Dunkeld News History
Newspaper for the Diocese of Dunkeld
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Dec 2019 edition of the Dunkeld News
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DUNKELD NEWS Diocesan Newsletter of the Bishop of Dunkeld No. 18 December 2019 ©2019 DIOCESE OF DUNKELD - SCOTTISH CHARITY NO. SC001810 INDSIDE - Parish news stories; Lourdes reports, Our pilgrims in Spain and Italy, Schools and Youth News INSIDE THIS ISSUE: News, views and coming events from around the diocese What a grace-filled event it was for our diocese to have the relics of St Therese of Lisieux visit us in our own St Andrews Cathedral in September. It was as though Therese, one of the most popular saints in the history of the Church, had indeed come to visit us to inspire us, to encourage us, and just to be present with us for a few days where she will listen to us and speak to us in the depths of our hearts. Never has the Cathedral been so bedecked with so many beautiful roses, symbols of her great love for God and her promise to all of her devo - tees. In her lifetime, Therese, a young Carmel - ite nun wished nothing other than obscu - rity, yet her autobiography, ‘The Story of a Soul’, made her a household name in the whole Catholic World. As she arrived quietly on the Wednesday evening, a hushed silence prevailed, but a silence full of promise and expectation, with orderly queues and smiles of joy re - vealing the sense of wonder and excitement for everyone present. It seemed to everyone that her saintly presence was enough as she spoke in the silence of everyone’s heart. Therese had come not for herself but for everyone in every diocese in Scotland and the people present were delighted that she was really here in our Diocese of Dunkeld with devotees, young and old, who loved her and wished to spend some time in her physical and spiritual presence. Most of all to learn from her. The good humour spread quickly among the congregation, and the sense of incredulity at her closeness was awesome. Everyone, from the very young to the elderly and wheelchair-bound, crowded into the packed Cathedral carry - ing their roses and flags of welcome. Bishop Stephen greeted Therese and then blessed and incensed the reliquary while the Choir sang the hymn “All that we have and all that we offer”. The procession commenced with the Emotional welcome for the Little Flower Fr Anthony McCarthy, parish priest of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Broughty Ferry, died on Thursday 10th October, 2019. Fr Tony was born in Cork and studied for the priesthood at All Hallows Col - lege, Dublin. He was ordained priest for Dunkeld on 22nd June 1958 by Arch - bishop Patrick Skinner CMI of New - foundland. Following Fr Tony’s Requiem Mass, celebrated by Bishop Stephen and his fellow priests from across the diocese, Fr his body was taken to Cork for burial in the family grave. Since his ordination he served as a curate at St Serf ’s, Highvalleyfield 1958- 1962; curate at St Patrick’s, Dundee 1962-1964; curate at St John’s, Perth 1964-1971; parish priest of Holy Cross, Strathtay 1971-1973; parish priest of St Bride’s, Pitlochry 1973-1977 and parish priest of St Fillan’s, Crieff 1977-1984 and for the last 34 four years, as Parish Priest of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Broughty Ferry. Under Bishop Vincent Logan, in 1982, Fr Tony’s already well established reputation for printing and publishing enabled the launch a new initiative in the diocese committed to ‘communica - tion and caring’ - it was to become the start of the Dunkeld News. continued on p14 Dunkeld’s Lay Carmelites come to venerate the relics of St Therese
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page 2 A recent visit to the island of South Uist for a family wedding was a rich and bittersweet experience. We journeyed through Skye, and chatted to cousins and aunts and Bishop Brian McGee on the ferry - after the ritual of Cal-Mac fish and chips. The remoteness of island life is a great leveller. Hebrid - ean life is personal and intimate - and the weather and sea remind us all that we are fellow travellers, subject to the same tides of life. The familiar ritual of driving and ferry - ing back to our roots for weddings and fu - nerals, and the joy of seeing the increasing brood of younger cousins and the solace of visiting Hallan, the ancient graveyard be - side the Atlantic where grandparents and now parents rest. All these human experi - ences knitted together by the life of faith. Memories of long summers and East - ers and occasional Octobers in the care of our grandparents, set to work on the croft. One abiding memory I have is lying in bed, cocooned in the attic sleepless and restless but daring not to disturb the grandparents below. They had raised 9 children and now took on 4 or 5 or 7 grandchildren for the holidays. With cows and sheep and hens and dogs, late night visitations with grand - children were not encouraged. We developed the art of singing in the dark - usually hymns and in them ex - pressed all the longings, energy, hope and missing-our-mothers that filled our young hearts. Only much later did I discover that this heartfelt music moved and warmed the apparently stony hearts below. So to with my own sons, dashing to catch a French ferry on the way home from camp - ing in France, our overladen car, with bikes and tent, they would break into singing with rugby-type gusto school hymns, out of season carols and surprising devotional hymns to the Blessed Sacrament - and somehow - drawn into hope - we always seemed to catch the ferry against the odds. In the chapter 16 of the Acts of the Apos - tles, St Luke shares with us a very power - ful experience of “singing in the dark”. Paul and Silas, beaten and bruised, found themselves chained up in prison, unable to move, with nothing but each other’s com - pany for solace. They could have become bitter, and complained loudly about their plight. It was also possible that they lost hope and shrank into a darker corner of de - spair than any prison could afford. Instead they sang, praises and hymns to God, and as the Eucharistic liturgy encourages all of us to do, they lifted up their hearts. Suddenly, the earth began to shake and the walls and ceiling of their prison crum - bled and a door opened wide, with the light and freedom of possibility before them. We all have our prisons, the circumstanc - es that we cannot change: Ill-health, sepa - ration and loss; grief or addiction; growing old, or being young and without hope. Can we dare to reach out to one another and learn to sing in the dark, trusting that God has plans for our rescue? What would such singing in the dark feel like? Would we dis - cover some hope beyond ourselves? Some transformation and light? In November, we remember those we have loved and lost. We also remember those who have let us down and disap - pointed us, sometimes departing from this life before we have been reconciled. We bury all this in the mercy of God. We are united to the unknown angels and saints of our lived experience as well as the known ones. The divide between the living and the dead is no more. We gather up all the sufferings and losses of this present life, all the hurts and desires of our most human natures - and we sing hymns and pray to - gether. We pray that our beloved dead rest in perpetual light. We pray for lost and poor souls who have no-one to pray for them. United in our faith in Jesus, the Christ, who braved the darkness of sin and death, that we might live in the hope of the Res - urrection - even if that hope is sometimes lived by learning to sing in the darkness. Eternal rest grant into them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. Learning to sing in the dark DUNKELD NEWS Coming editions 1st March 2020 14th June 2020 20th September 2020 Email your stories and photos Photos need to be high resolution .jpg dunkeldnews@dunkelddiocese.co.uk on Twitter @DunkeldNews Editor - Andrew Mitchell CALL or TEXT 07806 789791 DUNKELD DIOCESAN CENTRE, 24-28 LAWSIDE ROAD, DUNDEE, DD3 6XY Concluding series of talks in the Echoes series 7pm: on Mondays 2nd December, 9th December and 16th December Presented by Mary O’Duffin Mary O’Duffin
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page 3 I have always regarded teaching as a vo - cation. However, through engaging thor - oughly with my studies this year, I realise that the vocation of a Catholic teacher is a far greater responsibility, and it has completely transformed my approach to teaching and learning. Not only am I called to teach, but I now understand that I am in the privileged position of being called to ‘evangelise, to catechise, to wit - ness, and to lead and accompany young people on their own personal journey’. This knowledge has had a profound im - pact on me both personally and profession - ally. Not only do I now permeate my teach - ing and human interactions with Gospel values and the Catholic ethos, but I have also been prompted to re-examine and re - flect on my own religious identity, values, faith and wisdom, and reconnect person - ally and spiritually with Jesus Christ. I have explored the Good News with an open heart and mind, and feel myself equipped now to view the themes through the eyes of a child in order to be a wise and faithful companion facilitating their spiritual jour - ney, and help them encounter Jesus as ‘the way, the truth and the life’. (John 14:6) Through working in a Catholic Primary School, and through extensive reading, I now recognise a number of fundamental differences between being a practitioner in a non-denominational school, and being a teacher in a Catholic school. Firstly, there is the holistic approach adopted by Catholic schools. Not only do we strive to achieve the highest quality of education, but we also have a distinctive mission to promote Christian values: val - ues proclaimed, relationships nurtured, commitments promoted and faith pro - fessed, celebrated, prayed and lived out in our lives so as to enables pupils to ‘search for truth, meaning and purpose in life.’ At its heart, and this is where our voca - tion differs from others, is the recognition that all our pupils are unique, each having their own set of God-given gifts, and each is made in the image and likeness of God. They should all be valued, despite the chal - lenges, and it is our unique job to ‘touch h e a r t s ’. The Catholic teacher is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence, not just in terms of knowledge, but also through the formation of the whole person, one who has encoun - tered Jesus personally and who can under - stand and demonstrate Gospel values based on the Beatitudes. Teaching these values explicitly should not be confined to teach - ing religion, but are integral to vocational excellence. It is our responsibility to ensure that our pupils become religiously literate, which means that religious education is not to be seen just as a discreet subject, but is the heart and soul of the curriculum, and per - meates everything we do in the school. For me, another major difference be - tween teaching in a Catholic school and teaching in a non-denominational school, having taught in both, is the importance of community. We are not only a community of learning but a community of faith. This we means that we always need to look at the ‘big picture’. It also means that we have to have positive relationships with the wider community in which we belong, and work closely with families and the Church. As well as the importance of community bonds, I have embraced the values of Cath - olic Social Teaching, apparently named ‘our best kept secret’. This movement reflects not only adherence to the commandments, but also to the actions of Jesus during his public ministry. Just as Jesus had ‘a particu - lar concern for those in need’, the Church and Catholic schools continue to follow his example through their charitable work. At its heart is the fundamental belief in humanity as one family sharing a need for truth, freedom and justice with a ‘preferred option for the poor’. I believe that it is my duty to embed this vision in teaching and learning ensuring that ‘living faith’ is trans - formed into ‘loving action’. I have much respect for Catholic Social Teaching, and it has a tangible presence in our school community demonstrat - ed by the large number of fund raising and charitable events which take place throughout the school year. This vision also reflects the core value that we are a community which welcomes all, and is open and inclusive. Setting out on the Road Gillian Janvier gives her personal reflection on teaching in a Catholic Primary School AN INVITATION TO THE RELIGIOUS OF THE DIOCESE An Advent time of Prayer and Reflection as well as sharing, beginning in the Convent Chapel at Lawside on Friday 20th December, at 3pm. All the Religious in the Diocese are invited to attend; and also any diocesan priests who wish to share this time are most welcome to join us. Gillian Janvier with her class at St Columba’s, Cupar
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page 4 On the occasion of the 100th anniversa - ry of the 1st Armistice Day, Steve Clayes, has completed his timely publication of a book to honour the service given by pa - rishioners from St John’s, Perth, and by the former pupils from the parish school of St John’s, during World War I. Together with Deacon Harry Schnitker, parish historian Steve was the joint editor of the 2007 publication, ‘ From Persecution to Integration: The Scottish Catholic Ex - perience as seen from Perth - 1685-2007’ , which marked the 175th anniversary of the Perth church. In a foreword to the new publication, Deacon Harry writes: ‘The First World War’s centenary commemorations are all behind us and the war is passing from memory into history. It is important, then, to recall those who fought and those who died, to ensure that at least some - thing of their lives, cut short by violence, is remembered. Steve Clayes’ meticulous research has certainly managed to save that little something, the precious details of lives that were so strongly rooted in the Catholic community in early twentieth- century Perth, but that ended overseas.’ In addition to the names of those who died, Steve has collected the names of all who took up arms from St John’s parish and from the Catholic School, serving as a reminder of the huge sacrifice they made. Steve says, “As you turn the pages - please remember to pray for their souls. The publication ends with the great peni - tential Psalm, ‘Out of the depths I have cried to you, O Lord’, Psalm 129 - as an invocation to prayer.” Copies are available through the parish website www.stjohns-perth.org.uk and/ or can be bought directly from St John’s Parish Shop after Sunday Masses - or from the Diocesan Centre, 24-28 Lawside Road, Dundee DD3 6XY - price £7.50 - (and on KINDLE for just £5.75). Steve’s new book honours Perth’s proud WWI service Latest 2019 Clergy appointments Mgr Canon Neil Gallagher to become Parish Priest of St Bride’s Pitlochry, Our Lady of Mercy, Aberfeldy and St Columba’s, Birnam. Fr Mark Cassidy to become Parish Priest- Moderator of a newly affiliated cluster of three Dundee parishes: St Mary’s Lochee, SS Leonard and Fergus and St Columba’s – working with with Fr Alexander Obiorah and Fr Jean Gove, who is recently ordained, from Malta, who is studying for a PhD in St Andrews University. Deacon Jude Mukoro , newly-ordained Deacon from St Mary’s Seminary, Oscott, was appointed to St Columba’s, Cupar, un - der the tutelage of Mgr Pat McNally until his priestly ordination on 14th Decem - ber of this year in St Andrew’s Cathedral, Dundee. Canon Kevin Golden VG , as Admin - istrator of Our Lady of Good Counsel. This arrangement will continue for three months until January 31st 2020 until a per - manent appointment can be made. Mgr Pat McInally reports on this year’s two parish pilgrimages to Spain: “In October St Columba’s, Cupar, em - barked on a Pilgrimage with a difference, following in the footsteps of St Ignatius of Loyola. Over 70 pilgrims signed up to take part this year, so it had to be split into sepa - rate pilgrimages.” “We began in Manresa where Ignatius spent 10 months in a cave writing ‘The Spiritual Exercises’. We celebrated a won - derful liturgy in the Basilica that now hous - es Ignatius’ Cave. This was followed by two nights in the Mountains of Montserrat, staying in a small hotel built beside the Benedictine Monas - tery, 4000 feet above the valley floor.” “The day started with ‘Lauds’ at 7.30am, sung by the monks, and ended with ‘Ves - pers’, accompanied by the Boys Choir, the oldest Choir School in Europe. With sun - shine and blue skies we took the opportu - nity to travel on the Funicular Railway to the top of the Mountain, walking down to mountain path and marvelling at the pano - ramic views all the way down.” “Monserrat was followed by two nights in Zaragoza where we joined in the celebra - tions of Our Lady of the Pillar, the second largest Feast Day in Spain. In the early days of the Church St James travelled to Spain preaching the Gospel but, on arriving at Zaragoza where he was having little suc - cess, Our Lady appeared to him at the top of a Pillar encouraging him to return to Je - rusalem, where he became Bishop, and was later martyred.” “In the 9th century his body was discov - ered by the hermit Pelayo at Compostela - and the rest is history.” “Our Pilgrimage finished in Loyola where Ignatius had been brought up. Here, recovering from wounds he received in the Battle of Pamplona, he was given a copy of the New Testament to read, along with the ‘Lives of the Saints. This led to a deep conversion after which he decided to dedi - cate his life to God, and travelled to Rome where he founded the Jesuits, and where he died.” Mgr Pat concluded, “Both groups agreed that it was a spiritually uplifting experience throughout.” Cupar pilgrims trace an Ignatian path
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page 5 Cupar pilgrims trace an Ignatian path
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page 6 Perth’s Italian Association’s annual pro - gramme includes a Christmas Dinner Dance; a November Mass for the Dead in Italian in Glasgow, theatre visits to Pit - lochry in December and June each year – stopping for their afternoon tea along the way; an Italian Film night; the Carnevale Masked Ball on Shrove Tuesday…. a May Procession and October Devotions. Time too to raise funds for the Mukuro Street Children in Kenya and for Mary’s Meals – and a pilgrimage! Mgr Aldo Angelosanto is their chaplain – supporting them with a monthly Mass in Italian and travelling with them wher - ever they go. On their pilgrimages to Italy a more experienced Italian guide would be hard to find – offering daily Mass and en - gaging like a native with hotel staff and bus drivers – sorting out problems before they got out of hand. As a Chaplain to the Papal Household he is welcomed like royalty – and the rest of the group along with him. In their bi-annual cycle of pilgrimages – this year should have taken them to Rome and Assisi – but in a bold change to tradi - tion they were off to Rome, the Benedic - tine Abbey at Montecassino, Sorrento, the Shrine of St Andrew at Amalfi and Capri. In Rome they settled into a small hotel in the Borgo Pio – within sight of the gates of Vatican City at the Porto Sant’ Anna. That meant that they could be early birds at the Vatican the next morning – 8am Mass in St Peter’s – just as the doors open. The vast Basilica was empty – the morning light reflecting off the highly polished floor. The Mass was celebrated in the crypt – sur - rounded by the Tombs of the Popes – and, close by, the tomb of Bonnie Prince Char - lie, his father and uncle. Next stop was the Tivoli Gardens – famed for its extraordinary system of foun - tains; fifty-one fountains, 398 spouts, 364 water jets, 64 waterfalls, and 220 basins, fed by 875 meters of canals, channels and cas - cades, and all working entirely by the force of gravity, without pumps. “Simply breath - taking,” said one of the pilgrims. Next morning Mass, at the Divine Mercy Church of Sancto Spirito, before slipping into St Peter’s Square for the weekly Papal Audience. It wasn’t long before Pope Fran - cis passed through the crowds, and they found themselves in the perfect spot for a close up! The Pope’s message was summa - rised in about a dozen languages – includ - ing Arabic. The wisest pilgrims took shelter from the growing heat in the shade of the obelisk in the centre of the square. For the remainder of the day the pilgrims had free time to ex - plore the piazza’s, churches, shops – fuelled by pizza, cold beer and ice cream. Three days in Rome had flown past – and soon they were on they way to Sorrento – but stopping along the way at the Ben - edictine Abbey at Montecassino – perched almost 2000ft above the valley below. A dramatic hairpin climb – with breathtaking views at every turn. The abbey was founded by Saint Benedict himself around 529AD. It was ravaged by Lombards in the sixth century, pillaged by Saracens in the ninth, knocked down by an earthquake in the fourteenth, sacked by French troops in the eighteenth, and re - duced to rubble by Allied bombs and shells in the twentieth century. Almost immediately, funds started to be gathered for its rebuilding and – in 1964 – Pope Paul VI rededicated the monastery to peace and European unity and formally de - clared the abbey’s founder, St Benedict, as the patron saint of Europe. Mgr Aldo celebrated a Mass for Peace at an altar in Sacristy of the Abbey which overlooks his ancestral home – followed by an excellent guided tour which included the tombs of St Benedict and his twin sister St Scholastica. Arriving in Sorrento – just beyond Na - ples – there was a first sight of Vesuvius. Conveniently for the camera it sported a beautifully positioned adiabatic cloud – Pilgrims at the tombs of St Benedict and St Scholastica in Montecassino Abbey PERTH ITALIAN ASSOCIATION - from Rome to Amalfi Walking in the footsteps of the saints
