1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

Lord, Let Glasgow Flourish by the preaching of Thy Word and the praising of Thy Name
MAY 2015
JOURNAL OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF GLASGOW
Picture by Paul McSherry
70p
BLESS
THIS
HOUSE
GLORIOUS sunshine
ensured an extra warm
glow as residents of
Nazareth House were
formally welcomed to their
splendid new care home in
Cardonald.
Archbishop Philip
Tartaglia was on hand to
bless the spacious and
accommodating house
which is home to 62 elderly
residents and a team of
dedicated staff. It replaces
the older facility which has
stood for over a century.
The Archbishop
encouraged everyone to set
the highest standards of
care and aspire to achieve
them in the spirit of
Christian charity.
Full story – page 3
SCIAF appeal for Nepal
THE Scottish Catholic
International Aid Fund is
appealing to Scots to donate whatever they can
to help survivors of the
Nepalese earthquake.
The charity has launched an
emergency appeal following
the massive quake which
claimed thousands of lives,
and left many more injured,
homeless and in need of urgent help. £50,000 was dispatched immediately.
Within hours of the eruption, SCIAF’s partners were
already helping rescue people
and had provided tarpaulins
for survivors to sleep under.
They are also giving food,
clean water, blankets and
soap.
SCIAF director Alistair
Dutton said: “The prayers,
By Vincent Toal
solidarity and generosity of
the Scottish people are crucial
to SCIAF’s response.
“I would urge everyone to
join us in praying for the deceased and their loved ones,
and give what they can so that
we can get aid to those who
need it most and help them
make a full recovery in the
weeks and months ahead.
“We are liaising closely
with Caritas in Nepal and will
do whatever we can to help
them.
Fr Pius Perumana SJ, the director of Caritas Nepal, based
in the capital Kathmandu, said
it was the worst earthquake he
had ever experienced in an
area which is not immune to
large tremors.
He said: “Thank God it was
during the day and on a holi-
day as many people were outside when the quake happened.
“Rescue is the first priority.
Lots of people have lost their
homes and are out on the
street or in open spaces, so we
will be looking to provide
them with food and temporary
shelter.”
The
devastation
has
stretched medical services in
the impoverished and unprepared Himalayan nation to
breaking point.
Hospital
beds
in
Kathmandu are full, forcing
other sick and injured people
to seek makeshift treatment in
the street alongside thousands
of displaced survivors whose
homes were destroyed.
Speaking from Kathmandu,
Eleanor Trinchera of Caritas
Australia said: “I have never
seen so much devastation.
■ SCIAF chief’s cycle pilgrimage – page 10
While the streets are rife with
activity and chaos as people
try to find loved ones and
friends, the city is paralysed
with destroyed buildings,
blocked roads, intermittent
power and rolling aftershocks.”
On Mount Everest, the
quake triggered a huge avalanche which flattened the
base camp, killing 17 and injuring 61 in the worst disaster
to hit the mountain. Many of
the dead are local sherpas.
Pope Francis expressed his
solidarity with all affected by
the disaster and sent assurances of prayers for the dead
and those who grieve their
loss.
Year of Mercy
pages 8–9
Smiles in
Cranhill
page 5
Marriage
blessing
page 13
2
MAY 2015 • FLOURISH
FOCUS
diary
Archbishop’s
Archbishop Tartaglia surrounded by priests at Chrism Mass in St Andrew’s Cathedral
Picture by Paul McSherry
MAY 2015
Friday 1st: Mass for
Vocations, Turnbull Hall
(7pm)
Saturday 2nd: Mass for 60th
anniversary of parish, St
Brigid’s, Toryglen (6pm)
Tuesday 5th–6th: Meeting of
Bishops’ Conference
Scotland
Friday 8th: P7 Mass, St
Andrew’s Cathedral
(10.30am)
Sunday 10th: Mass for Youth
St Vincent de Paul, St
Andrew’s Cathedral (2pm)
Monday 11th: P7 Mass, St
Andrew’s Cathedral
(10.30am)
Tuesday 12th:
Confirmations, St Vincent’s,
Thornliebank (7pm)
Sunday 17th: First
Communions, St Anne’s,
Dennistoun (11.30am)
Monday 18th: P7 Mass, St
Andrew’s Cathedral
(10.30am); Meeting of SCES
executive (4pm)
Tuesday 19th: Lunch with
Secondary head teachers
(1pm); The Wizard of Oz, St
Stephen’s Primary, Dalmuir
(7pm)
Wednesday 20th: P7 Mass,
St Andrew’s Cathedral
(10.30am)
Thursday 21st: Lunch with
Secondary head teachers
(1pm); Confirmations, St
Maria Goretti’s, Cranhill
(7pm)
Friday 22nd: Mass of
Thanksgiving for NET
Ministries, St Andrew’s
Cathedral (6.30pm)
Sunday 24th: Mass of
Pentecost with Neophytes, St
Andrew’s Cathedral (3pm)
Wednesday 27th: Mass for
Union of Catholic Mothers,
St Margaret’s, Clydebank
(7pm)
Thursday 28th: Mass of
Dedication for Safeguarding
Service, St Andrew’s
Cathedral (7pm)
Friday 29th: P7 Mass, St
Andrew’s Cathedral
(10.30am)
Sunday 31st: Confirmations
at St Kessog’s, Balloch
(11.30am)
Forty
hours
adoration
Sunday 3rd May
St Catherine’s, Balornock
St James, Crookston
Sunday 10th May
St Vincent’s, Thornliebank
Sunday 17th May
St Patrick’s, Dumbarton
Sunday 24th May
St Columba’s, Hopehill Rd
Sacred Heart, Cumbernauld
Sunday 31st May
St Roch’s, Garngad
Constant delight being priest
THE Good Shepherd is
none other than Jesus.
The Good Shepherd knows
his sheep. He calls them. He
lays down his life for his
sheep – seeks out the lost and
carries them to safe pastures.
The Church looks to Jesus
the Good Shepherd as she
prays for vocations. The
Church wants her priests to be
like Jesus the Good Shepherd.
This year marks for me 40
years of priestly ordination.
My story as a priest is one
of learning how to be like
Jesus the Good Shepherd. I
was well prepared, but I was
not ready-made. Jesus had to
show me how to follow him.
And you, my dear brothers
and sisters, you had to teach
me how to be a shepherd. I am
still learning after 40 years,
learning from Jesus and learning from you.
After 40 years, I want to
thank God and ask him to continue to show me a Father’s
understanding and love so
that, despite my sins and failings, I can still aspire to be
something like Jesus the Good
Shepherd.
After 40 years, I am both
joyful and humbled that I
serve as a priest. I am still full
of wonder at the Eucharist and
the Sacraments. I am still excited by the challenge of finding new insights and new
words to preach the Gospel.
More than ever, I feel the
responsibility to be a shepherd
and pastor who shares the burdens of his flock and who responds to them with a loving
heart.
After 40 years, I want to ask
forgiveness of anyone I have
hurt or disappointed. I want to
thank the people I have served
for their goodness and understanding.
I praise God for calling me
to be a priest. Despite recent
ill-health, I am thankful that I
am still strong and fit enough
Tiredness of priests
Archbishop Winning ordaining Philip Tartaglia, kneeling right,
at Our Lady of Good Counsel on 30 June 1975
To mark World Day of Prayer for
Vocations on Good Shepherd Sunday,
ARCHBISHOP PHILIP TARTAGLIA issued a
pastoral letter highlighting the joy and
challenge of priesthood in the context of
his own 40th anniversary of ordination
for work. But I have to acknowledge the fact that, at 64
years of age, I am nearer the
end of my active life than the
beginning.
And my dearest wish is that
there will be enough priests to
care for this diocese into the
future.
Our story of vocations to
the priesthood in recent years
shows that the challenge is
daunting for young men.
In his message for
Vocations Sunday, Pope
Francis mentions “uncertainty” and “worries about the
future” and “daily problems”
as factors which may put
young people off – “to the
point where they think that is
it not worth the effort to get
involved, that the God of the
Christian faith is somehow a
limit on their freedom.”
But Pope Francis goes on:
“Dear young friends, never be
afraid…The Gospel is the
message which brings freedom to our lives; it transforms
them and makes them all the
more beautiful.
“How wonderful it is to be
surprised by God’s call, to
embrace his word, and to walk
in the footsteps of Jesus, in
adoration of the divine mystery and in generous service to
our neighbours! Your life will
become richer and more joyful each day!”
After 40 years, I can testify
to the truth of the Pope’s
words.
Despite the limitations of
my own humanity, I am constantly surprised and delighted
by working for the Lord as a
priest.
So I do not hesitate to call
all young people to follow
Jesus. And I do not hesitate to
call young men to follow
Jesus in the priesthood and
allow him to make them into
good shepherds just like him.
And after 40 years, I can assure you personally of the protection and intercession of
Mary, the Mother of Jesus,
who did not hesitate to say in
response to God’s call, Let it
be done to me.
WHENEVER we feel
weighed down by
pastoral work, we can be
tempted to rest however
we please, as if rest were
not itself a gift of God.
Our weariness is
precious in the eyes of
Jesus who embraces us
and lifts us up.
Whenever a priest feels
dead tired, yet is able to
bow down in adoration
and say: “Enough for
today Lord”, and entrust
himself to the Father, he
knows that he will not fall
but be renewed. Let us
never forget that a key to
fruitful priestly ministry
lies in how we rest and in
how we look at the way
the Lord deals with our
weariness.
DO I know how to rest by
accepting the love,
gratitude and affection
which I receive from
God’s faithful people?
Do I know how to seek
help from a wise priest?
Do I know how to take a
break from myself, from
the demands I make on
myself, from my selfseeking and from my selfabsorption?
Am I preoccupied with
how I should speak and
act, or do I entrust myself
to the Holy Spirit, who
will teach me what I need
to say in every
situation?
PEOPLE love their priests,
they want and need their
shepherds! The faithful
never leave us without
something to do, unless
we hide in our offices or
go out in our cars
wearing sun glasses.
There is a good and
healthy tiredness. It is the
exhaustion of the priest
who wears the smell of
the sheep… but also
smiles the smile of a
father rejoicing in his
children or grandchildren.
If Jesus is shepherding
the flock in our midst, we
cannot be shepherds who
are glum, plaintive or,
even worse, bored.
THERE is also weariness
of ourselves – wanting
yet not wanting, having
given up everything but
continuing to yearn for
the fleshpots of Egypt,
toying with the illusion of
being something
different. I like to call this
kind of weariness “flirting
with spiritual
worldliness”.
Only love gives true
rest. What is not loved
becomes tiresome, and in
time, brings about a
harmful weariness.
Let us ask for the grace
to learn how to be weary,
but weary in the best of
ways!
From Pope Francis’
Chrism Mass homily,
2 April 2015
FLOURISH • MAY 2015
NEWS
Nazareth House offers wall-to-wall care
A DAY of celebration and
thanksgiving marked the
official opening of a new
care home at Nazareth
House, Cardonald.
Within the state-of-the-art
building, the highest quality
care is provided for 62 frail,
elderly residents, many of
whom have dementia.
And key to that provision is
the model of Christian love
passed down the generations
and reflected in the core values of the Sisters of Nazareth
– love, justice, hospitality, respect, compassion and patience.
The latter has paid off as the
dream of a new home was first
proposed around the time of
the 2002 centenary of Sisters’
arrival in Glasgow.
Providence
To see it take shape, alongside the old building, is the
fruit of much planning,
fundraising, hard-work and
prayer.
So it was fitting that the
opening on Thursday 23 April
centred on the celebration of
Mass with Archbishop Philip
Tartaglia the principal celebrant.
