DUNKELD NEWS Diocesan Newsletter of the Bishop of February 2015

TIME TO MAKE AN HONEST AND FAITH-FILLED RESPONSE Let your voice be heard at the Synod on Family Life As you know Pope Francis has asked the world’s Bishops to think and pray about the Church’s support for, and care of, couples preparing for marriage, couples who are al- ready married in the Church and couples whose marriages have sadly gone awry.

Catholic marriage and the family that results is a beautiful sacramental sign of the bountiful and creative love of God pre- sent in our world. The Holy Father has also asked us to think, pray through and discern our support and care for those in marriages who are suffering from violence or break- down, lack of reconciliation and the many other factors that can throw married and family life into jeopardy.

You might remember how last Octo- ber, before the Extraordinary Synod, Pope Francis asked lay people, priests, couples, This can be done in various ways: in par- There is also the possibility of replying to families, Bishops and in fact the whole ish groups with the Parish Priest; individu- me by hand/post by sending your respons- church to ponder and reflect on some ally, as a family response, or as couples who es to the questions to: Bishop Stephen Rob- weighty questions affecting the family. are married as a ‘couples’ response, also by son, Diocesan Offices, 24-28 Lawside Road, priests and Bishops! We are all INVITED , DD3 6XY. Now for the 2015 Ordinary Synod this to respond. October he has asked us to do a similar ex- It is imperative that all responses reach ercise. Though the timescale is very tight, I have asked Mr Andrew Mitchell, our me by 22nd February if they are to be sub- the Holy Father has asked Bishops Con- webmaster, to put two documents online, mitted and incorportated into a diocesan ferences to consult as widely as possible together with a method of responding to response to be made by 28th February parishes, families, priests, individuals, lay them through our website: 2015. persons and bishops to give their responses www.dunkelddiocese.org.uk as honestly, and in as faith-filled manner as I know that this timescale is ALMOST possible, to a series of new questions con- • RELATIO is for reading and study to impossibly tight. However the Bishops structed in the light of the Last Synod. inform our thoughts. themselves only received the documents • 40 questions is the full text of the Vati- from the Vatican at the Bishops Conference Unfortunately Roman Documents are can’s questions. in Salamanca last week. I am sorry for this not always easy to read, nor do they ask the • Responding electronically through but if we are to make responses as the Holy kind of questions that are easily understood our website is a much simpler exercise, Father has requested we will need to get off by many of us. But it is important that you with clear instructions on how to make the mark. all, if possible, read the so-called Relatio your response. The questions in this which is the fruit of the last year’s Synod latter document are fewer and more and then look at, and consider, the ques- straightforward and will take less time + Bishop Stephen, tions which arise from that Relatio. to answer. Bishop of Dunkeld INSIDE THIS ISSUE: News, views and coming events from around the diocese page 1 ©2015 DIOCESE OF DUNKELD - SCOTTISH CHARITY NO. SC001810 Uncovering the truth beyond the statistics A quick glance at the ‘religion’ section of This reality is both good news and scary 1. Those Catholics who are still the UK’s most recent census, 2012, makes at the same time. regarding themselves as Members interesting reading. It would appear that of the Church are far more numer- for years we have been underestimating our There for all to see in the Census figures ous than we have been estimating Catholic population in . are the following numbers: (almost 100% more). Numbers of 2. The Mass attendance, even al- Our Catholic community has of course Catholics lowing for errors, shows that our been enlarged by immigration over the City of Dundee 26,991 Mass-going population is only years, we knew that. What we didn’t know Angus 7,765 about one seventh (about 14.5%) of was that in an age of declining membership 13,041 the total. Our diocese is therefore – so we thought – the numbers of Catholics Clackmannanshire 4,814 severely lapsed from practice of the had been rising steadily. How are we to un- 7,600 Faith and yet these people still re- derstand this? 4,600 gard themselves as Catholics. And so should we. Frequency of Mass The experience of most of us is that Mass TOTAL Catholics 64,811 attendance is not the only criterion attendance seems to be declining. Perhaps (The actual number of Catholics of Membership of the Church. This in Dunkeld Diocese) is highly significant. recently they have bottomed out but the numbers of those going to Mass doesn’t 3. The Marriage figures speak for seem to be increasing to any great extent. And this trend repeats itself right across themselves; most couples do not Scotland: number of self-declared Catho- appear to be getting married in the Of course, depending on our criteria lics in Scotland (2012)= 841,053 Church. for membership of the church: through baptism, Mass attendance, Christmas and While it is true that the figures for Fife 4. Our schools which are still Easter Mass attendance, attendance at wed- and Stirling areas are estimated propor- widely supported by our people tionally, because the diocese does not have dings and funerals, etc., we could get wide may be our only remaining direct the whole of Fife and only a small part of link with these families. ranging estimates. the Stirling area, the trend is clear. 5. This realisation is one that For the past number of years we’ve been The scary side of this discovery is not so ought to spur us on to use any constantly scaling down our numbers to good and ought to be a wake-up call to us. means of re-evangelisation. We match what we see in the pews. The 2013 Catholic Directory for Scotland, must try anything that will re- the year corresponding to the Census fig- connect us with our people. Our But this leads us to a massive deception. ures showed an estimated Catholic Popula- people are still there and we can’t Because the 2012 Census figures give us tion as 30,000. That same year the official abandon them just because they the real number of those who still regard Mass attendance figure for the Diocese was aren’t going to Mass! How can we themselves as Catholics in spite of not go- 8,964. The baptismal and marriage statis- welcome them back? Why is there ing to Mass. In other words the numbers tics were very low with Baptisms at 271 and such a fall-off in practice of the of those going to Mass is an indicator to Marriages at only 77. Faith? How can we re-connect and the numbers of Catholics we are reaching welcome and re-integrate those of and touching with the Gospel, but nothing While it is possible that these figures our people who still regard them- more than an indicator. Because those who are not totally accurate, they won’t be selves as Catholics but who don’t regard themselves as Catholics are far more widely out. Various conclusions therefore feel they can stand visibly with us? in number than we realised. flow from these figures.

