SUBSCRIBE TO YOUR ONLY NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SEE PAGE 43 FOR DETAILS No 5396 www.sconews.co.uk Friday December 24 2010 | £2 Local/national and Vatican news Pages 2-5 SPECIAL CHRISTMAS DOUBLE EDITION Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s £2 Christmas message Page 6 Joseph McGrath and Fr Ronald Rolheiser’s columns Pages 7 Bishops’ messages Page 8-9 Entries into the SCO school poetry/art contest Pages 10-11 Celtic charity and Christmas travel series Pages 12-13 Gaelic column Page 15 Finale of the SC0’s 2010 Marian series Page 16-17 James Barclay’s Christmas Story Pages 18 & 27 The year in review pull-out section Pages 19-26 Papal visit spread Pages 22-23 Cath Doherty’s Christmas story Pages 28-29 Children’s Liturgy Pages 30-31 SCIAF’s 2010 report Page 32 ACN review Classifieds section and Fr Gerard Byrne’s and EWTN and Bishops’ of the year church notices Mary McGinty’s columns engagements Page 33 Pages 35-39 Page 41 Page 43 Mary’s Meals looks back Grand Little Parish and Nativity pictures from Jumbo crossword for on the last 12 months Mgr Basil Loftus’ column throughout Scotland Christmas Day Page 34 Page 40 Page 42 Page 44 2 LOCAL NEWS SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday December 24 2010 Pilgrims celebrate a little bit of Scotland in the Holy Land Joy of Papal visit project partners By Katherine Longmuir Cardinal Keith O’Brien drops in to give thanks for and to celebrate a special schools collaboration PILGRIMS on the recent By Martin Dunlop Glasgow Archdiocesan pil- grimage to the Holy Land A SPECIAL day was enjoyed at St had the honour of visiting Ninian’s Primary School, Stirling, the Scottish memorial last Monday as Cardinal Keith plaque, which forever O’Brien visited to celebrate a day of ensures Scotland’s place at thanksgiving for September’s visit of the heart of Christianity. Pope Benedict XVI. The plaque (right) was Joining the St Ninian’s community designed by the late Fr John were representatives and pupils from St Kenneth Campbell, a Franciscan Mary’s Primary School, Bannockburn. and Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, who spent many years the pre-Reformation Cathedral Special project of his priesthood in the Holy of St Mungo, the Lion Rampant St Ninian’s is a non-denominational Land, and features the most icon- and the coats of arms of school, which came together with its ic images of Scottish Catholicism. Edinburgh and Inverness, the Bannockburn friends in September to Fr Campbell, originally of Lowland and Highland capitals. produce a special project marking the Eriskay, led many pilgrimages to St Andrew is given pride of visit of the Holy Father to Scotland on St the Holy places and was com- place with Scotland’s most Ninian’s Day. Cardinal Keith O’Brien, Rev Gary McIntyre along Theresa O’Hanlon, St Mary’s head- mitted to the welfare of famous theologian and philoso- Last Monday’s celebration took the with Elaine Wyllie, St Ninian’s headteacher, teacher, was delighted with the success of Palestinian Christians. His pher, Duns Scotus, a member form of a further project collaboration and Theresa O’Hanlon, St Mary’s headteacher and last Monday’s thanksgiving and, like her design, in the Basilica of the of the order whose friars Christmas concert between the two pupils from both schools St Ninian’s counterpart Ms Wyllie, hopes Annunciation in Nazareth, stands became the peaceful successors schools, which was enjoyed by Cardinal PIC: PAUL McSHERRY the two schools will continue working as a reminder of Scotland’s to the crusaders and have pro- O’Brien and Rev Gary McIntyre, St together in future. important role in Catholicism tected and honoured the Holy Ninian’s school chaplain, staff and parents Holy Father to Scotland on September “The children thoroughly enjoyed it through the ages, and remembers places for many centuries. from both schools and education officials. 16, while their St Mary’s counterparts from beginning to end, including the the important Catholic figures At the base of the mosaic, is Elaine Wyllie, St Ninian’s headteacher, were cheering on their friends from preparations, which were a little bit ham- in Scotland’s history. Robert the Bruce, who never spoke of her joy at inviting the cardinal and Edinburgh’s Princes Street. pered by the weather” Ms O’Hanlon said. The plaque—in the form of a realised his ambition to go on the school chaplain to celebrate with them. “It was a lovely collaboration by both mosaic—celebrates pre- crusade to the Holy Land, but “It was a marvellous day, enjoyed by Presentation schools,” Ms Wyllie added. “The cardinal Reformation Scotland and the who stands there today along- both schools,” Ms Wyllie said. Prior to September’s Papal visit St and Rev McIntyre spoke to the children