Light of the North Issue 3

Light

DON’T BE LEFT IN THE DARK

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GET THE LIGHT OF THE NORTH

Light of the North I am the Light of the World

I s s u e 3 , Au t u m n , 2 006

The Holy Guardian Angels, 2nd October Apostolic Nuncio’s visit Fr Michael Savage and a tale of two cities

Diocesan Youth Coordinator Interview

Prison Chaplaincy with Fr Winston D’Souza Peter Morris experiences community life in L’Arche FRE E FREE A q ua r ter l y m a g a z i n e p ro d u ce d a n d p u b l i s h e d by t h e O g i l v i e I n s t i t u te fo r t h e D i o ce s e o f A b e rd e e n

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or parents it’s a comforting belief that an angel protects up front their little ones from dangers real and imagined. Yet guardian angels are not just for children. Their role is to represent individuals before God, to watch over them always, to aid their prayer and to present their souls to God at death.

The subject of the painting on our front cover is, Tobias and the Angel (1470-60), taken from the Book of Tobit. The Archangel Raphael who accompanies Tobias

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is shown holding a small box containing a remedy to cure Tobias’ father of blindness.

The painting was produced in the workshop of Leonardo da Vinci’s master, Andrea del Verrocchio. Rumour has it that the model for the young man on the right is none other than Leonardo himself when he was an apprentice. He is also thought to have had a hand in painting the little dog.

To find out more about the guardian angels turn to page 14 and the article by Abbot Hugh Gilbert

Blairs model priest

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t’s amazing what turns up in a cupboard! Tucked neatly away in a case in St. Mary’s Cathedral Huntly Street, Father Stuart Chalmers never suspected the presence of a little colleague. The Father Archangel ... hanging out at Blairs small figure had rested quietly there for a good many The altar vessels are crafted in white metal, embossed years but now he is firmly in the spotlight at Blairs Mujewelled as large size ones would be; the tiny spoon for seum where he is the central figure of the children’s the incense boat and the brush for the asperges bucket liturgical set. show that no attention to detail was spared when the set was assembled. The vessels are in working order The set was used to teach children the meaning of the and the tiny candlesticks have miniature church canvestments and the uses of the sacred vessels during dles. The missal is a miniature replica. the Mass whilst they learned about their faith, but what might have been dry-as-dust instruction was given inFor anyone wishing to visit, all it takes is a telephone terest with the use of form and colour. The little priest, call. There are walk-in opening hours from April to known to Museum staff as “Father Archangel”, was lovthe end of September, 10 am – 5 pm on Saturdays ingly crafted and even more lovingly dressed – from and public holidays, 12 noon – 5pm on Sundays but skin out with a red and white striped shirt and perfectthe staff are always happy to “open up” to interested ly worked miniature socks so fine they must have been visitors, quietly putting aside the work on hand to disknitted on hairpins; from tonsure to toes everything is play the treasures which they are proud to look after in proportion. There is a complete set of vestments in with love.For further details and all inquiries telephone liturgical colours; the white chasuble has a button boss David Taylor at the Museum on 01224 863767 or email: with an anchor for faith on it. Albs and linens are all to manager@blairsmuseum.com match with exquisite stitching painstakingly worked to tiny proportions.

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contents deaneries 4 witness 12 socialteaching social teaching 14 youthlight youth light 15 liturgy 16 faithin faith inaction action 17 educationandformation education andformation 18 children’slight children’s light 24 faithand faith andculture culture 25 Humour 29 VaticanCity Vatican City 31 Ogilvieinstitute Ogilvie institute 32

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 If you would like to sponsor a page of the Light of the North, advertise in these pages or simply give a donation then please get in touch with us at the following address: Light of the North Ogilvie Institute 16 Huntly Street Aberdeen AB10 1SH Tel: 01224 638675 Email: lightofthenorth@speedpost.net

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We won’t try to pull the wool over your eyes!

We have always known that the success of this new diocesan magazine would depend largely on whether you, the reader, believed it was a worthwhile enterprise. We have tried to make sure that it reaches as many Catholic households as possible and we are convinced that this is a truly effective way of promoting the spread of the Gospel throughout the North East and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Judging by the support and encouragement the editorial team have received you feel the same way.

However, we shall not try to pull the wool over your eyes! No matter how successful the magazine is, the resources of the Diocese are finite and, if this publication is to continue, we shall have to stand on our own two (or is it four?) feet.

At the moment the magazine is free of charge and we would like it to stay that way, but to do that we need to generate sponsorship and advertising revenue.

You will notice that in this issue we have already been able to find sponsors for several pages. Even so, we need to enlist the support of many more of our readers to sponsor pages or place advertisements with us.

As an advertiser, you will be able to reach at least 4,000 families living in one of the largest, geographically speaking, dioceses of Europe and our introductory rates are very reasonable, starting at just £250 for a quarter page.

Pages can also be sponsored by individuals or groups for a cost of £200 per issue and all donations will be gratefully received.

Cowan Watson

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N e wss fro m tth New hee D e a ne rie ri e s

Diocese welcomes Apostolic Nuncio Fr Paul Bonnici

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he diocese of Aberdeen warmly welcomes Benedict XVI’s personal representative to both Church and State in Britain, Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Faustino Sainz Muñoz.

Archbishop Sainz Muñoz is visiting our diocese from 10th -12th October 2006 at the invitation of Bishop Peter Moran.

In his role as Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Sainz Muñoz, is at once accredited as Ambassador of the Holy See to the Court of St James and at the same time serves as Pope Benedict’s personal representative to the Church in Britain.

He was ordained a priest on 19 December 1964 and worked in parishes for two years, and combined this with work as a chaplain to the Diocesan Youth Commission, teaching religion in the Faculty of Law in Madrid.

In October 1967 he was sent to the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome for training for the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See and during that time he studied at the Pontifical Lateran University where he received a Doctorate in Canon Law (1967-1969).

He entered the Diplomatic Service of the Holy See on 1 January 1970 and served in Senegal, French speaking West Africa (1970-1972), Denmark, and the other countries of Scandinavia (1972-1975).

His geographical remit extends to England, Wales and Scotland but does not go as far as Northern IreWhile in Scandinavia, he was also a Apostolic Nuncio land. The Holy See also has a Nunmember of the Conference on Security Archbishop Sainz Muñoz ciature or Embassy in Dublin, and & Cooperation in Europe (C.S.C.E). the Apostolic Nuncio there covers that territory.

In August 1975 he was transferred to what is today called the Section for Relations with States of the Holy Archbishop Sainz Muñoz’s own background is that of See, where he remained until the end of 1988. During some one who trained to be a Spanish lawyer and then, these years his principal responsibility was for questions aged 21, went to Seminary to become a priest for the concerning the Church in Poland, Hungary, the Soviet Archdiocese of Madrid.

Union and Yugoslavia.

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In January 1979 he became a member of the Pontifical Mediation between Argentina and Chile to find a solution to their dispute over the Zona Austral, also known for the conflict over the “Beagle Channel” which was concluded when the Treaty of Peace and Friendship was signed by the two countries on 29 November 1984.

On 29 October 1988 Pope John Paul II named him as Titular Archbishop of Novaliciana and Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Cuba. He received Episcopal Ordination in Madrid on 18 December 1988.

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representations using the appropriate diplomatic channel when necessary. Issues ranging from dialogue with a state about particular legislation, to the planning and organising of Papal Visits are dealt with by the Nuncio’s office.

Perhaps the best known Apostolic Nuncio of recent times was Blessed John XXIII who, as Archbishop Angelo Roncalli, served as nuncio in Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece and France.

The history of Apostolic Nunciatures can be traced back as far as Pope Gregory the Great who became pope in 590, and who was sent as a papal envoy to the emperor of Constantinople.

He remained in Cuba until November 1992, when he was transferred to KinBlessed John XXlll shasa as Apostolic Nuncio to Zaire, which from May 1997, became known as the Democratic The first Nunciatures were later established in Spain, Republic of the Congo.

France, Venice, Austria and Germany. Papal nuncios together with apostolic delegates and permanent obHe was appointed Apostolic Nuncio to the European servers represent the pope and the Holy See in more Communities in Brussels on the 22 January 1999 and than 180 countries, before the United Nations and at he remained there until 11 December 2004 when he other international organizations. was nominated as Apostolic Nuncio to Great Britain.

Archbishop Sainz Muñoz began his mission in London on 21st February 2005.

Our congratulations go to A Nuncio is first and foremost a priest and a bishop Fr Raymond Coyle who was who represents the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, recently installed as a Canon of as head of the Catholic Church. The Holy Father lives the Cathedral Chapter, also to in The Vatican City State, a small enclave within the Fr Peter Barry who will be installed city of Rome and the smallest geographical state in the at the next Chapter meeting. world. The role of the Nuncio is to inform the Holy See of issues which could have a bearing on the life and work of the Church in Britain, and to makes

Two gun salute

Clergy changes in the Diocese Bishop Peter Moran has announced the appointment of a new Administrator for St Mary’s Cathedral, Aberdeen. He is Father Chris Brannan, presently Parish Priest in Peterhead and Fraserburgh. He will take over from Father Stuart Chalmers, who has been granted a twelve-month leave of absence to complete his Doctorate.

Father Czesław Józef Kolasa, who is known as “Father Joe”, presently assistant priest at Saint Mary’s, Inverness, will become Priest-in-Charge at Peterhead and Fraserburgh.

Father Ryszard Świder, presently assistant priest at Peterhead and Fraserburgh, will become assistant priest at Saint Mary’s, Inverness.

Father Maciej Hulas from the Archdiocese of Lublin, Poland has arrived in the diocese on 4th August. He will be appointed in due course as assistant in a parish. Like the other Polish priests now working in the Diocese of Aberdeen he will have pastoral responsibility for both English-speaking and Polish-speaking parishioners.

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New Aberdeen ambassador

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ishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen became a Burgess of the Burgh of Aberdeen at a meeting of the City Council within the Town House.

In the ancient ceremony, he handed to Lord Provost John Reynolds a white purse, symbolising his donation of five shillings Scots, and received a Diploma of membership.

Bishop Moran, 71, thus becomes a member of an elite group of about nine hundred people who were either born in Aberdeen or live or work in it and who promote Aberdeen city with its rich history and culture all over the world. He becomes an official ambassador of the Granite city.

