PRE-ORDER YOUR PAPAL VISIT SOUVENIR COPIES OF THE SCO SEE PAGE 11 FOR DETAILS FIVE WEEKS UNTIL POPE BENEDICT XVI ARRIVES No 5289 Knights of St Columba on a day to remember Pages Former Supreme Knight, Pat Layden, reflects on Pope John Paul II’s 1982 visit 12&13 No 5377 www.scottishcatholicobserver.org.uk Friday August 13 2010 | 90p Support will make Papal visit a success I Cardinal Keith O’Brien and Archbishop Mario Conti issue rallying call to Catholics in Scotland By Ian Dunn SCOTLAND’S two most senior clergymen have issued pastoral letters to their dioceses calling on Scotland’s Catholics to support the Papal visit. With just over a month to go before the Pope arrives Cardinal Keith O’Brien of St Andrews and Edinburgh and Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow admitted the run up to the Papal visit had not been without problems. Both men said they were confident the Pope’s time here would be a resounding success however. Benefits and boosts Cardinal O’Brien said that the Church had not had long to prepare for the Pope’s arrival but the benefits would be extraordinary. “The Bishops of Scotland believe that the reli- gious meaning and social value of a personal visit to our country from the Successor of Peter far out- weigh the practical and financial problems which we continue to face and try to solve,” he said. Archbishop Conti said that the presence of the Pope would give the Church in Scotland a vital boost after a difficult period. “At times we may all feel the Church has in recent months been under hostile scrutiny and that clergy particularly have been sifted like wheat,” he said. “We need the presence of Simon Peter to bolster our Faith and give us new courage to face the difficulties and ease the pain which the Church and each one of us must necessarily encounter in an imperfect and ever changing world.” Feast of hope and praise The cardinal also said the Pope would have a tremendous impact on Scotland saying that on the Feast of the Assumption, ‘a feast so full of hope and praise, we thank God that our country will welcome the Pope.’ parishioners to welcome the Holy Father in per- Pope Benedict XVI.’ “Such visits are a rare Cardinal Keith O’Brien (above left top) and Archbishop “By a providential coincidence, the Pope’s visit son and to have their Faith strengthened by this occurrence, and only the second of a reigning Mario Conti (above left bottom) have sent out pastoral to Scotland will take place on the Feast of St special moment of encounter with the Successor Pope in the long history of our country,” he said. letters asking parishioners to support the visit of Pope Ninian who is honoured as the first missionary to of Peter.” “It will be an historic occasion. It will also be a Benedict XVI (above) to Scotland in September bring the faith to Scotland. Ninian was conse- moment of grace, for Pope Benedict is the suc- crated a bishop in Rome and sent to bring the Preparation and privilege cessor of St Peter, to whom the Lord committed expenses of transport and other costs. We who are Gospel message to the native peoples of The cardinal also said he and his fellow bishops the care of His Church saying: ‘Feed my lambs, privileged to be close at hand will thereby give a Scotland,” said the cardinal. “On September 16, wished to emphasise once more that the Pope’s feed my sheep.’” warm welcome to our fellow pilgrims from afar.” 2010, some 1600 years after Ninian, another bish- visit to our country calls for spiritual preparation The archbishop also noted that the British and op will come to us from Rome, this time the ‘so that we can receive and welcome the Holy Hardships Scottish authorities deserved praise for how they Bishop of Rome himself, the Successor of the Father as an authentic act of religious faith.’ Archbishop Conti also warned however, that this had handled the Papal visit. Apostle Peter whom the Lord described as ‘the “We encourage the Catholic community to privilege would not always be an easy one and “Our national and local authorities, in particu- rock on which I will build my Church.’” offer Masses, pray before the Blessed Sacrament, would involve some hardships. lar the Scottish Government, Glasgow City His Eminence said that he hoped everyone who Rosaries and Acts of Penance and Charity over “Of course our attendance will involve hard- Council, Strathclyde Police and transport chiefs wished to see the Pope would be able to do so either the next month for the success of Pope Benedict’s ships of one sort or another, depending upon our have responded with remarkable enthusiasm in in Edinburgh or at the Papal Mass in Glasgow. visit,” he said. age and the circumstances of weather and travel,” the making of the necessary arrangements for his “We continue to encourage everyone