Scottish Catholic Observer

The festival will be officially opened on Thursday by Councillor Gordon Matheson, leader of Glasgow City Council.

Councillor Matheson is preparing to introduce the Molendinar Lecture, entitled Glasgow and Europe—the care and repair of cities, which was due to be given by David Mackay, an international architect and city planner, who has lived and worked in Barcelona for 50 years, at Glasgow City Chambers.

The opening lecture of the festival will be followed by Friday morning’s event, which will see the City Chambers echos to the sound of music from Mungo’s Bairns. Glasgow primary school children will sing, dance and tell stories of the city’s patron, helped by students from Glasgow University. Pupils from Lourdes Secondary School are also involved in the production and performance.

On Friday afternoon, the third annual presentation of Molendinar Awards will to take place, when recognition is paid to schools successful with themes from heritage and preparation for Commonwealth Games. The event has been sponsored by Joe Logan Factoring and Management Limited.

The Mitchell Library will be the venue on Saturday from 12.30-1pm for more festival events, including the viewing a copy of Vita St Kentigerni the 12th century book commissioned by Bishop Jocelyn of Glasgow to promote the story of St Mungo. Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow and the Rev Dr Laurence Whitley, the Church of Scotland minister of Glasgow Cathedral, will read texts in Latin and English and Glasgow Russian Children’s choir and the St Mungo Singers will celebrate story of birth of Mungo in song.

On Sunday January 13, the feast of St Mungo, the midday Mass will be celebrated in St Mungo’s Church in Parson Street, Townhead, with Archbishop Tartaglia as the principal celebrant. Later, at 4pm in Barony Hall, Strathclyde University will celebrate the feast of St Kentigern—the alternative name for St Mungo—with medieval music and readings by the Canty Trio. And at 6.30pm, Glasgow Churches Together will host an ecumenical service in Glasgow Cathedral with the Salvation Army band; Russkaya Capella; the Visual Statement Dance Group and the St Mungo Singers.