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page 7 Bishop of Dunkeld: Rt Rev Stephen Robson bishop@dunkelddiocese.org.uk Vicars General: Very Rev. Mgr. Aldo Canon Angelosanto St Anne’s, 46 Corbie Drive, Carnoustie, DD7 7NU stbridesmonifieth@dunkelddiocese.org.uk Very Rev. Kevin Canon Golden St Andrew’s Cathedral, 150 Nethergate, Dundee PH1 5PY Tel 01738 622241 Diocesan Centre Chancellor: Mr Malcolm Veal B.A. chancellor@dunkelddiocese.org.uk Vice-Chancellor: Fr Michael Carrie Finance Administrator Miss Melissa Walton, A.C.C.A. accounts@dunkelddiocese.org.uk Director Very Rev. Kevin Canon Golden 24-28 Lawside Road Dundee, DD3 6XY Tel 01382 225453 Religious Education Advisor Mrs Mary O’Duffin mary.oduffin@dunkelddiocese.org.uk S afeguarding Mr John Smith safeguarding@dunkelddiocese.org.uk Episcopal Vicars: Very Rev. Mark Cassidy (Vocations) Immaculate Conception 41 High Street Lochee, Dundee, DD2 3AP Tel 01382 611282 Very Rev. Michael Freyne (Mission, Justice & Peace) The Presbytery, St Bernadette’s Baingle Brae, Tullibody. FK10 2SG Tel 01259 213274 Very Rev. James High (Laity and Lay Organisations) 23 Market Street, Montrose. DD10 8NB Tel 01674 672208 Very Rev. Ronald McAinsh CSsR (Religious) St Mary’s, Hatton Road, Kinnoull, Perth. PH2 7BP Tel 01738 624075 Very Rev. Steven Canon Mulholland (Ecumenism and Interfaith Relationships) St John the Baptist’s, 20 Melville Street, Perth. PH1 5PY Tel 01738 259371 Very Rev. Mgr. Basil Canon O’Sullivan JCL (Clergy) St Clare’s, Claredon Place, Dunblane. FK15 9HB Tel 01786 822146 Very Rev. Thomas Canon Shields (Education) The Presbytery, St Fillan’s Ford Road, Crieff, PH7 3HN Tel 01764 653269 creating the illusion of an eruption! Their hosts for the next four nights were the Oblates Sisters of the Baby Jesus – Bra - zilian nuns who run a Residenza – a guest house - in a beautiful building set aloft on the dramatic coast. The sight of the Medi - terranean – the capes and bays – and the quickly setting sun – another perfect end to a perfect day. A new day and our coach set off on the 1730 bends along the infamous Amalfi Road. Plans to visit the mountain top vil - lage of Ravello – with even more sharp hairpins – were swapped for a short cruise which allow the pilgrims to appreciate the scale of the rugged coastline – with Rav - ello high above - home to many famous names over the years - from Sophie Lauren to Beyonce, from Rodger Moore to Rudolf Nureyev… Back on dry land – and Amalfi’s great Ca - thedral of St Andrew – with the relics of the apostle taken there by its Bishop after the sacking of Constantinople in 1208. The 62 steps leading up to the front door proved too much for some of the pilgrims – but for those who managed it – the visit to Shrine with the relics revealed a beautiful setting – worthy of Our Lord’s first-called disciple. The final day took the pilgrims to the ru - ins of Pompei. For those familiar with Had - rian’s Wall and Scotland’s Roman landscape – or even the Forum in Rome – this was like a virtual reality experience – so much had been preserved for 1600 years under 20 feet of volcanic ash. Mass was celebrated in Our Lady of the Rosary, in the chapel of the Blessed Bartolo Longo, along with the Archbishop Emeri - tus Bernard Moras, from Bangalore, India. On the final evening there was a charity dinner, attended by Bishop Ricardo Álva - rez, auxiliary Bishop of Lima, in aid of the work of the Sisters of the Baby Jesus. The Shrine of St Andrew at Amalfi Cathedral, Italy
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page 8 Anybody who has visited Lourdes will tell you that it is nearly impossible to de - scribe what they discovered there. Travel - ling to Lourdes to help those less able is such a rewarding, albeit challenging, expe - rience for all involved, and it is the perfect place for prayer and reflection. With this in mind, I set off to join the Diocese of Dunkeld Annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes for my first time in July 2019. The overland group left Dundee on Tues - day 9th July, followed by the main pilgrim - age group, led by Bishop Stephen Robson, flew from Edinburgh on 12th July. We were also joined for most of the week by a group from Xaverian College in Manchester, who helped the Dunkeld group on shift in the Accueil Notre Dame, where the assisted pilgrims were staying. The week we spent in Lourdes was one of the most intense weeks I’ve ever had the privilege of experiencing, as well as the most spiritually demanding. Being able to attend Mass every day in different churches within the Sanctuary was incredible, and the itinerary (coupled with my wanting to see absolutely everything) barely al - lowed for any time off my feet - not that you would want to risk missing anything in such an amazing place! Our week started with a penitential ser - vice, where everybody had the opportunity to go to individual confession. On Sunday, Dunkeld led Mass in the Grotto, before participating in the Blessed Sacrament Pro - cession that afternoon. In the evening we all had an amazing view for the Bastille Day fireworks, which we watched from the roof of the Acceuil. Our busy schedule contin - ued on Monday when pilgrims were given the opportunity to be led in the Stations of the Cross – the physically demanding “High Stations” or the more accessible, but no less beautiful, “Low Stations”. Tuesday was one of our busiest days. We all travelled to Bartrès, a town near Lourdes where St Bernadette spent much of her youth. Mass was celebrated at the parish church, dedicated to St John the Baptist, where St Bernadette had her Catechism lessons. Bishop Stephen at this Mass, who helped administer the Sacrament of the Sick to our assisted pilgrims. That evening, Dunkeld took part in the Marian Torchlight Procession. Most of the pilgrimage group took part in the procession, but some, myself included, were able to join the choir. In the choir we were grouped together by the language we speak, and there were many different language groups including English, Span - ish, French, Dutch, German, and Russian. The Hail Marys in each Decade are start - ed by a few people who are selected from the choir, and I had the honour of leading three of the Hail Marys in English. The view over the domain, looking out at thou - sands of people holding candles and pray - ing the rosary, is something I’ll never for - get. On Wednesday, the group split for Mass, with some attending Mass at the Grotto (led by the Archdiocese of Glasgow) and some attending the International Mass in the underground Basilica of St Pius X. Our pilgrimage party took place that evening, where a variety of very talented performers entertained the entire group. Thursday was our final full day in Lourdes, and after the Closing Mass, some pilgrims went to the baths while others participated in a short prayer service on the banks of the river. Now I understand just how impossible it is to describe being in Lourdes. When thinking back to being in Lourdes, you can’t help but focus on the incredible highs, and it’s easy to forget how demanding the pilgrimage is, with the slow pace of sim - ply getting from A to B among the huge crowds, made all the more testing by the intense heat. The tiredness, however, fades into memory on shift when spending time with the assisted pilgrims in the Accueil whose love for Lourdes is a constant. The 2019 Dunkeld Lourdes pilgrim - age was definitely reflective of its theme: ‘Happy are the poor’. It was not only a lot of fun, but also insightful. It made me realise what I take for granted, and reminded me that there are a lot of basic things that come easily to me that others struggle with. The week is really about the assisted pilgrims, and being able to accompany them to Mass, 24hr adoration, praying of the rosary, and Stations of the Cross (to name just a few things) and seeing their enthusiasm helps you to forget your own inconveniences and to reflect on what is really important in life. For more information on our fund raising activities, or to travel to Lourdes with Dunkeld in 2020, visit the Dunkeld Lourdes Service website at www.dunkeld - lourdesservice.com or the Facebook page “Dunkeld Lourdes”. The overland pilgrim - age will run from 7–21 July 2020, at a cost of £800. Our upcoming events include our annual Carol Service in Ss Peter and Paul’s on 22nd December at 3pm and our fund raising Ball on 29th February – if you’re interested in the 2020 pilgrimage, please come along to one of our events to meet some of our ex - isting volunteers and hear more about their experiences. Kirsten Friedman, a student at the University of St Andrews, who was on her first trip to Lourdes this year “Words cannot describe being in Lourdes” Join DLS for a Festive afternoon of Carols, Readings and Musical Performances! Ss Peter & Paul’s Church Byron Street, Dundee 3pm, Sunday 22nd December A retiring collection will be taken for the Dunkeld Lourdes Fund in support our fundrais - ing efforts for Lourdes 2020.
