Galloway Diocese Advent Edition

December NEWSNEWS 2019

The Marian Way “an expression of faith on canvas”

“My love of the Blessed Virgin is life-long because it started early before I properly realised what honesty or integrity really meant in the larger sense. I was a young altar-boy, somewhat in awe of Jesus and not all that sure of the Blessed Trinity either, but I was always easy at the Lady Altar and I would talk to her easily as if she were a favourite aunt.”

That’s how Dr John Cairney, actor, writer and lecturer, describes the seed which was to flower and blossom when, as an octogenarian, he painted “The Marian Way”.

The story of these lovely paintings is on page 4.

Fear of the stranger can make us wary of welcoming those we do not know, but The Bishop Bishop Nolan reminds us that the Holy Family Writes were also once refugees.

hey are a blessing, not a threat. That is what Pope Francis repeatedly tells the world as many countries, confronted by large numbers of refugees, T resist letting them in. The refugee crisis in our world just now is unprecedented. The United Nations tells us that every day 37,000 people are forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. With over 70 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, no wonder there are so many migrants seeking safety and shelter and security elsewhere. We regularly see on our TV screens the hardships migrants face, the dangers they encounter, and the tragedies that can take away their hopes and their lives.

Yet those in need do not always get a warm welcome. Family, like many families today, had to seek refuge in a Many countries take active measures to keep these people out. foreign land. That fact weighs heavily on the conscience of The United Kingdom in particular does its best to ensure that every Christian, for when tempted to turn refugees away I as few as possible reach our shores. must wonder would I have turned away Jesus and Mary and Recently Pope Francis unveiled a statue in St Peter’s Joseph. Square highlighting the plight of refugees. The statue is called ear of the stranger can make us wary of welcoming “Angels Unawares”, referring to a story in the Old Testament F those we do not know; large numbers can make us where Abraham welcomes strangers who turn out to be angels hostile. In order to look with eyes of compassion on those who sent by God. In the Letter to the Hebrews we are urged always seek our help we have to look beyond the numbers and the to welcome strangers, remembering that some who did so statistics and see a fellow human being in need. A fellow welcomed angels unawares. human being, Pope Francis tells us, who brings with them The statue depicts migrants from various cultures and gifts and talents that will benefit their new homeland, conflicts and countries throughout history. They are huddled someone whom we should see as a blessing not a threat. on a boat seeking a place of refuge. And there are three among The artist, Timothy Schmalz, is well known due to his them that all of us will recognise: Jesus, Mary and Joseph. earlier statue, the Homeless Jesus. He considers his sculptures Something that Christians can never forget is that the Holy to be visual prayers that confront us with the teaching of Jesus. Who can look on this statue and not think: “What you did to the least of these, you did to me”? The Christmas story reminds us of the flight into Egypt, when a mother with her young child and her husband flee for their lives. Someone in those days was blessed when they unknowingly gave a welcome to the Holy Family, may we in our day be blessed when we give a welcome to angels unawares.

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Seek And Save The Lost

Jim McKendrick reflects on the extraordinary transformation of Zacchaeus and asks what we would do if Jesus knocked our door.

fter restoring his sight to blind Bartimaeus, Jesus will associate with him. In contrast to the crowd who shun and enters Jericho, and word of the recent miracle has despise Zacchaeus, Jesus calls him by name and emphasises A spread like wildfire. Zacchaeus is the chief tax the importance and urgency of this encounter “I must stay at collector for the district and a wealthy man. His job puts him your house today.” Jesus also changes his plan to pass briefly in a position to obtain money through extortion and by through Jericho so that he can bring salvation to this “lost overstating the debts of poor, powerless citizens. Zacchaeus one” and his house, and change Zacchaeus forever. has heard that Jesus is a charismatic teacher and healer (earlier Although they both happen on the same day, within hours in the day he has restored the sight of a blind of each other, the restoration of sight to beggar). Something stirs in Zacchaeus; he is Bartimaeus and the story of Zacchaeus involve drawn to Jesus; he must see him as he passes by. different faith and salvation experiences. They Zacchaeus rushes to the roadside; but he are a reminder to us that we must be alert and realises with dismay that his small stature is ready, whenever and however Jesus comes going to be a problem. “I don’t stand a chance of calling. Bartimaeus expresses very vocally his seeing him in this crowd. Nobody would stand faith and what he wants from Jesus: “Son of aside for their detested tax collector” he thinks. David, take pity on me!” Zacchaeus is silent, So he runs ahead and climbs a sycamore tree to almost dumbfounded, and lets Jesus take the catch a glimpse of Jesus as he passes by. When initiative. Although faith is not explicitly Jesus reaches the spot, he looks, up, their eyes mentioned, the rapid and generous response and meet, something in Jesus draws Zacchaeus to him The Sycamore tree that actions of Zacchaeus Zacchaeus climbed and stirs some long-lost hope within him. He represent a solid, hears his name: “Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I positive expression of faith’s must stay at your house today,” and he hurries down and presence, which gains the response welcomes him joyfully. “today salvation has come to this The crowd complained because Jesus is going to be a house;” “the son of Abraham” has guest at a sinner’s house. Zacchaeus said to the Lord “listen, been restored to his spiritual Sir, I will give half my belongings to the poor, and if I have heritage. cheated anyone I will pay him back four times as much.” here is a knock on the door Jesus said to him “today salvation has come to this house, T and we answer it. Jesus is because this man too is a son of Abraham: the Son of Man standing there and says: “today I came to seek and to save the lost.” must stay at your house.” What do uke consistently shows how Jesus cared for those in we say? What do we do? L need and for those rejected by society. The story of Zacchaeus, is unique to Luke’s Gospel, as are the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the compassionate father. They illustrate one of Luke’s main themes, summed up by Dates Jesus: “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” for your diary It is important to notice what happened to Zacchaeus, and Sunday 1st December 2019 how quickly it occurred. At the beginning of the story Sung Evening Prayer of the Church for Advent Zacchaeus is on the outside: he is a dishonest tax collector, he St Margaret’s Cathedral, Ayr at 6.00 pm is too short, he is condemned by all and he has nothing to say. At the end of the story, he is in the middle of the people, and Saturday 18th – Saturday 25th January 2020 he is standing his ground. He is talking for himself: he admits Week of Prayer for Christian Unity the wrong he has done, he undertakes to compensate, four Wednesday 26th February 2020 times over, the people he has cheated. And he promises to Ash Wednesday give half of his property to the poor. (Day of Fasting and Abstinence) This extraordinary transformation occurs because Jesus Sunday 1st March 2020 takes the initiative, pays attention to him, reaches out to him Rite of Election and accepts and respects him. He is surprised and delighted Venue and time to be confirmed that Jesus wants to be a guest in his house, when nobody else

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Youth The Marian Way “an expression of faith on canvas” Ministry Office he Marian Way is a set of devotional paintings by T John Cairney which, with an exquisite touch of metaphor and illusion, illustrate the mysteries of grace in ather Jim Hayes, Parish the life of Mary, Mother of Jesus. The collection has been Priest of St Teresa’s, publicly exhibited in St Patrick’s, Anderston and St Dumfries, has recently F Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow and during the Marian been appointed as the Director month of October, the images were displayed in St of the Diocese of Galloway Joseph’s, Kilmarnock. Youth Ministry Office. On 13th October, a Father Jim writes: “As I have just taken on the role, Holy Hour was held to (having served in the role previously from 1998 till 2010) I focus on the paintings. am busy re-introducing myself to all those in the diocese and During the hour of beyond who work and assist in this area of pastoral ministry.” scripture readings and “The role of the Director of the diocesan Youth Ministry reflections, familiar Office is to encourage, engage and explore with the young Marian hymns were people of our diocese their Christian faith at diocesan, sung together with national and international level so we will continue to offer classic solo pieces, wonderful experiences in Lourdes, home and foreign mission which included areas and World Youth Day experiences. We will encourage Schubert’s Ave Maria, youth ministry by each parish or pastoral area and in our four Mozart’s Ave Verum, diocesan secondary schools who do great work in all these and the popular areas (and more) already. I look forward to the journey Spanish “Dios te ahead.” John Cairney, at St Joseph’s for Salve, Reina” (Hail, the Holy Hour Holy Queen). The [email protected] artist was in attendance and, in his closing remarks, John spoke of the joy that his expression of faith on canvas could draw such a congregation to pray to Christ through Mary. He continued saying that the experience in church that evening was “the finest hour of his life”. A booklet containing pictures of the Marian Way paintings, scripture readings, reflections, and artist’s comments has been published and is available at the cost of £2 including postage from St Joseph’s, 15a Hill Street, Kilmarnock, KA3 1HB. Telephone 01563 521832. Email: [email protected].

