Issue 41, Summer 2019

LLight of theO North: the magazine of the Diocese N of Pluscarden Pilgrimage p4Visit to Diocese of relics of St Thérèse p5 St Mary's Family Life Centre p7  George Hay p20

RC Diocese of AberdeenR.C. Diocese of Charitable Aberdeen Charitable Trust. Trust, A a registered registered Scottish Scottish Charity charityno. SC005122 no. SC005122 DIOCESE Contents The Little Flower any of us will have a favourite saint, someone DIOCESE with whom we have a particular affinity, whom NEWS ...... 3 Mwe feel will understand where we’re coming from. St Paul, my confirmation saint, has always been WITNESS a firm favourite but while I’ve always been able to A civilization of love and a culture of life ...... 18 relate to Paul, St Thérèse of of Lisieux, whose relics Domodossola 'Way of the Cross'...... 19 will be coming to the Diocese in September, is another FAITH AND CULTURE matter! Oot an Aboot in Vézelay ...... 19 We just didn’t hit it off, at least not at first. Her life and Bishop Hay - a truly remarkble man...... 20 her ‘Little Way’ seemed to be pervaded with a saccharine Coronation of the Virgin Mary...... 21 sweetness which I found a bit off-putting. But now I've had to think again. Recently, I’ve been reading her Last Book Review - Northern Catholic History Notes...... 23 Conversations1, the record of the conversations she had In search of women...... 24 with those who attended her during the last months of her St Hildegard of Bingen...... 25 life, including her three sisters. ELLEN - For our younger readers...... 26 It is inspiring reading, for you get a real sense of the steely Suree Tingsomboon - her story...... 27 determination of this little saint and her indomitable will. Grumpy old man!...... 28 Even in the face of great physical suffering and agonising religious doubts she maintained a vehement trust that Food and Faith - Jollof Rice...... 29 love could survive, even when faith seemed to have been Humour ...... 30 eclipsed by darkness. Crossword ...... 31 Thérèse has much to teach our age; the age of the celebrity, when what seems important is the image we project of On the front cover this issue, a ourselves, an age when the idea of a loving and merciful detail showing the Virgin Mary from God is thought to be an insult to human intelligence and up a master-work by Hubert and Jan when technology is considered to have all the answers. Yet, van Eyck, 'The Ghent Altarpiece'. It at the same time, we remain at a loss as to how to fill the was completed in 1432 for Saint Bavo painful emptiness which lies within. Thérèse, like so many front saints, including my friend St Paul, sought to serve others, Cathedral in Ghent. to do something outside herself, to forget herself in quiet The lettering on the arched throne is taken from acts of love. She is one of the great examples of the gospel a passage from the Book of Wisdom (7:29): "She is paradox that we gain our life by losing it, and that the seed more beautiful than the sun and the army of the stars; that falls to the ground must die in order to live. compared to the light she is superior. She is truly the

reflection of eternal light and a spotless mirror of God". Have a great summer, Cowan Wording from the same source is on the hem of her robe. This is a serene Mary, already Queen of Heaven. She You'll find the itinerary for the visit of the relics of St Thérèse looks out from beneath a cascade of hair and is dressed on page 6 in a deep-blue robe, the darkness of which is alleviated by a golden hem, decorated with jewels. She is absorbed in a prayer book. Surrounding her fabulous crown are 1 St. Thérèse of Lisieux: Her Last Conversations, ICS Publications,U.S. (Dec. 1977), ISBN 096008763X twelve stars, an allusion to the Book of Revelation. The crown itself incorporates four types of flower, all of which The Light of the North is free of charge were Marian symbols: rose (love), lilies (virginity, purity) but a suggested donation of £1.00 will columbines (humility) and lily-of-the-valley (linking the be gratefully received and will be used song of songs, 2:1, to the Virgin Mary). directly to benefit your own parish.

Managing Editor Advertising Manager Deacon Tony Schmitz Jim Skwarek 01233 658611 Editor [email protected] Cowan Watson 07816344241 The Light of the North [email protected] St Mary’s Cathedral 20 Huntly Street Editorial Advisor ABERDEEN Dr Glen Reynolds AB10 1SH www.lightofthenorth.org

Page 2 DIOCESE A Letter from Bishop O.S.B.

us to our friends. When the relics of St. Thérèse were brought to England and Wales some ten years ago, about 300,000 people turned out to ‘pay their respects’ and pray. Relics give us a focus for something beyond themselves. St Thérèse of Lisieux was a paradox. She died at 24. She lived her last nine years in an enclosed convent. She belonged to an ultra-devout French Catholic world which some of us might find alien and disconcerting. But she began a spiritual revolution. She broke with a climate of fear and rediscovered the fatherhood of God and the tender mercy at its heart. She realized that trust was better than fear. She saw that even an Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, apparently insignificant life could, through love, take on a universal power. Hers was the age of Marx, Nietzsche and Between Friday 30 August and Thursday 19 September, Freud, and during the last, horribly painful, months of her life, will be graced by the visit of the Relics of St Thérèse of she came to understand the possibility of atheism from inside Lisieux (1873-1897). The Relics will be taken to each diocese and through that reached a new level of faith and abandonment. in turn, and will come to our own diocese from Monday 9th After her death and the publication of her autobiography and September to Thursday 12th September. They will be available other writings, she became immensely popular and was sensed as a focus of prayer at St Mary’s Cathedral from 9th to 11th as a powerful intercessor, intent in her own words to “spend September, at in the afternoon of the 11th [her] heaven doing good on earth.” Roses became the trademark and at St Mary’s Inverness on the 11th and 12th. A wealth of of her interventions. And, part of the paradox again, she was resources is being made available in preparation for the visit. I declared a patron saint of the missions. can refer you to the special website: www.littleflowerinscotland. By a happy, unintended timing, this “visit of St Thérèse” co.uk preludes the Extraordinary Mission Month called for by Pope We venerate the relics of saints because we venerate the body: Francis for this October. I hope this will engage all our parishes - our own and that of others: hence the virtue of chastity; and communities. See another website: www.october2019.va/ - the Body the Son of God took from his Virgin Mother, en.html The Pope is encouraging us to turn away from our which was transfigured on Mount Tabor, is now glorified in self-preoccupations, undergo a “missionary conversion” and heaven and present to us in the sacrament of the Eucharist; become more missionary-minded disciples. Hence this month - the Body of Christ which we are and are called to be, the of October, with its motto, ‘Baptised and Sent’. The Pope Church; would like us to reflect on the missionary nature of the Church - the bodies of the departed, which were temples of the Holy and the Christian life, remember some of the men and women Spirit and will be raised in glory: hence the reverence shown in who have embodied it and look again for the practical ways, our funeral liturgies. in our own environments, for living out and sharing our faith. Bishop George Hay (1729-1811), whom we’ve been May the visit of St Thérèse help good things happen among us remembering this year, once wrote that showing honour to this coming autumn! the remains of holy people corresponds to “the very natural disposition and frame of the heart of man.” In our ultra-hygienic Devotedly in Christ, world, we might recoil from the remains of the departed, but at + Bishop Hugh OSB the same time we naturally cherish what belongs and connects

If you have access to the internet do take a look at some of the many inspiring talks and homilies given by Bishop Hugh Gilbert and other members of the clergy and which are now available on “You Tube”. These include videos of the Diocesan HUGH Faith Formation Seminars led by Bishop Hugh which cover a wide range of topics such as “Why does God allow evil?” and “The Seven Deadly Sins” . To access these videos just go to the You tube site and search for the channel.

Page 3 DIOCESE Diocesan pilgrimage to Pluscarden

n Sunday 30th June parishioners from the Diocese of Aberdeen gathered at Pluscarden OAbbey for the annual Pilgrimage, celebrated this year on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. The day was blessed with fine weather, Pluscarden having escaped the hail, heavy rain, thunder and lightning which had affected much of the rest of the country. The emphasis of this year’s pilgrimage was on the diocese’s catechists, of whom there are well over one hundred. In his homily Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB pointed out that there was work for many more and issued an invitation to others to join their ranks and assist in the work of evangelisation, in line with Pope Francis’s emphasis on the Church’s missionary dimension. Bishop Hugh also thanked the Dominican Sisters, based in Elgin, for their sterling work in training the catechists and coordinating their work. Father Giles Conacher OSB, of Pluscarden Abbey, commenting on the pilgrimage said: "As always, music played a prominent part in the celebration with the Aberdeen Diocesan Choir, conducted by Elizabeth Meiklejohn, doing a marvellous job of synchronising with the children’s choir in another part of the church. The children's choir, composed of primary school children, sang with a confidence and skill beyond their years and will hopefully fill the ranks Pilgrims filled the transepts of the abbey church of adult choristers in years to come. The brightly-dressed African Choir with their traditional instruments, provided a lively rhythm to the event. The Abbey’s led the Gregorian chant and, after all was over, Duncan MacGillivray cheered everyone with a masterly selection on the pipes. "Although the Abbey’s layout can make it difficult to see what is going on, extensive use of large video screens meant that everyone could follow the Mass. Much hard work went into preparing for the event, what with the erection of marquees, the preparation of food and teas for the pilgrims and managing the large numbers of pilgrims’ vehicles." Bishop Hugh was assisted by a number of concelebrating priests, as well as diocesan deacons and Liz Meiklejohn conducts the Diocesan Choir from the rostrum a competent crew of servers from St Mary's Cathedral, under the experienced direction of the diocesan M.C. Mr. George Brand, KSG. The Knights of St Columba who were, as Bishop Hugh noted, celebrating their centenary year, took charge of banners and the Cathedral’s statue of Our Lady of Aberdeen. After the Mass there was a procession in honour of Our Lady, during which the Litany of Loreto was sung. Anselm Atkinson then led the pilgrims in a decade of the rosary. Bishop Hugh thanked all responsible and remarked on The Children's Choir " sang with a confidence and skill the gratifying numbers who had taken part. beyond their years."

Page 4 DIOCESE Visit to Scotland of the relics of St Thérèse

he St Andrew Community of Aberdeen and the her life and the limits of her world, led a spiritual revolution. Diocese of Aberdeen are pleased to announce that in She rediscovered the tender mercy and fatherhood of God. TSeptember 2019, the relics of St. Thérèse of the Child She passed from fear to trust in her spiritual life. She grasped Jesus and of the Holy Face, otherwise known as "The Little that an apparently insignificant, 'little' life can have a universal Flower", will make a tour of Scotland. power through the mystical Body of Christ. She went through In a Roman Catholic context, this is a wonderful grace for a 'dark night' that helped her understand contempoary atheism our country, an opportunity for faith, hope and charity to be from within and move beyond it to a new depth of faith and rekindled in our hearts through the powerful intercession of abandonment. She has proved herself since her death a tireless "Little Thérèse," as she asked to be called. intercessor, spending her heaven doing good on earth. I am The tour has been coordinated by the St Andrew Community sure we will host her here in Scotland with generosity and love who are based at St Mary's Cathedral in Aberdeen. The and be the richer for it. Her visit will also be a providential Community are a group of single women living together with preparation for the 'extraordinary missionary month' of this Christ at their centre. They are privately consecrated, offering coming October, called for by the Holy Father." the whole of their lives to God alone. They follow the example, The relics of St. Thérèse will be in Aberdeen diocese from the and are inspired by, St. Andrew the Apostle whom the Messiah 9th to 12th September 2019. There will be an opportunity to asked personally: "Follow me". venerate her relics throughout the day and night, to pray for her Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB commenting on the forthcoming intercession, to learn her ‘little way’ summed up in her words, tour of the relics said, "I welcome the visit of the relics of St “Remember nothing you do is small in the eyes of God. Do all Thérèse of Lisieux to Scotland this September. that you do with love.” It will remind us of this saint who, despite the shortness of

What are relics of the Saints and where does the she was Christ-like. She was Christ-like in her simplicity, tradition of venerating relics come from? Christ-like in her abandonment to God’s will, Christ- like in her love for her neighbour. She teaches us that Relics are physical objects that have a direct association “holiness consists simply in doing God's will and being with the saints or with Our Lord. First class relics are the just what God wants us to be.” body or fragments of the body of a saint, such as pieces An intercessor is one who ‘pleads for another’ and this of bone or flesh. Second class relics are something that a is what the saints continue to do for us who are still on saint used during their life, for example books or clothes earth, after they have died. St. Thérèse, who died at the or fragments of these things and third class relics are age of 24, after living a hidden life for nine years in the items that have touched another relic. The tradition of Carmel of Lisieux, always had a burning desire to be a Catholics venerating relics comes from Sacred Scripture missionary. She discovered that her mission, her call and the life of Jesus. Scripture teaches that God acts from God was “to be love in the heart of the Church.” Her through relics, especially in terms of healing. When mission, she described to us, was “to love Jesus, to win the corpse of a man was touched to the bones of the souls for Him so that He may be loved.” prophet Elisha the man came back to life and rose to We can have great confidence in the intercession of his feet (2 Kings 13:20-21). A woman was healed of her St. Thérèse, of her pleading for us to God in heaven, haemorrhage simply by touching the hem of Jesus’ cloak because her desire was not to "rest" in heaven but to (Matthew 9:20-22). continue to bring others to Christ. She said, “I will spend The fact that God chooses to use the relics of saints my heaven doing good upon earth.” to work healing miracles tells us that He wants to draw We can see that God has fulfilled her desire to be a our attention to the saints as “models and intercessors.” missionary by the fact that her relics are now continually (Catechism of the - 828) travelling from country to country bringing abundant Saint Thérèse is a model of holiness for us because graces to those who go to visit them and pray to her.