He said: “This residence is
part of God’s providence for
us – a place where love, kindness, respect, forgiveness and
hospitality are at home.”
The Archbishop encouraged
everyone to ensure “wall-to-
By Vincent Toal
wall respect” within such a
“splendid” project.
And in a climate where care
of the elderly is under increased scrutiny, he suggested
that Nazareth House Glasgow
should be prepared to “go beyond the call of duty” in caring for its residents.
“At times it may seem like
an intrusion into good work,
but it is no bad thing that care
homes are subject to thorough
regulation,” he said.
“There is nothing to be
feared in setting the highest
standards and aspiring to
achieve them in the spirit of
Christian faith and the rich vision of care which inspired the
founding of the Sisters of
Nazareth over 150 years ago.”
Sister Anna Maria Doolan,
regional superior, welcomed
everyone to the celebrations,
including the contractors who
created the new building over
18 months, and members of
Nazareth Care, the charitable
trust which oversees some 13
Nazareth Homes across
Britain.
“The Sisters first came to
Glasgow in 1902 and opened
the magnificent red sandstone
building on Paisley Road
West in 1906 as a home to 238
residents, including 60 babies,” Sr Anna Maria pointed
out.
“Although it was sad to
watch the end of a chapter, as
some of the original was de-
Mass of Thanksgiving in Nazareth House chapel
before official opening
Picture by Paul McSherry
molished to make way for the
new, our excitement built as
the new home took shape, and
reached fever pitch when the
roof was put on.
Guess
She thanked especially people from across Glasgow who
have supported the Sisters in
their work down the years,
and prayed for all who lived
and worked in Nazareth
House over the past century.
Among the guests at the
Mass and blessing were
Glasgow’s deputy Lord
Provost, Gerry Leonard, and
leader of Glasgow City
Council, Gordon Matheson, as
well as area MSP Johann
Comforting heartbroken family
Archbishop
Philip
Tartaglia has assured the
grieving family of Karen
Buckley that the Church
in Glasgow is praying for
them in the wake of their
daughter’s brutal death.
The body of the Caledonian
University student was discovered four days after she
went missing on a night out in
Glasgow’s west end. A 21
year-old man, Alexander
Pacteau has been charged with
her murder.
“Karen’s cruel death has
shocked and saddened us all,”
Grieving parents Marian
and John with son Kieran
Karen Buckley
Archbishop Tartaglia said at
Mass in St Andrew’s
Cathedral on Sunday 19 April.
Speaking about meeting her
“devastated” parents, Marian
and John, and her brother,
Kieran, the Archbishop revealed: “They spoke about
their disbelief and horror at
Karen’s murder. They could
not fathom why anyone would
want to hurt her and kill her.
“They looked for comfort in
their faith. They were holding
on to the hope that Karen was
now in heaven with the Lord,
safe and happy.
“When I asked them what I
could do, they insisted on one
thing – prayer. We joined
hands as we sat together and
said some prayers.”
Karen, 24, was the youngest
of four children in the Buckley
family from Mourneabbey,
County Cork. She was doing a
postgraduate course in occupational therapy, having already qualified and worked as
a nurse.
“The power of death seems
inexorable, unanswerable,”
Archbishop Tartaglia reflected. “However, the last
word is not death, but life. The
risen Jesus is our hope.
“He is hope for Karen. He is
hope for her devastated grieving family who will carry the
heavy cross of Karen’s death
for a long time.”
Lamont and local councillors.
Concelebrating
with
Archbishop Tartaglia were
Bishops Joseph Toal, John
Keenan and John Mone –
whose brother Fr Willie is resident in the new home – Mgr
John Gilmartin, local parish
priest, and some of the resident priests.
The Archbishop acknowledged the long-established
links between Nazareth House
and the archdiocese, with retired and infirm priests benefiting from its care in a secure
and spiritually uplifting environment.
“As a built environment, the
new home has been designed
to offer the best physical surroundings for older people and
their needs,” the general manager, Linda O’Neill, said.
“But meeting the needs of
the elderly is about far more
than their physical care, and
all our staff understand and
appreciate this.”
As the words of the closing
hymn of the Mass expressed,
this is a house where God’s
blessing of love, joy and peace
is very much at home.
3
Dangers of
assisted
suicide
JOHN Deighan will give a talk
in St Andrew’s, Bearsden, on
Thursday 28 May at 7.30pm in
which he will respond to the
arguments commonly used to
advance assisted suicide.
After 16 years as
parliamentary officer for the
Catholic Bishops’ Conference,
Mr Deighan has taken up a
new post as chief executive
officer for the Society for the
Protection of Unborn Children.
He has been heavily involved
in organising the efforts to
prevent euthanasia and
assisted suicide being
legalised in Scotland since the
creation of the Scottish
Parliament.
His talk comes as MSPs at
Holyrood consider a revised
assisted suicide bill with a
media campaign building to
promote it.
■ GENERAL
ELECTION:
Bishops’
pastoral letter
– page 6
PROJECT
TRUTH
ROADSHOW
Please join the Project Truth team in Scotland for our second
pro-life road-show across the country!
Would you like to…
• learn more about pro-life apologetics?
• Deepen your convictions on this issue?
• meet other young people who are
passionate about the pro-life cause?
• all while visiting the beautiful towns and
cities of Scotland with a team of
enthusiastic young people?
If so - THIS EVENT IS FOR YOU!
6 cities in 6 days
Young people from all across the UK and even further
afield
Bringing the pro-life message to the streets of Scotland
Only £50 for the full week & free to join for the day
events in each city
For more info see our Facebook page - Project
Truth or email [email protected]
75 Bothwell Street, Glasgow G2 6TS
Email: [email protected]
Telephone number: 0141 221 2094
4
MAY 2015 • FLOURISH
NEWS
Pope’s message to Croy kids
Although he’ll not be
there, Pope Francis has
promised his prayers to
the children of Holy
Cross, Croy, as they prepare to lead the Corpus
procession
Christi
through the village.
Sr Annette, right, with pupils
and Sr Patricia
Picture by Paul McSherry
AFTER 15 years of supporting
pupils in St Patrick’s Primary,
Anderston, Sr Annette
McCartan has retired from the
lively school on the edge of
Glasgow city centre.
The children showed their
appreciation for the popular
Sister of Mercy’s work and
commitment by raising funds
for her community’s mission
project in South Africa.
Rising to the challenge the
youngsters achieved their
target of £2000 while learning
more about the Sisters’ work
in the township of Addo near
Port Elizabeth.
The Sisters of Mercy have
been in the area for almost ten
years, providing catechesis
Farewell Sr Annette
and sacramental preparation
courses, as well as summer
schools for the children of the
region’s mainly seasonal
workforce.
Sr Patricia McMahon, who
works in a local prison where
many of the inmates have been
incarcerated as a result of
literacy problems and poor
education, told the St Patrick’s
pupils about her work and the
children she helps support.
For Sr Annette, whose
association with St Patrick’s
stretches back to her own
childhood, leaving the school
was a real wrench.
“This is a great school with
wonderful children,” she said.
“Over the past 15 years, I have
witnessed so much hard work
being done to build up the
community and support
families for whom Glasgow is
a new home.
“We are a multinational
school with 24 languages
spoken, so you can just
imagine the effort that goes in
to bringing people together
and ensuring the best learning
opportunities.”
She added: “I want to thank
the children, their families and
all the staff at St Patrick’s for
their friendship over the years
and for this magnificent gift of
£2000 to support the Sisters of
Mercy mission in South
Africa.”
Mgr Peter Wells added that
Pope Francis “will remember
you, the children and the lay
faithful of your parish in his
prayers.
“Invoking upon all of you
joy and peace in Our Lord
Jesus Christ, he cordially im-
While preparing for their
first Holy Communion – taking place this month – the
pupils of Holy Cross and St
Andrew’s primary schools
wrote to the Pope inviting him
to the annual procession
which takes place this year on
Sunday 7 June.
In reply, a Vatican secretary
wrote to parish priest Fr Joe
Sullivan “appreciating the devoted
sentiments”
that
prompted the invite.
parts his Apostolic Blessing.”
While disappointed that
Pope Francis will not make it
to Croy, the children were delighted to receive his blessing
– adding to the abundant
graces offered in Holy
Communion.
Walk of witness
G52 Churches Together
is growing in strength
and numbers.
Their Walk of Witness on
Good Friday drew the best attendance yet.
Scores of people walked
from Our Lady and St
George's church, Penilee,
along Paisley Road West to
Hillington Park Church in
Cardonald.
Rev John MacGregor had
arranged a thoughtful service
in which all six churches
which make up the group participated.
It incorporated readings
covering the themes of forgiveness, hope, compassion,
loneliness, trust and new beginnings.
The presence of a few
younger people amid the
mainly silver-haired congregation gave visible expression
to that hope.
Bringing power & life to
commercial & Industrial
buildings for over 30 years.
Renewable energy
solutions for the domestic
and commercial sector.
No matter for what purpose a
WMQ are also now bringing cost-effective and efficient
renewable energy solutions to homes and businesses
throughout the UK.
building will be used, it needs
power to bring it to life. From
3 employees in 1976, WMQ
Building Services has grown
WMQ Technology make choosing and installing renewable technologies as simple as
dramatically to its current level
possible whilst all the while providing a thoroughly comprehensive and professional
of prominence in the electrical
service. Now is the time to be thinking about going green with renewable energy.
contracting industry employing
3 Gain energy independence
over 100 skilled tradesmen.
3 Reduce the impact of volatile prices
More reassuringly, much of the company’s work comes from repeat business from
3 Clean energy cashback with feed-in tariffs
established clients. New customers are attracted by our solid reputation of a job
3 Reduce your carbon footprint
well done at a fair price.
As a privately owned, forward thinking business WMQ are in a great position to offer
Contact WMQ now and watch them bring your next project to life.
an unrivalled service from initial conception to final installation. WMQ Technology
provides full and relevant professional advice including design, technical site surveys,
planning expertise, grant advice, installation, after sales and maintenance service.
Weir & McQuiston (Scotland) Ltd.
Weir & McQuiston (Scotland) Ltd.
McArthur House, Netherton Cross,
Wishaw ML2 0EF.
McArthur House, Netherton Cross,
Wishaw ML2 0EF
Telephone: 01698 372113
Telephone: 07808 176073
Email: [email protected]
Email: [email protected]
T E C H N O LO GY
FLOURISH • MAY 2015
NEWS
Penilee pointes
GOOD SHEPHERD: Fr John Sweeney surrounded by
parishioners of all generations at St Maria Goretti’s
Picture by Paul McSherry
Smiles back on faces at St Maria Goretti
After a few years of
decline and 12 months
on from the merger with
St Philip’s, Ruchazie,
there’s plenty to smile
about at St Maria Goretti
parish, Cranhill.
For, as well as extending its
boundaries, it has extended its
outreach and drawn more people in to the church.
“The church that was once
in darkness has been lit up,”
Ella McManus stated, with
words to match the Easter season.
“There’s a renewed commitment to be involved in the
life of the parish.”
Her assessment benefits
from the experience of many
years living in Cranhill and is
echoed by other parishioners.
Stephen McCall admitted
that he had stopped attending
St Maria Goretti’s, although
he has a 40-year affiliation
By Vincent Toal
with the parish.
“The link between the
schools and the parish has
been renewed and that gives
us hope for the future,” he
said.
“Seeing younger parents
coming to church with their
children raises the spirits.”
For former parishioners of
St Philip’s, the transition to
becoming part of the extended
parish has helped by the welcome they have felt. But a
sense of loss still lingers.