Your Galloway Diocese News

This is your newsletter, we would like to hear from you

At the Galloway News we want to hear from you, the priests and parishioners of Galloway. Send your items to the editor at any time or look out for the ‘email hotline’ and ‘reply’ to the reminder email: we will do the work for you. Don’t forget your photographs for ‘Galloway Glimpses.’

Send your contributions, before 7th February 2020 for inclusion in the Lent edition to: The Editor, The Galloway Diocese News, Candida Casa, 8 Corsehill Road, Ayr, KA7 2ST. Email: [email protected]

RC Diocese of Galloway, charity number SC010576

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Vocations Is God calling you to start out anew?

et me begin with a little story. I went to a Church fête some years ago not expecting to buy anything extraordinary, perhaps meet a few friends and maybe get some L lovely home baking. To my surprise I came across this beautiful framed picture – for a couple of pounds. Less than a fiver!! I was so taken by it that it now hangs in my living room and has done for several years. What is it that I like so much about this picture? Apart from the beautiful frame, my eyes are always drawn to the colour of the outside garden, seen in detail below. Everything in the picture is grey but there is a splash of green in the garden that draws me on. Draws me outside. As I look at the picture, I want to go outside, I don’t want to stay with the grey but rather with the colour of the outside. I was looking at the picture the other day while I was reflecting on the work we do in the diocese to encourage people to think of entering a religious vocation: to become a religious sister or to become a priest. Starting out on the road to a religious vocation means God is ‘calling you onwards.’ Just like the picture which has an appeal to go onwards and outwards into the colour – the religious vocation is something exciting and appealing. It is a colourful call from God. Whenever we start a new school year, whenever we begin a new job or when we welcome a new child into the world, when we start out on a new project it means that we are leaving something behind, an old way (depicted in the picture by the grey). We are embracing a new way of hope, of excitement and a life of joy (depicted in the picture by the colour). I wonder if anyone is reading this little article thinking, “maybe God is calling me onwards into a religious vocation.” If so, please speak to your parish priest or contact Galloway’s Vocations Director: [email protected]. Remember, God may be calling you!

Clergy and their cameras Thank you to Father David Borland for this photograph. The Auld Brig of Ayr captured early on an autumn morning. Even though the reflection of the Brig in the river is not perfect, it captures much of the architectural beauty of the ancient structure. We are each made in the image and likeness of God and as such we are called to be like God in all that we think, say and do. However for most of us, no matter how hard we may try, we will never quite manage in this life to reflect the perfect likeness of God, but even an imperfect likeness can still reflect much of God’s beauty. Let the beauty of God be reflected in your life today.

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Galloway Glimpses

The wonders of light and creation

These lovely atmospheric photographs were taken by Cecilia J Morman, a parishioner of St Peter-in-Chains, Ardrossan

Cecilia says, “I captured the first photo of cloud inversion over Arran on the 15th October from Ardrossan North shore. The second was taken later in the day from Ardrossan South beach. It shows the contrast a few hours can make. The last photo was taken just before sunset on the 19th from Ardrossan south beach which shows the majesty of Arran in silhouette.”

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Pilgrimages 2020 Diocesan Pilgrimage to the Holy Land ‘Across’ Jumbulance Pilgrimage to Lourdes Monday 12th – Monday 19th October 2020 Thursday 23rd April – 2nd May 2020

rom the many comments recently on social media many F of you are already aware that the Diocese is once again travelling to the Holy Land to walk in pilgrimage in the footsteps of the Lord. Our next pilgrimage will take place between October 12th and 19th and the cost, based on two people sharing, will be approximately £1,500 per pilgrim (the airline has not yet published its fares for October 2020). Return flights will be with Easyjet from Manchester to Tel he aim of Across is to enable those who are unable to Aviv – transfers to/from Manchester Airport will be arranged T travel to Lourdes by conventional means to travel there at a later date for a supplementary cost. Our pilgrimage by “Jumbulance” – a specially adapted large touring coach which has comfortable seats, beds for the disabled, a large galley kitchen and a disabled toilet. It carries a comprehensive range of medical equipment including nebulisers, and an oxygen concentrator and is thus capable of taking pilgrims with a large range of medical conditions. An Across group consists of a maximum of 24 individuals. Everyone on the group has an essential role to play from the assisted pilgrims to the chaplain, doctor, nurses and lay helpers. Helpers will provide the meals and refreshments on board during our journey. In Lourdes we stay at the Hotel Mediterranee for a full week: lay helpers are on hand to assist our less able pilgrims at all times. package includes a full spiritual programme visiting all the major Holy Places, half-board accommodation for three nights in The Manger Square Hotel in Bethlehem and four nights in The Golan Hotel in Tiberias, the services of a Palestinian Christian guide, and all travel within Palestine and Israel. We will be using Joe Walsh Tours of Dublin to help us organize our pilgrimage and our ground handling agents will be Laila Tours and Travel, a Christian tour operator based in Bethlehem. Both of these companies have given us amazing service on previous pilgrimages and I am sure they will do so again. Booking forms will be in every parish soon and I would encourage you to book as soon as possible by completing and returning a booking form with the necessary deposit to secure your place on this very special diocesan event. Every time we We participate in various liturgical events including visits travel to the Holy Land I am humbled with the reactions of to the Grotto, baths, the Marian Procession and International many pilgrims when they are touched not only by the Holy Mass as well as enjoyable day trips in the local area. Places, but also by the people of Palestine. The cost for the Jumbulance will be £850 per person and travel insurance is £54. This includes travel to Lourdes, full When we travel board accommodation and support from the Across team in on pilgrimage to the Lourdes. Further information and application forms can be Holy Land we do obtained by contacting Alison Neil: 07749 555955, email so not only to [email protected] or visit Across at www.across.org.uk deepen our faith or telephone 020 3542 1800. and our relationship with Christ, we also want to show our support to the Diocesan Pilgrimage to Palestinian Turkey Christians who suffer great hardships and difficulties in that region of the The proposed pilgrimage to Turkey, “in the footsteps of St world. Please pray for them, and pray also for peace Paul,” proposed for April/May 2020 will not go ahead as throughout the Holy Land. there were insufficient expressions of interest. Father David Borland, Director of Holy Land Pilgrimages

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St Joseph’s Church, Kilmarnock The 1903 Harrison & Harrison Organ

When Canon John Woods was memories at weddings, and offering consolation at funerals. Parish Priest at the outset of the Recognition by the British Institute of Organ Studies 20th century, the ‘organ’ (possibly Little wonder, then, that there was a real shared pride a harmonium) in St Joseph’s, amongst the community when, at a special Mass celebrated on Kilmarnock, was deemed no longer fit-for-purpose and an Organ Committee was formed to manage fund-raising for a new instrument. In March 1902, at what must have been deemed a providential moment, parishioners were informed that a donation of £153 towards the organ fund had been received from Andrew Carnegie, the Scots-American industrialist and philanthropist. Such a substantial contribution would have been added to monies collected from St Joseph’s community itself. Allied to fund-raising were also practical considerations: anticipation of the greater weight of the proposed new organ required considerable reconstruction and strengthening of the organ gallery. The new organ was duly built by Harrison & Harrison of Sunday 28th April this year, a Certificate of Historic Listing Durham and inaugurated in August 1903. It is reputed to be (Grade II) was formally presented to the parish by Matthew the only example of a Harrison & Harrison organ in a Catholic Hynes, Scottish Representative of the British Institute of church in Scotland which is still in its intended location and Organ Studies, in recognition of the status of St Joseph’s with original specification and (tracker) action. Originally organ as ‘an instrument of importance to the national hand-pumped, an electric blower was added in 1940. heritage’. The presentation was graciously attended by It is very touching to read Canon Woods’ words in a letter Councillor Jim Todd, Provost of East Ayrshire Council, of 6 August 1902 to Harrison & Harrison: ‘considering the pictured above seated at the organ. very favourable reports received of your work and the One hundred and sixteen years after the arrival of the promise you make to send such an organ as shall be a lasting Harrison & Harrison organ in St Joseph’s, the instrument pleasure and pride to me, etc., etc., I have no hesitation in continues to serve the parish community. However, giving you the order for the organ for St Joseph’s Church, custodianship of such a historic instrument brings with it the Kilmarnock’. responsibility of maintaining it and ensuring that it can How prophetic! Situated on the gallery at the rear of the continue to support the worship of generations yet to come. church, the organ presents a distinctive and, for parishioners, a With the passage of time, certain issues develop and require most familiar sight, its silhouette outlined by the frontage attention and St Joseph’s pipe organ is no different: large display of pipes and residues of dust in pipe skilfully carpentered work and surfaces; leather wooden case. work requiring renewal; But it is the sound of blower mechanisms and the organ which, over tracker actions demanding almost twelve decades attention to maintain the highest levels of response now, has allowed it to take from the keyboard at the on the guise of an ‘old and console. In short, there familiar friend’ in St comes a time when a full- Joseph’s, providing the scale restoration of a pipe accompaniment to organ becomes imperative. countless liturgies, leading For St Joseph’s 1903 the congregation in raising Harrison & Harrison, that voices in praise of God, time is now. supporting the singing of the choir, creating