Page 5 DIOCESE Diocese of Aberdeen itinerary for the visit of the relics of St Thérèse Sunday 8th September Pre-visit homilies by Fr. John Udris at Sunday Masses at St Mary's Cathedral, Aberdeen Monday 9th September 7.00pm: Arrival of Relics to St. Mary’s Cathedral, Aberdeen 7.10pm: Holy Rosary 7.30pm: Opening Mass with sung Litany of St. Thérèse 8.30pm: Veneration of relics with hymns, meditations and opportunity for confessions followed by all-night prayer vigil with exposition (Litany of St. Thérèse each hour) Tuesday 10th September 7.00am: Mass 10.30am: Mass & blessing of roses and liturgy with primary school children 11.30am - 5.30pm: Veneration of relics 5.30pm: Rosary 6.00pm: Mass followed by veneration of relics and opportunity for confession 7.00pm: All night prayer vigil with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Wednesday 11th September 7.00am: Mass. 8.30am: Relics depart for Pluscarden Abbey 11.00am: Arrival at Pluscarden Abbey and visit of schools to Pluscarden Abbey 5.00pm: Departure for St. Mary's, Inverness 7.00pm: Mass of Welcome at St Mary's Inverness followed by all-night vigil with exposition, rosary and other devotions Thursday 12th September 10.00am: Mass at St Mary's Inverness with school children 12noon: Angelus and departure of the relics for Argyll and An icon of St Thérèse written by members of the St Andrew the Isles Community which will accompany the relics on their visit to Scotland in September

Inverurie First Communions and Confirmations at the Church of the Immaculate Conception

At the Church of the Immaculate Conception in 12 children received First Communion this year and seven candidates were confirmed by Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB Page 6 DIOCESE St. Mary’s Family Life Centre offers care and support to the vulnerable Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB, The Holy Family Sisters of the n 23rd May Bishop Hugh Gilbert officially opened Needy, the St Andrew Community together with friends and and blessed St. Mary’s Family life Centre, a new supporters at the opening of St Mary's Family Life Centre initiative for the Diocese aimed at caring and O the pro-life movement, not only for the Diocese of Aberdeen, but providing support for women facing distressful family situations, including unwanted pregnancy, post abortion for the Church in Scotland." trauma, domestic violence, barrenness etc. Fr Domenico also noted that in Pope Francis' Apostolic The centre will be run by The Holy Family Sisters of the Needy Exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate, published last year, the Pope in line with their apostolate of expressing God's love to the poor reminded us of our duty to protect and preserve the unborn: and needy by caring for them spiritually and materially. "Our defence of the innocent unborn… needs to be clear, firm St. Mary’s Family Life Centre is a place where those suffering a and passionate, for at stake is the dignity of a human life, which is crisis within the family can find a shoulder to lean on. The centre always sacred, and demands love for each person, regardless of his intends to focus on the needs of the most vulnerable women in or her stage of development." family life relationships, though any case which is beyond the Also attending the opening was Margaret Pattinson who will limitations of the centre will be referred to the appropriate agency. work at the centre as a counsellor. She said that the centre hopes Bishop Hugh commented, "Marriage and family life enjoy a to be of "great benefit to many families faced with problems divine blessing which, according to the Liturgy, has ‘not been related to pregnancy. forfeited by original sin or washed away by the flood'. “There are many women and men facing these anxieties and “Rather, they have been endorsed and sanctified by Christ our pressures from those who do not understand how they feel. Saviour. Hence, the Church’s desire to do what it can to help “The centre will provide a place where they can express their couples and families. worries and feelings in a calm, non-judgmental atmosphere. “As we all know, there are many pressures and threats at work “It will be a place where they will be given time to talk freely, will be offered a trained listening ear and assured of confidentiality and acceptance. “We hope also to be able to offer practical help and care whenever necessary.” The centre will also offer fertility care provided by Margaret Hammond, a fully credited and qualified 'natural family planning' professional. St Mary's Family Life Centre is located at 80 Rose Street, Aberdeen AB10 1UE and is open twice a week, Mondays and Thursdays, from 10am to 4pm. Clients will be attended to only byJericho appointment.Inns:Layout Each client’s1 case11/11/15 will be handled08:58 withPage complete1 confidentiality.

JERICHO Combine the Spiritual Life with the running of ‘Jericho Inns’ for those being Bishop Hugh with The Holy Family Sisters of the Needy who passed by on the other side’ will be running the Centre JerichoThe D ruBenedictinesg & Alcohol Addicted and what happens is not always for the best. Our hope is that St Victims of Domestic Violence Mary’s Family Life Centre will be a resource to those looking for Homeless Men & Women support or facing particular difficulties. 1/8 HPageolidays for those on low income “It corresponds to the desires expressed by Pope Francis in Enquiries & donations gratefully received Amoris Laetitia. I am grateful to the Holy Family Sisters of the Fr. James Needy and the others who will work there for putting themselves Monastery of Jesus, at the service of others in this way.” Harelaw Farm KILBARCHAN Fr Domenico Zanré, Aberdeen Diocese’s Vicar General, said Renfrewshire PA10 2PY that the centre "marked a significant moment in the mission of

Page 7 DIOCESE Thanksgiving Mass for Joyce Webster BY JOHN HORTON Mass was celebrated at St Mary's Cathedral, Aberdeen on Monday 1st July A to mark the retirement and long-standing service to the Diocese of Mrs Joyce Webster. Joyce Webster has been involved in the City and church life of Aberdeen for many years. Above all, she has been the "right-hand woman" of three successive Catholic , working in the diocesan office. To celebrate her more than twenty years of service, friends and colleagues from many walks of life gathered for a Mass of thanksgiving. The Deputy Provost, Cllr. Jennifer Stewart, was present, as were representatives of the Scouts and Beavers, the Queens Cross Former Pupils, the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, the Catenians and Aberdeen Churches Together. Twelve priests, three deacons and many parishioners joined the three bishops present. Bishop Hugh Gilbert highlighted Joyce's sterling and the many people who were able to be present at the Mass: qualities and at the end of the Mass presented Mrs Joyce Webster with husband Gordon, Archbishop Emeritus , Webster with the highest papal award for lay people Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB, Bishop Emeritus and priests and who have contributed outstandingly to the life of deacons from across the Diocese the Church, the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (Latin: For Church and Pope). and the many people who were able to be present at the Mass: In his homily Bishop Hugh reflected on this time of change "I would like to thank Bishop Hugh, Bishop Peter and for Joyce. Archbishop Mario for the opportunity to work in the Diocese "So, retirement dawns. It might have its surprises, but I over the past twenty-one and a half years. remember a sermon on baptism. The preacher pointed out "I have worked firstly as Millennium Appeal Coordinator, that water can take many followed by Diocesan Administration Coordinator and also as forms: still or running, P.A. to Bishop Peter and then Bishop Hugh. hot or cold, turning "These have been very happy years, in which I have into ice or steam, but made many good friends. I will certainly miss the everyday it's always water. And involvement with the clergy, parishes, and agencies in the so the moral is that the Diocese and beyond, as well as the civic and ecumenical grace that begins to flow groups. It has been a privilege. in our baptism is able "I must also mention my husband, Gordon, 'My Support to adapt itself to all the System'. His unfailing help has made so many events possible. changes of our lives and "The memories are too numerous to list, but one which does carry us through. So I come to mind often, is the sight of twelve Bishops: the eight think the Vine, the Tree Scottish Bishops and Archbishop Emeritus Mario, along with will stay by the flowing the Bishop of Oslo, the Bishop of Copenhagen and the Auxiliary waters. It won't shrivel Bishop of Westminster and other clergy of the Diocese, all in or be blown over. It will red vestments, on the steps of St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall, survive the heat and "its Orkney in 2017 in brilliant sunshine. This was following a leaves remain green". It Mass in Kirkwall Cathedral and the culmination of a weekend Joyce was also presented with a won't mind the drought, pilgrimage to mark the 900th Anniversary of the Martyrdom beautiful bouquet to mark her "for it does not cease to of St Magnus. retirement bear fruit" (Jer 17:8). "However, I am also happy in the knowledge that the time We're watching this is right for me to step down and begin a new chapter in my space, Joyce. Thank you - more than words can say. And may life, especially by spending more time with Gordon, our sons, the joy of Christ always be in your heart." daughter-in-law and grandchildren." Before the Mass, Joyce reflected on her many roles, the It turned out to be an evening of much joy and many various Bishops which have featured in her period of service surprises and we all wish Joyce and her husband Gordon much happiness in the years ahead.

Page 8 DIOCESE Scalan Mass honours 250th anniversary of Bishop George Hay's

he Annual Pilgrimage Mass at Scalan, in the Braes of Glenlivet, took place this Tyear on Sunday 16 June, Trinity Sunday, at 4:00pm. It was on this feast in 1769, 250 years ago this year, that Bishop George Hay, one of the great names of our Catholic past, was consecrated bishop in the tiny upstairs chapel in the present Scalan building, in secret because of the anti-Catholic Penal Laws. Bishop Hay fought to overturn these laws. It was not easy. On returning to after another round of secret talks with the Government, he found a mob burning down his house and the chapel. Although English Catholics had a Catholic Relief Act passed in 1779, opposition here was considered so strong that it was 1793 before a similar piece of legislation could be passed for Scotland. Although Bishop Hay died in 1811, much of what Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB, Bishop Toal, Bishop Nolan, Archbishop he had done laid the groundwork for the Catholic Emeritus Mario Conti and priests and deacons from throughout Emancipation Act of 1829. Scotland and beyond More than 200 pilgrims attended the anniversary Mass which was concelebrated by Bishop Hugh Gilbert of Aberdeen, Bishop of Motherwell, Bishop Nolan, Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti and priests and deacons from throughout Scotland and beyond. In his homily Bishop Gilbert traced the life and character of Bishop Hay, the various issues he dealt with and the contributions he made to Catholic life in those days. He concluded with a challenging thought: Bishop Hay not only kept the fires of Faith burning, but took good opportunities to move forward and advance the mission of the Church, and each of us must be on the lookout for all ways, large and small, in which, inspired each day by the Holy Spirit, we can move forward the cause of Christ in our present times. At the end of the Mass, Fr Briody, president of the Scalan Association, gave thanks to all who had come. Some of the 200 pilgrims who attended the anniversary Mass

