Light of the North
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Light of the North I am the Light of the World
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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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