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The Pipe Organ Restoration Project Embracing the need for action has led to the recent establishment of the St Joseph’s Organ Restoration Project, the umbrella-title under which it is proposed to pursue various goals, not least the preparation of bids to funding bodies to help with the financing of the organ restoration. The Project has two very eminent patrons: Martin Baker, Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral (where he directs the world- famous Westminster Cathedral Choir) and Sir James MacMillan, the much esteemed Ayrshire-born composer and conductor. Under their patronage, we aim to press ahead with various projects in order to enhance the public profile and elicit wider community awareness of St Joseph’s ‘hidden jewel’. Part of the preparatory work for the Restoration Project has involved informing ourselves better about the history of the organ. In August 2019, Raymond and Fiona McCluskey, parish organists, paid a visit to the current workshops of Harrison & Harrison on the outskirts of Durham where a warm welcome was extended by Andrew Reid (Managing Director) and Jeremy Maritz (Operations Manager). The purpose of the visit was to peruse the company’s archive. Amongst the material relating to St Joseph’s was the August 1902 letter from Canon Woods. Further information will be included in future presentations and texts promoting the Project.

2020 Organ Recital Series is certainly exciting to be able It to announce that in 2020 a first- ever Organ Recital Series will be held in St Joseph’s. This inaugural series will offer an opportunity to experience the musicianship of seven distinguished organists offering a range of repertoire for the instrument. We are immensely grateful to Steven McIntyre, Aaron Hawthorne, Martin Baker, Alessandro Bianchi, Andrew Reid, Tiffany Vong, and Andrew Forbes for accepting our invitations to play and expressing such appreciative interest in the organ restoration project. It is particularly poignant to note in passing that Martin Baker’s recital will take place 173 years to-the-day since St Joseph’s was opened on 13th June 1847. His recital will also be the occasion of the formal launch of the Organ Restoration Project. Nothing stays the same; it is always a challenge to manage the change which the years inevitably bring our way. But we can often look to the past for inspiration and examples of strong faith prompting positive action on behalf of a community. As we – their descendants of 2019 – take on the goal of restoration, we aim to imitate the generation of 1903 whose fortitude, vision and determination have bequeathed to us the wonderful gift of our much-loved Harrison & Harrison organ.

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Spotlight on East Ayrshire Primary Schools

Our Primary Schools are always active in the community and share the highlights of the last few months

St Xavier’s Primary School, Patna enjoyed their porridge

St Xavier’s Primary School the Gospel values permeate all that we do. We welcome everyone into our school At community and are proud of the safe, caring and loving environment we offer to all. We constantly strive to ensure our young people understand their faith and we reflect and pray on a regular basis. We regularly celebrate Mass at St Francis Xavier’s Church. This year we worked with our parents/carers and the local community to raise money for SCIAF and Mary’s Meals. During Lent our small school raised a total of £293 for SCIAF. We also celebrated World Porridge Day in October by hosting a ‘Porridge Party’ to raise money for Mary’s Meals. Pupils worked with our catering staff to organise the event and our pupils got to taste a range of delicious porridge recipes.

Every day in our school our pupils are given opportunities to show that they are professing their faith when they learn to respect and care for others, when they support those in need and when we show concern for God’s creation. We have been helping others by working with FareShare charity to provide families with food and to tackle food waste. We have also focused on reducing the amount of plastic we use in school and have worked with families to ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’. We were very proud to receive our second Eco Flag from Eco Schools Scotland earlier this year.

Mount Carmel Primary School, Kilmarnock, celebrated with Father Martin

uring August Father Martin Chambers celebrated his 30th Anniversary and Mount Carmel Primary School were pleased to be part of this D wonderful celebration. We organised a special assembly in Father Martin’s honour at which we sang some beautiful songs which reminded us of Father Martin, then shared with him some of the reasons that he is so special to our Catholic Community. We presented him with some gifts from the school community as well as a cheque for £85.00 for his special foundation ‘The Ecuador Trust’. The celebration ended with a few words from Father Martin and then a wonderful rendition of his favourite song ‘Super Crab’. It was a beautiful assembly that we all enjoyed being part of.

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St Patrick’s Primary School, Auchinleck, is working towards the Pope Francis Faith Award

have seen our school roll grow steadily over the past few years. As we grow in We number our ambition is also to grow in Faith. With all of our Primary 6 and 7 pupils enrolled into the Pope Francis Faith Award we are delighted when they make suggestions for charities to support or ways they can help around our school and parishes. Most recently they organised a ‘Go Purple’ day to raise money for the Ayrshire Hospice.

We value the importance of working with others to improve our school and widen the experiences we can offer to our young people. With a wide catchment area, we benefit from having a school chaplain who is also parish priest for our three local parishes. On his frequent visits to school Father Philip Kitchen enjoys talking to the children as well as supporting our families and staff. We try to take the children to Mass in all of our parishes each session. We enjoy working with our neighbours at ‘The Knowe’ and this session all of our classes have been involved in a ‘Planting and Growing’ project. There are lots of opportunities for us to step outside the school gates and enjoy God’s world around us. So we are a ‘growing’ school in more ways than one. St Andrew’s Primary School, Kilmarnock, is looking forward to another busy year of Truth, Hope and Faith

the first term comes to an end, we reflect on the beginning of the new academic year. St Andrew’s Primary school welcomed many new faces in As August, including 56 new Primary ones who settled in very quickly and have adapted to the daily routines of a primary school with over 400 children. The staff and pupils are looking forward to another busy year, a year of Truth, Hope and Faith. At St Andrew’s Primary we promote a positive Catholic ethos, within a nurturing environment, which strives to produce mature young people, who have explored their faith in a variety of ways. The positive ethos is always commented on by visitors to our school. We welcome and encourage the partnership with our local parishes and have developed a close working relationship with Father Stephen McGrattan. We have regular Masses, celebrated within the school and all the children participate beautifully, with different stages taking responsibility for the different aspects of the Mass. This year we are continuing to develop positive, nurturing relationships and behaviours throughout our school and communicating using restorative approaches. We are working hard on achieving several awards including Sports Scotland (Silver), Rights Respecting School (Silver) and improving climate change within our world, through our Climate Change Group. We continue to support Physical Education at Willowbank Primary school with our P7 buddies. Last year, our commitment to local and national charities continued with St Andrew’s helping SCIAF, the Martin Chambers Ecuador Fund and Sing for Hansel. Our pupils managed to raise over £2,100 for the three charities. We were also part of ‘Flying the Commonwealth Flag’ celebration, where two of our pupils spoke confidently to representatives from East Ayrshire Council.

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St Sophia’s Primary School, Galston, embrace the motto of ‘Faith, Hope and Love’.

put our faith in action by our prayers both daily and at We our monthly School Masses. These Masses are a great source of joy and celebration as we are joined by members of the local parish, both young and old. We love to use our talents as readers, singers, sacristans, altar servers and technicians at these celebrations. We showed love and gave hope by using our organisational skills making up backpacks for Malawi. We used our enterprise skills to plan and arrange a whole host of fundraisers for SCIAF, in particular our Mad Hatters Fairtrade Tea Party. Since we came back to school in August, we have thought deeply about the message from Pope Francis about looking after our world. Our Eco-Fairtrade committee has worked hard on its action plan and are looking at our local area and the wider world. We are part of the special ‘Litter Free Journey to School’ project and are focusing on alleviating hunger too. We had a presentation from MISSIO Scotland and we are raising money to support their work this year. This year in school, two of our senior learners have created a new lunchtime club based on our faith. It’s called the ‘FOJ Club’ or the ‘Friends of Jesus’. They are going to prepare, organise and run our Advent and Lent prayer groups this year and keep us focused as Mission Children. Our young people are the future Church and our school is linking with the parish to plan and organize a monthly young person’s Mass. During this Mass, young people take on all the duties and responsibilities usually carried out by adults. They are doing a great job!