Lord Provost John Reynolds, Bishop Peter Moran and Senior Assessor Fred Dalgarno (Photograph - Norman Adams, Aberdeen City Council)

The bishop said: “I was greatly honoured to be invited by the Dean of Guild to be a Burgess of this city. I look forward to using my European contacts in promoting Aberdeen.”

He also represents the Scottish Catholic Bishops in Brussels, at the meetings of COMECE, the Commission of Bishops Conferences of the European ComThe Bishop has recently established links with Poland, munity. bringing Polish priests to serve in the North East of Scotland.

Former Banchory Priest all fired up over visit to U.S.

Father Thomson said: “I hope to get an idea how they do chaplaincy to the fire service in the United States.

Father Jim Thomson, the United Kingdom’s only Roman Catholic priest to be a chaplain to a fire brigade has been awarded a six week study tour of the United States of America to examine fire fighters’ chaplaincy there and bring his findings back to Britain.

“The Americans have a far different attitude towards religion than we do over here. So it would be interesting to see how they involve chaplains in the fire department in different areas of life.

Father Thompson, one of two chaplains to Strathclyde Fire and Rescue has been awarded a research grant by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.

The Rev. Thomson is a priest of Motherwell Diocese who served as parish priest of Banchory for a number of years, and has now returned to his diocese as Parish Priest of St Joseph’s, Stepps.

“Over here in Strathclyde we are trying to develop the role of the chaplain and formalise it more. This has been acknowledged by the fire board in Strathclyde. I thought this would be a good way to understand how the job is done elsewhere.”

The aim of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust is to enable people from all walks of life to acquire knowledge and experience abroad so as to improve their effectivenes at work and to enhance their contribution to the Father Thomson’s tour will include visits and meetings with fire and rescue chaplains in places as diverse community. as Washington DC, Chicago and Grand Rapids.

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Mary, Queen of Poland honoured at Pluscarden

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undreds of Catholics from Scotland’s northernmost diocese including Poles living and working in the North East flocked celebrate fifty years since Poland was re-dedicated to Mary the Mother of God and re-declared Queen of Poland.

Gathering at the Benedictine Abbey of Pluscarden, they participated in a Mass led by Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen.

At the beginning of the celebration, a group of eighty five Poles walked the six mile road from Elgin to Pluscarden Abbey. They were led by Fr Joe Kolasa.

“Fifty years ago, almost to the day, the people of Poland re-dedicated their country to Mary their Queen.

In true pilgrim tradition, Abbot Hugh Gilbert welcomed all present to Pluscarden.

“Today’s Mass and the other celebrations, here in the spiritual heart of our diocese, are to honour Mary. We Bishop Moran spoke in both English and Polish. He too honour Mary and welcome our Polish fellow-Cathexplained how Pluscarden Abbey has become the spir- olics in the context of her feast,” Said Bishop Moran. itual heart of his far flung diocese.

He continued: “Today Father Abbot and I have invited you here, English-speakers who have lived in the diocese for many years, and Polish-speakers who have arrived only recently. Poland also has a spiritual heart, in the city of Częstochowa: it is called Jasna Góra (the Bright Mountain), the shrine of Our Lady Queen of Poland.

He then addressed his Polish parishioners in their own language. He introduced himself as the Bishop of a huge diocese. He continued: “While you are living in Scotland, I am your bishop also. We hope that you have found a friendly welcome. Our little parishes want to embrace you. Your faith will strengthen ours.”

The preacher during the Mass was Father Marian Łękawa, Rector of the Polish Catholic Mission in Scotland.

Diaconate students attending their annual summer school at St. Mary’s Kinnoull enjoyed a ‘family Sunday’ barbecue to which their wives, children and other family members were invited.

The picture shows some of those attending in the garden at Kinnoull with Director of Studies, Deacon Tony Schmitz, on the left.

The summer school features a range of spiritual, liturgical and practical experiences which complement the academic studies and parish placements during the year. It also brings together diaconate students from all over Scotland who, by necessity, undertake a substantial part of their studies by distance learning at home.

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Bishop Peter ordains two new deacons for the Diocese Bishop Peter Moran of Aberdeen ordained John Joseph Wire as a permanent deacon in the chapel of St Mary’s, Blairs on Saturday 19 August.

Deacon John is a semi-retired engineering project manager and lives in Montrose. He was born near Pershore in Worcestershire, is married to Susan, and is a father and grandfather.

Deacon John, 60, has been active for many years in the St Vincent De Paul Society, a Catholic organisation which helps people in need. He is also a keen photographer and some of his pictures have been published in the national Catholic press.

Deacon John will be combining pastoral duties at St Francis, Mannofield, Aberdeen while working as an administrative assistant at the Diocesan Offices in Aberdeen. He will also be pursuing further studies in Theology with the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham.

Bishop Peter Moran and Deacon John Wire On Saturday 26 August, Bishop Peter Moran ordained Patrick Kieran Darbyshire as a permanent deacon at St Mary’s Church in Inverness.

Deacon Patrick, from Drumnadrochit on the shores of Loch Ness, is married to Sheila and is a father of four. With Sheila, he has been involved in the catering and hospitality industry for many years. They currently operate a bed and breakfast in Drumnadrochit.

Deacon Patrick will exercise his pastoral ministry in Drumnadrochit and in the village of Cannich some 10 miles to the West, where he already assisted at Mass in the church of Our Lady and St Bean. Now he will do so as a member of the ordained clergy of the Diocese of Aberdeen.

Deacon Patrick will also work in collaboration with Father Michael Savage at St Mary’s, Inverness, and Bishop Peter Moran with Deacon Patrick Darbyshire and Deacon Patrick’s wife and family with Mr Matt Hadley, the recently-appointed diocesan Youth Coordinator, who is also based there.

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Official installation of Father Gerry Livingstone Father Gerry Livingstone has been officially installed as Parish Priest of St Peter’s Buckie and St Mary’s Fochabers by Bishop Peter Moran.

Father Livingstone, 37, also has responsibility for St Ninian’s, Tynet and St Gregory’s, Preshome.

He succeeded Mgr Eddie Traynor who died in March of this year, having been Parish Priest of St Peter’s for over 18 years.

Fr Livingtone was previously parish priest of St Duthac’s, Dornie, and St Margaret’s, Shetland.

Faithful servant

Willie Halcrow from St. Margaret’s and the Sacred Heart, Shetland, celebrated half a century since he first went to a Catholic Church for Mass as a young man of 18 on 15th August, 1956. He was subsequently received into full communion with the Church.

Bishop Peter Moran with Fr Gerry Livingstone and

Urgent help for Lebanon

The Benedictine monks at Pluscarden Abbey, have launched an appeal on behalf of the people of Lebanon, following a request from the Greek Catholic Archbishop of Tyre, Archbishop Georges Bacaouni.

He is asking for urgent help to fund temporary housing and feed thousands of displaced people in Lebanon. To help, please send a cheque made payable to “Pluscarden Benedictines”, with a note saying that it is for “House of Light and Hope” and address it to Pluscarden Abbey, Elgin IV30 8UA.

The Church of the Immaculate Conception in In- Louise Marcar, a member of the parish council, said: verurie has begun a £180,000 project to refurbish the “There will be a new layout and hopefully it will be a really good facility.” church hall.

The installation of a new kitchen and flooring are just The church raised £10,000 for the renovation project and was awarded a loan of £170,000 from the Diocese. some of the works which are planned.

The new hall is expected to reopen in the autumn.

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Snakes alive!

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he children of St Ninian’s, Inverness, celebrated Summer School recently. Over a period of 4 days, from 2nd to 5th August, they bounced on inflatable castles, ate burgers, had their faces painted, and pondered the theme for the occasion: Gods creatures, in the air, on the land and in the sea. They heard the story of Noah’s Ark, St Francis and the Wolf, and had some very special visitors.

Around 40 young people met Tommy Horne, known locally The seven foot python was the star of the show as the Hawk and Owl man. Tommy has an impressive collection of birds of prey, and three of his Eagle Owls stalked At Mass that evening the children brought along their pets around the grounds at St Ninian’s, while Herring Gulls for a blessing. Various beasts were sprinkled with holy water : hamsters busy at their wheels, cats in cages and fish in bowls. screeched their protest overhead.

Various dogs, from a white Scottie to a golden Labrador as Next day Mike the “Reptile man” entertained with scorpi- big as a Mountain Lion, attended Mass that evening, and ons, snakes and geckos. The gecko, Mike explained, was so looked on solemnly as they were tugged across the sanctuary called from the sound it makes, up to seven times. One little on short leads, to be dowsed with a brass sprinkler. God the fellow couldn’t resist the question : If it calls 8 times, is it in creator was invoked to bless budgies and snakes, their ownthe Guinness book of Geckords? A seven foot python, how- ers as pleased as punch at the reception their loved ones were getting. ever, was the star of the show.

As they fondled the beautiful creature, children remarked on Deborah, a graduate of Art School, was present throughout. some blemishes on its skin. Mike explained that these were A beautiful Noah’s Ark display was fashioned by the young cigarette burns. The previous owners thought this was fun, people under her guidance. Children made face masks of and the poor creature had to be rescued. It now travels round various animals for the Ark display. With crayon and paint schools and youth-dubs. Mike explained that snake serum they fashioned the faces of lions, striped zebras, long necked had a multitude of uses beneficial to us. A millipede looked giraffes and other animal faces which defied classification. an ugly bug, yet was also our friend. Its skin secretes a healing liquid which can be rubbed against our cuts and bruises. An Father Boniface Kruger, a visiting Franciscan, was a wonderextra large scorpion, with a sting to kill a rat, travelled along ful Aide-memoire as he wandered the church grounds in his brown Franciscan habit, telling little children of the love St Mike’s exposed arm. We kept a respectable distance.

Francis had for all living things, and leading them in prayer.

The group visited Kilroy Castle on Saturday, where the own- Teenage assistants catered throughout with soft drinks, fruit ers had made a trail through the woods. There were 14 stages, and sandwiches. Some of them are preparing for the Sacraeach with a biblical reference and quiz, and we grouped into ment of Confirmation. threes and fours to compete against each other. We then sat Throughout the event mums and dads relaxed in the hall, down to cream teas, before making our way back to St Nin- meeting each other for the “crack”, enjoying tea and nibbles, and happy to have the kids off their hands for these brief moian’s for the Saturday Vigil Mass. ments. God bless everyone who participated.

Summer Campers More than 40 children from Holy Family Parish, Aberdeen attended a two day Summer Camp during the school holidays at which they not only played games, learned music for Masses but also had catechesis. This is now an annual event in the parish.

