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Faith transfusion I + Bishop Peter A. Moran
nvasion or transfusion? Reliable estimates reveal that five thousand Polish-speakers have arrived in Inverness since their homeland joined the EU in May 2004. Is this an invasion or a shot-in-the-arm for the second city of our diocese?
Catholics in the Diocese of Aberdeen have been reckoned as three per cent (3%) of the population. Since the total population of Inverness is approximately sixty thousand, Catholics in Inverness numbered about two thousand (3%) — until 1st May 2004. But because almost all Poles are Catholics (say, 90%) there must be about 4,500 Catholics among the recent arrivals, bringing the total number in Inverness to more than 6,000. That is to say, Catholic numbers have trebled in less than two years. We don’t have comparable figures for every town across the diocese, but where we do have them, the pattern is similar. Moreover, smaller but still significant numbers have arrived from other countries of Eastern Europe, such as Lithuania in the north and Slovakia further south.
Bishop Peter A. Mora n small and sometimes isolated parish communities.
At the same time, priests and deacons already “thin on the ground” and ministering to several Mass centres or even several parishes will have many more in their flock. Catechists and parish council members will find themselves with increased responsibilities. And 1anguage difficulties will make each of these This is both an encouragement and a challenge to us challenges all the more daunting. in this diocese. A first principle to be followed in this new situation At a stroke, our Sunday congregations will double is that these people are fellow-Catholics, members or treble. People from a strong Catholic tradition, of our Church, sharers in our Faith. We owe them tested by years of oppression, will bring their faith, a welcome, and the unusual circumstances must not their commitment and their talents to enrich our discourage us from that. They have lived through
A n Ogil vie publica tion for the Diocese of A berdeen All contribu t i o n s towa rd s p ro d u c t i o n co s t s w i l l b e g ra te f u l l y re ce i ve d
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traumatic times in their own country —they must not inspiring situation. I asked each of them to consider find themselves ignored or cold-shouldered or even sending a priest or priests from his diocese to spend mistrusted by their own Church in this country. some years working in our Diocese of Aberdeen. If or when such priests arrive my plan is that, while minisI am happy to hear, and pleased to pass on to all of tering to the Polish community, they will also live in you, that several parishes are already providing copies a parish where otherwise I cannot provide a resident of the Sunday Mass readings in Polish. Here and there, priest. I hope that, in this way, the challenge will lead parishioners are giving English lessons. We are setting to a solution full of encouragement. up a network of bilingual contact-persons in various cities and towns. But for some of us it may be hard to accept that we As you may have learned, Fr Czeslaw Kolasa (“Father Joe”) has already established a busy rota of Masses in Polish at intervals in four or five centres, from Tain in the north to Aberdeen City in the south of the diocese. Like Father Marian Lçkawa, who previously covered an even wider area, Father Joe is a member of the Pallottine Fathers, Polish priests who specialise in ministry to Poles living abroad.
have become the country which needs missionaries. Like our forebears in Scotland in the 17th and 18th centuries, Polish Catholics in recent years have had to struggle to preserve the Faith in their own country. It is precious to them. We may sometimes feel that their enthusiasm and their devotion puts us to shame. If that happens, let us thank God for the encouragement of their example, and welcome it as a different and healthy challenge to ourselves.
In addition, encouraged by some of the Pallottine Fathers, I myself visited Poland in late February to meet In this way I hope their arrival will be less an “invasion”, some of the diocesan bishops there. I wanted to ask more a “transfusion” of Faith and inspiration. them personally to help us in this challenging but also
He is risen indeed!
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n the night of Holy Saturday – the holiest night of the year – we keep Vigil, as the Church has done for two thousand years.
‘As we keep watch tonight recalling the burial of our Lord, we want our vigil to coincide with the time when he slept for us. Thus on the night when he slept we keep watch, so that by the death he suffered we may have life. We observe a solemn vigil on the night he slept, so that when finally we ourselves shall have arisen for the eternal vigils, we may continue steadfast and unwearied, while he keeps vigil on our behalf. On this same night he arose whose resurrection we now await with longing’ (St Augustine). ‘The Resurrection of Christ brought forth this sacred night, which is the enemy of the night of this world. It is the sacred night that dispels the primordial darkness, restores everything to light, form, and
order, and transforms the chaos of sin into the cosmos of divine grace’ (St Gregory Nazianzen). The ‘Second Creation’ takes place on this night, between Saturday and Sunday: the birth of new light, the Light of Christ. Awake, O sleeper, and rise from the dead, and Christ will give you life. This is the night when catechumens are reborn in the waters of Baptism into the light of Christ. This year, thanks be to God, within our diocese we will welcome new Christians into the Family of the Church. They will be raised to new life in those waters of Baptism, anointed with the Holy Spirit, and will be nourished for the first time with the Body and Blood of the Risen Lord. We will welcome also those who enter into full communion with us. Easter Night is the holiest, most truly blessed night of the year. Don’t spend it alone, or in less blessed activities, but come and keep Vigil with the Church, welcome your new brothers and sisters into your midst and proclaim the Resurrection with believers throughout the world: Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
editorial
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deaneries 4 witness 8 socialteaching 10 youthlight 11 liturgy 12 ogilvieinstitute 14 faithinaction 16 educationandformation 17 faithandculture 23 humour 25 Rome Ogilvie Institute 16 Huntly Street Aberdeen AB10 1SH 01224 638675 director@ogilvie.ac.uk www.ogilvie.ac.uk Director Deacon Tony Schmitz Courses Coordinator Mary Nelson Children’s Resources Sister Mags Langley Acting Librarian Adriana Grebogi Admin. Assistant Mei Lawson Light of the North
Managing Editor Deacon Tony Schmitz Editor Cowan Watson Chief Reporter Fr Paul Bonnici Editorial Advisors Canon Bill Anderson Fr Stuart Chalmers
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Welcome Welkom Bienvenue Willkommen B envenuto B em-vindo Bienvenido Wita j
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elcome to the first edition of the Light of the North, a new magazine dedicated to the service of the Diocese of Aberdeeen. We hope that it will reach every Catholic household.
We are convinced that this new publication can make a worthwhile contribution towards addressing some of the issues which, at the time of his ordination, Bishop Peter determined would be his priorities. They were: youth; adult faith formation; marriage and family and outreach to the disadvantaged.To that end we have tried to establish a balance of lively and informative features combined with news and views from across the Diocese. Geographically speaking our Diocese is one of the largest in Europe and, at the same time as supporting our Bishop’s initiatives, we would hope that we can also help to foster a sense of unity within the diocese and a sense of belonging to the wider community outwith our own individual parishes. However, at the end of the day the success of this venture will largely be dependent on the support and encouragement of our readers. If you feel we have got the balance right, tell us. If you feel, for example, your parish is not getting the coverage it deserves, tell us or, better still, send us your news, pictures or articles to our email address: lightofthenorth@watson4918.freeserve.co.uk The Editor
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N e w s f rom the D eaneries
Invitation to Polish priests Bishop Peter invites Polish priests to work in the North East of Scotland
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“In one of the cities, Inverness, the Catholic commuishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen is visiting nity is three times what it was two years ago. Poland to invite Polish bishops to work with him to establish links which could lead to “I have come to Poland because these Polish Cathopriests from Poland coming to work in his lics need pastoral care. I also need priests for my own far flung diocese. Catholics. I heard that there are some priests from Poland who would be very happy to come and work Bishop Peter told a Catholic radio station in Lublin, in Scotland for a number of years. So I came here to Radioer: “The diocese of Aberdeen is the most north- visit.” erly in Scotland. It is a diocese with a very small but scattered Catholic population. The percentage of Bishop Moran has already had a meeting with ArchCatholics is 3% of the population but with the arrival bishop Józef Miroslaw Zycinski of Lublin. He is also of many people from Poland the Catholic population expecting to meet Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz of is increasing rapidly. Krakow, who was Pope John Paul II’s long serving secretary for over thirty years.
Warm welcome for Father Thomas The parishes of Fort Augustus, Stratherrick and Marydale have welcomed Father Thomas Mathew Keeprath from the South Indian state of Kerala, who will be helping out in these parishes for the time being as he prepares to resume his studies at the Catholic University of Louvain.
