CANONISATION Special tribute: Mammoth celebrations ST JOHN PAUL II task for SCOT, for John Paul press advisor 81, to visit Academy. offers insight. monastery in Pages 4-5 Page 11 China. Page 8 No 5568 VISIT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER ONLINE AT WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK Friday May 9 2014 | £1 On song for the Commonwealth Games I St Anne’s Primary and East End pupils join Vaccines star and Celtic player for launch in Glasgow By Daniel Harkins CHILDREN from across the East End of Glasgow came to St Anne’s Primary last week to launch a song for the Commonwealth Games alongside famous musicians and a Celtic FC star. Helped by Freddie Cowan, lead guitarist from The Vaccines, the Glasgow pupils performed their song Let the Games Begin in front of national media and special guests, including Celtic foot- baller Adam Matthews, whose club assisted in the recording of the song (right). Let the Games Begin is being released to raise money for UNICEF, with 76p from each sale going to the children’s charity. The idea for the song came from a conversation between St Anne’s teachers and The Vaccines gui- tarist Mr Cowan, who has been involved with the school since inviting pupils to London to perform an anti-sectarianism song they had made. Inspired by the Commonwealth Games, they set to work recording the single, assisted by local songwriter Jonathan Carr—who worked on St Anne’s anti- PIC: PAUL McSHERRY sectarianism song—pupils from schools in the St Mungo’s Learning Community, and supporting do anything if you the have the right application. both 11, said that Mr Cowan was very caring and absolutely sensational. It is a moment in all the organisations including Celtic FC and UNICEF. “It’s an amazing, inspirational experience for the had done a lot for the school and that it is hard to children’s lives that they will absolutely never for- Going under the name East40, the pupils have pupils and it is a great song,” the guitarist said. “All describe how good it felt to have such an amazing get. I can already see them growing in self-confi- now released the single on iTunes and hope to see music is like a snapshot in time and that is the case opportunity. “It has made me really confident,” dence. They are really enjoying all of this.” it race up the charts. here. Obviously it stands up on its own but it is added Skye, a 10-year-old member of the choir. Speaking to the SCO, Mr Cowan said that for really a snapshot for the Commonwealth Games.” Jonathan Carr, who wrote the song and plays I Let the Games Begin is now available on iTunes him it doesn’t really matter where the song charts. The song features powerful vocals from preco- piano on it, said he got involved to try and inspire with 76p of the £1.29 download going to UNICEF “For me it’s really about what the children get cious talents Jamie Leigh Smith, 16, and Abigail the children. “Growing up in a similar school envi- to help change children’s lives in Scotland and from the experience and the message it gives out,” Clark, 14, both pupils at St Mungo’s Academy. ronment I know that if I was a young child and I around the world he said. “I remember when I was seven years old “I don’t even know what to say; I’m blown away was able to get involved in something like this it seeing a guitarist at the school assembly. I didn’t by it all,” Jamie Leigh said, with Abigail adding that would have a great impression on me. If it can I [email protected] know it at the time but it put me on a path. I’m not it was amazing working with a pop star. Both girls inspire children to get involved with music or the saying everyone here is going to do music but if are backed on the single by children of different arts then it is worth it. They can do absolutely any- you want to do something it is possible. Music is ages from schools across Glasgow’s East End. thing they want to do if they put their mind to it. really important for children’s education, their per- Laiha, 11, from St Denis’, Dennistoun, said her par- This is just the beginning.” sonalities, everything.” ents didn’t believe her when she told them she A number of headteachers and staff from the Mr Cowan also praised St Anne’s headteacher would be singing with a famous musician. Heidi, 9, schools involved attended the song’s launch and Louise Hamilton as an ‘incredible woman who said it felt great to be raising money for charity. were full of praise for their pupils. Mrs Hamilton, puts everything into her school’ and said the song Reuben, 10, said the experience was amazing and headteacher at St Anne’s, said all the children were proves that we are living in a world where you can really fun while fellow singers Drew and Murron, wonderful singers. “Abigail and Jamie Leigh are SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 I e-mail [email protected] “We don’t want any more Rev/Sr/Mr/Mrs/Miss................................................... orphans – enough Address: ................................................................... ....................................Postcode: ................................. wounded, enough trauma, I enclose !