Scottish Catholic Observer

Papal vestments in Glasgow

By Martin Dunlop

Pupils from each of Glasgow Archdiocese’s 21 Catholic secondary schools congregated at the city’s St Andrew’s Metropolitan Cathedral last Friday to celebrate the first anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Scotland.

Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow led the celebration of Mass, wearing the vestments worn by Pope Benedict XVI at Bellahouston Park, and was joined by priests from across the archdiocese at the cathedral, the interior walls of which were adorned with prints of some of the most iconic images from last September’s Papal Mass at Bellahouston Park.

As the pupils made their way into St Andrew’s Cathedral, a special commemorative video, in which school children shared some of their memories of the Papal visit, was played on the cathedral screens. Prior to the Mass, Barbara Campbell, religious education adviser for Glasgow Archdiocese and Motherwell Diocese, spoke to the pupils, reminding them of the significance of more than 70,000 pilgrims gathering on St Ninian’s Day last year to publicly worship together with the Pope.

“That was one of the most beautiful things at Bellahouston Park,” she said. “And that is why we are here today, to celebrate together again.” Ms Campbell also asked the pupils to prepare for the anniversary Mass by replicating the silence which fell across Bellahouston Park last year following the arrival of Pope Benedict XVI.

In welcoming the children, Archbishop Conti informed them that he had, the previous day, attended the inaugural Pope Benedict XVI lecture at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham, where the Holy Father last year addressed some of the nation’s young Catholics. The homily at the anniversary Mass was preached by Fr John Sweeney—who was ordained in the weeks preceding last year’s visit of Pope Benedict—who told those gathered that it is ‘with a spirit of joy we gather here today to give thanks for the days we celebrated with the Holy Father.’ Fr Sweeney noted that one of the pupils on the commemorative Papal visit video had highlighted what he felt was one of the Holy Father’s most important messages to young people: ‘that you are the hope and life of the Church in Scotland’ and that ‘the Church now belongs to you.’

Fr Sweeney also shared with pupils experiences of his own encounter with the Holy Father at Bellahouston Park, a meeting that followed a small brush with the Pope’s security team.

“I don’t think the security from the Vatican had ever met a priest from the east end of Glasgow and a former pupil of St Roch’s Secondary School!” the priest said of his resilient efforts to join a queue of servants and deacons preparing to meet the Holy Father.

In his closing remarks, Archbishop Conti paid tribute to the young people from Glasgow Archdiocese at the Mass, which included a beautifully performed music Liturgy by pupils from St Mungo’s Academy and Notre Dame High School. “It gives us confidence in the future of the Church,” the archbishop said.

Motherwell pupils gathered at Carfin

By Ian Dunn and Dan McGinty

Close to 4000 pupils from schools from across Motherwell Diocese gathered at the grotto at Carfin to mark the anniversary of the Papal Mass at Bellahouston with an open air Mass celebrated by Bishop Joseph Devine.

Bishop Devine used his homily to echo the Pope’s message to young people from last year’s Papal visit that called on them to become ‘saints of the 21st century.’

“The Pope invited young people to pay close attention to the words of the Lord because they are spirit and life,” he said. “He invited you to listen every day to the one friend who never deceives, the one with whom we should wish to share a path through life. But if we do not walk that path we will walk down other paths which lead to emptiness and frustration.”

Bishop Devine went on to tell the young Catholics not to fall into the same traps as other young people.

“There are so many other young people who believe they have no need of any foundations in life other than themselves,” he said. “So they take it on themselves to decide what is true or false, good and evil, just or unjust. But you have been led to know a very different truth, that each and everyone of you has been created in the image of God, precisely that you might be in the forefront of the search of truth and goodness.”

Catholic headteachers from across Motherwell had organised the event, which was attended by pupils from every school in the diocese, in conjunction with the priests and staff of Motherwell Diocese, for their pupils to be given another taste of the atmosphere at Bellahouston.

Gerry McCormick, headteacher of Taylor High School, was among the lead organisers and he told the Scottish Catholic Observer it was a great success.