Fa t h er Thomas Mathew [Photograph, Dave McConville]
Father Thomas Mathew said: “I was born in a place called Kottayam. Most Catholics from India come from there. I have been working in the missionary diocese of Jullundur in Punjab, northwest India. My home diocese is only thirty three years old. It is the size of the UK, and has in it one hundred and seven
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thousand Catholics. There has been a great growth in the number of Catholics in our diocese since its formation. When it became a diocese there were only a few thousand Catholics. “I have been working in the border area between India and Pakistan. I worked as part of a team and baptised many, many people. When the British left India in 1948, there were a lot of people belonging to the Salvation Army and the Anglican Church. These people were abandoned. We went from village to village and house to house in districts of Amritsar, Jullundur, and Gurdaspur. We catechised a lot of people and after three years they were usually ready for baptism.”
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Before embarking on further studies, Fr Thomas Mathew worked as a parish priest for eleven years. In his last parish there were 45 villages, mass centres and around 7,000 Catholics. He travelled on a motor bike, and only now is learning how to drive a car. Father Thomas Mathew hopes to return to the Catholic University of Louvain soon to complete his thesis on the relevance of the Sacraments in the modern world. He is researching the sacramental theology of David Noel Power OMI of the Catholic University of Washington.
Bishop Peter’s French connection Very few language groups in Scotland could claim to have a Bishop as their chaplain. In Aberdeen Diocese things are different. Bishop Peter Moran has had links with Aberdeen’s French community for about thirty years and has been their chaplain for more than twenty years. Recently Bishop Peter revived the links between Aberdeen’s Catholic community and that in London. Here he speaks with Father Paul Bonnici about his French connections.
Bishop Peter Moran was at this time a priest of Glasgow Archdiocese, on the staff at Blairs College. Occasionally he helped with these Masses over the years. Very early on in the 1980s, Father MacKinnon was recalled to his diocese and Father Moran, as he then was, became the priest mainly responsible for the monthly French Mass.
Total Marine set up a French School in one of the separate buildings within the campus of Aberdeen Grammar School. That school is still functioning some thirty years on.
After Father Moran moved from Blairs to become Parish Priest of Inverurie, all this continued, but the venue for the Masses was changed to St Francis Mannofield where they still continue on Saturday evenings, usually at 6 pm.
By the time Blairs College closed in 1986, there was also a programme of catechesis in French organised Mainly because of North Sea oil exploration, a by a series of volunteer catechists drawn from the number of French companies have had personnel mothers of the French families. At its height this in Aberdeen over the years. The early arrivals were organisation had eight age-groups of children being Total Marine, Elf Aquitaine and Schlumberger. catechised and prepared for the sacraments.
Early in this period, a senior director of Total Marine became friendly with Father Frank Kennedy, a priest of Dunkeld Diocese who was a staff member of Blairs College, the former national minor seminary which has since closed.
Bishop Moran explained: “The French school in Aberdeen is a small cousin of the Lycée français in London. The monthly Mass in Aberdeen is a faint copy of the full pastoral provision given by the French church in London – Notre Dame de France Together they arranged that a Mass in French would in Leicester Place, just off Leicester Square.” be celebrated about once a month in one of the side chapels of Blairs College. Father Moran, in the early days of the French community’s presence in Aberdeen, had had a little conFather Kennedy, who studied for the priesthood in tact with the French Church in London, thinking France, celebrated these Masses. When he died sud- that perhaps the Aberdeen community might come denly in his early thirties one Palm Sunday while still to be considered a kind of outpost of the latter. A on the staff at Blairs, Father Donald MacKinnon of couple of French priests and a French bishop did the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles, took over visit, but the proposed link came to nothing.
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When more recently Bishop Peter was in London on other business, he visited Notre Dame de France and was invited to confirm some 65 teenagers on 19th March, 2006. Bishop Peter gladly accepted and went down to London on Saturday 21st January to
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meet the candidates beforehand, as would be the practise whenever possible in his own diocese. On that occasion he also celebrated Mass for about two hundred people.
Congratulations!
D e a co n Tony S chmitz, D ire c tor of The O gil vie Institute, visite d St Ma rga re t ’s Pa r i s h i n Ler wick , Shetla nd, in Ja nua r y to present Pat Loynd (right) with a D i p l o m a in Pa rish Cate chesis a nd Ba rba ra S a ndison with a Cer tificate i n Pa r i s h Cate chesis. Father Paul B onnici, the new pa rish priest, is on the le f t.
Hold the front page The Diocese of Aberdeen has appointed Father Paul Bonnici as its new press and media officer.
became parish priest at Fort Augustus. He has recently moved to Lerwick as Parish Priest of all of Shetland.
Father Bonnici, 35, was born in Malta and has been working as a priest in Aberdeen Diocese since 1995. A writer in the national Catholic media, and a broadcaster for the last ten years, Father Bonnici served as press and media officer at Fort Augustus Abbey on the shores of Loch Ness between 1995 and 1998.
Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen welcomed Father Bonnici to his new job. He said: “We have decided as a Diocese to re-establish our Diocesan Press Office. Father Bonnici comes to his new post with wide experience of national and international communications and with varied pastoral experience as a Parish Priest. We wish him well in his new ministry.”
When Fort Augustus Abbey closed down in 1998 Fr Bonnici
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Re-kindling of the flame The Apostleship of the Sea is re-born in Scotland
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Dominic Baster
ypically recruited from Third World countries where wages are lower, seafarers spend up to 12 months at a time away from home and suffer loneliness, depression, dangerous working conditions and spiritual deprivation. Sixty percent of all seafarers are Catholic, but find it almost impossible to live their faith and receive the sacraments. AOS chaplaincy teams provide for the pastoral and practical care of seafarers, making a vital difference to the lives of literally millions of seafarers around the world each year. In Great Britain, where it is an official agency of both Bishops’ Conferences and a registered charity, AOS chaplains and ship visitors regularly facilitate the celebration of Mass onboard ships or provide the resources necessary to allow seafarers to S i s te r M a r i a n D avey grow in their faith. As a mission outreach of the Church, AOS also provides practical help to all seafarers, regardless of creed or nationality, seeking to enlighten the entire maritime world with the light of Christ.
Ca rdinal Keith O’Brien with new AO S cha pla ins, D eacon Bria n K ilkerr a n d Sister Ma ria n D avey its counterpart south of the border last year and its ministry has been reinvigorated by the appointment of four full-time and part-time chaplains to serve all the major Scottish port areas. In the Port of Aberdeen, Sr Marian Davey has been appointed full-time chaplain, and Deacon Brian Kilkerr, a local Aberdonian who has served as a permanent deacon D eacon Bria n K il ke r r in the city for the past eight years, will assist her on a part-time basis.
The shipping industry has changed radically in recent years. Ships have got bigger, crews have got smaller, and ports have moved downstream away from traditional city centre locations. Ships are often registered under socalled flags of convenience to avoid tighter regulatory controls and taxes, and turn-around times for ships in Together, Sr Marian and Deacon Brian will seek to stand ports have been reduced dramatically from days and alongside visiting seafarers, taking the love of Christ to weeks to as little as 12 hours. them. As they do this they will need our practical and financial support, but most of all they will need our Recognising that changed circumstance require a prayers as they reach out to vulnerable seafarers on our new approach, AOS in Scotland came together with behalf.
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The way of a pilgrim Fa t h e r M a r t i n Birrell tells how a “Fly Fi f e r ” g o t t h e “Abb ey Habit ”!
