Hope and Healing in Dunblane I Holy Family Parish to Mark 20Th Anniversary of Tragic Shooting in the Town by Ian Dunn

HUMANISTS want STONEWALL’S DUCHESS OF religious reps Ruth Hunt on CAMBRIDGE off education better links visits St committees. with Church. Catherine’s. Page 3 Page 8 Page 4 No 5662 VISIT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER ONLINE AT WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK Friday March 11 2016 | £1 Hope and healing in Dunblane I Holy Family Parish to mark 20th anniversary of tragic shooting in the town By Ian Dunn ON SUNDAY, parishioners of the Holy Family parish in Dunblane will mark the 20th anniversary of the shooting that killed 16 young children and their teacher. Mgr Basil O’Sullivan was parish priest there when Thomas Hamilton took a gun and Pope Francis prepares to committed mass murder at Dunblane Primary School, and 20 years later he is still there. Canonise Blessed Teresa “As we have every year without fail, we’re having an anniversary Mass,” he said. “We POPE Francis is preparing the remarks after the Angelus pray for the injured, we pray for the bereaved to Canonise Blessed prayer, also expressed his and those who still suffer every day.” Mother Teresa, and said closeness to the congregation Many of those involved in the aftermath she would be joined in founded by Mother Teresa. of the shooting will attend. Mike Robbins, Heaven by the four The four nuns—Sr the Provost of Stirling, who helps represent sisters of her order who Anselm, Sr Reginette, Sr the Dunblane/ Bridge of Allan ward on Stirling were murdered in Yemen Judith and Sr Marguerite— Council, and who was chairman of the last weekend. were shot and killed by Dunblane Primary School Board at the time The Vatican announced extremists at the care home of the incident, will give a reading, as will that Pope Francis will they ran in Aden, Yemen’s Sally Kennedy, the current headteacher. preside over a consistory to capital, along with 12 residents approve the Canonisation of the home. Two of the nuns Memories of the Blessed Teresa of murdered were Rwandan, “Everyone has their own memories, Calcutta (above) on March one was Indian, and the their own ‘might-have-beens,’” 15, the final step in approving other was from Kenya. Mgr O’Sullivan (right) said. “All a new saint. It is widely The Pope said he prayed the sadness that’s still there.” believed he will then for those killed in the attack Despite the passage of time, he “Like the rest of the Tribute announce that Blessed and for their family members. can still recall moments of light community I was shattered He finds hope in the special stained glass Teresa’s Canonisation will “These are the martyrs of amid the horror. but I had a job to do,” he windows (above), which feature doves take place on September 4. today!” he said. “[They are] “Waiting in the school [after the said. “To preach the Love representing those lost rising towards Heaven. The good news came as not [on] the covers of shooting] we had no idea of what of God despite the fact “I hope it will be part of the healing members of the Blessed newspapers, [they] are not the was happening outside and how the that the community was process, and that we will have left behind us Teresa’s order—the news, they that give their school was being inundated with devastated.” for the future generations a monument that Missionaries of Charity— blood for the Church. These love and sympathy from people He said he can only is appropriate to the tragedy,” he said. were mourning loss. people are victims of the everywhere,” he told the SCO. hope he provided some Mgr O’Sullivan also believes that Dunblane’s The Pope told the Faithful attack, of those who killed “All Dunblane was being loved consolation. most famous son has done a lot to help gathered in St Peter’s Square them and of indifference, and prayed for by good people all “I hope so,” he said. “I people move on. “It was a wonderful thing on Sunday that the four sisters of this globalisation of over the world. People from the media would hope they found consolation in the Church Andy Murray came along,” he said. “He has killed by extremists in indifference, which doesn’t ask where God was that morning. The and God. That they found hope in the been a wonderful ambassador for the town. Yemen were victims of the care. May Mother Teresa strange thing was that no one on the ground, message of the Gospel and the Resurrection.” We are not just a place children got killed, ‘globalisation of indifference’ accompany her martyr daugh- the people I was dealing with, no one asked He expects he will preach an ordinary but the home of an international star. It’s a who had ‘[given] their ters of charity in Heaven, and me that question.” Lenten homily this time. “Of course I’ll better thing to be defined by.” blood for the Church.’ intercede for peace and sacred After the world moved on, the people of welcome those special visitors,” he said. The Holy Father, who made respect for human life.” Dunblane had to find a way to heal. “But after 20 years we’ve said it all already.” I [email protected] SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 I e-mail [email protected] 2 WHAT’S ON SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER FRIDAY MARCH 11 2016 What’s On A weekly guide to upcoming Church-related events, more online at www.sconews.co.uk FRIDAY MARCH 11 day for the rehearsal (12.30 - I The Beginning Experience: 2.30pm). There will then be a residential weekend for those break for lunch and the who are alone through performance will start at divorce, separation or widow- 3:30pm. Anyone who would hood. From 11th-13th March like to attend as a member at the Conforti Centre, of the audience should be Coatbridge. Contact Ros on seated by 3.30pm. 0131 669 0003 or email [email protected] SUNDAY MARCH 13 I All night Vigil. St Gerard’s I Concert by Paisley Philhar- and Sacred Heart in Bellshill. monic Choir An Evening of The Vigil will take place on Concert Classics at St Friday, March 11 from 8pm Mirin’s Cathedral, Paisley on with an opening Mass. Sunday 13th March at 7pm. Tickets £10. You are advised SATURDAY MARCH 12 to bring a cushion for com- I Mass of St Patrick, on Sat- fort. urday March 12, at 11.30am in St Andrew’s Cathedral, TUESDAY MARCH 15 Glasgow, celebrated by Mgr I Lauriston Jesuit Centre. In Paul Conroy, vicar general of association with SCIAF & the the archdiocese. The congre- Romero Trust, The Violence gation will be welcomed by of Peacemaking, Archbishop an Irish Piper followed by Romero and the Search for music and song from St Peace. Fr Francisco de Roux James the Great Musicians SJ. Tuesday 15th March. and the choir of the Gaelic 6.15pm Mass in the Church; League. Cantor: Claire 7.00pm Tea and Coffee; O’Neil. Please come early. 7.30pm Talk. Admission by donation. Contact: 0131 477 5788 WEDNESDAY MARCH 16 The 40th anniversary of a Glasgow primary school was celebrated in The Immaculate Conception in Maryhill on February 26. Pupils and staff from St Blane’s I Primary in Summerston were joined by Archbishop Philip Tartaglia of Glasgow, parish priest Fr Jim Lawlor and former parish priest Fr Pat Currie for the celebration Year of Mercy Talks at of Mass. St Blane’s was born in 1975 out of a unique open-plan structure and in its early years shared space with non-demonational schooling.An inaugural Immaculate Conception. function took place in March 1976 and the school took the name St Blane’s in February of 1997.The current headteacher, Michele Stewart, is only the third in the Touching Mercy; an experi- schools history.To mark the anniversary, the school have been holding a number of events including concerts, a pantomime, and a fun day. ence of prayer. The Parish Depute headteacher Tracey Heaney said the Mass was beautiful and that the children’s singing on the day was fantastic PIC: PAUL McSHERRY Meditation Group will offer a led-prayer experience around God's mercy. At The Immac- Bishop Joseph Toal ulate Conception Hall, Mary- SPOTLIGHT ON presented the Bene hill Road, Glasgow, G20 I Merenti Medal to a The Crucifixion by John 0AA. All talks are free, open faithful servant of Stainer (above). Motherwell to all and begin at 7.00 pm. the Church during a Diocese in association with For further information please Mass of Celebration the Lanarkshire Society of contact: 0141 946 2071 or in Christ the King, Organists will host a Come- email: frjim- Holytown. Mary and-Sing performance of [email protected] Wilson, a cook at the Stainer's Crucifixion in Our pastoral centre, now Lady of Good Aid Cathedral, FRIDAY MARCH 18 joins a select group Motherwell, on Saturday I Grasping he Nettle Confer- of people in Scotland March 12. The conductor will nce, with Bishop Keenan of who have received be Des McLean and the Paisley. Woodhill Evangelical the papal award organist John Pitcathley. Any Church, Wester Cleddens which honours singers / parish choir mem- Road, Bishopbriggs. Friday service to the bers who would like to par- 18 March 7.00pm - 9.30pm, Church ticipate should report to the Saturday 19 March 9.30am - PIC: TOM EADIE cathedral at 12.30pm on the 4.30pm E-mail [email protected] Workplace chaplaincy: FOLLOW THE Could YOU volunteer? SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER AT SCO_NEWS ON TWITTER.

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