“Every morning we walk
past where the church used to
be on our way to Mass and
that breaks our heart,” said
Cathie Flannigan and Ellen
Boyce. “When it was being
demolished, we walked the
long as we just didn’t want to
see it.”
But gradually the women
are feeling more at home. The
presence of some familiar stat-
ues from St Philip’s – as well
as old faces, like John
Docherty who carries on the
work of the foodbank – has
eased their heartbreak.
Mission
Among the other gifts St
Philip’s has handed on are
families
of
the
Neo
Catechumenal Way – like
Sebastiano and Maria Fontana
and their son Giuseppe, who
were sent on mission to
Glasgow’s east end from Italy
by the Pope.
“We are here to help, although a lot of our work is invisible as it involves reaching
out to people who are quite far
away from God and the
Church,” said Sebastiano.
“But we are part of the parish
as parishioners.”
All agree that the catalyst
for bringing people together
and renewing the sense of
community – already evident
in well-established social
functions in the popular parish
hall – has been Fr John
Sweeney, the parish priest.
“We needed a shepherd,
someone to guide us and keep
us together, and he has proved
a wonderful leader,” said
Stephen.
“He has helped people in
their faith and his enthusiasm
for living the Gospel is drawing people in.”
While he appreciates the
sentiments and recognises the
progress made, Fr Sweeney is
conscious that there is more to
be done.
Easter fire
Removals
Clearances
Transport
Small & large vans to suit any job
Long & short-term storage available
Tel 0141 429 2015
Mob 07799 735 893
7E CAN PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF TRAVEL SERVICES
INCLUDING PACKAGE HOLIDAYS ¾IGHTS HOTELS CAR HIRE AIRPORT
PARKING AND AIRPORT LOUNGE BOOKINGS
7E ALSO SPECIALISE IN CRUISES AND TAILOR MADE HOLIDAYS AS
WELL AS OFFERING A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SKIING HOLIDAYS ) CAN
PROVIDE AN INDEPENDENT AND IMPARTIAL TRAVEL SERVICE TAILORED TO
YOUR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS 7HETHER YOU´RE PLANNING A TRIP IN THE 5+ OR
TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD ¯ MY PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL SERVICE WILL
CATER FOR EVERY NEED
!T 9OUR(OLIDAYS9OUR7AY WE ARE ABLE TO ARRANGE HOLIDAYS AND
TRIPS TO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
À !FRICA
À !USTRALIA .EW :EALAND
PARISHIONERS of Sacred
Heart, Bridgeton, enjoyed a
day of retreat at the
beginning of Holy Week at
the Carmelite monastery in
Dumbarton.
Along with parish priest,
Mgr Paul Conroy, they made
the most of the peaceful
setting to reflect and pray.
As well as welcoming
them and providing
hospitality, the nuns shared
some of their spirituality and
the life of Teresa of Avila the
500th anniversary of whose
birth is marked this year.
At the end of this month,
parishioners from St
Margaret’s, Clydebank, will
also travel the short distance
to Dumbarton for a day
retreat.
month, the youngsters were
on tip-top form as they
entertained enthusiastic
audiences with assured
steps and balletic poise.
While some of them take
part in ballet classes, others
are self-taught – all are
eager to put their best foot
forward to ensure the
fundraising efforts maintain
a quickstep tempo.
John P. McVey
Pilgrimage
“We are asked to evangelise, to spread the faith and be
signs of God’s presence to our
neighbours,” he said.
“That demands that we all
continue to work together, get
to know each other better,
build up the life of the parish
and in that way show the face
of God’s loving mercy to
everyone we encounter.”
By happy coincidence, the
Jubilee Year of Mercy comes
as the parish celebrates the
60th anniversary of St Maria
Goretti church.
Among
the
activities
planned is a pilgrimage to
Rome and Nettuno – the home
of their patron.
Carmel way for day
A NOVEL benefit of old Christmas
trees has come to light at St
Gregory’s parish, Wyndford –
burn it on the Easter fire.
The results are quite
spectacular, as the flames lit up
the night sky.
Perhaps this ‘confusion’ of the
great Christian feasts might
warm more people to participate
at the Easter Vigil.
A TROUPE of young dancers
has proved a big hit in Our
Lady and St George’s parish,
Penilee.
The self-styled ‘What’s the
Pointe?’ answered any
doubters with a series of
performances which have
helped raise some £3000
towards paying off the costs
of the parish hall.
On successive nights, last
À %UROPE
À &AR %AST )NDIA
À -IDDLE %AST
À 53! #ANADA #ARIBBEAN
7HETHER YOU ARE PLANNING A STUNNING LAID BACK LUXURY RETREAT
IN THE -ALDIVES OR A FUN PACKED WEEK´S SKIING IN THE !USTRIAN
4YROL YOU CAN REST ASSURED WE WILL WORK HARD TO CREATE A TRIP THAT
YOU WILL REMEMBER FOREVER
WWWYOURHOLIDAYSYOURWAYCOUK
WWWYOURCRUISEYOURWAYCOUK
%ASTKILBRIDE 2OAD 'LASGOW ,ANARKSHIRE ' *8 À 5
6
MAY 2015 • FLOURISH
FOCUS
Values at heart of society
WHILE each of us alone
will decide whom to
vote for, the teachings
of the Church can offer
us a guide as we attempt to reach an informed judgement that
advances the common
good.
“LET US ARRANGE YOUR WEDDING RECEPTION”
We have a wide range of MENUS including Buffets and Finger Buffets
Our FUNCTION SUITE also caters for:
BIRTHDAY, CHRISTENING & ENGAGEMENT PARTIES
Funeral parties catered for
Covered car parking
Telephone: 0141 944 6231
20 DRUMCHAPEL ROAD, OLD DRUMCHAPEL, GLASGOW
For centuries Christian
values underpinned our laws
and customs, but for
Christians today the political
complexion of Parliament is
secondary to the values and
beliefs of those who sit in it.
The candidates we send to
Parliament go there as our
representatives. The values
they hold will shape their
understanding of what is
good for our country.
Before casting our vote,
we have a duty to inform
ourselves of the moral values of our candidates. We
should think and pray before
we choose, considering especially the following
points:
Life
Standard Buildings, 94 Hope Street, Glasgow G2 6PH
Telephone +44 (0) 141 248 8111 Fax +44 (0) 141 221 8420
E-mail [email protected]
"% # 3 ( #*
4 4$ %3$ &
! "#
$ %
!"##
$
!!!& '## &&()
$* $) '+,(' &&()
- . ., /0 12
!" #
The dignity and value of
every human being should
be at the heart of politics.
The sanctity of human life,
protected from its beginning
to its natural end, is not a
single issue. It is the fundamental issue, for if human
life is not sacrosanct then no
other human right makes any
sense at all.
Laws which permit abortion, euthanasia and assisted
suicide are profoundly unjust. We do not want to accept the continued existence
in our society of such fundamental violations of human
rights and we commit ourselves to work peacefully
and tirelessly to oppose and
to change them.
Family
Common sense and much
research tell us that children
do best when they are raised
by a mum and dad who are
married to each other. This
ideal is not always possible
in reality and we applaud
and support families who
achieve remarkable things in
Votes in a General Election help set the
direction of society. In their recent pastoral
letter, the Bishops Conference of Scotland
asked people to assess candidates on
attitudes to key ethical concerns and to get
more involved in promoting the common good
the most difficult of circumstances.
We should encourage our
politicians to defend the institution of marriage and the
family as the basic unit of
society on which so much
depends. Pope Francis has
also reminded governments
not to require poor countries
to introduce laws redefining
marriage before they can get
financial aid, because this is
unjust and unfair.
Economy
The first consideration for
any economic policy should
be the dignity of the person,
not the pursuit of profit.
In these turbulent financial
times, Pope Francis has been
a prophetic voice, warning
that economies stripped of
ethics trample human dignity. “Unbridled capitalism,”
he says, “has given us the
logic of profit at any cost,
and of exploitation without
looking at the person.” The
existence of so many food
banks offers a depressing
vindication of the Pope’s
warning.
Peace
Successive UK Governments have made plans to replace and upgrade our
nuclear weapons capacity.
This is despite the considerable costs involved and in the
face of persistent moral objections, to say nothing of international agreements we
have entered into which com-
Evangelisation
The Gospel compels us to
engage actively in the world
and convert human affairs.
Sadly, some politicians who
profess a Catholic faith remain silent – or even surrender – in the face of grave
ethical injustice.
As Catholics, we can never
separate how we act from
what we believe without undermining what we believe
and damaging who we are.
The time has come for a
new generation of Catholics
to join political parties and to
dedicate ourselves to political service in a way that remains faithful to the Gospel
of Jesus Christ.
SPUC Scotland Pro-life
chain in Edinburgh on
Saturday 25 April
Human Freedom
Across the globe, the right
to religious freedom and
freedom of worship are
under threat. In some countries, Christians are put to
death simply for professing
faith in Jesus Christ.
In this country, an intolerant form of secularism wants
to remove religion from the
public square. True human
GLASGOW ARCHDIOCESAN
PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES
Led by the Archbishop of Glasgow Most Rev Philip Tartaglia
17 - 24 JULY 2015 | 7 NIGHTS
‡
dignity involves the freedom
to assemble, to worship and
to manifest our beliefs
openly.
Religious liberty must be
non-negotiable in a free society and we should make sure
our candidates support it.
mit us to work against the
proliferation
of
such
weapons.
While recognising each
country’s right to defend itself, the existence of nuclear
weapons, and their possible
proliferation, continue to represent a grave threat to the
human family.
Pope Francis reminds us
that peace is better fostered
by greater equality – not least
by fairness towards the poor,
refugees and migrants –
rather than by increased
spending on arms.
‡
Services of KLJKO\ TXDOL¿HG team of resident
guides
guides & representatives
representativesthroughout
throughout BOO
K
O
Daily Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner £10NLINE & SAVE
PER P
ER
SON*
*T&C
’s Ap
ply
! " # " 719
£
Bernard Corrigan Ltd
W H O L E S A L E F I S H M O N G E R • P O U LT E R E R & G A M E D E A L E R
184–200 HOWARD STREET, GLASGOW G1 4HW
Telephone: 0141-552 4368 • Fax: 0141-552 4731
Also shops at:
188 BYRES RD, GLASGOW G12 8SN
62 MONTAGUE STREET, ROTHESAY
£
pps inc
Pilgrimages to Lourdes | Medjugorje | Fatima | Holy Land
Shrines of France | Shrines of Italy | Shrines of Poland
Steps of St. Paul | Santiago de Compostela
Joe Walsh Tours | 0141 530 5060 | Deposit £150
www.joewalshtours.co.uk | [email protected]
Follow us:
Joe Walsh Tours Pilgrimages
@JWTPilgrimages
Bonded and Licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority in the UK | ATOL 5163
FLOURISH • MAY 2015
NEWS
Glasgow girls generate
support for Syrian families
FROM a simple idea
shared by girls who meet
through
regularly
Focolare in Glasgow
came an unexpected
success.
A concert staged to support
young people whose lives
have been shattered by the ongoing war in Syria raised
£1500.
The evening of music, song
and prayer on Saturday 21
March involved the girls, their
parents, the wider Focolare
community and a local choir
working in harmony.
But the most powerful input
was a video message sent earlier that day by some of the
Gen 3 girls of the Focolare
community in the Syrian capital Damascus.
Impact
Recorded on a mobile
phone during a power cut, its
impact on the Langside audience was profound.
“The situation that we live
here in Syria is very difficult,”
the girls said. “Everything
around is just destruction.
Everything that we feel, the
noise from the bombing, the
tears that we see, the cries for
the martyrs, for the children
that die.
