Scottish Catholic Observer

500 young people from Scotland’s Catholic schools joined the ‘stand up for faith and freedom’ annual youth rally organised by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).

Via video link, the young Catholics were able to ask questions of their counterparts from Iraq who have been displaced due to conflict and they received an apostolic blessing from Pope Francis via the papal nuncio.

At Motherwell Concert Hall attendees were treated to a warm welcome by the St Maurice’s High School Samba band before hearing music from Ooberfuse, an electronic pop band who support persecuted Christians.

Nuncio statement

Bishop John Keenan of Paisley Diocese read the opening prayer for the youth rally on October 7, before revealing that the Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain Archbishop Edward Adams had sent an Apostolic Letter on behalf of Pope Francis.

The letter read: “Informed of this Rally that will take place under the auspices of Aid to the Church in Need, Pope Francis invokes the intercession of the Saints and Martyrs who in the history of the Church have been the victims of hatred and who have suffered for their Faith, even to the point of death.

“His Holiness hopes that the Scottish Youth Rally will arouse attention on the part of all to the unjust treatment that even today so many disciples of the Lord Christ receive in many parts of the world.

“The Holy Father sends his affectionate greetings to the organisers and young people taking part in this worthy initiative, and willingly imparts to them and their loved ones his Apostolic Blessing, as a pledge of abundant graces from the God of love and peace.”

Iraq horror

Bishop Keenan later spoke on stage with Fr Martin Delaney, parish priest of St Aloyisus and Sacred Heart in Chapelhall, about their experience visiting Iraq in November 2018.

The pair revealed how they were ‘horrified’ by the destruction caused by Isis before they were defeated in 2016 and revealed how they spent one overnight in a seminary which for three years during the conflict was used as an Isis headquarters.

Fr Delaney said that Scotland can learn from the ‘joyful witness to the Faith’ of the Catholics who survived the ‘brutal occupation of terrorist militants,’ and that the work ACN are undertaking to rebuild churches and schools brings hope.

Organisers had set up a live video link with a group of young Iraqi pupils to allow pupils from Scotland to interact with their fellow Christians and ask questions about their experiences.

Powerful

The link allowed Scottish pupils to ask questions to senior pupils, who could speak English, who then translated for younger pupils who answered the questions.

One of the most powerful moments of the youth rally was when an Iraqi pupil asked through the video link, ‘Is it safe in Scotland?’

Bishop John Keenan then led the pupils in praying the Our Father before Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell Diocese prayed the Angelus before lunch.

Fr Frankie Mulgrew, a priest of Salford Diocese (above), also took to the stage to discuss his experience in Iraq with ACN.

The priest, who was a stand-up comedian before being ordained, managed to cajole teachers up on stage to dance.

Faith and freedom

Head of ACN Scotland, Lorraine McMahon, said: “I’d like to thank everyone who came along to our fifth annual youth rally, it was a fantastic day and it really gives the young people an opportunity to make a stand for Faith and freedom.

“Sadly, religious intolerance has become all too common all around the world to the point that in some places it is life threatening to be a Christian. Our mission at ACN is to support Christians who are persecuted or in pastoral need.

“Today’s event helps raise awareness within our young people about the plight of Christians around the world.”