Scottish Catholic Observer

“Those who have the privilege of Faith have a duty to invigorate the Faith.”

These are the words Archbishop Mario Conti said shortly after being appointed Archbishop of Glasgow in 2002 and, during the last decade, he has done that and more. His dedication to the Church and people of his adopted city—since he was installed on February 22, 2002—has breathed new life into the fabric of the archdiocese with the restoration of St Andrew’s Cathedral and seen the glory of the Gospel powerfully proclaimed through the arts project he instigated. His commitment to the fight against attacks on the dignity of life and Christian marriage has been at the heart of his episcopate and his deep love for his people will ensure that when retirement finally comes he will have left an enduring legacy.

He will take with him many memories chief among which was the joy and privilege of welcoming the Holy Father on September 16, 2010 to the Specialis Filia Romanae Ecclesiae—the special daughter of the Roman Church.

A member of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, the archbishop has worked closely with organisations and individuals who profoundly regard his contributions and real and abiding friendships have grown out of shared visions. One such friend and colleague, Rev Neil Galbraith, the Moderator of Glasgow Presbytery of the Church of Scotland, first met the then Bishop of Aberdeen when a dinner for the Italian community coincided with a training course for young ministers at an Aviemore hotel. His first impression, he says, was that ‘this man has style, he is a wee bit special.’

“In time I got to know this dear man whom I was honoured to share so much with and who soon became a glorious friend. Generous of spirit, caring in nature, wise in counsel, childlike in his innocent humour and giggles, with a smile as wide as the Clyde and very much one of God’s men in our beloved nation,” Mr Galbraith said.  “His stories of his childhood, his family, of Remembrance Day services in force ten gales on the pier at Peterhead, and the joys of decorating something bigger than a room and kitchen, were all topics of conversation shared in our many meetings. Attending services in the city centre in freezing snow-packed afternoons, and piling him into the passenger seat of my 4×4 as we slid home through the snow and ice to the Southside during the Christmas of 2010, watching him beam from ear to ear with pride as he watched the worshippers in Bellahouston one bright afternoon and most of all sharing services with him in Cathcart Old Parish Church for children with learning support needs are all special memories I have of this loving man.”

Archbishop Conti’s conviction that a church ‘should be worthy of its purpose’ underpinned his drive to restore and renovate St Andrew’s Cathedral. Giving full reign to his passion for architecture he embarked on a labour of love, which gave the people of the archdiocese the cathedral they deserved via a £4.5 million renovation project.

Former Speaker of the House of Commons and Springburn MP, Lord Michael Martin, smiles when he recalls the archbishop’s visit to the Palace of Westminster.

“There I was, ready to tell him all about Pugin’s work but he knew more than my wife or I did and, of course, we were most impressed at the depth of his knowledge,” Lord Martin said.  “He has done wonders for the cathedral which was built with the pennies and ha’pennies of the Irish immigrants. The Italian Cloister Garden is a great tribute to those who lost their lives on the Arandora Star and it is a mark of inclusivity that there are parishioners names around the garden including my own parents who grew up in the neighbouring parish of St Patrick’s, Anderston alongside Italian families.

The cloister garden is a major contribution to the city, former Lord Provost Alex Mosson agreed. As well as commemorating the tragedy it gives visitors a spiritual space where they can ‘reflect on the horrors of war and contemplate reconciliation and forgiveness.’

Together the archbishop and Mr Mosson have travelled in pilgrimage to the Holy Land on several occasions. Their latest project is to raise funds for the planting of olive trees which, as well as being a symbol of peace is a source of food and revenue.

“Through this very valuable initiative people in Bethlehem and surrounding area are benefiting,” Mr Mosson said. “Replanting olive groves gives families sustainable incomes and it supports education through the University of Bethlehem.”

In a tribute on behalf of the City of Glasgow, leader of the council, Gordon Matheson said the city had been fortunate to have a ‘charming, thoughtful, witty and caring churchman’ in the archbishop who ‘while his first concern is the pastoral well-being of his flock, his involvement and influence extends well beyond the sizeable Catholic community.’