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eing like the late Fr. John Beveridge, originally a “fly Fifer” hailing from Dunfermline, “ City & Royal Burgh”, it is not surprising in some sense that, as a teenager, I did a sort of ‘double-take’ when I came across a novel entitled A Monk of Fife. I had some vague sense that this title presaged something in my life that would one day be revealed. We lived for the first eighteen years of my life in AbAND SO THE WANDERER RETURN S : bey Park Place, about three hundred yards from the Fr Mar tin’s home at Pluscarden Ab b e y Abbey, within its ancient enclosure, one door away from the Abbey Sunday School that I attended for many years, and always within the range of the cur- I studied philosophy in the hope of finding the meanfew bells that toll each evening at eight, ever since the ing of life only to discover with amazement that most British & English-speaking philosophers couldn’t great fire in Dunfermline. care tuppence about it. A fat lot of use! Three generations of my family lived together for most of these formative years. Grandparents, parents When I graduated, I fell back on religion but I had and my brothers & sister. My grandfather, Jimmy, drifted away from the Church of Scotland. Monks ... was a one-time militant, atheistic communist turned that “ Monk of Fife” somehow seemed to loom large minor capitalist, antiquarian and president of the again. Credit Drapers’ Association. My grandmother was an Episcopalian. My father, brought up in North My longsuffering father, still expectant of my useful Queensferry, had leanings towards the Salvation occupation, said, “Son, the only monks I know of Army and fundamentalism. My mother belonged to are Catholics. The Catholic church is just across the the Church of Scotland. My sister and I tended to road.” We were living in Dullanbrae House in Duffgo to the Church of Scotland Abbey a bit more fre- town at the time. quently on a Sunday than our parents. We did not “Why don’t you ask the priest across the road about feel awkward about this and nor did they. it?” And so I did. When I was eighteen the family business went bankrupt which caused a rift in the family. It was years In response to my enquiries Canon Philips said, before I came to understood the ins and outs of this “Well, there’s a monastery near here. The food’s not very good and the beds are hard, but I’ll get in touch crisis which had hit us so hard. with them for you.” Our Lowland roots were sundered. I had cut loose from home as a university student in Dundee. Al- Next, my Dad had took me to Pluscarden Abbey, one ready my two younger brothers had known several time daughter-house of Dunfermline Abbey, and denew houses that were to become home ... Edinburgh, spite my supposedly being a graduate and knowing Dufftown, Nairn, Cawdor (Nairn). They knew far something I was a bit nonplused when Fr. Maurus more chop and change of circumstance than either the guest-master and novice-master said, “You don’t have any practical experience of life and you’d better myself or my older sister. think about whether you want to be a Catholic.” The thought had never entered my mind! I thought he
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would simply say, “What size do you take?” (of hab- ing in a fish-freezing plant at Dalcross, as kitchen-porit!) ter at Kyle of Lochalsh I studied for the priesthood for the Diocese of Aberdeen at St. Andrew’s College So I decided to do voluntary service overseas and Drygrange. taught English in Sierra Leone and became a Catholic in Sumbaya, Sierra Leone. I was instructed by the I served as a diocesan priest for fourteen and a half Holy Ghost Fathers, now the Spiritans. My godparents years but I had been bitten by the monastic bug and it are Sierra-Leonean. I was received at the Easter Vigil wouldn’t let me rest. in St. Albert’s Secondary School Hall by Fr. Michael Courtney. And so to my third attempt at monastic life. Now, at the ripe old age of 57 Jimmy Birrell has become I came back to Pluscarden as a postulant and lasted Fr. Martin OSB of Pluscarden. My parents, God rest a week. At a second attempt a year later I lasted five them, and my brothers, became Catholics too. and a half months (doing a bit of teacher training at Craiglockhart and working with the forestry commis- And so our journey of life continues and deepens and sion at Culloden in between). has become a veritable pilgrimage whose exact ways are a mystery but whose final goal is, please God, The late Fr. John Cunningham of Nairn had once said known as in a glass, darkly: “Lead on kindly light” to me, “If you ever leave their mob you might think of . our mob.” He meant the diocesan clergy. After work-
From the Annals of History These were contributions written twenty years ago by Canon Charles McGregor about events in the Diocese of Aberdeen and published in the Scottish Catholic Directory
Twenty years ago
a dinner at which Bishop Conti complimented the parish priest and parishioners for what had been accomplished, the architect Mr. McClure for his designs and the minister of St Magnus’s Cathedral and the Orkney Island Council for their generous assistance during the months of renovation when Mass was celebrated at the Cathedral.
Tuesday 15th April, 1986 Re-opening of refurnished Church of Our Lady and St Joseph Sunday 20th April, 1986 at Kirkwall, Orkney New window at St Margaret’s Lerwick, Shetland This was an occasion which brought great joy to the 190 parishioners and their parish priest, Rev. Michael Spencer, S.J.. The Orkneys and Shetlands have been pastorally cared for by the Society of Jesus for almost thirty years. This particular church was long overdue for extensive repairs. The church has literally been turned around.
Bishop Mario Conti in making his pastoral visit of the islands was welcomed by the parish priest Father Gerald Fitzgibbon, S.J., when with local churchmen and citizens and some of the 180 parishioners, he blessed a stained glass window completing the restoration of the church undertaken over the previous five years, and made possible largely by the offertory gifts of the Sullom Voe construction workers.
The former entry is now the apse. The new altar is of Orkney Stone and is incised with a cross of familiar The window depicts local industry both traditional Orkney design. The lectern is in matching design. and modern – fishing, hand-knitting in Shetland patterns, and oil exploration and off-shore activity. The Dedication Mass was celebrated by Bishop Conti The window was donated by the many friends of the in the company of the parish priest and Canon Robert Catholic community, with a grant from the common McDonald, a former parish priest. Among the distin- good fund of the local authority. The window comguished guests were the deputy lieutenant and mem- plements the well known historical glass windows in bers and clergy from the local churches. The presby- the Lerwick Town Hall. The service was an ecumenitery has also been renewed. The Mass was followed by cal one and a social gathering followed.
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Am I my brother’s keeper? Bishop John Jukes looks at the obligation of the Catholic laity to promote the common good
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hen we speak of the social teaching of the Church such teaching always has reference to the human being in relation to other human beings. Usually the teaching refers to groups or organisations of human beings who in their various combinations form society. Over the past one hundred years the Church, led by the Holy Spirit and often guided by the example and teaching of the Popes, has applied the values and the teaching of Jesus Christ to various forms of human social organisation. A particular application of great significance in our times is to the political communities or countries of the world. The Church has a mission to promote and encourage in the political communities the values of the Gospel that are essential to safeguarding the divinely given dignity and freedom of the citizens of these communities. The role of the political organisation in any country is to promote the common good. The Second Vatican Council described this as “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as a group or as individuals, to reach their fulfilment more fully and easily”. This duty and opportunity of promoting the common good at the practical level is especially the role of the Catholic laity. This teaching of the Second Vatican Council is neatly summarised in the Code of Canon Law at Canon 225 § 2 where it is stated in regard to the laity: “They have also, according to the condition of each, the special obligation to permeate and perfect the temporal order of things with the spirit of the Gospel”. From this flows the need for each individual to consider how he or she contributes to the operation of the political community in which one lives and is able to play one’s part.
The most significant political organisation at present is the nation state. The late Pope John Paul indicated the respect that the Church has for the capacity of the nation state to advance the freedom and development of its citizens by promoting the common good. The Church authorities do not see it as part of their duty to give directions to the laity on how they are to organise and decide the work of promoting the common good. Only when decisions are in prospect that seem to be in conflict with the moral natural law or the certain teaching of the Church will the pastors be bound to remind those who hold power of the values of the Gospel that must not be transgressed. In recent teaching the Church has drawn attention to two factors that are of great significance to political progress. These are Subsidiarity and Solidarity. It is important to understand these ideas. Subsidiarity was affirmed from the time of Rerum Novarum (1891), in order to declare a principle from the natural law that the individual is not to be subsumed into the collective so that individual dignity and responsibility is lost. Pius XI expanded this idea in the Encyclical Quadragesimo Anno (1931). He insisted that it was gravely wrong to take from an individual what he could achieve on his own to give this to the group; and also that it is a disturbance of right order to assign to a higher or larger association what can be well done by a lesser or subordinate organisation (see the Social Doctrine of the Church §186).
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Solidarity is a principle that asserts the bond that exists between individuals and groups arising from our common human nature. This principle is especially significant in the light of the development of the human race in the last 150 years to being a consciously inter-connected worldwide community. No human being, no human group can rightly claim disinterest
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or no responsibility for those parts of the human race that are in need and that can be helped. The resentful response of Cain to God “Am I my brother’s keeper?” is decisively rejected in the Social Doctrine of the Church. + John Jukes OFM Conv.
What is Youth 2000 ?
The Ogilvie Institute will be hosting a Spirituality Workshop with Youth 2000 on the 27th May but what is Youth 2000 ? Youth 2000 is an independent, international initiative that helps young people plug back into God at the heart of the Roman Catholic Church. Its main distinguishing feature is the emphasis it places on celebration of the Mass and Adoration of the Eucharist; next come a focus on active evangelisation and the organisation of retreats and spiritual events for young people throughout the world. Youth 2000 works alongside both priests as well as religious communities within the Church and is open to any young adult who wants to take part – it’s not ‘members only’ for the simple reason it has no members. The initiative is active in many parts of the world. In the UK, it’s a registered charity and the National Office is based near Leeds.
and also a sense of belonging, leading to a renewed faith in Christ and His Church. The best proof of its success are the many young people who are at the heart of the initiative, and who offer what they have received to others of their generation. How would you describe Youth 2000? The simple answer is that it’s an initiative whose driving force is the Holy Spirit. But to be more specific, here are some of the main features that mark it out: † Youth 2000 is focused on direct access to Jesus in the Eucharist † Youth 2000 promotes a deep focus on Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, creating a world wide network of youth gathered around the Blessed Sacrament in prayer. This ability to have ‘live’ access to Jesus, through the Mass and Adoration, is at the heart of the Youth 2000 charism. Young people find the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist magnetic.
