Pope calls for Ian Dunn meets HOLY FATHER no DEATH FR WALTERS on immigra- PENALTY in from Let the tion and Year of Mercy. Children Live. pregnancy. Pages 6-7 Page 8 Pages 6-7 No 5660 VISIT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER ONLINE AT WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK Friday February 26 2016 | £1 Gaelic roots of bishop bind him to diocese I Episcopal ordination of Bishop Brian McGee for Argyll and the Isles paid homage to Scottish Church’s origins By Liz Leydon THE strong bonds between Argyll and the Isles and the Scottish Church’s origin, between Scotland and Ireland, were celebrated at the Episcopal ordination of the newest bishop in Scotland. St Columba’s Cathedral in Oban was filled to capacity on the evening of February 18 for the consecration of Bishop Brian McGee by Archbishop Leo Cushley, Bishop Joseph Toal and Bishop John Keenan. “Fr Brian is being sent to you, my dear brothers and sisters, precisely to preach the Good News to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken, anointed as he will shortly be, by the Gift of the Spirit and commissioned by God’s Church to serve you,” Archbishop Cushley said in the presence of Bishop Toal, whom Bishop McGee follows as diocesan bishop, and Bishop Keenan, ‘up until now my boss,’ according to the new bishop who was vicar general in Paisley. The Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh and the bishops of Motherwell and Paisley were joined at the celebration by the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Antonio Mennini; Cardinal Sean Brady of Ireland; their brother bishops in Scotland, including Bishops’ Conference President Archbishop Philip Tartaglia; the clergy and parishioners of the geographically large Argyll and the Isles Diocese; and the families of the diocese’s bishops, past and present. Cardinal Brady’s presence honoured Bishop McGee’s family’s roots in the customary in the diocese, Bishop A hush fell over the congregation for Bishop Brian McGee takes the bishop’s trajectory of Columba. chair in St Columba’s Cathedral, Oban, as north of Ireland. McGee’s mother Brighid was welcomed the examination of the candidate, his his co-consecrators Archbishop Leo Cushley “I would wish all of Columba’s Episcopal ordination with a bouquet before the Episcopal anointing and his investiture. (left), Bishop Joseph Toal (right) and Bishop virtues for you, Brian. But perhaps this ordination began. Ties John Keenan (far right) applaud him last virtue, of being loving to all people, As the congregation arrived, the calm The Liturgy, in English and Gaelic, PIC: PAUL McSHERRY would be the best gift of all that we and mild February night allowed the was hauntingly beautiful and set the tone The ties between the Scottish and Irish could beg for you.” strains of bagpipes outside the cathedral for the solemn Rite of Consecration. Gaelic communities were referred to by placed you here to be a spiritual father to be clearly heard within. As is Upon reflecting on the Gospel [John both Archbishop Cushley and newly and guide to the people of this diocese. New bishop 15:9-17], Archbishop Cushley said: ordained Bishop McGee when they And He has commissioned to you go After Bishop McGee consecrated his “This text, then, surely tells us that none addressed the congregation. out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last. first Eucharist as a bishop, he spoke to of what we see here is our doing. No “Christ simultaneously commissions In a small way, you even imitate St the congregation at length, confidently matter what we want or do, we cannot you to go out and bear fruit, fruit that Columba himself… Your mum and but with humility, addressing them in choose it on our own. We cannot choose will last,” Archbishop Cushley said to many of your own people are from the Irish Gaelic and vowing to learn Christ before He chooses us. And that Bishop McGee. “It will seem strange, it north of Ireland, just like St Columba Scottish Gaelic. is just as well. ‘You did not choose me; may feel a little unlikely for some time and, although you come here via no, I chose you.’” to come, but Christ has chosen you and Paisley, in a way you are following the I Continued on page 2 SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 I e-mail [email protected] Now recruiting volunteers for Project Truth, Summer2016 0141 221 2094 Building a Culture of Life www.spucscotland.org 2 EPISCOPAL ORDINATION SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26 2016 Bishop McGee ‘still amazed at God’s plan’ I Continued from page 1 Tartaglia said: “I congratulate