St
Peter’s Basilica. After presiding at
the service the Pope took the
Sacrament of Reconciliation before
hearing confessions himself as part
of the worldwide 24 Hours for the
Lord initiative. The initiative, which
is in its third year, is intended to
encourage people to return to
confession by having churches and
cathedrals open through the night.
In his address at the penitential Liturgy
the Pope said sin ‘impoverishes us
and isolates us’
repeated and at the end we will
also give them a blessing rather
than absolution, which is part
of the sacramental process.”
“I think it would be fair to say
that Catholics who go to
confession go with a bit of a
knot in their stomach—but they
leave with a skip in their step,”
he went on. “It will be a safe
space to say what’s on their heart.”
He added that confession
should not be viewed as a
‘punishment.’
Pope Francis welcomes the
By Stephen Reilly
POPE Francis has described the influx of
migrants into Europe as an ‘Arab invasion,’
but said it is one that could bring positive
changes to the continent.
The Pope was giving a speech to a French
Christian group last week when he reflected on
Europe’s history of migration and the positive
impact it has had on its culture today.
“Today we can talk of Arab invasion. It is a
social fact,” he told his audience.
He went on to explain that the arrival of
migrants (above), predominantly from Syria and
Iraq, will help Europe in the future by making it
more multi-cultural.
The Holy Father added that the present situation
faced by Europe should be seen from a wider
perspective ‘in time and impact’ as he insisted
that this continent will ‘go forward and find itself
enhanced by the exchange among cultures.’’
“How many invasions has Europe experienced
in the course of its history!” the Pope said. “But
it’s always been able to overcome them and move
forward, finding itself complemented and improved
by cultural exchange they brought about.”
He declared that the continent ‘can bring about
a certain unity to the world.’
As of last year, the number of Syrians seeking
asylum in Europe doubled to 362,800 while the
number of Iraqis jumped to 121,500, the European
Commission said Friday. Huge numbers of
migrants and asylum seekers mostly from Africa
are also entering Europe.
Pope pens letter of thanks and gratitude to Cardinal Pell’s promise to victims of abuse
treasurer Cardinal institutional systemic abuse across Child Sex Abuse that he did not
Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church VATICAN
George Pell has promised to the world that was covered up,
act because the student did not
POPE Francis has written a
letter of thanks and gratitude
to His Beatitude Sviatoslav
Shevhchuk, Major Archbishop
of Kiev and Head of the
Ukrainian Greek Catholic
Church.
The archbishop, together with
other members of the Permanent
Synod of the Ukrainian Greek
Catholic Church have been
meeting in Rome and released a
statement in which they affirmed
communion with the Catholic
Church. They were received in
audience by the Pope on Saturday.
In his letter to Archbishop
Shevhchuk, Pope Francis recalls
that some 70 years ago, a particular
ideological and political context,
as well as the existence of ‘ideas
that were contrary to the very
existence of your Church, led to
the organisation of a pseudo-synod
in Lviv, and caused decades of
suffering for the pastors and
the Faithful.’
“In sad memory of these
events, we bow our heads in
deep gratitude before those, who
at the cost of suffering and even
martyrdom, continued to witness
the Faith in the course of time and
to show dedication to the Church
in union with the Successor of
Peter,” he writes.
At the same time, the Pope
continues, ‘with eyes lit by the
same Faith, we look to the Lord
Jesus Christ, to place in Him,
and not in human justice, all of
our hope.’
“He is the true source of our
trust in the present and the future,
as we are called to announce the
Gospel also in the midst of
suffering or difficulties,” he says.
And the Pope goes on to express
deep gratitude for the loyalty of
Ukrainian Greek Catholics and
encourages them to be ‘tireless
witnesses of that hope which
makes our existence and the
existence of all of our brothers
and sisters more luminous.’
Pope Francis also renewed his
feelings of solidarity with the
pastors and faithful for all they
do in these difficult times ‘marked
by the hardships of war, to alleviate
the suffering of the population
and to seek the ways of peace for
the beloved Ukrainian land.’
“In the Lord is our courage
and our joy,” he concludes. “It is
to Him that I speak, through the
intercession of the Blessed Virgin
Mary and the martyrs of your
Church, so that the divine
consolation may illuminate your
communities in Ukraine and
other parts of the world.’
help lower suicide rates
among people who were
abused by Catholic priests
as children.
Cardinal Pell (right) met
privately with a group of
survivors who flew to Rome to
watch him testify to an Australian
Royal Commission into child
abuse. The cardinal gave his
evidence from Rome via video
link due to ill health.
David Ridsdale, spokesman
for the survivors, said they
had ‘an honest dialogue’ at
Thursday’s meeting.
“There were no formalities...
it was extremely personal in terms
of what everyone was allowed
to say and responded to,” he
said. “This has been a very long,
long process and this is just
another step in that it doesn’t
change drastically the reality of
WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK
it doesn’t change that.”
The group initially refused to
see the cardinal, but said they
met on a ‘level playing field’
after some conditions surrounding the discussion were
removed. Cardinal Pell
described the two-hour-long
meeting as ‘hard,’ ‘honest’ and
‘occasionally emotional.’ He
told reporters he was committed
to working with the group to
help stop suicides and end
suffering.
“One suicide is too many,”
he said. “And there have been
many such tragic suicides.”
On his fourth day of testimony
on Thursday, Cardinal Pell
admitted that a student told him
a priest was ‘misbehaving with
boys’ in the 1970s. He told
the Royal Commission into
Institutional Responses to
ask him to do anything about
the complaint.
The cardinal also said it was
a ‘disastrous coincidence’ that
five paedophiles came to be at
the same school and parish in
Ballarat in Victoria state the
1970s. The Catholic Church in
Australia has already accepted
that there were hundreds of
cases of abuse by paedophile
priests over more than 80 years.
The cardinal later said that
he won’t resign from his role
in charge of reforming Vatican
finances. “No, I wouldn’t
resign,” he said, when asked by
journalist Andrew Bolt in a live
interview with Sky News
Australia. “That would be
taken as an admission of guilt.”
“I mean, if the Holy Father
asked me too, I’d point this out,
but I’d do whatever he wanted.”
NEWS ROUNDUP
A dozen sainthood
causes advance
POPE Francis approved the
publication of decrees that
advance a dozen sainthood causes
in a March 3 audience with the
prefect of the Congregation for
the Causes of Saints.
In approving separate decrees
on miracles attributed to the
intercession of Blessed Manuel
González García (1877-1940) and
Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity
(1880-1906), the Pope has paved
the way for their Canonisations.
The former was bishop of
Palencia, Spain, and founder of
the Eucharistic Missionaries of
Nazareth; the latter was a French
Discalced Carmelite nun and
spiritual writer.
Pope Francis also approved
decrees on miracles attributed to
two venerable servants of God,
thus paving the way for their
Beatifications: Venerable MarieEugene of the Child Jesus
(1894-1967), a French Carmelite
priest who founded a secular
institute, Our Lady of Life and
Venerable María Antonia de la
Paz y Figueroa (1730-99), an
Argentine nun who founded the
Daughters of the Divine Saviour.
WORLD/VATICAN NEWS
He received a personal reply,
in which the Holy Father told
him that a ‘Holy Door to Mercy’
would be opened at the juvenile
detention centre.
“I pray that as you and your
fellow residents celebrate the
opening of the Holy Door, you
may receive these gifts and be
filled with peace and hope,” the
Pope wrote.
Priest leaves amid
abuse and threats
MUNICH Archdiocese says a
Congolese-born priest is stepping
down from his job in a town
outside Munich after receiving
racial abuse and death threats.
A statement that Olivier
Ndjimbi-Tshiende will step down
as parish priest in Zorneding,
southeast of the Bavarian capital,
on April 1. The statement said
that it ‘very much regrets the
decision,’ but accepts it and
stands by Fr Ndjimbi-Tshiende.
Fr Ndjimbi-Tshiende studied
and worked in Munich in the
1990s and returned to work for
the archdiocese in 2005. He had
held the job in Zorneding since
2012. He announced his departure
to his congregation on Sunday.
The threats and abuse came
after the priest last year criticised
a local politician’s assertion
that Bavaria was being overrun
by refugees.
Report on violence
in Nigeria
OPEN Doors, an organisation that
advocates on behalf of persecuted
Christians, has published a 47page report on violence against
Christians (below) in northern
Nigeria.
“Not just radical Islam, Boko
Haram being the most notable
example, but also Muslim
Hausa-Fulani herdsmen and the
northern Muslim political and
religious elite are also major
actors of targeted violence
towards the Christian minority,”
the report stated. “Moreover,
Christian communities in Sharia
states especially but also in other
parts of northern Nigeria face
the challenge to withstand the
pressure of an environment that
marginalises and discriminates.”
The report found that a
‘minimum of 9000-11,500
Christians have been killed’, that
1.3 million Christians have fled
their homes since 2000, and that
13,000 churches ‘have been
closed or destroyed altogether.’
Pope sends prisoner
message of hope
influx of migrants to Europe
The UK announced on Monday that it
will provide ‘vital military assets’ to help a
NATO mission tackling people smugglers in the
Aegean Sea.
Prime Minister David Cameron announced the
amphibious landing ship RFA Mounts Bay
would be sent ahead of an emergency summit
EU summit on the migrant crisis. The ship,
which carries a Wildcat helicopter, will be joined
by two cutter boats and a civilian vessel.
More than a million migrants entered the EU
illegally by boat travelling mainly from Turkey
to Greece last year.
RFA Mounts Bay and two border force patrol
boats, known as cutters, will join naval vessels
from Germany, Canada, Turkey and Greece as
part of Nato’s first intervention in the migrant crisis.
The vessels will identify smugglers taking
migrants to Greece and pass the information to
the Turkish coastguard so they can intercept
these boats.
The UK’s civilian vessel VOS Grace is
already in the Aegean.
Mr Cameron said the migrant crisis was ‘the
greatest challenge facing Europe today.’
“We’ve got to break the business model of the
criminal smugglers and stop the desperate flow
of people crammed into makeshift vessels from
embarking on a fruitless and perilous journey,”
he said. “That’s why this Nato mission is so
important. It’s an opportunity to stop the smugglers
and send out a clear message to migrants
contemplating journeys to Europe that they will
be turned back.”
THE latest surprised recipient of
a personal message from Pope
Francis is a young convict serving
at a detention centre in LosAngeles.
Carlos Adrian Vaquez, Jr, who
is serving an 11-year sentence
for involuntary manslaughter,
wrote to the Pope seeking
‘forgiveness for what I did.’
Corresponding to the Jubilee Year of Mercy
proclaimed by Pope Francis, the “Magnificat Year of
Mercy Companion” will help you accept the merciful
embrace of a loving God, and prepare you to extend
that mercy to your neighbour.
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T
8
NEWS FEATURE
HE head of gay rights
organisation Stonewall is
not someone you would
expect to find in the pages of
The Scottish Catholic
Observer. Current CEO Ruth Hunt is,
however, a practicing Catholic and she
is on a mission to break down barriers
and foster better communication
between religious groups and the gay
community.
Ms Hunt (right) spoke to the SCO to
mark lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) month, which this year
had the theme of faith, religion and philosophy.
“I think at Stonewall we have often
seen the idea that the faith community
and LGBT community have to come to
blows as something artificially constructed,” she said.
”There are many LGBT people of
faith and many LGBT people have lots
of friends and family in faith communities. To think in terms of binaries and
opposites is not helpful.”
M
s Hunt admitted she was
surprised that people have
been so interested in her own
Catholicism.
“I was brought up Catholic, I believe
in one Holy Roman Catholic Church,”
she said. “I believe it is where Christ is
most accurately reflected. I feel at home
there, I maintain a good relationship
with the Church, I am pleased to be part
of it.”
She said she ‘had my moments’ of
doubt but the Church was ‘part and parcel of my life growing up’ and when we
had some difficult times in our family’s
life, when I was 12, 13 the Church
“
I never felt
excluded from the
Church I attended,
which can’t have
always been easy
for them but never
felt I wasn’t
welcome. A lot can
be achieved if you
start on basis of
love but it’s difficult
when people are
utterly determined
not to hear each
other
” ‘I never felt the need to break
became this very important thing that
wrapped around us and supported us.”
She said her study of medieval English at university and figures like Julian
of Norwich had fascinated her and reaffirmed her Faith.
“I never felt the need break away,”
she said. “In the past, when I didn’t go
I found I missed it, it provides community and creates a space that is very profound and spiritual for me.”
Like Stonewall as a whole, she is an
ardent supporter of gay marriage though
says her organisation will always accept
‘marriage within Churches is a matter
for faith communities.’ The Catholic
Church wholly opposes same sex marriage, defining marriage as a union
between one man and one woman open
to bringing a family into the world.
As a Catholic Ms Hunt says that gay
marriage, like contraception, is something that many Catholics struggle with
and that these are ‘live issues discussed
in Catholic communities.’
“We respect religious freedom,” she
said. “It does concern me the way some
opposition is expressed. I don’t think it
is Christian to be harmfully offensive. I
think there’s always room to disagree
with compassion.”
She says that while she knows some
away [from the Church]’
IAN DUNN talks to Stonewall CEO RUTH HUNT, a Catholic, in search of
common ground between religious groups and the gay community
members of the gay community feel
hostility to organised religion, her experience was quite different.
“Hearing the truth of people’s testament is very important,” she said. “In
all my experience, I never felt excluded
from the Church I attended, which can’t
have always been easy for them but
never felt I wasn’t welcome. A lot can
be achieved if you start on basis of love
but it’s difficult when people are utterly
determined not to hear each other.
“I do meet people who have had different, difficult experiences though who’ve
been damaged by being told to deny their
sexuality, who felt rejected by God,” she
said. “That’s saddens me, and at
Stonewall we often talk about the need for
‘kind eyes,’ when we listen to people.”
W
hile increased awareness of
gay rights in recent years has
been a source of great joy to
Stonewall, Ms Hunt says ‘legal rights
only go so far’ and there is ‘still much to
be done.’
“We need to reach deeper into communities, to help people be accepted as
they live, work, socialise and pray,”
she said.
WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK
As a former head of Stonewall’s
work in Scotland, Ms Hunt says she
was impressed by the ‘generally greater
sense in Scotland of community and
loyalty that you get here.’
“Just my outsider perspective, the
sense that ‘we might have a wee problem with him being a poof but if you
touch him we’ll have words,’” she said.
“I come from Wales and it is the same
there. And perhaps within the Church
there’s more scope for discussion than
is the case in England.”