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page 9 Wspólnota Krwi Chrystusa - Perth - Sz - kocja” or the ‘Community of the Blood of Christ’ is a congregation of traditions. This community was initially called the ‘Broth - erhood of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ’ and was established in the Basilica of San Nicola in Rome during a very difficult period of great poverty, unbe - lief and crime. It was St Gaspar del Bufalo who gave the inaugural sermon of the Brotherhood of the Precious Blood on December 8th, 1808. He accepted those who loved the crucified Lord Jesus Christ and wanted to glorify His Blood shed for us. The community was founded to vener - ate the Blood - the price of our salvation. His relics are still venerated in many plac - es around the world - including Poland, at the Mission House of St Lawrence in Częstochowa. The community of the Blood of Christ is international and Perth’s Deacon Kris Jablonski has been a member for about 25 years. Kris said, “For many years I had a deep desire for such a community to be created here in Scotland. Now, our modest group in Perth meets once a week and has the character of a prayer community. At meet - ings, we read the Holy Bible and consider it. Reading the Holy Scriptures is an extension of the life of the Lord Jesus. When we read, we choose a quote that we try to live for the next week. We take this quote with us to work, home, to the family, everywhere we live, that’s why we call this quote the Word of Life.” Our General Statutes show that we are to care for and support priests in our parish. We are also obliged to pray for the inten - tions of our parish and the entire diocese. Our desire is that the Blood of the Saviour should not be shed in vain, for it flows wher - ever harm and violence occur. That is why we support through prayer all those who suffer and we care a lot about those who are innocent, who cannot defend themselves. Currently, the group consists of the Polish community, but it is not exclusive to the Polish community and it welcomes any - one who wants to join them to worship the Most Precious Blood of the Saviour. You can find the community at St John’s, Perth every Saturday after the morning 10am Mass or contact them through their Facebook page Wspólnota Krwi Chrystusa w Perth - Szkocja Perth’s new ‘Blood of Christ’ community - is first in the UK Bishop Stephen and Fr Martin Pletts were the main celebrants at a Mass to mark the 60th anniversary of the opening of St Matthew’s, Auchtermuchty, Fife. The church was built in 1959, St Mat - thew’s is a beautiful brick-built con - temporary building with a dressed-stone front. The lovely white interior is enhanced by five oaken ribs which support the roof and the altar is enclosed in a semi circular arch with a background of blue. Before the church was opened, Catholics in the area had only been able to hear Mass thanks to the generosity of benefactors. They included the Dick family at Montrave, who provided the first chapel in Cupar in 1864; the Fairlie family who built a private chapel at Myres Castle in 1890, and the Bute family who built a private chapel at House of Falkland in 1901. The area was served by priests from the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh until 1948 when the responsibility was taken over by Augustinian Fathers from Dundee,. It was one of them, Fr Leo Mc - Cabe, built the present church in Auchter - muchty. Fr Pletts thanked Bishop Stephen for coming to help us mark the special moment in the history of this faith community: “We give thanks, too, for the ministry of those priests who have served here over the years, nourishing and guiding the Lord’s lit - tle flock in this area.” There were fond memories too of Canon James Malaney who served St Columba’s, Cupar and St Matthew’s for over 30 years. “May God continue in his goodness to pour out an abundance of graces and bless - ings upon St Matthew’s and its parishion - ers, together may we move forward in faith and charity, praying for and supporting each other, on this journey of life towards our heavenly homeland.” Rev. Deacon Kris Jablonski St Matthew’s, Auchtermuchty marks 60 years
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page 10 Depute Headteacher, Dr Robert Staines writes “Here at St John’s we have started up bee- keeping with the installation of a hive and a colony of bees that came to us from the Perth and District Bee keepers Association, for which we are now members. They ar - rived in June and the bees have been busy producing honey all summer long which we have recently harvested. This is very fit - ting as our Patron St John the Baptist had a strong association with honey. “John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.” (Matthew 3:4). “John was a man living on the edge in the wilderness of Judea and foraged for his food preferring to eat alone. He probably had a connection with the Essenes who were a monastic community at Qumran and who wrote the Dead Sea scrolls. Indeed throughout the century’s monks and bees have enjoyed a long association, for honey is used not just as a food source but also medicinally and the wax used for candle making and balm. “However, John was a fiery prophet in the footsteps of Elijah, from the Old Tes - tament, who prepared the way for Jesus, calling people to turn away from their sins and seek salvation. His message was one of repentance, pointing out that the King - dom of God was very near. His baptism with water was an initiation ritual meant to cleanse and open peoples’ hearts to per - sonally receive the Saviour. It is only with a pure heart that we can truly see the beauty of the world around us and ultimately God himself. “St Francis of Assisi also reminds us of this in his “Canticle of the Creatures” writ - ten a thousand years later in Umbria, Italy, in 1224 where he encourages us to be good stewards of creation when he writes: “All praise be yours, my Lord, through our Sis - ter Mother Earth, who sustains us and gov - erns us, and produces various fruits with coloured flowers and herbs.” For this rea - son he is the patron saint of ecology and his message is as relevant now as it was then. “As an eco-school, and with ever increas - ing warnings about climate change, it’s even more important that the community of St John’s Academy creates a positive environ - mental footprint. To this end we now have a flourishing rural skills group that have created a vegetable garden at the back and also look after our quad garden; which is to be redesigned in the October holiday and replanted with bee friendly plants. Bees are important pollinators and are worth mil - lions of pounds to the agricultural and hor - ticultural industries and indeed to our own ecosystem and very survival. “A number of pupils from the eco-group have now tried their hand at bee keeping, as can be seen in the pictures with Isabella Macdonald and Nikoletta Szimelfenig suit - ably suited up, as novice beekeepers, and standing next to the statue of St Columba, Patron of Dunkeld Diocese, in the quad garden where the hive is located. Next year we hope to expand the apiary and have two hives up and running so hopefully even more honey! “32 jars of lovely golden honey, each with a piece of honeycomb, have been bottled by pupils in the home economics department. The Advanced Higher Graphic Design pupils designed the labels which say - ‘St John’s Honey; Exclusively and Organically produced on site by Native Bees located in St Columba’s garden. Thanks to pupils from: Rural Skills, The Eco Group, Health & Food Technology; Graphic Communica - tion and Fairtrade. “It is now ready to be marketed and sold by the Fair Trade group at parent’s nights and other special occasions. We gave a Jar to Bishop Stephen so if you bump into him you can always ask did he enjoy it on his breakfast table?” The pupils are buzzing to learn at St John’s Academy, Perth Novice beekeepers - Isabella Macdonald and Nikoletta Szimelfenig
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page 11 Members of the St Vincent de Paul So - ciety (SVdP) at St Columba’s, Kirkton in Dundee looked back on a busy year - both raising funds and reaching out to those who are most in need of help. Working under the Society of St Vincent de Paul’s principle that ‘No work of charity is foreign to the Society’ there are a tremen - dous range of activities into which their members can become involved. These works of charity, initially, are usu - ally at a local level where the brothers and sisters of the local conference attend with ‘hands on’ assistance to try and alleviate any hardship. Further afield the conference will give support to the local Group Coun - cil, the Diocesan Council and the National Council if at all possible when required, quite a lot of which is to help bring relief after natural disasters. Part of the Society’s remit is ‘to be fully concerned with the complete development of mankind, whose primary need is respect of his dignity’. A twinnage programme was initiated so that conferences, groups and councils could take on a struggling Parish abroad and sup - port it through prayer and especially finan - cially. On the ground, these twinned SVdP conferences would assess the immediate needs in their own local area and help as required. The Twinnage programme itself can be found in several countries around the world including Africa, South America and, maybe surprisingly, Malta. In 1965, St Columba’s in Dundee was matched with its first twin, a Parish in the Kerala state of India, and due to continued support the St Thomas conference in the Kottayam district, became self-sufficient in 1994. St Columba’s then adopted a second twin from Kerala; this time St George’s Parish in the Arthinkal district. Due to continued support from the pa - rishioners of St Columba’s, who contribute so generously to our black boxes, a good deal of poverty has been relieved. Houses have been built, people have been fed, and clothed. Dignity has been restored and, al - though miles apart, part of the Gospel has been ‘lived out’. This, of course, is not unique to St Columba’s. Across the globe many Parishes mirror this effect in the twinning project bringing relief and hope to the poor and needy – bringing relief and hope due to the kindness and generosity of many loyal parishioners who with their donations con - tinue to ‘do unto others’. SVdP at St Columba’s, Kirkton, reaching out to those who are most in need of help Fr Mark Cassidy, Dunkeld’s Voca - tions Director, led the Annual Vocations Mass in St Andrew’s Cathedral, Dundee. Priests and Religious came from across the diocese and were joined in prayer by representatives of schools and parishes. Canon Kevin Golden directed the Dioc - esan Choir which was accompanied at the organ by Sheriff Kevin Veal. Scotland’s youngest priest, Fr Jean Gové, preached. Fr Jean was ordained in the Archdiocese of Malta earlier this year. He has come to Scotland to study at St An - drews University and is based with Fr Cas - sidy, serving the parishes of Immaculate Conception, Ss Leonard and Fergus and St Columba’s, Dundee. Addressing the question about why we need priests, Fr Gové examined the role of the priesthood and what are qualities a priest should have. Rather than wise words of wisdom from long experience, he felt that he could simply share the naïvety ide - alism of his youth. Quoting Pope Francis - Fr Gové said, “the priest must have the smell of the floor” - in other words, the priest must be prepared to get his hands dirty. He is called to imitate Christ’s mission to be with the poor, the marginalised, the addict, the alcoholic, the prostitute and the unloved and to free them from the things that have captured them. The priest should speak up against injustice and lies in favour of truth and love. The priest is called to continue to carry out Christ’s mission - and that is to bring salvation to all mankind. As to the ideal qualities for candidates for the priesthood, Fr Gové reflected on the human weakness of many priest and bish - ops, including the apostles themselves. Above all, a candidate for the priesthood should be a man who is faithful. God does not call someone because of his merits, tal - ents or capabilities - this is because God’s grace alone is sufficient. Let us pray for men who are faithful to the Gospels. Perhaps is good to remind ourselves from time to time of our naïve idealism! Dunkeld’s Religious Communities gathered for the Annual Vocations Mass at St Andrew’s, Cathedral Scotland’s youngest priest looks at the role of the priest