Since 1991, Youth 2000 has helped thousands † Youth 2000 sticks to the Bible and the ofof young adults to ‘come home’ to the Church ficial teaching of the Church and to grow spiritually. This growth happens by experiencing the love of God, through prayer † Youth 2000 encourages participants to dust
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off their bibles and get reading. At retreats, it also encourages people to keep closely to the official teachings of the Church, drawing on the Scriptures, the Catechism and on papal encyclicals – rather than offering them simply personal points of view. Equally, however, people are encouraged to think and to ask questions - discussion groups and reasoned explanations of the faith are both hallmarks of Youth 2000 events.
energises the couch potatoes and spreads the word. It’s an international organisation that takes seriously the call of the late Pope John Paul II to evangelise other young people.
† Youth 2000 match-makes young people with Mary. The Virgin Mary is Youth 2000’s second favourite celebrity (after Jesus). Young people who participate in its events and retreats soon pick up the rhythm of the Rosary and through praying about Mary’s involvement in the life of Jesus, get to know her well – including those who never used to bother much with her. The reason for pointing people to Mary is so that she can whisk them straight to Christ.
* Residential weekend prayer festivals * Day School retreats * Pilgrimages * Four-week residential courses on Formation and Evangelisation * Weekend Courses of Formation and Evangelisation * Music Leadership Retreats * Street Evangelisation * Parish retreats
Its focus on events means that Youth 2000 sponsors and runs many activities for young people throughout the UK. To give you a flavour, these are the kind of activities it organises:
So why not come along to St Mary’s Cathe† Youth 2000 worships God in a way that’s dral hall on Saturday 27th May and find out relevant to young adults and it encourages for yourself what it’s all about? time out for spiritual things. Youth 2000
Grace, the presence of Christ + Abbot Hugh Gilbert
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nly grace can change us, and grace is the presence of Christ. Our prayers in Lent ask often enough that Lent will bear fruit. Did the three year Lent of the first disciples bear fruit? Through failure, yes. And why? Because of the presence of Christ, and for no other reason. The Twelve lived with Christ and He with them. Think of Peter. At one level, Christ failed as spiritual father, catechist, Lenten pedagogue, novice master. There was Judas: a catastrophe. But take Peter: the leading pupil in the world’s first and best RCIA course. He makes his first communion, and then denies everything, falls into mortal sin. So much for a fruitful Lent. But then, when the impossible news comes, he runs to the tomb. Christ didn’t let his pupil go. The Lent bore fruit, even through
failure. And how is Christ present to his modern disciples? Principally, says the Council, through the symbols and signs of the Liturgy. And how, then, is He preparing His people for Easter and for what Easter symbolises, heaven? Through the liturgy of Lent. And when is the Lenten liturgy most Lenten? On its Sundays. It is through these Sundays that the Church prepares for Easter. It’s through them that Christ is present to us, sacramentally, and is preparing us, as He prepared the Twelve, for the Paschal Mystery and the life of the world to come. On the Sunday of the Transfiguration, traditionally the Second Sunday of Lent, the transfigured Christ is set before us.
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Then the climax: the cloud comes, and “a voice Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen them up a high mountain where they could be alone to him’”. This means the glory is natural, the resurby themselves. rection inevitable. But also that the passion is the Father’s will; that the Son He led them up, and has come to be a servant, he leads us up also. He to offer his life freely as a had just begun to teach ransom for many. them, “plainly,” says St Mark (8:32), that the Only in the unity of Son of Man must suffer Christ’s Sonship can the many things, and be rebaffling duality of passion jected by the elders and and glory hold together. the chief priests and the Listen to him, says the Fascribes, and be killed, ther. We know from the and after three days Gospel of John that the rise again” (8:31). Peter Son is the one who listens would have none of this, to the Father, and therenor would any of the othfore speaks the words of ers have understood. He God. Listen to him, says took them up the mounthe Father, even when he tain precisely because He says that he must suffer, be wanted to take them up rejected, be killed. Listen to to Jerusalem, to the Pashim, even when he says: “If chal Mystery. And there any man would come after in their presence He was me, let him deny himself transfigured, confirmand take up his cross and ing Peter’s confession of follow me” (Mk 8:34); Him as the Christ, even that you must lose your (in Matthew) the Son life as well. of the Living God. “His Tra nsfiguration of Christ clothes became dazzlingly The Transfiguration gives us white, whiter than any a foretaste or a fore-glimpse earthly bleacher could make them” – bright with of the Kingdom. Surely the last verse of the Gospel is a heavenly brightness, therefore; proof that heaven heavy with irony: “among themselves they discussed was where He already belonged; augury of his exal- what ‘rising from the dead’ could mean.” But at the tation, his return to heaven, and of his return from same time it reminds us that it is “through many heaven; sign of his power to “change our lowly body tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” to be like his glorious body” (Phil 3:21). “Elijah ap- (Acts 14:22), that we must ask for patience before peared to them with Moses; and they were talking we ask for glory. And that all this only makes sense, with Jesus.” Both had seen the glory of God on the only coheres in sonship, surrender to the Father: Mountain. But both the Law and the Prophets had Christ’s sonship and our sonship. foretold the Messiah’s sufferings, and so they talked, as Luke famously has it, of his exodus which he was Christ takes us to Easter as he took his first disciples, to accomplish at Jerusalem” (9:31). “It is wonderful by way of his transfiguration. He wants us to know for us to be here,” says Peter, “so let us make three that glory is certain, that the Father cannot possibly tents.” He repeats his mistake. He has only half- abandon His Beloved. He wants us to know that heard. He “thought that the time for the kingdom there is only one path to glory: through the pasof God had already come,” says St Cyril, forgetting sion, and that this passion can be made an action, a that it was not “in this present time that the hopes giving of self to the Father for others. He wants us of the saints would be fulfilled.” to become what we became at baptism, what He is from all eternity: a son of God.
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A sele c tion o f re s o u rce s f o r Ad u l t Fa i t h D evelopm e n t a va i l a b l e f ro m t h e O g i l v i e I n s t i t u te • CATECHISM OF THE CAtHOLIC CHURCH - A daunting prospect for many! But well worth perseverance. A number of resources for exploring this treasuty are available. Most recently is the long-awaited compendium which syiithesises the catechism and renders it more accessible and engaging for the faithful of all ages. This is now available from the Ogilvie. • CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING - ‘the Catholic Church’s best kept secret. This is an area which could provide rich scope for adult and youth formation. A COMPENDIUM OF THE SOCIAL DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH was published recently. A selection of Books • GOD FOR GROWN-UPS (Redemptorist) - includes multiple choice questionnaires for photocopying and prayer resources. • FOCUS ON FAITH: Deborah Jones (Kevin Mayhew) - includes suggestions for group discussion arid prayer resources. • FAITH ALIVE!: John Redford - Goes through the Creed, Sacraments etc. with helpful questions at the end of each chapter for discussion/ individual reflection afterwards. •
FAITH FOR THE FUTURE (Redemptorist) - a beautifully illustrated adaptation of the Catechism.
• FOUNDATIONS IN FAITH (RCL) - largely liturgically based, with separate books for each liturgical year and a book to be used during lent. Very prayerful and good for relating the Sunday readings to one’s lifè. • HOW TO SURVIVE BEING MARRIED TO A CATHOLIC (Redemptorist) - fun way of exploring what it means to be a Catholic, wiihout being either too flippant or too heavy. Cartoons can be photocopied and used to stimulate discussion. • HOW TO SERIES (SCM) - How to Understand the Creed, OT, NT, Church History, Liturgy, Prophets, Virgin Mary’ — excellent teaching resource. • HOW TO BE A CATECHIST - Susan Sayers • SEVEN SECRETS OF SUCCESSFUL CATECHISTS - Joseph D. White. These, plus other similar books, are useful supports and encouragements for leaders of groups. • THE GIFT OF SCRIPTURE - — booklet issued jointly by the Scottish and English/Welsh Bishops’ conferences. Resources to accompany it have also been produced by tlie CBCEW for downloading. • GENERAL INSTRUCTION OF THE ROMAN MISSAL(CTS) - English translation of the revised Instruction issued by the CBCEW in advance of the revised Missal • CELEBRATING THE MASS (CTS) - produced by the CBCEW as a “companion and guide to a greater appreciation and implementation” of the new General Instruction.