She is also hopeful that, in Scotland
and elsewhere, there will be increas-
ingly less conflict between religious and
gay communities.
“I think it’s over inflated, the perceived conflict of freedom and gay
rights,” she said.
In answer to the concerns by Church
clergy and spokesmen that legislative
concessions to the gay community
impede and erode religious freedom,
Ms Hunt is emphatic.
“The rights of LGBT people don’t get
in the way of people of faith who practice that faith,” she said.
I ian@sconews.co.uk
LETTER OF THE WEEK
Why wouldn’t a Catholic
stand for election?
I WAS somewhat surprised to see the
headline on Hugh Dougherty’s article in
the Scottish Catholic Observer of 26 Feb
16; it read “Why would a Catholic want to
be an MSP?”
The inference of this wording is that
there is some stigma involved in being an
MSP, and that Catholics should avoid this
like the plague.
I write from personal experience; I
joined the SNP in 1966, and went on their
Candidates’ List in 1973. I had no wish to
be a politician, but was ‘telt’ in no
uncertain fashion by Winnie Ewing that
I should.
Never even thought about being a
Catholic; that had no bearing on my
decision, nor was there ever any question.
The vetting was direct, but in a relatively
small party at that time, I knew all the
vetting panel and they all knew me. Mind
you, it was not a very good career move for
a man approaching 40, as my wife just
mentioned!
It was flattering to be asked to stand; my
reasons were that I wanted an Independent
Scotland, and the movement toward social
justice that would ensue; looking at the
assaults on the poor and needy, progress
towards that end becomes more urgent day
by day; Labour is hopelessly split and is
helpless against a rampaging Tory
government.
In any event I went on to stand for
Westminster four times, and normally the
only issue about Catholicism that ever
came up in these elections was about
abortion, which I opposed. I was never
elected, but in those days very few SNP
MPs were.
I see that Mr Rannachan, whom the
article is about, intends to stand in
Shettleston for Labour, where the current
SNP MSP is John Mason. Mr Mason is a
Baptist and a confirmed Christian; I esteem
him very highly.
Jim Lynch
EDINBURGH
Beware Christian Zionism
on social media
I WAS rather alarmed to find, uninvited, an
advert on my Facebook page for a
Christians United for Israel conference in
June in Westminster Hall.
This organisation was founded by John
Hagee, pastor of the 20,000-member
Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas
in the US. He has a world-wide TV
ministry and is highly influential in
evangelical circles. He does not believe in
global warming and that the Kyoto climate
change protocol was a conspiracy aimed at
undermining the United States' economy.
Israel will be invaded by Russia and
Islamic states and that God will destroy
them.
MrHagee has also been accused of
anti-Catholicism (though he later
renounced these views) and being
anti-Islam. He recently made headlines
with a prediction that ‘four blood
moons’— lunar eclipses on Jewish feast
days over the last two years—were a sign
that ‘something dramatic [will] happen in
the Middle East involving Israel that will
change the course of history in the Middle
East and impact the whole world.’
LETTERS
9
Scotland’s political party leaders joined
forces to support SCIAF’s Wee Box Lent
appeal, which this year is helping poor
cattle herders in Ethiopia to cope with
drought and climate change.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and
Labour, Liberal Democrat, Conservative
and Green Party leaders Kezia Dugdale,
Willie Rennie, Ruth Davidson, and Patrick
Harvie respectively, posed with giant Wee
Boxes at the Scottish Parliament.
“SCIAF had a very humble beginning
back in 1965 but has now grown to be a
Scottish charity that we should all be
extremely proud of,” First Minister Nicola
Sturgeon said.
Ms Dugdale said: “Times are tough here
at home and lots of people are struggling
to make ends meet. They need our support, but we also can’t forget about people
elsewhere in the world living in grinding
poverty beyond our comprehension.
Mr Rennie added that ‘not everyone is
lucky enough to live in such a peaceful
country as Scotland’ and ‘that’s why I’m
supporting SCIAF’s Wee Box appeal.’
Ms Davidson welcomed SCIAF visitors
from Ethiopia, Tsegaye Challa and Huka
Garsa, to the event. “SCIAF does important
work supporting vulnerable people right
across the world and this year’s appeal,”
the MSP said.
Mr Harvie added that ‘the Wee Box
appeal is a good opportunity to support
work that will improve livelihoods in
developing nations and make communities more resilient to climate change’
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
PIC: PAUL McSHERRY
Let us build bridge not
walls for our priests
GERALD Warner is unkind and inaccurate
in his musings on priestly celibacy (SCO
February 26).
St Peter the apostle was married
according to the accounts of Matthew and
Mark, and the cure of his mother in law
appears early on in the proclamation of the
Christian Zionism is a keystone of his
ministry. His belief in Israel has led him
to visit frequently—he has met every
prime minister since Menachem Begin
and to pour millions of dollars into Jewish
orphanages, hospitals, ambulances and
other worthy causes. He has also backed
Israel’s military actions against
Palestinians, whom he denies have any
right to what he regards as Israeli
territory; in the early days of Operation
Protective Edge, which devastated Gaza,
he led a protest in Washington against the
Obama government, saying: “We’ve come
to Washington to ask our government to
stop demanding for Israel to show
restraint.”
In his book Jerusalem Countdown, he
wrote that Hitler had been sent by God to
‘hunt’ the Jews into founding the State of
Israel.
These fundamentalist Christian groups
with their excruciatingly childish
Theology, but plenty of money, have no
place in British society and I hope that no
real Christians will have anything to do
with this nonsense.
B McKenna
DUMBARTON
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Kingdom. This would appear to be
significant enough, that Our Lord extended
his care to Peter’s relatives.
That the bonds of family were present is
evident. I wonder what is Mr Warner’s
authority for his supposition that Peter was
a widower before Our Lord called him, and
his assertion that Peter’s wife was
insignificant? One suspects he is surmising
to support his thesis for early celibacy in
Christianity.
He criticises Peter Stanford’s assertion that
for the first millennium priests were married.
This was indeed historically the case, and
remained so in the Eastern rites after the sad
separation of the Church into East and West.
Both Eastern and Western traditions did
strive towards celibacy, requesting celibacy
from (married) clergy at the Council of
Elvira, and denying Holy Matrimony to
those already in Holy Orders.
This has been a disciplinary rule, not
doctrine. Accordingly, the Catholic Church
has welcomed the conversion of married
Anglican priests to Catholicism, while
continuing to respect their contracted
marriages. We are fortunate to have
married priests ministering in the Catholic
Church in the UK under the ordinariate of
Our Lady of Walsingham.
Our priest ministers by their ordination
are called to act in the person of Christ the
true priest as head of the body of the
church, shepherd of Christ’s flock, priest of
the sacrifice of our salvation, and Teacher
of truth (Catechism 1548).
Our ordained priest ministers act in the
person of Christ throughout their ecclesial
ministry, not as Mr Warner would
have us believe ‘momentarily’ at the
Consecration.
I imagine it is likely that we shall
continue to debate the sacrifice that
celibacy may require from all humans
entering religious life. I hope that as
Catholics we can be generous in hearing
other views on celibacy within the body of
Christ on earth, present in all the Christian
churches. Let us, as Pope Francis asks,
build bridges, not walls.
Miriam McKernan
RUTHERGLEN
ESTABLISHED IN 1885
M
Religious persecution,
freedom and communication
OTHER Teresa Sisters of Charity are among those
murdered by extremists in Yemen, modern-martyrs
according to Pope Francis and victims of religious
persecution today. And yet this week, although focusing on their plight in the news (and their founder’s
Canonisation), the SCO runs a feature on the CEO of a group accused
of actively attempting to curb religious freedom, and bring organised
religion to its knees, in this country. Coincidence? Yes. Thought provoking. Certainly. Appropriate?
Ruth Hunt, CEO of Stonewall, is a renowned activist for equality
for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. As a gay woman,
and a Catholic, she was uniquely positioned after LGBT month,
which this year had the theme of faith, religion and philosophy, to
discuss breaking down barriers between the community she represents and religious groups.
She talks of religious freedom not being impeded by increased gay
rights. She calls for a move away the ‘artificial constructed’ of these
groups coming to blows over their difference and speaks against for
polarisation on key issues such as marriage.
Terrorists abroad are killing people based on their religion, and sexuality, eschewing all communication and negotiations. That is both a
tragedy and a travesty, yet proof positive that keeping lines of communication open between groups destined to go head-to-head at home
is not only desirable but in fact vital.
T
he SCO was recently lambasted on social media, and not for the
first time, for retweeting a photograph of a high achieving Catholic
student with the First Minister as party politicking. By the same
rationale, the story this week of the Countess of Strathearn visiting a Edinburgh Catholic primary school is what? Promotion of royalty?
In an age of increasing secularisation, showing the Catholic
community engaging with and being supported by secular society
reminds both our community and the wider world of our role
and our value. The SCO pays penance, during Lent and always,
alongside the rest of the community when we err. This is not one of
those moments.
WRITE TO LETTERS, SCO, 19 WATERLOO STREET, GLASGOW G2 6BT INFO@SCONEWS.CO.UK
10
COMMENT
We must not be afraid of silence…
… even if in that break from our lives we discover something that may lead us to a need for change
I
BY SR ROSEANN
REDDY
HAVE never been much of a
dreamer, day or otherwise, but
just recently I have been reflecting upon (or perhaps daydreaming about) a time when I was a
child and seemed to spend endless
hours just sitting staring into space and
thinking, perhaps dreaming, about all
sorts of things. My memory of growing up in the late (very late) 1960s and
1970s is one of lots of free time. These
were the days before wall-to-wall
sound and vision distractions. We didn’t have any ‘electronic’ devices. All I
remember having was a baby doll
called Mary (obviously) and loads of
wonderful hand-knitted or sewn outfits for her. I also had loads of colouring-in stuff, jigsaws and, best of all, a
skipping rope. Even now, I am a dab
hand at the old skipping, even if I can
only handle about five minutes before
calling on the paramedics. In my
youth, I would play and sing away to
myself for hours.
As the only girl in a household with
all boys (I have three brothers), it seems
I spent a lot of time on my own and I
loved it. The boys only ever seemed to
play football, fight and cause general
mayhem. On rare occasions however,
they would settle down with a bucket of
Lego and build scary monsters, quite an
achievement considering most of the
Lego was bright yellow, red, green and
blue, but somehow they managed it. I
was never really encouraged to play
with them unless, of course, they needed
someone to be in goals (well more of a
goalpost really). Call me a woose, but it
was never my idea of fun, standing there
waiting for a whizzing ball or a bunch
of boys to come hurtling towards me.
T
o my mind now, life as a child
seemed very happy, safe and
secure, with lots of time to think,
read, ask questions and have them
answered, although not always the
answer you wanted. All of these
thoughts have come upon me recently
because of Lent. One of the things I
decided to do for Lent 2016 was to sit
perfectly still every day for 15 minutes
thinking time. No reading, no writing,
no music, no distractions, not even a cup
of tea and a biccie. It was quite an experiment. Why not try it sometime?
I am used to silence. We have a
silent Holy Hour every day before the
Blessed Sacrament. We often have
extra times of silence for spiritual
reading or extra times of prayer, but I
don’t often just sit down in silence
without any other purpose other than
to think. The most amazing things can
happen if we just try to still ourselves
and be at peace. And here is where my
latest theory comes in: We often shy
away from silence and thinking
because we are afraid of what we
might discover deep within ourselves;
we are afraid too, that this discovery
may lead us to a need for change in
our lives and most of us, me included,
hate change.
Very early
on in this mad
little experiment,
I
decided what
my daily 15minute thinking time was
not to be. I
was
determined not to
spend the time
going
over
things in my
mind—it wasn’t a therapy
session, I wasn’t trying to
work out my anxieties or worries. Neither was I going to use the time as a
mental tick-box list session, planning
ahead and sorting out the many ideas
that float about my brain constantly.
Nor was I going to use the time to pray,
at least in the conventional way of
speaking to God and petitioning Him for
help. I felt very strongly that this time
should be spent listening, not talking and
remembering, and, as anyone who
knows me will confirm, the miracle
really did happen. Eventually I began to
be able to be still for 15 minutes a day,
not speaking, not thinking just being –
being what?
You know, my 15 minutes were just
spent resting in the arms of our wonderful Father of mercies and this time
did, in fact, become a time of real deep
and refreshing prayer. I just let the
Lord envelope me in
His arms and
in His love. I
got back to
the
real
basics,
to
strip
away
everything
else and just
try to get to
the heart of
the
most
important
relationship
there is—that
between creature and Creator. Now stay calm: This was not a St
Teresa of Avila (above right) ecstasy
moment—more an Eliza Doolittle
(above left) enormous-armchair
moment or, to be more contemporary,
an Olaf (right) warm-hug moment.
Whatever these moments are, they are
Now stay calm: This was
not a St Teresa of Avila
ecstasy moment—more
an Eliza Doolittle
enormous-armchair
moment or, to be more
contemporary, an Olaf
warm-hug moment.
real moments of grace, of that I am
sure. I recommend everyone try it,
maybe not every day but why not try it
once a week, or at least once? It doesn’t seem like much but I’d be very surprised if you don’t gain something
from it.
A
ll you need to do is be somewhere away from distraction
or fear of interruption, make
sure you are comfortable and then
clear your mind of all chatter
(this takes a bit of practise) and
then just breathe deeply and
allow yourself to
be filled with
the presence of
God; allow yourself to be embraced
by our merciful and
loving Father. It was
helpful for me at the
beginning to think beforehand of what I was hoping
for in these moments of surrender and silence, and I found
it helpful to give this love a
human face and a human
feel. This then made it easier for me to accept it and
understand it at a spiritual
level.
So, to set the scene
beforehand, think of an
occasion when you have
simply stared at someone
with a gaze of wonder and awe.
Many of us will think of a baby,
What do you think of SR ROSEANN REDDY’S comments on SILENCE? Send your points of
view to the SCO. Write to Letters, SCO, 19 Waterloo St, Glasgow G2 6BT or e-mail info@sconews.co.uk
WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK
perhaps our own child—how can something so perfect, so amazing, exist in
this world?
It’s a look of intense love.
When you come to
start your 15 minutes, imagine our
Lord just looking at
you with that gaze of
love. He made you in
love because He is love.
The next step is just to
allow the Lord to love
you—I know this is easier said than done but
remember, on this
occasion, it’s not
about you and your
suitability to receive
this love, it’s about Him
and His desire to love you,
so just let Him.
Don’t fight it, just give in.