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Page 9 DIOCESE Papal recognition for Fiona after 27 years of dedicated service to Banff community

n Trinity Sunday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel award following 25 years Church in Banff, Fr Colin Stewart (Dean of the of service. The Parish OHuntly area and Moray) presented Fiona Stewart Pastoral Council warmly with the Benemerenti Medal, awarded by the Pope to congratulate her as members of the clergy and laity for service to the Catholic does the community of Church. parishioners that is Our Fiona is a Senior Solicitor with Council and Lady of Mount Carmel moved to Banff in in 1993. in Banff. She is much She became a reader in the parish and, when the organist loved and appreciated." at the time retired 20 years ago, she became the parish’s chief "Thank God for the musician. Fiona introduced the singing of parts of the Mass Fiona Stewarts of this and still provides the music today. She also plays and assists at world!” observed Bishop funerals and weddings whenever her work calendar allows. Hugh. Over the years, and in particular the last ten years, Fiona has “How many of our been Reader, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, Sacristan communities and and, more recently, Counter. In addition, Fiona also serves as parishes are sustained by secretary of the new Parish Council at OLMC and as Chair of people who freely give the Finance Committee. of their time, talents Fiona said that she was, “surprised, taken aback and humbled and selves to enrich to be the recipient of such an award.” the lives of others. It is “I can't take all the credit. I am very grateful to mum and only right that Fiona's dad for giving many contributions, Fiona with her award and the me my guitar, to both church and magnificent "guitar" cake made by encouraging me society in Banff shouldsome of OLMC's Polish parishioners to sing and play be recognised. It is with the flute andgreat pleasure and many thanks that I have been able to convey for helping me to her the special Benemerenti ("Well deserved!") award from get to and from Pope Francis. " University at weekends to keep playing at church. Interfaith solidarity I also share this award with two parishes, St Martin's Tranent (East Lothian) and the late Canon Somers and Mrs Turnbull, the organist, Fr Colin Stewart, parishioner Jimmy for getting me Mooney (also the recipient of a Papal involved in the award some years ago) and Fiona Stewart music ministry with her Benemerenti medal and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Banff where I have been part of a small, but very strong parish community for 27 years. OLMC nominated me for the hen the Mosque in Elgin was vandalised in May award and have shared in my delight at this surprise, and in the of this year Interfaith Moray visited the Mosque fabulous cake! All I can say is thank you.” to show their solidarity and to offer their Chair of the Parish Pastoral Council, Dr Glen Reynolds W support to Imam Lansana Bangura and his flock. The commented: group included representatives from the Hindu, Jewish, "One word sums up Fiona as a person and as an active member Lutheran, Quaker, Episcopalian, , of the church in Banff for 27 years and that is 'committed'; Franciscan(CoE) and Catholic Churches including Rev a sentiment no doubt shared by Aberdeenshire Council who, Deacon Vincent McQuaid from St Sylvester's, Elgin. by a remarkable coincidence, recently honoured her with an Page 10 DIOCESE Exploring Warsaw with the Pallottines BY LUCYNA ELLIOT

small group from the Moray area flew from Aberdeen to Warsaw on the 7th of May. For all but the leader and organiser – Lucyna AElliot – it was a maiden visit to the Polish capital – indeed to Poland. The group was made up of people who had provided hospitality for young Pallottine seminarians who, led by Father Mirosław Mejzner, Rector of the Higher Seminary of the Pallottines in Ołtarzew, had spent some time in Moray during recent Fr. Mirosław Mejzner, Rector of the Pallottine seminary, with years. They were accommodated in the seminary which lies about 30 kilometres newly ordained Fathers, Jarek, Dominik and Szymon, all of south west of Warsaw. The Society of the Catholic Apostolate, better known as the whom stayed in Forres in 2015 Pallottines, are a Society of Apostolic Life within the Roman Catholic Church, founded uprising and the controversies which still rage today as to the causes of its failure. in 1835 by the Roman priest Saint Vincent Pallotti. Pallottines are part of the Union of "The following day we visited a Pallottine Retreat near Warsaw which was Catholic Apostolate and are present in 45 countries on six continents. superbly equipped to meet both spiritual and physical needs. Used also as a Lucyna had planned the trip with great precision and each day they experienced a conference and company training centre, it offered additionally a special diet more subtle balance of Polish history, culture and, of course, food. or less guaranteeing significant weight loss but requiring incredible self-discipline – Reporting on the trip, Lucyna said, "Psychologically, it was a good move to start almost certainly because of the monotony of the regime. the first full day with a visit to Cafe Blikle – a café in the classic Viennnese mould – "Nor far from there we entered what's called a 'graduation Tower' – an ‘external which has been famous for its coffee and cakes for the last 150 years. We were not inhaler’ - fed with brine from a nearby well whose concentration of minerals is disappointed. We wanted to linger but time was pressing and so we walked along believed to have healing properties. About the size of a rectangular tennis court, and Nowy Swiat to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier before entering the amazingly re- surrounded by shelves of twigs dripping brine, we cheerfully breathed in lungfuls constructed Old Town. of the damp, salty air and retreated convinced that our immune systems had been "Later that day, after watching a film abut the wartime destruction of Warsaw, we stimulated and our upper respiratory tracts rejuvenated. visited the awesome Polish Museum of the History of Polish Jews which opened only "As if these experiences were not enough for one day, we then went for lunch to six years ago on the site of the Warsaw Ghetto and which cannot be fully appreciated a Milk Bar, not really knowing what to expect. It seemed, at least in the procedures in a single visit. involved, to be a throwback to the communist years: queue to see the menu, queue "The next day began with a visit to the Łazienki Palace with its fine interiors and to pay and get your ticket, queue to get your food, fetch your food from the hatch, paintings and its beautiful gardens. We then went to the legendary Wedel Chocolate find a corner of a half-occupied rickety table, sit down and eat, return dirty plates to the hatch . In fact, the food was simple and cheap but incredibly good. The clientele was interesting – poor old men and women, students and middle-class folk who made a point of going there because they knew the food was good. The customers were also very accommodating - when there was a shortage of space they made some - and they were not slow to give culinary advice to newcomers. Truly, another remarkable experience. "Later that day most of us went to the Palace of Culture – ‘gifted’ to Poland by the Russians in the 1950s. It is enormous and it is controversial, but it offers a wonderful view of Warsaw from the top. To round off our splendidly varied day, we attended in the evening a breathtaking Chopin recital given by an outstanding young Polish pianist in the type of intimate setting that the great man preferred. Apparently, there is at least one Chopin performance taking place in the capital every day of the year. "Saturday, 11th May was our last full day. The highlight was the ordination in the seminary chapel of two of the young priests whom we had got to know in Scotland. The chapel was packed with friends and relatives and the ceremony very elaborate as was fitting for probably the most important day of their lives. "Afterwards everybody sat down to an excellent meal before the new priests joined their friends for a more relaxed and convivial celebration. As for eating while we were there, we sampled a great variety of Polish foods (and even wines!) in numerous up or down-market restaurants and cafes. Nowhere were we disappointed with either quality or quantity. (We even had some Polish porridge for breakfast in the seminary!) There is little doubt that we benefited from a huge amount of insider Two of the newly ordained Pallottine priests returned to knowledge (provided by our inspirational and indefatigable leader) which allowed Scotland in early June,and celebrated Mass in Edinburgh and us to squeeze more into the trip than could possibly be imagined. at St. Margaret’s, Forres "And then it was time to return to Scotland after an unforgettable trip which left a strong desire to expand our knowledge of Polish history and to return at some time in Factory where we failed to resist temptation but indulged with prudence. This was the future. Two of the newly ordained Pallottine priests returned to Scotland in early the contrasting prelude to visiting the Museum of the Warsaw Uprising – opened June, to re-unite with their hosts and to thank them for their welcome and kindness, less than 15 years ago – which told, in multi-media form, the harrowing story of the by celebrating Mass in Edinburgh and at St. Margaret’s, Forres." Page 11 DIOCESE

For New Evangelisation & Catechism RC Diocese of Aberdeen

MAKING CONNECTIONS THAT COUNT onnections across the diocese and indeed, even across the centuries and continents have been made this Cspring and summer through Ogilvie Centre events. Starting in May, the Faith in the North: Reviving Cultures Symposium held at Pluscarden Abbey focused on the connection between faith and culture. Speakers ranging from BBC Alba Correspondent Andreas Wolff, Gaelic musician Iain MacGillivray, George Mackay Brown scholar Linden Bicket and the descendants of Scottish Catholic Renaissance writer George Scott-Moncrieff, Lesley Findlay and Rebecca Blakey Power of Grace rally - “So Great a Cloud of Witnesses” compellingly illustrated the beauty of the faith as culturally Christian witness he or she is to give in today’s world. expressed in the north of Scotland. Celebrating the connections made between the catechised and Participants commented on the joy and hope that comes with the church by catechists was the focus of this year’s Pluscarden exploring the faith through the lens of the Gaelic and Orcadian Pilgrimage. Before Mass, the congregation heard from catechist cultures. One attendee, Bryan Miller, wrote: Josephine Martin and from Louise Orr, a young person, on “I would say the great 'hope' that was so tangible throughout the topic of the benefits and joys of delivering and receiving the weekend and the enthusiasm to pray and consider what was catechesis. During Mass, catechists were addressed and prayed said and experienced, the desire to meet again, the hope that for by the bishop and congregation in a particular way. After this was just a beginning…will, pray God, find expression in ways to present the living Catholic faith through the arts." Plans are underway for further symposia and events related to faith and the traditional cultures of the north of Scotland. Connections were also made at this year’s Power of Grace Post-Confirmation Youth Rally at Greyfriars Convent. Over one hundred post-confirmation youth, catechists, and youth leaders from across the diocese gathered to celebrate the grace of the

Celebrating the grace of the Holy Spirit at the Elgin rally Mass, small gifts were distributed to catechists in thanksgiving for their work. The diocese knows it could not pass on the faith without the hard and often unnoticed work of its catechists and thanks them whole-heartedly for their time and talent. Catechists and all adults are invited to continue to connect with God, one another, and their own faith by attending the workshops delivered by popular Catholic speaker David Wells. Mrs Didi Fraser - the expression of a living faith through music On Friday 20 September, Mr Wells will speak at St Columba’s at the Reviving Cultures Symposium at Pluscarden Abbey Church in Culloden from 7-9pm. On Saturday, 21 September Holy Spirit conferred at Confirmation with Mass, workshops, he will lead a day of reflection at St Francis of Assisi Parish in adoration and praise. Bishop Hugh noted that representatives Mannofield, Aberdeen from 10-3pm. All are invited to these of nearly every continent in the world were present at the event, events of inspiration and encouragement in living and passing with participants originally hailing from Africa, Asia, America on the Catholic faith. The talks are entitled: 'Baptised and Sent' and Europe. The rally was fittingly subtitled, “So Great a Cloud and will prepare the diocese for the Extraordinary Mission of Witnesses” and, throughout the day, participants reflected Month this October called for by Pope Francis. on the powerful connections made by the communion of saints Other opportunities to connect with one’s faith and diocesan both in Scotland and across the world, past, present, and to faith formation events are available from the Ogilvie Centre come. The event challenged the young people to consider the throughout the year. You can always find out more at the Ogilvie Centre web site: ogilvie.rcda.scot.