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T
he courses highlighted below are just two of those on offer from the Ogilvie Institute. Turn to the back cover to see what else is available. Note also two important dates for your diary. First, the 1st April when there will be a LISTENING TO THE WORD study day from 10.30am to 3.30pm at St Mary’s Cathedral Hall, Huntly Street, Aberdeen. Sister Moira Donnelly will be discussing the Gospel of Mark. Take along a packed lunch. Everybody welcome. Then, on the 27th of May the Ogilvie is hosting a YOUTH 2000 SPIRITUALIY WORKSHOP. More information will be available nearer the time but, if you would like to know more about Youth 2000, turn to page 11.
The following web sites are all tried and tested: • www.silk.net Resources for Catholic Educators - an excellent site for articles, lesson plans, clipart etc. and which provides useful links to any number of other sites. • www.bibletmteway.com excellent resource for Scripture. • www.newadvent.org New Advent Catholic Encyclopaedia, with a vast amo.mt of information plus links. • wwwcatholic-churcb.org Catholic Internet Directory • www.carmelite.org - main site of British Carmelites More web sites on the next page
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• www.rcnet/lansing/ctk/rcia - Christ the King RCIA programme contains downloadable weekly ‘lessons’, based on the Catechism, which are probably more suitable for adult Catholics. • www.catholic-ew.org - site of the Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales often has very good resources for parish programmes, especially for the liturgical formation, Marriage & Family, plus useful links, as have: • www.usccb.org - American Bishops’ Conference. • www.salvationhistorv.com - St Pau1 Centre for Biblical Theology. • www.udayton.edu - the Mary Page, with many links to other sites. • www.teamsofourlady.uk - the home page of Teams of Our Lady, with downloadable guide. • htto://uk.alphacourse.org.catholics - site for information about setting up, using and following up Alpha
The Gift of Scripture Forty years ago the Second Vatican Council promulgated one of its greatest documents, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, popularly known as Dei Verbum. The document has had a great impact within the Catholic Church and beyond. The Bishops of England and Wales, and of Scotland, have now prepared a new teaching document, The Gift of Scripture, in which the teaching of Dei Verbum and subsequent
Church documents is explained. What the Catholic Church has to say about the Holy Scriptures builds on ancient insights as well as utilising modern understandings. This document is offered to Catholics, to other Christians, and to all who value the ‘gift of Scripture’, so that we may be more richly nourished at ‘the table of God’s word’. Ava ilable now from the O gil vie I nstitute
The Catholic Trut h S o c i e t y w i l l b e publishing the ne w Co m p e n d i u m o f the Cate chism of t h e Ca t h o l i c C hu rc h on 31st Ma rch, 20 06 . This 200-page fa i t h f u l a n d s u re synthesis of the 1992 Ca te c h i s m o f the Catholic Churc h h a s b e e n p re pa re d by the Vati ca n to p ro m o te wide p opula r acce s s to t h e te a c h i n g s a nd spiritual wisd o m o f t h e C hu rc h . Mo delle d closel y o n t h e 1992 Ca te chism, the Comp e n d i u m co m p r i s e s four ma in pa r ts: t h e Pro f e s s i o n o f Fa i t h; Celebration of the Christia n M yste r y ; L i f e i n C h r i s t a n d Christia n Prayer. T h e Comp endium e cho es the format of t h e we l l - k n ow n ‘ Pe n ny Cate chism’ (publishe d by the CT S s i n ce 1889) . I t co n s ists of 598 questions a nd a nswers o n t h e Ca t h o l i c Fa i t h to g e ther with a n index, but also include s 14 co l o u r m a s te rp i e ces of Christia n a r t, a nd a se c tion co n t a i n i n g p ra ye r s.
To order your copy o f the new O gilvie Guid e for Parish Catechists pro duced by B ernade t te Macdonald and J o M a rtin contac t us at the O gilvie Institute
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Trust in the Lord
When renovations to St Mary’s Cathedral in Aberdeen were carried out recently it meant that the Saint Vincent de Paul Society would have to find a temporary new home. Evelyn Murray, Aberdeen president of the society takes a light hearted look at how they coped with the news.
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he week started as usual, crawling out of bed on Sunday to make breakfast, then picking up the Sunday papers and going to Mass. By 1.15pm it was already obvious that my quiet Sunday, and with it possibly the rest of the week, was going to be very eventful . What had created the difference; just the small announcement at Mass that the renovations to the cathedral would be starting that week and the SVdeP would have to move all their belongings out of the works sacristy within a few days.
SVdeP A b erde en president, Evel y n Murray
Where on earth could we store such a huge amount Thankfully, I met Father Keith Hererra of St. Peter’s of goods and how were we going to move them? Church at a function and he realised our predicaThere were hundreds of articles of clothing including ment even before I had time to fully explain what shoes, socks, and jumpers of all shapes and sizes. was happening. He readily agreed that we could store our goods in his large hall at St. Peter’s. Good, Other organisations had to find a new home for I thought, that was one problem dealt with. Now, their possessions, so there was little hope of a spare the next thing to do was, either to arrange transroom in the cathedral. Ah! I told myself, trust in the port for the goods, or to have our members carry Lord, He won’t let you down. our stock from the Cathedral to St Peter’s. As far as I was concerned there was really only one option, and that was to convince my husband to volunteer his services and his lorry to transport the goods. This he readily agreed to do, but the goods would have to be moved on a Wednesday during the day as that was the only time the lorry would be free. The timing of his offered help also posed a problem because most of the Society members worked during the day. “Oh, please help us, Lord,” I prayed, “Everybody works during the day but this can only be done Vo l u n te e r s J a ck Finnie a nd A lice Va n Fra nk re -sto ck ing the shel ves
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in the daytime.” I started to feel a little panic. What if nobody could help us, would Austin and I manage to pack and deliver all of our stocks? What if the lorry took one of its funny turns and wouldn’t start? But once again that little voice inside me said, “Eve, trust in the Lord.” As expected, at the Tuesday evening meeting (our last in the sacristy) all my ever so willing helpers, with the exception of Mary Moffett and Jack Finnie were either working or unable ,to help. Anne Starkey from The Holy Family Conference who was helping us that night said, “No problem, my husband and
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I can easily lend a hand.” Wonderful news, six pairs of willing hands. Ah! Saved again. The next day (Wednesday) was overcast and threatening to rain. We piled all the goods into black plastic bags and, as the lorry had no cover, we prayed that it wouldn’t rain and turn all the bags into sopping wet, slippery, unmanageable bundles. As the last bag was taken out of the Cathedral and loaded onto the lorry I looked at the small room that had been our home for so many years and I thought, “Ah, thank You Lord, but what about the distribution of the weekly food parcels ...?
Parish promotes prayer Sister Mags Langley FMM
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ecently I have been privileged to take part It was powerful. Then slowly, one by one, we lit our in a six week course on Prayer and Spiritual votive candle from the larger one - the Light of Christ Development in Peterhead parish. - said a word, a phrase, a prayer. When the table was
Fr. Chris Brannan invited Fr. Finton Creavan SJ from the Ignation Spirituality Centre Glasgow to guide us through the course. Fr. Finton was assisted by Jane a member of the Church of Scotland. This experience has forcibly shown me the hunger the laity have to deepen their relationship with God. Fr Finton helped us to see the need to prepare before entering into prayer. Then, how to read a chosen passage from the Old or New Testament not once but several times, pausing frequently to ponder a word or a phrase that ‘speaks’ to me as a chosen child of the Father; much as a natural parent likes to chat with son or daughter. It was equally helpful to unpack the Gospel stories and to discover ourselves among those who need healing and words of encouragement. Jesus wants to make each one his personal friend, one who will miror his ways and spread his word by the way we live.
ablaze with flickering flames we sang Silent Night. On went the hall lights, and out came the tea, coffee and mince pies. Then Fr. Chris made a welcome announcement - a day of recollection would be arranged in 2006. I am sure that all who took part in this Prayer and Spiritual Development Course are well prepared for a more profound experience of the Incarnation in our own lives. Also how simple and natural prayer can be when we take God at his word, grasp the truth that God loves each one in spite of - or may be - because of our human frailties, and hear Him speaking to me, his beloved child, in the Scriptures.