There’s a time for sorrow,
repentance and forgiveness,
but this is not it.
I am totally convinced
that it we all took the
time for a few
moments every day
to allow ourselves
to be loved by the
Lord, this world
would be a far different, far better,
place.
So give it a go and
see how it can help to
transform you.
The views expressed in the opinion
pages of the SCO are those of
informed individuals and groups and
not necessarily those of the
newspaper or the Church
COMMENT
WIR
ED
IN
An SCO diary
‘What are we doing?’ a question
for all within the Scottish Church
I
BY RONNIE
CONVERY
I WAS one of the more
bizarre coincidences of
recent weeks that on the
same night the film
Spotlight was winning
this year’s Oscar for best picture (the film is based on the
expose of clerical child abuse
in the Boston Archdiocese)
one of the Church’s most
prominent cardinals was giving evidence in Rome, via
video link, to an inquiry into
the Church’s handling of such
abuse in Australia.
A few minutes separated the
film’s producer, Michael Sugar
calling for the message of the
movie to ‘resonate all the way
to the Vatican’ and the Vatican’s head of finance saying in
Rome, “I’m not here to defend
the indefensible… The Church
has made enormous mistakes
and is working to remedy
those, but the Church in many
places, certainly in Australia,
has mucked things up, has let
people down.”
I saw the film in question
several weeks ago, before its
Oscar triumph. I watched it
with a degree of trepidation.
There is always a sense that a
dramatised representation of
such events can sensationalise,
simplify and demonise. The
film Spotlight did none of the
above.
As I left the cinema I was
reminded of a similar moment
13 years ago, when the film
The Magdalene Sisters was a
source of controversy. At the
time I wrote an article in a
Sunday newspaper which
raised a few eyebrows, for in it
I said that Peter Mullan’s film
was not in any way an ‘antiCatholic’ work, pointing out
that the ‘victims’ of the Magdalen laundries were them-
HE WON’T be the first Scottish
priest to gain a reputation—
and a following—for his
homilies, and he won’t be the
last, but we imagine Fr Ross
Campbell at Glasgow
University Chaplaincy, a newly
appointed Missionary of
Mercy, will take his recent
roasting on social media in
good humour.
St Jude and St John Ogilvie
Parish, Glasgow, (below)
recently posted a photograph
on Facebook of a new
lightning conducting rod being
fitted to the parish building
with the message ‘there's no
truth in the rumours that It
was worried Fr Ross
Campbell's holy hour tonight
would provoke any lightning
strikes from on high!’
It might be Lent but no one
can accuse the Catholic
Church in Scotland of not
having a sense of humour!
Let’s hope Fr Campbell,
with his special role promoting
the Sacrament of
reconciliation, can forgive the
ready wit!
11
In spite of the mild Scottish
winter this year, those taking
part in the pro-life vigil have
still faced the bitter cold and
even more bitter criticism.
Regardless of initial media
reports of ‘outrage,’ however,
that the vigil was to go ahead
outside a hospital where
abortions are performed, the
vigil itself seems to have been
by-and-large a positive
exercise so far, bring together
pro-lifers from within and out
with the Church and across
the generations.
A prayer vigil is not a
protest, nor a demonstration.
It is largely silent witness for
the protection of life,
beginning at conception.
While this kind of witness may
not be everyone’s cup of tea,
the volunteers are to be
applauded for their endeavour
and, quite frankly, their
endurance this Lent.
Since the legalisation of
abortion here in 1967, the
killing of unborn children has
been ‘normalised’ in our
society. It has become
increasingly difficult, even
counter-cultural, to stand up
and be seen to be pro-life,
particularly for our young
Catholics who can often be
labled as old-fashioned and
unprogressive by their peers
who have differing opinions
on the issue.
GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
selves Catholics.
To my mind the real lesson
of that film was that when the
Church and the state get too
closely intertwined (as was the
case in Ireland in the 1950s
and 1960s) both institutions
are compromised and the
results are painful.
A decade on, I was heartened to see that the condemnations that were made from
some Church quarters of The
Magdalene Sisters, were not
routinely repeated in the case
of Spotlight. Any such kneejerk reaction would surely
reveal a failure to understand
the lessons of recent years.
Indeed the man who has
spearheaded the Church’s
response to the plague of child
abuse, Archbishop Charles
Scicluna, of Malta, actively
encouraged people to view
the film.
He told the Italian newspaper, La Repubblica, “The
movie shows how the
instinct—that unfortunately
was present in the church—to
protect a reputation was completely wrong.”
“All bishops and cardinals
should see this film,” he said,
“because they must understand
that it is reporting that will
save the Church, not omertà.'”
Omertà is the Italian word for
a code of silence.
The archbishop, 56, is the
head of a board within the
Congregation for the Doctrine
of the Faith that deals with
appeals filed by clergy accused
of abuse. Before he was named
an auxiliary bishop in Malta in
2012, Archbishop Scicluna
spent 10 years as promoter of
justice at the doctrinal congregation, handling accusations of
clerical sex abuse. He told La
Repubblica that an important
moment in the film, was a line
spoken by one of the lawyer
protagonists, who said: “If it
takes a village to raise a child,
it takes a village to abuse one.”
Similarly, towards the end
of the film, one senior journalist surprises his colleagues by
asking, “What did we do?”
For the truth is that much
was known and not widely
reported before the expose that
finally led to Cardinal Law’s
resignation.
That line, “What did we
(Above) A scene from the
Oscar-winning Spolight. (Top, left
to right) Recent films about
issues within the Catholic Church
include Doubt, The Magdalene
Sisters and Philomena
do?” was for me the most powerful in the film. Today the
question, ‘what are we doing?’
is one that all within the
Church—at least here in Scotland—ask themselves on a
very regular basis.
And the reassuring news is
that we are doing a lot to
ensure that the Catholic
Church is the safest of places
for young people and vulnerable people to be. Woeful tales
of past failure may continue to
emerge, but it is perhaps only
by confronting the past with
sincerity and honesty and
humility that the safe future we
all long for con be achieved.
Meanwhile, may we never
stop asking ourselves, “What
are we doing?”
I Ronnie Convery is the
director of communications
for Glasgow Archdiocese
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GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG
THE 40 Days for life Vigil
outside Queen Elizabeth
University Hospital in Glasgow
passed the midway point last
week with a fresh influx of
volunteers, including students
from Strathclyde University
(below.)
POPE Francis asked all
dioceses to host 24 Hours for
the Lord last week on the
Friday and Saturday before
the fourth week of Lent ‘…
to gaze even more attentively
on mercy so that we may
become a more effective sign
of the Father's action in our
lives.’
Here in Scotland Our Lady
of Good Aid Cathedral in
Motherwell and St Mirin’s
Cathedral in Paisley lead the
way, with individual parishes
also taking part in these and
other diocese. Churches and
cathedrals taking part were
open for Exposition and
Adoration of the Eucharist and
the opportunity for the
Scarament of Reconciliation.
These kind of all-night vigils
are not new to the Church nor
to Scotland but what a simple
yet effective way of taking
part in the Jubilee Year of
Mercy.
12
LIFE MATTERS
LIFE MATTERS
13
EVENTFUL YEAR FOR HOSPICE
S
MICHAEL McCARTNEY, communications officer at ST MARGARET OF SCOTLAND HOSPICE, outlines the many colourful events that it has planned as part of its annual fundraising calendar
T MARGARET of Scotland Hospice is set to
embark on the first of our calendar of fundraising
events for 2016. The Celtic Ceilidh Dinner and
Dance on Friday March 11, offers guests a chance
to enjoy a superb evening combining a formal
meal with lively music—all against the stunning backdrop of
Glasgow’s Òran Mór venue. In the weeks that follow, we will
also see annual favourites the Sports Dinner and the Ladies’
Lunch return as our events calendar gets into full swing.
Which brings us nicely to the subject of a new event on our
list—a golf day in July—more on which this day will follow
later in the column.
Now for more about the hospice Celtic Ceilidh Dinner
and Dance—tickets have been selling well for what has
become a very popular event and well-established event. We
are grateful for the support of our hosts on the evening, Òran
Mór, and would also like to thank those who are supporting
the hospice by attending the event. Those guests attending for
the full evening will enjoy a sparkling reception, followed by
a delicious three-course meal before the dance gets under
way. And for others who would prefer to simply enjoy the
traditional music and dancing, we have also been selling
late-entry tickets for the ceilidh only.
“The annual Celtic Ceilidh Dinner and Dance will get
this year’s programme under way and is always an
enjoyable, upbeat occasion,” Sr Rita Dawson, hospice chief
executive said looking ahead to the event.
“Our work at the hospice never stops and we value your
assistance as we meet new challenges and continue to provide
the highest standards of care to our patients. We hope you
will be able to join us and thank you as ever for your support.”
Moving ahead to the month of May, our Sports Dinner
will again take place at Glasgow’s Radisson Blue Hotel.
Compered by our popular host Peter Martin, the event, on
Friday May 6, includes a sparkling reception and a fantastic
four-course meal before guests are entertained by a raffle
and an auction—both featuring outstanding prizes—followed
by top-class guest speakers. Tickets are available now for
£55 or an early-bird offer of £500 for a table of 10. Please
go to eventbrite.co.uk and search for St Margaret of Scotland
Hospice Sports Dinner to buy online or call our fundraising
department on 0141 435 7018 to purchase by phone.
Just a couple of weeks later on Sunday May 22, it’s the
turn of the ladies. The Hospice Ladies’ Lunch, also at the
Radisson Blu, is always a well-attended event that continues
to grow in popularity every year. This year, we have given
it a vintage theme, which will have our guests combining the
classy with the classic. The event will begin with a sparkling
reception and there will be an array of pop-up stalls selling
clothing and handbags from well-known brands, together
with hand-crafted Scottish products such as confectionery and
cosmetics. There will then be a three-course lunch, following
which guests can enjoy a high-class catwalk, hosted by
Mark Heyes of GMTV with Lorraine fame. Covers band The
Singer Swingers, who are regular favourites at many of our
major events, have also been booked to perform. Tickets are
available at eventbrite.co.uk and can be accessed by searching
for St Margaret of Scotland Hospice Ladies’ Lunch. Tickets
are £50 or an early-bird rate of £450 for a table of 10.
Next up on the calendar is the Millport Cycle on Saturday,
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June 11. It will follow a similar format to last year, when 26
participants left the hospice early in the morning to head for
the coast before returning in the evening after their 10-mile
circuit of the Isle of Cumbrae (above left).
N
ow on to some exciting news for our supporters and
particularly those who enjoy a round of golf. This
year, we are introducing a golf day to our fundraising
calendar with the inaugural event taking place on Friday
August 19 at Clober Golf Club, Milngavie. It is expected to
feature up to 100 players in teams of four. There will be
some light-hearted competition on the day, with many prizes
to be won, in addition to a meal and further games and social
activities in the clubhouse later in the day.
We would be very appreciative of the help of our supporters
in attending or spreading the word about this event. If you’d
be interested in taking part, please get in contact with our
fundraising team and if you know of any keen golfers of any
ability in your work or social circles, please pass on the
details and inform them they will be made very welcome on
what looks sure to be a fantastic day.
Another outdoor activity follows and again it’s the turn
of the ladies, who will take part in the colourful and energetic
5K Midnight Walk on Saturday, September 3 (above centre).
More than 400 women and girls participated last year, enjoying
live music and a keep-fit warm-up session before setting off
along the A82 and returning to enjoy a presentation ceremony
and refreshments, including a barbecue.
Later in the year, we have our biggest event—the Annual
Ball. Following on from the success of last year’s event—
named the Sapphire Ball to mark our 65th anniversary—the
ball (above right) is attended by hundreds of guests and features
a superb meal followed by auctions and musical entertainment
from some of the top local names in the business. We return
to the Radisson Blu again for this year’s event, which is yet to
be given a theme and takes place on Saturday October 29.
W
hile a good deal of the focus of our fundraising
team has been on planning these events, we have
also been busy with some new and regular initiatives.
We have been working hard to push our lottery subscriptions,
which offer an opportunity to support the hospice while also
being in with a chance of winning excellent cash prizes each
month. Alongside this, we are also holding a Summer Draw
on Friday June 24 with each ticket at £1 and prizes of £3000,
£1000 and three prizes of £500 just in time for the summer
holidays. We would be grateful for as much support as possible.
In addition to the loyal backing of our many friends and
supporters, we are also very grateful for the help we receive
from the business and corporate community. We have
recently been reviewing our corporate sponsorship packages
and will soon have a number of offerings available to local,
national or international companies to get involved with our
major events and ongoing fundraising.
With Make a Will Month approaching, beginning on April
4, we are also working on two important campaigns.
Our Venerable Mary Aikenhead Legacy Appeal offers
supporters the chance to become a founding member by
making a pledge to the Hospice in their Will. A gift in your
will to the hospice is a gift to us to continue our work and to
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carry on the legacy of our founder, the Venerable Mary
Aikenhead.
And in the run-up to Make a Will Month, we are
encouraging those considering making a pledge to get in
contact with one of our participating solicitors, who are
offering their services over the duration of the promotional
month until May 3.
Please contact us on 0141 435 7018 or legacy@smh
.org.uk to find out more, to obtain a list of solicitors—who
will be offering Wills at a special rate and donating the fee
to St Margaret of Scotland Hospice—or to receive a brochure
for the Venerable Mother Mary Aikenhead Appeal, which
will run before, during and beyond Make a Will Month.
As you can see, we have a very busy time ahead. We are
sure you will join us in looking ahead to this year’s hospice
events with great anticipation and thank you for your continued
support in these regular and new activities, as well as the
many others taking place to assist us in raising vital funds.
www.smh.org.uk
12
LIFE MATTERS
LIFE MATTERS
13
EVENTFUL YEAR FOR HOSPICE
S
MICHAEL McCARTNEY, communications officer at ST MARGARET OF SCOTLAND HOSPICE, outlines the many colourful events that it has planned as part of its annual fundraising calendar
T MARGARET of Scotland Hospice is set to
embark on the first of our calendar of fundraising
events for 2016. The Celtic Ceilidh Dinner and
Dance on Friday March 11, offers guests a chance
to enjoy a superb evening combining a formal
meal with lively music—all against the stunning backdrop of
Glasgow’s Òran Mór venue. In the weeks that follow, we will
also see annual favourites the Sports Dinner and the Ladies’
Lunch return as our events calendar gets into full swing.
Which brings us nicely to the subject of a new event on our
list—a golf day in July—more on which this day will follow
later in the column.