“It was a wonderful Mass, very powerful and very reflective,” he said. “The celebration arose in discussions with other schools, after the suggestion that dioceses should be marking the anniversary of the Papal visit. In Motherwell we decided to do that at local level using Catholic secondary schools, and we quickly expanded, with our primary colleagues, to include all Catholic schools. We used the grotto at Carfin in an attempt to recreate some of the atmosphere we felt at Bellahouston Park.”

Pupils were given a commemorative prayer card bearing Pope Benedict XVI’s words to the young people of Scotland.

Pope Benedict said: “Put aside what is worthless and learn of your own dignity as children of God. My dear young Catholics of Scotland, this is the challenge which the Lord now gives to you: the Church now belongs to you!”

Paisley’s multiple celebrations

By Canon Bernard Canning

St Mirin’s Cathedral in Paisley had a crowded congregation marking the Solemnity of St Mirin on September 15, a Mass for vocations also marking the first anniversary of the Papal visit to Scotland.

Principal celebrant of the Mass was Bishop Philip Tartaglia of Paisley with Bishop Emeritus John Mone and the priests of the diocese. Each of the diocesan secondary and primary schools were represented.

In the homily, Bishop Tartaglia covered several aspects of the feast itself and St Mirin’s association with Paisley; the first anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to Scotland and his address to the people of Scotland; the introduction of the revised translation of the Roman Missal; vocations to the priesthood and religious life; the importance of Catholic Schools and the need for support of parents and teachers.

Speaking in his homily principally to the young people, Bishop Tartaglia reflected on the words of Jesus to Simon Peter, ‘Do you love me?—Feed my lambs, feed my sheep.’ The bishop explained that Pope Benedict XVI, the Successor of Peter, had heard these same words, and was expressing his love for Jesus in his Petrine ministry last year when he was  in Scotland. The bishop invited the young people to hear Jesus speaking these same words to each one of them: “If you love me, show me. Listen for my call in your heart and follow me.”

The  Order of Service covered in full the new Liturgy and also provided an account of St Mirin.

Before the Mass concluded, Bishop Tartaglia introduced a priest of Paisley Diocese, Mgr Charles Burns, who spent most of his 40 plus years at the Vatican Secret Archives. On May 3 this year, he was appointed as a Canon of St Peter’s Basilica, the first ever priest of Scotland to be so honoured. He will be formally installed in St Peter’s on November 20, the feast of Christ the King, the sixth anniversary of the Episcopal ordination of Bishop Tartaglia.

Cardinal goes back to school at St Ninian’s

By Martin Dunlop

As part of the first anniversary celebrations of the Papal visit to Scotland, Cardinal Keith O’Brien visited a number of schools in St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese. The cardinal celebrated Mass on Friday September 16 at St Ninian’s Primary School, Edinburgh, a year to the day from when Pope Benedict XVI began his four-day state visit to the UK in Scotland. St Ninian’s Primary was one of the schools participating in the St Ninian’s Day Parade, which publicly welcomed the Holy Father to Scotland as he travelled along Edinburgh’s Princes Street in the iconic Popemobile. The pupils were delighted to relive their memories of their involvement in an historic day for Scotland with Cardinal O’Brien. Helen Massaro, St Ninian’s headteacher, said the whole school community had ‘a fantastic day’ with the cardinal.

“Every member of staff and every pupil in the school had contributed in some way to the Mass and the cardinal was very gracious and effervescent,” Ms Massaro said. “The cardinal spoke to the pupils and blessed our new water fountain. The pupils loved the visit and it created new memories to add to those great ones we have from the Papal visit a year ago.”

Earlier in the week the cardinal celebrated feast day Masses at Holy Rood High School, Edinburgh, and St Mungo’s High School, Falkirk, attended the official opening of the relocated Halyrude Primary School, Peebles and visited St Margaret’s Primary School, Galashiels.

PICS: PAUL McSHERRY, TOM EADIE