Scottish Catholic Observer

Those seeking a vision for the future of the Catholic Church in Scotland sometimes want clever words and modern strategy (Hugh Dougherty, page 10 of this week’s SCO) and there is a need, and a time and a place, for that. For many lay Catholics, however, actions often speak louder than words, and the key to good leadership for many is just that, literally someone they can follow. The kind of demonstration of leadership through the ages that rings truth for Catholics include pilgrimage and procession, where congregations follow their ‘Good Shepherd.’

This is the type of leadership demonstrated by Archbishop Leo Cushley: When he led the reinstated St Margaret of Scotland Pilgrimage in Dunfermline last Sunday more than 1000 of the Faithful followed.

Earlier this year, to mark the Feast of Corpus Christi, Archbishops Leo Cushley and Philip Tartaglia—who celebrated his 40th anniversary this week—also led processions in their respective archdioceses. This Saturday, the national pilgrimage will be held in Keith, the birthplace of St John Ogilvie, as part of the 400th anniversary commemorations of his martyrdom, and this summer many of Scotland’s bishops will lead diocesan pilgrimages to Lourdes. This kind of leadership is as familiar as it is genuine, as symbolic as it is effective. There is an element of getting back to basics, of reminding Catholics to bear witness to their Faith, of combining the familiar with new evangelisation.

In the increasingly secular society, and world, we live in, such leadership reminds us of the need to stand up and be counted as Catholics. For all the criticism of sectarianism in our nation, it is the extreme violence in the name of religion overseas that today teaches us to stand up against persecution.

Processions and pilgrimages may not solve all the problems the modern Scottish Church faces, but they do have one very important job. While they raise moral, that isn’t the only benefit. They bring us together: Clergy and lay Catholics with religious, bishops and priests, young and old, neighbouring parishes and groups within the Church. They unite us and, for one day, afternoon or trip, they bring us closer to God. It may not be a new strategy, but we are increasingly discovering that unity is a very effective one. And what a vision it is.

Our Church is by its very nature hierarchical, our Episcopal conference relatively new, and our problems have no quick fixes but how wonderful it will be to see our bishops stand together with our community at the national pilgrimage, not proud but humble before the Lord. Unity is our strength; what a vision for the future that will be.