£100 !£50 !£25 !Other £.......... enough kidnappings,” to help the Middle East’s suffering Christians. Syria’s Patriarch Gregorios Please send me information about gift aiding my III said. ACN is working donation and/or setting up a Standing Order ! with Sisters, priests and I enclose a cheque to Aid to the Church in Need bishops to bring healing OR please debit my VISA/MasterCard/Amex/Maestro help to children from __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ across Syria. Expiry Date: ......./........ Valid From Date: ......./....... Please help them Signature strip code (last block of digits): __ __ __( __ ) to keep hope. Issue No: ...... (Maestro) Signature: .................................. Syria’s ! I do not wish to receive information about Aid to the Church in Need . Aid to the Church in Need A registered charity in Scotland (SC040748) Children of Hope 12-14 Benhill Avenue, Sutton, Surrey SM1 4DA ME14AB/SCA "020 8642 8668 www.acnuk.org [email protected] ACN Office in Scotland: Office 2.9, Dalziel Building,7 Scott Street, Motherwell, ML1 1PN."01698 337470 2 WHAT’S ON SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER FRIDAY MAY 9 2014 Bishop Keenan talks to youth at St Joseph’s, Clarkston, after Mass BISHOP John Keenan visited a working in the community and at St youth group in St Joseph’s, Ninian’s High School, Giffnock, Clarkston, last Sunday where he throughout the year. said Mass and spoke to young An average of 50 young people people about the lessons of in school years S3-S6 have been Christ. attending the group over the last The bishop celebrated the eight months. evening youth Mass to a full Rachael and Seanan from the Church and spoke about the differ- team spoke very personally at the ence it makes when we follow event about some things that had Jesus. happened in their lives that were St Joseph’s youth group has difficult and sad, but also spoke of recently been established by the how God was working. parish NET Team after six young This was followed by a question people from NET Ministries Ireland and answer session with Bishop began serving the parish in Septem- Keenan which the young catholics ber, living in the parish house and present played an active role in. Bishop Toal blesses new altar in Glenfinnan PARISHIONERS at St A total of £19,000 was spent Glenfinnan and the surrounding Fr Tony Wood, parish priest, Mary’s and St Finnan’s, on the altar after £300,000 in areas turned out for the occa- said it was a very good evening. Glenfinnan, welcomed total was raised for renovations sion at which Bishop Toal, “A lot of people said what a Bishop Joseph Toal of the to the historic church, located recently appointed Bishop of beautiful liturgy we had and it Argyle and Isles to their near to where Bonnie Prince Motherwell, spoke of the was nice to see the bishop just church last week as he Charlie stayed prior to raising importance of the symbol of the after his impending move was blessed their new alter built his standard at the beginning of alter as a focus of the living announced, so everyone wished thanks to successful the 1745 Jacobite Rising. presence of Christ in the him well for that,” he said. fundraising efforts. A number of people from Church. PIC: ANTHONY MacMILLAN Day for Our Lady What’s On at Carfin Grotto A weekly guide to upcoming Church events, OUR Lady of Fatima Scotland more online at www.sconews.co.uk will welcome Bishop Joseph Toal to Carfin Grotto for what will be one of his first appear- FRIDAY MAY 9 and then have a picnic lunch. ances in the diocese since his I Family Ceilidh. Enjoy a Stout shoes or boots, raingear appointment as Bishop of Moth- family oriented ceilidh and and a packed lunch are recom- erwell. buffet. Raffle on the night. mended. Children must be The bishop will celebrate a Tickets cost £6. Sacred Heart accompanied by an adult. 10am Mass on May 13 in a spe- Hall, Lauriston cial ‘Day with Our Lady’ event.