Scottish Catholic Observer

The Clutha bar re-opened in Glasgow last weekend, 18 months after the fatal police helicopter accident that killed 10, over a year since the original memorial at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Glasgow for the victims, and just eight months after the first anniversary memorial when ten candles were lit once again in a Glasgow Church in honour of the victims.

For some of us a great deal, both good and bad, will have happened since that fateful day. For others, particularly the families and friends of those who lost their lives, it might seem like no time has passed at all. Here at the SCO we like to think of the comforting words and actions of Archbishop Philip Tartaglia at the time of the helicopter tragedy. The archbishop said he knew his words could ‘scarcely put a dent in the grief and loss of the families of those who lost their lives in the accident.’

“But I hope that they show we remember and do not forget; that we have cared and still care; that we prayed and we still pray; that we belong to a city which is full of humanity and compassion; and that even out of this tragedy we are called to be better, more compassionate, more understanding human beings, people who love one another, as Christ asked us to do,” he added.

The archbishop is immensely proud of the way that Glasgow had responded to the disaster. He said that his ‘heart, and I’m sure your heart, goes out to all those who have been affected by this tragic accident, those who have very sadly lost their lives, those who have been injured and those who have been bereaved.’ He added that it may have been ‘a miracle’ that the crashed helicopter did not explode and harm more people.

August sees the 70th anniversary of the first use of nuclear weapons and many plan to mark that anniversary and mourn that these weapons of mass destruction are still with us. Pax Christi will again commemorate the anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 6 and 9, events are taking place throughout the UK.

Here in Scotland planned events include the Rutherglen commemoration at 2.45pm on August 6 at the Peace Tree, opposite the Town Hall adjacent to St Columbkilles Church, organised by Rutherglen CND; Edinburgh vigil at the The Mound Princes St, on August 6 at 7pm, organised by Edinburgh CND; the August 6 7pm commemoration at the Peace Garden, Pullar Memorial Park, Bridge of Allan organised by Stirling CND and the vigil in Ayr on August 9 at the Wallace Tower from 1-2pm organised by Ayrshire CND.

Publicly or privately, these dates are an ideal time to pray for peace in out time and in our world.