Now for more about the hospice Celtic Ceilidh Dinner
and Dance—tickets have been selling well for what has
become a very popular event and well-established event. We
are grateful for the support of our hosts on the evening, Òran
Mór, and would also like to thank those who are supporting
the hospice by attending the event. Those guests attending for
the full evening will enjoy a sparkling reception, followed by
a delicious three-course meal before the dance gets under
way. And for others who would prefer to simply enjoy the
traditional music and dancing, we have also been selling
late-entry tickets for the ceilidh only.
“The annual Celtic Ceilidh Dinner and Dance will get
this year’s programme under way and is always an
enjoyable, upbeat occasion,” Sr Rita Dawson, hospice chief
executive said looking ahead to the event.
“Our work at the hospice never stops and we value your
assistance as we meet new challenges and continue to provide
the highest standards of care to our patients. We hope you
will be able to join us and thank you as ever for your support.”
Moving ahead to the month of May, our Sports Dinner
will again take place at Glasgow’s Radisson Blue Hotel.
Compered by our popular host Peter Martin, the event, on
Friday May 6, includes a sparkling reception and a fantastic
four-course meal before guests are entertained by a raffle
and an auction—both featuring outstanding prizes—followed
by top-class guest speakers. Tickets are available now for
£55 or an early-bird offer of £500 for a table of 10. Please
go to eventbrite.co.uk and search for St Margaret of Scotland
Hospice Sports Dinner to buy online or call our fundraising
department on 0141 435 7018 to purchase by phone.
Just a couple of weeks later on Sunday May 22, it’s the
turn of the ladies. The Hospice Ladies’ Lunch, also at the
Radisson Blu, is always a well-attended event that continues
to grow in popularity every year. This year, we have given
it a vintage theme, which will have our guests combining the
classy with the classic. The event will begin with a sparkling
reception and there will be an array of pop-up stalls selling
clothing and handbags from well-known brands, together
with hand-crafted Scottish products such as confectionery and
cosmetics. There will then be a three-course lunch, following
which guests can enjoy a high-class catwalk, hosted by
Mark Heyes of GMTV with Lorraine fame. Covers band The
Singer Swingers, who are regular favourites at many of our
major events, have also been booked to perform. Tickets are
available at eventbrite.co.uk and can be accessed by searching
for St Margaret of Scotland Hospice Ladies’ Lunch. Tickets
are £50 or an early-bird rate of £450 for a table of 10.
Next up on the calendar is the Millport Cycle on Saturday,
WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK
June 11. It will follow a similar format to last year, when 26
participants left the hospice early in the morning to head for
the coast before returning in the evening after their 10-mile
circuit of the Isle of Cumbrae (above left).
N
ow on to some exciting news for our supporters and
particularly those who enjoy a round of golf. This
year, we are introducing a golf day to our fundraising
calendar with the inaugural event taking place on Friday
August 19 at Clober Golf Club, Milngavie. It is expected to
feature up to 100 players in teams of four. There will be
some light-hearted competition on the day, with many prizes
to be won, in addition to a meal and further games and social
activities in the clubhouse later in the day.
We would be very appreciative of the help of our supporters
in attending or spreading the word about this event. If you’d
be interested in taking part, please get in contact with our
fundraising team and if you know of any keen golfers of any
ability in your work or social circles, please pass on the
details and inform them they will be made very welcome on
what looks sure to be a fantastic day.
Another outdoor activity follows and again it’s the turn
of the ladies, who will take part in the colourful and energetic
5K Midnight Walk on Saturday, September 3 (above centre).
More than 400 women and girls participated last year, enjoying
live music and a keep-fit warm-up session before setting off
along the A82 and returning to enjoy a presentation ceremony
and refreshments, including a barbecue.
Later in the year, we have our biggest event—the Annual
Ball. Following on from the success of last year’s event—
named the Sapphire Ball to mark our 65th anniversary—the
ball (above right) is attended by hundreds of guests and features
a superb meal followed by auctions and musical entertainment
from some of the top local names in the business. We return
to the Radisson Blu again for this year’s event, which is yet to
be given a theme and takes place on Saturday October 29.
W
hile a good deal of the focus of our fundraising
team has been on planning these events, we have
also been busy with some new and regular initiatives.
We have been working hard to push our lottery subscriptions,
which offer an opportunity to support the hospice while also
being in with a chance of winning excellent cash prizes each
month. Alongside this, we are also holding a Summer Draw
on Friday June 24 with each ticket at £1 and prizes of £3000,
£1000 and three prizes of £500 just in time for the summer
holidays. We would be grateful for as much support as possible.
In addition to the loyal backing of our many friends and
supporters, we are also very grateful for the help we receive
from the business and corporate community. We have
recently been reviewing our corporate sponsorship packages
and will soon have a number of offerings available to local,
national or international companies to get involved with our
major events and ongoing fundraising.
With Make a Will Month approaching, beginning on April
4, we are also working on two important campaigns.
Our Venerable Mary Aikenhead Legacy Appeal offers
supporters the chance to become a founding member by
making a pledge to the Hospice in their Will. A gift in your
will to the hospice is a gift to us to continue our work and to
WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK
carry on the legacy of our founder, the Venerable Mary
Aikenhead.
And in the run-up to Make a Will Month, we are
encouraging those considering making a pledge to get in
contact with one of our participating solicitors, who are
offering their services over the duration of the promotional
month until May 3.
Please contact us on 0141 435 7018 or legacy@smh
.org.uk to find out more, to obtain a list of solicitors—who
will be offering Wills at a special rate and donating the fee
to St Margaret of Scotland Hospice—or to receive a brochure
for the Venerable Mother Mary Aikenhead Appeal, which
will run before, during and beyond Make a Will Month.
As you can see, we have a very busy time ahead. We are
sure you will join us in looking ahead to this year’s hospice
events with great anticipation and thank you for your continued
support in these regular and new activities, as well as the
many others taking place to assist us in raising vital funds.
www.smh.org.uk
14
FR ROLHEISER
God will get to us, one way or another
I
happens then is not comfortable,
dignified, or serene. Rather there is a
painful, sometimes excruciating, almost
always humiliating, breakdown of the
body. In that process we lose basically
everything that is dear to us: our
health, our natural bodily beauty, our
dignity, and sometimes even our mind.
Dying is rarely beautiful, save in
another aesthetic.
S
BY FR RONALD
ROLHEISER
N A deeply insightful book, The
Grace of Dying, Kathleen
Dowling Singh shares insights
she has gleaned as a health
professional from being present
to hundreds of people while they
are dying. Among other things, she
suggests that the dying process itself,
in her words, ‘is exquisitely calibrated
to automatically produce union with
Spirit.’ In essence, what she is saying
is that what is experienced by someone
in the final stages and moments of
dying, particularly if the death is not a
sudden one, is a purgation that
naturally lessens the person’s grip on
the things of this world as well as on
his or her own ego so as to be ready to
enter into a new realm of life and
meaning beyond our present realm of
consciousness. The dying process
itself, she submits, midwifes us into a
wider, deeper life.
But that does not come without a
weighty price tag. The dying process
is not a pleasant one. Most of us do not
die peacefully in our sleep, comfortable,
dignified, and serene. The norm rather
is the kind of death that comes about
by ageing or by terminal disease. What
o how is the process of dying
calibrated to help ease our grip
on this world and more gracefully
move on to the next world? Dying
matures the soul. How so?
Writing about ageing, James Hillman
poses this question: Why have God
and nature so constructed things that
as we age and mature and are finally
more in control of our lives, our bodies
begin to fall apart and we need a bevy
of doctors and medicines to keep
functioning. Is there some wisdom in
the very DNA of the life-process that
mandates the breakdown of physical
health in late life? Hillman says, yes.
There’s an innate wisdom in the
process of ageing and dying—the best
wines have to be aged in cracked old
barrels. The breakdown of our bodies
deepens, softens, and matures the soul.
Jesus teaches us this lesson, and it
is a truth He Himself had to accept,
with considerable reluctance, in His
own life. Facing His own death the
night before He died, prostrate on the
ground in Gethsemane (above right),
He begs His Father: “Let this cup pass
from me! Yet, not my will, but yours,
be done.” In essence, He is asking God
whether there is a road to glory and
vision of Easter Sunday without passing
through the pain and humiliation of
Good Friday. It seems there isn’t.
Humiliation and depth are inextricably
linked. After His Resurrection, talking
with His disciples on the road to
Emmaus, He says to them: “Wasn’t it
necessary that the Christ should so
suffer?” This is more a revelation of
truth than a question. The answer is
already clear: The road to depth
necessarily passes through pain and
humiliation. Kathleen Dowling Singh
and James Hillman simply format this
positively: Pain and humiliation are
naturally calibrated to move us beyond
what is more superficial to what is
deeper. Pain and humiliation, and there
is invariably a certain dying in these,
help open us up to deeper consciousness.
And we know this already from
common sense. If we honestly assess
our own experience we have to admit
that most of the things that have made
us deep are things we would be
ashamed to talk about because they
were humiliating. Humiliation is what
humbles and deepens us. Our successes,
on the contrary, which we do like to
talk about, generally produce inflations
in our lives.
The famed psychologist/philosopher,
William James, submits that there are
realms of reality and consciousness
that lie beyond what we presently
experience. All religion, not least
Christianity, tells us the same thing.
But our normal consciousness and selfawareness literally set up boundaries
that prevent us from going there.
Normally, for us, there’s this world,
this reality, and that’s all! The dying
process helps break open that contraction
in our perception, awareness, and
consciousness. It is calibrated to open
us up to a reality and a consciousness
beyond what we presently deem as real.
But there are other paths to this too,
outside the process of dying. Prayer
What do you think of FR ROLHEISER’S comments on DYING? Send your points of view to
the SCO. Write to Letters, SCO, 19 Waterloo St, Glasgow G2 6BT or e-mail info@sconews.co.uk
IN AMSTERDAM, the capital
of German-occupied Holland
in the Second World War,
Anne Frank and her family
and four other Jews hid from
the Nazis in concealed rooms
in what had been her father’s
offices. For more than two
years they were secure there,
unknown to those who worked
in the building, except for a
friend who arranged to get
food to them. They were
betrayed in 1944, and all eight
were sent to the death camps.
Only Anne’s father—Otto
Frank—survived and returned.
Anne died of typhus in the
concentration camp of BergenBelsen on March 12, 1945,
aged 15. Only weeks later the
camp was liberated.
Anne Frank’s story is now
known to millions across the
world because of the diary that
she kept about her innermost
thoughts during those years in
hiding. Her father discovered
the diary on his return to their
hiding-place, once the war
ended. The Diary of Anne Frank
has sold 25 million copies, and
has been printed in over 50
languages.
This is an excerpt from
Anne’s diary, dated Saturday
July 15, 1944: “It’s really a
wonder that I haven’t dropped
all my ideals because they
seem so absurd and impossible
to carry out. Yet I keep them,
because in spite of everything
I still believe that people are
really good at heart.
“I simply can’t build up my
hopes on a foundation consisting
of confusion, misery, and death.
I see the world gradually being
turned into a wilderness. I hear
the ever approaching thunder,
which will destroy us, too. I
can feel the suffering of
millions and yet, if I look up
into the heavens, I think that it
will all come right, that this
cruelty, too, will end, and that
peace and tranquility will
return again.
“In the meantime, I must
uphold my ideals, for perhaps
the time will come when I
shall be able to carry them out.”
PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK
Let us pause for a moment
in silent prayer, thinking of all
those who suffer prejudice and
persecution because of their
race, colour, religion or
political views.
God our Father, you call each
of us by name and you know
the innermost thoughts that
we keep to ourselves. Stay
with us, day by day, in good
times and in bad.
Empower us with your Spirit
that we may grow in character
and develop a true sense of
values and ideals through
following Jesus, your Son and
our Brother. Amen.
THE people of Argentina and
Chile were preparing for war
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and meditation are meant to do for us
exactly what the dying process does.
They too are exquisitely calibrated to
loosen our grip on this world and open
our awareness to another. As Ms Singh
puts it: “The path to the transpersonal
realms, which the saints and sages of
every age have known through the
practice of meditation and prayer,
appears to be the same transformative
path that each of us traverses in the
process of dying.”
That’s consoling: God is going to
get us, one way or the other.
I Fr Ronald Rolheiser is a priest and
member of the Missionary Oblates of
Mary Immaculate. He is president of
the Oblate School of Theology in San
Antonio, Texas. Visit his website at
www.ronrolheiser.com
The views expressed in the opinion
pages of the SCO are those of
informed individuals and groups and
not necessarily those of the
newspaper or the Church
because of a dispute over which
country owned some land high
in the Andes mountains that
separated the two countries. On
Easter Sunday many people
gathered in the cathedral of
Buenos Aires, the capital of
Argentina. The bishop preached
in his sermon about the need
for peace. Many disagreed
with him, but some supported
him—including a bishop in
the opposing country of Chile
who went about his own country,
also preaching peace.
Such was the effect of the
two bishops on the people of
their countries, that the two
governments felt they should
step back from war and talk
with each other again. They
agreed to invite King Edward
VII of Britain to make a
decision about who should
own the land over which they
were about to go to war.
The bishop from Argentina
had said: “I would like to see
Christ standing between our
two nations, guiding us and
leading us.” Some people
decided to take this literally
and set about fundraising to
build a statue of Christ. On
March 13, 1904, representatives
of both countries gathered
around the huge statue that
had been built on one of the
mountains of the Andes,
between both nations. This is
one of the prayers used: “That
these great mountains may
crumble into dust before the
peoples of Argentina and Chile
break the peace which we
have promised to keep, here at
the feet of Christ.”
The huge statue of ‘Christ
of the Andes’ is a great symbol
and reminder of the need to
work together for peace.
Lord, inspire us to act justly,
love tenderly and walk humbly
with you, our God.
Breathe upon us your Spirit
of peace that we may be bearers
of reconciliation wherever you
place us.
May there be peace in our
hearts, in our homes, in our land
and between all people. Amen.
REFLECTION
15
EWTN PROGRAMMES
What is fasting?
F
In our series on spirituality, ABBOT MARK CAIRA from NUNRAW ABBEY
says Lent is a chance for us to become better versions of ourselves
ASTING is deeper than doing
without things, giving in charity,
and saying more prayers. It is
doing these things with a deeper
intent. The fasting that we find
spoken of by Jesus in the Gospels and by
others in the scriptures generally is one that
does not cling to our own selfish interests. It
does not look to see what people think of us,
or to hold tightly to our possessions.