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A tale of two cities Father Michael Savage Just before leaving the parish I bumped into one character whose house I had recently blessed, carrying his ‘kerrioot’ home for a quiet evening drink. He stopped for a chat and showed me the stitches in his head where he had had a difference of opinion with some of the neighbours. Shrugging his shoulders in a matter of fact manner he said it would get better. Looking up towards the church he reflected how his nephew had just made his first communion there and that Church was very special to him and heaven help anyone who did any damage to it. Now I had never actually seen him darken the doors of the place but it struck me how the sense of belonging ran deep, how being part of the Church, while a loose concept, is still very real. From a personal point of view I sensed how being a priest in areas like this was something special to these people and even if they did not always come to Mass, the priest was not to be touched.

It was then I realised why I had felt protected during my time there. From a distance people like him had helped, However in the years that followed I found that the sup- they might have been strange guardian angels but it was port and dedication of the parishioners was second to something I remain eternally grateful for. none. With a small core group of people we were able to do many of the same things and more that you might ex- In recent months I have again packed my bags and pect from larger more affluent parishes. This is not to say moved to pastures new in St Mary’s Inverness . Once there were no challenges. There was the frequent chasing again the diverse nature of parish community and locaof young lads off the roof of the Church, the extinguish- tion has come to the fore. Even compared to the big city ing of burning bins placed against the back door, the re- parishes in the Central Belt there is a dynamic feel about peated smashing of windows. Any loose item of property Inverness, and the eclectic nature of the local population had to be nailed down so it wouldn’t be stolen. On one has taken me by surprise. You are never sure who is going occasion there was a slight difference of opinion between to turn up at the front door or at Mass. Cycling deacons myself and a group of boys who wanted to play roller from Germany, American couples wishing to renew their skate hockey in the church car park. I made to remove marriage vows at the Sunday mass, providing temporary the bins used as goals and found myself surrounded by sleeping accommodation for French scouts unable to the participants all waving hockey sticks within a few find lodging in the local hostels. Added to that there are inches of my face. I will admit to wondering if a visit to the many Poles who have come in search of work in the the Accident and Emergency was beckoning but thank- town. I am particularly grateful to Fr Joe Kolasa a Polish fully I got away with it and was allowed to clear the car Pallotine and now Fr Ryszard Świder who by their prespark. Listening to the stories of the locals I realised that ence have opened the door to many of these people. Not all this was not personal, this chaotic abrasive lifestyle being able to speak Polish I realise that smiling and lookwas the same for many who lived in the area. What I ing sympathetic can only take you so far. The ability to experienced was simply my share of life as it was lived have someone who knows the culture and language is in the Drum. crucial if we are help these people to integrate.

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n enduring aspect of being a priest is the prospect of moving frequently to new parishes and communities. What strikes many priests is how different each new parish community can be from the last one. Even within short distances some places can be as different as the proverbial chalk and cheese. When appointed as parish priest to my first charge in the Drumchapel area of Glasgow I was struck how many people used the same phrase to me: “Oh Drumchapel, that will be a challenge”.

Drumchapel has over the years been known for many of the social problems linked with post war inner city housing. The word ‘challenge’ was another way of saying ‘mission impossible’. Arriving at the chapel house on a dull wet October afternoon and looking round at the gloomy tenements, the ‘challenge’ appeared at first sight a bit overpowering.

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One social dimension of Inverness is that many use it whether long standing members of the community or as a destination when running away from problems at just passing through. home. Within a few weeks of my arrival I found a poor The Roman Catholic community in Torry (Aberdeen) wet bedraggled girl from Cornwall sitting in the church. has had to face some bad news recently, but there are She had run away from home because of some unspecistill reasons for optimism. fied difficulties and her solution was to put as much distance between her and what she thought was the probIn mid-August Bishop Peter spoke personally to a meetlem. Inverness was seen as being far enough away. Sadly ing of parishioners at Sacred Heart church. He assured she had arrived knowing no one with no place to go. The them that their parish community was not under threat, recent growth of Inverness as a city has meant that it is but told them that advice he had received pointed to struggling to cope with the increase of such problems. closure of the church building.

For any new priest all this is grist to the mill and now having almost unpacked my boxes and cases I am lookHowever, alternative premises had already been identiing forward to serving all the good folk of Inverness fied in nearby Scottish Episcopal Church buildings.

“I was in prison and you visited me” Father Winston D’ Souza SJ

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he second-last week of November is dedicated as Prisoners’ week in Scotland as with the rest of the UK, the focus being on issues surrounding prisoners, their families, prison staff, victims of crime and the judicial system in general. It’s an occasion to reflect on how we can respond to opportunities to reduce offending and as a consequence attempt to build healthy communities.

Ministry to the incarcerated is as old as the prisons themselves and endeavours to bring about an understanding of kingdom values in an idiom, understanding and style that are comprehendible to prisoners. In that way it is a special ministry of opportunity that can be challenging, yet a rewarding spiritual experience for those who embrace it fully.

How can chaplains function as ministers in an intense atmosphere of constant constraint, with the underlying threat that institutionalised persons will never again cope in the outside world? What is their role in a place where bars, handcuffs, rough language (and sometimes rough treatment) are the order of the day? What is the purpose of a chaplain amid all this anyway? These are just some of the questions asked about such an apostolate and the remainder of this article is an attempt to dwell on some of these.

Chaplaincy activity is not restricted to a service on a Sunday morning or just a cheery smile from the Chaplain on

his visits round the residential halls. There are numerous demands on a Chaplain’s time. There may be a need for: one to one sessions with individual prisoners; group discussions; arranging special prison visits for those inmates without family or friends or those who cannot speak English; organising visits from various external groups to the prison as well as sitting at meetings to discuss progression of individual prisoners.

Chaplaincy volunteers, along with members of the Prison Fellowship, help out with services, share in worship and generally provide chaplaincy departments with support and practical help. The fact that people are willing to give up their time, especially at evenings, weekends and even during festive seasons such as Christmas and Easter to come in and share in worship, has had a profound effect on those who work alongside the chaplaincy team.

Prison chaplains are part of a care team made up of prison managers, officers, doctors, psychologists, mental health nurses and social workers. Unlike other disciplines, which focus on particular needs, chaplains are able to take a holistic approach towards prisoners and their relationships with the various departments within a prison. They work as ecumenical teams within the Christian faith as well as with leaders of other faiths. The virtual absence of barriers to chaplain’s work and territory can seem threatening to some specialists, but more often they are welcome as a comforting and uplifting presence.

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Much work is done to help prisoners find sound reasons for self respect and hope. A chaplain may spend a few minutes or several hours with a prisoner on remand, in an anti-ligature cell or with a newly convicted person, when self-esteem is at its lowest and fear and risk of self-harm are at their peak. Time is also spent when prisoners suffer bereavement or have difficulty coming to terms with the many losses associated with imprisonment. This seldom begins in a formal setting and usually arises through relationships developed out of casual contacts in corridors, workshops, or just hanging around a pool table.

To attend worship can be a courageous step for a prisoner.

Those who do so can expect to be ridiculed. For some it is part of a search for a new start in life. No one can say exactly what motivates people to seek to come to a service but Chaplains have to be sensitive to such newcomers and provide them with support to stick it out, no matter what, often with encouraging results.

Links are fostered with families and churches to build a foundation of relationships and care during a sentence and beyond liberation. Many churches are willing to make unconditional offers of care - for example, gathering presents at Christmas to be distributed to prisoners’ families, assisting at work placements on release, running soup kitchens cum fellowship sessions for ex-offenders or providing material needs, etc. This helps reduce their feelings of isolation and rejection.

In spite of the common negative image of prisons, they are remarkably positive places. The background of so many prisoners is such that we can’t say they have gone off the rails; many of them are from such backgrounds that they have never seen the rails. In that light, spending time with a prisoner who is trying to make sense of life is a privilege and a vital function. Much time may be spent in this role with longer-term prisoners and, in some prisons, chaplains’ auxiliaries (Samaritans, Alcoholics Anonymous, etc.) are engaged to befriend and support selected prisoners by regular, private and confidential meetings.

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There are also opportunities for Christian formation, and some prison chaplaincies also offer a wide-ranging programme of Christian stimulation, such as invitations to eminent Christian speakers, sometimes ex-offenders and music and drama groups. The aim is not especially to evangelise, but to offer prisoners challenging or encouraging ideas in a context of supportive care and respect for them as human beings.

As is evident from the above, it is almost impossible to cover the breadth of prison chaplaincy in this brief article. Yet it remains an attempt to highlight the nature of such an apostolate. If this kind of ministry appeals to you, read on.

So how can you help? Anyone is welcome to help with assisting the chaplaincy team, the few requirements being a personal commitment, good communication skills, ability to maintain confidentiality and an enhanced Disclosure Scotland certificate.

If you are talented musically (organists and guitarists always particularly welcome) you will find that a guitar can be an invaluable way of breaking down barriers. A healthy understanding and experience of your own faith is essential, and a brief knowledge of those apart from your own is ideal, as is a sense of humour! Be prepared for comments by an occasional prison staff member on using your broomstick as a method of transport!

You may volunteer as an individual or a church group to come in and conduct a service. It might be that as a parish you could form a link with your local prison and become regularly involved with the activities of the chaplaincy. If you choose to do so, get in touch with the Chaplaincy Team at: SPS - HMP Aberdeen, 4 Grampian Place, Aberdeen AB11 8FN. You will be very welcome!

Father Winston D’Souza SJ is the RC Chaplain at HMP Aberdeen & Peterhead

PRISONERS’ WEEK IN NORTH-EAST SCOTLAND Ecumenical church service at 7 pm on Tuesday, 21st November 2006 St. George’s Church of Scotland Church, Tillydrone, Aberdeen Main speaker: Very Rev. Canon Andrew Mann (Vicar General of the RC Diocese of Aberdeen) This is a non-denominational Christian service

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The Church and immigration

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Welcome to Scotland

+ Bishop John Jukes OFM Conv.

The Diocese of Aberdeen led by Bishop Peter has been welcoming over the past two years many hundreds of immigrants from Poland. The great nation of Poland has outstanding traditions of loyalty to the Catholic Church, the great majority of its citizens are Catholics. So it is appropriate that the Catholic Diocese of Aberdeen should feel an obligation to welcome our fellow Catholics as they start to become used to the Mass in English.

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he Church’s teaching is not limited to Catholics but extends to the worldwide phenomenon of the movement of peoples across the face of the earth. We in the Diocese of Aberdeen are participating in a worldwide experience that has great significance for the family of man and for the Church.