An afternoon with Mary

Congratulations

celebration A was held at St Joseph’s, Stranraer, to mark the recent Golden Wedding Anniversary of Janet and Peter Marks. Peter is Winin’s parish branch of Legion of Mary held an permanent Deacon St “Afternoon with Mary” on the 6th October. A Rosary at St Joseph’s and procession to the Grotto was followed by Exposition of the Janet, a fully Blessed Sacrament and Benediction, led by Deacon Bill participating parish Corbett. This was followed by tea and slides of the recent member in a wide Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes. A very pleasant afternoon variety of roles. was had by all.

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St Joseph's Academy Kilmarnock Three different activities – three thought provoking outcomes

Working in the community Corrymeela adventure

ince the beginning of the new term, nine S3 pupils have n September, around 40 students from St Joseph’s S set up a junior SSVP group. As part of their work, they I Academy, Kilmarnock Academy, Loudon Academy, The are working alongside Graceland Care home. We had our first Grange Academy and the Park School travelled to visit to the care home a few weeks ago and are working Corrymeela in Northern Ireland for three days. specifically with the dementia unit within the home. Our On arriving in Belfast we met Sean, who showed us young people are going to take part in some training provided around the city. We saw several of the well-known murals, by Alzheimer’s Scotland in order to help them in their work Irish flags and Union flags hanging from windows and with the elderly and once a month, they will go in and play lampposts. Sean talked about how the Catholics and games and chat with the residents. We are looking forward to Protestants kept very separate during ‘the Troubles’. The spending time with them over the next few months! infamous Belfast ‘Peace’ Wall was built higher and higher to The young people are also in the process of organising a prevent people throwing rocks over it, and even in the coffee morning to raise money for colouring books, cards and graveyard a wall was built to divide the two religions. We jewellery making kits which they hope to be able to take in visited a memorial garden where we were told about one of and use with the residents. the many bombings and those who died.

The first of several workshops was with the Peace Players, On retreat with whose purpose is to bring children from Catholic and National Evangelisation Teams Protestant schools in Belfast together through sport, mainly basketball. We played a series of games that produced ver 250 pupils in S1 and S2 took part in two, one-day different outcomes – win/win, win/lose and lose/lose. We retreats lead by NET Ministries Scotland. In a blur of O were encouraged to think about applying the win/win energy and activity, the team from the United States had the approach to more life situations, instead of the win/lose. students playing, singing, discussing their faith, reflecting and praying. The enthusiasm of the team could be clearly seen in The next workshop was led by the five young leaders, all the response of the young people who were still raving about former pupils of St Joseph’s Academy. This was an exercise their experience days afterwards. In what will be hopefully be of trust, where questions were asked about whether they had a first of many such retreat events the impact could best be ever lost a loved one, felt judged, etc. Those who felt summed up by one pupil who said: “I wish I was back in first comfortable could anonymously share their experiences. year so I could go again tomorrow”. At a third workshop on the Saturday morning, the students and teachers were asked to imagine they were on an island and could only save themselves and five other people. This was a challenging and thought-provoking exercise that helped raise awareness of the inaccuracy of judgements, pre- conceived thoughts and first impressions. orrymeela volunteer, Yvonne hosted the next C workshop. She lived through the Troubles and has for many years been teaching about Sectarianism, and how to counteract it. She (apparently) randomly split us into two groups; people with brown eyes and blue/green eyes, and then between people with glasses and those without to make us think about how we separate and define ourselves and how we all have similarities and differences. After that, a workshop to show how difficult immigration is explored the barriers to immigrants. The challenge was to The two retreats in Kilmarnock were then followed by a collect five sticky notes to enter the country, made more residential retreat delivered by the NET team involving pupils challenging by a whole range of difficult tasks. Nobody from St Joseph’s Kilmarnock, St Matthew’s Saltcoats and St managed to obtain all five categories! Joseph’s College Dumfries. The unique atmosphere that That afternoon, as a break from the workshops, the group developed as pupils worked with the team late into the visited the Giant’s Causeway and in the evening enjoyed evening was something special and was a real source of pizza and sweets whilst watching the fantastic film ‘The inspiration to them. Over the course of the two days the pupils Green Book’ which explores experiencing and dealing with took part in workshops, prayer sessions and finished the event racism. with the celebration of Mass in St Joseph’s College Church. On the Sunday morning, we spent some time at the beach, Most, if not all of the pupils taking part, are working before returning to Corrymeela for a final workshop which towards their Caritas Award and the retreat gave them an involved lying on the floor for a relaxing mindfulness body added opportunity to reflect on their faith and the positive scan. Then, each person said a word that they would use to contribution they can make in the coming year. describe their weekend. Some common words were: fun, exciting and inspiring. It was!

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Art in Churches

Art in Churches, and indeed in religion, takes many forms. We are familiar with statues, stained and painted glass windows and paintings, but textiles can also exhibit great artistry – think of the vestments worn during Mass and at other services. Here we explore the ideas and imagery behind a very special commission.

part of his Golden Jubilee celebrations, Father Joe Boland, parish priest of St Bride’s, West Kilbride, was gifted a Lectern Fall, which was commissioned from As and made by Paula Maughan, a textile artist, who lives in the village with her husband Chris. Paula studied jewellery and graphic design at Grays School of Art in Aberdeen and after graduating worked freelance for a time, making and selling jewellery and producing illustrations for teaching materials. The cover itself is a thing of real beauty and an important contribution to the life of the parish. Here in her own words Paula explains the significance of the various aspects of the Lectern Fall. I was honoured to be asked to create a Lectern Fall for St Bride’s Church as part of Father Joe Boland’s Golden Jubilee Celebration in July 2019. As my work usually features birds, I wanted to include them in this commission. To ensure a layering of meaning in the piece, I researched the symbolism of my chosen birds in a religious context. It was also important to include the liturgical colours, red, green, gold and purple so I also included Violets to represent the colour purple, I have used wild violets, the flower associated with Mary’s humble nature and devotion. As the flower also has an association with Angel Gabriel, this gives the violet another potential meaning – that of protection and connections.

the beginning of my research I discovered that birds are generally believed to represent the human soul. And in the At book ‘The Little Flowers of St Francis’, there is a story of St Francis’ impromptu sermon to a flock of birds reported by the monks who were travelling with him. So I was reassured that using birds would be appropriate.

The Goldfinch is a symbol The Nightingale is a symbol of of resurrection. It is said it longing for heaven. Its last song acquired its red spot when it was always its most joyful and drew a thorn from Christ’s most beautiful and it was brow on the cross and it was believed to die during the ninth splashed by a drop of the hour of the day, the same time Saviour’s blood. Christ died on the cross.

The Chaffinch: The ‘chaff’ The Blue Tit is used to comes from its preference for represent ‘all little birds’ as a feeding on grain amongst the symbol of God’s concern for chaff produced by threshing. the least among us. Sparrows Perhaps also from a certain are sometimes used in this donkey’s nose bag on the way, but I used my artistic journey to Bethlehem? license to choose a more colourful bird in this context.

The Greenfinch: Carduelis The Robin: ‘The Bird That chloris. Carduelis is a Never Flew’ from Glasgow’s subfamily of Fringillidae coat of arms. The singing (finches) and chloris comes robin symbolises deliverance from the Greek meaning from evil and God’s holy ‘green’ I chose this bird for mercy. its greenness.

The Bullfinch is one of our The Dove symbolizes the shyest garden birds, which Third Person of the Blessed may explain its reluctance to Trinity. It has prime visit garden feeders. They are importance coming from known to eat buds from fruit above, with a quote from John trees and they love dandelion Chapter 1:1 ‘In the beginning seeds, which makes them was the Word and the Word useful to gardeners. was with God’.