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page 12 www.dunkelddiocese.org.uk @DunkeldDiocese NEWS AND PICTURES FROM AROUND OUR SCHOOLS PASTORAL LETTER - Relics of St Therese of Lisieux My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ As you are well aware, just a short while ago we had a four-day visit of the major rel - ics of St Therese of Lisieux to our diocese. There were not a few in our country were sceptical about such a visit. In fact, last time this was proposed for our country in 2010, it was decided that the visit would have been a waste of resources and so the bish - ops decided not to sanction the visit here. What was the result? Our people in Scot - land went by the thousands down to Eng - land to Manchester, Liverpool and Newcas - tle where the visit of the relics to England had been planned and gone ahead. The visit to England then had been a great success, and I knew that our people would respond to the once-in-a-lifetime visit of Therese this time round in great numbers. And so you did! Why? Because Therese, in spite of being a cloistered Carmelite nun, cut off from ‘the world’, was a great evangeliser. Through her spiritual teaching on humility, on her ‘Lit - tle Way’; in her letters to missionary priests, in her ‘Story of a Soul’ her spiritual auto - biography and in her persistence in prayer she was able to reach out beyond the walls of the Monastery into the world which needed to hear the teaching of the Gospel trumpeted but with her characteristic gen - tleness. St Therese had also promised to ‘spend her heaven doing good on earth’. We are among the beneficiaries of this promise fulfilled in our own time. Over four wonderful days we prayed, venerated the relics, adored the Lord Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, participat - ed in our masses and in our various other liturgies and devotions. One of the greatest fruits of this Visit was how Therese drew people to Confession and brought many people back to the practice of their faith. In addition, many pilgrims came from other dioceses – even from other churches - and the general impression was that we were greatly strengthened in our Catholic Faith by her presence among us. What will be the legacy of this Visit? Per - haps the best gift we could give Therese in return is to keep that sense of enthusiasm and rejuvenation for our faith and to share A renewal of Faith
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page 13 it with others – with members of our fami - lies who are lapsed, or who feel perhaps al - ienated from the Church. That would be a wonderful lasting legacy to flow from our Visit of St Therese. Over these past few days we have been blessed with so many graces and blessings ourselves; so let our thanks - giving be to double our efforts and inten - tions to make the Lord Jesus known and loved and to bless and thank him for the Crowning of the Saints and for intercession of the heavenly Church in support of our work of evangelisation here on earth - and especially for the intercession of St Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face. There are many people I would wish to thank for their hard work during the plan - ning phase and during the Visit itself. I would like to thank in particular the Gen - eral Secretary of the Bishops Conference, Fr Jim Grant who masterminded the entire visit to Scotland form beginning to end; to Canon Kevin Golden who was our dioc - esan representative on the National Com - mittee and to the constant presence of the Knights of Saint Columba who accompa - nied the relics from diocese to diocese and who kept guard over the relics during the Visit. Within our own diocese I would like to thank again Canon Kevin Golden, Ad - ministrator of the Cathedral who managed the entire visit, printed and prepared all the Mass sheets and rehearsed the Diocesan Choir and led them during the liturgies. I would also like to thank Sheriff Kevin Veal who led the music from the organ in the Cathedral; the cantors; the readers and the servers let by our Cathedral MC Tom McPherson. I wish also to thank the many priests who heard confessions and brought their people by car and bus from the more far flung parishes in the diocese and to Eleanor McBride for her flower ar - rangements. A special thanks must go the Diocesan Choir who excelled themselves in ‘Singing for the Lord’ during the four days of the visit and finally to the ladies of the Cathedral who provided hospitality for all those who were helping during the Visit in various ways. Finally I would like to thank all of you Faithful People who took part in this mem - orable visit; for your love for the Saint, for your faith in action and for your devotion to the Church. May the visit of Saint Ther - ese be a real boost to our renewal in Faith and as a spur to urge us on during this time of confusion and doubt. May the Little Flower bless all our efforts at renewal and strengthen our Faith. Yours devotedly in Christ, + Stephen Bishop of Dunkeld NEWS AND PICTURES FROM AROUND OUR SCHOOLS PASTORAL LETTER - Relics of St Therese of Lisieux
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page 14 The latest abortion figures for Scotland have recently been published and they provide grim reading indeed. The num - ber and rate of terminations of pregnancy in Scotland in 2018 were at a ten year high with 13,286 terminations, a rate of 12.9 per 1,000 women (aged 15- 44). Tayside has had for many years around 1200 abortions each year. The increasing number of abortions performed in Scot - land, and the figures in Dundee, serve as a stark reminder that our lovely city is caught up in the culture of death lamented by Saint Pope John Paul II. There has been an active pro-life presence in Dundee since the 1967 Abortion Act was passed. Those involved have worked tire - lessly to get the pro-life message to the peo - ple of our city by acts of witness, education, fund raising and practical support from the likes of SPUC, The Innocence and latterly the 40 Days for Life Campaign. However, the abortion figures make clear that there’s always more to be done. After a year liaising with crisis pregnancy groups in both Glasgow and London, pro- life advocates were delighted to have Bish - op Stephen Robson open our own volun - tary organisation - Dundee Pregnancy and Parenthood Support (DPAPS). Over 40 people attended the opening with many of those signing up to pray, de - liver clothing and equipment, knit or sort out donations. The aim at DPAPS is to offer help that will facilitate the important role of parenthood and support those nurturing life at every stage of development. This includes, not only supply of baby equipment and clothing but, companion - ship at appointments and help with ac - cessing benefits and financial assistance. Where DPAPS can’t currently offer help, we can liaise with other crisis pregnancy and post-abortion counselling groups as well as established groups in Dundee that provide assistance for families. With the financial assistance of the Dio - cese of Dunkeld, and in particular the un - swerving support of Bishop Steven Robson, DPAPS will widen the pro-life witness in our Diocese by reintroducing a practical pro-life support group. We are looking for donations of baby equipment or clothes; volunteers to knit baby blankets and clothing; and, most of all, prayers to help build the Culture of Life here in Dundee. Get in touch If you have any enquiries regarding DPAPS, please visit their Facebook page, or call 07453 784295. High abortion figures inspire new Dundee pregnancy and parenthood support group (continued from front page) Clergy and Bishop closely followed by the Knights of St Columba who carried the reliquary to the heart of the church where it would remain for the next three days. The processional hymn, beautifully writ - ten by nuns of Dysart Carmel, was sung to the tune of ‘Highland Cathedral’ lifting the hearts and minds of all present. During the opening Mass, a reflection on the life of Therese was given by Fr John Udris who reminded everyone that Therese shows us that the true road to holiness was to be - come little, and that humility is the key to our true identity. The Choir also sang St Therese’s Canticle of love which was followed by the bless - ing of the Roses. As Mass ended queues of people venerated the relics which was also a most prayerful and spiritual experience for everyone participating as they drew so close to Therese touching the reliquary and placing their roses around it. May the spirit of Therese and her wisdom live on the hearts everyone and draw us all into the divine love of the Blessed Trinity. Anyone who wishes to know more about St Therese and all of the Carmelite Saints can contact Dundee Secular Carmel – Secretary Helen Wylie on 01382 669598. Photo by Eddie Mahoney Photo by Eddie Mahoney
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page 15 This year’s Sixth Year RE Conference took place on 20th September 2019 in St John’s RC High School in Dundee. Mr John Paul Cecil, PT of Religious Education, welcomed S6 students and staff from across the diocese – including St Paul’s Academy, Dundee, St John’s Acade - my, Perth and Kilgraston School, Bridge of Allan, together with their school chaplains. A warm welcome was also extended to Dunkeld’s Vicar Episcopal for Education, Canon Thomas Shields and Bishop Stephen Robson. The theme, ‘Caritas – Living Service’ was intended to invite the young people to re - flect on ways to share God’s love in their communities. There were speakers from Missio, SPUC Scotland, SCIAF, St Vincent de Paul, Dundee Pregnancy and Parent - hood Support, HCPT, and Mary’s Meals as well as from the Dunkeld Lourdes Ser - vice who, in turn, shared their work with young students. The conference ended with a Prayer Service by Fr Michael Carrie. Schools’ Sixth Year RE Conference addresses CARITAS - a Living Service Catechism classes have been running at St Bride’s for over 40 years. During that time, many people have attended for for - mation, preparation for, and reception of, the sacraments; and some people have re - turned as adults to help out. The format of the catechism classes changed around 10 years ago and we now have primaries 3 to 7 coming together on a Thursday evening and primaries 1 and 2 on a Saturday morning. This approach allows us to accommo - date the children straight from school on a Thursday where half an hour of social time together is followed by a period of prayer and teaching in the church from Father Aldo our parish priest. The children then split into their individual classes for 45 minute catechises. After this we experience the wonderful grace of weekly benediction followed by the Divine Praises concluding at 5.15pm. Our time together at catechism is a great blessing for both the children and all the volunteers. The children are given an op - portunity to be around other young Catho - lics to socialise, share their faith and pray together. This encourages strong relation - ships at the classes and helps to deepen the children’s relationship with God. All of this relies on the commitment of volunteers. We have a number of catechism teachers who prepare for the lessons and teach the classes. We also have adult help - ers who sit in during the lessons to support the teachers and other volunteers who pro - vide hospitality for the children who come straight from school. Our volunteers are a varied bunch. We have young people who come to help out which can count towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteering commit - ments, retired people who enjoy being with the children and looking after the practi - calities of the group, former teachers from primary, secondary and university back - grounds together with nurses and stay at home mums. We are always grateful to welcome any - one who wants to volunteer in any capacity big or small and are always in need of new helpers and teachers to keep this wonderful vocation going in our parish. Learning more about the faith at St Bride’s, Monifieth - by Joanne McCourt A Party in the Park for the children and their catechists Photo by Aleksandra Molon