Increasingly effective communications technology has conspired to shrink our planet and, in addition, the English language has become the most widely employed second language and is a passport to living and working in many countries.

It is from after the Second World War that immigration has become a worldwide phenomenon. The Church has not yet issued formal doctrinal teaching on the fact of immigration. Rather the Church’s teaching focus has been on the immigrant in his or her needs and opportunities both for the individual immigrant and the receiving country.

On the 1st of May 2004 Pope John Paul approved an Instruction document composed by the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral care of Migrants and Itinerant People. The document is entitled Erga migrantes caritas Christi (EM) (The love of Christ towards migrants). The document is long, 77 pages on the Vatican Website. It marks a culmination of the progress of thought and action started in 1952 under Pius XII. It is too long to be adequately presented in the space available to me here. So I must content myself with picking out some sections that I feel are especially significant to the opportunities coming our way in the Diocese of Aberdeen.

EM counsels us to rejoice at the coming of Immigrants to our own land. Their presence affords us an opportunity to encounter human beings who have experience of cultures different from our own. Provided that the immigrants’ culture has nothing contrary to the principles of love and service that we find in the Gospels, this encounter should have the beneficial effect of broadening our own horizons of the dignity and gifts to be seen in the human race. For us in Aberdeen, so sparsely populated by Catholics, it is a joy to meet Catholics from Catholic Poland especially as many are young and secure in the Faith.

The coming of immigrants is an opportunity often for ecumenical and inter-faith dialogue. There is need for prudence in our approach to immigrants in such matters but this should not inhibit our outreach to them. There is need to promote solidarity with our fellow Christians. We need to dialogue with Muslims and the members of other great faiths to give them the opportunity to meet convinced Christians and so learn about Christ from our actions and beliefs.

The papal document EM lays particular stress on the role of the Catholic laity in the duty and privilege of welcoming immigrants pp.71/72. The laity are called to play their part ensuring that the “rights of immigrants especially those concerning the family and its unity are recognised and observed by the civil authorities”. The lay faithful are called to promote evangelisation and this is especially necessary where distance or a shortage of priests obstructs priestly contact with those who are open to hearing the Good News. Those Catholics who are immigrants are urged to strive to esteem the cultural patrimony of the nation that welcomes them, to contribute to the common good and to spread the faith especially by the example of Christian life.

In conclusion I find the teaching of the Church on immigration takes account of the challenges this worldwide phenomenon presents but sees opportunities that are to be taken in order to respect human dignity and to enhance the spread of the Gospel.

+ John Jukes OFM Conv.

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Matt ready for new challenge Matthew Hadley, recently appointed Diocesan Youth Co-ordinator, talks to Father Paul Bonnici about Matthew lists reading as one of his hobbies. He says: “I enjoy reading a wide range of genres and have a specific his new job and his interest in the works of Tolkien. I like going to the cinema hopes for the future and theatre regularly.”

“I am enthusiastic about working with young people, being with them and accompanying them on their journey of faith”. That is how twenty seven year old Matthew Hadley looks at his new job as Youth Co-ordinator for the Diocese of Aberdeen.

He comes to the diocese with a lot of experience of parish life and youth ministry.

“I am looking forward to this new challenge and the opportunity to work at a diocesan level” said Matthew who moved in to the diocese three months ago, only days after marrying his new Polish wife Kamila at the end of May. Matthew’s previous job was as the chaplain to St Bonaventure’s Catholic Comprehensive School in Forest Gate, London, between October 2005 and March 2006. In that position he facilitated retreat days and organised school masses and liturgies. He would also prepare and deliver assemblies to each year group.

Before that Matthew spent one year working as a Retreat Leader for SPECeast, a retreat and educational centre in the Archdiocese of Westminster, where he had specific responsibility for facilitating and preparing Confirmation programmes. In this capacity he gained experience of working with children and young people of all ages. This ranged from designing materials for Children’s Liturgy for primary school age to facilitating workshops for young adults and Sixth Formers.

Matthew has a First Class Honours BA in Theology and Religious Studies from St Mary’s University College, Twickenham.

Looking back at his childhood, Matthew says that he was baptised in the Church of England but was brought up as a Catholic since his mother converted to Catholicism. In his home parish of Our Lady of Lincoln in Lincoln, he served as an Altar Server for ten years and in that time he was also an assistant parish Master of Ceremonies.

Now that he is married to a girl from Poland Matthew adds: “Earlier this year I started going to evening classes in the Polish language”.

Three months into the job Matthew says: “Kamila and I have been made very welcome by the diocese and especially the parish of St. Ninian’s, Inverness, where we regularly attend Mass.

“I have been visiting parishes all around the diocese and enjoyed an afternoon working with the Confirmation group in Peterhead and Fraserburgh. I am making arrangements to spend some time in Shetland in the New Year working with the young people there. I am taking bookings for a 24 hour post-Confirmation retreat entitled ‘Jesus in John’s Gospel’.

“I am particularly hoping to hear from young people themselves and to respond to their needs and concerns.

Please contact the Youth Office to discuss how I can best support you and the work that you do”.

Matt Hadley, Diocesan Youth Coordinator, can be contacted at the Youth Office, 3A Hill Park, Inverness, IV2 4AL. Tel 01463 232136.

E-mail: matt.hadley@hotmail.com

Feast of Christ the King (26th November) - Youth Mass There will be a Diocesan Youth Mass to coincide with National Youth Sunday on the Feast of Christ the King. The Mass will be held in St. Ninian’s Church, Inverness, at 4.00pm. There will be a workshop starting at 2.00pm for all those who wish to participate in the Mass. Everyone is welcome to attend and to join us for refreshments afterwards. Further details from the Youth Office - tel. 01463 232136 or matt.hadley@hotmail.com.

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powerful than I am, in terms of spiritual power. He knows more. The range of his mind is far greater than mine; its operation far faster. He can penetrate into any matter so thoroughly and rapidly, that he never has to reverse a decision. He’s also superior to me in point of time. It is true he has a beginning; he is not eternal, but it also seems that he has existed at least as long as our universe. He existed when the ‘Big Bang’ happened, if it did. He existed when the first signs of life appeared; when the first men appeared.

He has existed through all the centuries of human Abbot Hugh Gilbert OSB history. The only qualification to be made here is that an angel’s experience of time is quite different from a man’s. It is not measured by days and nights, weeks, years, centuries even. An angel lives in angelic time, which Cardinal Newman describes as ‘measured by n September 29 the Church keeps the the living thought alone’ – a difficult idea to grasp and feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel one which need not detain us. and Raphael; on October 2, she remembers the Guardian Angels. This, then, is This remarkable being, this spirit-friend of mine, an appropriate moment for thinking about the Angels. is above all a servant of God, an agent of God’s redemptive providence towards the human race.

No doubt, there are many ways of doing this, and Perhaps he was among the ‘multitude of the heavenly each of us can follow his own preference. My own host’ on the first Christmas night singing ‘Glory to way is to turn to this one angel to whom I have been God in the highest and peace among men on earth’. entrusted and think simply about him.

Perhaps he was among the angels who ministered to Christ in the desert after his fast of It has for long been the conviction forty days. Certainly, now, after the of the Church that each of us has Ascension, he stands among the ‘many such a guardian angel. The Jews of angels, numbering myriads of myriads our Lord’s time believed this, and our and thousands of thousands, saying Lord confirmed that belief when He with a loud voice “Worthy is the Lamb said ‘See that you never despise any who was slain, to receive power … of these little ones – that is children, and honour and glory and blessing!”’ but also metaphorically, believers – for Certainly, again, he will be among I tell you that their angels in heaven the angels who, at the end of this are continually in the presence of my Angel of the Annunciation world’s time, will come with Christ in Father in heaven.’ ‘No one mindful of these words the glory of the Father, and ‘gather his elect from the of the Lord,’ says St Basil, ‘can deny that an angel is four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of present to each person, as a kind of pedagogue and heaven’. shepherd, guiding his living.’ And if an angel is present to each person, an angel is present to me. And I can And so I come back to where I began. This faithful turn my mind to him. servant of God is also my friend. Extraordinary though it may sound, it is his joy to serve me, to be a ‘fellow What a remarkable being he must be. He is a pure servant’ with me. It is his joy to be to me an angel spirit, which is why I cannot see him with my two of peace, and of penitence, and of prayer, protecting eyes. He does not have a body. He is not a part of me from trouble, urging me back to God when I sin, the material world. And if he is a spirit, he’s a person. taking my prayers to God and God’s answer to me. He He’s not an impersonal force. He’s an individual being does all this unobtrusively, uninterruptedly. There is a of a rational nature. He has a mind and a will of his constant flow from him to me, a constant friendship. own. He is not an automaton. He’s an independent He is always beside me. He is with me now, and I hope creature, free. He thinks; he makes decisions; he acts. is pleased that for once I have not forgotten him.

He has a character of his own. He is also greatly more

Angels

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Community life in L’Arche Peter Morris

L

’Arche Inverness is part of the world-wide federation of L’Arche communities founded by Jean Vanier in 1964, that aims to build community with people with learning disabilities. My time as an assistant at L’Arche Inverness started in the closing weeks of June. I remember the wonderful warm welcome I received upon arriving on the beautiful grounds of “Braerannoch” house. A lady with learning disabilities approached and, throwing her arms around me, said, “I love you.” A simple thing but how many times have you experienced that recently.

L’Arche provides a place for the individual to grow and to learn a lot about him or herself. I have discovered a great capacity for patience in me that I thought never existed but at the same time I have been faced with the fact that I need a lot more! Many times I have found myself sitting frustrated with my head in my hands asking angrily, “What is wrong with me?” or standing out on the driveway, kicking the stones of the gravel path or simply slumped over a fellow assistant weeping tears of anguish at myself.

Another kind of patience is required of us in community: that which accepts the pace of our daily lives. After four years of the hectic timetable of university, I have discovered a new pace. Before, it felt like time was the enemy but in community time is our greatest ally. I can rely on time to reveal to me the gifts that I receive from God’s hands, to reveal the answers to questions that were, at one point, furiously bubbling within me – screaming to be answered now and not later.

Living in a L’Arche community is difficult. Assistants at L’Arche are always being faced with their own inadequacies. Although this happens elsewhere, the unique thing about living in community is that there is nowhere to run from them. Within a mere month of living here, I had been faced with so many issues that had been buried deep within me – not faced up to and dealt with – but hidden and almost forgotten. In L’Arche I am finding a place for the healing of these issues, the reconciliation of past experiences with the promise of a bright future that gives me an awareness of the hope that God enkindles in the ever present now.