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Pilgrimage to Salamanca 2019

Margaret McGrath, a parishioner of St Joseph’s, Kilmarnock recalls the highlights of a recent pilgrimage

n a wet and windy day in September, 29 pilgrims led by Fr Stephen McGrattan set off for sunnier climes. O Our destination was the Real Colegio de Escoceses, the Spanish seminary for the training of priests for Scotland. This was to be our base for a week while we explored the religious and cultural sites nearby. Our first stop was the ancient town of Salamanca and a walking tour which included a visit to the two cathedrals and the Civil and Pontifical Universities where a number of Scottish priests studied. We concluded in the Plaza Mayor which was so full of buzz that many of us stayed and sampled the local cuisine while soaking up the atmosphere. The next day saw us board the coach for the beautiful city of Segovia where we visited the Carmelite monastery of St John of the Cross and viewed his tomb (pictured above). Afterwards we posed for photographs beside the remarkable with church on the other, it can be viewed above the high architecture of the ancient aqueduct before heading for altar. another superb lunch. This sumptuous meal included suckling pig which disconcerted a few people as it still had its head After a quiet day on Sunday (being a day of rest, of course!) our final excursion was to the city of Valladolid. This had been the home of the Scots college from 1771 until 1988 at which point it was relocated to Salamanca. Among our group, we were fortunate to have Father Neil Campbell who had studied at this college in the late 1970s. Eager to give us a personal and engaging tour of the site, he regaled us with stories about what the students would get up to in their free time back in the days before the internet and mobile phones. For my part, a particularly moving occasion was our celebration of Mass in the old college chapel (pictured above) where generations of Scottish priests had worshipped for 200 years. e are extremely grateful to the staff of the college W in Salamanca, and, indeed, all the people we met, for their wonderful hospitality. We could not have felt more welcome. The opportunity to visit these unique places of such attached! I have it on excellent authority that someone historical significance was deeply appreciated by us all. With actually ate the head itself. a reunion already planned it is safe to say that this pilgrimage After lunch our guide – an old university friend of Father will not be easily forgotten! Stephen – took us on an extremely interesting walking tour of the beautiful city which is steeped in history. We had a free day next and most took the opportunity to relax, do a bit of shopping, or visit the local cafes. Some visited nearby towns and one group went as far as Madrid for the day. Saturday saw us off to Avila, the home of St Teresa. We walked through the very same door she would have done when she entered religious life in the Convent of the Incarnation. After visiting the Convent and its museum we travelled to the Old Town and toured the childhood house of St Teresa. Then it was off to the town of Alba de Tormes and a trip to the museum where the mortal remains of St Teresa lie. The reliquary itself requires 10 keys – each held by a separate individual – to open; in fact, it resides on display in the museum on one side and, through a transparent connection

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Catholic Teacher's Certificate at the University of Glasgow

he School of Education at the offered to undergraduate students in any University of Glasgow School of University of Glasgow is the other university. Education. sole provider of teachers for b) PGDE Glasgow The PGDE CTC courses are 30- T Catholic schools in Scotland. The PGDE is a one-year credit equivalent courses, and in the This mission is overseen by the St postgraduate course, which is the route other universities they are currently Andrew’s Foundation for Catholic into teaching for all secondary teachers composed of 16 hours of face-to-face Teacher Education, the hub of the and many primary teachers. The PGDE teaching (4 x 4-hour sessions), and 14 University of Glasgow’s provision for Catholic Teacher Certificate course at hours of online tasks, over two those who wish to teach in Catholic the University of Glasgow is a 30-credit semesters. The themes covered are very schools. equivalent course which is taught in two similar to those listed above under The School of Education awards the -hour long face-to-face sessions weekly PGDE Glasgow. Catholic Teacher’s Certificate in throughout the teaching semester. The The course assessment consists of an Religious Education (CTC), which CTC course is additional to the overall essay portfolio (3,000 words total) enables the holder to teach Religious PGDE programme. Course themes which covers theological knowledge Education in Catholic primary schools include: and application to educational contexts. or in Catholic secondary schools as a Submissions are graded satisfactory or x The Trinity ‘generalist’ teacher. The following unsatisfactory. x Interpreting Sacred Scripture courses and programmes lead to the award of the Catholic Teacher’s x Old Testament – Revelation, 2. Setting Out on the Road Certificate in Religious Education Creation and Covenant. (current teachers) (CTC). x New Testament: Synoptic Gospels, eachers who are currently The Gospel of John, the Acts of the T qualified to teach in a primary 1. Catholic Teacher’s Certificate Apostles and the Letters or secondary school and have a GTCS in Religious Education (Initial x Life in Jesus’ times. The person of registration number can study for the Teacher Education) Jesus Christ and salvation Catholic Teacher’s Certificate in he University currently offers x The Church: (i) the four marks (ii) Religious Education via the Setting Out T the qualification to The role of the laity (iii) Mary on the Road course. The course consists undergraduate (MEduc and MARPE) x Eschatology – The Last Things of intensive face-to-face sessions with students at the University of Glasgow, x Liturgy and Sacraments similar themes to the CTC course, taught (currently) in Glasgow, and postgraduate (PGDE) students at x Catholic Social Teaching Edinburgh and Dundee. Assessment the University of Glasgow, Aberdeen, x Theology of the Body Dundee, Edinburgh, Strathclyde and the comprises a monthly journal x LGBTI issues and pastoral care University of the West of Scotland. The assessment, including practice-based Students also have integrated Scottish Government funds these components such as lesson planning and curricular courses in the teaching of RE courses, which are free to students. the writing of assemblies and prayers in Catholic primary and secondary services. The course costs £310.00. a) MEduc Glasgow schools in the Learning and Teaching in For more information see https:// The five year Masters in Education the Primary and Secondary courses. www.gla.ac.uk/schools/education/cpd/ with Teaching Qualification degree Assessment is a monthly journal cpdforteachers/religiouseducation/ programme (MEduc) is the School of portfolio totalling 3,000 words. settingoutontheroad/ Education’s flagship undergraduate Submissions are graded satisfactory or programme. Catholic students undertake unsatisfactory. 3. Certificate in Religious the Theology in Education 1 and 2 Students are placed in a Catholic Education by Distance Learning courses in years one and two, and school for at least two of their three (Credl) Education in Practice RERC courses school experience placements, and are he Catholic Teacher’s throughout years 3 and 4. They also assessed on the planning and teaching of Certificate in Religious attend the weekly Catholic Teacher RE in the Catholic school in semester 2. T Education certificate can also be Formation course throughout years 1-4, Students at Glasgow are active in obtained by distance learning via the and can choose an RE based elective in many pastoral events, liturgies and one-year Credl programme. As such is years 3 and 4. Students are placed in a pilgrimages which animate the life of mainly aimed at qualified teachers or Catholic school for their school the School of Education and contribute student teachers not resident in experience placements, and are assessed to their Catholic formation. on the planning and teaching of RE in Scotland. The Credl programme is c) PGDE at other universities the Catholic school in year 4. designed to provide students with the The courses offered at these other Since this comprehensive and requisite understanding of the main universities are for PGDE students only intensive pathway cannot be reproduced tenets of Catholic Christian theology. and the course teaching team is drawn in other universities, the Catholic Students also learn about the Catholic from specialist staff based in the Teacher Certificate is not currently vision of education and the 16

Catholic Teacher’ Certificate, continued Priest reference tudents undertaking any of the above courses/ S programmes leading to the award of the Catholic methodology appropriate to Catholic religious education in Teacher Certificate (CTC) provide a priest reference to the primary and secondary schools. The programme is also School of Education in which they declare themselves to be recommended for those who are qualified teachers and want baptised Catholics. Non-Catholic students can undertake the to re-visit their understanding of these issues as part of Award in Religious Understanding instead of the Catholic Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Teacher Certificate. (Please note, the Award in Religious The course fees are £455 for the two courses which make Understanding pathway is not currently offered via the Setting up the programme: Credl: Aspects of Theological Education 1 Out on the Road course.) The student attends the CTC classes and 2. The assessment is a 1,500-word essay for each course. or online learning along with their Catholic peers, but they For more information see https://www.gla.ac.uk/ undertake different tasks and assessment, e.g. the lesson plan postgraduate/taught/religiouseducationbydistancelearning/ which they provide is planned using the Experiences and Outcomes for RME, i.e. non-denominational schools. For any further information please contact Dr Roisin Coll, Director of the St Andrew’s Foundation ([email protected] ) or Admin lead Denise Porada ([email protected] ).