Page 12 DIOCESE St Andrew's Foundation produces record number of teachers qualified to teach RE or the last two years students doing the Post Graduate Diploma in Education F(PGDE) at the have been able to gain the Catholic Teacher's Certificate (CTC). This has become possible thanks to the St Andrew's Foundation at the University of , the University of Aberdeen, the Diocese of Aberdeen and the support of the Scottish Government. The government-backed programme to train Catholic teachers is to expand to more universities this August when the University of the West of Scotland and the University of Dundee will also offer the course. The programme is supported by funds from Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB hosted a reception for some of this year's graduates the Scottish Government, with First Minster boosting Catholic education in Scotland and run by the St Nicola Sturgeon announcing last year that an additional Andrew’s Foundation. £127,000 would be invested in the Catholic Teacher Education Bishop Hugh Gilbert OSB who hosted a reception for some Programme. of this year's recipients of the certificate commented, The programme is part of a range of measures aimed at "It is a heartening development which increases the pool of those qualified to teach in Catholic schools in Scotland and has AoS port chaplain for the North been taken up with enthusiasm by good numbers." East meets Pope Francis in Craig Lodge Family House of Prayer

CraigRetreat Lodge Yourself! 1/4 Page eacon Doug Duncan, Apostleship of the Sea (AoS) port chaplain for Aberdeen and the North September 13-15 – Healing Weekend East, met the Holy Father while in Rome for the September 20-22 – Healing Weekend D September 27-29 – Family Weekend European regional meeting of the AoS. The conference in Rome, which took place in June, October 4-6 – Tony Hickey included presentations from national directors, chaplains October 14-18 - Family Week November 1-3 – Healing Weekend and trustees and covered a wide range of topics from serving November 15-16 – Advent Retreat for Young Teens seafarers worldwide to cruise chaplaincy and the centenary November 22-24 – Advent Retreat for Mid Teens celebrations that are to be held in Glasgow next year. November 29-1 – Advent Retreat for Young Adults The AoS was founded in Glasgow in 1920 and Doug took the opportunity of his meeting to invite Pope Francis to Glasgow for the centenary: “I just asked him if he could make a special visit to Glasgow for our centenary celebrations. Craig Lodge Family House of Prayer “Of course, I realise he is a very busy man but we will leave Dalmally, Argyll, PA33 1AR it in the Lord’s hands and pray for his presence in body as T: 01838200 216 E: [email protected] well as in spirit.” Full details at: www.craiglodge.org

Page 13 DIOCESE Here’s how to appoint a legal Guardian... A series which looks at some practical issues and concerns of everyday life. BY GEORGE RUTHERFORD

ou may already be aware of the usefulness of having be for longer, even for the adult’s lifetime. a Power of Attorney in place, discussed in a previous Once the guardianship order is obtained, the guardian must Yissue. A person able to act on your behalf in case register the Court Order with the Keeper of the Registers of of an accident, or to help with your finances and perhaps Scotland if there is a house belonging to the adult. An inventory welfare matters in later life. of the adult’s property must be completed and a management Where an adult has a Continuing Power of Attorney in place, plan submitted to the Office of the Public Guardian within it remains effective even after the grantor has lost capacity to 3 months of receiving the certificate of appointment. A fee deal with matters of finance and perhaps welfare decisions, if is charged for consideration of the documents, ranging from welfare powers are included in their Power of Attorney. £56 to £1,295, depending on the value of the property to be Here we’re dealing with guardianship matters. A guardianship managed by the proposed guardian. order is required where an adult (a person aged over 16) is not The Office of the Public Guardian, located in Falkirk, is able to look after their own affairs. entrusted with supervision of guardianship orders dealing with Often a meeting with a legal advisor is only arranged after the the adult’s finances and property. adult has encountered difficulties in communicating or carrying The guardian has to submit an annual account to the Public out financial transactions. Before a power of attorney may be Guardian, detailing all their transactions with the adult’s granted, the adult must be able to understand the consequences property. The first review of an annual account incurs a fee of of granting the powers. between £82 and £1,007 charged on a sliding scale, according If this basic requirement is not met, the alternative is to to the value of the property held. A fee is charged annually obtain a Guardianship Order. Legal advice should be sought thereafter. as this requires a Court appointment, although being legally The guardian also has to have in place an insurance Bond, represented is not a requirement. designed to protect the adult against any financial wrongdoing Any person having an interest in the adult may apply for by the guardian. A premium is paid annually to the insurer, the guardianship. This may be, for example, a relative, a carer or rate may be in the region of 0.2% of the property value, which a professional person (solicitor, accountant etc.). The head of would be £200 for an estate of £100,000. Social Work of the local authority may also be appointed. Should the guardian fail to provide the details required, the More than one guardian may be appointed, and a substitute Office of the Public Guardian may take steps to obtain the may also be named, should the appointed person, for whatever necessary information. reason, be unable to act. The guardian must also notify the Office of the Public If appropriate, an application is made to the local Sheriff Guardian of any change of circumstances or of the death of the Court. Inevitably, there are costs involved, such as court fees adult. The guardian will then have to complete an account and of £129 for the initial application, the cost of two medical apply for a discharge. certificates and if a solicitor is used, legal fees, unless legal aid You will have gathered from this brief summary that is available. guardianship is a much more complex, expensive and time The application would include a list of the powers required, consuming procedure than the granting of a Continuing Power such as dealing with finances or selling a house. Powers to make of Attorney. Having an Attorney means less stress and form welfare decisions, for example about residential care or consent filling for the person entrusted with carrying out the duties on to medical procedures, may also be sought, if the adult is unable your behalf. It also enables you to choose the person or persons to give such instructions. The applicant must also give details you trust to act on your behalf, when you no longer can. of their character and background, plus any relevant financial It’s therefore important for everyone to consider having a or investment experience. Letters of reference may be required Power of Attorney in place in case it might ever be needed. by the Court. The Sheriff will then consider the application. If approved, an George Rutherford is a Solicitor at Raeburn Christie Clark & order is granted usually for a period of three years but this may Wallace, Solicitors

Page 14 DIOCESE Here’s how to appoint a Understanding legal Guardian... Practical

RaeburnPlanning for the future takesChristie experience and Clark & sensitivity, and when it comes to wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and other aspects of law Wallacethat can affect loved Solicitors ones later in life, our private Half Page client team has helped generations of families achieve the best solutions and outcomes.

Call Douglas Crombie today on: 01224 332 400 or visit raeburns.co.uk Private Client Services Perfect conditions for Bishop's Shield golfers Joyce Webster, the retiring PA to Bishop Hugh Gilbert, was given flowers to thank her for all her work for the Diocese, and to commemorate the 21st anniversary of the match. She said, "The flowers are beautiful and I wish to thank Andy for the 'technical' parts so important to the organisation of the day."

The next issue of the Light of the North will be published in he 21st Aberdeen diocesan golf (Bishop's Jubilee the autumn. If you would like Shield) match took place at Kintore Golf Club on the to sponsor the next issue or a T28th June. The winners were: page of the issue, perhaps in Trophy - Inverurie Gents; Men's Individual - Andy memory of a loved one or to Westwood, Inverurie; Ladies' Individual - Beattie McCann, celebrate a special occasion, Inverurie; Longest Drive - Ben Sherman, Elgin; Nearest the please contact our advertising Hole - Alex Tweedie, Inverurie manager Jim Skwarek. Participant Andy Westwood said, "The course was in Tel: 01233658611 or email: excellent condition and all the players (including Fr. Keith jimskwarek@geeringsprint. of St Mary's Cathedral, Aberdeen [pictured]), enjoyed both co.uk the golf and the hospitality of the clubhouse. A good day out was had by all. We trust the competition will continue and we would welcome even more participation from the parishes."

Page 15 DIOCESE Faith in the North: Reviving Cultures Symposium at Pluscarden Abbey “Mercy, Connection, and Hope” were the particular notes that sounded through the “Faith in the North: Reviving Cultures Symposium” held 3-5 May 2019 at Pluscarden Abbey. Participants were led through a series of stimulating talks on the topic of faith and culture as it has been lived through the centuries by the Gaels and Orcadians in the west and north of Scotland. The highlight of the weekend was the Gaelic-language Mass, thought to be the first of its kind ever publicly celebrated at Pluscarden. Mrs. Didi Fraser led the congregation’s Gaelic responses and hymns with beautiful simplicity. Mgr James MacNeil of Oban celebrated the Mass in honour of the Feast of Divine Mercy, a poignant sign of a theme which emerged over the weekend. Bishop Hugh Gilbert in his keynote address stated: “If we don’t Some of the participants at the symposium connect, we forget and if we forget, we fragment.” Referring to culture’s attraction to people of all backgrounds. Observing the book of Genesis, he recalled that man was formed from the that other Christian denominations had Gaelic Societies to dust of the earth and infused with a soul to be in communion support their ministers in familiarity with the Gaelic language, with God for all eternity. As the centre of creation, humans Mr. Wolff proposed a similar society for the Catholic Church. are connected both to “soil” and “soul”. As humans use their Such a society could have ecumenical ties with other churches, God-given creativity to cultivate the soil, or nature, the work promoting greater unity in the Scottish Gaelic culture. His of cultivating their own soil, the spiritual life, must not be comments promoted a lively discussion centred around neglected. A genuine culture bridges these two realities and finds practising a faith that has been encultured in a particular locale. its highest expression in the “cult” or worship of God, using the Continuing this theme, Mrs. Lesley Findlay and Ms. Rebecca goods of the earth, art, and music in the liturgical actions of Blakey revealed the cultural richness of the Gaelic Catholic the Holy Mass. While modern secular art, music, and literature faith as devotedly recorded, preserved, and enriched by such often foretell a nihilistic future, the Church has hope to offer. figures of past centuries as Alexander Carmichael, Fr. Allan Because of its long memory connected to Christ’s loving action MacDonald, John Lorne Campbell, Margaret Fay Shaw, and of handing on the Eucharist which continues to be celebrated Calum Maclean. As the daughter and great-granddaughter and because the Church is confident that this presence of Christ respectively of Scottish Catholic Renaissance writer George continues to transform humanity, there is hope for the future Scott-Moncrieff, Mrs Findlay and Ms Blakey embodied the Bishop Gilbert’s comments on connectedness framed the passion for the integration of Scottish faith and culture of the figures of whom they spoke. The Orcadian culture also received attention during the conference when Dr. Linden Bicket from the University of Edinburgh reflected on the writer George Mackay Brown and The Catholic Imagination. He believed that “everything is imbued, touched by the finger of God” and that the Orcadian history, landscape, and people could be fitting openings into the message of the Gospel. A fitting conclusion to the days’ thoughts and reflections came in the moving musical programme provided by Iain and Duncan MacGillivray, Iain Gordon, and Patricia Robertson. As participants came together on the Sunday to discuss the conference and possible paths forward, the three themes of "Mrs. Didi Fraser led the congregation’s Gaelic responses and “mercy, connectedness, and hope” emerged. The participants hymns with beautiful simplicity." felt the weekend was filled with the joy of sharing the Faith and the Scottish culture with one another and a desire to share this symposium speakers’ reflections on faith and the Scottish joy with others. “There was an enthusiasm to forgive and lay the culture. Each speaker spoke passionately and lovingly of their past to rest,” Ms Maureen Woodhead reflected. This provided subjects, which inspired a great pride and joy in the listeners. a sense of hope and purpose as we continue to plan for future In his talk on “Current Issues in the Gaelic Revival and the events and initiatives. Place of the Catholic Church,” Andreas Wolff spoke of Gaelic Sr Anna Christi OP with pictures courtesy of Michal Wachucik of AberMedia Page 16 DIOCESE has five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. To honour Mrs Mitchell's long and dedicated service to the Dette Mitchell -100 church, Deacon Vincent McQuaid from St Sylvester's and Fr Giles Conacher OSB from Pluscarden Abbey presented her years young! with a pair of glass vases and a large bouquet of flowers. Blessing for UK's smallest chapel

he UK’s smallest chapel has received a blessing from Father Ambrose Flavell OSB, Shetland’s parish Tpriest. Mrs Dette Mitchell flanked by Deacon Vincent McQuaid and The chapel was built by Anne Dobson and her husband, Fr Giles Conacher OSB Peter using recycled and gifted materials and is in the rs Dette Mitchell, a parishioner of St Sylvester's grounds of their B&B on the Shetland island of Yell. parish in Elgin, celebrated her 100th birthday on The chapel, which can accommodate one worshipper, Friday 15th March. has a beautiful view overlooking Gutcher Loch. M Mr & Mrs Dobson moved from Dorset eight years ago Mrs Mitchell was born in Tomintoul in 1919 but after marrying her late husband George the couple set up home to Yell and they now run the B&B out of Gutcher’s old Post in Elgin. Office. They had three children, Eileen who passed away three The chapel is rather small for organised services, but is a years ago and two sons, George and James. Mrs Mitchell safe place of quiet and peace for anyone to use.