Spending time in L’Arche has made me appreciate the contagious nature of attitudes. What I mean is, that being sad and down will rub off on other people – especially on

people with learning disabilities. I have experienced days when one or two assistants are feeling angry with someone and the day ends after a multitude of difficulties and arguments. This kind of situation cries out for a solution.

An inadequate solution is to put on a false joyfulness – a plastic mask. This may sometimes seem to work elsewhere but gets us nowhere in L’Arche. Plastic masks are quickly exposed for what they are – false and ultimately disposable.

A more adequate solution is openness and truth. This involves being prepared to be told something you may not want to hear. It also implies having the courage to reveal it to others – sometimes what may seem blatantly obvious to us would be a complete revelation to others. In this sense we can imitate Jesus opening the eyes of the blind man by mixing dust and spittle – it takes a little work to open some people’s eyes.

On a recent holiday to Poland, I discovered the rejection and fear of the people I was with, that many people have.

People stopped and stared at one of our party who brought so much laughter and joy to our holiday group – as if they had never seen a person with Down’s syndrome before. The reason for this is that many people with learning disabilities are still locked away, hidden from the rest of “civilisation”.

L’Arche provides a home for those who are rejected by a society whose secret definition of “humanity” and of “perfection” does not include those who are different. During the holiday I had the privilege of visiting Auschwitz. Sitting in a café, after the chilling tour of the concentration camp, I broke down in tears with the thought that they would have wasted no time in sending the lady beside me to the gas chambers. But I suppose Auschwitz lives on in another guise. Some people with learning disabilities are never given the opportunity to take a breath. There are a number of Polish people working in L’Arche, many of whom have taken the opportunity to come to the UK to learn or improve their English and to benefit from the international experience of L’Arche UK. However, the communities in Poland are in need of assistants. Joining L’Arche in Poland would mean the double bonus of the L’Arche experience and the opportunity of seeing the rich and beautiful Polish traditions within the Church. It might also provide some useful cultural experience that could benefit pastoral relations with our new Polish friends in this diocese.

The L’Arche International website is www.larche.org and the L’Arche UK website is www.larche.org.uk

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The role of the Reader at Mass is a share in the work of the Lord’s Spirit who opens our hearts to God’s Holy Word. We believe that Christ is present in his word, since it is he himself who speaks when the Holy Scriptures are read in church. To ensure that the readings are delivered appropriately, with dignity & reverence, preparation is essential. The following steps are to be followed by every reader as an aid to that preparation.

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The Ministry of the Reader

1.

Prepare yourself: pray for God’s help that your reading may be clear and true, so that God can use it in the minds and hearts of the congregation.

2.

Prepare the passage to be read: make sure that you understand every word of it, and if it is difficult discuss it with someone who can help you.

3.

Practise in church: reading from the Lectionary and using the microphone. Do not read from a hand missal or leaflet.

4.

Be on time and be ready: arrive at church in good time, go to the lectionary and check that the page is correctly marked. Notice where your passage is so that you do not fumble when you come to read.

5.

Proclaiming the reading: Announce the reading with the words from the Lectionary. Do not say ‘The first reading is…’ or ‘The second reading is…’. Simply read what it says in the book: ‘A reading from….’. Read solemnly, slowly, loudly and clearly. Remember that it is God’s word and so it is more of a proclamation than a ‘reading’.

Do not try to put too much

6.

Read in plain style: put plenty of pauses into the reading, expression into the words! as these will help the listeners to keep up with the meaning of the words. Do not try to put too much expression into the words, and take care not to emphasise the wrong words.

7.

At the end: pause distinctly before saying ‘This is the Word of the Lord.’ Take care not to emphasise ‘This’ or ‘is’: the important words are ‘Word of the Lord.’

8.

The Psalm: announce the actual response very deliberately.

Do not say ‘The responsorial psalm’ or ‘The response is…’

9.

The Gospel Acclamation: The Gospel is the high point of the celebration of the word of God. The Alleluia or, as the liturgical season requires, the verse before the gospel, is a ‘rite or act standing by itself.’ It serves as the assembled faithful’s greeting of welcome to the Lord who is about to speak to them.

The Alleluia or the verse before the gospel must be sung by the whole congregation together, and during it, all stand.

Father Mark Impson, St Thomas’ Church, Keith Father Mark is the Diocesan Representative on the National Liturgy Commission

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Art in the service of truth The Rev. Dr. Bernie O’Connor On June 28, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI presented to the world what is referred to as the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Commissioned by Pope John Paul II in 2003, the Compendium’s various language editions offer a 200-page synthesis of the original Catechism (released in 1992 and consisting of some 800 pages). Together they reflect “a harmonious and authentic explanation of Catholic faith and morals.”

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ach of the four sections which comprise the Compendium features renowned examples of religious art. The content of the printed word is deliberately reinforced by fourteen visual illustrations. Together, the intent is to broaden the scope and depth of the designated themes. The following is a summary:

Part One – The Profession of Faith God has a plan for us since the beginning of time, aptly recalled by a Miniature on the Six Days of Creation (De Souvigny Bible).

God had each of us in mind before Day One. And the faith which we profess, the Creed, leads us to the Cross and flows from the Cross.

It is the Tree of Life, our life included, as

Introduction The Holy Father contextualizes the Compendium in terms of a renewal of evangelization and of education.

The aim is to imbue us with the presence of the living Christ, as depicted in the 1546 icon of Christ Pantocrator, from Mt. Athos (Greece). The DivineHuman Christ (symbolized by the pair of touching fingers), the Second Person of the Trinity (note arrangement of the three remaining fingers), conveys blessing, guidance and a desire to instruct (Christ holds a book). As with the next image, Gentile Da Fabriano’s Adoration of the Magi (1423), our spiritual journey culminates in selfsurrender, commitment and worship.

reflected in the 12th Century mosaic from the Basilica of St. Clement (Rome). The Cross is a gift to be shared, as are the tenets of the Creed, and as is the Holy Communion which Jesus distributes to His disciples in Joos Van Wassenhoven’s artistic rendering of the Eucharist as the summit and perfection of the believer’s life.

To be continued in our next issue

Th i s page of t h e L ig h t of t h e N or th ha s b een s p ons ored by an anonymous donor

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What you always wanted to know about your faith but were afraid to ask!

God the Son ‘We believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord.’

‘Love one another even as I have loved you.’

Who is Jesus? The name Jesus means ‘God saves’; when we say ‘Jesus is Lord’ we are confessing that he is God, the God who saves us from sin and death; ‘the Christ, Son of the living God’. At the time Jesus became man some thought that the Messiah (the Christ) would be a powerful earthly leader; others thought he would defeat the devil and raise the dead; no one really expected God Himself to come amongst humankind: their image was of a remote God who would never humble Himself to such an incredible extent. This is why many, even although they wanted to follow Jesus, could not accept that he was actually divine.

They could think of him only as an adopted son, or a perfect man, but still only man. The Early Church was involved in a long, complicated struggle spread over several centuries and councils to establish what we now confess in the Creed.

the most profound, the most generous, the most incredible way: he shared in the sufferings of the world as deeply as it is possible to share. He is not distant or uncaring; he does not distance himself from our pain; he did not protect himself from suffering.

He is always there right in the midst of our suffering.

Jesus wanted to experience all human suffering in order to transform it (Mk.14:36;15:34).

For so many centuries of Israel’s existence, God longed to help them to overcome the consequences of the Fall of humanity. Again and again, He called ordinary people to be His prophets, to carry His message of love and forgiveness to His people; and again and again, His people rejected His love and turned away from Him, attaching themselves instead to worldly things and false gods. But God never gave up on them and finally He sent His only Son so that they might actually see how much He loved them. Jesus is God’s Love Incarnate, made flesh, made one of us.

His complete obedience to his Father wiped out the effects of our first parents’ disobedience; it destroyed Jesus is God but he became a human being in order to the stranglehold of sin and conquered death. show us the Father, to save us from the consequences of sin and to show us the way to our Father in heaven.

‘There is not, never has been, and never will Jesus is not just close to God and like man; he is Godbe, a single human being for whom Christ man – truly God and also man as God created human did not suffer’ (CCC 605). beings to be, as we could be. The more we can imitate Christ, the closer we come to the Father. Jesus is the Why did Jesus have to die? What sort of a father sends only-begotten Son of God; he has been with God from his beloved only son to a cruel death? For a start, eternity, since before the world was created; he was Jesus wanted to show how much God (Father, Son with God when Creation took place: Through him all and Spirit) loves us; he is the Good Shepherd who things were made. He is God who became man and willingly lays down his life for the sheep; he is the thus demonstrated solidarity with human beings in loving friend who really lived out his words: ‘Greater

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love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends’. We are all Jesus’ friends – even more wonderful than that, we are his brothers and sisters: through him, adopted children of the Father.

How could Jesus’ terrible suffering lead to our salvation? We have only human images drawn from our limited human experience to explain such an amazing act of generosity and Christians struggled to find explanations over the centuries: was it a kind of courtroom drama with humanity in the dock? The penalty for pride and disobedience is death: did Jesus take on our punishment and pay the penalty? Or perhaps Jesus tricked the devil into thinking he had won and broke his power by rising from the dead? Or did Jesus pay our ‘ransom’, thus freeing us from the effects of sin? The truth is far greater than all of these: the spotless Lamb of God became sinful human flesh: to reconcile us with God; to show us God’s love for us; to be our mirror of holiness; to lead the way back into Paradise; to share with us his own divine nature, thereby inviting us to become children of God, in him, and with him. What an inheritance!

‘For this reason [the Passion], the Word of God became man and the Son of God became the Son of Man in order that man, being mingled with the Word of God and being granted adoption, should become the son of God. In no other way could we have received incorruptibility and immortality’ (St Irenaeus).

He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father: forty days after his Resurrection Jesus went home to his Father. In Jesus, a human being entered heaven, thus opening the doors of heaven to all humankind. Jesus, our Head, ascended into heaven, leaving us the certainty that where the Head has gone, we, the members of his Body, may follow. For now, ‘he is with us in his godhead and his power and his love; and we, though we cannot be with him in godhead as he is with us, can be with him in our love, our love for him’ (St Augustine).