According to Stephen Callaghan, creative director of AGAP, the shift in Glasgow’s cultural climate in the last decade has been dramatic, due largely to ‘the perceptiveness of an archbishop who shared a vision for the Church to be reinstated as a patron and contributor to the arts, rather than a suspicious overseer or a moral watchdog.’

“On a more personal note, I am grateful to him for his faith in me, in placing me at the forefront of this endeavour to direct the work of the Archdiocese of Glasgow Arts Project,” Mr Callaghan said. “Through enterprises such as Lentfest, we have seen the Catholic Church regain a foothold in the world of arts and culture, and Archbishop Conti has been the figurehead in all of it. He realises that, for our spiritual wellbeing, the Church must address cultural as well as economic poverty, through works of art that inspire us and raise our hearts and minds to God.”

When he left his beloved home in Aberdeen Diocese, where he had been instrumental in the establishment of the Blairs Museum, the archbishop was keen to continue with his lifelong interest in, and involvement with, heritage matters.

“The archbishop’s interest in heritage has, since 1981, found practical expression in his keen involvement in the foundation and on-going work of the Scottish Catholic Heritage Commission, which is tasked with the preservation and use of our Scottish Catholic heritage, both at home and abroad,” archivist Mary McHugh said. “Using a variety of media, the archbishop has also been at the forefront of making that heritage and history available, not only to the Catholic, but to the wider, community. The Blairs Museum owes its establishment to his encouragement and support.

“It has been a privilege to work closely with Archbishop Conti in Catholic heritage matters for most of the past 30 years; and I’m sure that his interest in safeguarding and promoting Catholic heritage will continue in the future.”

Actively involved in bioethics, urging politicians to reject attempts to legalise euthanasia, ever-vigilant and ready to speak out on developments in stem cell research and issues around cloning, Archbishop Conti also welcomes every opportunity to be close to those who are ill, frail or elderly. Christmas Day is spent first celebrating Mass at St Margaret of Scotland Hospice where he is much-valued patron and then at Nazareth House sharing lunch with the retired priests.

Ronnie Convery, director of communications for the archdiocese,  serves alongside the archbishop on the Catholic Bishops’ Joint Bioethics Committee.

“He has been of the committee since its earliest days and he brings to it enormous wisdom and experience of battles previously fought and issues previously raised,” Mr Convery said. “He is a great believer in the inter-disciplinary approach, bringing together doctors, lawyers, ethicists, journalists and frontline medical and nursing staff so as to benefit from their unique insight into the big bioethical issues of the day. He has been a fearless champion of life whenever it is threatened either at its earliest stages or in the final vulnerable days.”

Most likely, when the archbishop’s successor is announced, the Chancellor of Glasgow Archdiocese will have said his goodbyes. Leaving the archdiocese to take up his new post as the Vatican’s Permanent Observer at the United Nations Mgr Peter Smith will take with him many memories of working closely with the archbishop in the Clyde Street offices but most fondly will he recall the period in which his parish of St Mary’s in the Calton served as the pro-cathedral during the renovation of St Andrew’s Cathedral.

“We had 12 deacons and three priests ordained which had a big impact on the parish,” Mgr Smith said. “With the Chrism Mass and occasions such as the Mass for the Irish community being celebrated here it meant that Archbishop Conti was regularly coming in and out. The people came to think of him, almost, as an honorary curate and he enjoyed that, too. Parish life has been most important to him and you can see that in the way he has gone round the parishes as often as possible. His programme of Station Masses during Lent ensures every deanery is visited.

“His achievements have been quite remarkable. Through Faith into Action, which he instigated and led, we now have the funds to do the things which need to be done and what he has set up in financial, spiritual, liturgical and heritage terms will benefit his successor and his successor’s successors.”

Accepting the appointment to Glasgow at a time of life when most people have retired, Archbishop Conti brought with him his own special brand of fervour and enthusiasm. On his tenth anniversary he will have his own private thoughts and reflections.  He can be assured of the love and gratitude of his people.

PIC: PAUL McSHERRY