“Sometimes we think that
only suffering and sadness
will be ours.
By Maria Gilmore
“However, we feel inside
that we really need to listen to
the voice of God, to distinguish his voice in all the noise
that we hear.
“We still have the hope that
this small flame within us will
never die and we won't lose
our unity together.”
The girls’ message was
reminiscent of the spirit of
unity which characterised the
fledgling Focolare community
in the northern Italian town of
Trent during the Second
World War. “We want to try
and live more for the people
around us, where there is more
destruction,” the girls affirmed.
“We want to help these people get through the suffering
they live, that they find peace,
because they are really tired of
this life.”
In little acts of kindness,
they have tried to keep hope
alive, bringing light into the
darkness.
Last Christmas, they filled
baskets with food which they
distributed among the most
needy of their neighbours.
“We tried to bring Jesus
into each home,” they said.
“We really felt that we've
managed to unite ourselves
with each person's sorrow and
to bring them joy.”
Claudia and Patricia are part
of the Glasgow Focolare com-
Gen 3 group
at concert in
Glasgow
Associates of
Focolare in Syria
munity who oversee the activities of the local Gen 3 group.
“The idea of the concert
came from the girls who all
played their part in making it
such a great success,” they
said.
Bridges
Emphatic ‘Yes’
to dialogue
IN the wake of the ongoing
slaughter of Christians in
parts of Africa and the
Middle East by terrorists
claiming association with
the Islamic faith, the
Pontifical Council for
Interreligious Dialogue has
urged renewed commitment
to dialogue with Muslims
Posing the question which
is on many lips, “Is there
still space for dialogue with
Muslims?” the council’s
response is emphatic: “Yes,
more than ever!”
The great majority of
Muslims do not identify with
the acts of barbarism, the
council points out, adding:
“To kill in the name of
religion is not only an
offence to God, but it is also
a defeat for humanity.”
In a statement issued last
month, the Pontifical Council
stated: “In recent days, we
have witnessed a
radicalisation of community
and religious discourse, with
the consequent risks of
increasing hatred, violence,
terrorism and the growing
and commonplace
stigmatisation of Muslims
and their religion.
“In such a context, we are
called upon to strengthen
fraternity and dialogue.
“Believers have
formidable potential for
peace, if we believe that
man was created by God and
that humanity is a single
family; and even more so if
we believe, as we Christians
do, that God is Love.
“Continuing to engage in
dialogue, even when
experiencing persecution,
can become a sign of hope.”
“As well as raising funds to
support our communities in
Syria and Lebanon, the
evening highlighted the gift of
unity – people working together, overcoming obstacles
and building bridges of friendship.
“The effect was powerful
and the link between what
people in Syria are living now
and the experience of the origins of the Focolare, also during a war, emerged very
strongly.”
They added: “We are most
grateful to all who took part in
the concert and supported the
fundraising effort.”
News and
views for
0141 226 5898
flourish
@rcag.org.uk
7
8
MAY 2015 • FLOURISH
FEATURE
Time to take up
joyful call to mercy
JESUS CHRIST is the face of the
Father’s mercy.
These words might well sum up the
mystery of the Christian faith. Mercy
has become living and visible in Jesus of
Nazareth, reaching its culmination in
him.
The Father, “rich in mercy”, after having revealed his name to Moses as “a
God merciful and gracious, slow to
anger, and abounding in steadfast love
and faithfulness”, has never ceased to
show, in various ways throughout history, his divine nature.
Jesus of Nazareth, by his words, his
actions, and his entire person reveals the
mercy of God.
We need constantly to contemplate
the mystery of mercy. It is a wellspring
of joy, serenity, and peace. Our salvation
depends on it.
At times we are called to gaze even
more attentively on mercy so that we
may become a more effective sign of the
Father’s action in our lives.
For this reason I have proclaimed
an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy as
a special time for the Church; a time
when the witness of believers might
grow stronger and more effective.
The Holy Year will open on 8
December 2015, the Solemnity of the
Immaculate Conception…the fiftieth an-
niversary of the closing of the Second
Vatican Ecumenical Council.
With the Council, the Church entered
a new phase of her history. The Council
Fathers strongly perceived, as a true
breath of the Holy Spirit, a need to talk
about God to men and women of their
time in a more accessible way.
It was a new phase of the same evangelization that had existed from the beginning. It was a fresh undertaking for
all Christians to bear witness to their
faith with greater enthusiasm and conviction. The Church sensed a responsibility to be a living sign of the Father’s
love in the world.
In a time of great historical change, the Church is
called to offer more evident signs of God’s presence
and closeness. Announcing an extraordinary Jubilee
Year of Mercy, POPE FRANCIS highlights the call for
the Church to be “steeped in mercy” and so more
effectively witness God’s loving action in the world
How much I desire that the year to
come will be steeped in mercy, so that
we can go out to every man and woman,
bringing the goodness and tenderness of
God! May the balm of mercy reach
everyone, both believers and those far
away, as a sign that the Kingdom of God
is already present in our midst!
Mercy is the very foundation of the
Church’s life. All of her pastoral activity
should be caught up in the tenderness
she makes present to believers; nothing
in her preaching and in her witness to the
world can be lacking in mercy.
The Church’s very credibility is seen
in how she shows merciful and compassionate love.
Perhaps we have long since forgotten
how to show and live the way of mercy.
The temptation, on the one hand, to
focus exclusively on justice made us forget that this is only the first, albeit necessary and indispensable step. But the
Church needs to go beyond and strive
for a higher and more important goal.
On the other hand, sad to say, we
must admit that the practice of mercy
is waning in the wider culture. In
some cases the word seems to have
dropped out of use. However, without
a witness to mercy, life becomes fruitless and sterile, as if sequestered in a
barren desert.
The time has come for the Church to
take up the joyful call to mercy once
more. It is time to return to the basics
and to bear the weaknesses and struggles
of our brothers and sisters. Mercy is the
force that reawakens us to new life and
instils in us the courage to look to the future with hope.
In the present day, as the Church is
charged with the task of the new evangelization, the theme of mercy needs to
be proposed again and again with new
enthusiasm and renewed pastoral action.
It is absolutely essential for the
Church and for the credibility of her
message that she herself live and testify
to mercy. Her language and her gestures
must transmit mercy, so as to touch the
hearts of all people and inspire them
once more to find the road that leads to
the Father.
Consequently, wherever the Church is
present, the mercy of the Father must be
evident. In our parishes, communities,
associations and movements, in a word,
wherever there are Christians, everyone
should find an oasis of mercy.
We want to live this Jubilee Year in
light of the Lord’s words: Merciful like
the Father. The Evangelist reminds us of
the teaching of Jesus who says, “Be merciful just as your Father is merciful” (Lk
6:36).
It is a programme of life as demanding as it is rich with joy and
peace. Jesus’s command is directed to
anyone willing to listen to his voice. In
order to be capable of mercy, therefore, we must first of all dispose ourselves to listen to the Word of God.
This Holy Year will bring to the fore
the richness of Jesus’ mission echoed in
the words of the prophet: to bring a word
and gesture of consolation to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to those bound by
new forms of slavery in modern society,
to restore sight to those who can see no
more because they are caught up in
themselves, to restore dignity to all those
from whom it has been robbed.
The preaching of Jesus is made visible once more in the response of faith
Christians are called to offer by their
witness. May the words of the Apostle
accompany us: He who does acts of
mercy, let him do them with cheerfulness.
May the message of mercy reach
everyone, and may no one be indifferent
to the call to experience mercy.
In this Jubilee Year, let us allow God
to surprise us. He never tires of throwing open the doors of his heart and repeats that he loves us and wants to share
his love with us.
The Church feels the urgent need to
proclaim God’s mercy.
Compelled to heed cries f
HOW many uncertain and
compelled to heed their cry
painful situations there are in
for help!
the world today!
May we reach out to them
How many are the wounds
and support them so they can
borne by the flesh of those
feel the warmth of our
who have no voice because
presence, our friendship, and
their cry is muffled and
our fraternity!
drowned out by the
May their cry become our
indifference of the rich!
own, and together may we
During this
break down the
Jubilee, the
barriers of
Spiritual works
Church will be
indifference
of mercy
called even
that too often
more to heal
reign supreme
• Counsel those in
these wounds,
and mask our
doubt
to assuage
hypocrisy and
• Instruct the ignorant
them with the
egoism!
• Admonish sinners
oil of
It is my
• Comfort the afflicted
consolation, to
burning desire
• Forgive offences
bind them with
that, during this
• Bear patiently those
mercy and cure
Jubilee, the
who do us ill
them with
Christian people
solidarity and
may reflect on
• Pray for the living and
the dead
vigilant care.
the corporal
Let us open
and spiritual
our eyes and
works of mercy.
see the misery of the world,
It will be a way to reawaken
the wounds of our brothers
our conscience, too often
and sisters who are denied
grown dull in the face of
their dignity, and let us
poverty.
recognize that we are
And let us enter more
Extracts from Misericordiae Vultus –The Face of Mercy – issued at St
FLOURISH • MAY 2015
FEATURE
Mercy does not deny
justice, but surpasses it
Justice is a fundamental
concept for civil society,
which is meant to be
governed by the rule of
law. Justice is also understood as that which
is rightly due to each individual.
for help and heal wounds
deeply into the heart of the
If we have helped to
Gospel where the poor have a
overcome the ignorance in
special experience of God’s
which millions of people live,
mercy. Jesus introduces us to
especially children deprived of
these works of mercy in his
the necessary means to free
preaching so
them from the
that we can
bonds of
Corporal works
know whether
poverty; if we
of mercy
or not we are
have been close
• Feed the hungry
living as his
to the lonely
• Give drink to the
disciples.
and afflicted;
thirsty
We cannot
If we have
• Clothe the naked
escape the
forgiven those
Lord’s words to
who have
• Welcome the stranger
us, and they
offended us and
• Heal the sick
will serve as
have rejected
• Visit the imprisoned
the criteria
all forms of
• Bury the dead
upon which we
anger and hate
will be judged:
whether we
have fed the hungry and given
drink to the thirsty, welcomed
the stranger and clothed the
naked, or spent time with the
sick and those in prison.
Moreover, we will be asked
if we have helped others to
escape the doubt that causes
them to fall into despair and
which is often a source of
loneliness;
that lead to
violence; if we
have had the kind of patience
God shows, who is so patient
with us; and if we have
commended our brothers and
sisters to the Lord in prayer.
Let us not forget the words
of Saint John of the Cross:
“As we prepare to leave this
life, we will be judged on the
basis of love”.
In the Bible, there are
many references to divine
justice and to God as
“judge”. In these passages,
justice is understood as the
full observance of the Law
and the behaviour of every
good Israelite in conformity
with God’s commandments.
Such a vision, however,
has not infrequently led to legalism by distorting the original meaning of justice and
obscuring its profound value.
To overcome this legalistic
perspective, we need to recall
that in Sacred Scripture, justice is conceived essentially
as the faithful abandonment
of oneself to God’s will.
For his part, Jesus speaks
several times of the importance of faith over and above
the observance of the law.
It is in this sense that we
must understand his words
when, reclining at table with
Matthew and other tax collectors and sinners, he says to
‘To reach the
Holy Door in
Rome or in any
other place in the
world, everyone
will have to make
a pilgrimage.
This will be a
sign that mercy is
also a goal to
reach and
requires
dedication and
sacrifice.’
the Pharisees raising objections to him, “Go and learn
the meaning of ‘I desire
mercy not sacrifice.’ I have
come not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Faced with a vision of justice as the mere observance
of the law that judges people
simply by dividing them into
two groups – the just and sinners – Jesus is bent on revealing the great gift of
mercy that searches out sinners and offers them pardon
and salvation.