He will come again to judge the living and the dead: Again, we tend to use human images: in this case, of judgement, when we consider the Judgement at the end of time. BUT Jesus came to save us, to turn us away from destruction, not to condemn us or to punish us. Never forget who our Judge will be: the Father, who loved us enough to give His only-begotten Son, has given us as our judge that same Son who loved us enough to become one of us and to suffer humiliation,

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torment and a cruel death for our sakes. Is it likely that he will be a harsh or an unjust Judge? Jesus would not cast the first stone. He had tenderness towards sinners and outcasts; he dined with sinners; he allowed a courtesan to approach him and wash his feet with her tears: ‘much is forgiven her because she loved much’ (Lk 7:36). Forgiveness was a word constantly on Jesus’ lips – even when dying on the Cross. We too must practise love.

What does Jesus mean to you in your life? Most people probably get to know Jesus in much the same way that his disciples did. Acquaintance came first, then friendship – a friendship which gradually deepened into love. They didn’t want to lose their friend and tried to stop him from going to his death. They did not, at this time, really understand exactly who he was, although Jesus gave them plenty of hints and clues. In fact, he more or less spelled it out for them! We can all be dense at times. They recognised him in the breaking of the bread.

This is how it is for us. We can move from knowing Jesus as a good man to whom we are attracted to acknowledging him as the Son of God, God Incarnate, who loves us and gave himself for us. We love him in return and that love prompts us to desire a deeper knowledge of him. He is the friend who never leaves us; the companion in all our sorrows and joys; the one to whom we can go with our burdens, knowing that he will help us to carry them or may even remove them altogether. He is the Saviour who has loved us enough to become man for our sakes, to suffer torture and death for our sakes, in order to lead the way to our Father in heaven.

‘No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Come to me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light’ (Mt 11:27-30).

‘Thanks be to thee, my Lord Jesus Christ … may I know thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, and follow thee more nearly: day by day’ (St Richard of Chichester).

Eileen Grant, RCIA Catechist, St Mary’s Cathedral, Aberdeen

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Responding to God’s call It is not only priests or religious who have a unique vocation!

Clare Benedict

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hen we hear the word ‘vocation’ we tend to think of a call to the priesthood, or to religious life in a convent or the missions, and in our diocese we have become acutely aware of the shortage of priests.

One of the biggest tasks facing Bishop Peter is how to ‘juggle’ priests, where to beg or borrow them, and where best to place them, so that the members of his flock can continue to celebrate Sunday Mass. The day is coming, we are warned, when we may have to be prepared to travel some distance to find a priest or else be dispensed from our Sunday obligation. We should ask ourselves, is it just an obligation? Or is it something we desire with all our hearts and souls?

What can we do about it?

Yes, the Lord needs priests to serve him at the altar; without priests there can be no Mass, no sacramental reconciliation, no giving of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation, no anointing of the sick, and we can no longer take for granted the receiving of the Body and Blood of the Lord as often as we come together in His name. We should always be alert to the possibility that God is calling to young men or youths in our midst. Ask yourselves – is it him? Is it – amazingly, unbelievably, humbly – me?

Yet the Lord of the Harvest does not call labourers only to the ministerial priesthood or to the cloister.

He calls each and every one of us for we all, through our baptism, belong to His workforce. Each of us is a member of His Body, His Church, ‘yet entrusted with a unique task, which cannot be done by another and which is to be fulfilled for the good of all.’ He may call us to a different task at different times of our lives: when we are young, when we marry and have children, when we go out into the market-place to seek employment, when we are ill, when we are old, even when we come to the end of our lives, for ‘according to the divine plan, each individual human being lives a life of continual growth, from the beginning of existence to the moment when the last breath is taken’ (JPII). And remember, we’re not

‘Keep watch over your manner of life, dear people, and make sure that you are indeed the Lord’s labourers. Each person should take into account what he does and consider if he is labouring in the vineyard of the Lord’ (St Gregory the Great). just labourers, but part of the actual vineyard: ‘I am the vine, you are the branches.’ We can do anything in Christ Jesus.

What is my vocation? To what task is God calling me? We often have a reluctance to ‘put ourselves forward’ or imagine that our little talents are not very important. All we receive from God is pure gift and we should receive it in grateful humility; but humility is misplaced if we then decline to use what God has offered us in His service and in the service of our neighbours. God’s grace is given freely and abundantly, to be used for the building up of His kingdom here and now, not stored up and hugged to ourselves for some vague heavenly future. The first and greatest gift God gives us after He has given us life, is given in

educationandformation

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Baptism, through which we are all granted a share in of others… They confer a particular mission in the Christ’s mission as priest, prophet and king: Church and serve to build up the People of God.’ Yet we live in a society which increasingly devalues the Called by God by name, we are called to be kings, not meaning of marriage and family life. Marriage too is to be served, but to serve; to be prophets, to proclaim a vocation, a call from God, and nurturing children is the Good News of God’s love; to be priests: some to a calling most precious in His eyes. In the ‘domestic act ‘in the person of Christ as Head’ at the altar, but church’ of the family, married couples and families most as members of the ‘priesthood of the laity’. As can manifest to society Christian values and can help such, we are all offered a personal role of great dignity. transform a damaged world.

The Lord actually trusts me, me, with a special job!

And whether it is running the country or serving up How can I tell if God is calling me? How do I respond? the tea or teaching or lending an ear to my neighbour, Pray fervently; listen attentively; be open to God’s I should be aware of that trust and answer His call as Spirit. Ask around! God often communicates with us best I can. through others, ordinary people like ourselves, people whose voices we might easily ignore because we’re The Christian vocation is a call to spread the Gospel, too deafened by the clamour of the world or because to carry Christ with us wherever we go, to whomsoever we expect a ‘message’ from on high giving precise we meet, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves: instructions. Other folk are often more able than in our homes, our schools, our workplaces; in the ourselves to discern where our talents lie. Answering a street, the market-place, the political arena, to manifest call from God – whether to the ministerial priesthood Christ to the world. We are called by God to speak out or to an active role in the lay priesthood – may involve wherever we encounter injustice or a downgrading of sacrifice, sometimes a considerable sacrifice, but isn’t it human dignity; to bring Christian values into society, worth it: to know that we are doing God’s work, that to defend the rights of the weak, vulnerable and we are carrying on Christ’s mission to the best of our voiceless in our midst. As Bishop Peter has often urged abilities? ‘You go into my vineyard too.’ us, it isn’t just the bishop’s job to shout about injustice!

We are all called to build ‘a kingdom of truth and life, “One day, if we have remained faithful to a kingdom of holiness and grace, a kingdom of justice, our vocation, we shall hear God say: ‘Well peace and love’. I cannot do much building if I can’t done, good and faithful servant’, because we accept that God is calling me, if I allow the sense of have been faithful over little things” (Basil my unworthiness to stop me responding. Of course Hume).

I’m unworthy, but the Father loves me anyway, Jesus suffered and died for me anyway, and the Holy Spirit goes on giving me gifts and strength to use them.

How do I know what my particular vocation is? Jesus always started where people were: he called fishermen to be fishers of men. God starts from where we are: the chances are that where we are and what we’re doing is where God wants us to be, or at least where He wants us to begin. If you’re young, you’re probably at school or college, but already you are ‘the Church of today and the hope of tomorrow’ (JPII). Older members of the Body have their experience of life to pass on, and should never ‘feel underestimated … but as participants at a time of life which is humanly and spiritually fruitful’ (JPII). Effective witness to the Lord does not require extra-special strength or skill or intellect; it calls for faith and hope and love and a joyful acceptance of mission.

The Church groups the Sacraments of Marriage and of Holy Orders together as ‘sacraments at the service of communion … directed towards the salvation

Snippets Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A balanced diet is a biscuit in each hand.

God gave us two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we talk Experience is a wonderful thing. It enables you to recognise a mistake when you make it again.

Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Be careful of your thoughts, they may become words at any moment

Children’slight

Light of the North

Father Ronald Walls‛ Guide to the Mass for young folk

Hand signals

Page 24

The next important hand-signal is when the priest takes the bread and recites Jesus’ words, ‘This is my body which will be given up for you’, and raises the consecrated bread for the people to see; and when he does the same with the chalice of wine. This signal reminds us of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.

At this point in the celebration of the Mass, Jesus becomes really present on the altar.

E

ven if we are able to read and follow all the prayers of the Mass, we ought not to become buried in our own Mass book, but should also look at what the priest is doing.

There was a time, not so long ago, when people could not read or could not understand the language of the Mass, and yet they knew what was happening by what they saw. We can still do this, especially if we are not yet very good at reading.

The third great hand-signal comes at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer, when the priest raises up the consecrated bread and wine and says or sings, ‘Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honour is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.’ This sign reminds us of our Lord’s being raised up on the Cross, and at this point in the celebration of the Mass, the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is re-presented to God the Father; and, because of his sacrifice, our sacrifice At the Last Supper, when of ourselves too is accepted by God our heavenly Jesus taught the apostles Father. how they were to celebrate the Mass, he said, ‘Do this in The fourth hand-signal is sometimes overlooked, memory of me.’ It is in the because people become distracted as they give second part of the Mass, the sign of peace, but it the part called ‘the liturgy is of very great imporof the upper room’ that the tance. It is the breakpriest gives us signs which ing of the bread and enable us to remember Je- the dropping of a fragsus. There are four very clear ment of the bread into hand-signals given by the the precious blood. This priest in the great Eucharis- sign proclaims the raising of Jesus from the dead. tic Prayer, which follows the offering of our gifts. His body and blood were separated when he died Watch carefully for these hand-signals and you will on the Cross, but now he is a whole living Person; find that you have been reminded of the most im- and it is this living Person who is now offered to the portant events in the life of our Lord Jesus. people when the priest says, ‘This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy After the introduction to this part of the Mass, are those who are called to his supper. which ends with the hymn, ‘Holy, holy, holy’ the priest says this prayer – or one very like it. ‘Let your Spirit come upon these gifts to make them holy, so that they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ’. As he says these words, If you have any foreign the priest spreads his hands over the bread and currency or old jewellery, wine, casting a shadow over them. You all know these items could help the story about the angel Gabriel telling Mary that towards the production God the Father wanted her to be the mother of his costs of this magazine. They Son. Gabriel said to Mary, ‘The power of the Most can be left at the Ogilvie High will cover you with its shadow. And so the Institute, 16 Huntly Street, child will be holy and will be called the Son of God.’ Aberdeen AB10 1SH This hand-signal of the priest reminds us of how We also collect used laser Jesus began his life in Mary, when she said to the printer cartridges angel, ‘Let what you have said be done to me.’

