Scottish Catholic Observer

Youngsters from St Francis Xavier’s Primary, Carfin, St Philomena’s Primary, Glasgow, Our Lady of the Rosary Primary, Cardonald and pupils from St Brendan’s parish in Yoker (above) visited the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima on Monday May 13, and left organisers of the World Apostolate of Fatima (WAF) Scotland stunned with their knowledge of the Faith.

Pope Francis

On organiser asked pupils what they would say to Pope Francis if he walked through the doors of Carfin Grotto, to which young Laura Harley, 11, a pupil of Our Lady of the Rosary, replied: “I’d ask him what it feels like to be the Pope, and then I would ask him what he says when he talks to God.”

Asked what she would say to young people who don’t go to Mass, Laura replied: “I would say that they should go to Mass and listen carefully to the readings.

“Then they would know how Jesus wants them to behave, for the Scriptures are Jesus talking to us.

“Then also perhaps they could find a quiet place where they feel they can talk to God. This helps when you are having a bad day—you feel so much better afterwards. I’m sure that’s how the Pope talks to God; he must have some terrible days!”

The pupils spoke to WAF organisers during a tea break after praying the Rosary and singing Marian hymns in procession from the shrine of Our Lady of Fatima to the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, led by Fr Francis McGachey, director of Carfin Grotto.

Courage

Leonora Cid, also 11, spoke of the gift of courage. She said: “If someone is bullying, you can take your courage in your hands and approach the bully. You could point out to them that this is not what you do—it’s not being strong.”

Faith in action

The pupils are currently enrolled in the Pope Francis Faith Award.

A spokeswoman for WAF Scotland said the pupils’ remarks reflected their desire to bring Faith into their school, church and home and put it into practice in daily life.

“The pupils also seemed very switched on to Pope Francis’ concern for preserving the universe and his concern for the poor,” she said.

“They also seemed to have a strong grasp of the gifts of the Spirit and the invitation to identify one in particular and put it into action.”