Jesus affirms that, from
that time onward, the rule of
life for his disciples must
place mercy at the centre, as
Jesus himself demonstrated
by sharing meals with sinners.
This is truly challenging to
his hearers, who would draw
the line at a formal respect
for the law. Jesus, on the
other hand, goes beyond the
law; the company he keeps
with those the law considers
sinners makes us realize the
depth of his mercy.
The Apostle Paul makes a
similar journey. Prior to
meeting Jesus on the road to
Damascus, he dedicated his
life to pursuing the justice of
the law with zeal.
His conversion to Christ
led him to turn that vision upside down, to the point that
he would write to the
Galatians: “We have believed
in Christ Jesus, in order to be
justified by faith in Christ,
and not by works of the law,
because by works of the law
shall no one be justified”.
Paul’s understanding of
justice changes radically. He
now places faith first, not justice.
Salvation comes not
through the observance of the
law, but through faith in
Jesus Christ, who in his death
and resurrection brings salvation together with a mercy
that justifies.
God’s justice now becomes the liberating force for
those oppressed by slavery to
sin and its consequences.
God’s justice is his mercy.
Mercy is not opposed to
justice but rather expresses
God’s way of reaching out to
the sinner, offering him a
new chance to look at himself, convert, and believe.
God’s anger lasts but a moment, his mercy forever. If
God limited himself to only
justice, he would cease to be
God, and would instead be
like human beings who ask
merely that the law be respected.
But mere justice is not
enough. Experience shows
that an appeal to justice alone
will result in its destruction.
This is why God goes beyond
justice with his mercy and
forgiveness.
Yet this does not mean that
justice should be devalued or
rendered superfluous. On the
contrary: anyone who makes
a mistake must pay the price.
However, this is just the
beginning of conversion, not
its end, because one begins to
feel the tenderness and mercy
of God.
God does not deny justice.
He rather envelopes it and
surpasses it with an even
greater event in which we experience love as the foundation of true justice.
We must pay close attention to what Saint Paul says if
we want to avoid making the
same mistake for which he
reproaches the Jews of his
time: For, “being ignorant of
the righteousness that comes
from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did
not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the
end of the law, that everyone
who has faith may be justified” (Rom 10:3-4).
God’s justice is his mercy
given to everyone as a grace
that flows from the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Thus the Cross of Christ is
God’s judgement on all of us
and on the whole world, because through it he offers us
the certitude of love and new
life.
Impetus to conversion
THE practice of pilgrimage has a special place in the
Holy Year, because it represents the journey each of
us makes in this life.
Life itself is a pilgrimage, and the human being is a
viator, a pilgrim travelling along the road, making his
way to the desired destination.
May pilgrimage be an impetus to conversion: by
crossing the threshold of the Holy Door, we will find
the strength to embrace God’s mercy and dedicate
ourselves to being merciful with others as the Father
has been with us.
Merciful like the Father is the motto of this Holy Year.
In mercy, we find proof of how God loves us. He
gives his entire self, always, freely, asking nothing in
return. He comes to our aid whenever we call upon
him.
What a beautiful thing that the Church begins her
daily prayer with the words, “O God, come to my
assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me” (Ps 70:2)!
The assistance we ask for is already the first step
of God’s mercy toward us. He comes to assist us in
our weakness. And his help consists in helping us
accept his presence and closeness to us.
Day after day, touched by his compassion, we also
can become compassionate towards others.
Peter’s Basilica on Saturday 11 April, the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday
9
MAY 2015 • FLOURISH
NEWS
Mindfulness – listening
to our inner struggles
MENTAL Health Awareness Week, which takes
place every year between
11–17 May, is a good reminder for us to consider
our own mental health
and wellbeing.
The theme this year is
‘Mindfulness’ which is all
about focussing on the
present moment and not
being stuck on things that
have happened in the past
or worrying about the future.
Tony
McLaren
is
National Coordinator of
Breathing Space and
NHS Living Life – free
mental health services
which provide telephone
support to anyone experiencing low mood or anxiety.
He said: “Mindfulness
is a term many people are
now aware of and is becoming quite popular. It
borrows much of its focus
from Christian meditation. It is simply all about
helping people to observe
how they think and feel
about something.
“Focussing your atten-
tion on present emotions,
thoughts and sensations
can help you enjoy the
world more and help you
to understand yourself
better.”
Tony added: “Mindfulness has been shown to
help people who are
struggling with stress and
anxiety. It is another tool
which can be used to help
address these issues.
“Whether it is picking
up the phone to talk
through your anxieties
with someone at a
helpline like Breathing
Space, learning coping
skills through a service
like NHS Living Life, or
simply taking some time
out for mindfulness and
meditation; there are
many different options
out there for people experiencing stress and anxiety which Mental Health
Awareness week can help
to bring to the fore.”
Mindfulness is about
listening not only to our
own inner struggles but
also to the cries of the
world.
“Hi”
SCIAF director ‘hits the
road’ to thank supporters
In SCIAF’s 50th anniversary
year
director
Alistair Dutton is leading
a cycle pilgrimage of
Scotland to thank supporters for changing the
lives of millions of people
in some of the poorest
countries in the world.
The pilgrimage was to start
on the north coast in Thurso
on 29 April and will finish in
Oban on Sunday 31 May.
Sacred
The 700-mile route takes in
some of Scotland’s main pilgrimage sites and most sacred
places including Pluscarden
Abbey, Carfin Grotto, Iona,
Dunfermline and St Andrews.
Each day, Alistair and a
small group of volunteers and
staff will cycle for several
hours, visiting schools and
parishes, attending Mass and
speaking at gatherings.
Along the way, a series of
special events include:
• Fair Trade Day picnic at
1.30pm on Saturday 9 May,
at St John’s Church, Princes
S PA C E
10
You’ve just done the hardest part
We try and make it easier for you
to open up when you’re feeling down
0800 83 85 87
www.breathingspacescotland.co.uk
Donations
at double
GEARED UP: Alistair’s ready
to go the extra 700 miles
Street, Edinburgh;
• Mass at Carfin Grotto on
Thursday 21 May at 1pm,
and talk with Archdiocese
of Glasgow Friends of
Ecumenism in Eyre Hall,
Clyde Street at 7pm;
• Family cycle/walk from the
Falkirk Wheel to the
Kelpies (4.8 miles) leaving
at 11am, followed by a picnic on Saturday 23 May.
Changed
As he geared up for the pilgrimage, Alistair said: “In our
50th anniversary year, we
want to go the extra mile to
thank supporters face-to-face
for the millions of lives that
they’ve changed over the last
five decades.
“We hope to meet as many
people as possible in schools
and parishes, and at special
events and Masses along the
way. If we’re passing through
your area, please come and
say hello!”
The cycle will also promote
SCIAF’s latest campaign,
highlighting the impact climate change has on people in
developing countries and what
can be done to alleviate its effect.
“Hopefully our pilgrimage
will inspire more people to
leave their cars at home sometimes, and walk or cycle so we
can all do our bit to reduce climate change,” Alistair said.
“Cycling is a healthy, low
cost way everyone can reduce
their carbon footprint.”
Free accommodation is
being provided thanks to
priests and supporters, while
cycling equipment has been
donated by the Bike Station in
Glasgow and Edinburgh
Bicycle Co-operative.
The SCIAF team will continue with their daily work
throughout the pilgrimage, answering emails and making
calls on the road.
People wishing to meet
Alistair or attend a special
event should contact Andrew
Forsyth on 0141 354 5555 or
email [email protected]
SCIAF is urging parishes
and schools to send in
their WEE BOX donations
before 17 May so that
everything will be doubled
by the UK government.
This year, the Lent
appeal qualified for an
aid-match scheme which
means that every £1 given
before the deadline will be
matched by government.
“We’re extremely
thankful to everyone
who’s helped the WEE BOX
appeal this year – we’ve
had a fantastic response,”
said SCIAF director Alistair
Dutton.
“But the clock is
ticking. Every £1 you give
before 17 May will go
twice as far, helping more
people in need!”
Donations will support
women farmers in Africa,
paying for seeds, tools and
training needed to develop
a more sustainable future,
free from
the hunger
and
hardship of
poverty.
Strong laws needed to protect
TECHNOLOGY has the potential to make all of our
lives easier. However,
some materials used in
our modern electronics
including phones and
computers could be helping to fuel wars and violence in many poor
countries.
Gold, tin, coltan and other
valuable materials often come
from developing countries with
no thought given to the millions of people whose lives are
hurt in the process.
In Colombia, where SCIAF
is working with the Church to
help communities forced from
their land during the country’s
long-running civil war, illegal
armed groups benefit from the
trade in minerals.
Fr Sterlin Londoño, from the
By Alistair Dutton
SCIAF Director
diocese of Quibdó, told us recently: “In Colombia, control
of land for mining has become
a violent business. Mining
areas are now linked with
human rights abuses, instability and conflict. Many poor
communities are suffering.”
The theme of responsible
stewardship of the earth’s resources for the benefit of all is
something that Pope Francis
has spoken of on many occasions.
His words guide us:
“Creation is not a property,
which we can rule over at will;
or, even less, is the property of
only a few: Creation is a gift, it
is a wonderful gift that God has
given us, so that we care for it
and we use it for the benefit of
all, always with great respect
and gratitude.”
As an agency of the Church
in Scotland, working with
many vulnerable communities
in developing countries, we are
called upon to help them and
tackle injustice. This can include campaigning to bring
positive change where the activities of businesses are having a negative impact on
communities.
Violence
The global trade in minerals
used in electronics is worth billions of pounds and much of
that trade takes place in
Europe. Yet there is no law in
the European Union (EU) forcing companies to make sure the
minerals they use have not
funded violence.
A voluntary scheme covering a small number of mining
companies has been proposed
FLOURISH • MAY 2015
NEWS
11
Christine keen to open up
SSVP treasury of good work
And it is these which
Christine Gray is resolved to
build on as she begins her
three-year term as president of
the SSVP in the Archdiocese
of Glasgow.
She is also determined to
see a younger generation of
Catholics getting involved,
bringing their energy and enthusiasm to the society’s network of parish conferences.
To pursue this goal she has
appointed recently retired
teacher Dominic Sutherland
as youth development officer,
allowing him to build on his
work at St Maurice’s High,
Condorrat, where a youth
apostolate is well-established.
“Standing alongside the
poor and lonely, looking out
for their needs and giving
voice to their concerns is at
the heart of what we do,” said
Christine, who joined the
SSVP conference at St
Joseph’s, Tollcross, around
1988.
“That vision and how it is
lived out in practical ways
needs to be communicated to
a wider audience.”
It is not about blowing their
own trumpet, but ensuring that
good work, built upon strong
faith principles, is recognised.
“Our mission is to go to
people in need, help them in a
spirit of justice and to tackle
the causes of poverty where
By Vincent Toal
we can,” said Christine.
As someone who was widowed two year ago, she also
highlights the poverty of loneliness.
“People are becoming more
and more isolated as we lose
the sense of community. That
is why just giving our time to
be with other people is so important.”
Across the Archdiocese of
Glasgow there are 68 conferences, operating mainly at
parish level. Some have over
a dozen members, while others persevere with three or
four. All provide a lifeline to
some of the neediest people in
their neighbourhoods.
Each week hundreds of people are visited at home or in
hospital. Whether sick, bereaved or lonely they are supported by prayer and a
friendly presence.
Transport is provided for
people to attend church, furniture, clothes and food are distributed, and even holidays
and outings arranged.
“We do not broadcast who
we help, but that does not
mean that we shouldn’t better
inform people about our
work,” said Christine.
