Glasgow POPE at Easter HOLY WEEK as archbishop recalls victims it happened calls ASAD SHAH’S of 'blind, brutal around murder shocking. terrorism.' Scotland. Page 3 Pages 6-7 Pages 2-3 No 5665 VISIT YOUR NATIONAL CATHOLIC NEWSPAPER ONLINE AT WWW.SCONEWS.CO.UK Friday April 1 2016 | £1 A HOLY THURSDAY LESSON IN PAISLEY Bishop John Keenan washes the feet of six young parishioners from the Cathedral Parish on Holy Thursday in Paisley Diocese. For Holy Week events around Scotland, see pages 2-3 PIC: PAUL McSHERRY Pontiff denounces ‘vile’ Pakistan bombing I Pope’s words helped after Easter attack targeted Christians, killing children, Lahore archbishop tells Aid to the Church in Need By Ian Dunn First-hand account greatly encouraging and I was able to prayers for the victims and for an end to a genocide nevertheless. Archbishop Shaw confirmed that many encourage others too, saying that the the actions of ‘violent persons, who “Unless Western governments wake POPE Francis has denounced the of his Faithful had been in the park Pope was asking after them. I said sow terror and death,’ insisting that up to this problem the death toll for ‘vile and senseless’ Easter Sunday enjoying Easter festivities when the this to both the Christians and the ‘violence and murderous hate lead only Christians living there is set to rise suicide bombing of a Pakistan park attack took place but added that many Muslims in the hospital—who were to sorrow and destruction.’ exponentially.” that targeted Christians and of the dead and injured were Muslims also encouraged by this act of kindness Mr Chowdhry said that the trigger for included children as young as 4 and other non-Christians. shown by the Pope.” British reaction the attack was probably the execution among the 72 dead and more than “To my own Faithful I said that they On Tuesday Cardinal Vincent Nichols, last month of Mumtaz Qadri for the 340 injured. must not give up hope,” he said. “Even Pope’s calls Archbishop of Westminster, described 2011 murder of Salman Taseer, a The attack took place in Lahore and though we were going through a period On Monday Pope Francis spoke the bombing in Lahore as ‘despicable reformist politician who had argued for the city’s archbishop, Sebastian Shaw, of grave difficulties, we have to learn to publicly of his distress at the attack and utterly contemptible.’ Writing on the repeal of blasphemy laws used to described going from bed to bed and rise up again, just as Christ was able to while addressing the Faithful in St Twitter, the cardinal added that ‘evil persecute Christians. hearing personal accounts of the raise himself again, despite carrying Peter’s Square. will never defeat goodness.’ Mr Chowdhry said that hatred and atrocity in the city’s hospitals. the Cross.” “Easter Sunday was bloodied by an Glasgow City Council flew the intolerance of minorities in Pakistan “I visited every bedside and every While Archbishop Shaw was visiting abominable attack that massacred so Pakistani flag at half-staff over the City was increasing and that ‘the majority’ victim, of whatever faith,” the archbishop the injured in hospitals in the wake of many innocent people,” he said. Chambers on Monday as a mark of of Muslims in Pakistan now believed told Catholic charity Aid to the Church the blasts, he received a call from the The Pope also appealed to the respect for the dead. Mr Qadri was a national hero and an in Need. Apostolic Nunciature in the capital government of Pakistan to take steps to Wilson Chowdhry, the chairman of the Islamic martyr ‘for killing a man who “It was truly difficult because I saw Islamabad, and he was told that the Pope ensure the safety of the country’s British Pakistani Christian Association, stood for Christians and other minorities.’ so many children, [aged] only 4 or 5, had personally contacted the nunciature Christians and other minorities. He said the attack was further evidence of a A rally held in protest at the execution both Christians and Muslims, who to offer his condolences and the assurance called on ‘the civil authorities and all campaign of genocide being waged drew a crowd of 25,000 people on to the had been wounded or killed by this of his prayers to the victims. community leaders in that nation to do against Christians in the majority Sunni streets of Islamabad on Sunday. Some terrible attack.” “I was getting very tired but then I everything possible to ensure the Muslim country. protesters fought with police, threw stones, Pakistan Taliban group Jaamat-ul- got a call from the nunciature saying security and serenity of the population, “Pakistan is not safe for Christians as lit fires and staged a sit-in demonstration Ahrar have claimed responsibility for that the Pope had called and personally particularly the most vulnerable there is a genocide taking place there,” outside the parliament buildings. the attack and said it was intended to wanted to send messages of condolence religious minorities.’ Mr Chowdhry said. “Not a genocide specifically target Christians. and greeting,” he said. “I found this The Holy Father has asked for that is state-sponsored in its entirety, but 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] Contact SPUC Scotland for candidate question pack for the Remember the Value of forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on 5th May 2016 Phone: 0141 221 2094 LIFE when you cast your Vote in May 2 HOLY WEEK NEWS SCOTTISH CATHOLIC OBSERVER FRIDAY APRIL 1 2016 GLASGOW’S MARKS CHRISM MASS IN ST ANDREW’S Cathedral in Glasgow, death and resurrection of Jesus,” he said. “All the priests from across Glasgow Archdiocese, Sacraments come from the power of Christ’s death joined Archbishop Philip Tartaglia and and resurrection. Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti as the “These blessed oils will be taken to the parishes annual Chrism Mass was celebrated. of the dioceses where the priests here today will use In addition to blessing the oils to be used in the them to celebrate the sacraments with you.... These sacraments throughout the archdiocese in the com- are truly the great mysteries of grace.” ing year, the Mass also saw the clergy of Glasgow In his Easter Message, the archbishop said: renewing their priestly promises, and Archbishop “Easter comes early this year. Even nature seems Tartaglia spoke of the ‘blessings and graces’of the to have cottoned on, with gardens already bright priestly life in his homily and asked for the prayers and blooming with spring flowers. of the faithful as they continue their ministry. “That newness of life is a kind of sermon which “When we renew these promises we can see the the natural world preaches to us, reminding us of whole story of our priestly life and wherever we the more profound truth of the season, namely that find ourselves in the journey of life, we give thanks Christ conquers death and restores new life… to God for the blessings and graces of the priest- always. In the words of the great Easter hymn, the hood; we thank God for being instruments of his Victimae Paschali: ‘Death and life contended, love and mercy; we ask pardon for our failures; we in a vivid battle: the Prince of life, who died, re-commit ourselves to the priesthood; and we pray reigns alive.’ that there will be new priests to come after us,” the “Those words are a summary of our own lives. archbishop, said. “The renewal of our priestly com- Every day in little ways we fight a battle between mitment means in a word and above all that we are good and evil, between caring and ignoring, not priests for ourselves, but for Christ, for the between virtue and vice—such is the stuff of life. Church and for you. And you need to pray for us, But Easter reminds us that, in the end, Good can— that we can be that priest.” and will—triumph. We are marking this year as a Archbishop Tartaglia also spoke of the oils which ‘Year of Mercy’—a time to be ever more convinced will be used in administering the sacraments and of that God is always ready to forgive us, if we turn to the importance of the sacraments to the priesthood. him in sincere sorrow. God will not be outdone in “The Mass of Chrism with the blessing of the mercy—that is the great news of this week. oils for the sacraments takes place in Holy Week “May the blessings of the risen and merciful because this is the time when we solemnly com- Jesus Christ be with you and your families today PIC: PAUL McSHERRY memorate and celebrate the events of the passion, and always.” Edinburgh Chrism Mass for East Coast Archdiocese AS THE Faithful of St works so hard, retires so late in Andrews and Edinburgh life, is paid so little and yet gathered in St Mary’s remains so committed and so Cathedral in Edinburgh for happy as the men you see up on the celebration of the annual the altar with me this evening,” Chrism Mass, Archbishop he said. Leo Cushley took the oppor- “That is because it remains tunity in his homily to authentic, it remains the sacred praise the priests of the priesthood of Jesus Christ in archdiocese for their min- their hands, in spite of our istry and service. unworthiness, it remains a priest- As the holy oils—the oil of hood of service, a priesthood of catechumens, infirmorum and gift that is inspired and conse- holy chrism, which will be used crated by the Holy Spirit.” in the administration of the sacra- The Chrism Mass sees the ments throughout the archdio- priests of the archdiocese gather cese in the coming year—were with the archbishop in order to blessed by Archbishop Cushley, manifest their unity and renew he spoke of the great Faith their priestly promises, and over shown by his priestly brothers 80 priests from Edinburgh and St celebrating Mass with him.