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page 16 “Everyone seems to be working harder these days. We are all running around like headless chickens. What is the solution, do you think?” I nearly answered, “Go to Mass,” but my friend is not a Catholic and doesn’t really believe in God. Thinking on it, I should have suggested it anyway. Why? It is to do with the way we think and live. We live in the present, the past and the fu - ture all seemingly at the same time. We car - ry the hurts from yesterday, worrying about the meeting to come, running for the bus now. Many novels these days flit backwards and forwards. They start at a point in time, but they very quickly transport you to the future or the past. It is as if the novelist is really a painter, going over the canvas from left to right, up and down, until the picture emerges. Sometimes the work is finished; sometimes not. The modern tale for those chasing their own tails. Meanwhile, we miss so much. We long to recapture that feeling when, during an all too brief holiday we looked at a sunset, the trees turning golden brown, our children playing, seemingly unaware of the pass - ing of time, living in a dreamlike world that goes on forever. No wonder practices like mindfulness and yoga are gaining new practitioners every day. “Stop the world, I want to get off!” I am… moving on Yet, it is not only natural to move from one period to another, to evolve, it is also supernatural. Being present to the present might be the state we crave, since we waste so much time worrying, but even the most disciplined of minds will time shift neces - sarily. Indeed, being stuck in an instant can sometimes be harmful and lead to mental and emotional illness. Yes, God is a God of the moment, but he is also the Lord of all moments. It is about how we view time and ourselves. It is about having direction. The journey Central to our understanding of time as Catholics is the Eucharist. The presence of Christ in the Mass is not a static one: he is the one who died and rose again for us in the past, brings us from darkness into light now, and will return to bring about the full - ness of the Kingdom. Time is not so much suspended in the Eucharist as transformed. Our stories are rewritten, and we are redefined. We are not on a treadmill; our lives are not our work; our anxieties do matter to God. We are brought out of the humdrum and for a time reminded of our true dignity. What’s more, we remember that Christ is present here and now to give us a fresh perspective on ourselves, our neighbour, on creation itself. In giving thanks for what he has done for us, we look to the future with confidence and are able to live more fruitful and happy lives in the present. Life is not just one thing after another. Mass in our schools Celebrating Mass in schools can be the most rewarding, terrifying, and frustrat - ing experience of a priest’s life. The staff go on heightened ‘security alert.’ The students often feel awkward and bored, leading to pranks and showy behaviour; the only good thing being that they get out of class. Given debates over religious observance in schools, the increasing number of stu - dents coming from secularist families who may request their children to be removed from worship, and also the shortage of priests, we might be tempted to give up on providing Masses in schools. The vast ma - jority of the students who are Catholic don’t attend Mass with any regularity. Perhaps other types of prayer and liturgical services might be more appropriate and life giving. They are also often easier to manage and engage people of all ages more effectively. It is the Mass that matters I am for more creativity in prayer, and there is a rich tradition of paraliturgical and devotional practices to draw from. Working in smaller groups does tend to reduce disruptive behaviour and increase engagement. These experiences can often be quite moving, especially when they take place in the context of school trips or pilgrimages. But, to use an old phrase, It is the Mass that matters. This is the great gift given to the Church by God to renew the world. This is the worship that defines us as Cath - Catholic Education and the Mass - Canon Tom Shields Engaging in the real story
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page 17 olic Christians with something different to offer. It is also the best catechetical instrument known to us: we can learn more about the Church, warts and all, from attending one Mass than by going to a hundred teaching sessions. Life is not just about timetables. Connections What I’m suggesting is that we rediscover the insights of the Fathers of the Church, that the Mass, its elements and structures, can help teachers form the catechetical and liturgical life of all Catholic schools. Prayer throughout the day could be structured better to reflect the rhythm of the Eucharist. When gathered first thing, students could be encouraged to renew themselves by recollecting and asking for - giveness. A short passage of scripture could be read, perhaps part of the reading for the weekday Mass. During the day petition and thanksgiving could be encouraged along with reflection and silent thanksgiving. At the end of the school day, students could be urged to go and live the good news. Services and paraliturgies might be shaped to ‘introduce’ and prepare for up - coming Eucharistic celebrations, and even exposition be available, with the right prep - aration beforehand. Role of the priest I wonder if we as priests need to make ourselves more not less available to schools, despite the shortage of clergy. Celebrat - ing Mass more often, with smaller groups, with a view to leading whole school Masses might just address a whole raft of problems. Celebrating the Mass is something priests are comfortable with. It gives them a reason and a purpose to be in school to do what they do best. A more imaginative and diverse way of looking at chaplaincy and Mass preparation, involving parishioners as well as teachers, might solve the problem of priests feeling awkward in their relation - ships, particularly with teenagers. They would be there as part of the team with their own sacramental and spiritual role to play. And so At Mass, the real presence engages with the real story: Christ, the High Priest, the one who returns to take us to where he is, is also the Christ of the Road to Emmaus, listening to his disciples as they tell their story. It is not time to give up on school Masses, It is time to rediscover them. The Mass... is the great gift given to the Church by God to renew the world... Fr Jim Walls celebrates an open air Mass at St Columba’s Bay, Iona
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page 18 Pope Francis has declared that October 2019 will be a special month of prayer and action to strengthen and grow God’s mission through the Church – an Extraordinary Month of Mission (EMM2019). It was an opportunity for many parishioners from across the diocese to reflect on and pray for the Church’s mission, and for the whole Church to fully realise that in our rapidly changing world the Gospel is needed now more than ever! Fr Mike Freyne said “It has been 100 years since Pope Benedict XV issued the Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud, which Pope Francis describes as ‘a milestone in the evolution of the Church’s missionary work’. One century later, the call to mission ad gentes is as urgent as ever.” St Modan’s High School (Stirling), St Bernadette’s Primary (Tullibody) and St Mungo’s Primary (Alloa) joined with Bishop Stephen, Fr Mike Freyne with priests and parishioners from across their deanery for a Mass in St Mungo’s (Alloa) to launch the Month of Mission in the deanery - praying for mission work being undertaken across the world. Dunkeld’s Extra-Ordinary Month of Mission
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page 19 Deacon Jude Mukoro has been study - ing St Mary’s Seminary, Oscott, and was recently appointed to St Columba’s, Cu - par, under the tutelage of Mgr Pat McI - nally for an extended diaconal pastoral formation until his priestly ordination on 14th December of this year in our Cathedral in Dundee. We wish him every blessing as he em - barks on his vocation - and invite you pray for him. A Mass of Thanksgiving for the career of Mrs Liz Conroy was celebrated by Fr Mark Cassidy at St Mary the Immaculate Con - ception, Lochee. Mrs Conroy was the high - ly respected and much loved headteacher of St Mary’s Primary School. Fr Cassidy said, “She will be greatly missed by pupils, staff and the wider school community. Mrs Conroy’s career spanned 37 years, and she was a Head Teacher for thirteen of these years. (1982 - 1984) St Dominic’s, Crieff; (1984-1986) St Stephen’s, Blairgowrie; (1986-1992) St Dominic’s, Crieff; (1992 -1994) St Luke’s, PS Dundee; (1994-1998) Senior Teacher, SS Peter & Paul’s, Dundee; (1998-1999) Acting DHT, SS Peter & Paul’s, Dundee; (1999-2006) DHT, St Joseph’s, Dundee; (2006-2010) Headteacher - Our Lady’s, Forebank, Dundee and (2010 - 2019) Headteacher - St Mary’s, Lochee, Dundee.” Parishioners from Coupar Angus and Al - yth gathered at St Stephen’s, Blairgowrie for a Mass to celebrate the wide range of cul - ture represented within their parishes. Fr Gregory Umunna said, “Our Parish is blessed! We are a people drawn from diverse nations: Scottish, English, Polish, Ukrainian, French, German, Romanian, Filipino, Nigerian, Irish, Spanish, Kenyan, Belgian, South African, Indian, Colombi - an, Czech, Dutch and more! We are united joyfully as one family of God’s people. To - day as we celebrate our gifts and talents.” St Stephen’s Master of Ceremonies, Mr Tom Buckman, thanked all who had con - tributed to planning of the Mass and the buffet that followed. https://www.dunkelddiocese.co.uk/ blairgowrie-celebrate-diversity-mass/ Scan this QR code with your mobile to find fuller coverage of this event on our website Pupils say a fond farewell to their head teacher at St Mary’s Lochee St Stephen’s Mass celebrates cultural diversity These young Polish singers are among the eighteen nationalities taking part in the Mass
