SCIAF LAUNCHES ITS WEE BOX, BIG CHANGE LENTEN CAMPAIGN SEE PAGES 3&4 FOR DETAILS A political career with a focus on the Faith Pages George Galloway speaks to Ian Dunn ahead of Scottish elections 12-13 No 5406 www.sconews.co.uk Friday March 11 2011 | 90p Go forth and evangelise SUMMIT ON SECTARIANISM I Cardinal Keith O’Brien and Archbishop Mario Conti lead the call in letters for Lent By Ian Dunn SENIOR members of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland are urging Scottish Catholics to embrace ‘new life’ and ‘new evangelisation’ dur- ing Lent. In his pastoral letter Cardinal Keith O’Brien said Catholics faced a challenge to embrace the ‘New Evangelisation.’ It is ‘a challenge which we should be facing at this present time and preparing for it by the ways in which PUBLIC FUNDING we lead our lives during this season of needs to be focused Lent,’ he said. Archbishop Mario Conti told after summit on football Catholics in Glasgow that Lent was a violence, says Church time to reflect ‘triumphantly, upon the new life of grace’ that their Faith spokesman bestowed upon them. Page 3 New Evangelisation Cardinal O’Brien said that there was no LENTFEST LAUNCH doubt a ‘new evangelisation’ was need- ed by the Church in Scotland today. “The term ‘new evangelisation’ was ARCHBISHOP CONTI made popular by the late Pope John is praised for his Paul II with reference to efforts to reawaken the Faith in traditionally dedication to the arts at Christian parts of the world particular- the launch of Lentfest ly in Europe,” he told Catholics in St Andrews and Edinburgh Archdiocese 2011 in Glasgow in his letter. “We might say that in var- ious parts of Europe and indeed in our Page 2 own country of Scotland we were indeed first ‘evangelised’ or converted to Christianity many centuries ago. RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS “This indeed happened in Scotland with St Ninian bringing Christianity to our country from Rome around the year 397AD, more than 1600 years ago. But who would not state that we are in need of a ‘new evangelisation’ today. “It falls on our shoulders to hand on a new knowledge of Jesus as a real person; and His teachings as they have been handed down through the cen- turies to ourselves in our Church and Cardinal O’Brien and Archbishop Mario Conti “That new life, which commences at stones of an archdiocesan community in our world of today.” seen here with Pope Benedict XVI during last Baptism, is what we Christians are committed to continue St Mungo’s The cardinal stressed this instruction year’s Ad Limina visit, have called on expected to live day by day, schooled mission in the 21st century and was not a new directive but rather a Catholics to embrace ‘new life’ and a ‘new by Our Lord’s own teaching and beyond,” he said. “At the Easter Vigil refreshing of traditional Catholic values. evangelisation’ this Lent example, and supported by His grace.” I will bless the new baptismal font “We realise the basic structure which The archbishop also said that Lent was within the cathedral, as, at it and has always been with us in living our that Lent was a time when we should a time for fasting, almsgiving and prayer. throughout the archdiocese, new mem- Christian lives and handing on our focus on the new life Christ had granted “Fasting helps people overcome bers are brought into the community of faith: The threefold structure of home, us. selfishness and self-centredness,” he Faith. May we by our Faithful prayer school and parish,” he said. “I would “Through the grace of our Baptism said. “Almsgiving is a reminder of the and example accompany them and POPE BENEDICT XVI like you to think of each one of these as we are united with Christ Jesus, who sharing that should mark each day of a share with them the joy of Easter.” hopes that sacrifice of basically an ‘evangelising communi- accompanies us in our own Passover Christian’s life. And prayer is a Shahbaz Bhatti will ty’—a place in which the Gospel is from death to life,” he said. “St Paul reminder that time belongs to God and I Read Cardinal O’Brien’s pastoral lived and handed on. I see that there are wrote to the Corinthians: ‘Christ has His desire is for people to spend eterni- letter in full on page 11 ‘wake up consciences’ four core responsibilities and ministries been raised from the dead, the first fruits ty with Him.” involved in each of these structures. of all who have fallen asleep.’ That jour- I Read Archbishop Conti’s pastoral Page 8 These are: witness—to our Christian ney of ours commences at Baptism. To St Andrew’s Cathedral letter in full on the SCO website at faith; worship—in our Christian faith; the Romans, St Paul wrote: ‘When we Archbishop Conti also said Easter http://www.sconews.co.uk/news/arch welfare—of all in any kind of need; were Baptised in Christ Jesus we were would be a special time of joy for bishop-conti-pastoral-lent/ Word—that Word of God which under- Baptised in His death; in other words, Glasgow’s Catholics as it would see St pins all that we are and all that we do.” when we were Baptised we went into Andrew’s Cathedral returned to full use. I Archbishop Vincent Nichols calls the tomb with Him and joined Him in “I pray that the stones of our reno- for a return to self-sacrifice and New Life death, so that as Christ was raised from vated metropolitan cathedral, which abstinence, see page 7 Archbishop Mario Conti’s message said the dead by the Father’s glory, we too will reopen on the Fifth Sunday of to Catholics in Glasgow Archdiocese might live a new life.’ Lent, will be the symbol of the living [email protected] 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 March 11 2011 An archbishop dedicated to the arts Stephen Callaghan pays tribute to Archbishop Mario Conti at the launch of Lentfest 2011 By Ian Dunn astic backing and support.’ continue and long outlast me.” (Left) Maggie MacInnes plays the Mr Callaghan also urged clasarch for the assembled crowd THE director of Lentfest, the Lenten tradition Catholics to attend the festival while (above) Archbishop Conti and Glasgow Archdiocesan festi- The festival, now in its fifth events ranging from ‘Burns to Stephen Callaghan join restaurant owner Seumas MacInnes, Maggie val of faith and the arts, has year, will involve more artists Blues and Plainchant to poetry’ MacInnes and waitress Christina paid tribute to Archbishop and parishes than ever before if they wished to see it continue. Smith on Pancake Tuesday Mario Conti at the launch of and Mr Callghan said he hoped, “Catholics need to vote with PICS: PAUL McSHERRY this year’s programme. as Archbishop Mario Conti’s their feet if they don’t want to see Speaking at the festival’s retirement nears, that his suc- it disappear,” he said. “As a spir- Cathedral reopening launch on Tuesday Stephen cessor would continue to sup- itual arts festival there’s no fund- This year for the first time Callaghan, head of the Archdio- port the festival. ing from the council or govern- Lentfest will also extend cese of Glasgow Arts Project “I hope the archbishop’s suc- ment for us so it’s really down to beyond Easter with a number of EXPLORING CHRISTIAN LIFE (AGAP), said Lentfest simply cessor will see the pastoral bene- our sponsors and the people who events to mark the reopening of never ‘would have happened’ fits of the festival,” he said. “And come to see the events to help St Andrew’s Cathedral. 15TH MARCH without the archbishop’s ‘enthusi- I hope the festival will be able to ensure it survives.” “Lentfest this year falls at a Let us Talents and Tongues Employ: historic moment in the life of the On the New Translation of the Third Edition of Launch event Church as we prepare for the the Roman Missal. The launch event at the Gandofi reopening of the cathedral after LEISURE TIME TRAVEL Fish restaurant in Glasgow significant renovation and Father J-Glenn Murray S.J threatened to be overshadowed improvement,” Archbishop Associate Pastor, St Aloysius Gonzaga Church, Washington, LOURDES Coach. 25 April. 7 days by a powercut in the east of the Conti said. “The cathedral itself USA. International speaker on liturgy. city but with the help of restau- will be an expression of the No overnight driving. Only £399 rant owner Seumas MacInnes, Church’s care for and support of 22ND MARCH it was still a great success. the arts with its interior decora- LOURDES Air. 15 July. 8 days Why there almost certainly is a God. Archbishop Conti said he tion and specially commissioned Ariane £709. Stella £689. Irlande £760. was delighted to see the festival paintings and in house examples Professor Keith Ward enter its fifth year as he was of contemporary design and Former Regius Professor of Divinity, Oxford University, now Paradis £760. Helgon £760. Roissy £796. someone who had enjoyed the architecture. The programme of Professorial Research Fellow in Philosophy of Religion at arts ‘almost from the cradle’. events begun during Lent will Heythrop College, Fellow of the British Academy. 44 seats still available “Lentfest and the arts more spill over into Eastertide when a generally offer us an opportuni- musical festival will mark the LOURDES Air.