Pennies from Heaven!

Light of the North

faithandculture

Page 25

of drinking cold milk “to cool the souls in Purgatory.”

In Belgium also a particular variety of cakes is baked, and it is an old superstition that “the more one eats of them the more souls will be saved from Purgatory.”

In some towns it used to be customary for maids to go “souling” on All Souls’ Eve, that is, singing for cakes, and one might have heard such ancient ballads as:

Martha’s Kitchen SOUL CAKES Soon, on the 1 November we will be celebrating All Saints’ Day. As its name implies, it is the day on which we remember all the saints canonized and uncanonized, known and unknown.

Long ago the church bells rang for most of the night before All Saints’ Day to praise the saints “risen in their glory.” It is a feast to give them praise rather than to ask favours of them, a day for praising them to God rather than asking them to remember the living to Him. The observance of this feast merges into the next, which is All Souls’ Day, so that by evening it has become the eve of the day of the dead.

On All Souls’ Eve the graves in Hungary are lighted with candles and decorated with flowers. Indeed, the custom of visiting the cemeteries and adorning the graves of relatives and friends with wreaths and bouquets prevails in most Latin and Central European countries.

In Slovakia and the Czech Republicakia there is an old tradition of eating special cakes on All Souls’ Eve, and

Soul! soul! for a soul-cake!

I pray, good misses a soul-cake-An apple or pear, a plum or a cherry, Any good thing to make us merry, One for Peter, two for Paul, Three for Him who made us all.

INGREDIENTS 1/4 oz instant active dry yeast 2 cups milk 1/2 cup sugar 6 cups flour 1/4 cup lukewarm water 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 lb. butter 3 teaspoons cinnamon DIRECTIONS Dissolve the yeast with 1 teaspoon of sugar in the lukewarm water and let it stand in a warm place. Cream the butter with the sugar.

Add the milk which has been scalded and slightly cooled and then add the yeast.

Sift the flour with the salt and cinnamon and add to the mixture, kneading for a few minutes.

Place in a bowl and allow it to rise in a warm place to double its bulk.

Shape the dough into round buns and bake at about 190 degrees C. for about thirty minutes or until lightly browned. Originally, these cakes were shaped like men and women and were given raisins or currants for eyes.

If you know somebody who is unable to get to church to pick up a copy of the Light of the North please let them know that for just £10.00 they can be put on our subscribers mailing list, and we will send them the next four issues of the magazine by post. All cheques should be made out to the Ogilvie Institute Light of the North

Light of the North

faithandculture

B O O K R E V I E W

Sister Moira Donnelly rscj takes a look at what children are reading today

Page 26 Shadowmancer Author: G. P. Taylor Publisher: Creation House ISBN: 1591856655 List Price: £4.19 Paperback 304 Pages

agreeably surprised by the religious symbolism and lanome years ago a friend who was a librarian encour- guage. I decided that this was a book I could recommend aged me to read children’s books from time to warmly to young friends. I hope to get to know Taylor’s time. The reason she gave was that, in her view, work better. the children’s literature of to-day is the foundaThe Thieves of Ostia (Roman tion of the philosophy of tomorrow. That may or may not Mysteries (Paperback)) be true but the experience of dipping into a few of these Author: Caroline Lawrence books has convinced me of the importance of knowing Publisher: Puffin Books what our children are reading. It has also given me a surISBN: 0142401471 prising amount of pleasure.

S

List Price: £3.14 Paperback The following comments are personal and I know that 152 Pages other people will have very different views. I have really enjoyed discussing these books with children and with other adults who have read them and their comments have Finally, within the past month I have read the first of the helped me to modify some of my own views. books in the series The Roman Mysteries. It is called The Thieves of Ostia. Having visited Ostia Antica, I could imA few years ago I came upon a book by Russell Stannard agine vividly the villas with their tiled floors and mosaic called Uncle Albert and the Quantum Quest which I thor- and the enclosed gardens, all so accurately described in oughly enjoyed so I was delighted to come upon another the book. Caroline Lawrence writes well and tells a story of his children’s books recently, The Time and Space of Un- scary enough at times to give one a shiver of fear for the cle Albert. Stannard is a physicist who occasionally writes central characters yet, on the whole, delightful and enjoyarticles for The Tablet and the “Uncle Albert” in the stories able. Of all the children’s books I have dipped into so far, is, of course, Albert Einstein. These books struck me as a this would be a first choice as a gift for an eleven or painless introduction to modern physics and I would hap- twelve-year-old. Like Taylor’s book, Shadowmancer, The pily put them into the hands of any 11-12 years-olds who Thieves of Ostia has reference to Christian values in a were scientifically inclined. quiet, unobtrusive way.

The Time and Space of Uncle Albert Author: Russell Stannard Publisher: Faber and Faber ISBN: 0571226159 List Price: £5.99 Paperback 128 Pages

G.P. Taylor’s book, Shadowmancer is so popular with children and was so well reviewed, that I decided to try it next.

Taylor knows how to grip the imagination and he tells a good story. This time, however, as I read, I became more appreciative of the underlying values and was at times

I can now say that, although my first reason for reading children’s literature was simply to know what the children were being offered, I have come to appreciate some of the current writers for their skill in story-telling and their excellent ability to communicate with young minds and I hope to go on searching, without too much embarrassment, for more treasures in the Children’s Departments at libraries and bookstores! My first choice will be The Secrets of Vesuvius in The Roman Mysteries series.

“Quote ... Unquote” “Keep you soul in peace. Let God work in you. Welcome thoughts that raise your heart to God. Open wide the window to your soul.”

St Ignatius Loyola

faithandculture

Light of the North

Page 27

Catenian Circle of friendship and faith

S

imply put, the Catenian Association is an international brotherhood of Catholic men who meet socially at least once a month. Its motto is ‘Strengthening family life through friendship and faith’.

The Aberdeen group, or Circle as it is called, is keen to welcome new members. You will meet other business and professional Catholic men with similar values and become part of a community offering lifelong support and friendship. We hold a short meeting every month followed by some social activity such as a dinner with a guest speaker or an address by a fellow member.

Between meetings we organise other social events that are graced by our families and friends. Barbe- Aberdeen Circle of the Catenian Association visiting York Malta, Southern Africa and Australia. Aberdeen memcues, dinner dances, Christmas parties, weekends away are frequent activities in our busy social calen- bers are drawn from various parishes and form an acdar. Of course our schedule is laced with the faith as tive part of their wider faith community. While priwe welcome our priests and deacons to address us and marily a social organisation we support members in we also organise masses for vocations and for deceased difficulty or need and have a Bursary fund designed to help young Catholics seeking to help others. While members. it is not, nor ever has been, a Catholic Action Group, The Association boasts over 300 Circles with more the Association’s Public Affairs Committee provides a than 10,000 members throughout the UK, Ireland, Catholic voice on moral and legal affairs of the day.

From the

Annals

Thirty years ago, on Sunday, 17 October, 1976, John Ogilvie, was declared a saint by Pope Paul VI in the patriarchal basilica of St Peter in Rome. He was a Jesuit priest from our Diocese, from the parish of Keith, who was martyred at Glasgow Cross on Tuesday 10 March 1615.

ter’s, eagerly looking forward to taking part in a celebration unique in the history of the Catholic Church in our country….

“The first lesson was read, in English, by Mr. Andrew Mann, a student of the Royal Scots College, Valladolid, who comes from Keith, and the second in Italian by a Paulist Father, while the Gospel was sung, first in The Catholic Directory for Scotland 1978 recalls: Latin by the Cardinal Deacon of the Mass and then, as “The Canonisation was the culmination of years of always at Solemn Papal Masses, in Greek by a deacon prayers and preparation. The final stages became pos- of the Greek Rite. sible when, on 12 February 1976, the Pope signed a decree declaring that the medically inexplicable cure “The Holy Father then addressed his homily, partly in of John Fagan from terminal cancer was in fact mi- English, to those present: ‘We have great joy in being raculous, and dispensed promoters of the Cause from able to announce to all of God’s pilgrim Church on the necessity of finding and proving a second earth the glorious name of a new Saint, that of John miracle….

Ogilvie, who died a martyr in Glasgow, on the tenth of March 1615, and who already has been accorded “Sunday morning dawned bright and warm, and the the honour of beatification by our venerable predecespilgrims gathered in the vast square in front of St Pe- sor Pope Pius XI, on 22nd December, 1929.’”

Th i s p a g e o f t h e L i g h t o f t h e N o r t h h a s b e e n s p o n s o re d by t h e A b e rd e e n Circ l e o f t h e Ca te n i a n A s s o c i a t i o n

faithandculture

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Light of the North

oetic licence

Page 28

Canon Bill Anderson takes a look at some of his favourite inspirational verse

Times go by Turns Robert Southwell

The lopped tree in time may grow again, Most naked plants renew both fruit and flower; The sorriest wight may find release of pain, The driest soil suck in some moistening shower.

Times go by turns,and chances change by course, From foul to fair,from better hap to worse.

The sea of Fortune doth not ever flow, She draws her favours to the lowest ebb; Her tides have equal times to come and go, Her loom doth weave the fine and coarsest web.

No joy so great but runneth to an end, No hap so hard but may in fine amend.

Not always fall of leaf, nor ever spring, No endless night,yet not eternal day; The saddest birds a season find to sing, The roughest storm a calm may soon allay.

Thus,with succeeding turns,God tempereth all, That man may hope to rise,yet fear to fall.

R

obert Southwell lived in the second half of the 16th century. After priestly ordination in Rome he was appointed domestic chaplain to the Countess of Arundel.He was arrested in 1592, and executed after three years of horrendous imprisonment.Now he is numbered among the martyrs of England and Wales who were canonised in 1970 by Pope Paul VI. Most of his poems were composed in prison.The verses printed above are reflective,and charm us with the many and varied pictures from Nature they contain.The author’s appreciation of the sights he describes carry great poignancy in one who had lost the freedom to enjoy them. Was he speaking of his own state in the words: “The sorriest wight may find release of pain?”

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 11 1,2) first stanza to the maritime theme of the second,only to be teased into a sudden reference to working at the loom.

The series of contrasts between the sorrowful and the joyful, the “times” of the poem’s title, finds perfect expression in the third line of the final section:“The saddest birds a season find to sing.” Southwell’s own song has something of the pathos of a caged skylark; yet in the end he speaks reassuringly of the inscrutable providence of God, whose ways are not ours.

