Scottish Catholic Observer

This year will see a number of events across Scotland mark the 400th anniversary of St Ogilvie’s death, and Lentfest—an annual celebration organised by the Archdiocese of Glasgow Arts Project (AGAP)—is taking part with a festival built around the theme Brave Faith.

Held each year since 2007, Lentfest has used art to explore the death and resurrection of Christ. In 2015, AGAP is introducing a condensed programme in three parts: a multifaceted concert, an art festival, and a nationally touring production of the play The Martyrdom of Saint John Ogilvie. Lentfest’s concerts—to be held on February 20 and 27—will feature a number of 20-minute performances based around the only post-reformation Scottish saint and his bravery in practicing his faith.The concert will feature music from Heelster Gowdie, Martin Jones and Willie Sinclair, and poetry from Anne Murray, Jesuit Peter Granger-Banyard, Nell Brennan and Pat McCarthy.

Unlike in previous year’s when Lentfest events took place in parishes and church buildings, the two concerts will be held in Barras Art and Design Centre (BAaD), located behind the Barrowland Ballroom, not far from where St Ogilvie was executed.

Stephen Callaghan, creative director of AGAP, said the concerts would be an opportunity to ‘take Lentfest out of the traditional church hall context and out into the secular world.’

“In that sense it’s also a statement of brave faith,” he said. “We are really hoping that our audience will come and support this concert and we really need that core audience but we are also hoping that people from the local area and beyond will come. It might be people on the cusp of faith who might brave coming to this venue.”

Mr Callaghan sees evangelisation as a big part of Lentfest and AGAP.

Knowledge of the Faith will be spread during Lentfest 2015 by a production of The Martyrdom of Saint John Ogilvie—with Lentfest spreading out for the first time to Motherwell, Paisley and Dunkeld dioceses, and a special performance funded by the Jesuits being held in the Scottish Youth Theatre in Glasgow. The play was first performed in 2012 with a closing night held in front of 200 people in St Aloysius Church, Garnethill.

Throughout the festival, an arts exhibition will be held in St Patrick’s Church in Anderston, similarly based around the theme of brave faith, with submissions from a number of different artists.

The condensed Lentfest programme is partly as a result of a high workload for AGAP as they attempt a new grassroots scheme working in schools.

“I came recently to the conclusion that while it is wonderful to have a big robust arts festival what we needed to do was to take a grassroots approach, catechising people in a way that is fun and stimulating” Mr Callaghan said. “Hopefully they will in turn evangelise their friends and generate new talent for Lentfest.’

— The Brave Faith concerts will take place on February 20 and 27 at 7:30pm. Tickets cost £10 for one concert or £15 for both. The Martyrdom of Saint John Ogilvie will tour Scotland throughout March. The Brave Faith art exhibition takes place in AGAP Gallery, St Patrick’s RC Church, Anderston, daily from March 7 to April 5. Visit www.agap.org.uk or call 0141 554 1333

—Read the full version of this story in the February 13 edition of the SCO in parishes from Friday.

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Pic: Paul McSherry. Children at St Joseph’s in Faifley acted out the Joy of the Gospel recently as the Archdiocese of Glasgow Arts Project brought some faith-filled fun to the school. The youngsters took part in a number of games and activities as AGAP’s Creative Director Stephen Callaghan sought to bring the Good News to life.