Scottish Catholic Observer

Initially envisaged as taking place in mid-September, the date of Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s Episcopal Silver Jubilee, the Thanksgiving pilgrimage was hastily changed to mid-October when it was announced that the Pope would be in Scotland on the Feast of St Ninian September 16.

However a cross section of priests, religious and people of the Archdiocese happily enjoyed the October pilgrimage to the major centres of prayer in Rome in each of the four basilicas, to the Catacombs, to a Papal Audience, as well as additional visits to the cardinal’s parish in Rome Ss Joachim and Anne, to the Pontifical Scots College in Rome, and also to the Pontifical Roman Academy (where the vice rector had previously been Parish Priest of the cardinal’s titular parish of Ss Joachim and Anne).

There were outstanding memories each day—but perhaps among the greatest were those of our final Mass in Rome at the Altar of St Peter’s Tomb in the Vatican Grottos; and some few days previously the Papal Audience in St Peter’s Square at which the cardinal was privileged to present members of the pilgrimage party to the Holy Father, including Mgr Allan Chambers and Mr Paul McSherry, his official photographer.

A day excursion to Assisi with Mass in the Basilica of St Francis also took place; and the pilgrimage to Rome was followed by a three day holiday in Sorrento with Mass each day in the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Carmine— before departure for Rome visiting the Benedictine Abbey at Montecassino for Mass there, with a visit to the tombs of St Benedict and St Scholastica.

While the pilgrimage party travelled to Sorrento, the cardinal remained on another day in Rome both to take part in the Vigil of preparation for the Canonisation of St Mary of the                Cross MacKillop on the Saturday evening and join in the celebrations at the Canonisation Mass that took place on the Sunday morning.

Then the cardinal had the opportunity of meeting members of the great pilgrimage parties from the Argyll and the Isles Diocese as well as many of the Australians whom he had met on a previous visit to Australia for the beatification of the same religious sister.

“It was indeed a fascinating, prayerful and enjoyable pilgrimage-holiday bringing back many memories of my 25 years’ service as archbishop and also preparing me for the time which lies ahead,” Cardinal O’Brien said. “I now look forward to a further visit to Rome at the Feast of Christ the King, to take part in the consistory when Pope Benedict XVI will create another 24 new cardinals.

“The apostolic work of the Church goes on—and each one of us, cardinal or curate, priest or lay, must continue to play their part with renewed vigour following on the visit to our country of Pope Benedict XVI.