Scottish Catholic Observer

Glasgow is about to pay the ultimate tribute to its patron saint by honouring St Kentigern, better known as St Mungo, in a week of events.

The city’s religious history, and the Fife-born monk’s role in it, will be brought to life in the annual St Mungo Festival, beginning on Saturday, that is going from strength-to-strength.

This theme of this year’s festival, Mungo’s Bairns, explores what it means to be Glaswegian in today’s multicultural society. St Mungo’s Bairns is also the title of a multi-cultural gala concert at St Andrews in the Square on Saturday. This concert will be recorded and broadcast world-wide by Glasgow-based Celtic Music Radio.

The St Mungo Singers and pupils from St Patrick’s Primary school are taking part in Vita St Kentigern— The Tree and the Bell, celebrating the life of St Mungo in words and song at the Mitchell Library on Saturday at 12 noon.

Glasgow Cathedral is hosting two ecumenical services during the festival, one on Sunday celebrating St Mungo’s life through music and dance, and a feast day service on January 13 for children from city schools. Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow is attending the Sunday celebration and Mass for the Feast of St Kentigern at St Mungo’s, Townhead, on Thursday.

Christians across Glasgow are also encouraged to find out more about their patron saint and events such as Mungo’s Nature Pilgrimage on January 9, reflecting on the religious significance of St Mungo and Glasgow’s coat of arms, are an ideal way to learn more.

—Full details of the events can be found at http://www.stmungofestival.com

—For more on concert broadcast, visit http://www.celticmusicradio.net/

Pic: Paul McSherry