Scottish Catholic Observer

The fourth Sunday of Lent is upon us. For some it will prompt recollections of Laetare Sunday, complete with and rose-coloured vestments. The fourth, or middle, Sunday of Lent is named from the first words of the Introit at Mass, Laetare Jerusalem —Rejoice, O Jerusalem. Laetare means ‘rejoice.’ And, indeed, there is a great deal to rejoice about, with the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ election and the installation of Scotland’s newest bishop, Bishop John Keenan of Paisley, among our many blessings.

The midpoint of Lent was yesterday, the Thursday of the third week of Lent and Laetare Sunday is traditionally seen as a day of celebration, on which the sacrifice of Lent is briefly lessened. In Scotland, the fourth Sunday of Lent is also know in parishes throughout the land as SCIAF Sunday, when the Lenten campaign from this agency of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland gets another boost from collections and donations. This midpoint is a good time to see how your Wee Box is filling up as well as recommitting yourself to your Lenten promises.

This year’s SCIAF Lenten campaign is raising money to help families in Colombia and throughout the world.

This week the SCO brings news from Colombia, from Colombia’s Caritas Director Mgr Hector Fabio and from Fr Sterlin Londoño Palacio whose personal insight recently inspired senior students at Lourdes Secondary School, Glasgow.

The bravery of Criseria, from the Emberá tribe in Chocó, Colombia—who appears on this year’s Wee Box—for getting on her first flight and leaving Colombia to come to Scotland has been matched only by her nobility and grace while here.

Family is at the heart of Church teaching, the families we raise and the brothers and sisters in need throughout the world that we reach out to help. Every family has its problems, and the Church is no different. Last week the SCO reported on the McLellan Commission into the Church in Scotland’s safeguarding policy and practise, this week Pope Francis named Boston Cardinal Sean O’Malley and Marie Collins, an Irish survivor of abuse, to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.

Other challenges include maintaining parishes and communities with fewer priests than before while the scales between clergy retirement and new vocations remain unbalanced.

In the words of Bishop Keenan, however, “I am convinced this is the Lord’s work, allowing for newer, better possibilities.”