There are times when we have all risen to
the challenge of giving away a lot of our
clothing and other accumulated possessions
at moments of crisis, like the sorrowful plight
of the homeless and penniless immigrants
we are so conscious of today. But true fasting
directs us to changing our general attitude so
that we become much more aware of the
needy at home and in other parts of the
world. There are many who are doing that
already. They don’t see this as something good
they are doing but as something that needs
to be done to help those who are so much
less able to fend for themselves than we are.
At the beginning of Lent we have this
pointed out to us in the Liturgy. On Ash
Wednesday (above), for example, we read Jesus’
words in the Gospel from Matthew, chapter
6, about not parading our good works to
attract attention, about praying in private to
Our Father in secret; and about doing without
food or drink. We are to do that and not let
people know that we are depriving ourselves
but to appear happy and cheerful. Our minds
should be on the reason we are doing these
things—our love of God who loves us and
who has our own wellbeing and care in His own
heart. We are not only to appear happy, but to
be cheerful and happy in doing these things.
Jean Vanier, the founder of the L’Arche
communities, says that we should always
A SPIRITUAL
REFLECTION
celebrate when the opportunity arises.
However, life is not one long feast. There are
times when we should do without. Lent is
one of them. It has been said that we cannot
truly feast unless we have learnt to prepare
for it with fasting. Fasting is good for us
physically but also for our inner selves. We
can feast better when the body and the heart
have been restrained before the celebration.
S
t Benedict says in his Rule that the life
of a monk should be Lenten in character.
That may sound a bit like a killjoy
attitude. However, Benedict was concerned
about his monks truly seeking God. There must
always be honesty in the monk’s intention.
That surely is what Lent is about. It is to be
truly open to God in all of life, in season and
out of season, in the daily living of community
life and in our prayer alone before God. We
don’t have to be joyless in Lent or at any
other time of our lives. But we do always
have to try and be honest with ourselves.
That applies to us whoever and whatever we
are, in Lent as well as in the rest of our lives.
What does honesty mean? In Lent as well
as at other times, it means dealing justly with
others, treating them with the respect and
care that they deserve as fellow human
beings. Each of us stands shoulder to shoulder
before God. That basic understanding of a
common humanity was enshrined in the laws
of the desert people who later became the
Chosen People of God. Their rules may look
severe to us as at times, but there was a builtin protection for those who were destitute,
for those who were the victims of unforeseen
tragedy or other calamity. There were even
laws that gave the poor their property back
after a certain number of years. The people
were not to be victims of their unfortunate
loss forever.
O
ur lives as Christians are meant to
make a difference to how we act and
behave with others. Lent is a good
opportunity to check how well we are sticking
to that commitment. We can look to see where
we have fallen away from our awareness of
the gifts God has given us and how we use
them to benefit others. We may find that we
are being called to do more with our lives.
We may have come to a time in our lives
when we feel drawn to go deeper or to uproot
ourselves to meet challenges elsewhere. The
choices are endless.
Lent is all about taking our lives seriously.
We can do that by going aside from some of
our normal activities. We can make time, not
necessarily to fast in the normal sense but to
actually feed our hearts and minds with the
good food the scriptures or other inspiring
writings offer us. Thus energised, we will be
more fully capable of doing God’s work.
Others will see that we have become better
persons. They will see what we do because
we believe it to be true and right and not just
to attract attention
WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK
SUNDAY MARCH 13
11AM
ANGELUS WITH POPE FRANCIS
12.05PM
ROME’S HIDDEN CHURCHES: A
LENTEN PILGRIMAGE
1PM
LIVE SUNDAY MASS FROM
EWTN
6PM
THE WORLD OVER LIVE
8PM
THE CHURCH UNIVERSAL
9PM
SUNDAY NIGHT PRIME
10PM
VATICANO
MONDAY MARCH 14
12.05PM
LENTEN PILGRIMAGE
1PM
DAILY MASS
9PM
NOTRE DAME DU CAP SHRINE
TUESDAY MARCH 15
1PM
LIVE DAILY MASS FROM EWTN
5.30PM
EWTN NEWS NIGHTLY
9PM
LIVES OF THE SAINTS
WEDNESDAY MARCH 16
12.05PM
LENTEN PILGRIMAGE
1PM
DAILY MASS
5.30PM
EWTN NEWS NIGHTLY
9PM
TRIAL AT TARA
THURSDAY MARCH 2016
1PM
DAILY MASS
5.30PM
EWTN NEWS NIGHTLY
8PM
EWTN LIVE
9PM
HEART SPEAKS TO HEART
FROM HEAVEN: THE NEWMAN
MIRACLE STORY
9.30PM
LENTEN REFLECTIONS
FRIDAY MARCH 18
12.05PM
LENTEN PILGRIMAGE
1PM
DAILY MASS
5.30PM
EWTN NEWS NIGHTLY
6PM
THE WORLD OVER LIVE
9PM
SHRINE OF THE HOLY FAMILY:
PROVENCE, FRANCE
9.30PM
LIFE ON THE ROCK
SATURDAY MARCH 19
1PM
LIVE SOLEMN MASS OF ST
JOSEPH, HUSBAND OF THE
VIRGIN MARY WITH THE MFVA
FRIARS
5.30PM
EWTN NEWS NIGHTLY
7PM
THIRST FOR TRUTH: BATTLE
FOR SOULS
9PM
CONVERSATION WITH CARDINAL
LAY READERS’ GUIDE
SUNDAY MARCH 13
Isaiah 43:16-21. Response: What marvels the
Lord worked for us! Indeed we are glad. Philippians
3:8-14. John 8:1-11. OR reading from Year A.
Ezekiel 37:12-14, Response: With the Lord there
is mercy and fullness of redemption.
Romans 8:8-11. John 11:1-45
MONDAY
Daniel 13:1-9, 15-17, 19-30, 33-62. Response: If I
should walk in the valley of darkness, no evil would
I fear. John 8:12-20.
TUESDAY
Numbers 21:4-9. Response: O Lord, listen to my
prayer and let my cry for help reach you. John
8:21-30 5-16.
WEDNESDAY
Daniel 3:14-20, 91-92, 95. Response: To you glory
and praise for evermore. John 8:31-42.
THURSDAY
Feast of St Patrick. Amos 7:12-15, Response: If I
dwell at the seaʼs furthest end even there you
watch over me. Thessalonians 2:2-8, Luke 5:1-1.
FRIDAY
Jeremiah 20:10-13. Response: In my anguish I
called to the Lord, and He heard my voice.
John 10:31-42.
SATURDAY
Solemnity of St Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed
Virgin Mary. 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16.
Response: His dynasty shall last forever. Romans
4:13, 16-18, 22. Matthew 1:16, 18-21,24a.
16
THAT’S LIFE
I know nothing about child-rearing today
THAT’S LIFE realises tending to a baby ‘was very different’ in grandparents’ days but family ties still bind us all close
E
By Mary
McGinty
VERY dog has its day, so they say. And,
clearly, I’ve had mine. I feel like Fawlty
Towers’ Manuel (far right)—’I know
nothing.’ For the first week I was saying ‘it was different in my day’ with
such frequency I was beginning to bore myself,
never mind what it was doing to the new parents.
It was only ever met with a smile from the new
parents so I have to hope they were in such a
cocoon of happiness with their boy that it all went
over their heads. Perhaps not, and visits from the
old granny is their mortification for Lent.
If you are happily anticipating the birth of a
grandchild, my top tip is, don’t bother about it all
coming back to you. None of it is relevant anymore. For instance, in our day, babies were put
to sleep on their side and fed four hourly. Now they
sleep on their backs and feeding is on more
of a whim.
My babies thrived on their routines and this little fella is flourishing as his develops, so I can only
conclude that babies are robust enough to prosper
in spite of the dictates of the time. Ducks to water,
best describes the mammy and daddy who are settling in to parenthood no trouble at all. Fair play
to the boy, himself. So far, he is incredibly easy
going. And that’s not just a proud gran talking,
honest.
One major difference from my day is the ease
with which today’s parents can find answers to the
many questions that pepper the first weeks of their
CROSSWORD
1
2
3
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8
Gordius No 237
5
6
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13&21a
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Send your completed
crossword entries—along with
your full name address and
daytime phone number—to
CROSSWORD CONTEST SCO 19
WATERLOO ST GLASGOW G2
6BT
The winner’s name will be
printed below.
27
ACROSS
A Toothed wheel (3)
Will this piece of meat satisfy a space invader? (6,5)
Must this group meet to make a calico ship
run off? (6,7)
Passé (8)
Submolecular particles (5)
Informal language, jargon (5)
Sweet, sticky liquid (5)
Bearing in mind; aware (7)
See 8 across
Cads can be such hot, slippery types! (5)
See 13 down
How can the cardinal aid a pup? (5)
One showed appreciation where a clergyman
wandered (8)
Rock travelling through space (6)
Offensively destroying all tests? Yes (11)
The cunning end of 26 across (3)
DOWN
First entry out the hat on
FRIDAY MARCH 18 will be the
winner
Peter Pan's archenemy (7,4)
A hideous carving is the undoing of the grey gaol (8)
A fireman initially avails of circuit-breakers (5)
Garment worn by gymnasts and dancers (7)
Teams (5)
Lure into a snare (6)
Young goat (3)
Is it the hooley at the prosecutor’s office after a
person is identified as this? (6,5)
Asian country, capital Seoul (5,5)
Very religious (5)
Negligent (8)
Perhaps a rose-red altar screen (7)
The fruit of wrath? (6)
Make amends (5)
Looks like its dy, and not DY that is in such a
neglected state! (5)
Perform a role in a play or film (3)
baby’s life. We were limited to our mini-library of
baby manuals, and a few trusted and more experienced mothers or, if we were sufficiently concerned, our family doctor. This generation of
parents grew up with the internet and the information they seek is accessed as quickly as the click of
the return key on their iPad.
I
thought of doing my own little bit of research to
find out when my two-week old grandson will
know me. But why spoil the happy delusion? I
know better, but I like to think he knows it’s me
when I sing Guardian Angel. I plan to keep on
crooning into his ear until he forms his first
sentence which, given my complete lack of pitch
and tone, is most likely to be ‘gonnae give it a
rest, Gran.’
His birth was well-timed for Mothers’ Day and
pushing him in his pram to Mass made my day. It
was always going to be a milestone, but as it turned
out, it had an unexpected poignancy.
Even revelling in the sight of Benedict in his
mother’s arms, my thoughts were never far from
another mother—very dear to me—whose heart
was broken forever earlier in the week. My aunt in
South Africa—the last remaining sibling in my
mother’s family—had to bear the terrible news that
her middle son, Francis, had been killed in a road
accident. On Mother’s Day there can be no mother
more deserving of prayers than the mother who has
had to give her child back to God.
Living a five-hour drive away, Francis was not
an everyday physical presence in her life, but he
was ever-present in her heart. Francis and his wife
had recently become grandparents for the first
time, experiencing the elation that we are still
enjoying.
Outliving a child seems to contradict the laws of
SUDOKU
6
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The editor’s decision is final
MARCH 4
SOLUTION
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8
ACROSS
1 Ivy 3 Haberdasher
8 Seeing is believing
9 Replaced 10 Fudge
11 Tutti frutti 13 Stoop
15 Ragwort 16 Resolve
20 Wrens 21 Pared
23 Value 24 Jettison
25 Delphi
26 Bridesmaids 27 Tag
nature. Only a mother who has lost a child can
truly appreciate my aunt’s grief. The rest of us can
only imagine, and that is painful enough. Of the
five South African cousins, Francis was the
only one I had never met. Somehow that doesn’t
matter. We shared the bonds of blood and the ties
of family
Informing cousins, and passing the awful news
around was a sad duty. Like so many families, as
the years go on, death is the most likely unifier. It’s
a melancholy thought. We won’t be at his funeral
but across the seas we will be united in prayer.
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AND EVERY 3 BY 3 BOX CONTAINS
THE NUMBERS 1 TO 9. NO GUESS
WORK IS REQUIRED AND THERE
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IS THE MAR 4 SIMPLE SOLUTION
DOWN
1 It’s a fair cop
2 Yielding 3 Hinge
4 Eardrop 7 Rod
13 Straw 14 Peeks
17 Lilliput 18 Veranda
22 Drive 23 Views
24 Job
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3
Scottish Catholic Observer:
Scotland’s only national
Catholic weekly newspaper
printed by Trinity Mirror, Oldham.
Registered at the Post Office
as a newspaper.
4
1
6
8
1
FEBRUARY 26’s crossword
competition winner was:
M Mackintosh, Fort William
MODERATE
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CHURCH NOTICES
17
CHURCH & PUBLIC NOTICES
To
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C o a t b r i dg e
A
LENTEN
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Choral music, readings and hymns of reflection for
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Sacred Triduum and Easter
Monday 21 March @ 7.30p.m.
S t A u g u s t i n e ’ s C h u r ch , D u n d y v a n R d , C o a t b r i d g e
(next to The Time Capsule) – admission free
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125TH ANNIVERSARY OF ST PATRICK’S SHIELDMUIR
AND
10TH ANNIVERSARY OF POLISH CHAPLAINCY IN
MOTHERWELL DIOCESE
The Sisters of the Gospel of Life
invite you to a
Monthly Mass for Life
At Blessed John Duns Scotus Church
270 Ballater Street, Glasgow, G5 0YT
Celebrant: Mgr James Ryan
Wednesday March 16th
Exposition 6pm, Rosary 7pm, Mass 7.30pm
Followed by tea, coffee & a chance to meet
up with pro-life friends
THURSDAY 17TH MARCH
7PM SOLEMN MASS
MAIN CELEBRANT RIGHT REVEREND
BP JOSEPH TOAL
ST. PATRICK’S, SHIELDMUIR
71 SHIELDMUIR STREET
WISHAW, ML2 7TH
Catholic Charismatic Renewal
St. Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese
Day of Renewal
VENUE: St John Ogilvie’s Church, Wester Hailes, Edinburgh EH11 4PY
Saturday 19 March, starting at 11.30am
(not our normal 10.30 start)
Fr Stefan Park
Theme: “Why are you asleep?” Lk 22:46
Join us for a day of prayer and praise, healing & Holy Mass
gospeloflifesisters.wordpress.com
St. Michael’s, Moodiesburn
(Glenmanor Ave, G69 0DL)
announces
A Day of Confessions
On Monday of Holy Week
From after 10.00am Mass until 8.00pm.
A different priest each hour.
All are welcome.