“If we keep quiet about the
desperate situations some people find themselves in then we
are less likely to effect change
and attract others to share in
this apostolate.”
The Society of St Vincent
de Paul was founded in Paris
Archbishop Tartaglia accepts a cheque for £60,000 from
Charity Ball organisers Lady Susan Haughey and Mary O’Neil
Picture by Paul McSherry
Going halfers with
Charity Ball cheque
Glasgow SSVP president
Christin Gray
in 1833 by Blessed Frederic
Ozanam and his companions
while they were students at
university. They encountered
Christ in the poor of that time
and quickly inspired others to
follow their example.
For her part, the new
Glasgow president traces her
involvement to helping ferry
older people to a senior citizens’ dinner.
“I had no family connection
with the society, but felt I
wanted to give something
back. Our children were a little older and I had retrained to
become a primary school
teacher.”
However it was Christine’s
previous experience in accounts and admin which saw
her elected treasurer of the
parish conference and, eventually, to assume the same role
at the national level – demitting office to take up the
Glasgow presidency from
Bernice Brady.
Each week, thousands contribute to the society’s mission
through the SSVP box collections.
While thanking all who
contribute, Christine asked
that more parishioners might
accept the invite to become
members.
“It is principally through
prayer that we are given the
strength to carry on our
Vincentian work, so I would
ask people to pray about becoming more involved” she
said.
• On Sunday 10 May at
2pm, Archbishop Philip
Tartaglia will celebrate
Mass in St Andrew’s
Cathedral with young
people from across
Scotland involved in the St
Vincent de Paul apostolate.
their MEPs to help strengthen
European legislation before a
key vote takes place later this
month. I would encourage
everyone to visit our website
and ask their MEPs to ensure
that strong EU legislation supports responsible trade in these
minerals.
Devices
but SCIAF and other charities
believe this is not enough.
We believe the law must be
stronger and include all businesses that import parts and
finished products into the EU.
The materials covered should
also include any that are mined
or come from trade that may
contribute to human rights
abuses and conflict.
Father Sterlin is clear that
we must take action here at
home to help protect his community.
Sourcing minerals can be a dirty business –
greater commitment is needed to axe
exploitation and human rights abuses
“In principle, it is okay to
mine – natural resources can
be used to benefit all of
mankind and communities
here have been undertaking
small-scale, traditional mining
for decades,” he points out.
“But legislation is needed so
that European companies
check that the minerals they
buy are sourced and mined responsibly and don’t fund war
and violence in communities
like mine.”
From 8th May, we’ll be urging people in Scotland to lobby
SCIAF has seen the devastation that can be caused by the
trade in conflict minerals in
many places.
It’s time we all knew where
the materials in our phones,
computers and other electronic
devices come from. Only then
can we be sure that we’re not
supporting war or the widespread abuse of human rights.
To take action and find out
more, visit
www.sciaf.org.uk/campaigns
Meanwhile, plans are
progressing to develop a
Catholic chaplaincy at the
north-end of Glasgow city
centre to serve Strathclyde
and Caledonian Universities
and City of Glasgow College.
Between them, they have
some 50,000 students from
over 100 countries.
Revealing his hopes for
the chaplaincy, last year,
Archbishop Tartaglia, said:
““The desire for a dedicated
Catholic chaplaincy at
Strathclyde has been around
for some time. With the
emergence of Glasgow
Caledonian and the massive
redevelopment of the City of
Glasgow College in the same
area, it makes sense to look
at a single site which can
serve all three institutes.”
Last year’s was the 37th
charity ball. Since the
initiative started in 1977,
well over £1.5million has
been raised for a range of
good causes.
Society of
St. Vincent de Paul
er
s
vulnerable from mining speculators
THE proceeds of last
December’s Cardinal
Winning Charity Ball have
been divided equally
between SCIAF and the
Glasgow city-centre
university chaplaincy
project.
On a night of festive fun
amid an atmosphere of
friendship and goodwill, a
total of £60,000 was raised
to benefit these causes.
At the time, the Ebola
crisis was still gripping parts
of West Africa and so
Archbishop Tartaglia
requested that a share of the
funds raised on the night
went towards SCIAF’s
emergency appeal.
While the worst of the
crisis has passed, there are
still hundreds of people
being treated for Ebola. At
the same time, much work is
needed to build up the
healthcare systems in the
affected countries to prevent
further deadly outbreaks.
e
SOCIAL justice and spirituality form the bedrock
of the St Vincent de Paul
Society.
vin
o
g in h
p
Scotland
Annual Charity
Concert 2015
Woodside Halls,
Clarendon St, Glasgow
Friday 29th May 2015
7:30pm to 10:00pm
Doors open 6:45pm
Starring
Alastair McDonald
(star of TV and radio)
The Stewart School of Irish Dance
Compere: Rev. Fr. Joe Mills
Tickets £10
Available from: SSVP Head Office, 113 West Regent St, Glasgow,
G2 2RU, Tel. No. 0141 226 8833 or through your local Parish
Conference. Please notify in advance any disabled seating requirements.
This year’s Show Proceeds will go towards the Ozanam Centre.
12
MAY 2015 • FLOURISH
VOCATIONS
www.franciscanvocations.org.uk
FOR WOMEN
EXPLORING
FRANCISCAN
VOCATION
JERICHO
The Compassion of Jesus
Drug & Alcohol Rehabs., Refuge for Victims of Domestic
Violence, Supported Accommodation for the Destitute,
the Distressed, and all being ‘passed by on the other side.’
A COMMUNITY OF MEN OF PRAYER
FOR OUR TIMES (founded 1970)
Vocation info. from Bro. Patrick Mullen,
The Jericho Society, Mater Salvatoris,
Harelaw Farm, Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire. PA10 2PY
Scottish Charity SC016909 Tel: 01505 614669
Email: [email protected]
Thinking about Life Choices?
Sr Frances will help you
choose what’s right for you!
Visit: www.sistersofnazareth.com
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 07906 372786
Is God calling you
?
to a life of silence and solitude
within a community of fellow seekers?
The Cistercian monks at Nunraw Abbey
offer such an opportunity.
With them you can praise God
through the psalms and liturgy
at set times during the day.
You will have time to study the ways
of God and to meet God in your
lectio divina. And, you will find work
that will keep body and soul together.
If you have good reason to believe
God may be calling you
to be a monk, write to:
Vocation Director, Nunraw Abbey
HADDINGTON, EH41 4LW, Scotland
Or email: [email protected]
Scottish Charity No SCO22611
On Good Shepherd Sunday, Pope Francis ordained 19 men to the priesthood at St Peter's Basilica,
Rome. He urged them "not to remain in comfort," but to reach out to seek and save what was lost
Tide turning for priest vocations
A twenty-five percent
rise in ordinations to the
priesthood in the USA is
good news for the
Church in Glasgow.
Fr Ross Campbell, vocations director for the archdiocese, said the figures from
across the Atlantic show the
tide is turning in favour of
more priests.
“We should take heart from
what is happening in the
States and elsewhere,” he said.
“It shows that despite there
being so much negativity
around, people are responding
positively to what God is calling them to.
“For me, that is helped by a
strong sense of priestly identity. When young people see
priests trying to live out their
ministry with hope, inner joy
and enthusiasm, then that encourages them to think this is
something they might want to
be.”
By Vincent Toal
Almost 600 priests are expected to be ordained in the
US this year – an increase of
25 percent on 2014.
On average, the future
priests were around 17 years
old when they first considered
the priesthood and cited family, parish priests and Catholic
schools among supportive influences.
These are familiar traits for
Fr Ross who combines vocations director with his role as
Catholic chaplain to Glasgow
University. His own path to
priesthood had similar influences.
“My parents were a great
influence, although I didn’t always appreciate it,” he acknowledged.
“Then, when I came to
study at Glasgow, the chaplaincy became my home and
Fr John Keenan (whom he
took over from as chaplain,
last year, on his appointment
CONGREGATION OF
ALEXIAN BROTHERS
The Alexian Brothers, as followers of Jesus the
Healer, dedicate their lives to serving the sick and
those on the margins of society. They do this with
the support of prayer and community life.
Is Jesus calling you?
Email: [email protected] Tel: 00353 94 937 6996
www.alexianbrothers.ie
as Bishop of Paisley) proved
an inspirational mentor and
guide.”
Although ordained five
years, at 34 Fr Ross is still the
Fr Ross Campbell
youngest priest in Glasgow.
It’s a distinction he is likely to
hold on to for a few years yet.
At the Chrism Mass on
Holy Thursday, Archbishop
Tartaglia announced that he
had just accepted two younger
men for seminary who will
begin formation after the summer.
Both have taken part in the
monthly evenings of prayer
and fraternity, introduced in
Glasgow two years ago, which
Fr Ross leads.
“Each meeting has the same
format – some basic catechesis on our faith, prayer before
the Blessed Sacrament and a
simple meal together.
“There’s no commitment
required, just a welcoming atmosphere where people who
may be thinking about priesthood as a path for them can
meet, pray and build friendship.”
The vocations director is
confident the ‘come-and-see’
initiative will continue to draw
inquirers.
“There’s a real positivity
about the group, with a love
for the Church and an eagerness to share their faith.
“Most have been part of an
apostolate like Nightfever,
Glasgow Faith Forum, St
Vincent de Paul or Legion of
Mary which involve evangeli-
sation and deepen their sense
of baptismal vocation.
“The challenge is to enable
and encourage greater service
in parishes where more vocations to priesthood could be
nurtured.”
The potential is there, Fr
Ross insists. It just needs to be
tapped.
“Despite what some might
think, we still have a lot more
young people at Mass and the
sacraments than elsewhere in
Britain.
“We have to help them to
get to know Christ more
deeply. That way, they will
come to love Christ, which
leads to service in his image.”
As well as an optimist, Fr
Ross is also a realist – something that the nitty-gritty of
pastoral life has taught him to
appreciate more.
“If we are honest, just about
every priest finds it difficult to
talk up vocations in the prevailing climate.
“Yet, when young people
see a priest living the Gospel
joyfully, not ashamed of who
he is, but witnessing enthusiastically, then they are inspired.
“In a world which has
enough darkness and narcissism, people are alive to
something different. As
priests, we shouldn’t be afraid
to offer that witness, conscious that we are called to be
Christ to them and confident
that it is Christ who sustains
us.”
The vocations good news is
reflected in England and
Wales where 63 people entered religious life last year – a
massive jump from 19 a
decade ago.
To speak to Fr Ross
Campbell about vocation to
priesthood, monthly
meetings (next Friday 8
May) or to arrange a visit
to your school or parish,
tel: 0141-339 4315, email:
Ross.Campbell.2@glasgow.
ac.uk
FLOURISH • MAY 2015
YOUTH/MARRIAGE
13
Welcome addition to youth office
ONE’S a musician and
the other a maths
teacher, and together
they make a welcome
addition to the archdiocese’s youth office.
What’s more, Lucy Dooley
and Kate Curran sing from the
same hymn sheet when it
comes to engaging young
Catholics in the life of the
Church.
“We want to help build up a
sense of community within
the diocese,” they agreed.
“There’s a lot going on if
various places, involving different people, so it would be
good to bring the various initiatives together and create a
broader sense of Catholic
identity.”
A quick roll call of groups
includes Nightfever, Firecloud, NET Ministry, Youth
St Vincent de Paul, St
Margaret of Scotland Youth,
Glasgow Frassati Society and
Faith Forum.
There are youth programmes within new movements
like
Focolare,
Community of Risen Christ,
Kate and Lucy
Neo Catechumenate and Opus
Dei. Added to these are parish
youth clubs and school based
apostolates.
