ST ANDREW’S CONFERENCE: STRONG IN FAITH: Find out how you Cardinal Pell, Archbishop Tartaglia can join the Year of Faith online to speak at Glasgow conference on the youth forum launching New Evangelisation on December 1. Page 7 in this week’s SCO. Page s 4-5 No 5490 YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLICwww.sconews.co.uk NEWSPAPER SUPPORTS THE YEAR OF FAITH Friday October 26 2012 | £1 CATHOLICS AGAINST CUTS CLEAN-UP AFTER FLOOD AT LOURDES GLASGOW MARCHERS are joined by representatives from Justice and Peace A man shovels mud from Scotland the grotto at the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in Page 3 southwestern France on Sunday. Hundreds of pil- grims were evacuated the day before after heavy rains in the Pyrenees region flooded the shrine and its surrounding town. Report on Pope Benedict XVI pray- ing for those affected, see page 9 Planning victory for Kinnoull SYNOD OF BISHOPS I Council approval removes immediate threat of St Mary’s Monastery closure for Redemptorists By Martin Dunlop sion as ‘an answer to prayer.’ director at St Mary’s, represented the tors the opportunity for relaxation, “I am absolutely thrilled at this excel- order at Wednesday’s meeting and was renewal and rest on a prominent hill over- The long-term future of the Redemp- lent news,” Fr McAinsh said. “It is a real said to be ‘delighted with the outcome.’ looking Perth. torist community at St Mary’s answer to prayer.” The Redemptorist community offers a Monastery, Kinnoull, has finally been The Redemptorist community had Plans for monastery full programme of courses and retreats as secured after Perth and Kinross applied to the council for an enabling The acceptance of the building develop- well as serving the local community with Council approved the order’s most development to build 19 luxury homes in ment application means that the Redemp- weekly church services. recent planning application for the a neighbouring field on Kinnoull Hill, torist community will be able to press If Wednesday’s decision had gone development of 19 new houses on land owned by the trustees. ahead with plans to undertake much- against the community, Fr McAisnh had land owned by the monastery’s In April last year, a previous applica- needed renovation work at the popular admitted that St Mary’s would be faced trustees. tion, submitted in tandem with private retreat centre. with the very real threat of closure and the The application was approved at a housing developer Cala, was refused on The work will include the installation trustees would have had to look at the sit- meeting of the council’s Development the casting vote of the committee chair- of a new central heating system, the uation ‘very closely.’ and Management Committee on Wednes- man in spite of an appeal by Cardinal upgrading of all electrics in the building, The acceptance of the enabling devel- day morning, and means that the Keith O’Brien. the installation of en-suite bathrooms in opment application, however, means that Redemptorists will now be able to raise a The most recent application, however, some of the rooms and the possible the order will be able to ‘continue its ecu- ARCHBISHOP large part of the £2 million required for was approved by nine votes to four at the development of conference facilities at menical work.’ critical renovation work at the 141-year- Council Chambers in Perth. the monastery, as well as the improve- “We hope to be a quality sanctuary TARTAGLIA’S old neo-Gothic B-listed building. The Fr McAinsh expressed his wish to ment of all common areas. and retreat house for the people of Scot- candid account approval came in spite of a report by the thank Cardinal O’Brien and all those that Fr McAinsh noted that—as the com- land for many years to come,” development quality manager recom- have supported the community through- munity has various commitments to ful- Fr McAinsh said. continues inside mending the application be refused and a out its rigorous application procedures. fil—the Redemptorists will not be able to The news was also welcomed by Fr small but vocal group of opponents “The cardinal gave us very good sup- close the retreat house immediately but Kieran Brady CSsR, director at St Mary’s. Page 11 throughout the process. port and I look forward to thanking him,” will, instead, arrange a committee to “We would like to thank everybody Fr McAinsh said. “We are grateful for all decide the best course of action for the that has supported us and we are Prayers answered the support we have received, not only proceeding months. delighted to share this news with them,” Reacting to Wednesday’s news, Fr from Scottish Catholics but from all the St Mary’s Monastery is recognised as Fr Brady said. Ronald McAinsh CSsR, provincial churches.” an