SCIAF's CEO Leaves Post
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SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR ONLY NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SEE PAGE 2 FOR DETAILS No 5289 Papal visit deacon ordained for Argyll and the Isles Page Fr David Connor enters priesthood after celebrations at St Columba’s 4 No 5420 www.sconews.co.uk Friday June 17 2011 | 90p SCIAF’s CEO leaves post I Paul Chitnis steps down after 15 years at the helm of the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund By Ian Dunn sometimes had to bear SCIAF’s chief executive it. So the Paul Chitnis has left the summer charity after 15 years at months its helm. afford me Mr Chitnis (right) left last with an Friday, announcing news of his opportunity departure to Scottish Catholic to put them International Aid Fund staff and first. Then I volunteers on the day. will return to service in some Mr Chitnis told his col- form.” leagues in an e-mail that he Mr Chitnis closed by telling understood his departure would SCIAF’s staff that he would be ‘a bit of a shock’ but that it ‘pray for you all that God may was ‘time for him to move on.’ continue to be present in this “I hate goodbyes, always have wonderfully privileged aposto- and probably always will,” he late which we know as SCIAF.’ wrote. “I’d rather leave quietly and quickly without any fuss.” Reaction Cardinal Keith O’Brien paid Moving on tribute to the departing SCIAF Mr Chitnis said that being the boss this week. chief executive of SCIAF has “I thank Paul for his many been ‘the single greatest privi- years of dedicated service to lege’ of his ‘professional life.’ SCIAF and wish him every suc- He also thanked the charity’s cess for the future,” the cardinal team for giving him the chance said. “One of my greatest joys Historic steps for Stornoway’s first parish to work with ‘some of the most as a director of SCIAF has been talented and dedicated people I travelling with Paul to visit By Martin Dunlop History in the making Fr Roddy Johnston, Cardinal Keith O’Brien and have met in my 30 years in the SCIAF projects around the Our Holy Redeemer was the first perma- Bishop Joseph Toal of Argyll and the Isles voluntary sector.’ world. This has opened my CARDINAL Keith O’Brien became nent Catholic parish to be established in brave the fine Scottish summer weather to “I leave SCIAF a stronger, mind to all that has been the first cardinal to set foot in Stornoway post-Reformation and—to visit the 5000-year-old Calanais (Callanish) more focused and purposeful accomplished for the world’s Stornoway when he joined Bishop mark its golden jubilee—the cardinal and Stones on Stornoway when visiting the island organisation than when I start- poorest on behalf of the people Joseph Toal of Argyll and the Isles Bishop Toal celebrated Mass on the feast to mark the golden jubilee of the first parish ed,” he said. of Scotland.” for the 50th anniversary of the parish of St Columba alongside Fr Roddy there since the Reformation, Our Holy “We have a terrific strategic SCIAF’s board of directors, of Our Holy Redeemer on the Isle of Johnston, parish priest, former priests of Redeemer PIC: PAUL MCSHERRY framework which sets some which includes several mem- Lewis—and Britain’s most senior the parish and many clergy from across challenging but exciting direc- bers of the Bishops’ Conference Catholic clergyman brought a strong Argyll and the Isles Diocese. Prior to the tions for the future. of Scotland, released a state- Christian message with him. Mass, the clergymen toured the island homily at the jubilee Mass. “Our finances are robust and ment after his departure thank- “There are indeed those who are indiffer- together. “Today we celebrate the golden jubilee will help us weather the reces- ing ‘Mr Chitnis for his long ent to any religion; there are those who take While last week’s visit was the first by of the building of the first permanent sion.” service to the charity.’ a stronger viewpoint and are working ever- a cardinal to the island, Cardinal Keith church in Stornoway since the Protestant After leaving the charity, Mr “After more than 15 years more confidently to destroy the Christian O’Brien himself is no stranger to the Isle Reformation—but 50 years is but a short Chitnis said he planned to with SCIAF, Paul Chitnis has message in our lands,” he told parishioners. of Lewis. time when compared to the approximate- rededicate ‘myself to being a decided to leave his post from “We must be alert to what is going on; we “It is a joy for me being back here with ly 1500-year history of Christianity here husband and father.’ June 10 to pursue other inter- must realise the obligations on us not only you again following on my apostolate as in the Western Isles.” “I am acutely aware that there ests,” the statement said. to live the Christian message ourselves but Apostolic administrator between the is a cost to having a role like mine to hand it on to others.” years of 1996 and 1999,” he said in his I Continued on page 5 and my wife and children have I Continued on page 7 BBC ACCUSED KEVIN McKENNA CONFLICT AHEAD by Church finds no evidence of independence spokesman of of sectarianism in for the largely bias after televising Catholic education Christian south man’s death in Scotland on July 9 SUDAN CRISIS SUDAN ASSISTED SUICIDE Page 3 Page 10 SCHOOLS CATHOLIC Page 8 visit www.sconews.co.uk SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 e-mail [email protected] 2 PICTURE NEWS SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday June 17 2011 A special welcome for Knights of St Columba ARCHBISHOP Mario Conti of you this evening.” Glasgow welcomed the Knights The archbishop added that it was of St Columba to St Andrew’s very appropriate to gather on the feast Cathedral on the feast of St day of the patron of the knights and Columba, telling them that their spoke of St Columba bringing the mission to tackle poverty was ‘missionary light’ to the north of needed today as much as ever, Scotland. especially in the battle against He went on to refer to the knights’ ‘poverty of spirit.’ ‘mission of faith’ based on the funda- During Mass last Thursday at the mental principles of ‘charity, unity newly renovated cathedral in and fraternity’ and spoke of their Glasgow, Archbishop Conti spoke of bonds with the Knights of St the historical roots of the knights, an Columbus in the US and the Knights order that began in Glasgow in 1919 of St Columbanus in Ireland. to bring together Catholic laymen “It gives me great satisfaction to dedicated to the service of the Church thank you for your loyal service to the and their fellow man. The order is archdiocese and for you generosity in now active throughout the UK. always giving to others without any sense of wanting anything back for Welcome yourselves,” the archbishop said. “In welcoming you all to this great He noted that the Knights of St parish cathedral this evening I wel- Columba Order was founded at a time come in a special way the Knights of of ‘institutionalised discrimination’ ments from the Second Vatican Archbishop Mario Conti was delighted to St Columba, and also their families and ‘great poverty.’ Council of the role of the laity in the welcome the Knights of St Columba to the and friends who join them,” the arch- “While those problems are not modern world and of how lay newly renovated St Andrew’s Cathedral bishop said. lacking in today’s Scotland, in some Catholic groups today could draw on the feast of St Columba “I conceived that once the cathedral of the areas of our urban cities, there inspiration from them. PICS: MARK CAMPBELL was open it would be good to wel- are other poverties,” he said before come special groups to celebrate here going on to speak of ‘the poverty of Throughout Scotland for the celebration. at St Andrew’s; to celebrate our Faith, spirit, the poverty of culture, the Supreme Knight John Jo McDonagh to celebrate the graces that through social poverty’ in our society that and brothers from throughout I The order is continually seeking the service of the Church come to ‘challenges the Church today.’ Scotland, from as far away as new members. For more information each one of us. “It is more difficult to heal the sort Aberdeen the archbishop noted, visit http://www.ksc.org.uk. The “It seemed very appropriate to of poverty we are talking about, the joined the Glasgow Province for the knights are also on Facebook and invite you, Knights of St Columba, poverty of the spirit,” he said. Mass. Mr McDonagh gave the first can be contacted by letter to KSC, for your long and generous service to “We all have a special challenge to reading. The Sisters of the Gospel of 75 Hillington Road South, Glasgow, the archdiocese, which is why I have address such issues.” Life, whose pro-life work the knights G52 2AE. Or by telephone: 0141 883 such great pleasure in welcoming The archbishop spoke of the docu- support, also joined the congregation 5700 Having difficulty getting your copy of the ? Don’t be disappointed! Take out a subscription today from only £14 and claim an inspirational free book with every annual subscription.