Three Pro-life groups are active in Galloway Diocese As concern grows and new legislation is enacted at least three areas of Galloway have organised Pro-Life Groups

n 1967, legislation on abortion was introduced in Britain in response to claims that abortions were being performed unsafely, with associated risks to women’s health. The new law I stated that all abortions must be carried out in a hospital or clinic, and two doctors must agree that an abortion would cause less risk to a woman’s physical or mental health than continuing with the pregnancy. The “right to choose” which has long been at the heart of abortion lobbying is continuing to seep into Scottish culture, with increasingly bizarre gender ideologies, attacks on the sanctity of marriage and family life, aggressive attempts to decriminalise abortion for any reason up until birth, and attempts to legalise euthanasia. A 2017 law passed by the Scottish Government, which allows women to carry out abortions at home has led to an 8.9% increase in abortions being carried out in Scotland, while recent statistics revealed that, far from being carried out to protect a woman’s physical or mental health, the majority of abortions in Scotland were carried out for “social reasons” in 2018.

ut simply, not only do unborn children deserve their here are some real signs of hope right now, especially P right to life, but their mothers deserve the right to T in countries and organisations around the world who choose life for their child. And as the attacks on the right to are resisting the anti life message in different ways. Notable life grow stronger with new legislation being enacted or examples of this can be found in many African countries. The proposed almost daily, there has never been a greater need to latest challenge to the abortion laws in some states of the USA speak up for those who cannot do so. is also cause for optimism. East Ayrshire SPUC Dumfries and district inter parish pro-life group A new branch of SPUC Scotland has been established in East This group was formed in 2018 to provide a more local voice Ayrshire for the express purpose of promoting this right to in relation to life matters in the area. Based at St Teresa’s, life for the most vulnerable. With a focus on prayer, education members come from all walks of life and, while all have their and community, they hope to promote a celebration of life own reasons for joining the group, all are firmly committed from conception until natural death. Please contact Margaret to the doctrine of the church that life must be protected from or Bill on 07866 048257, or Helena on 07961 130493 or conception to natural death. They meet six times a year to [email protected] for more information. There is share news on the pro-life cause and to agree upon ways in also a new Facebook page; search for SPUC East Ayrshire. which members can raise the profile of pro-life advocacy. They have contacted members of parliament at Westminster North Ayrshire SPUC and Holyrood to seek their views on life issues; information The North Ayrshire has been established for many years: important to help voters decide on candidates in future they do not meet regularly but arrange meetings in St Winin’s elections, and remind politicians who are not pro-life, that church hall, Kilwinning, as and when necessary; Christians from many different denominations and people of communicating frequently regarding various issues. They other faith groups and none, are implacably opposed to would welcome any comments, either negative or positive, to abortion and euthanasia. Other initiatives include allow them to promote the value and dignity of every human presentations on local history, an inter faith talk by John being from conception to natural death. Anyone interested in Deighan of SPUC (Scotland), and planned film nights and joining this pro-life fight should contact Patricia Quirk visits to schools. (01294 556680) and Ellen Quirk (01294 689424). 17

The View from Rome

Our seminarians, Kevin Rennie and Michael Kearns were present at the canonisation of the latest saint of the Catholic Church, Saint John Henry Newman. Kevin writes about the experience.

he Canonisation of Cardinal John Henry Newman was a day of great festivity in Rome, not only was he being canonised alongside four other T individuals, but for the Seminary Colleges from the UK, he was the first Saint to be canonised from our region since St John Ogilvie in 1976. Whilst canonisations aren’t uncommon in Rome, it is a rare experience to be present for pupils transferred from local public schools, creating a roll of the canonisation of someone local. 150. In being canonised, the church is recognising someone as a As a Catholic Newman spoke out strongly in defence of Saint – that is to say that after enquiry and investigation, the the Faith, seeking to address and debunk many of the popular church in her wisdom has determined that the individual has misconceptions surrounding the Catholic Faith which had entered into the Kingdom of Heaven, sharing in the beatific been widely accepted by society at large. He went on to vision with the Saints and Angels. It is important to realise, lecture in opposition to the Protestant position, addressing that canonisation does not change the person in eternal life, through a series of lectures what the Protestant church but rather, it is the church’s recognition that the individual has believed about the Catholic position, as well as the indeed entered into heaven and as such, should be recognised shortcomings of the Protestant beliefs. His other works as a Saint. developed around many of these themes, including Today, Newman’s work continues to be read and used, conscience, morals and doctrine, continue to have relevance remaining relevant even a century after his death. Newman today. was originally a minister in the Church of England and often t was a day of great celebration for us as a College to be spoke strongly against the Catholic Church, but over time I able to attend the Mass celebrated in St Peter’s Square came to doubt the position of the Church of England on many by Pope Francis. For many of us, it was the first canonisation doctrinal and dogmatic matters. He was often outspoken in his we’d been to in our time in Rome (albeit not the first Papal doubts which led to an increasing opposition within the Mass) and so it was certainly a day to remember. We were up Church of England against him, and led to him losing his early, leaving the College at 6.15 to ensure that we got down esteemed position at the University of Oxford. In 1845 in good time and got seats (the Mass wasn’t until 10.00 am), Newman converted to Catholicism and was received into the but arriving several hours early was worth it given the crowds Church in Littlemore – this conversion at great personal cost which filled the square. It did give us a chance to pray as a to Newman – with many in the Church of England resenting Community in the Square, remembering our own private him, and many in the Catholic Church regarding him with intentions and all those who have supported us on our journey, suspicion. praying first Lauds (Morning Prayer), and then later the Among those influenced and received into the Catholic Rosary in common (the Rosary was actually prayed by the Church by Newman was Patrick Wright who would later be entire Square in anticipation of the start of Mass). parish priest of Our Lady and St Patrick’s, Birnieknowe It is occasions like these where we’re reminded of how (Auchinleck) from 1874-1881. Father Wright laboured with fortunate we are to be in Rome and to have these zeal and determination to establish a Catholic school staffed opportunities, and as part of that reflection we’re also by Catholic teachers. Thanks to the generosity of the Third reminded of all of those at home and here in Rome who have Marquis of Bute, the school was opened in 1878, and many supported us in our formation, both whilst in Seminary, and growing up. It is easy when in Rome and working hard on studies and with early starts and papers to submit, to forget the reason we’re there, to, God willing, be pastoral priests in the future. These kinds of events help us to reflect and to remember both our purpose in Rome, and all of those who have supported us along the way, praying for all of you and all of those who have helped us through their prayers and guidance over the years. Michael and I thank you all for your prayers and support over the years, and I assure you of our continued prayers as we continue in our formation into the future.

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Steps to Safeguarding in canonisation Galloway Diocese

From Gerry McCabe, Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser

Diocesan Safeguarding Training As we begin the Season of team. You provide the essential preparation for Christmas and the platform that is informing the celebration of our Saviour’s birth I positive cultural development and would like to take time to offer my safeguarding practice that is being thanks and appreciation to all of clearly evidenced. you who give your commitment We remember that our Saviour and time to the work of was a vulnerable child and reflect safeguarding across our diocese to on all those in their vulnerability ensure our parish communities are who were not afforded protection safe places for all; whether as within our Catholic Church. We volunteers supporting the delivery cannot undo the betrayal and harm of ministry to our children, young they suffered but we can seek to people and the vulnerable folk ensure that the opportunity and across our parish communities or potential for this behaviour to be as Parish Safeguarding repeated is minimised through the Coordinators ensuring that, in reinforcement of our mandatory partnership with our parish priests, safe recruitment procedures which the positive message of require that all those involved in Safeguarding is embedded into the work with children, young people culture of our parish life. and vulnerable adults in our parish I wish also to include the work communities, priests, deacons and of all of you who take on the lay members, are vetted and demanding responsibility of trained to undertake this pastoral developing and assuring the ministry. or any person to be canonised, the positive message of safeguarding Our work continues in 2020 process is typically not fast, and in the Diocese, our Chancellor, our and I look forward to working with F indeed for many it can go on for Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory you all as we continue positively several decades or more. The first stage Group, Diocesan Risk Assessment to reinforce Safeguarding in our of this process involves investigation, and Management Team and our diocese. establishing whether or not the individual possessed a true holiness of life, this ROMAN CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF GALLOWAY process is instigated by the local bishop. DIOCESAN SAFEGUARDING OFFICE Once confirmed, the individual is P/T DIOCESAN SAFEGUARDING OFFICER recognised as ‘Venerable’. For the next 14 hours per week stage (except in the case of Martyrs for Salary Scale £12,000.00 per annum the Faith) a miracle must be attributed to the intercession of the individual. At the Reporting to the Vicar General, the post-holder will be responsible for end of the process a recommendation is supporting the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser in the promotion of made to the Vatican who, if approved, effective safeguarding awareness and procedures throughout the diocese, recognise the individual as ‘Blessed’, at with particular responsibility for assisting parishes in the implementation of the national safeguarding procedures of the Church, through the this stage devotion may be established at provision of appropriate advice, and support and by auditing compliance a limited, local level. Following the with these procedures and processes within the diocese. The post-holder beatification, a second miracle is should be educated to degree level and must be able to demonstrate required, after which the Pope can previous relevant knowledge and experience of Safeguarding within the canonise the individual, recognising them Catholic Church in Scotland. Previous experience gained within the as a Saint in the Universal Church. statutory (police or social work) and/or voluntary sector is desirable. The Cardinal John Henry Newman was post holder must be able to demonstrate effective IT, communication and organisational skills. The post holder will be expected to deliver a declared Venerable in 1991 by the then proportion of their role outwith the normal Monday to Friday working Pope John Paul II, before being week and this will include some evenings and weekend commitment. recognised as Blessed by the then Pope Arrangements for home working for elements of time will also be Benedict XVI in 2010 during his visit to supported.