Mgr Brian McGee on his nomination and “I am still amazed at God’s plan, [that] consecration as Bishop of Argyll and the he called to me to be a successor of the Isles and look forward to welcoming him Apostles, but I no longer ask why,” to the Bishops’ Conference. When I was he said. Bishop of Paisley, Brian was one of my “Despite natural apprehension, I have priests. He was a dedicated pastor and a no doubt God will give me every thoughtful priest. I have no doubt that he [support] for my ministry. Like yourselves, will make his own distinctive and valuable however, I too am weak so please pray for contribution to the deliberations of our me… I am most happy to be your new Conference.” bishop.” Bishop Toal is sure his successor will The prayer card for the new bishop, receive a ‘warm Highland welcome’ as, distributed to the congregation as they left like St Columba—great patron of Argyll the cathedral, had a Celtic design of an old and the Isles diocese—‘Bishop Brian has Christian symbol from the Book of Kells family roots in Donegal.’ on the front. The installation of Bishop McGee Bishop McGee has also committed restores the Bishops’ Conference of himself to prayer and the Scriptures. Scotland to full strength, with a bishop or “I cannot give what I do not have archbishop now in each diocese. myself,” he said. (Clockwise from top left) Arcbishop Cushley Support consecrates Bishop McGee; the new bishop’s first blessings; Bishop McGee with his mother Archbishop Mennini expressed both the and sister Holy Father’s and his own congratulations PICS: PAUL McSHERRY and support for the newly ordained bishop at the end of the Mass. Before the ordination, Archbishop I [email protected] INSIDE YOUR SCO INDEX TO NEWS, OPINION AND FEATURES THIS WEEK EWTN CATHOLIC TV IS ON SKY EPG 589 Sky Freesat £175 total cost , no monthly charges. NEWS pages 1-7 COMMENT pages 10-11 CHILDREN’S PAGE page 21 200 Free channels including EWTN TV & Radio. LOCAL NEWS pages 2,3,4 and 5 CENTRE SPREAD pages 12-13 INTIMATIONS pages 17-20 Call Sky on 08442411602 for installation. WHAT’S ON page 2 FR ROLHEISER page 14 BISHOPS’ ENGAGEMENTS page 20 Call EWTN on 020 83502542 or e-mail [email protected] WORLD/VATICAN NEWS pages 6-7 SPIRITUAL REFLECTION page 15 SPECIAL OCCASIONS pages 22-23 for free monthly posted programme guide and LETTERS page 9 PUZZLES pages 16 and 21 CATHOLICISM & ISLAM page 24 visit www.ewtn.co.uk for more info. WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK FRIDAY FEBRUARY 26 2016 SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER NEWS 3 St Aloysius pupils hope Paisley synod looks to the future to sing for the Pontiff By Ian Dunn documents there that will inform dele- PUPILS from St Aloysius the Basilica of San’ Eustachio . gates. He also urged them to think about College’s choir were in co hosted by the Scots College. PAISLEY Diocese has been gripped and respond to questions like ‘Should the Rome this week were they Before heading off to Rome, with synod fever! With just over seven laity be more responsible for the Church’s performed in St Peter’s the choir sang in St Aloysius weeks to go until the official opening mission than the clergy?’And ‘How much Basilica and at an event co- Church were they debuted their Mass of this unique event in history of should the laity be involved in the running hosted by the Pontifical songs for 200 people. the diocese, Catholics from Newton of the parish and in its mission in the local Scots College. Not content with performing Mearns to Gourock are getting area—and what should be consigned The Glasgow school’s in St Peter’s, the young singers involved. to them.’ Schola choir specialises in hope to make their trip to Following prayer and consultation Going through the initial parish singing Liturgical music and Rome extra special, with the stages, the synod on Evangelisation with responses, synod organisers said that peo- hopes to make the school a head of choral music applying emphasis on the Laity’s role will begin ple have been clear ‘while we should cel- centre of excellence for choral for the opportunity to sing at with a solemn Mass in St Mirin’s Cathe- ebrate the vocation of the Lay person and music. the Papal audience on dral on Tuesday April 19. The synodal des- dispel the thought that clergy are more The choir’s trip to Italy Wednesday, after the SCO sions will take place in Notre Dame High important than laity we had also to recog- included an evening concert in went to press. School, Greenock on Saturdays April 23, nise the unique position that priests have May 7, May 21, June 4 and June 18.