Our final session closed with a para-liturgy. In a hall lit by one candle we meditated on part of Handel’s Messiah:- Wonderful; Counsellor; Prince of Peace; I pray that other parishes may find the opportunity to the Mighty God... and then to a very dramatic musi- offer similar courses. cal accompaniment, the poem, The Magi by T.S.Eliot.
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What you always wanted to know about your faith but were afraid to ask!
Restless hearts that long for God
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he desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to Himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for: ‘The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God. This invitation to converse with God is addressed to man as soon as he comes into being. For if man exists it is because God has created him through love, and through love continues to hold him in existence. He cannot live fully according to truth unless he freely acknowledges that love and entrusts himself to his creator.’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church §27) The old “Penny Catechism’, first issued in 1898, asked these questions right at the beginning. They are still the most basic questions we can ask. Remember them? Q. Who made you? A. God made me Q. Why did God make you? A. God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy for ever with Him in the next.
Human beings are, at heart, religious beings, with an inborn need for God; they are always searching, reaching out from themselves towards that Other. From as far back as human records go, people have sought for that Other, have worshipped Someone or Something: in many cases, several someones or somethings, in their search to find the transcendent (ie, beyond themselves) Other they instinctively know lies somewhere beyond. Thus, we find records of many different ‘religions’, as human beings have tried to identify God, to find names for Him. There was always a deep sense of mystery that couldn’t be explained, so people tried to explain it by identifying things they didn’t understand with ‘gods’ – gods of the sun, moon, sea, storm, the trees, the creatures around them. Some gods they saw as less threatening than others, but all tended to have one thing in common: they had human characteristics, often the less attractive characteristics, such as anger. Even when human beings reject the whole concept of God, they still carry on searching for something to put in His place. Nowadays, for instance, we find people putting science or technology in God’s place, putting their trust in what humans can achieve by their own devices. Or they worship material things, seeking to buy happiness through possessions – wealth, jewellery, clothes, exotic holidays etc. Or they seek for lasting happiness in pleasures of dif-
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ferent kinds: food, drink, drugs, sex, entertainment etc. Not all these things are necessarily bad in themselves, but a true lasting happiness is unlikely to be found in such things. They cannot really satisfy us, except briefly. God made us to be happy with Him for ever, not just for a normal human lifetime. Just think about what ‘for ever’ really means! Most of the different religions all seem to reflect a ray of the light of truth, suggesting that human instinct for the infinitely greater Other, but this Other usually tends to be remote, undefined; there is no personal relationship. Then, when we read the Old Testament we hear about ‘God’s chosen people’, the children of Israel, those God spoke to through his specially picked servants, the prophets; those to whom He offered His love and protection; those whom He had chosen to show Him to the rest of the world. Unfortunately, they kept disappointing Him and turning back to the bad old ways until eventually He decided to do things differently. Christianity is very different in that those who follow Jesus Christ have been given something very precious and unique: God Himself has come to meet us, to live among us; He became one of us in order to draw us up towards Himself, in order to show us how to reach Him and our heavenly homeland. We proclaim that it is Jesus Christ, Son of God and God Himself, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. “In him, in whom God reconciled all things to Himself, we find the fullness of religious life.” (see John 14:6; 2 Cor.5:18-19) What ‘evidence’ do we have for God’s existence? Consider the world around us. Many people have their first ‘religious experience’ when they look at the beauty of the natural world: when they glimpse a flower, hear a bird sing, wonder at a glowing sunset: The heavens proclaim the glory of God And the firmament shows forth the work of His hands (Psalm 18). Question the beauty of the earth, question the beauty of the sea, question the beauty of the air distending and diffusing itself, question the beauty of the sky ... question all these realities. All respond: ‘See we are beautiful!’ Their beauty is a profession. These beauties are subject to change. Who made them if not the Beautiful One who is not subject to change? And I said to all the things that throng about the gateways of the senses: ‘Tell me of my God, since you are not He. Tell me something of Him.’ And they cried out in a great voice: ‘He made us!’ My question was my gazing upon them, and their answer was their beauty (St Augustine).
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Look also within yourself: we can find within our own hearts and souls signs of spiritual awareness, those ‘seeds of eternity’ whose origin lies in God. There is something deep within us which never forgets entirely what we were made for: eternal happiness with God; and we spend our whole lives searching and longing for this end. What draws us to search for God? What might lead us to believe that there is Someone beyond ourselves? Many people have written about this search; some have even written about trying to run away from God. After all, if Almighty God does exist, then He is very, very big and we are very, very small. Beginning to know God can be frightening, as well as wonderful. I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years; I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways of my own mind; and in the midst of tears I hid from Him.... (Francis Thompson: The Hound of Heaven) God created human beings to know Him, to love Him, and to live with Him in perfect happiness. Man himself spoiled that original relationship by seeking to find his own way, to be ‘as God’. As a result of that first great sin of disobedience and pride, our senses have become dulled, less easily aware of God’s presence in our midst; we could come face to face with God and not recognise Him; or we could be afraid and try to run away from Him. Love as great as that which God has for us can be frightening. We cannot find our way easily to God; our inheritance may lead us to reject or distrust His love. It can confuse us, so that when we search for Him, we cannot always be completely certain when we have found Him. But God comes to find us and we can meet Him through His word and through His Word. Our natural reason, our intellect (which distinguishes us from other creatures) can help us to find God in His Creation, but what brings us into a relationship with our Creator is faith and faith is a gift which only God can bestow on us. “Thou hast made us for Thyself, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee”. (St Augustine) Eile en Gra nt, RCIA Cate chist, St Ma r y ’s Cathe dral, A b erde en
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Newman’s legacy Eileen Grant It is often the naïve assumption of the euphoric convert that, once confirmed as a Catholic, one’s troubles will simply dissolve. Alas, not so! And certainly not entirely so in Newman’s case. Yet, an inveterate advocate of truth, he continued to risk controversy and scorn in following Christ’s path. His was a voice raised, in particular, on behalf of the laity, urging that they be permitted and helped to reclaim their dignity as Christians, as members of that universal priesthood, that holy nation of believers. In this, he was a true successor to Fathers such as St Augustine and St Leo.
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he body of the faithful is one of the witnesses to the fact of the tradition of revealed doctrine, … their consensus through Christendom is the voice of the Infallible Church … in that very day [the 4th century, referring to the Arian heresy] the divine tradition committed to the infallible Church was proclaimed and maintained far more by the faithful than by the Episcopate … the body of the episcopate was unfaithful to its commission, while the body of the laity was faithful to its baptism (On Consulting the Faithful in Matters of Doctrine, 1859). His views were not met with universal approval, but they were not silenced and continued to echo down through the years and influenced much of the thinking at the Second Vatican Council. Over forty years before the Council, however, Newman’s faith in the vocation of the laity was met by the establishment of the University Catholic Societies’ Federation. As graduates tended to prefer ‘programmes of different calibre’, eventually, in 1942, they set up a ‘Newman
Association’ for graduates (‘There is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit’ [1 Cor. 12:4]). The ethos of the Newman Association calls on all its members to use their God-given gifts for the building-up of His Kingdom on earth. God gave us our reason that we might seek Him and ever strive to know Him better and to love Him and neighbour more dearly. One way of doing this is within a Newman Circle: exploring, discussing and deepening our faith together with our brothers and sisters in Christ; sometimes challenging, questioning and reaching out to others. Membership has been extended to non-graduates, which has opened up the Association to a wider, more versatile circle of participation. Non-Catholics are also welcome as guests or associates and the scope of programmes has widened to embrace ecumenism and inter-faith dialogue. The Aberdeen Circle was established in the nineteen sixties and alone in Scotland has continued without interruption. Recently, Circles have been resurrected in Edinburgh and Glasgow and if we sometimes heave an envious sigh at the vastly larger pools of both speakers and participants from whom they are able to draw, we are confident that we always manage to arrange an interesting and varied programme each year, with speakers who have a deep commitment and passion towards their particular field. I want a laity, not arrogant, not rash in speech, not disputatious, but men who know their religion, who enter into it, who know just where they stand, who know what they hold, and what they do not, who know their creed so well that they can give an account of it, who know so much of history that they can defend it. I want an intelligent, well-instructed laity (Present Position of Catholics in England).