Plenty of questions but no answers yet! But we must do something. Even realising there is a problem is a good start. page 2 Our hopes are high for Wellburn’s future As you know the Little Sisters of the Poor are to leave Wellburn in Dundee after al- most 152 years. It has been a very painful decision for them and it was exceedingly painful news for us and for some of our priests who are in care there. After all, the estate at Wellburn has been in Catholic hands since the 1840s and the Little Sisters have been in situ since 1863. Continuing the great traditions Since the future of the Home became un- clear a number of families have decided to of St Jeanne Jugan move their loved ones to other care facili- ties and a couple of staff have left. bers specialise in care for the elderly to money for St Joseph’s, Wellburn that would replace the Little Sisters of the Poor and keep it sustained over the years.” Bishop Stephen says, “Contrary to ru- continue the Traditions of St Jeanne Jugan. mours to the contrary, we are actively seek- This hope is at an advance stage of realisa- “Please keep these intentions in your ing funding to be able to purchase Well- tion.” prayers during the month of February. burn for the diocese, to keep the home in What a great advert this would be to the Church hands and hopefully to develop the “By the end of February I would hope people of the diocese - and wider – of the site with a new Wellburn Nursing Home.” to be able to be able to announce that the Church’s concern and love for the elderly diocese would be in a position to purchase. which Pope Francis recently called the “To this end I have also approached one Obviously we would also be seeking to ‘treasure house of our collective memory’ of the New Religious Orders whose mem- form a professional funding group to raise and, I would add ‘wisdom’.” Bridging the gap passing on the faith to our children On Saturday, 17th January, we had a visit mission of the faith grandparents are so from Mr Phil Butcher from the Catholic well placed to bridge the gap and keep the Grandparents Association. The Association faith-chain alive and strong. This seems to is big in Ireland, England and the USA. It me to be a real ministry that grandparents recognises the wonderful part Catholic can do. Grandparents have an access and a grandparents nowadays play in the contin- privileged place in the lives of their grand- uing faith formation of their grandchildren children. They can be a quiet supporting (and even children). About forty people presence to parents and grandchildren in from the diocese came to hear Phil and to passing on the faith and our Catholic Tra- experience something of the fundamental dition in a simple way. ideas that underpin the Association. Surprisingly the greater number of par- There will be much more about this lat- ticipants had come from the far-flung parts It is to be hoped that those who attended er as groups start to form. Ron and Helen of the diocese. There were few from the the conference will have the help from their Wylie have already had great experience of City of Dundee. Bishop Stephen would like parishes to start an association in their own the CGA and will be coordinating our ac- to thank those who came from Dunblane, communities. With so many families expe- tivities in the diocese with a constant sup- Alloa, Crieff and Montrose especially for riencing a missing generation in the trans- port of the CGA. making the effort.