Scottish tradition of honouring side other figures from “Both schools planned a presentation Ninian’s pupils researched their school and we all enjoyed lunch together. Our Lady, and features at its Scotland’s Catholic past. on the whole adventure of the Papal visit patron while St Mary’s worked on a proj- “There was a joint blessing after the con- heart the Blessed Virgin from Today, a copy of Fr Campbell’s and their involvement in the event.” ect on Pope Benedict. Both schools cert from the cardinal and Rev McIntyre the Royal Sceptre of Scotland, design hangs in his home parish St Ninian’s had been invited to send shared their work in a joint presentation which was very much appreciated.” which was presented to James of St Michael’s, uniting the Holy pupils to take part in Edinburgh’s St prior to the Holy Father’s arrival on St IV by the Pope in 1494. Land and one of Scotland’s most Ninian’s Day parade, welcoming the Ninian’s Day. I [email protected] Our Lady is surrounded by remote parishes. Youngsters get into the Christmas spirit at Craig Lodge retreat SPOTLIGHT ON... YOUNG people from across the UK and Ireland were asked: ‘What do you want for Christmas?’ during the Craig Lodge Advent Youth retreat held on the weekend of November 27-28. A total of 75 youngsters rep- resenting dioceses from across Scotland, England and Ireland were present at Dalmally during the first weekend of Advent (right). During a succession of talks, workshops, the celebration of Mass and Reconciliation serv- ices the youngsters reflected on the real meaning of Christmas and what spiritual gifts they would like to receive. experiences they had shared some time out and focus on our Fr Keith Herrera, parish priest with each other. relationship with Jesus.’ of St Columba’s, Aberdeen “It was a wonderful experi- Denise Roberts, the newly joined the young people for ence, a great balance of praise appointed youth worker for Mass with weekend visits also and informative, inspiring talks,” Argyll and the Isles Diocese, Cardinal Keith O’Brien popped in for a visit to the SVDP Christmas dinner for homeless people of Edinburgh being paid by two Franciscan one of the youths commented. was delighted with the success at Jericho House last Wednesday. The Christmas dinner was supplied, prepared and served by St Benedict’s Sisters of the Renewal (CFR.) “A great awe inspiring weekend of the event and commented SVDP. The St Benedict’s group is made up from the parishes of; St Catherine’s; St Columba’s; St John The youngsters participated to prepare for Advent.” that it was ‘great to see so many Vianney/St Gregory; St John’s Portobello; St Kentigern’s; St Martin’s; St Ninian’s; Our Lady and St Andrew, enthusiastically throughout the Another of the youngsters young people gather together Galashiels; St Peter’s and Sacred Heart, Penicuik PIC: PAUL McSHERRY weekend and spoke about the said that it was ‘fantastic to take for the Advent retreat.’ For further details or to request an information pack, Entry for 2011 please call 0141 332 3190 St Aloysius’ College is a highly successful, Catholic independent school for pupils aged 3-18 that balances an academic education with an emphasis on service to others. For over 150 years, the College has been dedicated to educating young people, seeking to develop the whole person and the gifts and talents of every child. Entry to Kindergarten – Assessments week commencing 24 Jan Entry to P1 – Assessments week commencing 17 Jan 0141 332 3190 [email protected] Entry to P2-P7 – Assessments Sat 22 Jan, 9.30am 45 Hill Street Glasgow G3 6RJ TRCP Registered Entry to Senior School – Entrance Examination Sat 22 Jan, 9.30am www.staloysius.org Registered Charity No. 230165 Friday December 24 2010 SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER SUPPORT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER NEWS 3 Church leads poverty campaigners Cardinal welcomes UK’s new nuncio in their challenge to UK Chancellor THE Catholic Church has Archbishop Antonio Mennini is named as the new Vatican representative to Great Britain led poverty campaigners in challenging the Chancellor By Ian Dunn cio in Bulgaria. As a young priest, Fr of the Exchequer to visit Mennini was involved in negotiations sur- Glasgow to hear first-hand CARDINAL Keith O’Brien, rounding the kidnapping of the former accounts from people living Britain’s most senior Catholic clergy- Prime Minster of Italy Aldo Moro by the in extreme poverty. man, has led the bishops of Scotland terrorist group the Red Brigades. He Members of Scotland’s Poverty in welcoming the Holy Father’s served as a go between the family of Mr Truth Commission have written appointment of a new Apostolic nun- Moro and the Red Brigades, who had kid- to George Osborne (right), in a cio to Great Britain.