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page 20 Regular Across travellers to Lourdes will recognise this motto, representing a unique kind of pilgrimage. Across pil - grimages take place every week of the year from Easter to October and leave from different places in the UK and even from the Channel Islands. Across pil - grimages to Lourdes are available to all, regardless of health or disability difficul - ties. Each Across group of 24 people has a medical team, chaplain and volunteers who help our VIPs have an amazing pil - grimage. We travel to Lourdes by Jumbu - lance, a unique specially designed coach ambulance, which provides safe and com - fortable transport for travellers with dis - abilities and illnesses. Each pilgrimage is different and struc - tured according to the needs and limita - tions of our pilgrims. However, all our pilgrimages have a number of activities in common. They all include for example: time for prayer at the Grotto, Blessed Sac - rament Procession, Torchlight Procession, Stations of the Cross, Praying the Rosary, Anointing of the Sick, Daily Mass, the Baths and more. In addition to these activities, Across pilgrims have access to a mini-Jumbulance whilst in Lourdes which gives them the op - portunity of easily visiting places in and around Lourdes, going shopping and even having day trips to Gavarnie or elsewhere. In the early hours of Thursday 10th Oc - tober, Across Group 1930 left Dundee on pilgrimage to Lourdes. It was led by Pauline Veal, parishioner of St Joseph’s, Dundee ac - companied by a group of experienced and new helpers and VIPs. The group was privi - leged to have Bishop Stephen Robson as its chaplain. On the journey, the Jumbulance picked up additional travellers at Bothwell, Lancaster and South Mimms Services and then the group of 24 was complete. After a long, but enjoyable journey, with time for getting to know one another, shar - ing meals, watching films and sleeping, we arrived in Lourdes in time for lunch on Fri - day 11th October. The Hotel Mediterranee had twelve specially adapted rooms that include hospital beds and medical equip - ment, as well as easily accessible wet rooms. After lunch there was time to settle in be - fore taking part in the weekly programme of events that had been planned. The weather in Lourdes can be very un - predictable and the group were prepared for all eventualities. They were blessed with very good weather and altered our programme to suit the temperatures. On the Saturday evening, they took part in the Torchlight procession, which was very impressive on a dark autumnal evening, watching the procession of candles wind - ing its way around the domain. Our Sunday Mass was held in the chap - el of the Bellevue (Polish) Convent. The grounds of the Convent has a beautiful statue of Pope St John Paul II and Stations of the Cross which were re-housed from L’Astazou, the former permanent Across accommodation in Lourdes. In the after- noon a funicular took them to the sum - mit of Pic du Jer. This was a wonderful excursion and some group members even climbed to the summit where there is a cross which is illuminated every evening. Time in Lourdes is of the essence and first time pilgrims are keen to see as much as possible. Our seven days in Lourdes passed very quickly but still allowed us to visit all the important sights connected to St Bernadette – the parish church, Cachot, Boly Mill and town cemetery and other places such as the Ukrainian Church, St Frai Chapel, Le Petit Lourdes and the Max - ililian Kolbe Exhibition. Outwith Lourdes, we visited St Savin, Gavarnie, Hosanna House and Bartres. It was a very busy week but one that was very enjoyable and fulfilling. Our Lady was at the centre of our entire time in Lourdes and of course, we finished our week with the customary circuit around the statue of the Crowned Virgin while reciting the Hail Mary three times to ensure that we will re - turn again to Lourdes in the future. A big thank you must go to all members of the group who contributed to the success of the pilgrimage. For further information about travelling to Lourdes in the future with Across, either as a VIP, helper, chaplain or member of the Medical team, please contact: Margaret Parke - 01382 667158 (Local Group Leader) Pauline Veal - 01382 668957 (National Group Leader) Across Pilgrims look back on ‘a holiday with Our Lady’
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page 21 Our Lady’s Primary, Perth, Depute Head, Mrs Lisa Brown, said, “Whilst working on their Pope Francis Faith Awards, our P7 pupils have been living out the gifts of the Holy Spirit, making new friendships with the elderly community of Letham. The children have been joining the members of the Letham Friends Network (LFN) for fun and chat. They have experienced different activities such as chair aerobics and Boccia as well as socialising over a cup of tea.” “At our recent school fundraising event ‘Bike Breakfast’ the children returned their hospitality and invited the Letham Friends Network to join in on the fun.” Prompted by Pope Francis’ words to young people in 2013, Mrs Brown added; “How beautiful it would be if each of our children, every evening, could say: ‘Today at school, at home, at work, guided by God, I showed a sign of love towards one of my friends, my parents and an older person!’ Pope Francis Faith Award in action at Our Lady’s, Perth Delcan Shafi was awarded the Scot - tish Qualifications Authority Star Award School Candidate of the Year. There was a high standard of nominees in this category from Edinburgh, Coatbridge, and Stirling. Among those at the gala evening in Glas - gow was Deputy First Minister John Swin - ney as well as Declan’s guidance teacher Mr McCarthy. The SQA Star Award recognisies his out - standing academic achievements and his role as a mentor to younger pupils at St Paul’s RC Academy. Declan surpassed all expectations by achieving the most quali - fications at the highest grade St Paul’s RC Academy has ever seen and his passion for chess saw him named Young Player of the Year – largely due to the mentoring he pro - vides. He is now looking forward to con - tinuing his studies at Cambridge University next year. Opening Mass at St Bernadette’s new school in Tullibody Bishop Stephen, with Mgr Ken McCaffrey, Canon Harty, Mgr O’Sullivan, Fr Brian McLean and Fr Leszek Wiecaszek, S.A.C. St Paul’s Academy pupil receives SQA’s Star Award Bishop visits St John’s Academy, Perth Senior pupils turn out to greet Bishop Stephen at the Annual Family Mass Declan Shafi at the Awards Ceremony with Mr Swinney and Mr McCarthy
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page 22 Just two years ago, Pope Francis set up the Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life Youth Office taking over the functions of the Pontifical Council for the Laity and the Pontifical Council for the Family. The Di - castery for the Laity, Family and Life Youth Office, brings a stronger emphasis on youth and young adult ministry, on the office’s responsibility for promoting reflection on the role of women in the Church and so - ciety and on the office’s task of supporting improved marriage preparation programs and Church outreach to couples living in situations the Church considers ‘irregular’. Adressing the young people of the Church in a recent letter Pope Francis said: “It is with a great joy that we announce the launch of the ‘Christus vivit’ video project prepared by young Catholics from around the world one year after the Synod of Bish - ops that was dedicated to them. This pro - ject is a work of collaboration between the Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, the Dicastery for Communication and many young people from different countries who accepted the invita - tion to share with us their faith expe - rience. A series of 26 videos has been launched, based on different chapters of ‘Christus vivit’. They will guide viewers to read this document and will help young people discover how the words of the Holy Father resound in the hearts of the “Un - der30” generation.Dicastery Prefect, Car - dinal Kevin Farrell spoke about in the se - ries. He encouraged them not only to read this document carefully, but also reminded them – “it is not about what is written in the book of the law, but what is the Spirit that guides each one of us and leads each one of us to the knowledge of Christ.” A link to the series can be found here: www. laityfamilylife.va/content/laityfamilylife/ en/news/2019/_christus-vivit_-attraverso- gli-occhi-dei-giovani.html A new video is available every Tuesday and Thursday. Come gather with hundreds of people and step into a life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ with a 3-night camping stay in the stunning Highlands of Scotland at Craig Lodge House of Prayer for a pow - erful weekend of adoration, sacraments, music, talks, discussions, mountain walks, evening fun and loads more. This Catholic Festival is for 16-35 year olds and super-early bird tickets are on sale now. There are only 15 tickets on sale at these prices, so ensure you buy today as these will quickly sell out! You can get a train or a bus from Glasgow to Dalmally and we can pick you up from there if you let us know when you arrive. If you have any issues regarding transport etc, feel free to contact the page, email strongholdfestivals - cotland@gmail.com or call 01838 200 216. If you’ve been before and are keen to come again, bring your friends! Introducing them to God’s infinite love is the best gift you could give them. Please “Like” the Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/strong - holdfestival/) and follow their Instagram @ strongholdfestival as we count down to this special event. See you in the Mountains! Christus vivit now on video Dunkeld Youth Service Dundee University Catholic Society Dundee University Catholic Society will be raising funds to begin renovation of the unused basement facilities in St Joseph`s Church. The project has yet to be officially costed, but the society would be most grate - ful for any donations, offers of assistance or advice on where to get funding to support the project. Above all, they ask for prayer to help them flourish and grow for the future. To get in touch, email catholic-society@ dundee.ac.uk. Coming shortly DYS Newsletter DYS are launching an email subscription newsletter specifically for youth, bi- monthly, online and emailed to subscrib - ers with news, upcoming events, teachings, testimonies, activities and more. Advent Retreat Next weekend - 7-10th December - young people from parishes across the diocese have been invited to take part in the An - nual DYS Advent Retreat at Lawside. Youth Pilgrims in St Andrews On 31st August the Scottish Catholic Youth Service hosted a National Youth Pil - grimage to St Andrews to mark the 701st Anniversary of the city’s Cathedral. The day began with a gathering in St James’ RC Par - ish Church, at St Andrews, and a welcome from Archbishop Leo Cushley and mem - bers of the SCYS team. The gathering was then split into two groups, with those aged between 15 and 30 embarking on a ‘pilgrim walk’ around the town to several stations, where they learned some of the history of the town and prayed for different intentions. The younger pil - grims took part in some fun and educa - tional activities, including exploration of St James’ Church and a sing-song around a campfire on one of the beautiful beaches. The activities included completing a ‘way card’ with religious symbols which could be found all around the town. The day concluded with veneration of the relics of St Andrew in the grounds of the Cathedral ruins, followed by Holy Mass celebrated by the Archbishop in St James’. Overall, the day was very spirit-filled and enjoyable. From the Diocese of Dunkeld, 22 young people attended, contributing to almost 150 from around the country.