to see the Archbishop Conti’s letter told parishioners that he said. “Those who come from a great distance reception,” he said. Pope in person while he is here in Scotland,” he their archdiocese was about to ‘have the immense will benefit from our contributing the same said. “Our priests will continue to help their privilege of hosting a visit from our Holy Father amount as is requested of them to defray the I [email protected] CARDINAL O’BRIEN BISHOP MORAN JOY OF PILGRIMS defends Scottish calls for prayers from St Andrews justice system’s after the deaths and Edinburgh decision to release of Riggi children Archdiocese during Mr Al Megrahi in Edinburgh Marian Shrine visit Page 3 Page 5 TRAGIC DEATHS visit www.scottishcatholic LOCKERBIE BOMBER Pages 14&15 LOURDES PILGRIMAGE observer.org.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 August 13 2010 Jubilee joy for Cardinal O’Brien CARDINAL KEITH the Diocese of Jos in Northern Pontifical Roman Seminary. man, I leave it to the younger O’Brien celebrated Mass Nigeria where the archdiocese There were also eight students people of the archdiocese to have marking the silver jubilee has had strong links since the from the seminary in Rome, ‘visions’ as to the way ahead. of his ordination as a time of Cardinal O’Brien’s pred- preparing for the priesthood. “I, like other older men, am bishop at Gillis Centre, ecessor, Cardinal Gordon Gray. In his homily, Cardinal quite happy now to ‘dream my the Pastoral Centre of St Representing the archdio- O’Brien spoke of the various dreams’.” Andrews and Edinburgh cese’s contacts in Central apostolates undertaken within A welcome meal was enjoyed Archdiocese. America, in particular El his 25 years ministry as arch- by everyone afterwards in the Initially, Mass was concele- Salvador and the Diocese of bishop at the place now known Conference Suite of the pastoral brated with the cardinal and Chiapas in Mexico, was Fr throughout the archdiocese as centre where guest speakers, some of his closest collaborators Henry McLaughlin, one of the ‘Gillis Centre.’ included Archbishop Conti, at the pastoral centre. diocesan priests ‘on loan.’ In his concluding remarks at Patricia Carroll, the Episcopal Special guests were led by Also among those especially the Mass, Cardinal O’Brien Delegate for Pastoral Resources Archbishop Mario Conti of welcomed was Fr Alberto said to the congregation: “You in St Andrews and Edinburgh Glasgow Archdiocese. Contini, the recently appointed are all part of a wonderful Archdiocese and Fr Gervasi. Also in attendance were rep- parish priest of Ss Joachim and process of growth in our arch- resentatives from the Missionary Anne, the cardinal’s titular diocese but obviously, the final and Justice and Peace outreaches parish in Rome; and the previ- goal’s not yet reached. of St Andrews and Edinburgh ous parish priest, Fr Dario “Some 25 years ago, we had a Cardinal Keith O’Brien’s anniversary Archdiocese, including Fr Gervasi, who was recently certain vision for the archdiocese, was celebrated at the Gillis Centre by parishioners and felow clergy Andrew Danjuma, a priest from appointed the vice-rector of the so now as an older and wiser PICS: PAUL McSHERRY New & Reconditioned Straight & Curved Stairlifts Wheelchair Lifts & Climbers Step Lifts External Ramps. ALL PRODUCTS GUARANTEED EASY TERMS AVAILABLE SPECIAL DISCOUNT: Just quote SCO10 100 year-old to enjoy a special discount price church is still with your free no obligation survey. at the heart of Call us today to find out more! Tel 01698-423632 Mobile 07771593720 its community Email: [email protected] Website: www.caledonianstairlifts.com PARISHIONERS of St James’ Church in St Andrews enjoyed a day of celebration as Cardinal Keith O’Brien helped them MargaretMargarret Sinclair mark the centenary of their church on August 2. Annual PilgrimagePilgrimage The cardinal joined Canon Brian Halloran, parish priest of St James’, Fr Gerard Hand, Fr StSt Patrick’sPatrick’s Paul Capaldi and Fr Joseph EdinburghEdinburgh Portelli for the celebration of something much grander. O’Brien said: “Each served Cardinal O’Brien pictured with Mass, which was enjoyed by When Fr Angus took a census with distinction in this parish clergy and parishioners of St SundaySunday large numbers of parishioners of Catholics in the mission area seeing to the additional beutifi- James’ Church in St Andrews after 12th12th SeptemberSeptember past and present. in 1885 he counted 85 in all— cation of the church and also to celebrating the centenary Mass PIC: PAUL McSHERRY 2010 Speaking in his homily about 58 in the town of St Andrews the growth and formation in the the history of the Church in St and another 25 in the surround- Faith of the Catholic communi- that community and the out- Starting at 2.00pm 2.