Society of the Little Flower The mission of the Society of the Little Flower is to promote devotion to St.Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Carmelite Nun and Doctor of the Church. Through prayers and

1/2donations, Pagefriends of St.Thérèse enable Carmelites to continue her “Shower of Roses” in their ministries throughout the world and in their education of young Carmelites. The mission of the Society of the Little Flower is to promote devotion to St.Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Carmelite Nun and Doctor of the Church. Through prayers and Carmelite priests, nuns, brothers and sisters serve people in parishes, medical clinics, donations,women’s centres, friends schools,of St.Thérèse retreat enable houses, Carmelites hospitals, to catecheticalcontinue her centres, “Shower prisons, of Roses”

inhousing, their ministries job and skills throughout development the world programmes and in their and education sacramental of young celebrations Carmelites. around the world. Carmelite priests, nuns, brothers and sisters serve people in parishes, medical clinics, Society of the Little Flower women’s centres, schools, retreat houses, hospitals, catechetical centres, prisons, Barclays House 0345 602 9884 (local rate) housing, job and skills development programmes and sacramental celebrations 51 Bishopric [email protected] around the world. www.littleflower.org.ukwww.littleflower.eu Horsham RH12 1QJ Charity No. 1123034 Society of the Little Flower

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51 Bishopric [email protected] Page 17

www.littleflower.eu Horsham RH12 1QJ Charity No. 1123034

WITNESS A civilization of love and a culture of life

BY MARGARET HAMMOND

y name is Margaret Hammond. I am married to Peter and we have five wonderful children. I grew up in a family with six brothers and one sister and was nurtured on the Catholic Faith. MAs I matured I trained to become a children’s nurse and later entered adult nursing. I also developed an interest in developing Margaret Hammond, Dr Angela McCallum, Dr Lyn Billings, Dr my faith and concern for the fragility of the unborn child. John Billings and Marie Sandison Later I decided to become a midwife and “change the world.” the International Jubilee Conference in Melbourne, Australia. Unfortunately, I witnessed my first experience of abortion and This linked up with World Organisation Ovulation Method was traumatised. Of course I had read and heard about it but Billings (WOOMB). It was the 50th Anniversary (1953 – 2003). the reality only came home to me at that moment. Regretfully, I I remember reflecting that it isn’t often that voluntary work takes chose to leave midwifery. you to the other side of the world! It was a huge learning curve I didn’t quite appreciate how lucky I was when I met Peter and an inspiring experience. I had the great privilege of meeting from a similar Catholic upbringing. Big families were in our Drs John and Evelyn Billings (founders of the method). I am sure combined psyche and when we married in 1990 we embraced both will be made saints in time! the whole concept of a Civilisation of Life and Love. During our The diocese has recently established a dedicated Pro Life base. marriage preparation, we were saddened to learn that the majority St Mary's Family Life Centre is situated in Rose Street, Aberdeen. of couples attending were already living together. When we asked I share this space with the Holy Family Sisters of the Needy who about Natural Family Planning (NFP) knowing its importance offer a range of prolife services and counselling. I offer teaching in from Church teaching, I was looked at as if I had grown horns! The Billings Ovulation Method to couples by appointment only. Eventually and through some perseverance I was pointed in the There is no charge for this service but as a Charity donations are right direction. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we found always welcome. a lovely woman who taught us the Billings Method. It was a relief Couples can contact me via email: mgthammond13@yahoo. to discover that teaching was available and freely given! One to co.uk. And mobile phone: 07891358114. one tuition is truly wonderful and important especially when you are necessarily discussing intimate areas of life and love. Our tutor said I would make a great teacher. I laughed and thought, "I'm too busy!" Fertility Care Scotland Our first child was named after Rachel from the Old Testament (who wept tears for the innocent as I had done). Raising children 196 Clyde Street Glasgow G1 4JY in today’s world is no mean feat! But teaching them about Jesus is Fertility Care LEARN MORE ABOUT the greatest pleasure! When our third child was a toddler, I found myself with (a little) time on my hands. By then our old teacher YOUR FERTILITY had retired and there was no-one teaching NFP in Aberdeen. I found myself thinking and praying about teacher training and I Scotland Achieving came up with “Why Not Me?” Pregnancy Teacher training at that time was undergoing massive Delaying Pregnancy development. I went through a very primitive, albeit very 1/4 Menopause Page effective, personal training programme and managed with some Breastfeeding difficulty to get the practical experience required. My training was sponsored by the Diocese thanks to Bishop Mario Conti. With great pride and pleasure I received my very first Teacher Training Certificate in the year 2000. Clinics in Scotland: Clarkston, St Joseph’s Hall Edinburgh, Chalmers Centre & York Place I have taught on and off since then. Teacher training has Hamilton, NHS Lanarkshire Aberdeen developed through Fertility Care Scotland. It has become a well Paisley, Diocesan Offices Keith organised and efficient training programme. Each teacher attends Contact us on 0141 221 0858 a four day residential training programme and is reaccredited Email us on [email protected] every three years. The next four-day programme will run from Visit our website on www.fertilitycare.org.uk the 19th – 22nd September at the Scheonstatt Centre, Glasgow ‘This is knowledge of her body that every woman ought to have.’ and we all look forward to catching up with old friends and Dr Evelyn Billings meeting new teachers in training (always a joy!). The highlight of my voluntary work to date came in 2003 when Join us on facebook www.facebook.com/fertilitycarescotland I won a place, arranged through Fertility Care Scotland, to attend Follow us on twitter www.twitter.com/billingsscot

Fertility Care Scotland is a registered Charity in Scotland Number SC022875

Page 18 FAITH AND CULTURE Oot an Aboot with Ron Smith

Domodossola 'Way of the Cross'

Ron Smith takes a trip to Italy to visit the amazing "Way of the Cross" in Domodossola, which took nearly 200 years to complete. Domodossola is famous for a really remarkable Way of the Cross – a reconstruction of the processional route in the Old City of Jerusalem, believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion. Station thirteen, "The Deposition" A short walk away from the train station in Domodossola store, which accidentally blew up in 1830. takes you to the Via Rosmini, named after a famous priest, The Church at the summit is the heart of the Calvario, and who comes into the story later. The road continues to houses stations twelve and thirteen. Station twelve, "Jesus become the Via Mattarella, named after the fortress on the Dies on the Cross", is a huge dramatic scene, placed in the top of the hill, and after crossing a main road, becomes the church in 1662. The figures of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Via Calvario. St. John, on each side of the Cross, were installed a year later The “Calvario” or Calvary is quite outstanding. Each and in 1921 the Italian artist Francesco Bozetti painted the station is the size of my house! To prevent vandalism, they background. Station thirteen, "The Deposition", again has are protected by a heavy wrought iron grille reinforced with wonderfully striking figures by sculptor Dionisio Bussola chicken wire but through this you can still see the larger placed here in 1664, with the background frescos painted than life-size figures and wonderfully painted frescos. by Giovanni di Sampiero in 1699. The original idea for the Way in Domodossola came from To one side of the main steps to the Church a steep stone the Franciscan Friars Minor. It is made up of a series of staircase leads down to the basement and station fourteen, twelve stations that represent the Stations of the Cross and "Jesus is Laid in the Tomb". This is in the crypt of the Church. three chapels that illustrate the Deposition from the Cross, The Domodossola “Via Crucis” was given official the Holy Sepulchre and the Resurrection. The Friars also recognition by Pope Clement Xll on 3rd April, 1731 but promoted similar Ways at Verallo, Varese, and Orta as well when Napoleon arrived and the Cisalpine Republic was as at Domodossola. The Domodossola Way was advanced established, church property was sold or desecrated and by two Capuchin monks, Gioacchino Cassano and Andrea the Calvario gradually fell into disrepair. da Rho in 1656. The Bishop of Novara approved the plan, Father Antonio Rosmini (1797-1855), a major Catholic and the entire Ossola community enthusiastically took Italian philosopher, was invited to Domodossola by the it up, with donations of money and hours of labour. The wealthy Count Giovanni Mellerio. Rosmini was a key figure Bishop granted dispensation to work on “no work” days, in Italian Liberal Catholicism and in 1828 he established apart from some special feast days, and also granted 40 his “Istituto della Carità” in Domodossola for the Rosmini days indulgence to those who carried out the work. Fathers who were to pioneer the concept of social justice. The route would start at the edge of the town and Rosmini's activities started a spiritual revival around the wind its way upwards in a broad path to the old castle at Calvario. In 1835 the Rosminian Fathers built station five. the summit. The original plans included the building of a In 1900 station one was rebuilt after being accidentally monastery for the Capuchins but under Napoleon’s regime destroyed in an explosion and finally, in 1907 station three the Capuchins were expelled and there was no religious was built. All in all, the development of the stations took presence on the mountain until 1828 when the remarkable nearly 200 years to complete! Father Antonio Rosmini arrived. Meantime, the monastery In 1985 in order to spread more widely the enormous had had become a barracks and the chapel a gunpowder spiritual legacy of Fr. Rosmini, the Rosminian Centre Page 19 FAITH AND CULTURE of Spirituality was founded and still operates from the station nine is actually on top of number eight! building today. On 18th November, 2007 Antonio Rosmini In 2003 UNESCO recognised the Calvario as worthy of was beatified. inclusion in the World Heritage list…along with no fewer It is quite a walk up the mountain. The path is as wide as than six other Sacri Monti in the Piedmont region plus two a road and it’s amazing to see the stations, so large, and in neighbouring Lombardy. I would love to explore the each one totally different from the others. Station eight others...maybe one day? is actually under a building, and as you climb up you find A truly remarkable man who ushered in a new dawn for the Catholic church in Scotland The 16th June this year marked the 250th anniversary of the consecration of Bishop George Hay. His consecration in 1769 took place in Scalan, in secret because of the Penal Laws. Bishop George Hay is widely recognised as being responsible for the recovery of the Catholic Church in Scotland following the Reformation. In this two-part feature Alasdair Roberts and Ann Dean celebrate the life of this remarkable man.