At the time of going to press we were saddened to hear of the death of Dr. Leslie Macfarlane, Honorary Reader in the Department of History at the University of Aberdeen. Canon Bill Anderson will be contributing an obituary of Dr Macfarlane to our next issue.

We move with the poet from the gardening images of the Thi s p a g e o f t h e L i g h t o f t h e N o r t h h a s b e e n s p o n s o re d by t h e Chu rc h o f S t Fra n c i s o f A s s i s i Eve n i n g M u s i c i a n s

Light of the North

humour

Page 29

Humour from the Vestry Humour serves to destabilise the ego. This is why laughter is essential to religion. It cuts a person down to size. Humour is the first step to humility.

It‛s those Jesuits again!

Sts Dominic, Francis and Ignatius of Loyola are transported back in time and place to the Birth of Our Lord.

St Dominic, seeing the Incarnation of the Word, is sent into ecstasy.

St Francis, seeing God become a helpless child, is overcome with humility.

St Ignatius of Loyola takes St Joseph and Our Lady aside and asks “Have you given any thought to His education?”

A Wife’s Prayer O Lord, please grant me Wisdom to understand my husband, Patience to put up with his changing moods, Love to forgive him.

But, Lord, I do not pray for Strength lest I beat him to death

More news from church bulletins

Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.

The church will host an evening of fine dining, superb entertainment, and gracious hostility Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. The proceeds will be used to cripple children.

The fasting and prayer conference includes meals.

Potluck supper Sunday at 5.00pm - prayer and medication to follow.

The second-year class will be presenting Shakespeare‛s Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7.00pm. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.

Mud lark

A very dirty little fellow came in from playing in the garden and asked his mother, “Who am I? “ Ready to play the game she said, “I don‛t know! Who are you?” “Gosh!” cried the child. “Mrs. Johnson was right!

She said I was so dirty, my own mother wouldn‛t recognize me!”

My Husband The Horse

Looking to sell your house or flat?

Good prices offered.

Call Julian on 07917616603

A woman talks to a psychiatrist and says, “You‛ve got to help me doctor, my husband thinks he‛s a race horse! He neighs, sleeps on straw, and even eats oats!”

“No problem,” says the doctor. “I can cure him, but it‛s going to be expensive!”

“Oh, money isn‛t an issue,” says the disgruntled wife. “He‛s already won two races!”

Light of the North

humour

For your chance to win a copy of the new Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church send your completed entry, together with your name, address and telephone number to the Light of the North, Ogilvie Institute, 16 Huntly Street, AB10 1SH. First correct entry drawn out of the hat is the winner.

Page 30

Crossword 2

Congratulations to Mr & Mrs R.I. Smith from Keith, last issue’s joint crossword winners.

There are 12 balls. All are the same colour. All are the same weight except one ball. Show how in three weighings you could find the odd ball and know whether it was lighter or heavier than the other balls?

Send us the correct solution and you could win a mystery prize!

Prayer Posturing “The proper way for man to pray,” said Deacon Lemuel Keyes, “And the only proper attitude is down upon your knees.”

“No, I should say the way to pray,” said Reverend Dr. Wise, “Is standing straight with upraised arms and rapt and upturned eyes.”

“Oh, no, no, no!” said Sister Sloe...

“Such posture is too proud.

A man should pray with eyes fast closed and head contritely bowed.”

“It seems to me his hands should be austerely clasped in front with both thumbs pointing downward,” said the honourable Bishop Blunt.

“Last year I fell in Hodgekin’s well headfirst,” said farmer Cyrus Brown.

“With both my heels a-stickin’ up, my head a-pointin’ down.

And I made a prayer right then and there-best prayer I ever said-the prayingest prayer I ever prayed-- astandin’ on my head!”

Across 1, 12, 16dn. Classically, the Advent greeting to Mary. (3, 5, 6,5) 4. Baalam sat on this. (3) 6. Severe Anglo-Saxon god.

7. Fame is said to be this.

8. Where Solomon got his cedars from (7) 10. Confused Roman Bishop? (5) (anagr) 12. see 1 ac.

14. Hildegard of Bingen, for example. (6) 15. If I lack charity, then I sound like this (1Cor. xiii.1). (5) 16. Incomparable, one of Jesus’ allegories. (7) 19. Once called I, monastery founded by S. Columba. (4) 20. You may meet her in Emmaus, if not on the road. (4) 21. The son of Haran, or his fate. (3) 22. Tom has a spruce-up for an Early Christian tomb. (8) Down 1, 12. Who brought the message to Mary? (5,7) 2. Our Lord’s great-great-great-grandfather (Matt.). (5) 3. How jesting Pilate spoke? (2,3) 4. Crush grapes (followed by East) to sprinkle altar for purification. (7) (part anagr.)

5. Is this what Hope does eternally? (7) 9. First Christian King of Norway (969-1000). (4) 11. A monk, but not one of ours! (4) 13. If you are not for me, then you’ll be… (Matt. 12). (7) 16. See 1 ac.

17. A type of Cardinal (literally). (5) 18. To clothe with a priest’s white vestment. (5)

Last issue’s solution Across 1.mybrothers 6.ear 7. rise 8. hide 9. mark 11. wine 13. hear 17. john 18. sky 19. likemartha Down 1. mathew 2. bread 3. omri 4. horn 5. rasta 10. kerygma 12. naomi 14. egypt 15. knee 16. asia

Light of the North

Rome

Page 31

Sister Janet Fearns FMDM works with the English Programme of Vatican Radio. She also has her own website called Pause for Prayer : http://pauseforprayer.blogspot.com Apostolic Panorama

O

ne of my favourite spots in the Palatine Museum is the passage that overlooks the Forum, open to the elements on one side, There’s the Senate on the left and the temple of Vesta on the right, and straight ahead, the magnificent triumphal arch on which are carved scenes from the destruction of Jerusalem, foretold by Jesus.

Although I’ve visited the Forum dozens of times, there is always more to see and to appreciate. It occurs to me that my own reaction to the splendours of ancient times must be only a duplicate of the feelings of the people who came in from the provinces and saw the glory of Rome before it was reduced to ruins. They had to have been at least equally awestruck, if not more so. …and these are the very sights that were familiar to Peter, Paul, Matthias, Philip, James, Simon, Jude, Nathaniel, Timothy and all the other early Christians who lived and died here. To visit the Forum is literally to walk in their steps, especially when including the Mamertine Prison in which both Peter and Paul were held captive.

Even in the heat, the Mamertine Prison is cool. In the winter, it is bitter. It doesn’t take any imagination to understand why Paul, in the Epistle that he wrote from this very cell, asked for the ‘cloak that (he) had left behind’. It was renowned even at the time as the ‘worst prison in Rome’, so he and Peter must have been freezing cold. It’s only a small cell, so were there occasions when the prisoners huddled together for warmth?

There was no privacy, so it’s no wonder that the other captives had the time and opportunity to study Peter and Paul. Neither was there a problem when two of them asked for Baptism: the well is still there, sunk into the stone floor. All they had to do was to reach downwards for some water.

The Mamertine Prison is within the confines of the Forum. Did Peter and Paul have many visitors, or was the increasing threat towards the early Christians such that they kept at a distance, close to the Apostles only in their prayers? Peter wouldn’t have had far to walk to

his execution. A brisk 20-30 minute walk is all that is needed to reach the site of his execution. Paul would have needed more time: the Porta San Paolo, through which he passed, according to tradition, and thence to the Via Appia and the site now known as Tre Fontane, where he met his death, is a lengthy walk. Did he travel in a cart, along with other prisoners? The cell where he was kept overnight is small and uncomfortable. It’s only a few yards away from the actual site of his beheading. The rough stone that juts out from the wall was the only place resembling a seat. However great his faith, he must have felt lonely and frightened. Did he sit on that very stone and think about the following day, wondering how painful the executioner’s axe might be?

When Philip and James the Less were executed, their bodies were entombed nearby, within a villa that could be easily visited without attracting too much unwanted attention. The magnificent church of the twelve Apostles now encloses their tomb, but the distance between the metal grille and their marble resting-place is only just slightly more than arm’s length away. It’s beautiful, cool and dark.

Exquisitely painted walls to the right and left portray the earliest days of Christianity. There’s a youthful, handsome Jesus, shown as the Good Shepherd, sheep on his shoulders, because the first Christians, used to the sight of crucifixion, could not bring themselves to visualise their beloved Lord suffering such a horrendous death.

Mary is not forgotten in that loveliest of villas. She sits in an alcove fresco, a typical Roman matron, complete with her white robe decorated with two broad blue stripes, holding Jesus on her knee. He, too, is a Roman child, dressed in white with similar striped decoration.

The beauty of Rome is that the life of the early Church comes to life. The first Christians were real human beings, who walked some of the same streets that we are able to walk today, The loveliness of Rome is that the past, the present and the future come together in one panorama.

Light of the North

Ogilvie Institute

Page 32

Have you seen the Ogilvie Institute’s new web site?

Just go to www..ogilvie.ac.uk to learn about all the courses and workshops on offer, such as the ‘Listening to the Word’ scripture course or the ‘Parish Catechists’ course. You can also find out about forthcoming events, and soon you will have complete access to the Ogilvie on-line Library. You can also consult the Catholic Catechism as well as many other religious documents and resources. In addition, there are links to the Diocese, theological links and links to other Catholic organisations. You can even refer to this issue or back issues of the Light of the North!

www.ogilvie.ac.uk Will I or Won’t I? If you’re finding it uncomfortable sitting on the fence, there are still a few places left on these two faith enriching courses!

LISTENI NG TO THE WORD LISTENING “Lis tening to the Word of Go d s h o u l d b e co m e a l i f e - gi v i n g encounter ” J ohn Paul ll

CERTIFICATE IN CATECHESIS “Even the Pope needs catechesis”

A

n adult enrichment course which enables you to study the New Testament (plus a significant part of the Old Testament) on your own or as part of a group.

I

f you are interested in developing your own faith for the sake of explaining it to others in the home, school or parish then this is the course for you.

It aims to provide a solid foundation in the key areas of Catholic faith as well as an increased confidence in communicating Christ to others.

Each module is self-contained and looks at Scripture in a prayerful way, in relation to Tradition and the teaching of the Church and also to your own life.

If you would like further information and an enrolment form contact the Courses Coordinator, Mary Nelson on 01224 638675 or Email: director@ogilvie.ac.uk