page 3 An Afternoon for Life An Afternoon for Life is an important initiative in the diocese. The programme for the day DIRECTIONS: will be as follows: If you are travelling from the north/ east This Event will take the form of a Study 12noon Light lunch or west of Dundee, the St Ninian Institute Afternoon on Saturday, 28th February is best approached from the Lochee/Logie from 12 noon to 4pm. to help inform us (provided) 12.45pm Introduction Road (A923) – the main Dundee/ Coupar on current debates in Embryology, Eutha- Angus Road which intersects with the King- nasia and Abortion. This year promises to 1pm Calum McKellar Scottish Council on sway (A90) at the Camperdown Junction. be another difficult one for Catholic Faith Driving towards the city centre, turn off left and Morals. Human Bioethics – Embryology at Loons Road and then Lawside Road is the 4th street on your right. Last year we saw the passing and imple- 1.45pm John Deighan Scottish mentation of the same-sex marriage legis- From the south, after you have crossed the lation. This year there is the great threat to Parliamentary Office – Euthanasia Tay Road Bridge, follow the A923 Coupar the elderly and vulnerable with the Assisted Angus road until you reach Loons Road (a Suicide legislation surfacing again in Eng- 2.30pm Coffee 2.45pm Sr Roseann Reddy sharp right turn), Lawside Road is the 5th land and in Scotland. There was also the opening on your right. recent ruling in the Supreme Court against Cardinal Winning Pro-Life Initiative the Glasgow Midwives and their right in Currently most SatNavs will direct you conscience not to be involved directly or - Abortion 3.30pm Panel and Questions to the locked entrance at the front of the St indirectly in abortions. Ninian Institute in Gardiner Street. If you To register please email: arrive there you should follow the bound- The Meeting will take place in the St ary wall in an anticlockwise direction along Ninian Pastoral Centre, 24-28 Lawside [email protected] or turn up on the day. Inverary Terrace, turning sharp left up Road, Dundee DD3 6XY Lawside Road. SPECIAL RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES (SPRED) Most of us have within our parishes peo- well and Galloway as well. It has been im- ple with learning difficulties. These can be mensely successful. Priests and people please of all ages. They are often well integrated consider coming along to learn about it.” and much loved in our communities but sometimes they feel excluded from what is The new SPRED Director for Edinburgh going on faith-wise in the parishes because is Mrs Emma Robertson. She and her hus- they have special needs (physical, emotion- band, Stuart, have fostered children with al and psychological, educational). learning difficulties and Emma and Stuart have both known many young people and Bishop Stephen reports, “About 20 years children who need help to understand the ago I came across SPRED (Special Reli- Faith at their own level. gious Education for people with learning difficulties). I was greatly impressed with its Emma will be coming to the St Ninian Pas- simply methodology. It works. It often does toral Centre, 24-28 Lawside Road, Dundee, as much, if not more, for the catechist or on Saturday 21st February from 11-3pm. ‘friend’ as it does for the person with learn- ing difficulties.” Please come along and find out what it is all about and perhaps think about a cou- “With Sister Cecilia O’Dowd DC, Bishop ple of parishes becoming pilot schemes to Stephen started up SPRED in the Diocese take SPRED on as a way of transmitting the of St Andrews and Edinburgh. It is now Faith to young and not so young people with also in Glasgow and Paisley and Mother- learning difficulties. page 4 Celebrating the Extraordinary Form of the Mass Shortly after Bishop Stephen came to the Diocese last year he was asked to consider permitting and promoting the celebrating the Extraordinary Form of the Mass in the Diocese (the so called ‘Vetus Ordo’ or the ‘Old Mass’).