Having just spent a year as
part of the Craig Lodge
Community in Dalmally, Kate
is bursting with enthusiasm to
share some of the graces she
has received.
“I was really broken, but
God restored joy in my heart,”
the bubbly 27 year-old trumpeter and guitarist beamed.
“The experience of being in
community, doing some of the
most humble tasks, really
Papal blessing
builds you up.
“I want to bring that feel of
community into the life of the
diocese – bringing people into
the fold where they can be
built up, encouraged and challenged to go further.”
Lucy, the maths teacher and
mother, is more reserved than
her younger colleague, but
equally ambitious for the mission of the Church.
“It is important that we
don’t water down the truth of
the Gospel in a vain attempt to
draw people in,” she said.
“We have to show people
GLASGOW
newly-weds
Patrick and Mary Clare
Dean received a Papal blessing in person when they
travelled to Rome on honeymoon.
Having exchanged their
marriage vows at St Peter’s,
Partick, on Saturday 11
April, the couple made it to
St Peter’s Square for the
Wednesday general audience on the 15th.
There they were among
the group of new spouses
presented to Pope Francis
who encouraged them to
“live your love imitating the
merciful love of Jesus”.
In his catechesis to the
the path by the example of our
own lives. If you are living the
Gospel it radiates from you.”
Although they have been recruited in the short-term,
W
=
0
7
/
H
UL
K
V
N
D
D
Q
/
U
K
R
6
W
X
R
5
D
G
$
U
\
D
F
R
P
H
O
R
H
K
Q
W
#
W
D
G
V
U
W
H
Q
Y
H
partly to cover
sick-leave,
it
is
hoped that the posts will become permanent and so boost
the archdiocese’s outreach to
young people.
W
1
3
.
$
H
UL
K
V
U
$
\
W
D
(
V
&
1
P
R
X
N
F
Q
H
Z
1
H
D
U
D
R
F
P
H
O
R
W
K
G
H
L
V
R
K
F
#
J
V
Q
O
Z
H
G
G
L
H
would
be
great
if
every
“It
parish or deanery, at least, had
a dedicated youth coordinator,” said Lucy.
“Meanwhile, we’re here to
work with parishes and differ
W
.
3
$
7
H
K
V
$
U
\
K
R
6
W
X
R
5
D
G
$
U
\
D
F
R
P
F
N
Z
L
W
H
V
S
U
R
Q
W
#
O
V
F
D
U
W
H
Q
H
Y
H
ent
groups
–UL
so
get
in
touch.”
Among the immediate goals
is to coordinate the participation of Glasgow young people
at this year’s Catholic Youth
Festival in Stirling.
It takes place from 30 July
to 2 August at Stirling
University and includes faith
talks, prayer and reconciliation, Eucharist, workshops,
sports and social events, in the
company of other young
Catholics, priests, bishops, religious and lay leaders.
For more information,
contact:
[email protected] or
[email protected]
large crowd of pilgrims, the
Pope spoke about the “complementarity between man
and woman”.
He said this “reciprocity
brings harmony and enrichment to the human family”
but also a challenge – that
men and women learn how
to speak to one another, and
to respect and love each
other.
In a brief exchange with
Pope Francis, Patrick and
Mary Clare – a pastoral
care teacher at Notre Dame
High school – thanked him
for his words and his blessing on their life together.
Putting gloss on marriage prep
A COUPLE who met
three years ago while
studying at Glasgow
University are getting
married at Turnbull Hall
Catholic Chaplaincy in
early June.
And for Katy and Jan, the
preparations have gone way
beyond choosing dresses,
picking the music, sending
out invites or even wine-tasting.
Joined by friends, they
donned some old clothes, exchanged paintbrushes and set
about decorating the foyer at
the chaplaincy.
“Turnbull Hall is much
more than just the venue of
Jan and Katy, third and fourth from left,
with friends decorating Turnbull Hall
our wedding,” they explained. “It is where we met,
studied, chatted for long
hours, enjoyed the company
of friends and played together in the music group at
Mass.”
At the time, Katy was
studying for her dentistry finals and Jan, who comes
from Poland, was working on
his dissertation in Politics.
“More than a place
Turnbull Hall was also where
we were part of a community. It was and still is a very
special community of young
Catholics,” they said.
“This is why we want to
celebrate the day of our wedding there above any other
venue. No other could be as
fitting.”
And for the former students, even the experience of
decorating the entrance provided a useful lesson.
“Through this effort, we
managed to go beyond the
‘just us’ side of things.
Working together with
friends and family, helping
each other and striving towards a common goal is a
powerful reminder of what
we want this marriage to be.”
Celebrate your special day
at the Newlandsfield Suite.
• Weddings, Christenings, First
Communion, Birthday parties and
Funerals
• Full Conference facilities available
• Buffets available from £4.95 including
Tea & Coffee
• Accommodates up to 180 people
A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS
0141 632 5727
16 Newlandsfield Road, Newlands G43 2XU
www.loksbarandkitchen.co.uk
14
MAY 2015 • FLOURISH
SCRIPTURE
T. McGowan & Sons
Monumental Sculptors
family firm established 1947
St. Kentigern’s Cemetery
109 Tresta Road, Glasgow g23 5aa
Telephone: 0141 946 2429
Linn Cemetery
602 Lainshaw Drive, Glasgow g45 9sp
Telephone: 0141 634 8515
Dalbeth Cemetery
1920 London Road, Glasgow g32
Telephone: 0141 778 4916
Philipshill Cemetery
Westerfield Road, East Kilbride g76
Telephone: 0141 644 4535
New Memorials · Additional Lettering · Cleaning
All work completed in any cemetery. Brochure available on request
www.tmcgowan.co.uk
N
E S
P Y
O DA
7
EE
NE FR RE
O A U
PHOR CH
F RO
B
We have 100 different styles
of headstone to choose
from at our showyard
2'6" POLISHED GRANITE
HEADSTONES FROM
£450
0141
641 0088
WHY PAY MORE THAN YOU HAVE TO!
282 Main Street, Cambuslang,
Glasgow (at Railway Station)
www.mainheadstones.co.uk
Fruit in plenty if attached to the vine
WE are treated to a number of big feasts, this
including
month,
‘Ascension
Thursday’
half way through.
This is the month also in
which we bring Easter to a
conclusion – the season ends
with Pentecost, following the
original Jewish custom of concluding the seven weeks of
Passover with Pentecost.
And on the last Sunday, we
celebrate the Solemnity of the
Most Holy Trinity.
3 May
5th Sunday of Easter (B)
John 15:1–8
John’s gospel is famous for its
collection of Jesus’ sayings
which all begin ‘I am’.
This expression is usually
followed by some qualifying
statement: I am the bread of
life; I am the light of the
world; I am the Good
Shepherd.
In each case, Jesus gives us
an insight into his mission and
what it offers to us: living
bread, light in the darkness,
guidance on the way.
It may surprise you to learn
that the first part of these
phrases – the simple expression ‘I am’ – is nothing less
than the Greek version of the
name by which God chose to
be known.
Clydebank Co-operative
— Funeral Directors —
ESTABLISHED 1881
11 Hume Street
Clydebank G81 1XL
0141 952 1573
Unit 6, Maryhill Shopping Centre
Maryhill Road
Glasgow G20 9SH
0141 435 7727
110 Baldwin Avenue
Knightswood G13 2QU
0141 959 8854
Funeral plans
Monumental masonry
24 hour care
Extended payment facilities
God revealed this name to
Moses at the burning bush –
“Say to the Israelites, I am has
sent me to you…”
So, when Jesus uses the expression “I am”, he is claiming to be God who is
shepherd, bread, light...
In today’s gospel, Jesus proclaims: “I am the true vine”.
He is the vine and we are its
branches.
Just as the branches can
only live when attached to the
vine, so we can only live when
we draw life from Jesus,
through whom and from
whom we draw the very life of
God.
If we attach ourselves to
him – then we will bear fruit
in plenty.
10 May
6th Sunday of Easter (B)
John 15:9–17
We continue the rich imagery
of the vine and its branches –
only the context is changed to
reflect on the relationship of
love we are called to in Jesus.
To remain in Jesus’ love is
to keep his commandments
and this, as we can readily see,
is what is meant by the
branches remaining part of the
vine.
This love is not a vague,
sentimental feeling or notion.
The love disciples are to display is the same love that
Jesus demonstrates. It is truly
life-giving.
In Biblical texts, love is
more about action than about
feeling. Jesus’ action, love,
commitment to humanity is to
lay down his life for every
human who ever existed.
If we live out Jesus’ commandment to love as he has
loved we shall be his friends,
not his servants. Finally, we
are drawn to this relationship
of love, not because we deserve it, or have earned the
right to it or because we have
chosen Jesus, because it was
he who chose us and commissioned us to bear fruit that will
last. God’s love for us in Jesus
is God’s initiative, God’s plan.
It is given to us as free, unconditional gift.
Thursday 14 May
Solemnity of the
Ascension (B)
Mark 16:15–20
The only New Testament reference to Jesus ascending 40
days after his resurrection is
found in the Acts of the
Apostles.
There is a reference in
today’s gospel passage from
Mark, but it gives no detail of
time or place. In fact, these
verses are thought to have
been added to the original
ending of Mark’s Gospel
some time in the second century, and summarises what is
contained in the other gospels
about Jesus after his resurrection.
So, what is our celebration
Canon
Robert
Hill
of the Ascension all about?
Having done his Father’s
will, Jesus has now returned to
his Father’s presence. In doing
so – by overcoming sin and
death and sin – Jesus shows
that the way is open for us to
be united with him where he is
with the Father.
The Ascension paves the
way for Pentecost – the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the
Church. This confirms the
mission of all of us who are
Christian to make Christ present in this world when he is no
longer visibly present.
17 May
7th Sunday of Easter (B)
John 17:11–19
Chapter 17 of John’s Gospel
consists entirely of the great
prayer of Jesus which comes
at the end of the long Last
Supper speech.
The prayer opens with a
phrase which sums up the purpose of Jesus’ death and resurrection: “Father, the hour has
come: glorify your Son that
your Son may glorify you”.
To glorify God is to make
present or to draw attention to
God’s action in the world.
Jesus does this more fully in
his death and resurrection than
had ever been done in human
history.
In this extract, Jesus in
prayer turns his attention to
his disciples. He describes
them as those whom his
Father has given to him. He
has watched over them and
not one of them has been lost
- except the one who chose to
be lost, Judas.
Jesus then asks the Father to
“consecrate them in the truth”.
We could easily gloss over
this part of the prayer, but it
deserves greater reflection.
The courage to live by and
give witness to the truth is the
hallmark of Christian discipleship. But, as we are each well
aware, this is a big ask.
However, this prayer in itself reminds us how much as
disciples we are in the constant care and prayer of Jesus.
We enter into that prayer
every time we participate at
Mass – ‘Father, consecrate us
in the truth.’
24 May
Pentecost
John 7:37–39 (Vigil);
John 20:19–23 (Day)
Pentecost marks the close of
the Easter Season and as we
did 50 days ago, the Church
comes together in vigil and
then during the day.
The Gospel for the vigil is
set in the context of the Jewish
feast of Tabernacles. On the
final day of this feast, the
Temple priests went round the
city of Jerusalem sprinkling
water, as a ‘prayer in action’
that God would bless them
with a plentiful supply of
water.
It is in this context, that we
encounter Jesus in the Temple
where he cries out: “If any
man is thirsty, let him come to
me. Let the man come and
drink who believes in me”.
The evangelist interprets
these words as Jesus speaking
of the Spirit, whom he would
give freely to all who believe
in him after his resurrection.