MOTHERWELL DIOCESAN CHOIR
Direct ed b y John Pit cat hl e y
present
“The Music of Mercy”
A Holy Week reflection for
the Year of Mercy
in
The Cathedral, Motherwell
Tuesday 22nd March at 7.30pm
ALL WELCOME
KNOCK& LOUGH DERG / DONEGAL
PILGRIMAGE 2016
Monday 4th July - Friday 8th July 2016
Cost:
Knock/ Lough Derg - £250
Knock/ Donegal - £320
To book or for further information contact:
Anne 07901873259 / anne.doherty61@hotmail.co.uk
or Liam 0141 569 1928 / liam.coyle1@ntlworld.com
Invitation
There will be a Reunion/ Information meeting in
Eyre Hall, Diocesan Offices, Clyde St, Glasgow
At 2pm, on First Saturday, 2nd April, after 1pm
Mass in St. Andrewʼs Cathedral
First Saturday Devotions begin at 12 noon.
Tea, coffee and entertainment after for all past pilgrims
and to welcome new ones.
All Welcome
Glasgow Catholic Charismatic Renewal
DAY OF RENEWAL
on
18th and 19th March
Friday: 7pm-9pm
Saturday: 10.30am-4pm
Guest speaker: Ged Farrell
National Coordinator of the SCCR
Getting there: buses number 60Aor 7; train Maryhill Station
Please bring a packed lunch.Teas and coffees provided.
ALL WELCOME
For more information contact: Teresa 07800 717949 or
email glasgow.service.team@gmail.com
Let Glasgow flourish through the preaching of thy word
and praising of thy name.
WHY NOT BOOK AN ADVERT FOR YOUR UPCOMING EASTER AND DIVINE MERCY EVENTS?
DEADLINE FOR THE EASTER EDITION IS THE 18TH OF MARCH
18
FAMILY ANNOUNCEMENTS
RECRUITMENT
The Scottish Catholic Observer seeks to appoint a
Circulation Sales Executive
You will have responsibility for circulation of the
Scottish Catholic Observer & Magnificat (in
Scotland) including:
• Parish sales and promotion
• Subscription sales and promotions
• Distribution logistics
Reporting to the SCOʼs Commercial Director
you will help develop new marketing and sales
strategies to increase the current circulation of
both publications.
The successful candidate will be motivated and
well-organised, preferably with experience in
sales and marketing. Good communication and
IT skills are essential. A knowledge of and
interest in the Scottish Catholic Church is highly
desirable.
• Salary £18,000 + commission
• Location Glasgow City Centre
A covering letter and CV should be sent to:
Rebecca Rigg, Commercial Director,
Scottish Catholic Observer, 19 Waterloo Street,
Glasgow G2 6BT,
or email: rebecca@sconews.co.uk
Call Rebecca Rigg on 0141 241 6102 for further info.
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DEATHS
BURGESS
Torquil Iain died suddenly at
home on February 29,
2016, aged 65 years.
Loving brother of Flora and
brother-in-law to Duncan
and much loved uncle to
Calum and Stuart.
Our Lady of the Isles, pray
for him.
May he rest in peace.
MILLIGAN
Peacefully on March 1, 2016,
surrounded by her family,
following a short illness at
Crosshouse Hospital,
Kilmarnock, Frances Milligan
(née Whittaker) beloved
wife of the late Michael,
much loved mother of John,
Rosella, Michael, Francis
and Anne.
A treasured gran, great-gran,
sister and aunt.
Frances is sadly missed by
all family and friends.
Fortified by the Rites of the
Holy Church.
Eternal rest grant unto her,
O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine
upon her.
Requiescat in Pace.
St Francis of Assisi and St
Patrick, pray for her.
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GALLAGHER
Happy Birthday Andrea on
your 35th birthday on
March 12.
As thoughts go back to the
day you were born,
We treasure the memories
we have of you.
Love you always.
Mum, Dad and all the
family. xx
SMITH
27th Anniversary
Remembering with love,
Paddy, who died May 30,
1989, and whose birthday
falls on March 17.
Thinking of you today as
always.
Goodnight Paddy and God
Bless.
Inserted by his daughter
Grace, London.
RELIGIOUS MEMORIAM
HEARTY
19th Anniversary
In loving memory of Very
Reverend Thomas Canon
Hearty, former Parish Priest
of St John Bosco’s, Erskine,
who died March 17, 1997.
St Patrick, pray for him.
Our Lady of Lourdes, pray
for him.
Sadly missed.
MATTHEWS
Please pray for the repose
of the soul of Very Reverend
Charles Canon Matthews,
Eternal rest grant unto him,
O Lord,
upon him,
for him.
MEMORIAM
ARBUCKLE
In loving memory of our
dear parents, grandparents
and great-grandparents,
Catherine (Kate), who died
March 14, 1988, and
George who died September
28, 1988.
May they rest in peace.
Inserted by the family.
ARMSTRONG
Please pray for the souls of
our dear father, Thomas
Armstrong, who died March
12, 1973, our dear mother,
Jennie, died October 19,
1956, and our dear brother,
Joseph, died December 16,
1984.
Our Lady of the Assumption
and Our Lady of Lourdes,
pray for them.
Place Your Intimation
Announcing,
Remembering,
Thanking
Births, Marriages,
Deaths,Anniversaries
To place a Family Announcement Contact
Patricia Cairney: 0141 241 6106
BOYLE
12th Anniversary of our dad
and papa, Benny. We also
remember our dear mum
and nana, Betty, and our
special sister Betty.
We hold you deep within
our hearts.
Until we meet again.
Your loving family.
BROLLY
Remembering the
seventeenth anniversary of
our beloved Jim, a loving
husband and father, who
died on March 12, 1999.
Also please remember
Mary, his loving wife and
our beautiful mother, who
died February 18, 2015.
Hide me in the shadow of
Your wings.
As for me, in my justice I
shall see Your face and be
filled, when I awake, with
the sight of Your glory.
Eternal rest grant unto
them, O Lord,
And may perpetual light
shine upon them.
From their loving children.
BROLLY
Gerald, whose sixth
anniversary occurs on
March 12, 2016. Also Joe and
Lawrence. All remembered
with love and affection by
their nieces and nephews
Maria, Ann, Kevin and Vincent.
BROWN
Treasured memories of our
parents, John, who died
February 13, 1987 and Liz,
Loved and remembered
every day.
Inserted by Mary, Liz, Tricia,
Jim and John.
CASSIDY, Cathie
8th Anniversary
In loving memory of my dear
mother, Cathie Cassidy,
died March 11, 2008.
for her.
John, Moira.
HUTCHESON
26th Anniversary
In loving memory of my
daughter and our sister,
Catherine, who died March
16, 1990, in the U.S.A; also
her father William, died June
2, 1970, brother, Robert, died
July 2, 2007 and her sister,
Maureen, November 19, 2007.
for them.
Inserted by a loving mother,
wife and family, home and
abroad.
LOW, Robert
dear husband and our dear
father, Robert (Bobby) who
We hold you close within
our hearts,
And there you shall remain,
To walk with us throughout
our lives,
Until we meet again.
Eternal rest grant unto him
O Lord,
upon him,
Inserted by loving wife
Frances and daughters
Veronica, Catherine and
Pauline.
McCABE
23rd Anniversary of Rose
McCabe, who died March
17, 1993.
The time in between
seemed no time at all,
Far too short by far, for us
all,
Forgive us our selfishness,
we won’t let go;
Stay close, please help us
as the days go by,
This day we remember till
the blood runs dry.
Happy Birthday.
Thank you Sacred Heart of
Jesus, St Francis, St Roch
and St Teresa.
Her loving sons Ian and
Kenneth and grandchild
Louise.
Births,
Engagements,
Marriages,
Anniversaries and
Congratulations
19
McCARRON, Joan
Loving memories of our
dear mother, Joan, who
died March 7, 2005.
Always in our thoughts.
Siobhan, Brendan and
Noreen.
MacDONALD
12th Anniversary
Remembering Peggy
MacDonald, who died on
March 12, 2004, aged 75.
So greatly missed by all.
for her.
Forever in our thoughts.
Inserted by her families in
Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Inverness, Australia, Luton,
Pennsylvania and South
Uist.
MacDONALD
dear husband, Andrew, who
R.I.P.
Quietly today your memory
I treasure,
Missing you always,
forgetting you never.
for him.
Inserted by his loving wife
Mary Ann.
McGRANE
4th Anniversary
In loving memory of Finlay,
who died on March 10,
Beloved brother of Michael
and nephew of Aunt Betty.
St Anthony, pray for him.
MacINNES
16th Anniversary
Remembering Calum
Ruaraidh MacInnes, who
died suddenly on March 13,
“O Lord, welcome his soul
into Paradise and from
there may he be together
with the Risen Christ.”
So sadly missed from his
home at Ceannard,
Bornish, South Uist, by his
wife, Mary, daughters
Jessica, Jane, Helen and
Alana.
The families from Glasgow,
Gerinish, South Boisdale
and Fr. Colin, Ecuador.
MacINNES
In fond and loving memory
of John (Iain), a dearly
loved husband and dad,
died so suddenly on March
11, 1995. R.I.P.
Sorely missed.
Sacred Heart of Jesus,
grant him eternal rest.
for him.
Chrissie and family.
McINTOSH
dear mother, Nan (Myles)
McIntosh, who died on St
Patrick’s Day, 2000; also
our dear father, John, who
died on November 10,
1989, and our dear sister,
Ann Du-Feu, who died on
July 3, 2004.
Forever in our hearts.
MacINTYRE
8th Anniversary
Treasured memories of our
dear mum, Mary, who died
March 13, 2008.
Forever in our thoughts.
Our Lady, Star of the Sea,
pray for her.
Inserted by her loving
family, home and away.
Bunessan Street, Glasgow.
Cherished Memories
Of Your Loved Ones
To place your intimation
Call: 0141 241 6106
or
Email: intimations@scottishcatholicobserver.org.uk
MEEHAN, Jean
dear mother, Jean, who
died February 27, 2015.
Always in our thoughts.
Frank, Janet, Margaret,
Charles, Paul and
Kathleen.
McINTYRE
Of your charity, please
remember in your prayers,
the 24th anniversary of
John A.H. McIntyre,
beloved husband and
father, who died March 14,
1992.
Greatly missed.
Catherine and Kathleen.
McKEOWN
Precious memories of our
much loved mother,
Catherine (O’Keefe), who
died March 14, 1994; our
dear father, Patrick, died
October 5, 1975; her
brother, Patrick, died March
14, 1975 and Mary
McKeown, much loved
daughter, sister and aunt,
died November 10, 2008.
Also Matt Thomson, died
November 14, 2009. Much
loved husband, father and
grandfather, Matthew, died
Jan 1, 2012 and Gary
Thomson, September 15,
2011, much loved sons,
nephews and uncles.
St Theresa, St Joseph and
St Patrick, pray for them.
From Morag and Catherine.
MacKINNON
21st Anniversary
dear husband, our dear
father and grandfather,
Calum, who died March 14,
1995. R.I.P.
Fois shiorruidh thoir dha A
Thighearna,
Agus solus nach dibir
dearrsadh air.
Inserted by his loving wife
Hughina and family.
McLAUGHLIN
4th Anniversary
In loving memory of a dear
mum and granny, Moira
(Devlin) who died March
16, 2012.
St Anthony, pray for her.
Inserted by Moira, Richie,
Isabella and Francesca.
McRAE
30th Anniversary
In loving memory of Finlay
McRae, beloved husband
of the late Elizabeth,
dearest father of Betty and
loving grandfather of
Michael, who died March
17, 1986.
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I
place all my trust in Thee.
MOORE
28th Anniversary
dear mother and gran,
Agnes (née Kelly), who
died March 11, 1988, also
our dear father and pa,
Paddy, died November 10,
1976, and our beloved
sister and aunt, Frances
Conway, died March 2,
1991.
“We have loved them in life,
Let us not forget them in
death.”
Inserted by their loving
family.
MURPHY
Please pray for the soul of
our dear sister, Kathleen,
who died March 12, 1982,
beloved daughter of the late
Thomas and Margaret
Murphy.
Our Lady of Lourdes and St
John Ogilvie, pray for her.
Inserted by her family.
O’NEILL
dear mother, Mary
(Chisholm), died March 17,
2007 and our father, Bert,
died March 24, 1959. Also
our brother, John, died April
8, 1996 and our sister,
Pauline, died on September
30, 2013.
Eternal rest grant unto
them, O Lord.
Inserted by the families.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
BURGESS
The family of the late
Torquil Iain Burgess would
like to thank family, friends
and neighbours for all their
kindness and generosity.
We would also like to thank
sincerely Fr Michael
MacDonald, Ardkenneth for
spiritual comfort, Neil
MacIntyre for funeral
arrangements and all those
who assisted at the
graveside. Thanks to the
Borrodale Hotel for catering.
Holy Mass will be offered
for their intentions.
THANKSGIVING
THANKS to Our Lady, St
Philomena and Little Flower
for petitions answered. –
E.C.
GRATEFUL thanks to St
Joseph of Cupertino for
answering exam prayers. –
A.K.
GRATEFUL thanks to St
Theresa, St Clare, St
Anthony and St Joseph for
prayers answered and
ongoing prayers. – A.F.
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
you who can find a way
when there is no way.
Please help. Repeat six
times. Grateful thanks to
Holy Spirit, Saints Anthony,
Martin, Clare, Jude, Child of
Prague, Blessed Mother
Teresa, all saints. Still
praying. – A.T.M.
NOVENA PRAYER TO ST
JUDE
May the Sacred Heart of
Jesus be praised, adored,
glorified and loved
throughout the world now
and forever more. Sacred
Heart of Jesus have mercy
on us. St Jude helper of the
hopeless, pray for us. St Jude,
great miracle worker, pray
for us. Say nine times daily.
- F.M.
DEAR FATHER in heaven,
please send all healing and
love to your special child,
Through the Lord Jesus
Christ. Amen.