Scotland. This followed an American For application form and Job Description please contact: Deacon attributing his recovery from a spinal cord disorder to Newman’s Roman Catholic Diocese of Galloway intercession. In 2018, a pregnant woman Diocesan Office 8 Corsehill Road, Ayr, KA7 2ST attributed her healing from a grave illness to Newman, which opened the path for Tel: - 01292 266750 E-mail [email protected] his canonisation in Rome this year. Closing Date for applications Friday 31 January 2020. Interview Date Tuesday 18 February 2020

19

Profile In this occasional series we profile someone who lives or works in the Diocese and who might be well known to some of us. Here, Jim McKendrick speaks to Bobby Lennox, a Football Legend and Man of Faith

obby Lennox, M.B.E. was born on 30th August Cup that year until 1943 in Saltcoats Ayrshire. After playing for a the final saw them number of school and parish teams and St John’s play Inter Milan. B Amateurs, Bobby was spotted by a Celtic scout The match took while he was playing for Ardeer Rec Juniors. place at the Estádio A formation in Faith and football was an important aspect Nacional on the outskirts of Lisbon on 25th May 1967 and of Bobby’s life and he can remember attending 10 o’clock resulted in a never- to-be-forgotten 2-1 victory for Celtic. Two Mass each Sunday with his mother and father. “It was a very weeks later, on 7th June 1967, Celtic played Real Madrid in a Catholic household. We (Bobby and his two big brothers, testimonial match for the, now retired, Alfredo Di Stefano. In Andrew and Eric) got our faith from our parents and they front of over 100,000 fans at the Bernabéu Stadium, Bobby were a positive influence our early development. They were scored the only goal in the 1-0 triumph, being highly praised good Catholics. My Dad was a bookie and my Mum was a by the great man, Di Stefano, himself. housewife as mothers were back then, and it was just a good In 2002 Celtic supporters picked Bobby in the club’s all- normal Catholic upbringing.” time greatest team, and in 2005 he was inducted into the Bobby maintains that his first job delivering milk was Scottish Football Hall of Fame. what gave him his stamina. However, when he joined Celtic, parishioner and regular Mass attender for 76 years, he was working as a box maker in ICI, Stevenston. The A Bobby received the Sacraments of Baptism, First factory box-maker would turn into a football Legend, gaining Eucharist, Confirmation and Marriage all in St Mary’s Star of immortality as a Lisbon Lion; part of the first British and last the Sea Church. He has a strong, life-long devotion to Mary Scottish side to win the European Cup. the mother of God, which has shaped his Catholic Faith During a 19-year career Bobby won 11 League winners’ throughout his life. It is to Mary that Bobby often turns medals, eight Scottish Cup medals, five League Cup medals when he prays. He visited Lourdes twice, aged 15 and 17, and ten caps for Scotland. The winger, who retired in 1980, is with his mum and aunts on the Galloway Diocesan the second top scorer in the club’s Pilgrimage. He often says how much history, with 273 goals in all he enjoyed Lourdes, singing the hymns competitions, beaten only by Jimmy with his mam and his aunties. Perhaps, McCrery. this is where his love for Our Lady originates. He always wore an eason 1966-67 was Celtic’s Immaculate Mary medal around his golden year. They won every S neck every time he played and used to competition they entered: the Scottish put his hand on it just before the game League, the Scottish Cup, the Scottish would kick off. He now wears a gold League Cup, the Glasgow Cup, and cross. the European Cup; scoring a world record total of 196 goals in the process This good Catholic and down-to- and many fans consider 1967 the earth attitude has remained with Bobby highpoint of Bobby’s career too, all his life. He dearly loves his family beginning on 15th April when Bobby and remains a very modest, dignified scored a goal in the defeat of world and ordinary man, with an champions, England. (This victory extraordinary story. In keeping with prompted Scottish fans to claim that the values that he and his wife Kathryn Scotland were now the unofficial hold, they have stayed in Saltcoats all world champions.) The goal made him their days and raised their children the first Celtic player to score for Gary, Gillian and Jeff the same way Scotland at Wembley, and he later said they were. After years of campaigning and fundraising it was a major moment in his life. and as a final, fitting tribute to Saltcoats’ Reflecting on all the big matches he Modest and self-effacing as always, football legend, a statue was erected in played in during 1967, Bobby Bobby travelled back to Glasgow with honour of “Bobby” on 18th November maintains that marrying Kathryn on the 2018. Speaking after its unveiling, and as the other Scottish players; he then took modest as ever, Bobby said: “This is 14th June beats them all. The highlight the train to Saltcoats and walked up the where I’ve lived my life. My mum would be of his life was being lucky enough to road home. proud and my dad would be proud, my two meet and marry Kathryn, his childhood big brothers would be proud.” Kathryn, by sweetheart. Celtic progressed in the European his side, very obviously proud.

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The Teaching of Pope Francis

Father William McFadden explains that Pope Francis’ latest apostolic letter calls on the Church to dedicate a day to the Word of God in order to encourage ongoing love for the Scriptures.

document which contains a specific initiative of the pope is given the Latin title of “motu proprio.” This A highlights that it comes directly from the pope and reflects his express wish for some sort of action or proposal. Pope Francis published such a text on 30th September 2019, entitled “Aperuit Illis,” which is based on a verse from the Gospel of St. Luke: “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” This Apostolic letter calls on the Universal Church to celebrate the third Sunday of Ordinary Time each year as a day dedicated to the Word of God. In assigning a day to the Word of God, Pope Francis The letter reminds us though that a “day devoted to the specifically states that salvation, faith, unity and mercy all Bible should not be seen as a yearly event,” but rather as “a depend on knowing Christ and the Scriptures. He hopes that year-long event.” It should encourage ongoing love for the by celebrating, studying and praying with God’s Word, then Scriptures and foster continuing and constant interaction with the church will “experience anew how the risen Lord opens up the Word of God. for us the treasury of his word and enables us to proclaim its unfathomable riches.” “We need to develop a closer relationship with Sacred Scripture; otherwise, our hearts will remain cold and our eyes shut, struck as we are by so many forms of blindness,” he writes. God speaks God’s Word to us in a privileged way in the texts of the Scriptures, and if we “hear his voice and open the doors of our minds and hearts, then he will enter our lives and remain ever with us.” “Aperuit Illis” urges priests to be extra attentive to creating a homily throughout the year that “speaks from the heart,” and it asks that they seek to help people understand Scripture “through simple and suitable” language. To support the initiative of this day dedicated to the Word The pope states: “The relationship between the risen Lord, of God, Pope Francis encourages us to read the Second the community of believers and Sacred Scripture is essential Vatican Council’s dogmatic constitution, “Dei Verbum,” and to our identity as Christians.” He continues: “The Bible cannot also to study Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic exhortation, be just the heritage of some, much less a collection of books “Verbum Domini.” These two documents offer a strong for the benefit of a privileged few. It belongs above all to foundation for Francis’ teaching, and offer further those called to hear its message and to recognize themselves opportunities for increasing our knowledge and understanding in its words.” of God’s revelation to us in the written Word. Highlighting the important place of the bible in the It is now up to us as individuals and as parish communities spiritual and pastoral lives of the believer, Francis declares to see how we will respond to this invitation offered by Pope that the “Bible is the book of the Lord’s people, who, in Francis. The third Sunday in Ordinary Time should now be a listening to it, move from privileged time for focussing on dispersion and division toward the Scriptures, and for truly unity.” encountering God’s love for us With this apostolic letter the in this most sacred of books. The pope “invites us to hold the word actual day for the first “Sunday of God in our hands every day as of the Word of God” will be much as possible so that it Sunday 26th January 2020. becomes our prayer,” and a Surely this is an opportunity that greater part of our ordinary daily should not be overlooked. lived experience.