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Our greatest concern is how to attract people to swell our modest audiences. It can be a source of mild embarrassment when a good, busy speaker gives of his/her time and expertise only to be met by an audience of a dozen or so faithful souls. We’re always at pains to stress (and it’s true) that we can provide quality, if not quantity! We do feel strongly, however, that the Newman is an invaluable vehicle for ongoing Adult Faith Development, one of Bishop Peter’s four ‘planks’ – indeed, one might say, his four passions – and we have, at various times, included the other three in our programmes. We try to ensure that each year’s programme is as varied as possible and we have included sessions on outreach (eg, Cyrenians, lepers, fair trade etc); youth (eg, RE in a secularised society); Christian marriage and family issues; representations from other Christian communities and other faiths; on cultural aspects, on art, poetry etc; political issues, vocation… We are conscious also of the need to nourish all these other activities by an ongoing life of prayer, which is especially enriched by our annual Day of Recollection in Lent, led by our dear chaplain, Canon Bill
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Anderson, who never fails to delight (or surprise) us. So then, don’t be faint-hearted; don’t be a stranger! A veritable feast of spiritual, cultural and even intellectual goodies awaits you on the 2nd Thursday of each month for seven months of the year in the cathedral hall. Information is regularly circulated and hopefully, through the marvellous new vehicle of this diocesan newsletter, we will be able to reach more people. We can promise you an enthusiastic welcome and an interesting evening, either as a visitor or as a new member. [Thursday 30th March – an illustrated presentation: ‘Painting the Word – the life of Christ in art’. Thursday 5th May – Annual General Meeting, followed by Cheese & Wine. Watch out for posters/fliers/bulletin inserts or contact Margaret Smith (Sec.: 01224 314566) or Eileen Grant (Chair: grant@ stlaurence.freeserve.co.uk )
Ha n d y pra ye r guide A re yo u a l l f i n g e r s a n d thu m b s w h e n i t co m e s to praye r ? I f s o, t h e n t h i s h a n d y praye r g u i d e i s f o r yo u ! 1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C.S.Lewis once said, “a sweet duty.” 2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers. 3. The next finger is the tallest fin-
ger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for our Governments, for leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God’s guidance. 4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them. 5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says,
“The least shall be the greatest among you.” Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.
P
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oetic licence
Canon Bill Anderson takes a look at some of his favourite inspirational verse
Saint John the Baptist
The last and greatest herald of heaven’s king
Girt with rough skins, hies to the deserts wild, Among that savage brood the woods forth bring. Which he more harmless found than man, and mild.
God will be impossible without conversion of heart and the expulsion of self - importance. Christ himself was to develop those themes with added insight and beauty, and exemplify that perfect humility that led in the end to Calvary.
His food was locusts, and what there doth spring, With honey that from virgin hives distill’d; Parch’d body, hollow eyes, some uncouth thing Made him appear, long since from earth exiled. There burst he forth: All ye whose hopes rely on God, with me amidst these deserts mourn, Repent, repent, and from old errors turn! - Who listen’d to his voice, obey’d his cry? Only the echoes, which he made relent, Rung from their flinty caves, Repent! Repent! Those vigorous lines were written in the seventeenth century by William Drummond of Hawthornden. Educated at Edinburgh Untversity, he later travelled all over europe, and upon returning to Scotland became a patron of the arts and an author himself. He is hardly remembered now for his many pamphlets supporting the Royalist cause, yet some of his poems on different topics have lasted, and are conspicuous for their energy.
William Drummond Drummond’s lines could form a basts for serious reflection not only in Lent or Advent, but in any season or situation.
The self - giving of John the Baptist and his inspiring singleness of purpose could stimulate our personal commitment to Christ. It could spur us on to follow with rekindled fervour him whom John attended with unflagging faithfulness, even to the shedding of his Among such are our verses about the Baptist. Within blood. fourteen lines we are given a vivid portrait of the saint and his lifestyle. Stark and uncompromising in his call Fine poetry often presents briefly what prose would to repentance, and profoundly humble in his role as make lengthy. Arguably our sonnet reinforces that asforerunner, he calls to us down the centuries with the sertion. same cry, the same heartfelt plea to prepare a way for the Lord and make his paths straight.
Quote ... Unquote
A sharp reminder about the nature of our spiritual duties must do us good, smothered as we are apt to be by consumerism and a perpetual craving for comfort and security. The baptist abruptly confronts and challenges us. He is insistent that for Christians of our time, no less than for the folk of his own day, serving
“The one who sows courtesy reaps friendship and the one who plants kindness gathers love”
St Basil
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On a wing and a prayer Father Peter Barry explores the bird life of Scotland
In the Inverness area, we are accustomed to seeing red kites, successfully reintroduced by the R.S.P.B. These travel back and forth across the Kessock Bridge on springy wing tips, and are the waste disposal men and women, hoovering up the carcasses of rabbits run over by cars, keeping the countryside clean. Recently a larger and more exotic bird of prey, an eagle owl, has flown right into the centre of Inverness. In broad daylight this beautiful creature has made the Eastgate shopping centre its hunting area. The orange and black eyes give it a rather fearful aspect and local gulls and pigeons quickly succumb to its feeding habbits. In full view of admiring shoppers, a pigeon Eagle owl or gull is taken on the wing, plucked and eaten on a rooftop or street light. The capture of a rat brought When an albatross flew into the gannet colony on Unst, the most northerly of the Shetland Isles, some forth a round of applause. years ago, it was quickly given a nickname, “Albert”. The bird is an escapee from the Kincraig Park, and is Doubts as to its gender has changed the name to “Alclearly accustomed to humans. At 24 inches long, this berta” but there is still some uncertainty. To add to is the largest of the European owls, with a wing-span the confusion, it is courted by male and female ganof six feet. Its scientific name, “bubo bubo” recalls its nets! hollow hooting sound. This equally wonderful creature deserves a name. Can you think of one? Letters to the editor. A s a n y g o o d m u s i c a f i c i on a d o k n ow s , 2 0 0 6 m a rk s t h e 2 5 0 t h a n n i ve r s a r y o f t h e b i r t h o f Wo l f g a n g Am a d e u s Mo z a r t . Eve n Ro m e w a s e n c h a n t e d b y t h i s g re a t c o m p o s e r a n d , i n deed , t h e c h i l d p ro d i g y f ro m Sa i l z b ur g w a s war m l y re c e i ved i n t h e Et e r n a l Ci t y d u r i n g his b r i e f s o j o u r n h e re i n 1 7 1 0 . Th e yo u n g Mo z a r t a n d h i s f a t h e r L e o p o l d mad e t h e i r w a y t o St . Pe t e r’s Ba s i l i c a . It was a c u s t o m d u r i n g Ho l y We e k i n t h e Si s tine C h a p e l t o s i n g t h e e xc e p t i o n a l l y b e a u t i-
f u l p i e c e o f m u s i c k n ow n a s t h e “ Mi serere,” w r i t t e n a c e n t u r y e a r l i e r b y Gi o r g i o Allegri. T h e w o rk w a s e xc l u s i ve t o t h e Si s t i n e Chapel a n d c o u l d n o t b e p u b l i s h e d , b u t w a s handed d ow n f ro m c h o i r m a s t e r t o c h o i r m a s t er. T h e re m a rk a b l e p ro d i g y Wo l f g a n g stunned e ve r yo n e b y re t u r n i n g t o h i s l o d g i ngs and t r a n s c r i b i n g t h e m u s i c h e h a d m e moriz ed d u r i n g t h e l i t u r g y. Hi s p ro u d f a t h e r wrote to Wo l f g a n g’s m o t h e r, An n a , “ Pe rh a p s you have h e a rd o f t h e f a m o u s ‘ Mi s e re re , w h o s e public a t i o n i s p ro h i b i t e d u n d e r p a i n o f e xcommun i c a t i o n . We l l , we h a ve It . Wo l f g a n g wrote it f ro m m e m o r y.”
humour
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Humour from the Vestry These are actual announcements from church bulletins. It is amazing what a little proofreading would have prevented. If you spot any howlers like this in the Light of the North, please, just keep them to yourself! Don’t let worry kill you -- let the church help.