20
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SAT 12 MAR Mass in the Scots College Rome to mark the 400th
Anniversary of Mission Oath SUN 13 Mass in the Pontifical Beda
College Rome TUE 15 11AM Meeting of the Board of The Mungo
Foundation 7PM Lenten Station Mass in St Brigid’s Toryglen
WED 16 9.45AM SCIAF Board Meeting FRI 18 Day of Confessions
– Saint Andrew’s Cathedral 7PM Station Mass at Corpus Christi
SAT 19 11AM Setting out on the Road Recall Day 12NOON Mass
to mark the 60th anniversary of ordination of Mgr Jack Sheridan
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SAT 12 MAR 6.30PM Vigil Mass, St John the Evangelist, Edinburgh
SUN 13 9.30AM Mass, St John the Evangelist, Edinburgh 11.30AM
Mass, St John the Evangelist, Edinburgh TUE 15 12.45PM Chapter
Mass, St Mary’s Cathedral, Edinburgh WED 16 10AM SCIAF Board
meeting, Glasgow 7PM Lenten Station Mass, St Agatha’s, Methil
THU 17 11AM St Patrick’s Day Mass, St Margaret of Scotland, Stirling 7PM Mass, 150th Anniversary, St Patrick, Kilsyth
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SAT 12 Pastoral Visit to St Joseph’s, Stepps & St Dominic’s,
Craigend. All Masses SUN 13 Pastoral Visit to St Joseph’s, Stepps
& St Dominic’s, Craigend. All Masses MON 14 10.30AM Pre-Confirmation visit to Holy Family P.S., Mossend 1.30PM Pre-Confirmation
visit to St Gerard’s PS, Bellshill 1.30PM 7PM Mass for persecuted
Christians in St Vincent de Paul’s, East Kilbride TUE 15 2PM Fabric & Planning Committee Meeting 11AM Finance Committee Meeting 7PM Confirmations in St Benedict’s, Easterhouse WED 16
9.45AM SCIAF Board Meeting, Glasgow 7PM Confirmation in St
Mary’s, Larkhall THU 17 10.30AM Pre-Confirmation visit to St
Dominic’s PS, Airdrie 1.30PM Pre-Confirmation visit to St Bernard’s
PS, Coatbridge 7PM 125th Anniversary celebrations for St
Patrick’s, Shieldmuir FRI 18 10.30AM Pre-Confirmation visit to St
Kevin’s PS, Bargeddie 1.30PM Pre-Confirmation visit to
St Timothy’s PS, Coatbridge
BISHOP GILBERT
Aberdeen, www.dioceseofaberdeen.com
SUN 13 MAR 9.30AM Mass St Mary’s, Blairs. 11.15AM Mass
St Mary’s Cathedral. TUE 15 confer Candidacy on Andrzej Niski,
Wonersh. Wed 16 Clergy Recollection Day, Westminster. THU 17
6PM Chrism Mass, St Mary’s Cathedral. FRI 18 7PM Station
Mass, St Mary’s, Nairn. SAT 19 10AM St Joseph Mass St Mary’s
Cathedral. 6pm French Mass, St Francis of Assisi, Mannofield.
BISHOP ROBSON
Dunkeld, www.dunkelddiocese.co.uk
SUN 13 MAR Parish Visits to St Stephen’s, Blairgowrie, St Luan,
Alyth and St. Mary’s, Coupar Angus MON 14 11.30 AM Meeting with
Vicars General, Roseangle 4.30PM Trotter Trust Meeting, Roseangle
TUE 15 2PM Safeguarding Meeting, McAulay Rm, Diocesan Office
7.30PM Mercy & Life Meeting. Longforgan WED 16 9.45 AM SCIAF
Board Meeting, Glasgow 7PM Station Mass, the Holy Family,
Dunblane THU 17 7PM Jubilee Mass for Catechists, RCIA, Parents,
St. Andrew’s Cathedral, Dundee
BISHOP KEENAN
Paisley, www.rcdop.org.uk
SUN 13 MAR 10AM Mass St Cadoc’s, Newton Mearns.
MON 14 8AM Mass at St Mirin’s Catheral TUE 15 8AM Mass at St
Mirin’s Cathedral, WED 16 8AM Mass at St Mirin’s Cathedral.
11AM Meeting of commission for permanent diaconate, Dunkeld
diocese curial offices. THU 17 8AM Mass at St Mirin’s Cathedral.
2PM St Patrick’s Primary Greenock Feast Day Mass FRI 18 10AM
St Ninian’s High School East Renfrewshire, Feast Day Mass. 7pm
Grasping the Nettle conference.
BISHOP NOLAN
Galloway, www.gallowaydiocese.org.uk
FRI 11 - MON 14 MAR Scots College, Rome TUE 15 11AM St
Sophia’s Primary School, Galston FRI 18 10.30AM Justice and
Peace Commission, Glasgow 7PM St John Ogilvie’s, Irvine
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FAITH
FIRST
KIDS
CHILDREN’S LITURGY
21
Our weekly series on Children’s Liturgy has lesson plans and activity suggestions for use with young
people who are on the path to Christ
Each week, Catechists will find readings and Psalm responses, complemented by prayer, reflection,
discussion questions, and activities. Please feel free to use them as you wish
The lessons are created by Adorer-theologians using the lens of the spirituality of St Maria de Mattias,
which also embraces precious blood spirituality
While this is the starting point for the lessons, readers are invited to approach them however the spirit
moves you
The Church is concerned with the availability and understanding of scripture for children who have their
rightful place in the Church. In light of this SCO aims to provide a useful tool in drawing children closer to
the Catholic Faith
Passion Sunday
Reflection and Discussion
TODAY is a special day, when we hear two readings
from St Luke’s Gospel. The second Gospel reading
is called the Passion and tells the story of how Jesus
was arrested, tried, Crucified and buried. But we
also heard another Gospel story at the beginning of
Mass. Can you remember what happened in that
reading?
We heard how Jesus sent His disciples off to
borrow a donkey, and to say to people when asked
where they were taking it: “The Master needs it.”
How do you think the disciples felt when everything
happened just as Jesus said it would?
Then Jesus entered into Jerusalem on this
donkey, while the people shouted their praises to
God. How do you think Jesus must have felt to hear
the people shouting His praises and welcoming Him
into the city? Why do you think the disciples were so
happy and joyful?
Can you think of a time when someone important
or special came to visit you at home or at school?
How did you welcome them? What would you do to
welcome Jesus if he arrived here today?
Jesus is in all of us, so every time we meet
someone and welcome them, we are welcoming
Jesus. We are asked by God to treat all people as we
would like to be treated. Can you think of a time
when you have not treated someone as you would
like to be treated? Have you ever stopped people
from joining in your game, or sharing in your toys or
in your group? Is that very welcoming?
This week how do you think we can make all the
people we spend time with at home, at school and
elsewhere feel welcome? And because Jesus is part
of every person, we need to also welcome people all
over the world with love, kindness and respect.
Activities
Get the children to act out Jesus’ triumphant arrival
and/or the Passion story.
Ask the children to do a role play to show how they
can welcome and respect all people.
Prayer
Jesus, Son of God, you have a lot of courage. Show us
how to be strong when things are hard. Help us to
follow you and learn your ways of love. In your name
we pray. Amen.
Gospel (Procession with Palms)
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. A
reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 19:28-40.
Jesus went toward Jerusalem. As He was getting near
to Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives,
He sent two of His disciples on ahead. He told them:
“Go into the next village, where you will find a young
donkey that has never been ridden. Untie the donkey
and bring it here. If anyone asks why you are doing
that, just say: ‘The Lord needs it.’”
They went off and found everything just as Jesus
had said. While they were untying the donkey, its
owners asked: “Why are you doing that?”
They answered, “The Lord needs it.”
Then they led the donkey to Jesus. They put some
of their clothes on its back and helped Jesus get on.
And as He rode along, the people spread clothes on
the road in front of Him.
When Jesus was starting down the Mount of
Olives, His large crowd of disciples were happy and
praised God because of all the miracles they had seen.
They shouted: “Blessed is the king who comes in the
name of the Lord! Peace in Heaven and glory to God.”
Some Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus:
“Teacher, make your disciples stop shouting!”
But Jesus answered: “If they keep quiet, these
stones will start shouting.”
The Gospel of the Lord
First Reading
I did not cover my face against insult and I know I will not be
ashamed (third oracle of the Servant of the Lord). A reading
from the book of the prophet Isaiah 50:6-7.
I let them beat my back and pull out my beard. I didn’t
turn aside when they made fun of me and spit in my face.
But the Lord God keeps me from being embarrassed.
And I refuse to give up, because I know I will never
be ashamed.
The Word of the Lord
Responsorial Psalm
22:7-8, 16c-17a and 18, 19 and 22.
(R) My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
Everyone who sees me makes fun and sneers.
They shake their heads and say: “Trust the Lord! If you
are His favourite, let Him protect you and keep you safe.”
My enemies have tied up my hands and my feet.
I can count all my bones!
They took my clothes and gambled for them.
Don’t stay far away, Lord! My strength comes from
you, so hurry and help.
And when your people meet, I will praise you, Lord.
Verse before the Gospel
Phillippians 2:8-9.
(R) Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ became obedient for us even to death, dying on
the cross. Therefore God raised Him on high and gave
Him a name above all other names.
(R) Glory and praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Gospel
The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Passion of Our Lord
Jesus Christ according to Luke 23:1-49 .
Everyone in the council led Jesus off to Pilate. They
started accusing Him and said: “We caught this man
trying to get our people to riot and stop paying taxes
to the Emperor. He also claims that He is the Messiah,
our king.”
Pilate asked Jesus: “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Those are your words,” Jesus answered.
Pilate told the chief priests and the crowd: “I don’t
find Him guilty of anything.”
But they all kept on saying: “He has been teaching
and causing trouble all over Judea. He started in
Galilee and has now come all the way here.”
When Pilate heard this, he asked: “Is this man from
Galilee?”
After Pilate learned that Jesus came from the region
ruled by Herod, he sent Him to Herod, who was in
Jerusalem at that time. For a long time Herod had
wanted to see Jesus and was very happy because he
finally had this chance. He had heard many things
about Jesus and hoped to see Him work a miracle.
Herod asked Him a lot of questions, but Jesus did not
answer. Then the chief priests and the teachers of the
Law of Moses stood up and accused Him of all kinds
of bad things. Herod and his soldiers made fun of
Jesus and insulted Him. They put a fine robe on Him
and sent Him back to Pilate. That same day Herod and
Pilate became friends, even though they had been
enemies before this.
Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders,
and the people. He told them: “You brought Jesus to
me and said he was a troublemaker. But I have
questioned Him here in front of you and I have not
found Him guilty of anything that you say He has
done. Herod didn’t find Him guilty either and sent
Him back. This man doesn’t deserve to be put to
death! I will just have Him beaten with a whip and set
free.”
Pilate said this, because at every Passover he was
supposed to set one prisoner free for the Jewish
people. But the whole crowd shouted, “Kill Jesus!
Give us Barabbas!”
Now Barabbas was in jail because he had started a
riot in the city and had murdered someone. Pilate wanted
to set Jesus free, so he spoke again to the crowds.
But they kept shouting, “Nail Him to a cross! Nail
Him to a cross!”
Pilate spoke to them a third time: “But what crime
has He done? I have not found Him guilty of anything
for which He should be put to death. I will have Him
beaten with a whip and set free.”
The people kept on shouting as loud as they could
for Jesus to be put to death. Finally, Pilate gave in. He
freed the man who was in jail for rioting and murder,
because he was the one the crowd wanted to be set
free. Then Pilate handed Jesus over for them to do
what they wanted with Him.
As Jesus was being led away, some soldiers
grabbed hold of a man from Cyrene named Simon.
He was coming in from the fields, but they put the
cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
A large crowd was following Jesus and in the
crowd a lot of women were crying and weeping for
Him. Jesus turned to the women and said: “Women of
Jerusalem, don’t cry for me! Cry for yourselves and
for your children. Someday people will say: ‘Women
who never had children are really fortunate!’ At that
time everyone will say to the mountains: ‘Fall on us!’
They will say to the hills: ‘Hide us!’ If this can happen
when the wood is green, what do you think will happen
when it is dry?”
Two criminals were led out to be put to death with
Jesus. When the soldiers came to a place called ‘The
Skull,’ they nailed Jesus to a cross. They also nailed
the two criminals to crosses, one on each side of Jesus.
Jesus said: “Father, forgive these people! They don’t
know what they’re doing.”
While the people stood there watching Jesus, the
soldiers gambled for His clothes. The leaders insulted
Him by saying: “He saved others. Now he should save
Himself, if He really is God’s chosen Messiah!” The
soldiers made fun of Jesus and brought him some wine.
They said, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”
Above him was a sign that said: “This is the King
of the Jews.” One of the criminals hanging there also
insulted Jesus by saying: “Aren’t you the Messiah?
Save yourself and save us!”
But the other criminal told the first one off: “Don’t
you fear God? Aren’t you getting the same punishment
as this man? We got what was coming to us, but he
didn’t do anything wrong.” Then he said to Jesus:
“Remember me when you come into power!”
Jesus replied: “I promise that today you will be
with me in paradise.”
Around noon the sky turned dark and stayed that
way until the middle of the afternoon. The sun
stopped shining and the curtain in the temple split
down the middle. Jesus shouted, “Father, I put myself
in your hands!” Then He died.
When the Roman officer saw what had happened,
He praised God and said: “Jesus must really have
been a good man!”
A crowd had gathered to see the terrible sight. After
they saw it, they felt brokenhearted and went home. All
of Jesus’ close friends and the women who had come
with Him from Galilee stood at a distance and watched.
The Gospel of the Lord
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CHILDREN’S
CROSSWORD 122
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A man might grow one on his face (5)
The Creator, Who lives in Heaven (3)
Hot drink (3)
A practice session before staging a play (9)
Wear it round your neck when it’s cold (5)
Someone who has been invited (5)
Fancy feast (7)
Part of a teapot (5)
Here you might see a lot of old and
historic things (6)
In the story, she met seven dwarfs (4,5)
19
DOWN
1
2
3
4
Book of maps (5)
Something you buy at a really low price (7)
Fine dust left after a fire (3)
Game played on the same board as
chess (8)
It was written by Matthew, Mark, Luke or
John (6)
Water down (6)
This disease is worse than a cold (3)
Deer in a Disney film (5)
Female ruler (5)
Silent (5)
Shove (4)
Cut the grass (3)
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LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION
ACROSS
1 Snowman 7 Ozone 8 Ace 9 Sandals 11 Leave
12 Cycle 14 Whistle 16 Local 18 Conceal 20 Altar
21 Sob
DOWN
1 Swallow 2 Operation 3 Mouse 4 Noon 5 Sofa
6 Beds 10 Day 12 Cellar 13 Cactus 15 Their
17 Lamb 19 Oil
The Children’s Liturgy page is
published one week in advance to
allow RE teachers and those taking
the Children’s Liturgy at weekly
Masses to use, if they wish, this
page as an accompaniment to their
teaching materials
22
VOCATIONS
Just a thought or
something more?