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page 23 NEWS AND PICTURES FROM AROUND THE PARISHES Residents at St Mary’s Care Home in Monifieth were given the chance to look back on a lifetime of memories to pick out the best scenes for next year’s Cal - endar. They have created a calendar, for sale at £6 each, as part of their resident fund raising campaign. Maureen Petrie reports: “St Mary’s residents provided the inspiration for the calendar. As part of the Participa - tion Policy at St Mary’s we asked them if they had a favourite place in Scotland or where they went on holiday, a favour - ite castle, bird or animal. The pictures in the calendar reflect their wishes. St Mary’s also thanked 12 of their main sup - pliers who have each sponsored a page on the calendar.” The calendars can be bought at St Mary’s in Monifieth or the Diocesan Office, 24-28 Lawside Road, Dundee, DD3 6XY. The perfect stocking filler this Christmas St Mary’s Care Home is the former Cottage Hospital in Monifieth which has been ex - tended and developed into a 30 bedded Resi - dential Care Home. Situated at the eastern end of Monifieth, it is close to main transport routes, yet offers a peaceful setting in mature secluded gardens. St Mary’s is run by the Management Committee chaired by Bishop Stephen Robson. Offering high standards of care and facili - ties in a comfortable homely setting. Sheena Renton, its Care Home Manager supervises a trained and dedicated team of staff who provide daily care and support for residents in order to allow them to lead as full a life as possible. Residents benefit from the person centred approach to care, working with residents and their family to create a care plan which is detailed, and can be adapted as their needs change. The aim is that every resident feels supported and valued. St Mary’s builds strong links with families and loved ones to create an atmosphere of partnership and common purpose. It provides a homely and relaxed en - vironment that is safe. On behalf of St Mary’s, Maureen Petrie said: “We believe that promoting a healthy environment for our residents and support - ing them to meet their needs enables them to achieve their potential and provides them with a more fulfilling life in their new home.” “Accommodation at St Mary’s is 20 en-suite rooms of varying sizes and 10 smaller rooms with wash hand basin. These rooms have nearby access to toilets, shower and a bath - room. We also have a palliative care room for dedicated end of life care. Our chef provides a varied home cooked menu along with home baking for residents to enjoy. Specific menu requirements can be catered for.” “With a choice of lounges and a small sun room, residents can socialise with others if they choose to do so and also take part in our daily activities. Our activity staff lead exer - cises, crafts, quizzes etc. to provide a stimu - lating environment which residents can call home. A regular programme of outside enter - tainers visit St Mary’s to provide sing-a-longs. Wednesday outings in our minibus vary from drives in the countryside to visits to local at - tractions. We will continue with these over the winter months, weather permitting.” St Mary’s has a Chapel which residents can visit at any time and join in the weekly Mass organised by our local parish. Residents can enjoy the secure and secluded garden areas. Mrs Petrie added: “The development of a new garden area in the past year has been a real hit with our residents. Raised beds have been planted to provide colourful and sen - sory plants and a small vegetable plot has provided some vegetables and fruit for use in the kitchen. Residents have been sitting in the new sheltered seating areas in the warmer weather.” Activity staff are currently planning extra visits from entertainers and local groups in the run up to Christmas. Residents love to see the brownies, cubs, guides etc. We also have our annual visit from the Cecilian Choir and the annual Christmas Party for residents and families. This makes December a very busy time in the home which residents can enjoy. If you would like more information or to arrange a visit - please contact Sheena Renton (Care Home Manager), St Mary’s Care Home, 39 Panmure Street, Monifieth, DD5 4EG, (Tel) 01382 533376 St Mary’s Home in Monifieth offers a fulfilling life - ADVERTISEMENT - St Joseph’s, Wellburn is set to be demol - ished and replaced with a new housing. Wellburn House on Liff Road was provid - ing care to the elderly of Dundee for more than 150 years until it was closed in 2017. The site was purchased by the diocese from the Little Sisters of the Poor and closed after inspectors found issues with the home’s gas and water supplies. The diocese has since maintained the 7.7 acre site at an annual cost of £60,000 and has now agreed a conditional sale with property firm Per - simmon Homes, which will acquire the site upon the approval of planning permission. Bishop Stephen said, “The money will now be used to fund local and wider dioc - esan initiatives.” “The Trustees of the Diocese of Dunkeld wish to reassure donors to the Wellburn project, that their donations will be used for the same purpose, that is, care of elderly in our diocese.” “I hope this news will be welcomed by the local community and parishioners alike as it will breathe new life into the site of Well - burn House while raising money that can be used to support our projects. We are pas - sionate about Dundee and the communities we are involved with and look forward to seeing a new community thrive in the city.” Plans to build on the legacy of Wellburn
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page 24 W e have all experienced waiting: for a bus, train or a plane; a cheque in the post; word of a new job or an unsuccessful application, a pro - motion, a redundancy; a clean bill of health or a diagnosis of illness; news of an election, a pregnancy or a death; word from children or parents; or simply contact with a friend - an email, phone call or conversation. We all know what it is to yearn for a connection... Anything but this no-mans-land of waiting. Waiting is a strange country, filled with un - certainty and an undercurrent of restrained tension. As human beings we desire markers, dates or rituals that ease the anxiety of waiting for news, good or ill. It is sometimes measured in cups of tea; or glances of compassion or fel - low feeling. Marking time is a human skill and sur - vival instinct. No wonder, in her wisdom, the Church has given us a way of understanding time, even hallowing it, this waiting a time for meaning and the call to holiness, or whole - ness in the gaze of God. As we wait for the Lord’s appearing, the golden thread that runs through our history is the liturgical year, God’s sacred time. If you are anything like me, you greet each New Year with a certain amount of trepida - tion. A time of hopes and resolutions; possi - bilities and challenges. Left to our own devic - es, our resolutions can vanish by the first day of February. Our own strength and willpower is insufficient to the task. We achieve and succeed in living in hope for the future only when we recognise our need of God’s Grace. We see this when we are drawn to spend time in prayer, heart-to-heart, opening our lives to the gifts and graces that are beyond our imag - ing. The Season of Advent that begins on the 1st December is the Church’s New Year. The nights darken, vestments become purple and if we are blessed, we see the flickering of can - dles and devotion more that the tinsel of com - mercialism. After our journeying through this evoca - tive and powerful time of November, the month of the Holy Souls, we are drawn to - wards something ever new. In a profound way we have experienced the longing and connection with our Beloved dead, and perhaps discovered our own role in the building up of the Communion of Saints, through our memories, prayers and reverence for the Souls in Purgatory, lost souls, and the poor souls who have no-one to pray for them. We see once more our urgent need for the hope of the Resurrection. How have you remembered those you have loved and lost in these November days? Can you light a candle in your window or Church for the Holy Souls? Can you ask the Lord to help you end the Church’s year well? Is is pos - sible that this will lead you to offer a purer heart to Advent, desiring your hopes and dreams to be transformed and new dreams kindled? Since the 12th Century, with St Bernard of Clairvaux, the Church has spoken of the three comings of Christ: in human flesh at Bethle - hem; in our heart’s daily ; and in glory at the end of time. Can you enter, heart and soul, body and mind to these first two comings of Christ, whilst patiently waiting for the next? The first Sunday of Advent, reawakens our understanding of the People of God, us, journeying through human history. With our strengths and weaknesses, our victories and our failures, invited to encounter Jesus, the Lord of history and our histories. He calls us to experience hope and light and joy. Can you allow yourself to believe that these prom - ises are made for you? Can you pray for the Graces of hope and joy in your lived and felt experience of the human journey? In the second Sunday of Advent we meet the mysterious figure of John the Baptist who urges us to Prepare the Way of The Lord. This larger than life character also recognised that he must diminish so that Christ can increase in our lives. What deeds of yours could help prepare the way of The Lord this Advent? Is there some encouragement of the young, the burdened or the helpless that might be within your power to do? Can you ask for the grace of generosity to accomplish this? The Third Sunday of Advent kindles deep joy. A rose candle and rose vestments her - ald the fact that the wait is almost over. The joy of an exuberant God who draws near to Creation and becomes one with us - sharing our human frailties and possibilities; with St Therese of Lisieux we can rejoice to be little because we recognise that we are Beloved. “For God so loved the world that he sent his only son, that whoever believes in him might be saved. (John 3:16) can you let this aware - ness soak into your heart and soul? The fourth Sunday of Advent shows us the great faith that God has in humanity, entrust - ing the care of Jesus to Mary and Joseph. Both experienced their own Annunciations, Mary visited by Gabriel and Joseph visited by an an - gel in a dream. When they angels depart both are trusted by God to discern and choose how best to do God’s will. The great risk of God is that he trusts hu - man beings to do the right thing. He trusts you and I to discern and choose whatever in - creases his life in us. How might you discern or choose to respond to God’s promises and invitation this Advent? May you be comforted in your journey through November, accompanied by the angels and saints, and all holy men and women. May you embark on this Advent, this New Year of the Church’s timekeep - ing, with fresh hope and expectation of the many gifts and graces that lie ahead. Advent - a time to prepare In the fullness of time by Mary O`Duffin Matthew 6:14-15 “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
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