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Praying for those who have died

Father Martin Chambers reflects that praying for our loved ones who have died is something that touches us deeply but also opens us up to God.

hen my Dad, Peter of us, would know that Chambers, was diagnosed God was with us through W with terminal cancer, it was, the pain – in whatever for me, a difficult time in prayer. I situation the cancer threw didn’t know what to pray for. Now I’d up. As Dad neared his spent my life praying and encouraging death, my prayer became others to do the same but I was even more focused: that, unsure ... should I pray for a miracle, as Dad had always should I pray for his peace and calm on known God through any particular day or should I pray that many Masses and we all accept in faith whatever today prayers, he would now be brings? In fact, although I wanted to able to trust in God’s pray for peace and calm particularly at ways as he moved home with our disabled Mum, I ended towards Eternal Life. At up praying most of all that Dad, and all the time of Dad’s funeral in April 2015 and since Death is nothing at all then, my prayer has become very and created each one of us. God created simple: that he (Dad) would now, in us and those who have gone before us. I I have only slipped away to the turn, enlighten us and inspire us – from find that it is this part of prayer which next room. I am I and you are you. the Other Place – to know the path we moves my heart. Yes, I loved my Dad Whatever we were to each other, should follow towards the life with God. and indeed miss him but when I open That, we still are. A life we believe he, and all our myself in prayer to the Creator God, I Call me by my old familiar name. departed loved ones, are now surely remember God is present and creating in Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. enjoying. me (even today) and that the same God Put no difference into your tone. raying for our loved ones who is bringing Dad towards a new life in Wear no forced air of solemnity or P have died is something that Heaven. In prayer I also remember the sorrow. presence of Jesus Christ, the Son of Laugh as we always laughed at the touches us deeply. Especially in the little jokes we enjoyed together. month of November when we take part God who came on earth. In this regard, I Play, smile, think of me. Pray for in special Masses for our Dead and bring to mind in prayer not just the great me. when we fill in our November Lists, we words and actions that Jesus shared in Let my name be ever the his life but I remember the greatest act household word that it always was. bring to mind our loved ones who have Let it be spoken without effect. passed away. The first thing we do in of all: Jesus rose to new life. We believe Without the trace of a shadow on it. prayer is we Remember: we bring to that all our deceased family and friends Life means all that it ever meant. are moving towards that Eternal Life It is the same that it ever was. mind all the happy times we shared with There is absolute unbroken those who have passed away and with God in Heaven. The final part of continuity. perhaps also remember the difficult my prayer for those who have died is to Why should I be out of mind times we shared, times that made us remember the Holy Spirit Who Lives, because I am out of sight? the Holy Spirit who moves among us to I am but waiting for you. stronger in ourselves and stronger For an interval. together. This brings us to the second inspire us. It is at this point in prayer Somewhere. Very near. thing we do in prayer: we Give Thanks. when I remember that all those who Just around the corner. We give a prayer of thanksgiving to have died are in fact still alive. Those All is well. who have died in God share in his God for giving us great memories and (This poem is often read at funerals. inspiring moments that we can take eternal life. This means that my Dad The author, Henry Scott-Holland (1847 - forward in our own lives. In doing this (and all our family and friends who have 1918), a priest at St Paul’s Cathedral of died) still guide us, still inspire us, still London, did not intend it as a poem, it we come to a further aspect of our was actually delivered as part of a prayer: we connect once again with whisper in our hearts as it were to show sermon in 1910 while the body of King us the path of meaning, the path of love, Edward VII was lying in state at God. We come into the Presence of Westminster.) God the Father who created the world the path of life.

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The Little Flower Chalice

At the September visit to Galloway of the relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux, Canon Archie Brown and his family gladly recalled the memories of her intercession on behalf of their grandparents for their daughter who was in danger of losing her sight.

his chalice is an eloquent testament to the growing devotion to the Carmelite Sister who would eventually become known the world over as St Thérèse of Lisieux following her canonisation. The story is one of faith and hope born out of loving T parents’ desperation in the face of a child’s affliction. In 1904, Helen Keenan was born to her parents, John and Mary, who lived in Mossblown in Ayrshire. John and Mary would have seven daughters – three born before Helen. When Helen lost her sight at a very young age, her parents, strong in their faith, sought not only medical advice but looked to their parish priest and faith community for spiritual solace in a period of trial. By some act of providence, John and Mary became aware of stories of the powerful intercession of a young French Carmelite Sister who had died only a few years before in 1897. Helen’s parents and sisters began to beseech Thérèse’s aid. Their prayers were answered when Helen’s sight was restored. The joy of her parents, siblings and the wider Mossblown community can only be imagined. In thanksgiving, this chalice was presented by John and Mary Keenan in 1911 to the church of St Ann in Mossblown. This beautiful gift continues to be used in the Holy Mass in St Ann’s to the present day. The chalice, however, represents more than a happy story of sight restored and a family’s gratitude to God and his Servant, St Thérèse of Lisieux. It bears witness, more generally, to the early reception of Thérèse’s cult in Scotland, encouraged in large measure by the actions of Father Thomas Nimmo Taylor (later of Carfin Grotto), one of the first to propagate knowledge of Thérèse in the British Isles. This is the inspiring message of the ‘Little Flower Chalice’ of Mossblown.

Around the base of the chalice can be read the following inscription: Dono Joannis et Mariae Keenan Ecclesiae S. Annae de Annbank 1911. [Gift of John and Mary Keenan to the church of St Ann, Annbank, 1911.]

Praying for the Dead, continued A PRAYER FOR HEALING here is absolutely no doubt that the prayer for T someone who has died is a prayer of grief. It is a Heavenly Father, prayer of loss. It is a prayer that aches inside. It is the prayer I’m calling on You in a special way It’s through your power that I was of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father, if you are created Every breath I take, every willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, let your morning I wake, and every will be done, not mine.” Yet it is also the prayer that opens moment of every hour, I live through Your you and me up to God: to God the Father who continues to power and in Your care. create in us; to Jesus the Son who continues to redeem us; and to the Holy Spirit who lives in our hearts each day. As Father, I’m asking You now to send your Holy you pray this year for your family and friends who have died, Spirit to touch me with the same power. open yourself to that ongoing grace from God who, even in For, if you created me from nothing, grief, can renew your heart. You can certainly re-create me. Cast out anything that should not be in me. Let me leave you with one last thought about how those Mend what is broken. who have died still move among us. My Dad, Peter Chambers, loved his garden and when he moved house in Root out any unproductive and harmful cells. 1987 he planted an Acer tree which was waist-height when it Open any blocked arteries or veins. was planted. He tended it with such love and care that, by the Rebuild any damaged parts of me. time he passed away in 2015, it was a full-height tree. In his Remove inflammation and cleanse infection. memory, I planted a similar waist-high Acer tree at St Let the warmth of Your healing love enter deeply Matthew’s this year. I am happy to say that it is growing well into my body and make new all diseased or and hope it manages through its first hard winter. Every time damaged parts, so that my body may be the way I look at the tree I say a quick prayer for Dad; through the You created it to be. prayer I know that Dad is watching over me – as always – And Father guiding my every decision, leading me to God. Restore me to full health in mind and body so Through prayer, our loved ones live on into the that I may serve You for the rest of my life. Resurrection of Eternal Life. I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Why not give a Real Gift this Christmas?

Real Gifts are a brilliant way to give an ethical gift that make a difference in the world.

When you buy a Real Gift for a loved one, you’re providing something vital to our sisters and brothers in Africa, Asia and Latin America and also giving a thoughtful gift to someone in your life.

How does it work? 1 Choose your gifts from the SCIAF online store. 2 For each gift you will receive a beautiful card and fridge magnet which you can pass on to your friends and family, 3 Your charity gift helps to change lives in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Gifts range from school books for £11, a vegetable garden for £19 or a shelter for a family for £32. Why not provide a pig for £32 or help provide an emergency water supply for £23. If you have more cash to spare £276 provides emergency water for a year and £830 helps train a teacher (a school project perhaps?).

Go to www.sciaf.org.uk and choose your real gift now. Help make someone’s Christmas better.

The team at Galloway Diocese News wish all our readers a happy and holy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us”

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