BY ALASDAIR ROBERTS & ANN DEAN George Hay (Pontifical , Rome) eorge Hay was born in 1729, a hundred years (Glenlivet?) was a Catholic, and this led to instruction by a before Catholic Emancipation brought the Jesuit. George Hay was received into the Church of Rome at Penal Laws to an end in Britain and Ireland. the age of nineteen. He is known for having led Scotland’s Catholics Studies completed, the young man found himself barred from Gmost of the way. That should always be true, but this year practising medicine: no Catholic doctors under the Penal Laws. is special. Hay was consecrated as vicar apostolic He took a post as ship’s surgeon but paused in London. There (deputy bishop) of the Lowland District at the seminary of he came under the influence of Bishop , and Scalan in Glenlivet on Trinity Sunday 1769. In 2019 that with the approval of Bishop Smith in Edinburgh was accepted first Sunday after Pentecost fell on 16 June. This summer’s for the Scots College Rome. Scalan Pilgrimage Mass, celebrating 250 years, was better Two others preceded him. A day short of fifteen when he attended than ever. sailed, John Geddes had started Latin at seven and was brought Growing up in Edinburgh George Hay heard no good of to the required standard by the well-named John Godsman at ‘popery’, but his father was a non-juring Episcopalian Jacobite. Preshome near Buckie. William Guthrie who joined him there As a medical student when Prince Charles Edward brought was a convert who had been an apprentice joiner at Ellon. his Highlanders to town, George tended the wounded after Geddes took him to the ruined chapel of St Ninian’s in his Prestonpans. The sixteen-year-old then followed the Prince native Braes of Enzie. The contrast with Catholic Europe struck (and his professor as chief surgeon) to Derby and back. Having Guthrie vividly at Gibraltar: left the army he expected leniency for a non-combatant, but ‘As it is the first Catholic Church that I ever was in, I cannot spent fifteen months in custody at Edinburgh Castle and then express how much I was struck with amazement to see the Altars London. so finely adorned with most amiable Pictures, which I should Towards the end of that time George Hay began to be think might move a heart of stone and excite it to devotion. In a attracted to Catholicism by Thomas Meighan, a prison-visiting word I found now, to my sweet experience, as I have the pleasure bookseller in Drury Lane. Back in Scotland, staying at a of being an eye-witness, that the way the Catholic Church was relative’s house near Kilbride, he read Papist Misrepresented and represented to me, before I was a Catholic myself, was nothing Represented by John Gother. In spiritual crisis, Hay prayed for but raillery and aspersion.’ guidance. He found his fencing-master John Gordon ‘of Braes’ George Hay would have been similarly affected. This was a Page 20 FAITH AND CULTURE

them. Finally Hay, Geddes and Guthrie, newly ordained, left for Scotland in 1759. John Geddes was sent to the Cabrach, the ‘Siberia of Scotland’, while William Guthrie suffered even colder winters in Glenlivet. George Hay shared a room at Preshome with Bishop James Grant. Both men travelled to scattered Catholic communities – for Hay see Ann Dean’s article in the June 1998 Scalan News at www.scalan.net. ‘He rode a large “blue” horse, actually iron-grey. There is a description of him reaching Tullochallum, along with his servant John Cumming “on another horse and having behind him, on the saddle, a large leather valise.” Apart from vestments and mass-kit, the valise contained medicines. “The corn-kiln was usually fitted up on these occasions as a temporary chapel. An altar, hastily arranged, was erected at one end of the barn, a blanket serving the purpose of reredos, and another as a canopy over the altar.”’ There was work enough close to home, as shown by my ‘Catholics in Rathven, 1762’. The names and homes of 440 Easter communicants can be consulted at 18 King Street, Aberdeen, headquarters of North-east Scotland’s family history society. Hay set about restoring St Margaret of the Craigs near Preshome after it Ann Dean's delightful watercolour shows George Hay on his iron-grey horse had been destroyed by redcoat soldiers. On bringing the sacraments to one of Scotland's scattered Catholic communities one occasion there was a rush into hiding, until a member of the congregation was seen time when the Catholic Church in Scotland was at its lowest approaching in his new red waistcoat. Hay replaced the roof, ebb, with priests in short supply. At the Scots College Hay then moved to something better: ‘I have got my chapel now put and Geddes became soul-mates in religion. The classes which in good order; my altar is up, and pleases. The seats are to be put they attended with students of many nations were easy for in next week. The money I will raise through a cess on the seats.’ Coronation of the Virgin Mary Then, in 1954, Pius XII added, at the end of BY EILEEN CLARE GRANT the Octave of the Assumption, the Feast of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. “Be enthroned, Lady, for it is fitting that During the Middle Ages especially, the you should sit in an exalted place since you Assumption was a popular theme for artists who are a Queen and glorious above all kings” (St often combined it with her Coronation in Heaven. Germanus). One such artist was Enguerand Quarton, an inhabitant of Avignon in the south of France, who was commissioned rom the earliest ages of the Church, the Faithful by local priest Jean de Montagnac to paint an altar piece have addressed prayers of petition and hymns to be placed in the Carthusian church at Villeneuve-lès- of praise, veneration and love to the Queen of Avignon, on the altar of the Holy Trinity. It now lies in the Heaven. Although the dogma of the Assumption Musée there. The agreement stated that the panel should Fof the Blessed Virgin Mary was only officially defined be in place around September 1454, 500 years before the in 1950 by Pope Pius XII, we have evidence that belief promulgation of our Feast, and for this he was to be paid in the Assumption dates from at least the 4th century. the princely sum of 17 florins (gold) of Avignon. We are Later, St Gregory of Tours (d. 594) formulated the especially fortunate in that the original contract which still doctrine, and a feast commemorating the Assumption exists has a detailed inventory of what was to be included took place in the Holy land as early as the 5th century. in the painting, with Quarton being allowed a certain By the end of the 8th century, the Feast was being flexibility. observed throughout the West on the 15th of August. The upper section lies above a horizontal white cloud

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Enguerand Quarton, " The Coronation of the Virgin", 1452-53, Museum of Pierre-de-Luxembourg, Villeneuve-lès-Avignon running from side to side and depicts the Court of Heaven (Alexandria) and other Holy Virgins. in a deep blue sky, with the Holy Trinity crowning the On the left of the central figures, stands the Archangel Blessed Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven, as she kneels Michael, with his entourage of angels. Below is St John in obedience. The Father and the Son are identical, both the Baptist, along with prophets and patriarchs, including depicted as young, with the Dove of the Holy Spirit hovering Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Below them, with other Holy between them, the tips of his wings touching the lips of the Martyrs, stand St Stephen, Deacon of Jerusalem, and Father and Son, in a kiss symbolising the love that eternally St Laurence, Deacon of Rome. Below them we see the flows between them. Both have their right hands raised monastic founders: St Francis with the stigmata on his in blessing. All are clothed in sumptuous robes in vibrant hands, St Dominic on his right and St Bruno on his left. The colours of red, gold, silver and blue. All three Persons of the other has not been identified – perhaps St Benedict? Trinity have crosses in their haloes, a symbol of divinity in Behind them is St Antony Abbot. Mediaeval art. They are surrounded by flaming Seraphim The next level down finds the powerful rulers of this and Cherubim nestling in fluffy white clouds; by Apostles, world: a Pope (St Gregory?), an Emperor (Charlemagne?), Saints, Prophets and the Blessed. a Cardinal (St Pierre de Luxembourg?) and a King. Below On the right side, is the Archangel Gabriel bearing on them, on both sides, are the “ordinary elect” and below his sceptre the scroll of the Annunciation, above St Peter them kneel the slaughtered Holy Innocents. and St Paul with a group of Apostles, of whom St John is In the centre of the painting, linking Calvary and the world distinguished by his beautiful, beardless face. Below the to the Paradise above, stands the Cross of Christ on Mount Apostles are a group of Confessors, “namely St Gregory as Olivet, in Jerusalem, with a Carthusian monk kneeling Pope with two Cardinal saints, one old, the other young”, in prayer at the foot of the Cross. To the right is the Holy the latter possibly St Hugh the Carthusian. Below them Sepulchre, with the words Sepulcrum Domini inscribed are the three Maries, with Mary Magdalen recognisable upon it; there a bishop kneels in prayer. Pictured is part from her flowing blond hair; behind them are St Catherine of the city of Jerusalem, an image of the City of the World

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(from St Augustine’s famous vision), with the Temple and two demons. At their feet, a crowd of the damned are forced the tomb of the Blessed Virgin, an angel sitting on the tomb into the eternal flames of the “well of the abyss”. A grotesque and saying: Assumpta est Maria, “Mary the Virgin is taken demon seizes a man’s legs to drag him from behind the up into the heavenly chamber, in which the King of kings rocks beneath Calvary. The gigantic figure of Beelzebub sits upon His starry throne” (Chant for the Assumption). A presides in the centre and, perhaps as an indication of tiny devil perches on one of the towers. certain opinions at the time, Popes and Cardinals appear to On the left is the city of Rome (the City of God), depicting be among the damned. the Basilica of St Peter’s and Castel Sant’Angelo. A stork In Purgatory, on the right, we glimpse an Abbot, a King, (symbol of the Annunciation) nests on a tower in the a Cardinal and two Popes. An angel is guiding the purified city wall. On the far left, we can see inside the Church of soul of a Pope out of Purgatory en route for Heaven, and all the Holy Cross of Jerusalem, where Pope St Gregory is the angels rejoice, while the demons show “great sadness”! depicted celebrating Mass just as a vision of Christ as the We glimpse other happy souls being guided by angels into Man of Sorrows has appeared on the altar in front of him, Paradise and our gaze is raised back up towards the Holy in response to his prayers for a sign to convince a doubter Trinity crowning the Blessed Virgin Mary. Such a painting of the doctrine of transubstantiation. This was a popular would have been the focus for great devotion from the story in the Middle Ages. Outside the church is an image Faithful. of Moses and the Burning Bush – with his shoes removed. On the lowest level are revealed Purgatory, on the left, O God, who made the Mother of your Son and Hell on the right; the flames of Purgatory are paler than to be our Mother and our Queen, those of Hell. In the latter, doomed sinners are subjected graciously grant that, to all manner of ghastly tortures by demons: a blasphemer sustained by her intercession, has his tongue torn out while another demon stokes a fire, we may attain in the heavenly kingdom perhaps for burning the tongues thus removed; another the glory promised to your children. unfortunate, possibly a suicide, is being strangled; two Through our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen. (Collect for the others, perhaps gluttons, sit at table, being “attended” by Queenship of Mary)

We meet many members of this part of Scotland’s notable recusant Catholic families, including the Leslies, the Gordons and the Frasers, then later, the Hays and the Ogilvie-Forbes. In other chapters, we encounter members of the clergy, some Northern Catholic of whom risked their lives to preserve the Old Faith in hostile History Notes penal times, especially at Scalan, the secret seminary in the Authors: Alasdair Braes of Glenlivet. Notables here include Bishop George Hay Roberts & Ann Dean and Abbé Paul Macpherson. After Catholic Emancipation, we’re Paperback: 73 pages told, 3 churches were built here by the latter in a 7-mile area and, Publisher: Light of the such were the numbers of attentive Catholics, that many had to North (25th May, 2019 stand throughout. ISBN-10: 1099437911 Another chapter tells of the coming of the Benedictines to ISBN-13: 978-1099437915 Fort Augustus. Alasdair writes of the numerous communities List Price: £6.80 of friars who had houses in Aberdeen, most of which were Amazon ransacked and destroyed by “reforming” mobs. But we hear also of the lay faithful, from Isobel Grant of Chapeltown, with her “tales”, and the Moran sisters of the “Cathedral Close” in BY EILEEN CLARE GRANT Aberdeen. And no collection about Catholic people and priests his little book is a compilation of 21 articles, written in our diocese would be complete without a story about Priest over a number of years by Alasdair for the Aberdeen Gordon of St Peter’s, Aberdeen, a man much admired and TDiocesan magazine, Light of the North, and beautifully respected by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. His passing, illustrated by Ann. They cover, in suitably “bite-sized” essays, Alasdair writes, “was marked by the city”. His funeral cortège was a wide range of topics, historical and biographical, ranging followed by a long procession of mourners, including the Lord throughout this most northerly diocese of Britain, from Provost and several magistrates, escorted by soldiers of the 19th Knoydart in the West, to Aberdeen in the East, and Shetland Highlanders. So many accompanied him on this final journey in the far North, the “Arctic Mission”. In these pages, we that they were still leaving the church in the centre of town encounter a variety of characters (in both senses of the word), when the coffin arrived at the Snow Kirkyard in Old Aberdeen. from “soldiers of fortune” – many recusant Catholics were Alasdair and Ann have done a great service for the Catholics forced to seek employment abroad where they could practise of our diocese, in highlighting the heritage we have of the their faith while earning a living – to heroic and hard-working courage, perseverance, compassion and, above all, faith, of our priests who built churches, gave aid to the poor and needy, forebears. and nurtured the faith of those who remained loyal to the Faith, in the towns and in the desolate scattered communities Northern Catholic History Notes is available from Amazon or of the Highlands. from the Light of the North ([email protected]).

