Lourdes Pilgrimages to Go Ahead
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Hats off to BISHOP EMERITUS DEVINE for POPE FRANCIS says he wants bishops to special gifts given to staff and pupils be true pastors of the people and outlines of St Leonard’s Primary School in the qualities that mark out the best East Kilbride. Pag e 5 candidates for the episcopacy. Pag e 9 No 5524 YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLICwww.sconews.co.uk NEWSPAPER SUPPORTS THE YEAR OF FAITH Friday June 28 2013 | £1 Archbishop Tartaglia’s vocation hope after ordination By Martin Dunlop GLASGOW Archdiocese welcomed its newest priest at St Andrew’s Cathedral on Monday evening, and Arch- bishop Philip Tartaglia said he hoped young men will be ‘inspired’ by the ordination of Fr Stuart Reynolds. Monday evening’s ordination Mass—Archbishop Tartaglia’s first as Archbishop of Glasgow— brought family and friends of Fr Reynolds as well as clergy from across Glasgow and beyond, including Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti, to the cathedral in celebration. Speaking to those gathered, Archbishop Tartaglia said that the ordination of Fr Reynolds was ‘a reason for joy and thanksgiving throughout the archdiocese.’ “I hope that your ordination will inspire our seminarians to continue their progress towards the priesthood,” Archbishop Tartaglia said. “I also hope that other young men will ask them- selves if God is calling them to the priesthood.” Lourdes pilgrimages to go ahead As Fr Reynolds prepared to be ordained at the foot of St Andrew’s Cathedral altar, Archbishop I Tartaglia expressed his hope that Scottish pilgrims will visit the shrine despite the damage caused to it by flash floods he will be ‘a good and holy priest, a true shepherd of your people.’ By Ian Dunn “You have to think of them,” he said. “It must be under five feet of water and the vast subterranean On becoming a priest, Fr incredibly hard but to be honest that’s part of why we church was inundated. Reynolds wished to ‘sincerely SCOTTISH pilgrimages to Lourdes are going need to go, to show our support for them.” Even though lower sections of the pilgrimage site thank God with all my heart for ahead despite the flash floods that closed the were closed, Masses continued to be celebrated in the my mum, Isabel, and my dad, shrine and took the lives of three people last week. Flood damage Basilica of the Immaculate Conception above the grotto. Brian, and for their unconditional The first Scottish pilgrimage of the year, from Paisley Fr Brian da Bruca, the English speaking co-ordinator of Three people were killed when they were swept away love, support and guidance that Diocese, will leave on Monday, despite the fact that Lourdes, said that the flooding had been caused by a by the rushing waters caused by a day of heavy rain and has enabled me to answer the large parts of the shrine may be closed for months. combination of heavy storms and the melting of the rapid melting of snow from the nearby Pyrenees. Thou- divine call to priesthood.’ Mgr Charles Cavanagh, who is organising the Paisley winter’s heavy snowfall. sands of people were evacuated from their homes, “Furthermore, I sincerely pilgrimage, said they would be travelling as planned, as “Many mountain passes were still blocked with snow camping grounds and hotels. At the peak of the flooding express my deepest gratitude for their hotel was one of the few unaffected by the floods. until last weekend,” he said. “We had had sudden hot last week, rescuers were concerned with bringing weak my sisters, Jacqueline and Caro- Much of the pilgrimage site was under water for two weather and then lots of rain and storms.” and sick pilgrims to safety. line, and my brother, Brian, who days as floods swamped much of southwestern France. Fr da Bruca said that the floods had come with ‘unbe- have always been there for me The St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocesan pil- lievable suddenness’ and affected much of the grotto. Prayers and support throughout my life,” Fr Reynolds grimage leaves a week today, and its organiser, Mgr “This time, water entered St Bernadette’s up to where the Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, said, adding that he is grateful for Tony Duffy said it was going ahead as planned. choir and concelebrants are,” he said. “There was water on sent a message to Bishop Nicolas Brouwet of Tarbes the ‘outstanding love and support’ “We may have to relocate some of the pilgrims as so Rosary Square and of course mud everywhere; three metres and Lourdes saying that Pope Francis was praying for of his extended family, including many of the hotels have been badly damaged,” Mgr of water in Pius X Basilica