Extraordinary Form of the Mass has never been abrogated (forbidden) though it was largely disused or restricted in the Church since the New Liturgy in English was introduced, the so-called Novus Ordo. Pope Benedict XVI in his Motu proprio containing new norms called ‘Summorum Pontificum’ liberated the old Mass from its old restrictions and since 2007 any priest in good standing, and with sufficient knowl- edge, can celebrate it.

The first thing Bishop Stephen had to find out when he was approached was the number of people who would be seeking to have such a celebration. There appears to be a stable group of about 60 people in the diocese which would give sufficient reason to promote the celebration of an Old Rite Mass. But this would need to be sustainable and stable. It must also be able to sustain The Mass will be celebrated by Father be made a regular feature. As I have said, it itself financially and be well enough sup- John Emerson FSSP of the Society of Saint would need to sustain itself financially and ported in sufficient numbers. Peter, one of the Traditional Congregations it would need to be well supported.” in the Church. Accordingly Bishop Stephen has decided “There is no reason why this celebration to plan a celebration of the Extraordinary Bishop Stephen has the names and phone should be divisive or contentious. It will Form of the Mass in Lawside St Joseph’s numbers of those who have requested the be celebrated for those who desire the Ex- Convent Chapel on Sunday, March 15th Mass and will be contacting them presently. traordinary Form and have a right to access 2015 at 4pm (4th Sunday of Lent). This will it and who love the music and ceremony of take the form of a Sung Mass in the Old Says Bishop Stephen, “After the Mass the old Mass. It is not obligatory for anyone Rite according to the Missal of Saint John there will be a short meeting of all those and it will not be replacing the Ordinary or XXIII (1962). present to see how or if this celebration can usual Form of the Mass.” 400th anniversary of the Martyrdom of Saint John Ogilvie, the Jesuit Martyr

This year marks the 400th anni- March at 7pm in St Andrew’s versary of the Martyrdom of Saint Cathedral, Dundee to which all John Ogilvie, the Jesuit Martyr. are invited. While there will be a number of cel- • a play on the Life of Saint John ebrations around Scotland there are Ogilvie on Saturday, 28th March three which will be most notable for which will be put on by the us: Archdiocese of Glasgow Lent-fest Drama Group. While it will be • a National Mass in St Andrew’s for children principally, adults Cathedral Glasgow on March are also encouraged to come 10th at 7.30pm to which a num- along. It is almost certainly to be ber of representatives have been hosted in the Diocesan Pastoral invited from each Diocese (still to Centre in Lawside; however pres- be appointed) sure of numbers might dictate • a Diocesan Mass to commemo- another venue. There will be rate the Martyrdom of Saint more news about this later in the John Ogilvie on Wednesday, 18th next Dunkeld News. page 5 Feast of our Lady of Lourdes

Mass for the Sick

There will be a Mass for the Sick in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Lochee at 7pm on Wednesday 11th February, celebrated by Bishop Stephen Rob- son. The preacher will be Mgr. Aldo Angelosanto and all are warmly invited. Ac- cess the text of the Holy Father Pope Francis’ excellent Message for the World Day of the Sick on our excellent new Diocesan website - www.dunkelddiocese.org.uk Preparing for Marriage Aid to the Church in Need DURING THIS YEAR OF 2015 we will be setting up a new support service for Prayer - Information - Action Marriage and Family Life. We are sharing with the Archdiocese of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh a new programme. At the pre- Please join Aid to the Church in Need in prayer this month sent moment we are beginning to train new and ask God to protect the Christian people in Pakistan couple-catechists for this programme. who are suffering discrimination and oppression because of their faith:

Marriage preparation is vitally impor- Heavenly Father, you know all of those who suffer in your name. tant in this present time as marriage and family is seriously under threat. Catholic We ask that you be with the Christians in Pakistan and encour- Marriage is a wonderful sign to the whole age them to remain strong in their faith and trust despite physical Church and to Society at large of love, sta- and psychological abuse. bility and fruitfulness in a rapidly chang- ing world. We would also hope to be able We remember those who are imprisonned for their faith. We to provide for those who are married and especially remember Asia Bibi who still remains in jail with a those whose marriages have sadly not been death sentence hanging over her head as a result of Pakistan’s a happy time. blasphemy laws. Mrs Sally McElroy the Director of the Programme in Edinburgh is prepared to Please comfort all those who have lost loved ones and who live in do all necessary training here in our Dio- fear. Strengthen the Church leaders in Pakistan with wisdom and cese and we can put all our own identifying courage to bring truth justice and peace to their nation. marks on all the teaching materials to make it our own. We also pray, most merciful and loving Father, that our brothers and sisters in Christ are blessed with the spirit of forgiveness for Bishop Stephen has asked Sally to come those who persecute them. and address the priests at the next Presby- teral Council in February on the structure and goals behind the Programme. Amen.

It seems likely that the training will be at For further information about Aid for the Church in Need, and our work, Lawside, at the St Ninian Pastoral Centre, please contact Loraine McMahon (01698 337470) but the marriage preparation courses can or email [email protected] be delivered locally or in larger centres in the diocese. It will take a year to get the pro- Aid to the Church in Need is a Pontifical Foundation of the Catholic Church and gramme up and running. Please pray for its a Registered Charity in Scotland (SCO40748 and in England and Wales (1097984) success. page 6 Keep in Touch Celebrating All official communications should be the Year of addressed to the Diocesan Chancellor Mark the Rt. Rev. Stephen Robson Office opening hours 8.30am-4.30pm Evangelist Diocese of Dunkeld, in the Diocesan Centre, 24–28 Lawside Road, Lectionary Dundee, DD3 6XY and the Tel 01382 225453 Liturgy

Two evenings on Lectionary and Liturgy will take place in the McAuley Room of the Diocesan Centre, Lawside Road, Dundee on Thursdays 5th and 12th February for 7-9pm.

These may be of interest to readers, cantors, leaders of the Children’s Liturgy of the Word and whose involved in RCIA or catechetics, Hospital Admissions musicians and those who Most of the priests already do this, but would you please ask your family mem- choose the liturgical music. bers who are admitted to hospital – and remind them often – to let their parish priest and the admissions team who admit them to hospital whether for elective or emergency/acute care, that they are Catholic Christians and would be happy to receive a visit from the Catholic chaplain. SERRA CLUB Too often the Chaplains do not actually know that our Catholic people are in hos- pital as the Data Protection Act does not allow us as priests to access the religious MASS affiliation or the names of patients. Many of our people are disappointed when they don’t receive a visit from the priest-chaplain who may simply not know they have There will be a Vocations Mass been in hospital. Shortly there will be leaflets available with a tear-off slip to com- and Prayers for Vocations cel- plete and present to the admissions team when you are admitted to hospital. ebrated in St Joseph’s Convent Chapel, Lawside on Saturday ARE YOU GOING TO BE IN HOSPITAL? DO YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE WHO IS IN HOSPITAL? morning, 21st March at 10am to which all are invited. Name ______Hospital ______Ward _____

Please complete/ tear off and return with your collection - or hand to your priest after Mass page 7 Bishop of Dunkeld: The Right Reverend Stephen Robson [email protected] Youth Event