international, multi-cultural and ecu- superior of the order, described the deci- Fr Gerard Mulligan CSsR, course menical place of retreat that offers visi- I [email protected] SCO, 19 Waterloo Street, Glasgow G2 6BT I tel 0141 221 4956 I fax 0141 221 4546 I e-mail [email protected] 2 PICTURE NEWS THE SCO SUPPORTS THE YEAR OF FAITH SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER Friday October 26 2012 PIC: PAUL McSHERRY Day of celebration for Bo’ness knights By Tom Knight Delegates from councils across Britain and the Channel Islands will converge in Clydebank this THE Knights of St Columba celebrated with weekend to set out the direction for the Knights of parishioners of St Mary of the Assumption in St Columba, the largest order for Catholic laymen Bo’ness as a new council of the order was in the United Kingdom, for the upcoming year. erected in their area. Among those in attendance at the Supreme The introduction of the knights to the area is proof Council will be former Labour cabinet minister, of the continued success of the organisation in Scot- John Battle KCSG, who will address the delegates SPUC Scotland applauds the women land, and parish priest Fr Andrew Forrest welcomed on issues of importance to Catholics in Britain them (above) to the church by thanking them for today. The Supreme Council will also reinforce the their charitable efforts in the past and speaking of his charitable efforts of Knights of St Columba, with who have sworn to be Silent No More hopes for their future impact in the Bo’ness area. cheque presentations being made to Aid to the The official ceremony was performed during Church in Need, whose vital work is supported by boldly to proclaim some very Pro-life campaigners brought their message to Edinburgh last Saturday Sunday Mass, by Jonjo McDonagh, the immedi- the order’s National Action Project, while a dona- rare words that women simply PIC: PAUL McSHERRY ate past supreme knight of the order, who offered tion of £4000 will also be given to the England and are not allowed to say here any his best wishes to the new Council 971 for the Wales branch of the HCPT. more, and get badgered and future, while after Mass, Fr Forrest was presented Delegates will also have the chance to welcome despised for doing so, that they tion from a political position with a Member of Honour certificate by the Grand guests of honour Bishop Joseph Devine and ‘regret’ their abortion choice. but as a woman who has per- Knight of the new council, John Hanlon. Bishop Joseph Toal, who will be joined by For those of you who don’t sonally experienced one, I look The erection of the new council provides a further the Supreme Knight and deputy supreme knight of know, the campaign has toured at this issue from a different boost to the order in Scotland as it prepares to wel- the Irish Order of the Knights of St Columbanus the cities of the UK in a bid to perspective,” she said. “For come knights from across the UK to the Beardmore at the supreme ball, held annually during this SPUC SCOTLAND COLUMN reach those considering or many years I supported a Hotel in Clydebank for the annual Supreme Council. gathering. already wounded by abortion woman’s right to choose abor- OMEN who and tell them that help is avail- tion because of my own choice. regret abortion able in the form of the Glasgow- However, the reality of my and want to based Abortion Recovery Care abortion experience and the tell other peo- and Helpline (ARCH) service experiences of other women I ple about it to that is available free of charge have met, have caused me to St Margaret's Children and help them deal with a similar for all. change my opinion.” Family Care Society pain, or to avoid making such a The campaign’s slogan pro- Wdecision themselves, should be claims ‘Women Deserve Better ilent No More was estab- National Adoption Week applauded. Than Abortion’ to passers by lished to highlight the After all, who better to advise while the participants tell of damage abortion can cause 5th November – 9th November others on a major life altering their own experience of abor- Semotionally, spiritually and experience than someone who tion pain and the healing they physically that is rarely talked Adoption is a life changing event for children and for the adults has been there and bought the found from counselling. Their about in our communities, giv- who bring them into their family. Some children have had a T-shirt, metaphorically speaking. stories are at once heartbreak- ing women in pain a platform to poor start in life and are unable to remain with their family of Often we hear of people who ingly sad but also very typical share how their abortion choice have been addicted to heroin or of the experiences of many of ruined their lives.