'I Will Be a Pilgrim for Christ'
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More than 100 SCHOOLCHILDREN are MARY McGINTY talks to Peter Kearney Confirmed in St Mirin’s Cathedral, about the fund in his late wife’s name, to Paisley, as part of a month-long help mothers with cancer, ahead of programme in the diocese. Page 2 benefit dinner on May 19. Pa ges 12-13 No 5466 www.sconews.co.uk Friday May 11 2012 | £1 Headteachers get government reassurances By Martin Dunlop BISHOP Joseph Devine and Catholic headteachers in Scotland learned last week that the Scottish Government has no intention of forcing them to teach contrary to their religious beliefs. Speaking at the Catholic Headteachers’ Association of Scotland (CHAS) conference last Thursday, the day of the local council elections, Scottish Education Minister Mike Russell (below) spoke to the Motherwell bishop, bishop for education, and the educa- tors on the issue of same-sex ‘marriage.’ “It is not the intention of this government to force denominational schools, or anybody else, to teach something which is against their beliefs,” he said. “Nor would I personally, nor the government, permit any circumstances in which there is an interference in the right to speak the truth as an individual sees it, of course always with respect and fairness.” Mr Russell was speaking as the Scottish public awaits the outcome of a government consultation on legalising same-sex ‘mar- riage,’ a proposal that has been vehemently opposed by the Catholic Church. Michael McGrath, director of the Scottish Catholic Education Service, highlighted press ‘I will be a pilgrim for Christ’ coverage in England that criticised Catholic schools for having the ‘audacity’ to teach a vision of marriage founded on Church doc- IAuxiliary bishop for St Andrews and Edinburgh named; installation a key moment in transition period trine. Asked, in light of this coverage, if he could understand the concerns of Catholic By Ian Dunn chorus of ‘for he’s a jolly good fellow.’ Cardinal Keith O’Brien congratulates Mgr Stephen educators in Scotland, Mr Russell said: “I am Mgr Robson, who is also parish priest at Our Robson on being named the new auxiliary bishop for happy to say once more that there is no inten- ‘I WILL be a pilgrim for Christ’ is the pledge Lady Star of the Sea, North Berwick and Our Lady St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese tion and I wish to see no unintentional conse- of the new auxiliary bishop of St Andrews of the Waves, Dunbar, told the SCO on Tuesday PIC: PAUL McSHERRY quence that puts any people in a position and Edinburgh Archdiocese who will assist that he was ‘absolutely petrified’ at the prospect where they cannot teach or express what they Cardinal Keith O’Brien. of becoming a bishop but that it was ‘tremen- seminary, he assisted at my ordination and gave the believe to be true.” Pope Benedict XVI appointed Mgr Stephen dously affirming’ that the Holy Father had ‘seen homily at the first Mass I preached,” he recalled. Robson, archdiocesan chancellor, to the role on some gifts in me to be able to appoint me here and “I know he said he needs my help to make up I Continued on page 6 Tuesday morning, and Cardinal O’Brien said his I pray to God I can use the gifts that I have to sup- something lacking in himself, but I will have to rely I Full report on conference, see page 6 installation on June 9 would be a key moment in a port and serve the cardinal and the archdiocese.’ on the Good Lord because without Him I can’t PIC: PAUL McSHERRY period of transition for the Church in Scotland. The cardinal said he had known Mgr Robson for think of anything lacking I can make up.” Cardinal O’Brien said that, as he approached his more than 35 years and in that time ‘he has been Mgr Robson said he was also aware that he was 75th birthday, he was ‘delighted’ Mgr Robson had involved with me in pastoral work and school taking on a tough role at a difficult time for the been appointed his auxiliary bishop in order to ‘in work, seminary apostolate and during his further Church. the words of St Paul, make up what is lacking in studies, literally everything a priest should be “Someone said to me that to become a bishop my body for the body of the Church.’ involved in.’ nowadays is to wear not a mitre but a crown of thorns,” he said. “Leadership in the Church is a Welcome support Privilege difficult vocation but one which has to be done, in When the cardinal announced the appointment of Mgr Robson said it had been a ‘tremendous priv- which the Lord asks us the message of the Church Mgr Robson, 61, at the Gillis Centre on Tuesday ilege’ to have been associated with the cardinal for be preached in season and out.” the news was greeted with cheers by the assembled the past 36 years. staff who work with the chancellor, and an impromptu “He was my spiritual director when I entered the I Continued on page 4 GOVERNMENT IN CATH DOHERTY ST KENTIGERN’S Wales accused calls on Catholics parish in Edinburgh of undermining to make a stand to welcome US the integrity of for their Faith Notre Dame Folk Catholic education amid challenges Choir to Scotland CHORISTERS VISIT CHORISTERS SURE LEADERSHIP Page 3 SCHOOLS CATHOLIC Page 10 Page 5 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 SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday May 11 2012 Sweeney of St Patrick’s Church, NEWS IN BRIEF Coatbridge, are leading a pil- grimage to Knock Shrine in Ire- land at the beginning of June. ACROSS JUMBULANCE TO BE The pilgrimage is running BLESSED AT CARFIN from Friday June 1-Monday CARDINAL Keith O’Brien will June 4, and includes a three- celebrate Mass for Across charity night stay at Knock House at Carfin Grotto on Sunday. The Hotel, three nights dinner, bed new Across Jumbulance, which and breakfast and return on will enable more sick pilgrims to coach/ferry. The cost of the pil- travel to Lourdes, will be on view grimage is £265 per person shar- at Carfin from midday.The jum- ing. Anybody interested should bulance was blessed by Arch- contact Fr Sweeney on: 01236 bishop Vincent Nichols, leader of 606808, Susan McBride on: the Catholic Church in England 01698 375950 or Patsy Lonsy and Wales, earlier this year. Sun- on: 01236 425882. day’s Mass with the cardinal at Carfin will begin at 2pm. MOTHERWELL CHOIR NEEDS NEW MEMBERS LEGION OF MARY’S CARFIN MOTHERWELL Diocesan PILGRIMAGE FOR PEACE Choir currently has vacancies in THE Legion of Mary is begin- the Alto, Tenor and Bass sec- ning a monthly pilgrimage to tions and current members are Carfin’s Lourdes Grotto this Sun- interested to hear from potential day to pray for world peace and new recruits. the renewal of young people for If anybody has experience of vocations. The pilgrimages will singing in any of these sections take place on the 13th day of of a choir (or simply just enjoys each month from May to October singing) and would like to join and will begin this Sunday, the the Motherwell Diocesan Choir, feast day of Our Lady of Fatima. they are encouraged to send a This Sunday’s pilgrimage, note of their contact details to which will begin at 7.30pm, will [email protected]. consist of the celebration of The choir meets every Mass, praying of the Rosary, Wednesday evening between Consecration to our Blessed 7.30pm and 9.30pm at Our Lady Paisley enters into the Spirit of the occasion Lady, a Marian procession and of Good Aid Cathedral Primary Benediction. School, Motherwell. For those that don’t have access to email, By Martin Dunlop BISHOP EMERITUS MONE contact details can be sent to PREPARES FOR KNOCK VISIT Margaret Docherty, Motherwell MORE than 100 primary school chil- BISHOP Emeritus John Mone Diocese, Coursington Road, dren from Paisley Diocese were Con- of Paisley and Fr Eamonn Motherwell, ML1 1PW. firmed at St Mirin’s Cathedral last Thursday, part of a month-long pro- gramme during which more than 1100 young people are being Confirmed at Edinburgh Jesuits begin talks the diocesan cathedral. Bishop Philip Tartaglia of Paisley and Bishop Emeritus John Mone Confirmed the on the Second Vatican Council children, as family members, sponsors and school colleagues packed into the cathedral THE 50TH anniversary of itself recovered rich forgotten for the celebrations. the opening of the Second tradition in its effort to engage Bishop Tartaglia commented that the Vatican Council has inspired with contemporary reality. series of eight Confirmation Masses at St Lauriston Jesuit Centre in “This series will help to recall Mirin’s, which will conclude on Thursday Edinburgh this year and is the the gift that Vatican II has been May 24, are ‘among the largest events taking driving force behind its latest to the people of God in the place in the Catholic Church in Scotland talk series, beginning at the Church, and bring it alive in our over the next few weeks.’ end of the month and contin- own time, 50 years on.” At last Thursday’s Mass, children from the uing later in the year. Ms Hawksley, who works at Paisley parishes of St Mirin’s, St Fergus’, St The first part of the Vatican II the School of Divinty at Edin- James’, St Mary’s and St Paul’s were Con- “It was lovely and very touching to see (Top) Bishop Philip Tartaglia of Paisley and talk series begins on Tuesday burgh University, will speak on firmed by the bishops, who concelebrated Bishop John and Bishop Philip with the chil- Bishop Emeritus John Mone in the entrance pro- May 29 at 7.30pm with an intro- June 5 on reclaiming the laity Mass with the priests of the children’s parishes.