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prayer group so that they might receive (and wear) the lace head In search of women covering which, before Vatican II, was so common. Anyone who has attended Mass in a parish where boys and BY SR JANET FEARNS FMDM girls are allowed to act as altar servers will know that both can be exemplary. Girls, however, often add a dignity and focus which fun-loving boys sometimes overlook. Eight-year old Lucy, for am not the first to draw attention to the hidden example, adds a unique flavour, frequently as a self-appointed women in the Church. For a start, in today’s Morning directress of her companions in the sanctuary. To the quiet Prayer in the breviary, several intercessions prayed for amusement of her parish priest, she once solemnly thanked and men and all concluded with the response, “Lord, we congratulated him for his homily in which, she declared, he gave Iare your brothers”. As frequently happens, the concluding her “a whole new outlook on the sacrament of reconciliation”. prayer was also on behalf of men. Where were the women? Some more traditional Catholics attempt to bar young girls There is a sense in which the words “men” and “brothers” from serving on the altar whilst others uphold the practice, are generic and are meant to include the fair sex, but there claiming it as a route for future Catholic mothers to encourage are also occasions when those two words stick in the female their sons towards the priesthood. Heaven help us! Is the Church throat. Heading out early to work and praying before my only about men and the priesthood? Is there not a value for the community gathered in the chapel, “Lord, we are your girls themselves as they actively participate in the Mass and have brothers” appeared as a highly inaccurate declaration for an opportunity to reflect on what they are doing? me personally and for everyone else in the house – and History and scripture seems to indicate that, in the early many other women in the Church would feel likewise. Church, men and women frequently had an equal status. Yet It is not unusual for up to five of the six intercessory prayers it has taken two thousand years and Pope Francis to officially at Morning and Evening Prayer to be on behalf of men. Their recognise that St Mary Magdalene, the “Apostle to the Apostles” responses are also often masculine. Is it any wonder that, should be on a par with “the Twelve”. Whereas many parishes however messy the result, many communities in this country are equally welcoming of boys of Sisters look for more inclusive language? May God preserve us and girls as altar servers, the reactions of a few Sometimes the Church must go in search of from“ future priests who are so are perhaps reminiscent of the centuries-old women. weak-willed that they require approach to Mary Magdalene and needed to A few years ago the Phoenix Archdiocese a predominantly masculine change. in America, after banning young girls from environment in order to become On one occasion and purely out of curiosity serving at Mass, reported an increase in the good priests, able to inspire and (not in this country), I asked the chairman number of men applying to train for the serve our Church! of a local parish council why there were no priesthood. The implication is frightening: women readers or Eucharistic ministers in some boys are so easily distracted by the sight of a girl on the the parish. By contrast, the choir was predominantly female. altar that any hope of a celibate vocation becomes almost non- The man nodded sagely. “It is because the women might be existent. May God preserve us from future priests who are having their period”, he said. How would he or his parish priest so weak-willed that they require a predominantly masculine have reacted had I suggested that, as Our Lady, Mary Magdalene environment in order to become good priests, able to inspire and several other women gathered around the cross of Jesus, it and serve our Church! was entirely likely that at least one of them might have been Incidentally, Andrea Diaz, the Phoenix cathedral’s Director menstruating? Might they, perhaps have brought a very private, of Faith Formation positively purred with joy as she described but also very typical aspect of womanhood into a pivotal event the “new opportunities for girls”. They can, for instance, help of salvation history? Real women gathered on Calvary. Real out as sacristans and join “a special prayer group for young women receive and treasure the Eucharist. girls” in which each new member is given a mantilla to wear Some years ago, I attended an international media conference to Mass. Perhaps there is a difference between Britain and the in Rome. Delegates – nearly all men – elected new committees United States: few girls in this country would volunteer to join a to represent and promote Catholic media in each continent.

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Because of extensive canvassing (often simply a case of blatant role of women in both society and the Church. Equality should self-promotion) to the election, the new committee for mean complementarity: men and women have different gifts Africa consisted of five men, of whom four were priests and which can highlight and nurture the beauty within each other. one was an ex-religious. At the end of the session, the new Why is it that, even in the Church, it is so often a “man’s chairperson stepped forward and addressed the gathering of world”? The English language offers the alternatives of “he”, several hundred people. “We believe in gender equality in the “she” or “it” and “it” is a very unsatisfactory solution when Church”, he said. “As you can see, we are all men around this talking about people. Strides have been made in recent past table. Could one of the women present please start a hymn for to limit the number of times we talk about “men’s” needs as us all to sing?” Some “gender equality”! opposed to those of humanity. Gradually, there are references to Suggesting that the Church could look at some of its language “men and women” in our liturgy. Many parishes celebrate their and attitudes to women is far from adopting a feminist agenda. altar girls and their female readers and Eucharistic ministers Sometimes feminists have lost sight of the word “feminine”, a – but some do not. Is it not time that women’s place in the considerably gentler and more accurate understanding of the Church is no longer innovative and controversial?

A Feather on the breath of God: St Hildegard of Bingen

BY DR SHELAGH NODEN the increased range of her melodies which frequently use a n 2012 Pope Benedict XVI raised a twelfth century wider range of notes than was usual at the time, perhaps to German nun, Hildegard of Bingen, to the status suit the singers she had at her disposal. While most of her of Doctor of the Church. This remarkable woman compositions consisted of the usual liturgical forms such was known as a writer, philosopher, theologian, as hymns, antiphons, sequences and responsories, she Ivisionary, healer, poet and Christian mystic, but it is as widened these structures to include variation rather than a musician that she will be considered here. mere repetition. She encouraged her nuns to learn to play Born in 1098, Hildegard entered the religious life in 1112 musical instruments and accompany their singing; she also at the Benedictine Abbey of Disibodenberg, of which allowed them to wear wreaths of flowers in their long hair! she later became prioress before founding two further In her music she was careful to choose appropriate modes, communities at Rupertsberg and Eibingen. As a young or scales, to express the meaning of the text. She claimed nun she would have learned the various chants of the that her inspiration was ‘celestial harmony’ and believed Mass and Office, but it was only after she became Prioress strongly that ‘the whole world is filled with music and every that she began to write her own music. Seventy seven of creature has its tone.’ her compositions have survived, written down in a large Perhaps her most significant surviving composition is a beautifully illuminated manuscript. As one would expect, piece of music theatre called Ordo Virtutum which portrays they were rooted in the Gregorian chant she knew so well, the eternal struggle between good and evil. The characters and it is known that several of them were performed in in the drama represent the Virtues and the Soul, and the Paris, which was at that time the centre of European church Devil also appears, but unlike the others who sing their parts music. Hildegard was also an accomplished poet, and he merely shouts. An effective piece of characterisation! several of her compositions are settings of her own verses. Hildegard also designed the costumes and the staging for Modestly she claimed that her music was just the sounds the production, and the parts were played by members of she heard in ‘her inner ear’ but scholars have commented on her community. Page 25 FAITH AND CULTURE After her death in 1179, there is no record of any of led to a revival of interest in Hildegard’s music. In 2017 the Hildegard’s music being performed until 1857 when her mediaeval music specialist group, Sequentia, recorded her hymn to Our Lady, O virga ac diadema, was revived by the complete output on 9 CDs. They were careful to recreate her then parish priest of Eibingen, Fr Ludwig Schneider. In 1933 style as exactly as possible, but in 2001 a Swedish folk-rock the Benedictines of Solesmes created the Messe de Sainte band produced an album, ‘Hildegard von Bingen’, which Hildegarde, starting with a surviving Kyrie by Hildegard presented a distinctly modern version of her medieval and adapting some of her existing chants to set the other songs, using electronic instruments and sequencers. parts of the Mass. For example, the Sanctus is based on her The last word should go to Hildegard herself. When Ave Maria, and the Gloria on a responsory O magne Deus an argument with the prelates of Mainz resulted in her (originally O magne Pater). It has been suggested that this convent being forbidden to sing the Office, she responded Mass could be used liturgically, and it would certainly be furiously: possible. The nuns at Hildegard’s abbey in Eibingen today Those who without just cause, impose silence on a church use her music in their liturgy, as it would have been sung in and prohibit the singing of God’s praises, and those who the composer’s time. have on earth unjustly despoiled God of his honour and In 1981 some of Hildegard’s music was recorded by glory will lose their place among the chorus of angels unless the soprano, Dame Emma Kirkby. The CD is entitled ‘A they have amended their lives through true penitence and Feather on the breath of God’, which is how Hildegard once humble restitution. described herself. The recording was hugely successful and Not a lady to be trifled with!

ELLEN For our younger readers

Ellen was a lonely girl. It wasn’t as if the other girls at school ignored her, it was just that she didn’t seem to try to make friends. One day she was sitting in the playground on her own eating her packed lunch when a shadow fell over her. An older boy said “Hello”. “Hello”, she muttered back, wishing he would go away. “I want to give you something that will make you feel really happy!” Ellen’s stomach turned over! Her mum and dad had warned her about drugs and alcohol. And here was someone, inside the school, offering something to her. “N-n-no thanks” she whispered, looking down at her shoes. In her mind she was wishing he would go away, Go Away, GO AWAY! “It’s not what you think!” he said. “Please just go away!” she repeated. A tear ran down her cheek. “It’s..., it’s just a book!” the boy said. He sounded really worried that she was crying. “A - a book”? Echoed Ellen, puzzled and relieved. “I’ll just give it to you and go...” said the boy, embarrassed. She took a small book, really a pamphlet, and he was gone. She stuck it in her bag and went back to her afternoon classes. Later, when she got home, she opened her bag to sort out her homework and the book fell out. She picked it up and looked at the cover. “The Gospel according to St. John.” She made a scornful face (that she’d carefully copied from some of her “cool” classmates) and threw it onto her bed. Later that night she found she couldn’t sleep. She put on her bedside light and found the book. Absent-mindedly she flicked it open and read: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. And later; “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” She looked at her bedside lamp. She thought about light and darkness. She thought about her loneliness. And she began to read the rest of the book. Kevin O'Carroll

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through the air like a karate chop. There is a simple explanation: the student who has answered correctly has On a Wing and a Prayer helped to "cut the cord with of ignorance". Some teenagers Father Peter Barry practise their break- dancing in the temple grounds, "moon- stepping" to pop music. Monks in saffron robes and Suree Tingsomboon - her story begging bowls glide silently among us. uree Tingsomboon died in July 2018, at the age of Nearby some school 52. Her life was a life of great suffering. As a children are doing child she contracted polio, and walked with a a project. Each has pronounced limp. Her right hand was shaped like to find a “farang”, a Sa claw. This is her story. foreigner, and write an English essay based On a visit to Thailand, in 1980, I was watching birds in on the visitor’s name, Tik's graduation day the leafy suburbs of the Grand Palace. Into my binoculars address, family, hobbies, profession, etc. flew species with astonishing names and plumages: greater A tiny girl approaches me, paper and pencil at the ready. racket-tailed drongo, with tail extensions that looked like My responses will be written as an essay. Her name is tennis rackets straight from "centre court"; tiny scarlet-backed Suree Tingsomboon. All the youngsters in Thailand have sunbirds sipped nectar from the temple flowers. monosyllabic nicknames: her name is Tik. At the temple of the Emerald Buddha, I listen as a group When I return to Aberdeen, she sends me an envelope of monks chant their scriptures. The sound is hypnotic and containing a copy of her essay, and her school report-card. beautiful. Nearby a Buddhist master is teaching his pupils. I scan the list of subjects, and see she has scored an "A" for They sit in a tight circle, and answer his questions as best they all of them. She explains that she has been offered a place in can. From time to time the master will raise his hand and bring university, but the family are impoverished. Her brother is in it down with a chopping motion. Swift and sure, it cleaves prison after a motor-cycle death, her father is an alcoholic, her mother sweeps floors. The parishioners at Kincorth hear the story and are willing to help fund her education. When I explain the deformity in her hand, we agree to fund an operation to un-claw her wrist. I made several visits over the years, to check on each step of the project. Tik would meet me at the airport with a huge smile, dragging her leg and excited to see her sponsor. In 1990 I visited her home and met her mother and a niece called Aa, who sat quietly in a corner, studying a textbook on economics. From her own salary Tik was trying to fund her education. I decided there and then to help. That particular project took five years, and now Aa works as an accountant in Thai Farmers Bank. After Tik graduated, her father came home one night with a 62 year-old man who was willing to marry her. She wrote in desperation. At the age of 22, with a good degree but no work, how could this be avoided. The parishioners agree to fund a Master’s Degree, followed by a Teacher Training Certificate. Ten years after the project began, she is elected as Professor of Archaeology and Linguistics at Bangkok University. Sadly, Tik contracted lung cancer in 2018, underwent chemotherapy at the expense of her university, and died peacefully on 16th July, 2018 at the age of 52. May she rest in “A tiny girl approaches me, paper and pencil at the ready.” peace. May the angels lead her into paradise. (Illustration by Jane Barry)