This takes us to the Gospel
for Pentecost Day and the appearance of Jesus to the disciples in the room on the
evening of the day on which
he rose from the dead.
He enters a room where the
doors were closed – almost
certainly locked. Into this insular, introspective environment, Jesus offers the gift of
peace, and the gift of the Holy
Spirit.
With these, the disciples are
empowered to go out just as
Jesus himself had always gone
out to people in need of God.
Through the power of the
Spirit, they can spread peace,
and they can offer complete
forgiveness. These words fill
the disciples with joy – a joy
we too should experience
through the presence of the
Holy Spirit in our lives.
31 May
Trinity Sunday
Matthew 28:16–20
The mystery of the Most Holy
Trinity – one God, three persons – is notoriously difficult
for mere humans to understand.
Fortunately, today is not an
occasion for trying to understand the Trinity. It is a day to
celebrate the Trinity – the God
who as Father, Son and Holy
Spirit, has reached out to humanity in an unimaginable
way.
In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus’
final words include a Trinitarian formula, when he tells
disciples to go out and baptise
all nations, in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, and teach
them to observe all the commands he had given them.
Jesus promises to be with
his disciples always, to the
end of time.
Baptism literally means
‘immersion’. Jesus has immersed himself in human affairs, and in doing so, has
immersed God in our lives.
As followers of Jesus, we
are to immerse ourselves in
the life of God – living our
lives by the example Jesus has
taught us – loving God and
neighbour, as ourselves.
FLOURISH • MAY 2015
OBITUARY
15
Tower poppy for PJ O’Callaghan
A CERAMIC poppy from the display around the
Tower of London, commemorating the outbreak
of war in 1914, has been placed on the grave of
one of the Glasgow founders of the Knights of St
Columba.
At a ceremony in St Peter’s Cemetery, Dalbeth,
Archbishop Malcolm McMahon of Liverpool was
joined by knights from across the UK around the
grave of Patrick Joseph (PJ) O’Callaghan, the
order’s first supreme knight.
The Archbishop said: “We remember all those
in the Knights of St Columba who went to war
and gave their lives.”
Of the 24 men who met in Central Hall, Bath
Street, on 5 October 1919 most had served in the
trenches and other fields of combat during the
First World War.
Supreme Knight Charlie McCluskey and Archbishop Malcolm McMahon
along with former supreme knights Tony Doherty, John Doran, Tony Britten,
Pat Leyden and Ron Lynch at the grave of PJ O’Callaghan
Picture by Sean Mulligan
Determined to strengthen the bonds of faith
and charity, they formed a fraternity of Catholic
laymen under the patronage of St Columba.
From Glasgow, the order has spread across
Great Britain and the Channel Islands and is
again led by a Glasgow brother, Charlie
McCluskey.
At the Easter Week graveside ceremony on
Friday 10 April, Supreme Knight McCluskey
praised the founders for their foresight and hard
work in laying the foundations of the order on the
firm principles of charity, unity and fraternity.
The ceramic poppy was obtained by knights in
Southwark, London, and will sit alongside the
order’s book of remembrance in the Knights of
St Columba Chapel within the Cathedral of Christ
the King, Liverpool.
Fr Murray was at home among Springburn folk
IN his 60 years as a
priest, Fr Noel Murray
spent 40 of them in and
around St Aloysius
parish, Springburn.
But this appearance of permanence wasn’t so evident in
earlier days when even his
name was subject to change.
Born in Lusk, County
Dublin, on 23 December 1925
and
baptised
Jeremiah
Augustine Noel Murray, the
first two names were dropped
for the simpler Noel.
His path to service as a
priest of the Archdiocese of
Glasgow also had its detours.
It was to the Redemptorist
seminary in Limerick that the
20 year-old Noel went first to
pursue his vocation.
Discerning that the religious
life wasn’t for him, he was accepted as a student for the
diocesan priesthood by the
diocese of Paisley and took up
theology studies in Scotland at
St Peter’s College, Cardross.
Fr Murray was ordained
priest by Bishop James Black
Boy messengers recalled
A memorial service is being
held at St Peter’s Cemetery,
Dalbeth, on Wednesday 20
May to remember four boy
messengers killed in
Glasgow during the Second
World War blitz.
Among them was 15 yearold Neil Leitch from Partick
who was singled out for his
gallantry in delivering
messages for the fire
brigade during the raids.
His action on 13 March
1941 – the day he was killed
– won praise and admiration
across the city.
Neil was buried in Dalbeth
where a Celtic Cross was
erected by Lord Provost Sir
Patrick Dolan on behalf of
the people of Glasgow. As
well as honouring his
memory, it recalls the names
of three other boy
messengers who were killed
during the blitz.
This month’s service, at
11am, has been organised
by Neil’s nephew, James
Leitch, who lives on Orkney.
It will be attended by Lord
Provost Sadie Docherty and
Fr Jim Thomson, chaplain to
the Scottish Fire Service.
in St Mirin’s Cathedral,
Paisley, on 29 June 1954. But
in over 60 years of priesthood
he never served in a Paisley
parish.
Such was the supply of
young priests at this time, he
was farmed out to St Peter’s,
Partick, where he worked
alongside the likes of Fr
Willie Mone, Fr Dan Hart and
Fr Francis Jaconelli.
After seven years in the
west end parish, he formally
‘signed up’ for Glasgow, but
was on the move again immediately. A three-year stint as
chaplain in the RAF was followed by four years in Brazil,
serving with the St Patrick’s
Missionary Society (Kiltegan
Fathers).
Returning to Glasgow in
1968, he served as assistant in
St Brendan’s, Yoker, for three
years, before moving to St
Bonaventure’s in the Gorbals.
It was in 1974, as part of the
first round of changes overseen by Archbishop Thomas
Winning, that Fr Murray
began his association with
St Aloysius, Springburn.
Initially, he was assistant to Fr
Thomas Meikleham and then
Fr Patrick McGovern, working alongside Fr Des McGinty
and Fr Tim McGlynn.
It was a measure of his ability and affinity with the people that when the parish fell
vacant in 1981, Fr Murray
readily took on the role of
parish priest. Only, while he
had previously been part of
three-man team, he was now
on his own.
Preparations were already
in hand for the centenary of
the opening of the church
996 GOVAN ROAD
GLASGOW
G51 3DU
24 Hour Personal Attention
Private Chapel of Rest
Prepaid Funeral Planning
Tel: 0141 445 1124
www.jamescockburn.co.uk
[email protected]
http://www.jdrummondfuneraldirectors.co.uk
01389 873179
Call for further information
17 Glasgow Road (old Hardgate Post Office), Hardgate, CLYDEBANK G81 5PJ
email: [email protected]
which was duly honoured in
October 1982. Throughout his
time in St Aloysius, Fr Murray
took great pride in the church
which he once described as a
“little gem”.
It was the church where he
not only served the people but
where he celebrated three
milestones in his priestly ministry – silver, golden and diamond jubilees of ordination.
On his golden jubilee in
2004, he paid tribute to the
parishioners whose generosity
he said was remarkable given
“they have had to listen to the
same voice for 30 years”.
Eager to keep the message
fresh, her pursued a distancelearning course at Maynooth
University and was awarded a
degree in theology when well
into his seventies.
After he stepped down as
parish priest in 2005, Fr
Murray stayed for a short
while in St Bartholomew’s,
Castlemilk. But Springburn
drew him back and he lived
out most of his retirement
there, happy to help Fr John
McGrath, including visits to
Stobhill hospital, and retaining acquaintances forged over
many years.
After suffering a massive
stroke, he died at the Royal
Infirmary on 8 April. He was
taken home to St Aloysius’
where Archbishop Philip
Tartaglia was principal celebrant of the Funeral Mass on
15 April.
The Archbishop expressed
his condolences to the parish
family and also Fr Murray’s
relatives – including his
brother Martin, a Redemptorist priest serving in Brazil,
and his sister, Andrea, a
Dominican nun in South
Africa.
“We have been blessed here
in Glasgow by the priestly
ministry of this devoted servant of the Lord,” the
Archbishop said. “Noel came
across to me as a devout, hardworking and prayerful priest.
“He devoted his life to living and communicating the
joyful message of salvation –
Jesus Christ died and risen.
May he share in the glory of
the resurrection.”
Alex Black
FUNERAL CARE
24 hour caring & professional service
G Funeral planning, advice and information
G Service room available with private restrooms
G
7 Peelglen Road
Drumchapel
g15 7xn
telephone
949 1234
288 – 290 Dyke Road 1927 Maryhill Road
Knightswood
Maryhill
g13 4qu
g20 0bx
telephone
telephone
959 1234
946 1234
The National Shrine of
Our Lady of Lourdes, Carfin
PILGRIMAGE SEASON 2015
THE GLASS CHAPEL
Monday – Friday
Monday – Friday
Monday – Friday
Wednesdays,
after 1pm Mass
Saturday
Sunday
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 10.30am – 8pm
Holy Mass 1pm
Sung Evening Prayer and Benediction 8pm
Novena to Saint Therese, with the 25 'Glory bes' in honour
of her years on earth, and an opportunity to receive an
individual blessing with relic of the Saint.
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 10.30am – 6.30pm
Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 10.30am – 5pm
THE PARISH OF SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER
Monday – Saturday
Monday – Saturday
Tuesdays and Thursdays
Saturdays
Sundays
Sunday
The Rosary 9.40am
Holy Mass 10am
Confessions 1.45pm – 2.15pm
Confessions 4.15pm – 4.45pm
Holy Mass 5pm (vigil), 9am and 11am
Sung Evening Prayer and Benediction 6pm
(May and October Rosary and Benediction 6pm
or as announced)
ALL SAINTS’ RELIQUARY CHAPEL
Open on major pilgrimage Sundays and at any other time on request.
MAJOR PILGRIMAGE DATES 2015
Sunday 10th May
Wednesday 13th May
Sunday 24th May
Sunday 7th June
Sunday 28th June
Sunday 9th August
Saturday 15th August
Sunday 16th August
Torchlight Rosary Procession 8pm
Rosary Procession and Holy Mass in honour of Our Lady
of Fatima 7.30pm and on the subsequent 13th day of
each month until October
Legion of Mary Thanksgiving Day:
Holy Mass 3pm; Rosary Procession 5pm
Feast of Corpus Christi: Blessed Sacrament Procession 3pm
(All First Communicants welcome)
Lourdes Day: Holy Mass with the Sacrament of the Sick 3pm
Paisley Diocesan Day: Holy Mass 3pm:
Rosary Procession 5pm
Solemnity of the Assumption:
Holy Mass with Sacrament of the Sick 1pm
Grandparents’ Pilgrimage:
Holy Mass 3pm; Rosary Procession 5pm
THE LITTLE FLOWER CHAPEL AND THE CHAPEL OF THE ANGELS
Visit the newly opened Little Flower Chapel dedicated to Saint Therese. Here you
will find a relic of the Saint housed in a beautiful reliquary, and a sketch of Saint
Therese, done by one of her blood sisters and gifted to Canon Thomas Taylor,
founder of the Grotto. Visit one of the recently restored underground chapels built
in the 1930s, dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Father Francis McGachey,
St. Francis Xavier’s Church House, Taylor Avenue, Carfin Motherwell ML1 5AJ.
Tel. 01698 263308
■ Editorial: Flourish Publications (Scotland) Ltd, 196 Clyde Street, Glasgow G1 4JY; telephone 0141 226 5898, email [email protected]. Charity no SC015900
■ Advertising and origination: MSC Publishing & Design; telephone 0141 956 2051, email [email protected] ■ www.flourishnewspaper.co.uk