“I’m sure that’s the first time we’ve had a third collection”
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our church and our community.
The choir invites any member of the congregation who enjoys sinning to join the choir!!
This afternoon there will be a meeting in the South and North ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 p.m. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
This being Easter Sunday, we will ask Mrs. Lewis to come forward and lay an egg on the altar.
Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa will be speaking tonight at The Calvary Memorial Church in Racine. Come tonight and hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa.
Next Sunday a special collection will be taken to defray the cost of the new carpet. All those wishing to do something on the new carpet will come forward and do so. The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind. They can be seen in the church basement Saturday. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be “What is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice. The preacher will preach his farewell message, after which the choir will sing, “Break Forth With Joy.” The Rev. Adams spoke briefly, much to the delight of his audience. The eighth graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” in the church basement on Friday at 7 p.m. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy. Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday from 7am to 8 pm. Please use back door.
Children were asked questions about the Bible. Their responses have not been retouched or corrected. Adam and Eve were created from an apple tree. Noah’s wife was called Joan of Ark. Noah built an ark, which the animals came on to in pears. Moses led the Hebrews to the Red Sea, where they made unleavened bread which is bread without any ingredients. The Egyptians were all drowned in the dessert. Afterwards, Moses went up on Mount Cyanide to get the ten ammendments. The greatest miracle in the Bible is when Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him. Solomon, one of David’s sons, had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.
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Lenten Station Masses Th e St at i o n M asses take p l a ce e a c h Fr iday dur ing Le nt a n d a re held in diffe re nt p a r i s h churches w i t h i n t h e D iocese. The B i s h o p a n d p r iests of the Deaneries concelebrate M a s s w i t h t h e par ticipa t i o n o f l o c a l p eople, dem o n st rat i n g t he unit y of t h e f a i t h f u l. I t is an op p o r t u n i t y to join with
par ishioners from o t h e r par ishes, to cele b rate our faith. To emp h a s i s e that unit y even mo re, t h e usual weekday M as s e s o n the Fr iday are of te n c a ncelled so that eve r yo n e, as pilgr ims, may g at h e r together to share i n t h e Euchar ist.
St Mary’s Deanery (City of Aberdeen) Date
3rd March 10th March 17th March 24th March 31st March 6th April 7th April
Venue St Mary’s Cathedral, Huntly Street Kings College Chapel, University Holy Family, Mastrick St Francis of Assisi, Mannofield St Joseph’s, Woodside ‘Chrism Mass’, St Thomas’, Keith Our Lady Of Aberdeen, Kincorth
Time 7.pm 7.30pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm
Good Friday, 14th April, the traditional Walk of the Cross to Kincorth Hill with a wooden cross, starts from Huntly Street at 6am. The walk will go via Bon Accord Street, Whinhill Road, Great Southern Road and Provost Watt Drive to Kincorth Hill.
St Joseph’s Deanery (Highlands, Orkney and Shetland) D ate
Ve n u e
Ti m e
1 0 t h M a rc h
St Thomas, Chapel Street, Keith
1 7 t h M a rc h
St M ar y ’s,Ac ademy Street, Nairn
7pm
2 4 t h M a rc h 3 1 s t M a rc h 6th April 7t h A p r i l
St M ar y ’s, Huntly Street, Inverness St Peter and St B oniface, 9 Cathedral S quare, For trose ‘ Chrism M ass’, St Thomas’, Keith St M ar y, E sk ada le
7pm 7pm 7pm 7pm
6. 3 0 p m
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Pope Benedict’s Lenten Message Le n t - A n opp or tunit y to see the compassionate gaze of C h r i s t i n t he face of development
F
ive months before Lent even started, in other replace that gift of self to another through which charwords, well in advance so as to help us reflect ity is expressed. and ponder on it, the Holy See made public Pope Benedict’s message for the sacred season “They know that he who does not give God gives too of Lent. little; as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta frequently observed, the worst poverty is not to know Christ. Therefore, we This year’s message for Lent deals with the issue of de- must help others to find God in the merciful face of velopment. Yet the Holy Father puts this within a par- Christ. Without this perspective, civilization lacks a ticular context : “the compassionate gaze of Christ”. solid foundation.” The text used by the Holy Father was from Matthew chapter 9: “Jesus, at the sight of the crowds, was moved Pope Benedict continued that, moved like Jesus with with pity.” compassion for the crowds, the Church today considers it her duty to ask political leaders and those with Poe Benedict wrote: “Even now, the compassionate economic and financial power to promote develop“gaze” of Christ continues to fall upon individuals and ment based on respect for the dignity of every man peoples. He watches them, knowing that the divine and woman. “plan” includes their call to salvation. Jesus knows the perils that put this plan at risk, and He is moved with “An important litmus test for the success of their efpity for the crowds. He chooses to defend them from forts is religious liberty, understood not simply as the the wolves even at the cost of His own life. The gaze freedom to proclaim and celebrate Christ, but also the of Jesus embraces individuals and multitudes, and he opportunity to contribute to the building of a world brings them all before the Father, offering Himself as a enlivened by charity. sacrifice of expiation. “These efforts have to include a recognition of the cen“Enlightened by this Paschal truth, the Church knows tral role of authentic religious values in responding to that if we are to promote development in its fullness, man’s deepest concerns, and in supplying the ethical our own “gaze” upon mankind has to be measured motivation for his personal and social responsibilities. against that of Christ.” These are the criteria by which Christians should assess the political programmes of their leaders.” Continued Then the text contains a little gem: “He who does not Pope Benedict. give God gives too little.” The Holy Father ended his message with another diPope Benedict explained : “In the face of the terrible mension of discovering the gaze of Christ, namely that challenge of poverty afflicting so much of the world’s of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. population, indifference and self-centered isolation stand in stark contrast to the “gaze” of Christ. Fast- He concludes: “In turning to the Divine Master, in ing and almsgiving, which, together with prayer, the being converted to Him, in experiencing His mercy Church proposes in a special way during the Lenten through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we will disSeason, are suitable means for us to become conformed cover a “gaze” that searches us profoundly and gives to this “gaze”. new life to the crowds and to each one of us. “The examples of the saints and the long history of the “It restores trust to those who do not succumb to scepChurch’s missionary activity provide invaluable indi- ticism, opening up before them the perspective of etercations of the most effective ways to support develop- nal beatitude.” ment. Even in this era of global interdependence, it is clear that no economic, social, or political project can
Light of the North OGILVIE INSTITUTE 16 HUNTLY STREET ABERDEEN AB10 1SH
01224 638675
Email director@ogilvie.ac.uk www.ogilvie.ac.uk Director: Deacon Tony Schmitz Courses Coordinator: Mary Nelson Children’s Resources: Sister Mags Langley Editor: Cowan Watson Acting Librarian: Adriana Grebogi Admin Assistant: Mei Lawson
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Course Directory 2006 - 2007 Maryvale Courses offered in Scotland Certificate for Parish Catechists
Studies in the Catholic Catechism Listening to the Word BA in Applied Theology
Diploma in Evangelisation and Ministry
Ogilvie Workshops
Encyclical on the Holy Eucharist
Workshops on Spirituality
Workshops for Readers
Workshops for Auxiliary Ministers of Holy Communion
Workshops on Liturgy
Workshops for Catechists
Workshops for Catholic Social Teaching
Diocesan Policy Statement on Sacramental Preparation of Children (15pp)
Workshops on Catholic Faith and Culture
Workshops on Scottish Catholic History
The Ogilvie Guide for Parish Catechists (40pp or as a CD-R)
Workshops for training Echoes Coordinators
The Glory o f G o d is man fu l ly a l i v e
OGILVIE PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE FROM THE OGILVIE INSTITUTE Revised Guide for Confirmation Catechists
The Permanent Diaconate in Scotland: Norms for Selection and Formation (100pp)
For an enrolment form and further information about any of the above courses, tick the appropriate box or boxes, fill out the coupon and send it to: THE DIRECTOR, OGILVIE INSTITUTE, 16 HUNTLY STREET, ABERDEEN AB10 1S H
My Book About Confirmation [Part 1 & 2] by Sister Ann Condon FMM Children’s Liturgy of the Word [A,B & C] by Sister Monica Mc Donald RCSJ A Silver Garland: A Jubilee Anthology in honour of Archbishop Mario Conti (271pp) St Peter’s Church - Aberdeen’s Hidden Gem by Alasdair Roberts
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