where water was below the pic- the three people who died because of the flooding and those deceased, over the years of Duffy said. “We are still just taking each day as it comes, tures of saints displayed all around—up to the main sacristy for all those who have been displaced. The Pope, he his ongoing Faith development. waiting for information. Even in Lourdes they are only door and there were benches floating around the Church.” said, also hoped Catholics would be generous in helping beginning to discover the extent of the damage.” A huge clean up effort is now underway in Lourdes fund the clean-up and restoration of the Marian shrine. I Continued on page 2 Mgr Duffy went on to say that although many of the with crews working around the clock to clear debris and An appeal has been launched for donations to help facilities in Lourdes were in a state of disrepair some mud away from crucial areas. repair damage caused to the shrine. Insurance is expected seemed to be reopening. Mathias Terrier, who is in charge of communications to cover much of the damage, but it is not expected to “Obviously, many of the paths will be difficult to at the shrine, said it had sustained millions of pounds cover the entire cost of repairs and the clean-up operation. move along, especially for people in wheelchairs,” he worth of damage. It was the second time in eight months The French government declared Lourdes and the said. “But the grotto has now reopened and they cele- that the normally placid Gave de Pau River broke its surrounding area a disaster zone. French President Fran- brated Mass there last Sunday. The baths are still closed banks, forcing officials to close the shrine. Flash floods cois Hollande, Interior Minister Manuel Valls and but there is hope they will reopen.” in October caused an estimated £2 million of damage. Bishop Brouwet joined Lourdes Mayor Jean-Pierre Mgr Duffy said his ‘heart went out’ to the hoteliers and “The damage is much more significant than in 2012,” Artiganave on a tour of the damage. other workers in Lourdes who had only just recovered the shrine reported on its website. from the last serious floods in the town eight months ago. Mr Terrier told the press that the grotto had been I [email protected] visit www.sconews.co.uk SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 I e-mail [email protected] 2 PICTURE NEWS THE SCO SUPPORTS THE YEAR OF FAITH SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday June 28 2013 Ordination joy for Glasgow Archdiocese’s newest priest I Continued from page 1 as ‘truly enlightening and memorable.’ to offer myself for priesthood.” (Above left) Archbishop Philip Tartaglia lays his hands on Fr Reynolds highlighted that St Brigid’s SVDP Fr Reynolds’ ordination Mass was celebrated on Fr Stuart Reynolds during his ordination Mass at St “Moreover, I am truly indebted to my local conference, of which he was a member between June 24, the feast of the birthday of St John the Andrew’s Cathedral in Glasgow. (Above) The newly- ordained priest blesses his family members parish of St Brigid’s in Toryglen, and particularly the years 1997-2007, was fundamental in forming Baptist. PICS: PAUL McSHERRY to everyone who has continued to support and pray his vocation to the priesthood. During his homily at Monday evening’s Mass, for me over my last six years of seminary forma- “I would like to particularly express a sincere Archbishop Tartaglia described St John the Bap- tion,” Fr Reynolds said. thanks to the late David Cranston, who originally tist as ‘a uniquely great saint.’ Following his ordination, Fr Reynolds prepared Glasgow’s newest priest began his training at the encouraged and invited me to join the SVDP,” he “I think his spirituality fits with the priesthood for a Mass of Thanksgiving, which was celebrated city’s Scotus College in 2007, before continuing said. “Thus, I can honestly say that the genuine and I hope he will influence you, and you will not at his home parish of St Brigid’s, on Tuesday. his studies at St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, Ire- faith in action I experienced during my ten years in forget that you were ordained on his feast day,” the land from 2009-2013. He described these six years the SVDP society was instrumental in my decision archbishop said to Fr Reynolds. I [email protected] SPOTLIGHT ON... Family and friends of Canon James Simcox joined clergy from across Glasgow Archdiocese to pay tribute to the popular priest on the occasion of the diamond jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood. Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow was the main concelebrant at the Mass, which was celebrated on June 21, at St Joseph’s House, Robroyston.