Diocesan Centre Chancellor: Sunday, 8th Mr Malcolm Veal B.A. March 2015 [email protected] Human Resources Manager Ms. Fiona Burnett, C.I.P.D. St Andrew’s Cathedral, [email protected] Nethergate, Dundee. Finance Administrator DD1 4AE Miss Melissa Walton, A.C.C.A. [email protected] Join young people Finance Administrator Assistant Miss Lily Haverman from across [email protected] the Diocese for this Lenten Youth Mass Vicars General: with Bishop Stephen Very Rev. Mgr. Aldo Canon Angelosanto WHAT IS IT? St Mary’s, Lochee, The programme for the evening is: Dundee. DD2 3AP. WYD is a celebration of Catholic Tel 01382 611282 youth, who gather from all over the world at the invitation of the Pope. 5.15pm Catechesis Very Rev. Martin Canon Drysdale WYD is open to all young people who with Bishop Stephen St Fillan’s, Ford Road, want to take part in a festive encounter in the Cathedral Hall Crieff. PH7 3HN. Tel 01764 653269 with other young Catholics centred on Jesus Christ. This event is an opportu-

Episcopal Vicars: nity to experience firsthand the univer- 6pm Youth Mass Very Rev. Dr. Thomas Shields PhB, STL, PhD sality of the Church; to share with the (Faith Formation of Young People) whole world the hope of many young 7pm Students hosting food St John the Baptist’s, people who want to commit themselves and games in the hall 20 Melville Street, to Christ and others. Perth, PH1 5PY 8.30pm Departure Tel 01738 622241 WHO IS INVITED? Let’s encourage as many young people Very Rev. Mgr. Basil Canon O’Sullivan JCL Previous World Youth Days have as we possibly can to attend this Lent. (Clergy) drawn literally millions of Young If you need help with transport please get in St Clare’s, Claredon Place, Catholics between 16 and 30. touch and I will organise something for you. Dunblane. FK15 9HB You could be one of millions! Tel 01786 822146 Please reply to A YEAR TO CELEBRATE Frankie McGuire Rt. Rev. Mgr. Kenneth Canon McCaffrey 07706 610543 (Education) CONSECRATED LIFE with numbers attending 29 Byron Street, Dundee. DD3 6QN As announced by the Holy Father re- Tel 01382 825067 cently, November 2014-November 2015 ‘Do not be afraid to go and to bring Christ will be a year to celebrate and pray for our into every area of life, to the fringes of society, Very Rev. Ronald McAinsh CSsR even to those who seem farthest away, most (Religious) Religious Priests, Brother and Sisters in the Consecrated Life. The diocesan launch indifferent. The Church needs you, your St Mary’s, Hatton Road, enthusiasm, your creativity and the joy that took place on Friday, 30th January 2015 in Kinnoull, Perth. PH2 7BP is so characteristic of you.’ Tel 01738 624075 St Joseph’s Convent Chapel, Lawside. There Pope Francis will also be a National Mass to celebrate Very Rev. Steven Mulholland Consecrated Life on the Feast of the Pres- (Ecumenism and Interfaith Relationships) entation of our Lord (Candlemas) on 2nd LOURDES 2015 St Mary’s Rectory, 22 Powrie Place, February 2015 at 12 noon in St Margaret’s Dundee. DD1 2PQ Tel 01382 226384 Chapel, Gillis Centre, Edinburgh. The Annual Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes will be from July 10th to July 17th. Very Rev. Kevin Canon Golden Last year’s Pilgrimage was wonderful and (Adult Faith Formation) CONGRATULATIONS! was a great event in the life of the family of The Presbytery, 56 Dishlandtown Street, the Diocese. . DD11 1QU The Holy Father appointed Canon Aldo Tel 01241 873013 Angelosanto as a ‘Chaplain of His Holiness’ The Pilgrimage is being run this year by with the title of Monsignor. We congratu- Joe Walsh Tours of Dublin. Last Year the Very Rev. James High late him greatly and we also congratulate young people and families together with (Laity and Lay Organisations) 23 Market Street, the appointment of Father Kevin Golden, the older pilgrims, but especially the sick, Montrose. DD10 8NB the Administrator of the Cathedral, as an made the Pilgrimage a wonderful experi- Tel 01674 672208 Honorary Canon of the Diocese of Dun- ence of faith. YOU ARE ALL MOST WEL- keld. COME TO COME. page 8 www.dunkelddiocese.org.uk