Page 27 FAITH AND CULTURE Tridentine Mass Society because it only recognises that rite. In fact, the 1974 Mass is said in Latin quite often, Thinking even sometimes by me?! The Preface to the Roman Missal points out that the Fathers at Trent did not have the out loud same research resources as today and were concerned to counter the Protestant revolution by imposing uniformity. The Tridentine Mass was imposed to the detriment of other rites such as Sarum, exempting the Dominican rite (Pope St. Pius V was a Dominican). Another grump is the trend to "santo subito". Quite a few of my acquaintances share my unease at the undue haste to canonise recent Popes. Surely a decent interval should elapse after death, say 50 years, to allow the Devil's Advocate to prepare his case, to unearth any feet of clay. ln my opinion canonisation should spurn popular acclaim or nationalistic fervour. This is an age when offence is taken easily. 0ne has to choose words wisely when being grumpy. ln a recent interview a Singaporean priest working in Essex expressed his dismay at the trivialities which caused offence. The BY CANON ALISTAIR M. DOYLE length of homily, his accent, his command of English. This taking offence is not new. In my first parish I remember a here is no point in being a Grumpy Old Man Colonel Blimp complaining of my accent. Since l had only unless there is something to be grumpy about recently overcome a very bad stammer, he was lucky l and someone to listen to the grumps. Since my could speak at all. life at present is somewhat solitary, the only The Editor has been warned that if he publishes Tone who listens is the Lord. My role models are Jonah my grumps he can expect e-mails from "disgusted of who grumped about his planned three day mission Downton" and "Offended of Overton”. At least the Lord being completed in one day and the Psalmist who is understands. As an American evangelist put it "If the always grumping: "How long will You be angry with Church was perfect, would you be allowed to join?" us? or “When l am old and grey will You abandon me?” Being grumpy is not confined to older people. When madness seemed to infect some clergy and religious in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen 1960s and 70s, there was plenty of scope to be grumpy. Iconoclastic priests who smashed marble altar rails and Aberdeen Diocesan Choir consigned statues to skips and female religious who went overboard in trying to be fashionable. l remember missing Singers of all denominations are most my escort to a Convent at Dublin airport and asking a welcome (especially Tenors and Basses!) policeman if he had seen a nun in a mini (the car) and his The ability to read music is not essential reply "You don’t know what they will wear these days!" Thank God the charismatics have learned humility since We specialise in the singing of those days. No longer am l asked if l have been baptised AberdeenSacred Music for Diocesan events in the Spirit or can speak in tongues. A Dominican acquaintance at that time did his doctoral thesis on the gift of tongues and concluded that it was often a regression to infancy. St. Paul in 1 Corinthians seems to agree. Diocesan Choir The other day I picked up a magazine of the Latin Mass Please come along to rehearsals Society and what l read made me choke on my Campari. A Tuesday evenings 7.30pm claim to be the only guardians of the true Faith. This is to 1/4 Page impugn the faith of the rest of the faithful and ignores the Main Hall development of doctrine as so eloquently put by Newman St Mary’s RC Cathedral in his Essay on the Development of Doctrine. "If Christianity Huntly Street be a universal religion it cannot but vary in its dealings Aberdeen, AB10 1SH round the world, that is, to develop." Pope Francis has said the Church is not a museum but a living organism. Besides that, the Latin Mass Society should be called the For further information contact [email protected] www.aberdeendiocesanchoir.com

Page 28 FAITH AND CULTURE

Food and Faith with Margaret Bradley

The Diocese of Aberdeen is home to Catholics from all over the world. Leo Osugo, a parishioner at St Mary’s Cathedral in Aberdeen, who comes from Nigeria, shares a favourite recipe from his home country, Jollof Rice.

ollof Rice is said to have originated in the Senegambia region of West Africa among the Wolof people, where it is known as benachin. The recipe for this mouth-watering meal has travelled throughoutJ the sub-region because of the frequent cultural exchange that goes on there. As such, it has evolved into several regional varieties, laced with the heritage of the place where it is prepared. This celebration dish is relished all over Africa, though in Senegal and Gambia the dish is referred to in Wolof as 'ceebu jën' or 'benachin' and in French-speaking areas, it is called 'riz au gras'. It is a firm favourite at weddings, graduations, birthdays or for Sunday lunch; in fact anywhere that people or families gather together to celebrate a special occasion. The reddish one-pot dish is prepared with rice and Jollof Rice, a firm favourite among the African nations tomato sauce with alternative ingredients that slightly vary [Cloris098 - Wikimedia Commons] by country. This variation in recipes is perhaps the root cause of the The main ingredients are always the same: long grain fierce debate, known as the 'Jollof Wars', as to which nation rice, tomatoes, onion, salt and pepper. To these can be makes the best Jollof Rice! The debate doesn't only find an added any type of meat, fish or simply mixed vegetables. audience amongst rice lovers or food bloggers, but even The spicy flavour comes from the addition of a blend of politicians, business tycoons and celebrities have been chilli, nutmeg, ginger, pepper and cumin. Sometimes fried unable to resist entering the fray! plantain can be used to garnish the dish when served.

Jollof Rice set aside. Fry together the onion, tomato and ground pepper. Add the meat, smoked fish, dried shrimps and the spices - 3 Cups long grain rice chilli, nutmeg, ginger and cumin. Then add the rice. Stir 8 Pieces of beef thoroughly and add a cup of water and salt to taste. Simmer 1 Medium smoked fish for 35 minutes or until the rice and meat are cooked, adding 1 Cup dried shrimps a little more water if required. Add the shredded spinach or 1 Onion chopped pumpkin leaves. Cook for another five minutes. Remove from 4 medium tomatoes chopped the heat and serve. Garnish with fried plantain. Fresh ground pepper Small bunch of chopped spinach or pumpkin leaves Spices – chilli, nutmeg, ginger, cumin. Salt to taste.

Add the rice to three cups of boiling water and cook for ten minutes. Remove from the heat and strain. Wash the rice and

Page 29 HUMOUR

An old preacher was dying. He sent a message for his doctor and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. When they arrived, they were ushered Humour from up to his bedroom. As they entered the room the preacher held out his hands and motioned for them to sit, one on each side of his bed. The preacher the Vestry grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling. For a time, no one said anything. Both the doctor “There is nothing like a gleam of humour to reassure and lawyer were touched and flattered that the you that a fellow human being is ticking inside a strange preacher would ask them to be with him during face.” - Eva Hoffman his final moments. They were also puzzled; the preacher had never given them any indication that Rib Tickle he particularly liked either of them. They both At Sunday School they were learning how God created remembered his many long, uncomfortable sermons everything, including human beings. Johnny was especially about greed, covetousness and avaricious behavior intent when the teacher told him how Eve was created out that made them squirm in their seats. Finally, the doctor said, "Preacher, why did you of one of Adam's ribs. ask us to come?" The old preacher mustered up his Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as strength, then said weakly, "Jesus died between two though he were ill, and said, "Johnny, what is the matter?" thieves; and that's how I want to go." Johnny responded, "I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife." Blooper in a Church Bulletin "The church had a going-away party for It's only Dad! Pastor ______. The congregation was Two boys were walking anxious to give him a little momentum." home from church after hearing a strong preaching Comical Potpourri on the devil. One said to the Wear short sleeves. Support your right to bare arms! other, "What do you think If you can't see the bright side of life, polish the dull about all this Satan stuff?" side. The other boy replied, "Well, We live in an age where pizza gets to your home before you know how Santa Claus the police. turned out. It's probably just A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory. your dad" It is not my fault that I never learned to accept responsibility! Dad's a Sissy When it comes to thought, some people stop at nothing. One summer evening during a violent thunderstorm a Don’t wake up mum! There are at least seven species mother was tucking her small boy into bed. She was about who eat their young. Your mum may be one of them! to turn off the light when he asked with a tremor in his That awkward moment when you tell a chemistry joke voice, "Mummy, will you sleep with me tonight?" and you get no reaction. The mother smiled and gave him a reassuring hug. "I can't, “Will Glass Coffins be a success?” he asked. dear," she said. "I have to sleep in Daddy's room." “Remains to be seen.” A long silence was broken at last by his shaky little voice: “I can’t remember how to write 51, 6 and 500 in Roman "The big sissy." numerals. “I’m LIVID.” The statistics leave no room for doubt: Sluggish Response A boy asks his father, "Dad, are slugs good to Don't go anywhere by road - road travel causes 20% of fatal eat?" accidents. "Don't talk about things like that over Don't stay in the house - 17% of all fatalities take place in dinner," the dad replies. After dinner the the home. father asks, "Now, son, what did you want to Don't travel by air or by train, either - they are responsible ask me?" "Oh, nothing," the boy says. "There for 16% of accidents. was a slug in your salad, but now it’s gone." Don't stay in bed - 14% of people die in their beds. Don't cross the road - 16% of accidents involve pedestrians. Talk About Getting Your Money's Worth! A mere 0.001% of accidents happen in churches... A man and his young son went to Mass, and when ... so don't hesitate to go to Mass! they came out the father was complaining that the Mass took too long and the singing was off-key. Q: What vegetables do librarians like? Finally the little boy said, "Daddy, I thought it was A: Quiet peas. pretty good for 20p."

Page 30 CROSSWORD

This issue’s competition winner will Answers to Crossword No. 40 receive a copy of Northern Catholic History Notes, a collection of articles, first published Across: 8 Ritual, 9 Urn, 10 Urge, 11 Intercedes, in the Light of the North, written by Alasdair 12 Pool, 13 Gehazi, 16 Wanderer, 17 Recount, 18 Roberts and illustrated by Ann Dean. Just Incense, 22 Separate, 25 Potter, 26 Body, 27 send your completed entry by the 1st Overthrown, 30 Kiss, 31 Net, 32 Locust. WORD November to: Light of the North, 20 Huntly Down: 1 Lion, 2 Jude, 3 Election, 4 Sundown, No.41 Street, Aberdeen AB10 1SH. First correct 5 Unison, 6 Supplement, 7 Ignore, 14 Eye, 15 entry drawn out of the hat is the winner. Apocalypse, 19 Naphtali, 20 See, 21 Repents, 23 Elohim, 24 Adorns, 28 Raca, 29 Wash.

Little Horror Sudoku No. 28

If you prefer sudoku to crosswords then you still have a chance to be a prize winner with our super tough sudoku puzzle.

Name ...... Address ...... Telephone ......

Across 29 Athalia’s cry (7) 1 Desperation; Down Praised (anag) (7) 1 Rely on (6) 5 God, doing this 2 Tail-ender (9) on day 7 (7) 3 Be in harmony (5) 9 More refined (5) 4 Not wicked (9) Name ...... 10 One of Paul’s letters (9) 5 Reigned (5) 11 Uncared for (9) 6 Contented (9) Address ...... 12 Encamp against city (5) 7 Picture (5) ...... 13 Charitable giving (4) 8 Good news (6) Telephone ...... 15 Consecrated (8) 14 The first, first-aider? (9) 18 Abraham received 16 Fradulent (9) these (8) 17 Slain by Moses (9) Congratulations to our last competition winner, 19 Jesus raised in 3 (4) 20 They get the hump (6) Jane Coll from Thurso. 22 Colour found 21 Parentless (6) only in Ezekiel (5) 23 Prickly shrub (5) 24 Someone who 24 300 bought ointment shields (9) to anoint Jesus (5) 26 Continuance of life (9) 25 Keen-sighted 27 Grind together (5) bird of prey (5) 28 Unusual (7)

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