First discernment
step in the process
H
ROBERT WILSON marks Good Shepherd
Sunday with thoughful insight on discerning
vocations as a natural part of adulthood
AVE you ever had that feeling, something you couldn’t completely put into
words but could still feel its presence?
Perhaps God is ‘calling you’ to something bigger than yourself, perhaps you
are being called to a vocation within the Church?
Having this question in your mind is the first
step in what is called the vocational discernment. It
can be a daunting process and it can take years for
an individual to discern what has been asked of
them. This is part of becoming an adult, something
we all go through whether our calling is to the religious life or to something else.
Perhaps you have a calling to be a diocesan
priesthood or it may be that your role within life is
that of marriage life?
Just as Jesus tested himself in the desert preparing
for his adult ministry, the vocational discernment is a
time to prepare and consider. It is the start of a journey
of seeking what God is calling you to do. Do not be
afraid.
Pope Francis proclaims vocations as ‘a treasure that
God places in the hearts of some men, chosen by Him
and called to follow Him in this special state of life.’
The Holy Father also revels that this treasure is not to
be discovered as a way to ‘enrich’ ones own life but
instead to be discerned as ministrator of a gift that God
has entrusted to him for the good of his flock.
Last Sunday, March 6, was the fourth Sunday of
Lent and also known as Good Shepard Sunday. In
each year of the Liturgical cycle on this Sunday, the
Gospel is always taken from the10th chapter of John
where Jesus speaks of himself as the ‘good shepherd.’
It also considered vocations Sunday as Jesus was
speaking of himself as the shepherd looking after his
flock directly parallels the role of a priest with his
parish. It is a time of deep prayer for many on the path
of discernment.
This discernment process isn’t something you do
just yourself, finding your vocation is also about being
given support with spiritual directors, friends, family
and spending time in prayer with the Lord. It is vital
to reach out and discover for yourself what God is asking of you, everyone has a role to play and through
God we shall discover where our journey takes us. It
is up to us to make that first step not merely into a
career but into a life of total purpose.
Orders and organisations such as the Cistercian
monks at Nunraw, the SMA Fathers, the Franciscan
Missionaries of St Joseph and the Jericho Society
(details below) are among some of those who could
help you discern if you have a religious vocations, The
vocations director in your diocese, and you own parish
priest, can also help you.
Every journey begins with a single step. Our Faith
journeys are ongoing throughout our lives.
Cistercian Monks
DO YOU FEEL THAT GOD IS
CALLING YOU TO THE
MISSIONARY PRIESTHOOD?
THEN WE CAN HELP YOU
The Society of African Missionaries (SMA Fathers)
is an international group of Missionary Priests.
Today we are active in Liberia,
Ghana, Benin, Nigeria, Zambia,
Tanzania, South Africa and other
African countries working as
partners in the rapidly
growing Church.
WILL YOU
JOIN US?
I wish to know more
about the work of the
Society of African Missions
Send the
coupon for
more details
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NAME.......................................AGE............
ADDRESS....................................................
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SMA, St Theresaʼs, Clarendon Place
Dunblane, Perthshire FK15 9HB
Please print clearly and send to:
Do you feel called to seek God as a Cistercian monk within a
Community, living in prayer and work, in a spirit of silence?
Write: Novice Director, Sancta Maria Abbey, Nunraw,
Haddington, EH41 4LW Scotland
Email: nunraw.abbot@yahoo.org
Tel: 01620 830 223
Website: http://www.nunraw.com.uk (Scottish Charity No. SC 022611)
FRANCISCAN
MISSIONARIES
OF ST. JOSEPH
Are you called like Francis of Assisi
to live the Gospel radically?
Want to know more?
Email Sister Noel –
noelbarron@hotmail.co.uk
www.fmsj.co.uk
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THE JERICHO
COMMUNITY
(A Private Association of thr Lay Faithful)
A Community of Men (founded 1974)
following the Rule of St. Benedict
and witnessing to
The Compassion of Jesus
among the homeless, the drug and
alcohol addicted and others being
‘passed by on the other side’.
The community directs Jericho Houses in
Scotland, England & India
Vocation information from:
Fr. James or Bro. Patrick, Monastery of Jesus
Harelaw Farm, Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire
PA10 2PY Tel 01505 614669
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CELEBRATING LIFE
23
SPOTLIGHT ON
40 Days for Life reaches milestone
By Dan McGinty
GLASGOW’S peaceful and prayerful protest
marking 40 Days for Life saw participants
bring up an important milestone as the vigil
passed its mid-point.
Pro-life activists have been gathering at
Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
daily (above) where they have stood for 12-hour
vigils ‘taking a positive and upbeat pro-life message
to all parts of the community.’
The efforts match those taking place in other
parts of the UK, with similar prayerful protests taking
place in Cardiff, Birmingham, Leamington Spa,
Doncaster, Manchester and Nottingham.
So far, organisers estimate that this Lent the vigils
have seen four women changing their mind about
their decision to have an abortion, while another
decided not to go ahead with hers. Last year it was
estimated that over the course of the 40 Days for
Life between 20 and 30 women decided not to proceed
with abortions.
To mark the half-way point of their vigil, several
of the participants joined together for some food
and entertainment, taking the rare opportunity to
share some social time together during their busty
efforts to raise awareness for the pro-life cause.
Throughout the vigil the pro-life activists have
enjoyed the support of passing pedestrians and
motorists—with one bus even pulling in to allow
its passengers to step off and pass on their
encouragement—and upon reaching the middle of
their efforts the participants were able to look back
on a successful first 20 days.
Among those marking the mid-point of the vigil
were Claire Deighan and Louise Grant, who each
spoke of the feeling upon reaching the 20-day mark.
“It’s such a positive experience and you’re really
encouraged by all the people there,” said Claire
Deighan. “When you look up and see the hospital
in front of you, you just feel so encouraged. It’s a
good thing to come to in order to do something
productive and it’s great to be able to put our prolife beliefs into practise. It’s a great witness to others
who see you standing there.”
Her words were echoed by Louise Grant, who
said: “It can actually be quite an emotional experience
standing there when you see the amount of public
support you receive, especially when big burly bus
drivers are driving past with a bus full of passengers
giving you the thumbs up or when workmen drive
past tooting their horns.
“It just shows you that there are more people out
there that agree with you and support you than you
think, despite the media's best efforts to wrongly
portray this as a negative thing.”
Fr Kieran Fletcher welcomed dozens of young Catholics to Craig Lodge as he led a retreat tailored especially for
children. Around 30 children from primary seven and S1 took part in the Faith and Fun retreat with the Craig
Lodge Community, combining prayer and understanding of their Faith with the opportunity to enjoy fun and
games and the great outdoors. Fr Fletcher helped the young retreatants enter into a spirit of prayer and
adoration, and participated with them as they enjoyed the many fun activities on offer. In addition to the retreat
the children also took part in a reconciliation service and took to the hills as they donned their outdoor gear and
made the Way of the Cross hill climb
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UCM hear of the work of the Wayside Club
CATHOLIC mothers in
Bishopbriggs gathered to
enjoy a talk on the work of
Glasgow’s Wayside Club.
The Union of Catholic
Mothers in the parishes of St
Dominic’s and St Matthew’s
(above) heard about efforts of
the club, which was founded
and is run to this day by members
of the Legion of Mary, and
enjoyed the opportunity to
gather together as a group.
Among the facilities and
services offered by the club,
which caters for the homeless
and disadvantaged in Glasgow,
are hot food and drinks, shaving
and showering facilities, first
aid, a library and private rooms
to meet with friends and family,
all made possible by the efforts
of the Legion of Mary and their
supporters. Among those present
was the President of the Wayside
Club, Brian Bonnyman.
PIC: BRIAN BONNYMAN
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24
CATHOLICISM AND ISLAM
A deeper understanding
of faiths key to harmony
I
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND ISLAM
T IS time to draw this series to a close. For
almost a year, we have followed the ups and
downs of the relationship between Catholicism
and Islam and the way both faiths have
reacted to major historical changes. As we
have seen, the relationship has fluctuated markedly
over the centuries. Islam’s position vis-à-vis
Catholicism and the Church has often been one of
tolerance, and even an acceptance that Catholics can
go to Heaven. Yet at other times the Church and
the Faithful have been subject to intense Jihad and
persecution.
The Catholic view of Islam has always been
more complex. For centuries, it was considered not
so much a distinct religion, but a heresy. Bouts of
intense conflict, as, for example, during the
Crusades, the Iberian Reconquista and the conflict on
the Balkans and in the eastern Mediterranean, were
interspersed with periods of tranquil co-existence
and even peaceful co-operation.
Three trends upset what had been a normative
fluctuating relationship as described above—
secularism, nationalism and globalisation. The first
two originated in Europe, more specifically in
France. They were exported to the Islamic world,
and deeply affected the Catholic Church, through
a process of increased global intertwining. That
process began as long ago as the 16th century, but
gathered velocity from the 1780s onwards.
Both Catholic Church and Islam have struggled
deeply with these processes, although Islam has
certainly found it more difficult to incorporate the
rule of the secular state into its thought world. This
is not to say that the Church has found it easy, far
from it. However, a strong hierarchy, singularly
lacking in Islam outside the Shi’a world, and strong
visionary leadership from Popes from Leo XIII to
today have managed to at least give direction to a
Catholic view of modernity. Sadly, for some in
Islam, the answer has been the most brutal violence.
Whereas we as Catholics may understand why
Muslims may be upset with a deep secularisation
process, none of us can even begin to comprehend
how that can lead to the barbarity of IS or similar
so-called revivalist or political Islamic groups.
The impact on Catholic-Islamic understanding
of this has been profound. It seems to have
confirmed in the mind of many Catholics an
ancient view of Islam as necessarily anti-Catholic.
Again, we have seen that this could be the case in the
past, but was not always so. In the Islamic world,
it has led to something unheard of altogether,
namely the rejection of tradition in the name of
restoration. Tolerance towards Christians has been
one of the vital pillars of Islamic social organisation,
from the earliest Caliphate to the Ottoman Empire.
The survival of Christian groups, churches and
monasteries for 1400 years under Islamic rule
illustrates this well. Now, nihilistic Jihadi fighters
are wiping them out, as well as all traces of a preChristian and pre-Islamic past. In addition, almost
all cultural legacies of 14th centuries of Muslim
culture, including shrines of Muslim Sufi saints,
Shi’a mosques and more secular expressions of
Islam, are all being destroyed.
Most shocking of all, Catholic religious sisters,
frequently adored by Muslim neighbours for their
patent love for humanity, have been targeted. They
have been kidnapped for ransom, beaten and even,
as with Mother Teresa’s four martyred Missionaries
of Charity in Yemen recently, killed. It is very
difficult under these kinds of assaults to maintain
a balanced view of Muslims and of Islam as a
faith. When under attack, one’s ability to treat the
other side fairly slips somewhat. In addition to this
are the scare stories of Muslim migration to
Europe, which, at least according to some, will
lead to vast swathes of the European continent
becoming Islamic, not least because Catholicism,
and all of Christianity, seem to be beating such a
hasty retreat.
O
DR HARRY SCHNITKER, concludes his insightful series on the history of Islam
and Catholicism, by placing an emphasis on dialogue and understanding
n the face of it, these are dark days, indeed.
I would like to end this series on a brighter
note, however. I hope that this series has
given lie to the notion that there is such a thing as
‘Islam.’ Just as there is no such thing as a single
Christianity, so Islam is divided, not only into
Sunni and Shi’a, but into an infinitely greater
number of factions than Christianity. To date,
although forming sizeable minorities in some
countries like Pakistan, the Jihadi movement
remains a smallish group within the world of
Islam. Whole regions of the Islamic world have
been barely touched by them. Traditional MuslimCatholic cordiality on the ground continues to exist
in countries like Morocco, in the Gulf Emirates, in
Egypt, Indonesia, India and vast swathes of
French-speaking West Africa.
Every Pope since Paul VI, including importantly
Pope St John Paul II, have worked to increase the
mutual understanding between Catholicism and
Islam. They have also emphasised the shared
Abrahamic notion of the Creator-God, even if we
interpret that God in a vastly different way. Praying
side-by-side in mosques in—amongst others—
Istanbul (above), Popes have made potent statements
that we are united by some things, just as we are
divided by others.
Increasingly sophisticated research into Europe’s
Muslim communities is clearly showing that the
‘Islamic tide’ is a rather too strong interpretation
of Islamic migration into the continent. The majority
of Europe’s Muslims are highly secularised. Indeed,
most European Jihadi come from such backgrounds
and are reacting to it. Second and especially thirdgeneration Muslim immigrants do not have
substantially larger families from indigenous people,
indeed, the average of both is the same in every
European country when examined through the lens
of the third generation migrants.
True, there may be a substantial group of cultural
Muslims, but then the group of cultural Christians
is much larger (Muslims rarely make up more than
8 per cent of the population). In addition, and the
risks and hurt to families notwithstanding, there is
a steady trickle of conversion by Muslims to
Christianity across Europe, which is substantially
larger than that of Christians embracing Islam.
Europe, all the research shows, is definitely not
becoming Islamic any time soon; I would hazard a
guess and say not any time at all.
Is a dialogue useful, or, indeed, necessary? In
my personal opinion, yes. We owe it to those
Christians of the Islamic world who are seeking
protection from the more enlightened political
WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK
leaders in their region, people such as the Kings of
Jordan and Morocco, the new President of Egypt
or the ruling families in the Emirates and Qatar,
who have funded the building of churches. Those
leaders will be easier persuaded to grant Christians
their rights if we grant Muslims in Europe theirs.
In our own region, we share a great deal of ethical
concerns with our Muslim neighbours, and
together we are able to make a stronger stance
against ever-increasing secular pressure on what
we hold sacred.
I am not a Muslim. I will never become a Muslim.
I know where I differ from Islam: I believe that I
am the child of a Creator-God, a notion Muslims
would reject (they would think of themselves as
subjects of God). I believe that that Creator-God
is Trinitarian, and that the Trinity’s love for us was
so great that we can celebrate the Resurrection
every year at Easter, every week on Sunday. I
know Jesus to have been far more than a prophet,
Our Lady to have been the Mother of God. That
does not, and should not, stop me or any other
Catholic from wishing to understand Islam and
Muslims; I sincerely hope that it does not stop
Muslims from trying to understand us. I hope and
pray that this series will have contributed a little
to deepening that understanding.

Hope and healing in Dunblane

Transcription

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